A puppy named Belton

We have decided it's been enough time since Jazzy passed to introduce a new dog to Marley.  Life as I know it is about to change with the addition of a new dog. I think I'm up to this.

Belton is a parti-colored Standard Poodle - 5 months old. Pretty boy!

We will bring him home the first of September. Right now, I am re-learning puppy nutrition, crate training and trying to figure out how not to traumatize him or Marley as well as potty training. I'll keep you posted on how all of that works when he comes home to Odessa from Arkansas.

Shot Down in a Blaze of Glory.....

It was pouring down rain...I mean a real gusher of rain.  John and Eli were suppose to hop on the Spyder and ride it to Capitan, Lincoln and then into Odessa, but plans changed when they were both wet in 5 minutes. Eli got into the car with Lizzy and me, and John got grumpy..real fast. After I pointed out the fact that he knew it was going to rain and didn't pack accordingly....he hunkered down. The rain didn't last long.

1st stop was the home of  Smokey The Bear in Capitan, NM.  I'd been here before, but loved seeing it through the kids eyes. I mean, who doesn't love Smokey The Bear?

 Smokey's final resting place Inside the beautiful Smokey The Bear Historical Park

The sun was out...John dried out and we headed up the road just a few miles to Lincoln County, NM. This is the sight of the historical Lincoln County Wars where Billy The Kid was part of the problem or solution depending on which history you want to believe. Anyway...always fun to learn more about the American West and a folk lore legend...

Old Lincoln County Courthouse.  It's been restored and is full of many interesting facts which include a time line of events.

Not far from home, now....I can smell the dirt.  After lunch in Carlsbad...we rolled the back roads into Seminole, hit Andrews - where John stopped at Cpl. Rays for coffee and we pushed on to Odessa, TX The end of our journey...an epic trip, for sure.

Heading for Texas...or where am I today?

After so many days riding Dolly and being adventuresome, Lizzy and I turned the bike toward the East out of Camp Verde and headed for Springerville, NM where we stayed one night before mushing into Ruidoso, NM where we will hook up with hubby and Eli.

The weather is gorgeous, finally not too blazing hot as we left Camp Verde and headed for our first stop in Pine, AZ on Highway 260 East. That was a pretty road.  I'd do that road again in a heart beat.  Plenty of wide open areas with a few sweeps and twisties thrown in for fun. We fueled and got fresh water in Pine and then ventured forth toward Springerville, NM.  The road was great...not too much traffic and plenty of beautiful mountains to see...with green trees!

Springerville found us at a nice motel right off the main road with a great little cafe right next door.
The free breakfast was pretty good and while eating, I started a conversation with a couple who were from South Africa and Rhodesia. After telling them about Lizzy's interest in foreign languages and cultures, they said they would love to meet her.  It was very cool to see Lizzy being talked to in Zulu and in Africanz.  Lizzy was pretty impressed and added those to languages to her journal of languages and cultures that she has now met and heard.

We headed to Ruidoso, NM with the end in sight..well after a 327 mile trip, that is.  This was the long stretch at the end of the trip, but we just had hunker down and do it.

Pie Town was interesting...nothing there except two pie shops and a small gift store.  We went into the gift shop, bought some small items and visited with the owners before having a piece of pie at the Pio-Neer.  I had peach with raspberry.  It was, by my pie standards, just OK.  Off we go to San Antonio, NM where we picked up Highway 380.  HOT!  HOT!  HOT. The store attendant where we fueled said the freeway entrance to Highway 380 was closed and gave us directions to go around. Well....the directions may have worked at one time, but 15 minutes later the road ended in a dead end and we had to turn around and go back...it's HOT!!  Turns out, the entrance was not closed and we scooted onto Highway 380 toward our destination of Ruidoso, NM.

Stars and Stones....as we wind into Ruidoso it was raining.  Not hard...but definitely rain. We are dirty, tired and hungry...pizza room service!

Eli and John arrived around 9:30...warmed up pizza, took showers, watched a little TV...we all crashed! We head for Billy the Kid trail and home of Smokey The Bear tomorrow before arriving at home.  Last night on the road.

Grand Canyon Ride - The Zip Line or how I thought I would die!

So...OK....Zip Line.  I am a woman of my word, unfortunately in this case.  I signed Lizzy and I up for a 2 hour zip line tour at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, AZ. The name of the zip line is the Predator. But, let's back up before I share my terror with you.  Leaving Sedona.

