Repurposing...

Years ago, I received this corgi piece from my dear friend, Denise. Originally, there was a candle that revealed a corgi necklace when it burned down. I still have, love,  and wear it.

Now I'm thinking I'd like to turn this container into a pincushion. I already have an idea for it, so I'll work on it this weekend and then show you what I've come up with next week.

Turning it into a pincushion will make it a useful tool that I'll always have handy when I'm stitching or sewing. I'm looking forward to this!

 

FastCAT Day...

Elvira

Today's the day! I'm driving about an hour south to watch this sweet girl run her competition. Just look at the joy in her face! I'll be meeting up with my friend, Judy from Tennessee, along with her two Corgis, Elvira and Thumper.

Judy texted me when they arrived at their Wisconsin destination, and informed me that she brought Tennessee  barbecue with them for lunch tomorrow and her host extended an invitation to me. Authentic Tennessee barbecue?! You don't have to ask me twice. I'm in!

I don't have a photo to share of Thumper today, but I'll definitely snap a few pics to share on Monday...plus more of Elvira. It seems like forever since I've seen Judy, so I'm really looking forward to our reunion. I'll be sure to get people photos, too.

Gotta go. I don't want to be late for the races! Have a great weekend.

 

Monday Visitors...

Di and Tom arrived to help us out on Monday. Tom is a tree removal expert, and came to take the dead branches out of our apple tree, and remove some volunteer saplings that were way too close to our new porch and pole barn foundation. 

I got a chance to visit with Di, and they brought their two doggers along. Look who came to say 'Hi"! Grace, Di's corgi. This little girl has a tail, very unlike Tag's little "nub", and she's much smaller and dainty. It was so wonderful to see all of them, but I only took this one photo. I added a vignette edge to hide someone's leg in the background. lol (I didn't think they'd appreciate having it in the shot.)

All in all, it was a perfect day for outdoor work, and we're very grateful that we had the help...and the visit. We're already looking forward to next time - no work involved.

Saturday Silliness...

Corgi Zoomies Cartoon via Facebook

 Corgis love zoomies!

Having Faith...

Wood Shed Queen Anne's Lace

I took a walk around our yard yesterday. Once I was up behind the wood shed, I saw all the huge patches of Queen Anne's Lace. I thought the shed made an interesting backdrop of my favorite wildflowers.

I'm missing Tag so much this week. Maybe seeing Grace sparked it. Maybe it's just that I miss having him underfoot as a work in the kitchen; as we eat dinner; chasing him in the yard; or just having him to cuddle. I needed the walk to clear my head, or to walk barefoot in the grass to ground myself again. I'll still miss him, but being in nature helps to push it down again for a little while.

Handsome is doing so much better, and I have the girls (canine and feline) to help me snap out of it. I have so much for which to be grateful. Today will be better. I just know it. Rather, I have faith that it will be. 

We Finally Met...

I finally met Saving Grace (aka Grace) over the weekend. She came out to the farm with Di on Monday, but we kept her outside. She was already overwhelmed by the dogs at my nephew's house (where they're staying), and I didn't want to add Bella and Carly to the mix. Better to not make her timid. She's just a little girl, after all. She's soooo little!

It was still warm and humid when this photo was taken, so I'm sporting my curly "gym teacher" hair. lol More importantly, look at Grace's sweet face!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to camp with Di and Grace next month, if plans come together. Then this pretty girl and I will have some real bonding time. For now, I'll settle for the sweet cuddles I already got from her, and remember the cuddles only a Corgi can give. (I miss you, Tag.)

I'll be canning corn today, so I'd better bring up my supplies and stop being sentimental (for now). I'll show you what I accomplish tomorrow.

A New Fairy Steed In The Family...

Last week, I got a call from my brother-in-law. He had a question to ask me. About a month ago, my sister, Di lost her German Shepherd who previously belonged to our Dad. For her, losing that dog was like losing Dad all over again. Like Tag, Titus failed fast, giving no advance opportunity to prepare. In a flash, he was gone. Di was understandably devastated. Thankfully, she and her husband had another dog in their family to help ease the pain a little.

