Missing you with our big hearts!

Thinking of you everyday Honey! With dad in recovery after double hip replacement.

Outside the rehab facility.

Shore of Lake Tahoe. Taking a break at Kirkwood. Beach at Courtwright Reservoir.

Wearing dad's shoes in the camper.

Florence Lake kayaking.

Inverness, CA looking towards Tomales Bay.

We think of you Honey everyday! Miss that sweet, mellow demeanor. Your charm and spirit have a piece of our hearts.

1,000 Goldens Project

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING HONEY'S STORY TO THE 1,000 GOLDENS PROJECT. WE ARE HONORED!

Please see http://www.1000goldens.com/featured-golden-retrievers/2009/6/8/golden-retriever-7-of-1000.html to find Honey's story.

Take a look at the amazing 1,000 Goldens site, and learn more about the project! Once the 1,000 Goldens book is complete, 100% of the books proceeds will be donated to the Golden Retriever Foundation, an organization dedicated to Golden research, rescue and education.

To view the dogs who are already part of the 1000 Goldens Project, visit the Featured Goldens section.

Gallery at Squaw Valley - Keoki Flagg

Dave and I happened upon this wonderful gallery at Squaw Valley USA this past weekend. We were so missing our Honey, a doll of a trip companion. And, excited to see a few ski patrol goldens heading up on the tram to their post mid-mountain at the ski patrol hut.

We then found Gallery Keoki. This is an amazing gallery filled with huge wonderful photographs of the Lake Tahoe area, as well as other sculptures, photos, paintings, and glasswork.

The photographer, Keoki Flagg, did a photo shoot in 2002 for Ski Magazine on ski patrol dogs. The article is called 'Top Dogs'. Many are of golden retreivers, as Alpine Meadows Ski Resort apparently only used goldens for their rescue team. Squaw Valley uses goldens as well as other snow doggies. LOVE the ones above...called 'Nine Golden Sunrise'.

We encourage you to visit Keoki Flagg's website. Wonderful photos.

http://www.gallerykeoki.com

Remembering Honey Time

Some trip photos....ah...miss our Honey!! An amazing companion! With Kristin, x-country skiing around a lovely meadow.

Always eyes glued on a delicious looking snack....

On the shore of Lake Tahoe, near Camp Richardson, a favorite parkie.

With friends, during the last days of the 2008 ski season....

Yum! Thanks for the delicious snow pile!

Always front seat in mom's kayak.
On the shore of Courtwright Reservoir.

Catching sticks with dad at Courtwright Reservoir.

Wearing dad's shoes!

Checking things out from the camper door.

Sticks! At Salmon Lake, Gold Lakes area.

Honey's Rainbow

A beautiful Rainbow Bridge for Honey! We so miss that little golden face! Thank you Bella, Craig, Bodie & Doyle
theprofessionalsat.blogspot.com



Huge hugs and thanks to our wonderful friends and neighbors, Sammie Golden, her mom and dad. They have been right there with us for parkie times, Honey care, advise, support and hugs!
On today's post, there is a wonderful video of Honey: www.sammiegolden.blogspot.com
Special thanks and hugs to grandpeep, Cam, who made a card, and sat with Honey when she was visiting their home.

Amazing support from The Bumpass Hounds bumpasshounds.blogspot.com for their advice and thoughts through this time. We have read your emails over and over.

Thank you to The 'Splorin' Wolfies for the post on excerpts from Eugene O'Neils dog.
thesplorinwolfies.blogspot.com

An excerpt from a poem Checkers sent to us by Alice E. Chase:

"I will miss you little friend,
For I could never measure
The happiness you brought me,
The comfort and the pleasure.
And since God put you here to share
In earthly joy and sorrow;
I'm sure there'll be a place for you
In Heaven's bright tomorrow...

checkersthepeekapoo.blogspot.com

We are so grateful to everyone for their support and wonderful comments. We appreciate all the mentions on sites.  We will miss Honey, she was such a special, sweet pal. 
Our eyes will be wet for some time, but we are celebrating her with memories and photos.

