Mornings

Another day with no picture.  

I get up early.  Most weekday mornings around 5 AM.  Many mornings I come downstairs and both girls (now that Sage sleeps downstairs) are still sleeping.  Murphy never stirs, but Sage will look up, from inside her soft crate, and watch me walk around, doing my pre-run routine: get the newspapers, pour orange juice, check the news on-line.  She settles back into her sleep when she realizes I am not going to get her up until I get back from my run.

It's quiet in the morning.  The only sound is a dog breathing, clocks ticking away the time, my computer keys if I am typing.  But listening to the girls, their sounds, evokes a series of emotions: comfort, love, joy, worry.  I sat with Sage for quite a long time last night before I "zipped her in," just talking with her, worrying that she seemed to be afraid to put weight on her leg, again.  Two steps forward, maybe one back.  I keep reminding myself, as I listen to the girls in the morning, that being loved and loving yellow labs is a process.  Ebbs and flows.

Murphy's day and Sage is back to sleep.

The Bag Tax

We live in a city where our elected officials have way too much time on their hands.  This week, the highly paid city council approved our mayor's request for a tax on grocery shopping bags, both paper and plastic.  Unless you bring a bag with you, you're charged 20 ¢ a bag.  Apparently the idea is to save space in land fills.  

I read a few days ago about some small town in Alabama where a yellow lab, co-owner of a coffee shop, is running for mayor.  And now, I am thinking Sage and Murphy ought to run in Seattle.   We could certainly use the money, I mean the city council's salary is way over 100 thousand and the mayor makes big bucks plus has a security detail!  Maybe Sage and Murphy would actually work on some real problems and issues, you know, like rotting infrastructure, homelessness, and not engage in sound bite environmentalism, disguising a tax an environmental fee (the bag tax is expected to bring in 3.5 million in revenue but the program is going to cost $500, 000).

I could get into a rant about how this kind of tax is not the way to change behaviors, but I think I would rather ask "the girls" if they want to run for office.  I think today's picture would make a great campaign photo.  Of course, anyone who runs against them will have a field day with  the skeletons in both of the girls' closets....

Bag tax...good grief!

Murphy's day and Sage, well, she is moving forward.

Long Nights

Murph is now a mystery to me.  The past several weeks she has wandered for four, maybe five hours every night.  I have tried everything, but she still wanders.   And like a mother, I can hear every pant, every nuzzle, every walk.  She finally calms down somewhere between 1:30 AM to 3:00 AM.  And when I finally come downstairs, she is snoring.  

Poor Sage, must get as little sleep as I do during the night.  But then, she can sleep all day.

I know, or I think I know what it is, that she is changing, losing her sense of the world, she gets scared.  And when Murph gets scared there is nothing that calms her down.  I sat with her last night, for a half hour, trying to get her to sleep.  The minute I left, she popped up, and wandered.

It breaks my heart.

Murphy's day

The Cute One

Sage has this look.  She will give you her brown eyes, wag her tail, and maybe even roll on her back as if to say I'm the cute one!  Muprhy is gorgeous and perfect, but I am the cute one!  This weekend she has been perfecting that look and demeanor.  

From bringing out all her stuffed toys to continuing to retrieve (it's a miracle) when I take her to the water, she is trying hard to be the cute one.

This was the third weekend of home detention.  I am not sure, at this point, who is going more crazy, Sage or me.  I stick my nose in the air and smell for Sage, Ponderosa pine, and Aspen.  Sage sticks her nose in the air and smells for anything other than the house!

Murphy is still wandering around the house, thus giving me a Sunday project to make sure things like clocks sitting on top of tipsy tables are secure, while she wanders at night, nuzzling things.  It's a dogs house after all, I am merely the innkeeper.

Murphy's day and Sage's ongoing recovery (retrieving balls...amazing).

Hydro Therapy

Ok, well it wasn't on the Icicle, pictured above, but down the street at a boat launch in Salmon Bay.  Sage swam.  More amazing, however, is she retrieved.  A tennis ball.  I am going to let that soak in, no pun intended.  Sage.  Tennis ball.  Retrieve.  Must be the pain meds.

Murphy's day and Sage on the path to recovery, we hope.

