Goodbye my Sophie love

Sophie went to doggy heaven this week.  She was a good old dog and I will miss her.  Before the vet came to our house we did a few last things.  Of course we went for a walk.  Like all dogs Sophie loved her walks.  Then we fingerprinted or I guess that would be paw painted.  And before she left she had a treat of chocolate.  Thirteen years was a long time together:

In her finest

Naughty on the quilt

Last love fest

A little fingerpainting on the backyard walkway

On her pillow

Six weeks old

Sophie, the Look

Sophie on the quilt, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This winter along with being unemployed has given me the opportunity to do a little sewing. A good quilter has a "stash" of fabric and supplies that we purchase when the getting is good with the excuse that we will make something of it later. Well, I have been using my stash this winter. I recently finished my "A day at the beach" quilt and am now ready to sandwich the finished top with the warm and cuddly batting with the back on the bottom. In order to do this I place the back down on the hardwood floor, then place the batting and then secure it to the floor with masking tape so that it won't scootch around when I place the top on top and start the first step of "quilting". Watch out when you turn your head the pets get right in the middle of your project. When I asked Sophie to move she gave me this look.

On the way to Denver

painted desert, Utah, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Sophie

Sophie, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Last week I was talking to a patient of mine about dogs. She offered to show me a picture of hers which was adorable as most al dogs are. I was embarrassed to say I had no pictures of my Sophie. So the other day we had a photo shoot in the Zen garden. Sophie chose her spot in the sun and then wondered what the heck I was doing. Sophie has been my "best friend" for almost 8 years. When I first brought her home she fit on my forearm and that was the way we went places together. Now she is just under 100lbs and if she happens to sit on my foot it hurts. (She used to be 122lbs!)
We start every day with a 3 mile walk which today caught us in the middle of a downpour of rain but Akitas have a double layer coat and well, I had a windbreaker and a hat.
With the exception of a few years of married life I have had a dog since I was a young child. My mother and I used to have collies and show them professionally but as an adult I am a one dog girl. Akitas get a bad rap sometimes for their aggressiveness but with good training, regular excercise and lots of love they can be wonderful family companions. Sophie is the best dog I have ever had. I thought she deserved a post of her own.

Morning walk

getting ready for the day, 2, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Getting ready for the day series. Each morning I get up Sophie and I head outside for our morning exercise. My equipment: my walking shoes and my heartrate monitor. Sophie's equipment: her pretty pink leash. She is always more eager to go than I am. After all I can pee in the house. She has to wait until I take her outside. Bladders empty we take the route to the steepest incline to get my heart rate up to a "cardiac workout level" We are out about an hour and by the time we get home we are both awake and READY FOR THE DAY. Now get your shoes on and get out there! You will enjoy your day much more.

Sophie

Sophie, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

I have awakened Sophie with my photography. Sorry Sophie!