Sedona is a city that I really don't care to go back to unless I'm in a car. Then, I'd like to poke my nose around in the touristy little shops and spend money on things that when I get them home, I wonder why I bought them.

Camp Verde is only 32 miles from Sedona...piece of cake.  I ask Google to give me directions and it does. The map shows a nice road off the freeway so we decide to take it.  We launch without breakfast...we'll get something on the way out of Sedona as our check in time at the zip is 9:00am.
Reverse is still twitchy and I found that I had put Dolly in a position where I couldn't make a big old circle to turn. We are at a gas station fueling and eating donuts and I spy two hunky dudes whom I recruit to turn it around. Once turned...we were off in search of the back road into Camp Verde, AZ.

What we found was a pretty road with overhanging trees and a dead end. Google promptly told me to turn around. Well, DUH!!!! After turning around in the middle of a forest road with a big old sign that says..DEAD END, we headed back the way we came and got on the freeway, took the correct exit and found our way to the park.  Phew...we are ahead of 9:00am. Sweet!  NOT!  The guys didn't show up until 9:45 as we sat around in the hot morning sun.  OK..they show up.

After a safety briefing and fitting of our harness, we followed our two guides to the wooden stairs that switch backed all the way up 120 feet.  Needless to say, I was the last one up to the launching pad..well, one of the guides was behind me.  OK...my fear is evident on so many levels that my brain is in overload.  if the stairs were any indication of what was ahead....

Awrighty then....the platform is fenced on three sides. Sitting close to the edge of the open launch side is a big, sturdy wooden box, which, I am told is where we launch.  From the moment I reach the platform, I begin to shake and I can't let go of the guide who followed me up the stairs. I will saylet like I was going to fall from the platform..the safety was never a concern as we were always hooked onto at least two points of cable or the platform at the same time. that wasn't the fearful part for me. Plain and simple...it's stepping off the launch box into thin air that scared me to tears.  OK..my turn to go.

I make sure the guide goes over the procedure one more...no...two...no..three more times.  I shake like a quaking Maple tree as I stepped onto the launch box...never letting go of the guide.  I sat down into the harness and told him to push......

I didn't die...I didn't fall off the cable and most importantly...I didn't puke.

After three lines, we came to a rope bridge that was 40' long. WHAT????? After three zip lines, I was feeling pretty good ...I never warmed up to the platform, but the launching from the box, did not bother me after three zips...then comes the rope bridge...my fears elevate off the chart!

They made me go first.  OK...I'll go, but by my controlling rules:  Guide goes in front of me...no wigging....takes baby steps...I hold on to guide with left hand and the rope bridge with my right hand...I get to curse.... I didn't die...I thought I would, but I didn't. Phew!  Two more lines to go and by the time, it was over, my body was stressed, I couldn't talk, barely could walk.  My endorphines had maxed out and all I wanted to do was piddle.

Lizzy loved every minute of it. Every daredevilish thrill...upside down....et, al...she loved it. Does that fact make my fearful experience any better?  NO. But, I am happy for her. Will I ever do it again? NO.  I can embrace what I don't like and I am fine with that!

We've turned the corner...time to head for home.....

...off the Canyon and seriously stupid in Sedona..

Up and off early. I wanted to get through the desert before it heated up.  We made really good time on Dolly but ran into three road construction crews that added three different wait times of over 30 minutes each..in the desert..in the sun at 106'.

We stopped at Cameron Trading Post for lunch...a grateful meal..and then headed out to what would become another bad idea in the history of bad ideas...file this in the Cosmos.

I surprised Lizzy while we were eating at Cameron's that we would side trip to Sedona before going to Camp Verde for the night and see Jurassic World! Needless to say she was ecstatic. Piece of cake getting to Sedona. .right....

More road work..exits that are closed.. detours. Long waits in heat. My body is starting to feel stressed and all of a sudden we are on the road leading into Sedona and it is winding with hair pin curves and non existent guard rails.  My back hurts and my arms ache when we finally get off the mountain.  No. .I did not look at the red cliffs. .I was to busy trying not to fall of one of those red cliffs and fly off into the abyss.

I told Lizzy I couldn't  make it to Camp Verde and we would stay in Sedona.  No vacancy signs everywhere except for 1 room at the Star Motel.  The manager was so helpful. .gave me a glass of lemon water..had me sit down and helped carry our stuff off Dolly.

