Look up to the stars - what do You see

 

The Stars make me Dream

"I don't know anything with certainty, but seeing  the stars make me dream."

~Vincent van Gogh~

Here's a little clip from a post back in 2019

Story time - I have to tell you about one night years ago we got up around 2 am to watch the stars.

We had the blankets and pillows all ready to lay outside and hope for something special to happen. 

The dogs came out with us and after cuddling awhile and wondering why we weren't in bed, they started to walk around and ended up they both had a big smelly poop close by.

Well that wasn't the special thing we had
hoped to happen that night.

After getting up and a few laughs we went back to bed.

Summer seems to offer us those special times to stay up later and feel young again with our kids and grandchildren.

Rolling down the front lawn or a splash of water at the beach on someone always gives us a chance to play even in an unexpected way.

Perhaps the extra glass of wine helps too!

I don't have any memories of having fun with my parents or grandparents other than a card game we played at Christmas so it's a special time for me to be part of, to learn from and definitely want to do more.

PS. Those remember when family times are important

for sharing & saving.

Take Care as we continue to make

our way through 2022.

I hope you're having a good day and there's

something that will make it special.

A nap sounds good to me.

Thanks for your visit.

Links to share with others below and all

posts are in the archives for viewing.

Mr. Bojangles - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - [With Lyrics]

Do you have songs that make you cry?

The Ugly Cry.

I DO - this is often one of them.

Dona Anderson

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In my guitar groups music books there are 2 songs that make me cry.

This one and the other is Puff the Magic Dragon.

I love them both but ...

Some days the tears just start to come.

Then it's Quick - find a tissue as tears are running down my face and I need to blow my nose. 

I wonder who else has songs

 that do the same to them for
whatever reason ...

I used to be very sensitive,

much worse than now.  

I couldn't listen or watch some things because the ugly cry would swell my eyes up so bad I just had little slits to see out of the next morning.

Sometimes it was embarrassing especially when we were out at movies or concerts. 

The people beside me weren't always appreciative. 

And, I really felt bad when others told me their problem/story and would apologize that I was sad/tearing up.

Do us sensitive ones ever lose it or

is it just how we're suppose to be. 

Google can Help. 

There's questions & responses to help about

crying if you want to check that out.  

There are even Benefits listed.

I guess I need that cry every once in awhile

which was the second I added Tilly's photo in here.

My first photo message back in 2012 - Miss you beautiful  Scottie Girl.

 Her heart was very Kind & Happy.

Thanks for your visit.

New posts every Tuesday.

Together we're sharing Wellness around
the World - links for sharing below.

PS. I hope I'm not alone in this crying thing and Hopefully

 one day we can get back to those before Covid activities.

Christmas List - Pet version

Lucy has her own Holiday Wish List

Dona Anderson
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She even has her own stocking for Santa.

Can't forget the rest of the family at this time of year.

We LOVE you sweet Scottie girl.

Here's what's on Her List

Hi, I'm Lucy

Resting ... by the fireplace ✅
Cuddling ... in the blankets ✅
Cookies ... maybe new ones to try out ✅
Walk ... need exercise  after cookies ✅ 
Treats ... leftovers from the fridge ✅
Gifts ... maybe a new stuffy ✅
Visitors ... more pats and kisses ✅
Supper ... loves a bit of turkey gravy  & even better with peas added to my dish ✅

Love it that we get to be
 part of all her wishes.

Last one - Play in the snow ... We can't help with this one Lucy but hoping you do get to play in the snow - it makes you so ... happy.  


She wants to know if you see her eye?

This post was Lucy approved!

New Years wish -
More of the same. 

Our Summer surprise - We have a new girl in the house, a beautiful 5 year old Westie (West Highland White Terrier) girl Kelsie. 

that's me, Kelsie

I hope she likes the Christmas holidays and we're looking forward to see what she likes about Winter.

We'll have fun making new memories, wish lists and taking pictures of them both for next year.

I do know that anything food related, tummy and back rubs, and Sunshine would be on her list. 

She loves going for a walks, and faces to kiss. 

*** Lucy says she already got the best gift this year - 

a new Sister. 

Thanks for your visit.

Please take care of you this busy time of year and keep the pets warm.

WELLNESS COMBO - How did you Score ?

Figuring it out ...

Dona Anderson
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I shared these 3 Wellness posts below with you in the spring. 

Link to Part 1, What does Wellness Mean
and part 2 & 3 take a look at 8 types.

Link to Part 2

Link to Part 3

It's good to review our life periodically as we often live in a kind of auto pilot mode and don't notice little changes that can add up.

While working on these 3 posts I found and signed up for a free online Wellness Master Class provided by Brendon Burchard.

loved it.

It was eye opening in many ways and the course went much deeper than the information I've shared in the posts above but these are a good starter to get us going and thinking.

He also had a few different words as headings for the self assessment in his training so the answers could be a bit different as well.

It's beginning to feel like the title of the Song - We've only just Begun.

What I especially liked in his course was how he presents it so that it all makes sense, feels honest and genuine for whoever you are and whatever your goals and life plans are about.

In the months that followed I've been reviewing my notes and other information I gathered.

Here's some of it.

To say the least, it has been a good experience and time for getting to know myself better in this Now time of life.

Brendon used words for things that can make or break our wellness like our Environment, Intentions, Clarity, Neglect, Dissatisfaction and more.

He went on the ask - are you Happy?

Telling us we need a Plan and to use Reminders.

It's good that you can write something and then delete it all because that's what I had to several times here.  

         Here's why -

I used to live by plans, a spreadsheet and reminders but over the years let some of it slide.

Funny how as you get older you think you don't need to wear a watch, check the calendar (ok yes now you can do all that on your phone) and then a year or two goes by and you look back and ask yourself - what did I do with the last year.

