I wasn’t going to write a blog post today, but then I caught a glimpse of how Zoey was positioned on the floor by my chair. And I decided I had to share the silliness….
Zen had a toy. And because he had it, Zoey wanted it. Now that I think of it, it goes both ways; but Zen is usually easier to appease with the offer of the duplicate toy laying six inches -or feet – away from him. Or even with a different toy altogether. Sometimes he just gives in, lets Zoey have the toy, and gets up to walk away.
Now they’ve both abandoned the toy in favor of trying to curry favor with their Uncle Doug. 😉
While I was watching the Z Kids sleep a few minutes ago, Englebert Humperdinck’s song “After the Lovin'” popped into my head. Probably because, as I said to my brother, these two have their very own mutual adoration society going on.
If these two photos don’t make you go “Awwwwww”, I’d have to think either you’re blind or you have a cold heart.
Hi Everyone! The Z Kids’ mama here to tell you all is well in our part of the world. The Z Kids are resting here in the living room with me.
Chilling out
We spent about an hour playing out in the back yard after they had their breakfast. Zen has become a bit of a fresh air addict – like Ducky was – so sometimes I have to watch him to be sure he doesn’t overdo playtime. But he’s a teenager now – God help me! – so he needs more exercise than he did this time last year. He LOVES chasing down balls that I throw around the yard. He also loves playing “keep away” from me and “tug war” with Zoey.
Z Kids Playtime
Well, my big boy is letting me know he wants to go back outside so I’ll make this a short post. The Z Kids and I hope “all y’all” have a Happy Tuesday!
Geez, is it really the last week of March already?! In another few days Zen will have been two weeks out from his first birthday! Where has the time gone?
I’ve been taking self-imposed breaks from blogging – and most everything else as well – mainly to keep the perfectionist in me at bay. That little demon on my shoulder, whispering in my ear, telling me that I need to do a better job of this or that. And so far I’ve been pretty successful at telling him to “bugger off” and leave me alone. (I watched “Darkest Hour” again the other night and laughed every time Sir Winston used “bugger” instead of “the f word”.)
Anyway, I’ve gotten a few things done on my “to do” list, especially the most important one. One other I can only do when the county property office returns my call from last week. And a third I can only do while my brother is here to stay with the pups. (Because one can never tell up front how long it will take to accomplish any task at the motor vehicle office.)
So, in between taking care of house cleaning, budget, and other assorted tasks, I’ve been playing with the Z Kids and watching them play with each other. And watching programs on the History Vault (thank you, Prime, for picking up old History Channel programs from the years when they were actually history related). Anyway, here are some pix and videos of of the Z Kids.
ZenZoeyIndoor Playtime
The Z Kids are my rocks, my grounders, my reasons for getting out of bed some mornings, my pride and joy (both of them being both pride and joy). They make me crazy at times, but they are definitely my angels with paws. They make every day a happy one, in spite of my leaky-eye times.
The back yard isn’t one for a “Better Homes and Gardens” centerfold layout by any means; but at least it’s finally safe for my puppies to really have fun together in with just me to supervise. HUGE thank yous to the pups’ “Grandpa Chuck“, his friend and neighbor, Josh, and Josh’s employee, Aron, for ALL their HARD, back-breaking work!!
Since this is supposed to be “Wordless Wednesday”, I will limit my verbosity for this post 🤣 and just say I hope that everyone has a great hump day!!
After all the tears, stress, and losses last year, I needed puppies in my life again, so I’m thankful for these two sweethearts. They keep me company while I’m home, and wait eagerly for me to come back when I have to leave.
Zen is – and always will be – my sunshine boy. He was the bright spot in my life, my sunshine, beforehe was even born last year. He knows when I need a hug, or just to have him at my feet. He’s not the snuggler that Bogie was; but, like Ducky, he will snuggle with me in his own way and time. And those unexpected snuggles are even sweeter and more precious as a result.
Such a sweet boy!Mama’s Big Boy
And Zoey is my precious little girl, the starlight in my heart. She’s been growing a little at a time – which is better for her as well as for me – so I can still pick her up when I want to. And, like her older brother, angel Bogie, she loves to snuggle with me. She is truly a cuddle buddy. And Zen gets a little jealous at times.