The call I received was to ask whether or not I thought Di might welcome a six month old puppy into their family. Was she ready for another dog? Was she ready for another Corgi? She lost her first Corgi, which we rescued in Florida for her, in August of 2013 after a tragic accident. Tag wrote about her HERE.

I was told this new pup didn't look at all like Ceri. She's black and tan and white...and she has a tail! "A black-headed tri!", I told him. When he sent photos I told him she's a Pembroke with a tail and a beautiful face. Yes. I thought my sister would welcome this pup with open arms.

Currently, Di is staying at their campsite three hours from home, and her husband goes up for a week at a time, when he can take vacation time from work. His plan was to surprise her last weekend, and could I keep it a secret from her? I assured him I could.

I got a call from Di on Saturday after her husband arrived, calling me "Mrs. Secret Keeper", and I could hear her grin through the phone. I giggled and asked her what she thought. You can see her obvious joy in this photograph.

Here's where the real story begins. I found myself going around the house all morning as I waited for Di's call, thinking about what she might call this little girl. The first name that occurred to me was "Grace". I dismissed it because, well...Mom Grace, plus her best friend's granddaughter's name is "Gracelyn". No. she wouldn't go for that, but in spite of the fact that I have an entire list of "Corgi" names, nothing else occurred to me.

Well, I asked Di what she decided to name the puppy and without hesitation she responded, "Grace. Saving Grace, because she's saved me from my sadness over losing Dad's dog." I started to cry, and when she asked what was wrong, I told her about the only name that had been swirling around in my head for the past five or six hours. I told her we were more connected than simple genetics. Our connection is much deeper and more spiritual. Her reply was a simple, "I've known that for many years, Donna." I well up with tears again just recounting this exchange for you.

So, my friends, meet "Saving Grace" aka "Grace". I'm going to the campsite to spend a week with Di in July, so I'll get to meet this little girl. You know how she'll weasel her way into my heart, right? Another Corgi in the family, who tilts her head just like Tag did...sigh...and her ears are nearly as big! I can't wait!

Welcome to the family, Grace. We love you already.

A Day Of Remembrance...

Today would have been Fezzik's fourteenth birthday. I think it's only right to take a little time to remember the little boy who made me fall in love with Corgis. He was my first, and at ten and a half months old, I lost him far too soon.

If you were around at that time, you know just how devastated I was. I could barely breathe for weeks. It was only when I realized I needed a second Corgi to help me recover from his loss, that I began to heal. I'll forever miss him and the bright light he was in our lives, and I look forward to seeing him again when my time finally arrives.

Then, there's this boy. My Taggart. The boy who healed me from the loss of Fezzik. I was blessed to have him for nearly thirteen years. Today marks three months that we've been without him. 

I know he'll be waiting for me at The Bridge, too, but like all those dogs we've loved before, I'll miss him until the day I can again bury my nose in his fur. 

Thanks again to Twyla of Two Crazy Crafters blog who made the most beautiful prayer shawl for me when Fezzik died. The prayer she prayed into every stitch was that I would get a second Corgi to heal me. When it arrived, I wrapped myself in it as I grieved his passing. It was then that I realized I needed to find another. 

Many times over the years, I've wrapped myself in that shawl, grateful for the gift from my blogging friend, and again, I wrapped it around my shoulders when I cried over losing Tag. Her wonderful gift helps me remember good times, and makes each passing day a little easier. It's a kindness I'll never forget.

So, another milestone has passed. When I see litters of Corgi puppies shared online by my Corgi Nation friends, I admit I long for another one. However, Bella would have a difficult time with another puppy, and truthfully, I'm no spring chicken. I think at some point after she's gone, I'll just go to a local shelter to rescue the oldest dog there and give them a loving home for their golden years. Hopefully, that time is a long way down the road, as we've still got good years left with her (She's only nine).

