RIP Hawley

Hawley

October 30, 2001 - July 30, 2015

Hubby and I gave the boys a puppy for Christmas in 2001.  I named him Hawley.  The boys had their eyes closed, I set Hawley down and then told them to open their eyes and meet Hawley.  Sam had a few seconds of disappointment.  He thought Hawley was a little sister named Holly and that we were adopting a little girl.  He got over it pretty fast.

 Hawley grew up with the boys.  He was a fun puppy.  Sam was  the dog whisperer and taught him good manners.  Hawley sat on my lap whenever I was weeding and planting until I had to tell him that he was just too big.

 Sam would leave a treat on Hawley's nose, clear the table on the patio and then tell Hawley, "okay", only then would  Hawley would toss his head and gobble the treat.

 As the boys grew up and left home Hawley aged and started to spend more time hanging out with Hubby and me.  I bought him a new bed at Costco each Fall and so we had beds all over.  That way if we were working in the back yard he had a bed there, or in the garage he could watch Hubby work on the trailer, one on the patio, one in front of the wood stove and one in his dog house

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Hawley loved the wood stove and many times as I came into the house carrying firewood he slammed me out of the way to get inside to his spot by the fire. This picture shows him on a towel but that wasn't the norm, he had a bed by the fire.  He liked to lay so close that when we walked by and petted him his fur was too hot to touch.

 On the patio he took over my chaise lounge and then ignored me.  If I don't look your way then you do not exist and I don't have to get off of the chaise lounge.  Right?

 Hubby was Hawley's person and they loved each other.  It started on Hawley's first night with us, Hubby built him a dog house and then at bed time he crawled in with Hawley.  Hubby laid with him until our new puppy fell asleep.  It was his first night without brothers or sisters and Hubby knew he'd be scared and lonely. 

 Hawley met Hubby every night and did not want to be on the patio or in the house at 4:30 because it was time to meet the boss in the driveway.  Hawley and Hubby got gray together, raising those boys wasn't easy!

 We were told that we'd know when it was time to say good bye to our faithful friend and that was true.  It seemed to happen overnight though we knew for a year that the time was coming.

It was harder than we thought it would be.  Sam was able to come help us say good bye.

Hawley is buried under the apple tree.

A wise friend told me that when it's time to say good bye that is the time we pay for having loved a good dog for so many years.  It is hard, but we loved him a lot so it is worth the pain of losing our dear, faithful friend.

Random is Better Than Nothing

It is going to be a very random post this morning.  

Our sweet, Hawley is slowing down.  He is still very smart though.  When we let Hawley out of the kennel in the morning he skips and jumps around and then when we call him to go back into the kennel poor old Hawley moves like the 95 year old gent that he is, s l o w.  He's an old dog with a lot of old tricks.  And isn't he distinguished with his gray?

 I'm trying to clear the bathroom vanity counter of cold relief products.  I put them back in the medicine cabinet and then some come back out.  It's a long, slow recovery.

Move over, nasal spray!  I need room on the vanity for sunscreen and nail polish. Spring break, sunshine and fun are coming my way.  One of my favorite words in the English language,  poolside,  will be overused by moi.  Poolside, say it with me.  The definition of  poolside  includes sun, fun, swimming, lounging, reading, visiting, a g & t, and best of all the warmth of the sun.  I love that word, so much!

 In the meantime, it has been pretty nice here in the Pacific Northwest.  Everything is blooming and growing and there is a lot of green.  Of course, there is rain too.  I have to stop on my morning walks for flower photos.  Who could resist these cherry blossoms?

 My parent's magnolia tree is gorgeous this year.  My folks have put their home on the market and will be moving to town.  It's bittersweet, for sure.  They bought their house when I was in the first grade.  It had been vacant for nine years and was a fixer upper.  It was built in 1895 and they are the second owners.  When families get to this house it becomes a home for many years. 

 I have so many wonderful memories here.  I know their move to town will be hard for our family but it will be nice for them to have less yard work and maintenance.

I feel so blessed to have grown up in this house and been able to return to it so many times for family dinners and holidays.  My folks are the definition of hospitality.  Please pray that they have peace with their decision and a smooth move.

I have funerals to attend in the next several days, a vintage show to attend and some packing to take care of to get myself  poolside.  Enjoy your weekend and make the moments count!

Cozy Up

It's Fall Y'all and I do love this season.  There is something so wonderful about all of the colorful leaves, the Fall light, and the  spicypumpkin of a pumpkin latte or a pumpkin scone.

We like to cozy up at our house.  We get as close to hibernation as a family of bears.  The wood is stacked and ready.  We lit a fire for the first time on Sunday.  The weather has been so mild that this is the latest in our history of the Stone House to get toasty with the wood stove.

 The flannel sheets are on the beds.  I have new flannel pjs with vintage trailers and flamingos on them.

Pretty much a flannel board in the bedroom...

 The summer flowers are on the compost heap.  There are a few mums and cabbages planted for winter interest.

