Day: January 26, 2018

They Are Family

/ doubledacres / 22 Comments

 

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My ride dog and companion, Kate.

 

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner

One thing that I can not wrap my feeble little mind around is how can people abuse animals?  How can folks just give an old dog to a shelter and then they have the nerve to replace them with a new puppy.  It breaks my heart when I see this happen.  Folks whether you believe it or not animals do have feelings.

Kate suffered from crystals in her urine and she had to have hip surgery when she was a year old.  After surgery she slept on the couch and I slept on the floor beside her.  From that time on she was my dog.  She did her best not to let me out of her sight.  She went everywhere with me and since I am a farrier she was my ride dog.  She loves riding “shotgun” and loves to watch the road.

 

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Kate takes riding “shotgun” seriously.

 

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Kate after surgery and her “jammies”.

 

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Kate chilling after surgery.

 

 

 

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings

My dad never liked dogs and still doesn’t to this day.  He just turned 84 so I guess it is pretty safe to say he probably never will.  I know they aren’t for everyone but there is no reason on earth to abuse them.

Just imagine, you are 6 years old and your dad puts you in the car and off you go.  After awhile you don’t recognize the area you are traveling in and it appears to be in the country and it is raining.  Finally in a very secluded place your dad stops the car and gets outside.  He opens your door and he grabs you by the hand and leads you over to a log and tells you to sit down.  Then he walks back to the car, gets in it and drives off.  Leaving you there all alone, in a strange place and you are scared.

Now don’t give me that BS that I am comparing apples to oranges.  I am not.  Both are alive, confused, scared and broken hearted.  Neither have done anything to be treated this way.  Thousands of animals are dumped each year just because their owner doesn’t want them anymore.  Maybe I went a little overboard trying to get my point across but animals do have feelings.

Soooooo, if you are thinking about getting a pet remember that they have feelings and would like a forever home and they are a member of the family.  Please, if you can’t accept this then get a “Pet Rock”.

 

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For the cat lovers out there.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love!

 

 

 

 

Winter on the River

/ doubledacres / 2 Comments

 

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Boat ramp on the Bourbeuse at I44 and US50 near Union, MO.

 

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” – Anne Bradstreet

Listen!  Can you hear that?  It is the sound of a riffle on the river resonating throughout the silence of early morning.  It is calling me.  Taunting me. Temptation is alive within the very veins that deliver the blood needed to sustain my life.  My heart rate speeds up as I realize that warmer weather is around the corner.  Oh how I have missed the river.

 

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Bourbeuse River

My imagination begins to work overtime.  Is it possible that the river has missed me as much as I have it?  Does it get lonely as it meanders along the countryside with no traffic upon its waters?  The life that inhabits its waters is almost dormant in an effort to conserve fat reserves until the waters become warm again and the fish have an abundant food supply.  The river waits patiently for the angler to inhabit its waters once again so it can share the beauty of Mother Nature for another cycle of life on the river.

 

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Bourbeuse River

“A river seems a magic thing.  A magic, moving, living part of the earth itself.” – Laura Gilpin

The river waits for the grip of the icy fingers to melt back into the water between its banks.  There has been very little rainfall in the Midwest and the water levels are very low.  Old Man River hopes for some substantial rain fall to bring the water levels to normal.  Even some minor flooding is needed to purge the leaves and debris from between the banks of the river.  The river knows that heavy spring rains brings with it the chance of some major flooding.  Time will tell.

I hate to disappoint, however I am not crazy.  I know the river doesn’t miss me nor it never will.  It is kind of nice to imagine it missing me as much as I have missed it.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It is deeply appreciated.  Remember spread the love.