For now, we'll be grateful for the time we had with all the dogs we've loved before, and give extra snuggles to Bella and Carly. Occasional treats will be in their futures, too! 

I got a chance to get a little stitching in yesterday. My choice, by far, over standing on my feet making hickory syrup for a few hours before going to work for six hours. 

In the time I had to lose myself in this project, I managed to add the chipping to my Corgi's face. I still have to do the white on his paws, but I really wanted to finish the facial features before turning my attention back to the white couching. I'm glad I did. I love the look of the cider-colored brilliant check thread, with a bit of gold accenting the ear and the forehead area (referred to as a "stop" on dogs).

I'll work on this again on Saturday, and hope to complete it over the weekend. I do work on Sunday, filling in for another clerk who needed the time off. She'll be working a day for me next week.

Well? Do you like how he's looking so far? I think he'll make a beautiful brooch, and I'm looking forward to seeing this one to completion. Then, I'll make another for a CorgiAid fund raiser in honor of Tag. I hope to raise some money to help other Corgis in need.

We have a milestone occasion this weekend, and I can't wait to tell you about it...tomorrow. Happy Friday!!

Happy Birthday, Tag...

If you were here, we'd be celebrating your 13th in fine style, buddy boy. As it is, I'm sure you're celebrating your Birthday with all your friends at The Bridge. Instead, I'll share some of my favorite photographs of you with your friends here, and tell you that I miss you every day. 

 

Happy Birthday, Tag.

Newest Labels and a Plan...

I know I told you that I've been working on a few ideas to honor Tag. Yesterday, the labels arrived for packaging my ideas. Anything that bears this label will have a portion of the proceeds donated to CorgiAid to benefit Corgis and Corgi mixes.  I love how the labels turned out!

Beginning next week, you'll be able to find more items in my Etsy shop under the "For The Love of a Corgi" section. The first item that went into that section is the Sheep Pendant Necklace. (There's still one available, by the way.)

I'm also creating a Limited Edition Goldwork Corgi Brooch, a Beverage Coozie or two, Tag Labels, Labrador Girls Labels, and taking orders for the Corgi totes and wallets I showed you a couple weeks ago. I'll add to the collection as inspiration strikes.

I posted a video on Instagram to highlight my new labels, so if you're interested in seeing it, you can click HERE.

Thinking About My Boy....

I got home from work yesterday to find an email from our friend and dog trainer extraordinaire, Mike Sommers. Handsome had spoken with him while in Florida last week and told him about Tag. The email expressed his and his wife's condolences for Tag's passing. He included this image that hangs framed in his kennel building. He said he'd never forget my boy.

I vividly remember the day this photograph was taken at the training property Mike owned. I took lots of pictures, as this was our mid-training appointment to see how Tag was doing with the program. As always, he loved running with the big dogs. When his training was over about a month later, I remember Mike's surprise when I told him Tag was only eight months old. He thought he was at least a year old.

I went back into my computer and pulled up the rest of the photos I'd stored from that day and thought I'd share a few more with you. So, without more words, I present Mike, Tag and the Labradors (all in training)...

Those are some happy memories.

Listed...

 

The first items in my "For The Love of a Corgi" collection have dropped in my Etsy shop. I'll be making more of these, as well as a selection of limited edition new items. They'll be located in my shop in the section of the same name.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these items will be donated in Tag's name to CorgiAid, as I mentioned yesterday. This is my way of honoring my boy.

I intend to make some of the Corgi wallets and totes, as well as a very limited quantity of Corgi goldwork brooches that I'm currently designing. The set shown above features a tri-colored dog, but the ones I'm doing will be colored like Taggart, unless special ordered. I'll have wallets available separately, too.

If you're interested in any of the items shown here, you may contact me for pricing and I'll custom make your pieces ahead of the rest I'll be making. I thought I'd share this with my readers first before posting to Instagram and Facebook. 

Sweet Gifts...

Actually, dear friends, I'm doing better than I expected to by now. It's only been a few days, but thinking about Tag, reading and responding to your comments here - and the hundreds on Facebook - have really been a great help.