Monster, Inc

Well, we're making progress.  But she also has licked a wound, where she was nicked by the razor when they shaved her hair for surgery, so we have added a new component, vitamin E oil.  I have entered nurse status!

The doc said it would be,  no pun intended, two steps forward a few back.  She walked and put weight on the leg, then started lifting it again.  My anxiety level goes up and down.

As does Murphy's.  Some nights have been good, some I can hear her wander for quiet awhile.

And then I get emails from friends about their fishing exploits!  Sigh.  It's a long summer.

Murphy's day and Sage, yes, still recovering.

Alpe d' Huez

If Murphy rode bikes, she would have dozens of yellow jerseys.  In her day, she had the determination, guts, and sheer athleticism to be able to grind out a climb in the highest mountains.  

So yesterday the riders on the Tour de France climbed the Alpe d' Huez, a legendary climb.  And I thought about how retired cyclists must watch the race, going over each piece of pavement in their minds, feeling the road, closing their eyes and smelling the high alpine air, feeling their lungs burn for more and more oxygen.  

I wonder whether Murphy does the same thing.  That inside her she remembers the days of her adventures.  She goes over the mountains she has climbed, the rivers she has thrown herself into, the forests she has walked through.  Can she smell the alpine air, hear the river, feel the crisp morning?  

Murphy's Alpe d' Huez.  She has conquered the hills...and ridden into Paris wearing her own yellow jersey (and without drugs!).  She is a great athlete enjoying her retirement, but I suspect, wishing she was riding the Tour today!

Murphy's day, and oh, Sage still is in recovery.

If Murphy Could Talk

If Murphy could talk she might say: "why haven't we been over to the trailer?  I want to stand in the Wenatchee!"   She is ready for a nice nap on the astroturf!

But it will be awhile.  The only good news is I read some fly fishing reports about my beloved Icicle and it seems no one is catching anything.  I suspect the slide into the creek impacted the fishery a bit.  Also, it sounds like it is still running high...but maybe in a few weeks?  It's only good news in that I might not be missing anything, but the way I fish, it's more the activity than the catching...sigh.  Maybe, Murphy, if I can figure out how to keep Sage quiet.

And that's the trick.  It seems she is feeling good.  This morning, she grabbed her small soccer ball and in her mind saw Beckham!  Running around the back yard, like she is playing for Manchester United ( wasn't sopped with beer and didn't erupt into a melee, however...I did have to stop her and leash her up).  It's hard, because she must be feeling better post-stitches.

If Murphy could talk, she would wonder whether those steaks in the fridge are ever going to be cooked!  Tonight, big girl, tonight.  Just for you!

Murphy's day and Sage bending it like Beckham!

Whoo-Hoo!

Stitches are out!  Now I don't have to be "hawk-eye" Mommie, telling Sage to not lick herself...ok, don't go there.

And here is the good news: the good doctor said she is doing better than expected.  She is putting some weight on the leg (she sure did dragging her feet as he tried to get her back into the clinic to remove the stitches!), she has lost 5 pounds (diet book to follow, then Oprah, then the WOLRD!), and she seems good.  We'll keep her on the pain meds because he has had experience in dogs whose knees will swell up, but we can now begin walking her, just a bit, on leash, and in a few days even try a little swim.  Whooo-hoo!

It's a process.  The vet reminded me that she maybe doing ok now, but she may also be hurting or regress a bit, so it is a matter of monitoring her, letting her also "talk to me" about how she is feeling.  So far she doesn't seem inclined to want to run upstairs, and right now I have baby gates on the back porch so she doesn't run down, but I am letting her sneak a snooze on the much coveted sister's bed.  

Good news!

Murphy's day and Sage sleeping on Murphy's bed.

Stitches

It is hard to believe it has been two weeks since Sage went to the vet for her surgery.  We are in a rhythm, now, a routine that seems to work.  Although she is gaining more and more of her energetic self, the "enforced quiet" has been nice.  A "staycation" for us.

Today she goes back to get her stitches removed.  One less thing for me to worry about, watching to make sure she didn't like.

But she continues to be a pretty good patient, although she wants to leap, and charge (slow walking is still an unknown for her) she adapted to the soft crate, the tethering, and now almost seems like a junkie looking for her medicine "fix."  

