I don't have many pictures of me and Shasta together. I found this one a little while ago and love looking at it. I can see the happiness I felt in this picture. And I can feel my arms around Shasta, holding him close.

Mavis and Shasta
January 2003
Rocky Neck State Park , CT

Baby Birds

Earlier this month, while Shasta rested on the back porch, I noticed the forsythia bushes near the porch were quite overgrown. I decided to trim them back. My efforts nearly chopped up a Robin's nest. I stopped trimming just in time; the mother bird surprised me as she flew out of the nest when I got too close . I had cut back a lot of the bush by then though, and wasn't sure how upset the mother bird was. I wondered if she would come back, or if she did come back would she have enough protection from the weather now that the nest was so exposed. I decided to finish the rest of the trimming another day and after peaking at the three little blue eggs, decided to leave the nest alone and hope for the best.

On May 21st, I checked the nest again and learned all was well. I discovered three new baby Robins. A bit ugly, the way newborn things can be, but very much alive. The camera was a little confusing for them, they acted like it might feed them.

Over the next week I often saw the mother Robin rushing in and out of the nest to feed her little family. She found lots of worms and juicy bugs in our yard. I am pleased with her efforts and hope she will encourage other birds to eat at our house.

Today I checked again and found the three fledglings looking much better now that they have feathers. They are still very hungry. They would click their beaks impatiently at the camera, expecting food.


I'm glad I was not a home wrecker and that the Robins lived through my redecorating.

Monroe's Big Adventure

I've been trying to help Monroe remove some of her winter undercoat. As the weather warms she has a hard time in the heat with all her long black fur. She isn't a big fan of brushing, but she will tolerate it OK. The sun was shining and it was pleasant yesterday, so I took Miss Monroe outside to brush her out for a while.

The back yard is fenced, but the neighbor’s dogs like to fence fight with Monroe, so I took her to the front yard to avoid that craziness. I had Monroe on a long leash so that she could’t run out of the yard. She had other plans, however. A cat ran by, Monroe ran after the cat, the leash snapped, and before I could get up off the lawn Monroe was gone. And I do mean GONE. She ran off behind my neighbors house and from there I had no idea which way to she went. I spent the next panic filled 15 minutes (or a lifetime, I’m not sure which) running through the neighborhood looking for her.

I finally found a man walking her by the 18” piece of leash still attached to her collar and yelled to him “Hey! That’s mine!!” He laughed and when I caught up to him, he told me he found Monroe just sitting on his front porch. He was walking her to see if he could find where she lived. I’m guessing Monroe thought the man wouldn't brush her so much ?? Or maybe the food at his house smelled better than the food at home?? Monroe has been on a diet since we lost Shasta. We let Shasta eat anything he wanted after we learned he had cancer, food was one of his favorite things. Monroe got in on a bit of the food action, too. Here is a picture taken May 3rd of Shasta and Monroe begging for a bite of a popsicle from Art, (Shasta's favorite flavor was Lime, Monroe likes Strawberry).



Now that Shasta is gone, it’s time to find Monroe’s waistline again, and to reteach her to not beg for our food. I don’t think she sees the logic in any of that.

I’m just glad she is home safe, and I did give her a few pieces of cheese so she would know I still love her….

Looking through some of Shasta's puppy pictures, missing him so

This is Shasta's mom, Gypsy, on December 19, 1999, five days before Shasta and his eight siblings were born. I can see some of Shasta in Gypsy's face.

Shasta came to live in our home on February 19, 2000.

To say he was a cute puppy is an understatement.

It is Monroe's birthday today. She is 9 years old.

She is alone without her buddy, Shasta. Monroe is a sweet dog, but Shasta was always more important to her than any human. I took her for a walk at the park today and we tried to figure out how we will move forward together without Shasta. Neither of us know how to do that yet, but we are trying.

In the back yard, the Johnny-Jump-Ups have recovered.

Everything has turned so green these past few weeks. When I look out the window I can hardly believe all the leaves I see on the trees across the street.

The green of early spring is beautiful, but these photos were so much better with Shasta in them instead.
May 11 post
April 23 post

It's going to take a long time to accept the reality of Shasta's death. Posting pictures and expressing my thoughts in this blog has helped some. I can not yet release my heart from this sadness, but sharing memories helps me to remember the joy. Hopefully, over time, the good memories will fill some of the void created in me when Shasta left.

I received a beautiful card in the mail today from Shasta's veterinarian, Dr. Shook, and his office staff.

It has inspired me to spend some time posting a few of my favorite photos from the past 10 years. I never what to forget the joy of Shasta's perfect unconditional love.

Art took me to the garden store Sunday and we bought a flowering dogwood tree for Shasta. Art planted it in the front yard. It has two small flowers on it now; at this time next year it should bloom with many more.

I miss Shasta more that I have words to describe. He was such a big part of me. I don't want to forget what it felt like to touch him or to receive one of his tender kisses. I want to remember everything about him. His scent is still on his favorite stuffed toy, I hold it close so Shasta doesn't feel so far away. My heart aches, I don't know what to do.

I loved the way Shasta greeted every morning with joy. He would do this bucking bouncing thing down the hallway ahead of me in celebration of the start of a new day. He would look over his shoulder a few times on the way to be sure I was coming along behind him. My mornings are now filled with quiet. I never knew how sad quiet could be.

When Shasta was a puppy I found this little wooden Kokopeli dancing along with his dog. I put it over the front door to celebrate all the joy that came into my life every time Shasta and I went through this doorway together. Oh how I want to go back and re-live it all again. Without Shasta I have completely lost my way, and I have no desire to go find a new direction.

I did smile a little today when I made myself a cup of tea and read the little note on the string of the tea bag. It is the motto that Shasta lived by.

Looking at pictures and old videos, remembering good times.....

Shasta
December 24, 1999 - May 15, 2010

Shasta has left this world following a brief battle with cancer.
I am honored to have been a part of his life for 10 years.
I am lost without him.

Naptime in the Spring Sunshine

The weather today was BEAUTIFUL. I decided to pull some of the garden weeds that have grown tall in the spring rain. The only reason I would do such a thing, as far as Shasta is concerned, is so he can enjoy a nap in the fresh cool dirt. The Johnny-Jump-Ups are now Johnny-squished-flats. But Shasta is happy, so that's all that really matters.

This picture made me smile - I can see my reflection in Shasta's eye. He is always watching me.