My Snuggle SweetieMy Baby Girl
I’m thankful, too, that these two love each other and have bonded so well with each other. They act like big brother and little sister most times, squabbling over a toy or rough-housing. But they also snuggle with each other. They remind me of Ducky and Radar, and Ducky and Bogie. Siblings and best friends at the same time.
🐾💚 Playtime 💜🐾Wrestling in the kitchen
These two hooligans are my angels with paws. They are, at times, more devil than angel; but what puppy isn’t?! Ducky and Bogie knew exactly what I needed and that these two would fill that need.
As usual, I can’t add the Thankful Thursday blog hop link…something about it not being supported?? So I’ll just go add my link on our host’s blog. It won’t even let me do that today. 😤
Tonight marks sweet Ducky’s 11-month anniversary joining her beloved brothers and sisters at the Rainbow Bridge. So I needed some cheering up. It was almost time to watch the live stream of service at church. So I turned on the TV, went to YouTube, and put on the Golden Retriever Puppies funniest videos. This is what ensued…
Thank you, my sunshine boy, for making your mama smile! I needed it. But wait! There’s more…
These two angels with paws are such sweeties! They make me smile and laugh multiple times a day. What more could I ask for? Not much, that’s for sure!
Watching YouTube PuppiesWatching YouTube TogetherBeing Big Brother
I hope the videos and pix add some sparkle to your day, like they do to mine! Have a great Sunday and new week!
Today – Saturday, January 14th – is the first “anniversary” of Bogie’s horrific, tragic, traumatic accident. A year has passed since my precious baby boy was taken from me, his daddy, his sister, and his uncle. The first of three traumatic losses in one year.
I spent some time yesterday morning reading my blog posts about Bogie – first to last – especially his trainer’s tribute, and tears rolled down my face. I will forever grieve for my precious baby boy. That grief, like the ocean, ebbs and flows with the tides.
Tomorrow – Sunday the 15th – will be 11 months since my beloved Ducky’s heart gave out on her after being shattered the month before by our loss of Bogie, and after many years of helping me deal with the stress of her beloved daddy’s dementia demons. As with Bogie, I will forever grieve for my precious little soulmate.
My precious angel babies
The “sweet” part of the “bittersweet,” though, is that today, Saturday the 14th, is also the Z Kids’ Gotcha Day. Zen came home to live with Sam and me on May 14th, so this is his 8-Month Gotcha Day. Zoey came home to live with Zen and me on November 14th, so this is her 2-Month Gotcha Day.
Zen has been my ray of sunshine, the bright spot in my life, since before he was even born (on St. Patrick’s Day) last year. Just knowing I was going to have another puppy in my life last year cheered me up most of the innumerable times that the grief over first Bogie and then Ducky overwhelmed me.
Once Zen came home after Sam had been hospitalized, he was often my reason for getting up in the morning. He became my best friend, my peaceful moments, my constant companion, my protector, my everything. And when I got the doctor’s unexpected yet somewhat relieving call that early October morning, Zen was my comforting, calming, peaceful zen puppy. He lived up to his name that morning as I cried into his fur. 😍
When Ducky became a winged angel, I knew I had to have two pups in my life again – the boy who was due in another month and another female. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, especially if I had to deal with the dementia demons at the same time; but I was determined to have two puppies so the first one wouldn’t be lonely when we couldn’t have him with us away from home. So, once again, my sweet baby girl came through for me when Zoey was born.
As Zen is my ray of sunshine, so Zoey is the starlight in my eyes. Zoey is sweet and sassy, like Ducky was. She is my baby girl, and I am her person. And, like Ducky adored Bogie, Zoey adores Zen. Likewise, as Bogie adored Ducky, so Zen adores Zoey. 💚💜🐾🐾
My babies at play 😍😍
This post is a “bit” long-winded. I apologize for that. I’m grateful for those of you who have read it to the end. I hope everyone has a great weekend! ❤️❤️🐾🐾
The Z Kids – as Monika of Tails Around The Ranch named Zen and Zoey – and I send all our readers best wishes for a safe and happy 2023.
Sharing a photo I took last night of the kids while they were having one of their wrestling matches. Zoey does a pretty good job of holding her own over big brother Zen.
in my heart 4ever 