Knowing that others share my grief and sadness, and that many are praying for my healing has helped more than you know. Also having unshakable faith that I'll be reunited, not only with my Taggart, but with all our loved ones when we're called home is very comforting.

I really don't want anyone to feel more sadness with this post. That's not my intent at all. I have my boy tucked away in my heart, knowing that he isn't suffering any longer.

For those who wonder what happened, our vet believes that he suffered from IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease), with probably a Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) component as well. If you don't know about IVDD and would like to understand what it is, HERE is a link. I also have a DM link HERE if you aren't familiar with this devastating disease. It's the canine version of ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease and it's insidious, striking many corgis. Once there is a cure for one, there will be a cure for the other (DM/ALS). 

Tag's breeder lied to me when I first inquired about her litters, telling me that she didn't have DM in her bloodlines. I learned differently months later, so I sent for a test kid from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). I returned the swab as directed, and the results came back that Tag carried both genes for DM, making him an "at risk" dog. Symptoms don't usually show until dogs pass their tenth birthday. He showed no symptoms until last week, although Tag had pain, and there is no pain associated with DM. The dogs feel nothing at all.

We are not aware that Tag did anything to hasten an injury in the past few weeks. He was getting slower coming up the porch stairs, and I frequently carried him down to get out, and back up to go into the house. He'd quit coming to the second floor months ago, choosing to lie at the bottom of the stairs to wait for me to come back down. Other than that, we hadn't seen him falter, fall or yip in the course of his day, so we can't attribute his rapid decline to a specific event.

We can only surmise that this condition just got worse as he grew older, and there was nothing to be done at his age. Surgery would have been a painful process with a long recuperation that would have held no guarantees he would ever walk again. It would have been selfish to put him through that. So, the tearful decision was made to hold him close, give him treats (ginger snaps from the vet), and set him free.

From my friend, Sandy M.

This is an AI image that my friend, Sandy generate to share with me. I haven't played around with any of those programs, but I've seen other images Sandy has done through this medium and they're pretty impressive. I love that she did this for me. It's not an actual photograph of Tag, but it's a close likeness, for sure.

Shared by my friend, Laura J.

My friend, Laura sent this one to me. This is where I truly believe he is...in our Savior's arms...and with all the much-loved pets, family and friends who have gone before him. I know they'll be waiting for us in due time.

Thanks again for all your wonderful comments. I wish my blog posts had just a "like" button, as with Facebook, so you could acknowledge, but not feel compelled to comment to these posts. I suppose I could just turn off comments for this one, but I'll leave the settings as they are. I only hope that this post will bring a smile to your face, and you, too, might feel less sad over Tag's passing. He lived his entire life making people happy. I don't think he'd want that to change now. 

We love you all, friends.

Tuesdays With Tag - It's Been A Blast...

Hi, Everybody!

I'm here on special dispensation to write my last blog post to you today. I'm checkin' in from the most beautiful spot at The Rainbow Bridge. I got here yesterday after Mom and Dad took me to the vet to see why my back legs quit workin'.

The vet was real nice to me. He and his wife, my other vet (who was out of town) have Corgi's too, so they know a lot about our breed. He was real gentle and talked nice to me as he did my exam, and then he told Mom and Dad that he didn't think I was ever gonna be able to walk again. (Somethin' was broken and couldn't be fixed at my age.) You all know me well enough to know that's unacceptable for me. I mean, who ever heard of "goin' on dragabout"? 

It's been pretty inconvenient for me these past few days as I've had multiple accidents in the house, and had to be carried everywhere. As hard as Mom and Dad tried - and I know they would have done this forever for me - I wasn't gonna get better. I'm a Corgi! I'm meant to run around the yard, chasin' after Bella and Carly and the stoopid barn cats. Draggin' my hind end around is just somethin' I didn't want.

When I got to The Bridge, I could still hear Mom whisperin' to me, "I love you, Bubby. Tell the rest of our dogs we'll be along soon enough." Kes was waitin' for me, and my legs are workin' again! We ran around each other and were so happy to see each other. 

