Another Postponement. Sad News from a Friend.

This morning I was all set to start moving shelves and everything out of the guest house bathroom, tear up the linoleum, and find out what the floor needed. The door bell rang at 7.00 AM and a very tried, bedraggled looking Ray was at my door.

During the night, one of the dogs where Shay is house sitting, had somehow got it's stitches undone from a very recent surgery, and was bleeding. Ray had to go down there and take the dog to the Emergency Room. He was up most of the night with it. He was hoping to get some rest before he had to pick up the dog from the hospital, but he didn't get much, as they called in a couple of hours for him to pick it up and take it home.

Every time we think we are going to be able to get that floor fixed, while Shay is away, something comes up.

Finally the vintage stove is on it's way to it's new owners in MO. Jay and I got it packed my new AC's box, yesterday.

I haven't been able to find the color linoleum that I want. So today, I went into the next town to do some more searching at places other than Lowes and Home Depot. I wanted something light in color, and nowadays everything is brown or brown toned. I like brown on tree trunks, but that is it. The carpet in there is burgundy, so I really didn't want anything brown, and nor do Ray and Shay.

I went to a surplus place south of town and found a color that I think will go nicely. It is a very, very light rose/white, and not a 'busy' pattern. In fact that is what is in my house, and it has held up very well.

I dawdled around, as I had a day off, and bought a few little items at thrift shops. Still looking for cotton sleeveless summer dresses, but didn't find any.

When I got home I had an email from a friend who travels the US in an RV, and works the fairs and flea markets.. He has a lovely St. Bernard who has been feeling poorly, and several vets have not come up with a diagnosis. The dog has been losing weight, and won't eat anymore. A vet today said that he feels a mass in the dog's stomach, and that it is better if he goes to Rainbow Bridge. Please watch the new version: http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html I feel so bad for my friend, I know how it is to lose a doggie best friend.

""Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.' Startled, we all turned to him.

What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.' """

This has been more than "The Dog Days Of Summer", today.