Goodbye Dach Monster

Dach
January 1, 1994 --

November 18, 2009









It was time. . . he was ready. . . I thought I was ready-

I think one of the hardest decisions we make is when it is time to put a beloved pet to sleep. When there is no quality of life left for them, we are still selfishly holding on to them instead of letting them go.

I know people say "it's just a dog" but after loving and caring for them for almost 16 years, they are family.

I know that this decision was made with love for him by giving him freedom from pain and age related problems but it was so difficult for me and my HD.

Dach was the first little red fuzzy dachshund to come into our lives, followed by sister Dora six months later. They have been very special to us and we spoiled them shamelessly over the years.

Dach's health has really deteriorated this year so he was the first to leave us. We loved him and will miss him tremendously.

Dora has some health problems as well but thus far not as bad.

My HD and I have decided not to adopt any more pets. Our little Coco will be going back to her old family, our son, daughter in law and grandson, where she is well loved.

Crossed Eyes

Grandaughters who cross their eyes when Grandma wants a picture!

That's much better!

Past Wall Hangings and Quilts

Amber Waves of Grain Wall Hanging 1997
I found this pattern in one of my quilting books  and enlarged it in three steps to the size I wanted. Most of the fabrics in this one came from my friend Mitsuko in Japan. I made a matching one for her as well. I entered this one at the Permian Basin Fair in Odessa Texas and awarded a red ribbon for it.

 
 
Faraway Fabrics Signature Quilt 1997

This wall hanging was made of fabrics from around the world. When my HD was traveling, he would bring fabric from whatever country he was visiting. I embroidered the name of the country in each block that fabric came from. I started this after he had been traveling for awhile so I didn’t get some from every country where he went. Included is fabric from England (from my friend Maureen), Taiwan, India,  Germany, Singapore, Japan and the USA.


Trip Around the World 1995
This one was made for my daughter and son-in-law.  I also made a Welcome Wall Hanging to match the colors of the quilt.

Flower Basket Quilt 1995
This one was made for my son and daughter-on-law for Christmas.

Family Calendar Cover Pages

It's that time of year again. Time of year for what has become a family tradition. It involves the whole family now -  Mom and siblings families, my HD's Dad and brother's families, and our children and theirs. In the beginning, I just made the calendars for Mom and my siblings but expanded over the years.

The Early Years

I started making family calendars with all birthdays and anniversaries. I am not positive the first year I began but the earliest dated one that I found shows 1993.

 1993

Some years I put in a little extra, like baby or early pictures of everyone or memories of growing up.

The first few years were difficult since I did not have a program and had to not only input birthdays and anniversaries every year but also had to manually change  the calendars dates.

Then I found a calendar program that kept all my information from year to year. All I have to do now is make additions or changes. That is the easy part now, even with this large family. Last count of individuals was just over eighty, then add in the anniversaries equals a pretty large number.

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

I make fifteen copies for my Mom to distribute, three for my HD's Dad, two to DD, one each to two DS's and one each to a couple of grandsons. Each family group has a little different information and titles on them.

A few years ago my brother, Robert, began sending generous checks to help with the expenses for the calendars. His donation pays for the paper, ink cartridges, making copies and for the postage to mail them.  His help is very much appreciated, not just by me, but by all recipients of the calendars.

The hardest job is to come up with a new cover page each year. I try to make them interesting, unique and memorable and most family members save all of them.

Since the cover page is a surprise each year, I will post this year's calendars at a later time.

I HATE sand burrs!

I hope tomorrow starts out a better day. This one started at 2:00 am for my HD with a crying dog in the back yard with sand burrs in him. He got me up about a half hour later to help get a sand burr out of his bloodied mouth.

We finally had to wrap him in a blanket, wedge his mouth open with a paintbrush handle (to keep from getting bit) and get the burr out of his tongue with tweezers with him fighting the whole time. He knows we are trying to help him but is really showing his age and doesn't like to be messed with.

Anyone want to buy a large house in a small town on four lots?? Taxes are cheap but sand burrs are plentiful!

He is feeling better now.

Mom's Flowers

 
My Mom has a green thumb and has always had flowers and plants. She has such a pretty yard with all her flowers.


 


The front and side yards have lilac bushes, mums, pampas grass, roses , what she calls a cabbage plant and morning glories. Her neighbor has a rose bush that she would love to haul over the fence and take care of.  

 

 

The back yard has a variety of different flowers and containers from an old wringer washer to large cut tires. She has roses, hens and chicken plants, and many other varieties. The most impressive is the Century Plant that bloomed this year and has been in the back yard for years. It grew to about 18 feet high and a new one is now growing beside it. Once it starts growing, it grows very fast.

My sister June took the pictures of the Century Plant as it grew and bloomed.  Now that it has finished, they will probably need a chainsaw to take it down. It is starting to lean over but still very solid.

 Over the years Mom has given us plants and starts off hers. I tell everyone she sends a get well or sympathy card with them 'cause she knows I will kill them. It's not ALWAYS been my fault – some just won't grow here.

Family Visit

We had a great trip to Amarillo this last week.  We did have a bit of wind against us but that big Ford diesel got pretty good mileage pulling our 5th wheel.

It was so nice to see Mom and everyone. Mom is doing well for her 85 years. My father-in-law is a few months younger and said he will call on her for advice when needed. :)




We visited with all four of my brothers, Robert (who drove in from New Mexico); Joe Pat; Tom and his wife DeeDee and grandson O'Neal and Harold and his wife, Pat. Unfortunately, I forgot about my camera and did not get pictures of Robert or Joe Pat. Maybe next time!


Also saw four of my six sisters: Faith, and her husband Fred; Barbara, and her husband John; June and Teresa. Missed getting a picture of Faith and Fred as well this trip.

While in Amarillo. we decided to get shingles vaccinations.  I have been around people who have had shingles and know they are extremely painful. My older brother had them and said a vaccination is well worth WHATEVER you have to pay for it.  So Mom, my HD and I all got one. Their arms did not get sore, swollen, red, itchy or warm. Mine was all the above - but is clearing up just in time to get a flu shot.  Hopefully it will only be a bit sore as in past years.

I hope we can visit more often with everyone. We have always lived a distance from everyone and missed out on many family gatherings.