Then, Kessie took me to meet our other dogs...Bryn, Bannor, Kyra, Duffer, Bee, Samantha Rose, Old Morgan, Morgan II, Fezzik, Kirby, and even the boys' dogs, Duncan, Friday, Conner and Bags. Man, we're partyin' like rock stars now!

Time is different here, too. What takes years back there only takes minutes here. I know Mom and Dad will be here soon by our timeline, but it's gonna seem like forever to them. So, I'm gonna get the gang together and we're gonna take turns visitin' them in their sleep, and we'll all watch over them until it's time for them to meet up with us again.

I'm a little sad right now, 'cuz I can see that Mom's havin' a really hard time. She hasn't stopped cryin' since I left her behind. I'm gonna have to give her extra snuggles when she sleeps. Did you know that's when your loved ones always visit you? When you sleep, your mind opens to all the possibilities. That's where I'll see her again and try to make her laugh. I'll try to make it hurt less for her. She's talkin' to me all the time, too. That's nice.

I know that right now, you're probably cryin', too. I get it. For the last thirteen years I've tried to tell you stories to make you laugh. I've shared my jokes, antics, and adventures with you almost every week. Try to be happy for me. I'm a real puppersnapper again with lots of friends up here...and I can run again. That's the best.

I'm hopin' that Mom will let Bella - or even Carly - check in with you once in a while. Maybe she'll just share an old photo of me from time to time. I know she's gonna work on somethin' special that she's gonna offer in her shop once she gets her feet under her again.

What? Oh...the gang is callin' me now. They tell me that I'm gonna get to meet The Big Guy now. They say He's the best. He loves animals and little children - just like Corgis do! They say He checks on us a lot to make sure we're taken care of. Speakin' of children...there are lots of them, and they all love havin' us around to play with. 

So, I guess it's time for me to leave you. I really had a wonderful life spendin' time with Mom, Dad and all of you. I wish I could give all of you just one in-person smooch. You've been the best, and I love you all very much. I have to go now.

Until we meet again...

Smooches, 

Your Best Boy.

Tag Update...

Pardon me for the tardiness and brevity of today's post. I'm more than a little frazzled today. I slept in the living room last night with Tag, and although he had me up a couple times (and our nice, comfy sectional is not my bed) I do have mixed good news for everyone. 

I took this picture of Tag this morning on our front lawn as he just sat looking at me. He'd only moved a bit from where I placed him because he came to the spoonful of peanut butter and meds I was offering him. TMI, perhaps...he pooped, but no urine since Thursday night. I've been concerned about that. 

So here's today's update as of about 10:30 this morning that I posted on "FaceBark"...

"What a Corgi won't do for food!! He doesn't have any use of his back legs right now, but we're managing his pain with rimadyl and a combo of Robaxin & methocarbamol. He's had bowel movements, but no urine since Thursday night. I took him out this morning and...nothin'. Came time for his breakfast. I had him on a rug in the living room, but his mealtime task as "supervisor for adequate portions" could not be conducted from there. He dragged himself to the kitchen and then tried to kennel himself to eat (usual routine. Meals in crates.). I put down a waterproof rug and put him on it so he could eat. Must have hit the spot, because he hosed down the rug while he wolfed down his breakfast. Now, we're both feeling better. He has another vet appointment on Monday. X-rays on the agenda to see if we can determine if there's anything else going on with him. Thanks for all your comments and prayers. Please keep 'em coming for my beautiful boy."

We'll be hanging out with the critters today. Both Bella and Carly are paying extra attention to Tag, and Bella keeps licking his face. They're concerned, too. I want to stay close to him in case he needs me/us. I'll keep posting updates on my personal Facebook page through the weekend, and will let him give you the vet updates on Tuesday. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. The weather is going to be perfect for Tag (and all of us) to catch some warm sunshine. As I said above, thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts. We know they're heard. xoxo