Please give all of your furry loves huge hugs from us!  They are so special and bring so much joy.

HONEY LOVE

Honey left us today, she couldn't fight. Her eyes, her breath, her heart....we have been trying to imagine her somewhere beautiful, with lots of sticks, lakes, other furries...waiting for us at some of our favorite places... leaving her spirit here and there with us....

This has been a heart-breaking day. We cannot stop our tears. Dave and I have been celebrating her, crying for her, trying to come to peace with her struggle....and her little body that couldn't fight anymore.

Always a big love for this special golden that followed us on many adventures, comforted us when we were sad, made us laugh at silly things....and waited for us, until her last day.

Honey love.

Spending our time with Honey....

Honey has endured a very rough past two days. We spent some time at the Emergency Vet last night, and will see her new regular vet this morning.

We can hear her pain, her panting....she knows her little heart and lungs have been invaded by forms we would never wish on any living being.

The medications we had hoped would calm her and give her some peace to hold on a little longer do not seem to be working.

We are shattered, heart-broken, and though we know it is time...it is so unbearable to let her go.

Last night we made a little area for her by the window...and this morning we made the paw print...

We slept near her, hugged her and can't stop our tears.

Taking it day by day.....

With Honey's pal, Dixie....(mom's chocolate lab) who has been helping us care for her. Dixie is 4, but shows compassion and understanding towards sweet Honey.
Yesterday Honey had an ok day and spent some time with Dixie and mom....

Honey even guided herself to sit in the pool on the steps. Cool water for her bones.
A few photos from 2005....memories of great trips, and good times with our super pal....

Loved to bite that Snoopy!
With my brother's doggie, Luna....she is actually a chocolate lab! Such a sweet gal, and smiles at you when she is happy....
I used to be able to take Honey and Luna to work with me, and they patiently shared a giant round pillow!

Special thanks to Golden Samantha and family for that constant, anytime support and help!
And, thank you to The Bumpass Hounds for guidance, YD for mentioning Honey today...and Khyra, Pipa, and others that have mentioned Honey on their site. We are grateful for such amazing pals!

BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! We really appreciate your support and caring. This is so difficult, as you are never prepared to let go. One more day is a blessing, but every next day becomes more difficult.

Lots of tears, lots of hopes, lots of hugs throughout each next day.

Wordless Wednesday

Our sad news

Greetings friends, thank you so much for all of your kind emails from our post yesterday.

And, a big thank you to Brind'Amour for Honey's site award! We appreciate all of you so much!

We received some very heart-breaking news this morning from Honey's vet. The radiologist confirmed that her body has been attacked by cancer, and she is now at an advanced stage. We are so sad, as she has been our companion for many years. We are keeping her comfortable, and hope that she will hang out with us a little longer to enjoy some of her and our good friends, and family.

My husband had Honey as a puppy, and as soon as he picked her up, they did a cross country road trip together. Ever since then, Honey has done many wonderful trips. I met Dave and Honey in 2003, and we have been fortunate enough to enjoy lots of trips to beautiful places. A photo of me with Honey yesterday and below is the first road trip I did, with Dave and Honey just after meeting them......



We explored the Grand Canyon....
Bishop, California.....Eastern Sierras
Campground below the Eastern Sierras.....
Camping in Zion National Park......
Honey is a great traveler!

Today, Honey and I will visit some nice parkies in our area. She still has a bit of an appetite, and the vet has given us some medications that should keep her pain low, and hopefully she may perk up a bit.

Aw! This is very sad for us!

Not good news.....

Our dear Honey has been not doing well. We are very concerned. Our vet visit today was not a positive one....Honey has some bone-on-bone spots on her spine, and her left hip. She can barely walk these days. The vet also saw some questionable tumors throughout her little body. We are awaiting another opinion from a radiologist.

Honey and I spent some time at her favorite parkies today, among parkie friends.....and some time with dad.....