We have a long way to go.  In the past two weeks I have heard lots of stories of people trying to keep their dogs quiet after this surgery...mellow seems to be the word of the day.

But today, another step in the recovery.

Murphy's day and day 14 of Sage's recovery.

F o M

Sorry, no pics again.  Tomorrow.  

Yesterday, it was about Friends of Murphy.  F o M.  Late in the afternoon we went for a walk around the neighborhood, out toward Sunset Hill Park.  Of course, we had to stop at Mariam's to check out her new house paint, then we ended up walking with her and Molly through the park.  Quite gentle.  All the while, Sage is laying (hopefully) in the back yard.  

As we came home, walking even more slowly up our street, I heard: "Kim!" and turned to see Paula, one of Murphy's first friends when we moved back here from New York a long time ago.  Paula checked on Sage, who knows no "calm down," then sat with Murphy for a long time, just letting her know who cares.  Friends of Murphy.  She has many, and each one is special to her.  She just leaned into the love from Paula.

Thank you, each one of you, who are F o M's.

Murphy's day and day 13 of Sage's recovery.

Friday Night Dinner

Friends Ann and Scott called on Thursday: "can you bring Murphy for a walk?"  We met up Friday late afternoon.  Murph got a chance to walk to the lake, stand in the water, I got a chance to talk about Sage, politics, the marvelous weather.  

And then, they gave me two crabs from their day out on the boat on Thursday!  And Ann made a marvelous dipping sauce.  A quick stop at the store for bread, and I was set.  Crab!

Murphy hung around, sniffing as I cracked, Sage realized something special was happening and laid down under my feet while we watched, yes, the Tour de France.  A feast!  And it is always great to eat something that was caught in our own Puget Sound. 

Many thanks!  I didn't time myself but I think I broke the World's land speed record for eating crab!

Murphy's day and day 12 of Sage's recovery.

Lulu Bell

I've talked about nicknames before.  One of Murphy's is Lulu Bell.  I haven't a clue how she got it, except there was this fantastic bakery in New Haven named Lulu's that I would stop at on my mad dash to get to classes (it was a bit of a drive from Rye to New Haven).  But the nickname stuck.  How Bell became part of the name I really don't have any idea....attribute that to senior moments.

Murph is hanging in there.  Unlike Sage, she is not staying out in the back yard during the wonderful weather, but she does seem to enjoy her walks in the late afternoon, exploring the neighborhood.  We miss our time walking down to Hidden Lake, though.

The thing about Murph is how gentle she is with Sage.  Sage is still a bit crabby, although each day she seems better.  But she has taken to letting Murphy know she is top dog, and Murph, well, she figures sooner or later Mom will come and tell Sage to knock it off.  And I do.  After all, she is my Lulu Bell.  

Murphy's day and day 10 of Sage's recovery.

Rhythms of the Day

S l o w l y we are adapting to new morning rituals and routines.  It has taken awhile to get used to a "no dog in my bed," and coming downstairs to the Murphy and Sage Slumber Party, No Mommy Allowed.  While I boot up my computer Murphy begins to stir, and Sage peers at me from her "clubhouse" (I figure if the whole world uses euphemisms, I can too!) then settles back in to sleep, knowing she doesn't have to run with me.  Murphy gets up, I open the back door, and she surveys her yard (not quite accepting that Sage took it over by adverse possession several years ago!).

By the time I get back, Sage is ready to rock, so I open the clubhouse, leash her up, and out the back we go.  As when she was a pup, we celebrate her first pee, a sign that all systems are doing well.  Then she checks the yard, I tether her to the climbing rope attached to the cherry tree, change into dry clothes (my running pace is so slow I am amazed a sweat, but I do...go figure), and get Murph ready for a walk around the block.  Sage is still not able to walk far, in fact, I think it will be a long time before she is able to check out the neighborhood.  However, I sneak her out into the alley so she can at least see the world beyond the fence.

I give Sage her pills, feed both of them, then finally make my latte...I am usually desperate for caffeine by then!  Maybe I need to teach Sage a new trick...here Sage, you put the espresso in here, then hit this button...