I made a pumpkin roll.  That is one messy job.  So worth it though.

It's all good but I just can't help myself, I am thinking about Christmas and I want to start decorating.  Badly.

I know, I know.  Slow down, enjoy the moment... but it's hard.  Really, really hard.

Maybe I'll just start upstairs...

Oh October, I Love Thee

Happy October!  I love the nonmonths.  The months with no major holidays, months where the season change is so obvious, months with nothing but everyday stretching out in front of me.

 The farmer's corn is still standing.  Last night a corn chopper drove past our place and I thought for sure they would turn in and start chopping.  No, not yet.  The night they chop corn is the night we don't get much sleep.  The corn field driveway is right next to where we lay our heads for a good night's sleep.  The trucks grinding their gears and hurrying the crop out of the field all night is a bit noisy.  I am not complaining though because overall a field of corn is a quiet neighbor.

 October is Hawley's birthday.  On October 30th he will be 13 years old or in dog years he turns 91 years old.  His first birthday involved a dog party with Shadow and Eddy, and a lot of little boys.

Hawley always looks away when I want to take his picture, he gets all shy and bashful.

 "If I don't look, she'll put down the camera."

 Eventually Hawley can't resist, sighs and gives me a cheesy dog smile.

Isn't he a distinguished, handsome old guy with his grey?

 I am trying to get myself a new pair of shoes.  Just one pair.  I have bad feet.  So in order to get one new pair of shoes many will be ordered, tried and returned.  The pile is growing...  I have returned some already. There won't be a perfect fit, so the lesser of the evil will be chosen.

First world problems.

I'm looking forward to Therapy Thursday, a quiet weekend and just enjoying a nonmonth.

Enjoy October, my friends!

Chris, au revoir!  All the French you need to know... où est le marché aux puces?

(translation, where is the flea market?)

Random Monday

This will be a random post today.  Stay with me, I need to get caught up.

The Aloha update, the metal is off the front, back and top.  The flooring has arrived, the mattress we ordered has arrived, a decision on the stove has been made, the birch has been researched.  Hubby is starting to have fun and is anxious to move ahead.

 Last week Hubby and I went to visit his parents.  Hubby's Dad has cancer and his chemo treatments were stopped.  It seems as though the cancer is speeding faster through his system than we could have ever imagined.  Hospice is coming in to help, and Court's condition changes daily.  It's a difficult time for our family.  Hubby is going back this week to see his Dad and help his Mom.

 It's a pretty drive  to George, Washington and it did give Hubby and I time to visit.

 My favorite day of the week is Thursday because it's Therapy Thursday with Leslie and Marjean at the museum.  They are the best therapists a girl could ask for, and I always walk away from Thursdays feeling better, feeling enlightened and inspired.  Last week we went for lunch at Keenan's at the Pier.  The wisteria was in bloom, we sat outside under the blossoms.  So fragrant!  The view was beautiful, the heaters were on to take  off the chill, the lunch was delicious and the company was great.

 Hubby and Max had birthdays last week.  I love these guys!  Usually they each get a birthday post but I am having trouble keeping up right now so this is it.  Hubby celebrated in George, WA.  Sam, Angela and Reagan took us to Kulshan for dinner on Thursday night to celebrate.

Speaking of celebrating, Max turned 21 so yeah, I'm sure there was some celebrating going on... Don't want to know.

 Hubby likes to have Reagan come over on his days off.  She is a lot of fun for everyone but Hawley.  She's annoying for Hawley.  Really annoying.  And sassy.

I am working on a project for Sam and Angela's wedding.  Danny has his airline tickets for the wedding so that is nice. I have a dress to wear so that is nice and it zips so that is nice.  It will be here before we know it.  I need 1 and 2 gallon size containers and tarnished silver cream and sugar sets and mercury glass.  Hunting and gathering!

 Sam's unit has been posting pictures on face book lately and I've been saving them.  They are in the field and in some of the photos it's hard to recognize Sam because of all of the gear.

 Some of the photos are of his promotion and some are of him giving a promotion.

Happy Memorial Day!  I'm giving thanks for my soldier and thinking of all of those Moms that have lost their soldiers today.  Thank you for your service today and always.

I did say this post would be random...

Around Here

Hubby has been working on our '57 Aloha travel trailer.  Mostly just taking things apart.  We needed to find out if the ice box and stove can be restored or if there is just too much damage.  I asked our local Vintage Aloha Travel Trailers on facebook.  Their feedback was that yes they can be saved but no one knew who could do it for us.  If you know of someone that can help, let me know.

 I think with some sanding and paint I can fix up the ice box myself but the stove needs a sand blaster, powder coating and a rebuilding of the mechanics.  I'm hoping that they can be saved.

 My favorite patch of little white flowers are blooming under the fig tree.

 It's raining this morning but we've had some nice days to work in the yard.  There is always a lot of clean up in the spring and the grass is really growing.

The blog turned into a travelogue for a bit but that is over for now.  We are playing catch up at work and at home.  It's all good, though.