Category: Bear

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Auggie waiting

When Auggie does not go on a walk with Bear and I, he is ALWAYS waiting for us to return…

I hurry to the front door and call Auggie. He comes outside and looks for Bear to return – usually from the front porch wood pile.

Auggie comes along on an ever longer mid-afternoon walk. He is doing very well! He is Mr. Sociable, loving to be wherever Bear and I are. I hope this continues. He does a bit of exploring on his own but never far from one of us and when we walk, if Bear runs to move deer off the property, Auggie stays with me.

Auggie is VERY aware of large birds. Although ravens pose no threat and eagles have passed over when we’ve been out, it is owls I worry most about. This morning (9:00 a.m.) when we were out a local rooster crowed – sounding maybe a bit owl-ish. Auggie jetted inside. Bear gets after large birds if they are around so if Auggie stays near, I know Bear will do his best to keep Auggie safe.

When Bear and I go out early morning or late evening, Auggie is not interested in going out in the dark. I love that he enjoys being out with us during the day but is happy to stay in at night. And I think that he is getting plenty of exercise so settles easily at bedtime.

Happy Friday!

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A year later

It was a year ago, yesterday, that Bear had his first TPLO surgery.

The sunroom was the recuperative suite.

And dear Bear recuperated…

…with the help and companionship of “Nurse” Bob.

Mr. Bob… I miss you every day, I dream of you often. I’m so happy you were part of my life and I think I can speak for Bear and say that he is happy that you were there for him post-op for both of his TPLO surgeries!

A year from TPLO1 and 9 months from TPLO2 – the Bear-boy is doing wonderfully. All muscle has been regained, he moves with a normal gait and appears to have no soreness. A perfect outcome.

*** T.P.L.O.

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Happy Birthday Bear! …and other beautiful things

Happy, Happy Birthday, dear Bear Boy – AND MANY MORE!!!

Yep, right there, that’s the spot…

Rubs and scratches and extra treats for Mr. Bear who turned 9 today!

On this very beautiful day.

We’ve had absolutely gorgeous weather with sunny days in the mid to upper 50’s (F) – Bear and my favorite temperature range!!!

Blue skies.

Gold Autumn leaves.

Perfection.

This morning…

Bear and I were down the road home fairly early for a birthday extra Jeep ride and walk.

It was well worth it for not only the getting out and about and birthday, etc. but also for the scenery…

Beautiful.

…some of us thought the blue sky and sun was a bit much…

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A week

Auggie has been with Bear and me for a week.

He is sweet and happy and curious and increasingly confident. It has been a week of watching him grow in all kinds of ways.

We went to our own vet on Tuesday and got a good report: negative for all of the kitten stuff they test for, booster vaccinations and a general “sound body and good disposition” report.

The paradox is that those first days and some of all of this week were also so hard. This has happened to me before, but I always forget and it catches me off guard. Getting a new pet after losing one is a strange combination of fun, distraction and joy in folding the new into the routine but the flip side is that it is also that absolute realization that the lost pet really is no longer here. A finality that I find very difficult while at the same time the new kid and new routine needs a lot of attention. There is no getting around the fact that all is very different and it is not going to be comfortable again for awhile.

Life.

Meanwhile, Fall progresses and we’ve had 2 hard freezes. But there are still pleasant temperatures in the daytime forecast so I’ve been covering the herbs at night with the lights down low and using the lights directly during the day for “helper” sunshine. So far, all looks good.

I’ve been finding yellow jacket nests, fallen out of trees, in the yard and the woods. I’m not sure if hibernating queens are in these but I’m spraying and getting them out of here just in case.

The aspens and birch are turning and the larch are lightening to chartreuse. By next weekend there should be a lot of gold in the woods.

Auggie is very interested in the outdoors, especially when Bear and I are out. By January – maybe even a little before, I’ll take him out on leash to explore if he wants to. My hope is that he would enjoy being outside with Bear and me but be, like Bob, a homebody. There is a lot of great hunting without going too far away.

And grass and sunshine and a beardog!

Inside, with a wire crate half way folded to add a kitten barrier to the gate, Bear and Auggie grow ever closer. So much fun to watch.

A week.