THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Our dear neighbor sent us this with Sympathy at our loss of our dear Sutter:

                                                     THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

There is a Bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge ther is a land of Meadows, Hills and Valleys with lush green grass.When a Beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm Spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again.

Those who are maimed are made whole again. 
They play all day with each other. 
There is only one thing missing.  

They are not with their Special Person who loved them on Earth.

So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!
The nose twitches! The ears are up!

The eyes are staring! And then one suddenly runs from the group! You have been seen, and when you and your SPECIAL FRIEND meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace.Your face is kissed AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN, and you look once more into the eyes of your TRUSTING PET.

Then you can cross the RAINBOW BRIDGE together, never again to be separated!

I look forward to that day, my sweet girl ;o)

Happy 6th Birthday Willow ;o)

It's been a week of whirlwind emotions and on the happiest side ... it's our now oldest Special girl's birthday ... we're off to fun Agility class with treats for all ... then we'll pick up Sutter's ashes and then we'll all be off to McD's for cheeseburgers for all ;o)

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY WILLOW   

The Birthday Celebration ... 4 Cheeseburgers
(one burger in Sutter's memory)

"Happy Birthday to Meee"

She loves her Agility practices and classes!

 

Sutter & Willow ... Buddies  ;o)

What will be ahead on the BUCKET LIST for 2016 sweet girl  ;o)

"It's rough being a month old me!"

Saying Good-Bye to My Best Friend of 14 Years :-(

Sutter 2002-2016 ... I (we) said Good-Bye to my Best Friend of 14 years today (kidney failure) ... she was my teacher, my traveling companion, my kayaking partner and mentor to our 4 pups and several "Campers" over the years ... she marched to her own drummer and got as much joy out of life as any dog could ... yesterday we took her to the Ocean and there was a "twinkle" in her eye and a "smile" on her face ... run free sweet girl ... the girls and I Love & Miss You
(1-25-16)  MEMORIES in PHOTOS

Car-Camping Coastal Nova Scotia Canada
(when there were just two of us!)

Sutter's first kayaking adventire at 9 weeks
(on my birthday April 2002)

Professional photoshoot at 2008 Golden Retriever Nationals
(Sutter & Lyric ... photo by Karen Hocker)

Thank you to our "Golden" family ;o)

Birthday Partys!

Teaching sharing!
(Sutter & Willow)

Trip to LL Bean!

Stole the Judges hat during an Agility trial!!!

Helping with the fruit crops!

Who knew one girl could have this much hair
 ... every 2 weeks!!!

Loved Scent Tracking!

The Dancing Girl

Agility excited her!

I met and picked out Sutter when she was just 5 weeks old

"Car-Camping"  Costal Nova Scotia, Cape Breton & PEI Canada

Hiking with Kelli in Vermont after the loss of Lyric

Snowshoeing

No one could pose this photo ...
Mya quiet atop Sutter's ashes :- (

You're never too old to learn!

Project Manager!

Kayaking in January!

Sutter Comes Home!

Sutter LOVED the Ocean  ;o)
(Sutter & Lyric)

First trip to the Ocean at 9 weeks ... found a glove!
(... and still has it to this day!)

Took her favorite "Hedgie" to the
 Rainbow Bridge with her 

The girls "connecting" when we picked up Sutter's ashes  :-(

Agility ... Sutter earned  a Standard Level 1 title

The gang ... her family ;o)

Her love of Agility every week

Her last visit to Old Orchard Beach Maine 1/24/16

Teaching the pups to swim & retrieve!

When Sutter & I said Good-Bye to our sweet Lyric in Wolfboro

Marched to her own Drummer!

She loved our yearly overnight trips to the Ocean at
Old Orchard Beach Maine

Her first pup to mentor ... Lyric!

Our last "Adventure" together  ;o)

HOPE SO !!!

Happy New Year 2016

Mya, Sutter, Willow, Emma (and Donna behind the camera!)
looking forward to an "Exciting" 2016!

On our Bucket List for 2016!

The Helpers!

Enjoying Christmas bones!

9 years ago today on 1/2/07 a very special SunKissed girl was born ... 8 weeks later, Sutter & I welcomed our sweet girl "Lyric" into our fmily ... in 2010 she crossed the "Rainbow Bridge" way to soon and we miss her everyday  :o ( 

Happy 9th birthday sweet girl  (Sutter with Lyric)

Lyric was one SPECIAL girl ... melting my heart ;o)

Lyric

Yippeee ... 6 degree morning and the pond is FROZEN!!!
(The race is on ... Mya & Emma make the crossing!)

Firewood for next season!

50 degree rain yesterday (Jan 10th) decreased ice on driveway
today 26 degrees and snow tomorrow!

Sutter at Vets!

2015 has been a very slow aging decline for Sutter, who reaches her 14th birthday in 18 days, but she's a "Grand Ole Lady" and hasn't lost her love of life, even though it may be at a bit slower pace these days ... she enjoys taking her "self" walks and sniffing about the property, rolling/massaging on her large tennis balls and still shows her joy every week at Agility practices and class! Two weeks ago she started leaving some kibble in her dish, but started enjoying special yummy "human" food selections ... when she stopped eating everything, it was time to visit her Vet and get checked out ... she smiled, wiggled and wagged her tail when she greeted the Vet ... after the full body exam, it seems to be Gastroenteritis ... all else got "thumbs up" ... Vet gave her an "antispasmotic" injection, said no food for 24hrs (then start a bland diet) and we'll wait on her bloodwork results! Hang in there sweet girl, we've got a "Bucket List" for 2016!

This is a Grand Ole Gal

The blood tests weren't good ... she's in the final stages of kidney failure with blood levels twice the normal ... she's eating just spoonfuls of tempting foods but is drinking and peeing ok ...  loosing weight and getting weaker, but still wants to go out with us and tries to play and just explore :-(

This coming week will bring the hard decision to give the best gift that I can give my Best Friend  :-(



Meanwhile, we're taking our special girl on a road trip to a place that get's her really excited ... the Ocean at Old Orchard Beach Maine!

This is how much Sutter loves the Ocean!
(as a younger girl)

We got Sutter to the Ocean...

... and she loved it  ;o)