Gracie

 Although lately I spend more time with dog issues than I do in my studio, I wouldn't have done anything differently.  Gracie is my 14 year old collie-lab mix who has just had a rough time of it these past few months.  I am well aware that at certain points, had she been part of another family, she'd have been put down.  Sometimes it is sadly about affordability and other times it's about having the time to deal with a pet's illness.  I find that heartbreaking, having to choose to end a life based on money and time.  But I know it's real and I'm grateful I am not in those shoes.  

Even more so, because Gracie is finally coming around.  After 84 days, or nearly 3 months, my old girl is beginning to ask for food, showing a bit of appetite, is 100 % mobile (though she has her moments of stumbling and awkwardness) and putting on a tiny bit of weight.  She's been through acupuncture, countless diet changes, x-rays, ultrasound and I've taken her off her daily meds.  Yesterday she spent the afternoon at the referral clinic (VRCC) being observed and we're awaiting results of bloodwork to see if she is unable to absorb nutrients, among other things.  


Gracie is not a lovey-dovey dog, but when I leave the house lately and come home, she is beyond happy to see me.  I think she knows she isn't quite right and she is relieved she hasn't been left.  I'm tickled to see her romping again with the other pups and generally just acting like an old lady dog.  I've known all along this was not her time to die.  She wasn't right, but she was in no way ready to give up.  And when she is, I'll be there to help her through that transition.  Until then, we are thrilled to have our old gal still with us. 

October!! Dogs, Art and Life, ohmy.

Hard to believe we're heading towards mid-October already.  I JUST finished the 43rd Street Festival yesterday...or so it seems.  I've actually had some "free" time, loosely defined, where I could actually sit down with my pups and watch a little Ellen or Dexter or another fav show.  I began reading a book 2 months ago, read about 1/2 a chapter, and then was able to finish that chapter yesterday in my doctor's office.  I have no clue when I'll get back to it.   I think anyone can relate...at a "Certain Age" we all seem to lose our free time which we so badly need in order to regenerate, and when we do have it, we fill it in with bits and pieces of things unfinished.  I REALLY miss the days from my 20's when I'd get home after work and sit down and wonder what I would do for the rest of the evening.  

from 43rd Street Festival of the Arts

So, to catch up, I'll start with Miss Gracie.  You can see prior posts if any of this is new.  Or just skip altogether and wait for the next painting to be posted. 
Anyway, my old girl-dog Gracie has nearly fully recovered from her bout with Canine Vestibular Syndrome.  She's unfortunately not ever really recovered from her weight loss and remains odd about food and eating, as well as feeble.  After 2 months we're realizing that Gracie is simply at the end of her life and we're here to help her through the transition, no matter how long it takes.  She's otherwise vibrant, interested and loves her very brief walks in front of the house.  She eats better than any human I know, (when we can get food in her) since we now offer her people food.  Steak, green beans, brussels sprouts, beef sticks, cheese, yams, etc.  My fridge has never been so well-stocked.  The other dogs think it's the best thing ever, since they get her leftovers.  Here you can see Gracie talking to Gabby and she looks beautiful. 

Eugene, Gracie, Gabriela

Next up is our Gabby lab - the anxiety filled wonder hound who is forced against her will to ride in a car (!!) every week to puppy school (triple !!!) and actually socialize with other living beings besides her pack.  oh the horrors.  In spite of her protests - she actually squeezes herself in our bedroom between a chair and a table to make herself invisible and inaccessible - once we arrive she is actually coming out of her shell.  I've learned to take her on a walk around the facility about 10 minutes prior to class to help her shake her energy.  This is a dog than can leap  spring-loaded about 4 feet straight up in the air with no running start.  She's 54 pounds.  So the walk helps and this week she greeted nearly every person and dog as they arrived.  Wow.  I was beside myself with happy.  Granted, playing was not an option and once greeted she was done, but for her to choose to greet and feel safe enough to sniff noses, hands and butts (you are on your own with the visuals) was great progress.  I think some of the other humans still don't quite understand why we are there - she knows the commands and behaves quite nicely - but I am grateful for everyone who has been open to us hanging out, walking around and doing our thing a bit separately from the class assignments.  


Life has been life.  Classes are full and running, lingering commissions are seeing fresh paint,  weekends are reserved for my husband.  In other words, It's good, challenging, busy.  Whose isn't?