A baby Blue Dog, named Angus

Hi I am Angus. I am an Aussie puppy. I am here to keep the Torsey family cozy.

It looks like I have a human puppy just my size to make friends with.

I really do not know why those huskies call me a wimp....

Don't all puppies get carriage rides?

Emma-Lizzie bundled up

Emma-Lizzie and I out for a snow shoe walk before this next storm.

Winter is kicking my behind!

I can hardly believe this, but it is TRUE. Last winter I managed to do all my kennel chores on my own, mush dogs, race (!) and be pregnant... This year I can barely manage kennel chores 5 days a week and take care of Emma. What a wimp! Or maybe motherhood is that strenuous? What am I going to do when my little human pup walks!!!

Sled bag of love

LAST YEAR!!! (Turn your computer on it's side please to see correctly)

With Love, lessons from dogs that apply to babies and life

I had long ago discovered that if I did things with love that the results were always better. Everything is less stressful if love is applied, love comes with patience and a forgiving eye, but love also comes with the right ingredients for positive change.

Then I realized the only times I really failed at things were times when I could not apply love to the problem.

And recently I have learned that sometimes things are so hard that they just feel like failure, but as long as love is there, one comes out the other end of the challenge whole...and not broken.

I used to feel sad for the dogs I have that other people discarded. But now I am grateful, as these dogs have been the challenging ones. And I have gotten through the challenges by letting my heart grow. And I know these dogs are happy, sine they are loved!

Examples of "With Love"

**....how else can filling dog bowls be fun for a baby? Emma will probably know all the dogs names soon, as I sing each dog's name and a little compliment to them as I lay out the bowls, add the food and whatever else.

**Saying good night to each dog as Emma and I tuck in the kennel at night...

**Figuring out that Java Bean can get along with male play mates as long as he enters the play area last...no stress for him if dogs do not dash out their doors into his "space".

Emma and Blanche

emma and blanche out for a walk

Sad day, Blue day

I have some terrible news. Blue Dog died today, October 14. He came in the house, threw up and then collapsed. We rushed him to the vet right away. He died within a few minutes of being there. No exact known cause. Something that caused extreme anemia, like internal bleeding. Likely a ruptured tumor, Dr Cody thought a splenetic tumor possibly. Or possibly a trauma like a car accident but that does not seem to fit, since he has not had a run off lead in a while.

We are both devastated. It all feels so wrong. Blue Dog was so young, and such a part of Terry and I. And Emma too, who was starting to smile at and try to 'pat' the house dogs. I thought he would be with us forever. It is odd how one dog can help define you...why with all these siberians I felt like Blue Dog was our 'flavor', our special dog who made us who we are. Such a incredible friend and giver of love.

Blue is buried out in the south pasture near Boomer and Ranger. That was the first place I walked him off lead, when he was new to us. I had many lovely times out there with him and the other house dogs. Terry chose a spot next to the stone wall with a large granite rock that is emerging out of the ground, a natural marker. Blue Dog looked so small and tender when we curled him up to bury him. Almost like the little 6 month old pup we first knew. Shocking.

I think I am still in shock, even though I have cried so much my head hurts. It still does not feel really real. I am sure I will come up with brilliant things I wish I had told you all later, things like how he was so wonderful to our friends or how he made all the siberians his pals, even the toughest ones. How he loved to deliver wood with Terry and go on drives on Sundays. How I once had to give him mouth-to-mouth when he passed out after another dog had been tangled in his collar and how I would give anything to have him back, to know the secret cure and apply it with all my might like I did that day. How I wish I could go back in time and savor every moment with him, how as I held his empty body in the south pasture even then he gave me all he had, his warmth on this very cold and most dismal of fall days.