After cancelling the Camp Verde hotel..a rest and a shower, we got directions for the movie theater. Enter the bad idea for the Cosmos.  Well..diverting to Sedona was one, too.  I forgot to ask which way out of motel ..left or right. I went Right which was wrong.

Say WHAT???

We went for a long way until I felt it was all wrong and stopped for directions..gotem..here we go. It was then that I realized how spread out Sedona is..we found the theater..got our tickets and went into auditorium #2..the movie was almost over...WHAT? I was informed we were an hour early. ..somewhere we had gone through a time zone change. After waiting  almost an hour in the lobby..the  movie started and Lizzy and I were wowed all over again. It's now 7:01 pm and we head out for the motel and I go the wrong way on the road....totally turned around..I don't know where we are. I turn around and go the other way but that doesn't feel right either. Seriously tired and very disoriented (it's the Aliens)..I feel a good cry coming  on when I see a Police sign and pull into the wrong driveway...that gets fixed..the Police helped..but here is the kicker...I couldn't tell them the name of the motel..because I didn't know it. The room key didn't give the name and all my check in paper work was in our room. Idiot check. The Officer got me to the  tourist trap area and that was good enough..Lizzy spotted it and we were back..with absolutely little help from me. After walking a block and having a good Dinner..we crashed...directions only get worse in the morning....

Last day in the Canyon at Jacob Lake Inn

I mentioned in a previous post that Jacobs Lake Inn was a great experience and our last night there..I treated myself to a great massage. At this point in our travels...I needed it. Everything about the Inn was great from the friendly check in desk to the little bakery with the best lemon zucchini cookie I ever ate..to the menu and all the food that came out of the kitchen...to the well stocked gift shops..the rooms..the cute cabins..nature trail and old wooden buildings tucked into the woods..perfect! But the thing that pulls it all together is the people who own it and the staff of friendly returned Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christmas of Latter Day Saints: The Mormons. NO matter what these folk know how to work hard and be happy at the same time giving grateful service. Two thumbs up for Jacob Lake Inn.

Bonding with Dolly

Mule riding day was great..except for the part where w ewe really so close to the rim that I cried. They didn'tel me about THAT part.

OK..here's how this works with me..I cry a lot; especially over gushy family and animal commercials on TV. I also cry when my nerves are raw and I'm in a creepy..scary situation.

Lizzy and I got to the North Rim with Buffalo incident and we're picked up precisely on time to go the mule spot. After a safety briefing, the Wrangler told us he would pick our mounts and out us in order of which mules got along. OK..I get that. My Mule name was Dolly..a sure footed intelligent Mule, indeed. Lizzy rode Hazel.

As we left the paddock with two Wranglers..one in front and one in back, we were told our pictures would betaken...OK...WELL THE MOST SCENIC BACKGROUND. IS...NO..NO BACKGROUND. just the sheer cliffs..right next to my Mules feer. Holy up to highBatman...AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE FOR MY NERVOUS BLADDER, WEARE GOING UP A HILL WHEN EACH ONE OF US IS TO TO STOP FOR PICTURE...STOP??? Just get me the heck way from the edge and off the stupid hill. I was not happy. Lizzy asked me why I was scared..with a teenage smerk..I promptly told her to shut up.

There were three more moments of sheer terror..including going down the same hill where AGAIN THE WRANGLER STOPPED US ALONA SIDE THE RIM AND GAVE US I STRUCTURES OF WHT TO DO AT CORRAL. REALLY????? Get me off the hill!!!!!

When we wound through the forest raiks...I really enjoyed the rI bonded with Dollyand was happy I was on an experienced Mule. It was actually fun Watchung her think through the trail and pick her steps. I liked Dolly.

Lizzy ride Hazel who was a bit lazy until we turned for home, All in all Mule riding day was a big success and garnered me more Cool Grandma remarks.

In honor of Dolly, I renamed my Spyder, Dolly.

PS..no photos..the interface be teen phone and tablet is not working. Once I figure it out..I will edit posts and insrt.

North rim sunset and a bad idea

So..there is probably some type of file for the history of bad ideas. I'm pretty sure it's somewhere out in the Cosmos right now..I need to file one in it....sigh...

As adventures in motorcycling go..this one really has been pretty darned tame..that's really a good thing. So why did I not think that Sunset meant DARK? But, I digress....let's start at the beginning.