As I have said, the girls are dogs of routine and rhythms.  So getting a pattern has been helpful to all of us.  Sage seems to be gingerly, tenderly, putting some weight on her left leg, but I think we have a long way to go.  She does seem eager to amp up her activity, however.  I keep thinking she is mellow, but realize she has a certain level of activity that isn't BIG and LOUD like Murph used to be.  Even now, Murph often seems more active than Sage, but it is Sage's subtlety that I rarely notice.  But now, acting like a surveillance satellite, hovering over her to make sure we are "obeying" the vet instructions, I see her levels of activity.  Still not a retriever, but still active!

Anyway, we are doing ok.  I worry about the leg, but we will know more when the stitches are out, I suspect, or at least I can stop worrying about her licking those!  And she is grateful she can hang out outside and not be forced to watch the Tour de France!

Murphy's day and Sage's day 9 of recovery.

Thank God for the Weather

Sage is loving being outside, but as you can see from this picture, she has to be tethered, an anathema to me.  I am not a big leash person as many of you know.  But Sage, amazingly, doesn't seem to mind.  In fact, she dutifully puts her head into the collar, and finds the shady or sunny spot depending on God-Knows-What, and happily plunks down.  It is great, because it gives me a reason to leave the computer and check on her.  My water cooler breaks!

Slowly, she has begun putting a little weight on the leg, although she has discovered a "hot spot," not the stitches fortunately, that she is licking.  Grrrr.  I am trying every trick in the book short of the Elizabethan collar.  Looks good on me, however!

Murphy still seems anxious, although she slept happily on her bed most of the day yesterday.  She then spends the night panting and walking around the house.  I dunno...

But, we're all hanging in there.  Stitches out next Monday.  Can't come too soon!

Murphy's day and day 8 of Sage's recovery.

And Here's Murphy!

Yes, all the attention has been on Sage, but in the meantime, Murphy has been the stoic older sister.  She sniffs at Sage, trying, I think, to figure out what happened.  And she seems stressed by the changes in the routine: her walks are different, her sister gets more pills than she does (I feel like I am a nurse trying to keep track of who gets what when...and no, I haven't dabbled in Sage's pain meds!).  It must be more than a little confusing to Murph.

But she enjoys the hanging out in the yard and seems to be the recipient of a few more treats than normal, so that must be good.  Plus I am around a lot more (which, hopefully that is good, too, although I may be cutting into her listening to heavy metal music or something).

Sage seems more domineering with Murph.  The snip when Murph pokes her head into Sage's soft crate.  Yesterday when a neighbor and dear friend Mariam arrived with a ramp, Sage nipped at Murph as Murph snuggled up for attention.  She came to see me, Murphy!  The good thing about Sage is she responds so well to my "top dog" voice, and before Murphy knew it, Sage was lying on her back, trying to make nice.  

I can't tell if Murphy enjoyed a weekend at home, but we have many more to go before we can pack up to the trailer.  I have a list of house projects a mile long, but laid back this weekend, enjoyed the weather and the unique moment of simply doing nothing.  Maybe that stressed out Murph.  Probably the first time in her life she didn't have anything on her calendar!

Murphy's day and Sage's day 7 of recovery.

A Love That Will Never Grow Old

Yep, took some pics!  I suppose all computers have this gizmo on their digital camera download programs, but I can create slide shows with mine, and put the shows to music.  On my hard drive I downloaded a Emmylou Harris song, "A Love That Will Never Grow Old."  So, I set the recent pics to that song and allowed myself to absorb the girls...

Sage and Murphy.  I ran Discovery Park yesterday morning without Sage tagging along or Murphy even waiting in the car.  It's amazing, but I finish probably 20 minutes faster.  Hmmmm.  15 minutes for Sage's various fan clubs, 2 minutes for her water stop, and 3 minutes for her illegal dip into the Sound.  When I got home, though, she greeted me like a hero.  A love that will never grow old.

Murphy meanwhile continues to pace and pant.  Although while I was eating breakfast she camped below my knees (I dined al fresco) and waited for pancakes.  She scored left over steak bites.  Doesn't get much better for her...but I worry about her anxiety.  We're anxiety squared.  

Sunday seemed to be, however, a good day.  I could get into this quiet days...

Murphy's day and Sage's day 6 of recovery (and a week until the stitches are removed!)

One of the Great Ones

Despite the fabulously sunny day, and spending most of it around the house, I don't have any pictures.  Sage and Murphy were both photogenic, I just never retrieved my camera.  Hopefully I will take some today.

I say all the time that "Murphy is one of the great ones."  And she is.  You know, a legendary dog.  Lassie, Ol' Yeller, Rin Tin Tin, Murphy.  She is strong, brave, true, loyal to anyone with cheese.  Every day, even now, no, especially now, she demonstrates how large her heart has become.  I am convinced it is the only organ in her body.

Perhaps there is another nominee for "one of the great ones."  Yes, I know, it's hard to believe, but I think Sage is unintentionally drifting into that category.  While Murphy, like an Olympic athlete is driven to be great, Sage is less, shall we say, incline to live up to her potential.  She is like the smart kid in high school who really enjoyed shop.  

But adversity can show us sides that we never saw, and Sage is rising to the challenge.  She is well behaved, in a great mood, and show signs she is ready to get back on all cylinders.  This morning, as I got her out of her crate and out in back (which by the way, she is back on schedule), she wanted out the back gate.  So we walked a few feet past the cars into the alley.  She wanted to survey her territory.  Sniff the air, check out the world beyond the fence.  Then she turned around and waited for me to tether her outside.  She gets what she needs to do, but is also showing that huge lab heart of wanting to push.

Thank goodness the weather has been good.  She enjoys just laying out in back.  Murphy on the back porch, supervising.  

Pics tomorrow.

Murphy's day and Sage's day 5 of recovery.

Sunny Friday

I know this is a blog about Murphy, but for the moment, we are a little focused on "Monster, Inc." which, despite her large number of stitches, her obvious pain (although labs, it's true Dr. Bill, are the most stoic of dogs), and her drugs, she shows signs of the imp.  Yes, Ann, it's true, you would not have wanted her in your classroom...I would have been at way too many parent-teacher conferences...

For instance, this morning, I was in the kitchen and I hear the definite sound of a dog snapping at another dog.  Now, I have never, never, never, heard that sound from Murphy.  I peered into the living room and of course, Murph had made the big mistake of looking in Sage's Spa (aka, the soft crate).  As Scott well knows, what is Sage's is protected.  Poor Murph.  And Sage, showing her true colors!

Sage was able to sleep outside, and still shows a lot of tentativeness on her left leg, but is beginning to put it on the ground with a tiny bit of weight on it.  She ate well, and, well, ok, I won't bore you with all the other you know, vital signs in a dog...

So, it's coming along, very slowly.  Murphy still seems stressed about it all, or stressed about something.  Hopefully I can figure that one out, soon.

Murphy's day and day 4 of Sage's recovery.

Adaptive Management

Foresters would like you to believe that the term: "adaptive management" came from them.  It is usually applied to trying silvicultural practices on small scale stands, seeing what works and what doesn't work, maybe trying something else, or tweaking, in essence embracing change and adaptation.  

But I really suspect it was mothers who invented the concept.  Living with children, trying to wrangle living, squirming, hurting, playful, excitable, powerful living beings every day requires a long view and the ability to adapt quickly.

And so it is with Sage and Murphy.  First Murph.  I suspect, as I have mentioned, that Sage's injury is something Murphy is zeroed in on.  She can probably smell the medicine, sense the fear in Sage, and certainly is aware that routines have changed.  Murphy has always demonstrated her fears through pacing, panting, and pawing.  The three Ps.  And for the past two days she has been doing all three.   But yesterday, finally, she calmed down for awhile (although as I write this she is panting).  Perhaps it is the compression band-aid that is gone.  Or maybe she has grown accustom to the smells.  Or really, she realizes that there seems to be more treats involved in this process, and some alone time with me on late afternoon walks around the neighborhood.  Life with Murphy is a tad bit better.  A tad bit.

Yesterday morning Sage, realizing she had to go to the vet, removed her band-aids on her own.  So I sheepishly walked into the vet, caring the shell of her compression leg band-aid.  Every one smiled.  Think they'd seen that trick before, Sage?  It is interesting, though, that after the band-aid removal, Sage has not put weight on the leg.  Not unusual said the good surgeon.  

Sage spent yesterday tethered to a pole I have in the backyard that supports one of my crazy birdhouses.  She laid in the sun then the shade.  Then she retreated to her soft crate.  But late tonight, after dinner al fresco in the back yard, she put a little weight on the leg.  Gingerly.  Ya-hoo!

So, today is a new day.  We're juggling a lot here.  But friends and family have made generous offers, each one appreciated.  I long to stand in a river casting flies, and can not wait for the moment when Sage is doing her solo synchronized swimming next to me.

Murphy's day and Sage's day 3 of recovery.

Long Day

No pics, sorry.  I was so tired yesterday I am not sure I knew where my camera was.  I didn't sleep all night on Wednesday.  Murphy seems stressed out by Sage's stitches, band-aid, drugs.  So she wandered the house, all night, panting.  Sage slept.  I didn't.

New plan for last night, which seemed to work.  Sage slept in a "soft crate," Murphy stayed downstairs, and I slept in my bed.  I can at least open my eyes this morning.

Today we return to the vet to remove the compression band-aid.  I think Sage will be happy with that, although the whole process of keeping her from licking her stitches begins.  Yikes!

But she seems, in the the current vernacular, fired up and ready to go.  She wants to be outside, and with this weather, who wouldn't?  So I finally put her leash under a free weight I have, and let her sleep outside late yesterday afternoon.  

Hopefully today I can find my camera, but don't count on it.  It will be busy today!

Thanks again to everyone for all the support.  Especially Scott and Paula who were willing to drop everything to help.  It is a long haul!

Murphy's day and Sage's 2nd day of recovery.

We Can Not Wait

We can not wait until she is standing in Icicle Creek.  

It was a long day.  But Ann, Scott, Maisey, and Dexter sent a wonderful get well card, my niece called and checked in (reporting it was hot, hot, hot in Northern California, and the whole neck of the woods still smells like smoke), my Mom fretted, Deb dotted, Carol constantly called, Scott, Paula, and Gaby, despite dealing with Gaby's heart issues, emailed tons of worry, Les called from Oregon, my brother emailed and called,  Mariam and Molly stopped by, and Nani and Colleen made me run back down a hill to report on Sage before I even collected her.

My heart breaks for her though.  She whimpers, she growls, she is in pain.  I feel for her...or maybe she is just sick of watching the Tour de France!

We can not wait.

Murphy has been patient and loving, knowing it is stressful.   I love that big dog.

Murphy's day and Sage's day 1 of recovery and healing.

Here She Is!

I feel like a little kid bringing home a new pup.  She came barreling out of the clinic part of the vet's and whimpered...my heart melted.  Now she is dozing on her bed in my study, watching the Tour de France time trials...you know, those guys are on drugs so she can relate!  Ouch, that was low!

She goes back Wednesday to remove the bandage, then in two weeks the stitches come out.  It will be a long, long, long process.

But the good news is she is home, ready to roll!  

Murphy has been walking around her, sniffing, but gentle, of course.  

Murphy's day and Sage's recovery.

R & R

She is coming home this morning.  Bed rest, R & R, only going outside to pee and poop.  Poor girl.  Poor girl.  

I'll sleep with her downstairs (it's cooler downstairs anyway, plus I get to sleep with the dogs...isn't that a great movie title?  Sleeping with Dogs?  Ok, this is really an aside...when Dances with Wolves came out, Silence of Lambs had also been released.  I remember going to one of those huge multi-plex theatres in Westchester County.  Inside, there was an  ➞ with a sign that said Lambs and another ← with a sign that said Wolves.  I loved it!  It was like a little New Yorker tidbit!).  Where was I?  Oh, sleeping downstairs.  I will stay with her until I feel she is comfortable staying downstairs alone, or heck the couch is pretty darn comfortable, and Queen of Camping Equipment I have several dozen foam pads of various thickness, I should be ok.  Plus I can watch late coverage of the Tour de France!  How about it Sage?

Anyway, it will be, I sense, a long recovery process.  But hopefully she will pull through like the trooper she is, and show us signs of her silly self soon.

I want to thank everyone who has called, emailed, written, or simply sent good thoughts our way.  We will continue to need them.  Especially to Tad, Pam, and "the girls" for the gift package....it is healing all of us as I type!