So I connected again to the mantra, Start Living from this post & Summer of Music song, My List.

While doing Brendon's self assessment I noticed my scoring on the a couple of areas was a bit low.

What's that about?

I first wrote about what I thought the reason was and then in looking at this again,

it was all wrong.

Here's what it really was -

First - missing several friends from their passing over our time here, and others moved out of the area in the last few years.

This connected me to most of what was missing - the visits, fun activities, adventures, conversations and lots of going out or home cooked meals together.

Then I connected to us not having our little motor home any more so more loss of adventures - the winter trips south, family visits, other trips and all the people you visit and meet.

Also a couple of years back My leg really bothered me for about a year. Then we lost of our West Highland White Terrier (Westie) girl Chloe. 

These 2 both put me in a kind of slump and getting out and walks didn't seem so fun anymore.

It's funny how a few changes over the years slowly start to add up and your whole world gradually & quietly becomes a different place.

Now that I know more about what to focus my attention on I'll be more mindful of how my days look and make plans that help me fill in the spaces.


It won't look like it did in the past.

But it can still be - Happy.

We have to keep being part of our Life as it changes ...

I'm very Grateful to those who provide all the online series to help us learn more about Cancer, Diabetes, Alzheimer's, our Brain, Wellness and lots more.

New - We were lucky and got another Westie Girl in the summer.

She (Kelsie) was having to be re homed and the breeder called to see if we'd want her -  YES and she's staying.

We don't know much about her first 5 years but she's happy and doing well with her new sister our Scottie girl Lucy.

that's it for today, Take Care.

Links for sharing and commenting below.

Together we're spreading Wellness around the World.

Thanks for your visit, 

💚  Let's keep putting wellness activities on our
 Calendar to give ourselves wonderful things to 
look forward to, even if it's just a hair cut.

(I always feel better after a hair cut)

PS. Hi, it's Oct 6 now and I want to add to this 

post that the other night when not sleeping I felt a

connection to this earlier Sep 10 Ted Talk post

and the story I shared in this one.

so here's the link if you'd like to see it

New post next week.

15 Years wasn't long Enough.

Chloe 

Warning this is about -

Loss of a pet

Tear jerker

The Ugly Cry

Tears of Love

That about describes it all

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This is what I shared on FB at the time

Yesterday Chloe traded her wheels in for wings to Fly.
I believe in doggy heaven
I believe in doggy angels
I believe in friends to meet you and Love you
I believe that we'll see you later
Go forward Beautiful girl.
You will be and have all of these.
We are so lucky you picked us to Love you.for 15 years and forever.
We Love you so.....much Mom Dad & Lucy.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


It's been six months now and while the hurt softens it's still there as we remember our last kisses.

Chloe our beautiful West Highland White (Westie) girl had to leave us.

For 15 wonderful years we had the privilege to look after and love her. But the loving never stops and it's the love that hurts - it has no place to go.

In our hearts we still hold her close by and remember all the travelling we did, the cuddles under the covers, the kisses, the tricks to get more cookies, the smiles she gave out to others on our walks, and watching her personality come out as a terrier and a best friend.

She didn't care about getting dirty when a hole needed to be dug, that maybe she shouldn't be licking our friends toes that always tasted so good, and turkey gravy,  tuna water or rice and peas were always the favorite extras to her supper bowl.

When they're puppies they try to go fast to see what's ahead and it was nice to see her slow down, stop to look around, and as they say, smell the roses.

Luckily we have our Scottie girl Lucy to hold on to but she didn't know where Chloe went so she was also very sad and lonely.

Where's my sister? Who am I going to eat and sleep with?

I've never been alone before...

Over time we stop crying as often, lessen the reminders around the house and think of her up in Heaven with her doggy friends and a few people who also Loved her so that helps a bit.

I noticed that because we're retired, home more and travelled a lot with the dogs we are attached even more to them and the places she slept summer & winter are now all empty.

We also got to dog sit their friends so more dogs to love and remember.

Many people say when their pets pass they can't get another because the loss was too hard on them.  I get it but for me now, not having a pet to cuddle would be even harder. Later when our Lucy passes we may be too old but I hope we will partner with someone to be the dog sitters, walkers or whatever we can to keep sharing the love we have to give and getting the love they give.

Cuddles and walking are wonderful Stress reducers.

Several years back when we lost our Scottie girl Tilly I wrote about how life changed and about telling our stories. I guess we've been reliving some of that again and I often go back to this post to feel close to her again.  Here it is if you want to read it.  For us dog lovers we all seem to connect at these times as we all know how the loss deeply affects us.

Keeping the Heart open is often really hard but that's where the 
Love and Memories live.

Salton Sea California

Please give your pets an extra HUG for me, thanks.

Thanks for listening.

The Dog made me do it

Getting the Decorations out ...

Pictured is Chloe's first Christmas in the mini sleigh 2003.

She was 11 months old when this picture was taken.


Dona Anderson
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Love our Chloe, West Highland White Terrier (Westie) 

She has been our bundle of JOY for

all these years. 

 Love her so much.

We're thankful for each day we have her.

She's almost 15 now and her sister Lucy our Scottie girl 3, is doing a good job looking after her when needed.  Although Lucy is getting a bit tired of Chloe often trying to eat her food.

I have other pictures I could have shared with you but this one grabbed my heart.

Our pets will have their stockings out for Santa too. They like to be included in the Sparkle and Magic of the holidays.

OK, to be honest it's the treats they really want. 

We'll be looking forward to the rest of the month as we sit by the fireplace or on the front porch when it's a sunny afternoon cuddled up in a blanket.  

Move over I need some of that blanket too!!!

Goodies are coming later.

Do you have pet stories to tell?

Love to hear about them.