 Cameron Trading Post...a welcome sight after leaving the Canyon through the East entrance.

 The view from our room...the room was gorgeous

Dining room served great food. By the time we got here...we both were starved!

Let me begin at the beginning.  We spent the day on the South Rim doing the regular touristy things...hiked a little and took the shuttle to various look outs. Very crowded on the South Rim and after waiting in line for shuttles and bumping into people, we left in mid-afternoon in the heat of the day by way of the East entrance.  The first part of the trip...while still on the Canyon, was gorgeous ...but as soon as we dropped onto the lower elevations, the heat was very intense.  I kept looking at my watch, knowing it should only take us about 1.5 hours to get to Cameron trading Post and it seemed that the time literally stood still in the heat. To make matters worse, the wind was fairly strong and I was behind a family creepy crawling along at a snails pace.

When we pulled out onto Highway 89 and turned the corner...there it was: The Cameron Trading Post. We were surprised at the size of it...much bigger than the pictures showed. Both of us were a bit overheated, so we sat in the dining room and had water with lemon until our bodies adjusted.

After checking into our room, taking showers and resting we were ready for dinner and some shopping in the well-stocked store.

We spent our 4th night (Sunday) tucked into a beautiful room surrounded by comforters and big down pillows. We slept late..ate a great breakfast and headed out across one more hot desert in pursuit of our next destination of Jacobs Lake Inn..just 56 miles from the North Rim.

The scenery was a whole lot of desert until we got to Lee's Ferry..just a few miles from there we wound up t o the 7000+ elevation and found the road winding through a pine forest where the temperature dropped considerably. ..YAY! And the bridge? Yeah a bridge goes over that area of the canyon...a really tall bridge with the bottom...Avery long way down..don't like bridges..Skerd..of heights, I am.

Navajo Bridge at Lees' Ferry...creepy.

Jacob Lake Inn is great..good people..good food..good room. After resting and Watcihng Jurassic Park 2 on TV...we headed out to see the sunset on the rim.

Just before we got to the park entrance...there off to the right a long way off was a very large herd of Buffalo. We slowed down to take a look, but they were not very close.  However, we could see babies, moms and the bulls. Even from a distance, those suckers are huge.

The road was good, even though it was curvy...which I like..but..it had a lot of signs saying...deer...cow...elk...and buffalo. We saw the buffalo herd way off in the distance...which was cool to know they roamed free. Even from a distance...they are huge.

O' see the Buffalo roam...

The North Rim sunset met both Lizzy and my expectation and we took alot of photos.

The lodge deck/veranda was packed with people drinking wine and eating and Lizzy was thrilled to meet people from Paris and we enjoyed talking with them...ok...sunset over. Let's head to Jacob Lake In and the sandwiches waiting for us in our room. It's dark..it's. Cold. OK only 56 miles, huh?

Did I mention...I can't see in the dark? Well..I can see..just not very good..my windshield is full of bugs..my face shield is dirty and I'm driving on a dark forest road that is curvy with animal signs. Not a good combo. Lizzy shouts in the communication headset..BUFFALO!!!!!!!!

I did not see the herd standing alongside the road until we had passed them. Lizzy says that was the coolest thing EVER...wanna turn around and go see again? Enter the history of bad ideas...we turn around..the Buffalo are stampeding across the highway..all 40 to 50 of them..with nothing between us and them..I'm a little twitchy.

My reverse gear is twitchy..I can't turn around again and head down the mountain...We go forward to a place where I can turn around..what's up with reverse gear??????

Slowly we approach the area where they were and Lizzy yells again..."Grandma....BUFFALO!"

Wait...wrong Buffalo....here's the one:

AUK! They are right along side of the Spyder eyeball to eyeball with Lizzy..which means if I turn my head to the right and dare a peek to the side of the road...they will be eyeball to eyeball with me. I look..I am now wondering where this idea is in the HISTORY of REALLY BAD IDEAS.

I move forward about 30 feet and come to an abrupt stop..more screaming from Lizzy..don't be dramatic, dear..it's only a herd of Buffalo standing in the road..blocking us from any forward motion. At this point..I have to go potty.

I think the Buffalo got up today and decided to play with the tourists...they crossed..stood in the middle and crossed and recrossed  ..for 45 minutes. Finally a guy in a car in the line behind me..passed and got in Front me..where he sat. I think...hmmm..safety in numbers and I slowly creep up behind him..the Buffalo can hit him first..I'm thinking. The Buffalo play on the road for a few more minutes until they are in the oncoming lane and the car and I creep forward as the last Buffalo in line stops in the other lane.