Sage's morning running days are over.  It will be an adjustment for me, but a small one compared to having her walk and do her mad dogs without blowing out her hind legs.  I simply can not wait to have her on a river with me, casting for fish....and watching her do her "River Follies."  Who wanted to catch fish anyway?

Sage's homecoming and Murphy's day!

Update

We just talked with the vet's office.  Sage is out of surgery.  There was a definite ACL tear, and they didn't find anything they didn't expect.  She is woozy (and I will be after I down a few glasses of what Tad left on my door step), and once she is a bit more alert they will take her out to pee (now don't you want to know the details?).

In the meantime, Murphy has been wandering around the house, looking up the stairs, looking outside, sniffing for Sage's food bowl (it's up on the counter because she could not eat today).  Where's my sister?

I have tried keeping busy.  Mountains of laundry, going to Mud Bay for a stuffed toy, reading trial testimony on an eco-terrorist case out of Sacramento (now if that doesn't keep you entertained, almost nothing will!  It's like watching paint peel).  

Thanks to all of Sage's friends.  Ann who via email is holding my hand, Tad with the vino and stuffed toy, Dr. Bill's call last week checking more on me than Sage (and who is the only vet Sage will listen to...maybe it's because he is a Wyoming fly fishing maestro), my mom always fretting when her daughter frets...

More details later.  

Sage's horrible day.

Keep Her in Your Thoughts

Sage goes in for surgery today.  Please keep her in your thoughts.  She is my baby.  But this weekend convinced me it is the right thing.  She tweaked her knee and spent the rest of the weekend hopping around on her other rear leg, which we all know that can not last long.

It will be a tough 24 hours for me, for Murphy, for everyone who loves her.

Sage's day.

The Only One Who Slept

For years and years Murphy was scared of thunder.  Even though she grew up in New York where in the summer there would be magnificent lightening and thunder storms almost every night, the minute we moved back to Seattle, she shivered and wanted to hide.

On Wednesday night/Thursday morning, we had a spectacular series of storms roll through.  Murphy slept through most of them, except the one lightening bolt that felt like it struck the house.

Sage  on the other hand, has adopted Murphy's fear.  She shivered in bed with me.  I now understand what it means about "fur flying."

Off for the 4th of July to eastern Washington.  Have a happy and safe one!  Back in time to, yes, get Sage to the vet.

Murphy's 4th of July.

Sisters

While Sage was at the vet on Tuesday, Murph had the house to herself (well, shared with her stressed-out mom).  She chose to lay on the back porch the whole time.  We almost exclusively use the back porch to come and go, so it is where Murphy expected Sage to return.

When Sage walked through the back gate, Murphy perked up, sniffed the air, and lumbered down the stairs to see her sister.

This is though stuff for me.  I spent a sleepless night worrying about how Sage will be the night in the vet clinic.  Where she will sleep in the house the first few nights (I decided that I will sleep downstairs with her).  How well she will recover.  And of course, I went over and over in my mind how athletic Murphy is and how Sage is a totally different dog.  Was there something different I should have done to prevent this injury?

She is the baby of the family.  My Sage.

Murphy's day.

What We Know

I hate it, taking her into the vet.  She really hates it.  But we have several more visits.  Sage has to have knee surgery.  She has a very bad left knee, which of course is beginning to impact her right knee.  So on Monday, we'll get the left knee stabilized then hopefully we won't have to do the right knee.

Poor Sage.

It means weeks of recovery.  Having to lose weight, especially since she won't be exercising.  

Ugh.

Crocodile Sage

Sage goes in for her x-rays today.  No breakfast.  Which is not as much as sacrifice for her as not having her morning chew.  Particularly in this nice weather, where she takes her "stick" out in back, surveying her realm, while chomping.  It's like my former law partner's morning cigar.

This weekend, despite the heat, she hiked about 4 miles, finding at the turn around point, a shady spot to swim in the swollen Icicle Creek.  She looked like a crocodile in the mangroves!  This, however, was Sage in the willows.

I am sure things will be ok for her, and as a consequence, I will laugh at how worried I have been.  The two girls have been very gentle with each other, maybe realizing the added energy of being annoyed only increases the heat!  It  has been bittersweet watching how tender they can be as they navigate age and a sore hip.  Hmmm, if only we humans would gain that wisdom as we grow old!

Murphy's day.