The rest of the winding and very dark trip took us over an hour due to deer..inroad..along side road..ready to leap in front of us..or like the Buffalo...just standing in the middle of the road.  I gave up counting them when the numbers climbed into the 70's.

Seeing our hotel sign never looked so good. Lizzy thought it was a great adventure..very cool and all that and secretly..so did I.

Day 3 Albuquerque to Flagstaff through the Painted Desert

300+ miles to go todays o we were up early and out of Albuquerque by 7:20. Hats off to Lizzy...she is a real trooper getting up and getting going.  As we were getting on the bike Lizzy notice several...about 10 hot air balloons...hmm me thinks a ride in a hot air balloon could be a great 16th birthday present.


The scenery changed just a little bit..started to see rock outcroppings and a few scrubby bushes rather than just flat land.  Lizzy recorded hang gliders and some weird light weight airplane contraption as we motored into a truck stop and ate lunch.

We passed the Continental Divide about 9 am and when stopped for lunch we Googled it so Lizzy could learn what it is..scares me to think what schools aren't teaching.

The Painted Desert / Petrified Forest had an auditorium in the visitors center where we learned about the formation and the historical Route 66. We drove through and Lizzy recorded some of the scenery. The Spyder seemed to be getting hot..that's the reading on the Guage siad..so..I turned around and headed back know to the entrance. So,,, we didn't see any petrified wood..like the bridge..but better safe than sorry. We will Google image it.

100 miles to roll into Flagstaff after the Petrified/Painted National Park....it's very hot...

We stopped many times during that last 100 miles..better safe than overheated.lots of water and Gatorade....needed the sugar...

The end of day 3 and we are safe in Flagstaff and excited for tomorrow..Grand Canyon day!!

Day 2 Roswell to Albuquerque

Man O Man...I believe I am grateful to have finally gotten somewhat smart and realistic about riding. Gone are the days of old when I would throw caution to the wind..hop on whatever bike I grabbed out of the garage (had 5 in garage at one time)..and just go! Nope. Didn't even file a flight plan..just went...no cell phones..just me and the wind and the road. Yup..those days are gone.

Now, I have an itineray, hotels planned, multiple electronic gadgets, a communication system which includes music synced with my phone through my downloaded music. SWEET.

Lizzy is my navigator and chief of all things communication on  the Spyder. After loading up the bike, she was in charge of making sure we had music.  She did a great job and we had tunes all day.

There was a whole lot of nothing to see along the way to Clines Corner, NM.....we did see Antelope and a flock of Turkey Vultures eating and swooping around something dead in a field.

Cline Corner was a welcomed spot in the middle of nowhere and we took a long time eating and resting before tackling the last 6 miles into Albuquerque.

Lots of construction at our exit...grrr.... so the one we needed wasn't availabe. I took one that sounds right..but going in the opposite direction..I thought. I don't know how we did it..but we went the right way after all. When I Saw The Road We needed...I stuck the nose of Spyder into it and we arrived at hotel safe and sound. Thank you, God.

Canyon ride day 2 early morning

Holy hot weather.... I got up early to pre-pack stuff and lo..to my wondering eyes did appear ?? RAIN! It is pouring .. with an occasional lightening bolt thrown n in just to keep things interesting.

It's suppose to clear out around 9:30....changing plans to leave about 10am..it's good to be flexible..short 200 mile ride to Albuquerque..ex pet for heat and humidty..we will be fine..

My little Spider in the early morning rain.

Ride day 1 Odessa to Roswell NM

We got a later than planned start because I charged every gadget except our communication devices. So ....we hung around for about an hour relaxing in the house while they charged.

The skies were blue..humidity high as was the temperature..but we loaded us on and pulled out of Odessa at 11:30 heading for Roswell.

 Loaded and ready to roll out of Odessa.

Lizzy catching a "cool" 103' breeze in Tatum, NM...hydration stop!

We arrived in Roswell at 4:45pm......hot...hot...hot..106'   the last 45 miles into Roswell
On a road with a whole  lot of nothing to see..kicked my butt in the heat. We hydrated..but in this heat..it almost wasn't enough. By the time we got to our hotel for night #1...I was seriously overheated and dizzy. Not good. Lizzy did better sitting as passenger...but tomorrow morning we leave on time.

After a swim in the indoor pool..a shower..and dinner..we are good to go tomorrow into Albuquerque.

Grand Canyon Pre Ride Post #8

My Butterflies feel more like Bats!

I have failed miserably in getting my butterflies to fly in formation. Maybe I'm clicking my dog clicker at the wrong time...maybe it's the treats I'm feeding the litter flutterers...I dunno. All I know is last night while trying to sleep it hit me like a wall at a 26 mile marathon...I'm going off with my granddaughter for 10 days on a motorcycle ... alone. The outcome of hitting that wall was a sleepless night.

The short list in my head keeps running around and around...have I done everything possible to be safe with my precious cargo...AKA..Elizabeth?  Have I gotten all the electronic gadgets synced and tested?  Chargers..including portable energy chargers? Maps? Money? Itinerary-hotels and confirmations? Is everything on paper as well as in my phone (so anal...)?

Our lives for the 10 day journey have been securely packed into 2 gallon Zip Lock bags and placed into bookbags with handles for easy porting into hotels.  Tools and roadside "stuff" have been packed into one of the side containers on the Spyder. Our personal toiletries are packed except for the early morning things we will use and then pack. Are we ready?

The answer is:  YES!

Lizzy and I are ready.

So...the count as of today is ONE DAY AND A WAKE-UP.

My Bats and Butterflies are flying like well-ordered Geese.  Confidence is high.

Grand Canyon Pre-Ride Post #7

It is June 12, 2015, and only 5 days and a wake up until Lizzy and I head off for our grand adventure.
I'm finally starting to get the butterflies and I'm not quite sure if it is excitement or sheer terror of the undertaking. So, I am trying to still the voices in my head.  Today, it isn't easy to do.

I keep looking at my itinerary and wondering if anything needs to be changed.  It's one thing to look at a Google map and see city to city mileage in inches, but another thing when it is reality and 100+ degrees and miles of roads stretching in front of my windshield. Maybe it's becuase I celebrated my 70th birthday this past Wednesday that I find butterflies running around in my stomach.

Precious cargo will be sitting behind me. At 13 she has her entire life in front of her. She will have many milestones to mark off on her calendar and many roads to travel before she settles into the woman she is to become. Her roads are hers to travel and only she can take the one that ultimately defines who she is. But right now, at 13, all she can think about (well, besides music, girls camp and eating, is this up-coming milestone (of sorts) a trip on the back of her grandmother's Spyder.

The faith and the trust that she has in me is amazing.  I best not screw it up!  Maybe that's why I have butterflies in my stomach.  But, WAIT!  Maybe the butterflies are a good thing. I think they are.

I always get butterflies; don't you?  I think they are a great way of telling me that something's coming...something big...something important is about to happen. So, I'm embracing the butterflies, staying calm knowing that the trip is planned and all  I need to do is remember this:

Jazzy My Jazzy

Jazzy  

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you... I would walk through my garden forever."

Alfred LordTennison

Before I continue to write, you must know that I am a sentimental slob of a human.  For all the toughness and confidence that I exude in my day-to-day life and working with women with addictions, it doesn't take much to make me cry. And, over some things, I can't even try not to..I just sob. So, when I say I cried over my dog, Jazzy, I sobbed ... uncontrollably.

Death is the other side of life, I get that. I get the saying I use, Life on Life's Terms. But once in a while, I want to ask the Heavens, "Why?" Some would argue that by asking, I am not strong enough in my faith to accept.  I would argue, I am human and every once in awhile, I need to fulfill the need to ask ... WHY? So, when Jazzy was diagnosed with Cushings, I shook my fist at the heavens and asked, "WHY HER?"

Jazzy came into my life as a three month old pet-quality Standard Poodle. She came with limited papers which means in the AKC world, if she had puppies, they could not be registered.  I was perfectly OK with that.  I didn't buy her to breed her and I  had her spayed. I bought her because I wanted a Standard Poodle. To be specific:  a black female. That's what I got. Well...technically she was Blue...but she looked black.  What I didn't know was just how very special she would become. Why...did I ever think she would not?

First photo of me and Jazzy, April 2001. Backyard at Battleground house.

I have  many, many photos of Jazzy, bu this is one of my favorite unposed pictures of her. The Big Snow of 2008. We were at the Hockinson Middle School in a big field where I could let the dogs run.  In this picture, Jazzy has spotted my grandkids playing.

Jazzy at her second dog show looking a big pensive; 2006.

Little did I know when she came home with me from Hood River, Oregon, in the spring of 2001 how much she would teach me about being a human and about dogs. She opened a new world for me that I lost when horses left my life. She let me knock on that competitive door and say, "Here I am; teach me." She let me meet people far and wide who would stand on the side of the ring and cheer us and tell us how good she looked - how happy she was in the ring, and what a good team we were becoming. She allowed me to believe in myself again. She gave me courage to face a challenge and learn how to overcome my fears as the human part of a team in the show ring. She did all of this, even though she was in her way, very shy.  Jazzy rebuilt my desire to learn everything I could possibly put into my head about training and living with dogs. She reminded me every day what a joy and blessing it was to play:  throw a ball, take long walks in the beautiful NW, wade through creeks that were swollen with rain and to jump in the ocean and catch a wave. She and I did all of this side by side.

Our first AKC title: Rally Novice. We were so new to dog showing, but she came through her first title like the dignified and "lady" that she was.  I could see at this show that her shyness, although still a part of her basic personality, was not as prominent.

Our second AKC Title: Rally Advanced. She finished this title with a perfect 100 score in an outside arena. Fans of her told me she was "on fire" in the class and had never looked better.

Jazzy and I entered the big Portland, OR show in January 2009. She completed her AKC Rally Excellent title and then she was named High In Trial Poodle (performance classes), for the show! She amassed a total Rally Excellent points of 99 on Friday, 98 on Saturday and a perfect 100 on Sunday.  

In 2010, I wanted to see if me and Jazzy could get close to repeating our High in Trial at the big Portland Rose Show. DOUBLE WOW!!!!  The people along side the ring said she was "ON FIRE" during her classes. She was so happy and eager to be in the ring that I knew in every class we entered, I was a part of something very special. We amassed perfect scores of 100 in each of our classes ON Friday, Saturday and Sunday and were again the High in Trial for Poodles and 4th overall for performance points against all breeds!It will forever be etched in my memory when she was announced for the second year in a row: POODLE HIGH IN TRIAL!!!  I retired her after this huge accomplishment.

She and I were companions until September 15, 2014 when after 4 months of steady decline of her health, I made the difficult, but humane decision, to let her go.

Go where - across that Rainbow Bridge that we "pet" owners refer to as Pet Heaven? Where? I believe there is a Heaven or Heavens for all of God's creations which includes dogs, cats, birds, horses, etc. and if we are lucky...we get to go there, too. Across that Rainbow Bridge I have sent so many beloved companions in the animal world; but none more precious than my beloved GF (Gemini Farms) Jazmine Moon, AKA, Jazzy.  I believe I will see her again. I have the HOPE.

It took me over a month to determine how to pay tribute to her...her memorial for me. And then it happened.  An artist posted on a Facebook page that I had "liked" and I knew I wanted her to create a painting of me and Jazzy together.

"Walkies" Time

The artist, Dorota Kudyba, created the painting from two picture of me and Jazzy. She compiled to separate pictures of us into this one beautiful picture. When I opened the digital file and saw the picture, I sobbed for her all over again. There we were together in our back yard in Battleground, WA in my favorite time of the year, Fall. It was us.  It is us.  It is a lasting tribute to her and to me captured forever in the Northwest Fall.

Her urn was created by Over the Rainbow Memorials in Montanta

The Urn includes a heart shaped pendant with a few of her ashes swirled into the colors.  I can remove it and wear it... so far, I've not done that.  I'm not adverse to wearing it, I just don't want to break it. It also includes a copper nameplate with her name on it as well as a pretty ring that holds the locket and name plate with the beautiful beaded chain.

I agonized over how to memorialize her and felt that this delicate hand-blown glass urn in the beautiful golds, blacks and browns is perfect.  I chose the locket in colors that reminded me of the Northwest where we spent most of her life.  I look at it everyday and am  reminded just how very special she was.

For any of you reading this, who have been the human companions with wonderful, God created Dogs, I applaud your commitment to care for, love and cherish each moment with them. And, I hope that someday, we can all be the humans our dogs think we are. And for a brief moment in time on this big blue planet where we really are all connected, we were touched by something very special:  our dogs.

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched;

they must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller