My Grandaddy

It's been quite a while since I've posted, but we have been very busy with some not-so-pleasant things. While my mom and Spud and I were in Destin at that dock jumping event, my dad had to go down to Griffin, GA, to take care of his dad who is very, very ill. I overheard my mom talking to my dad on the phone about my grandaddy being in something they called a "hospital."

Now, usually when my mom talks about Grandaddy, she is all happy and upbeat, because everyone loves Grandaddy so much. I especially love my grandaddy, and he really, really loves me. He was up visiting my mom and dad the weekend they went to pick me up from the breeder, back in December, 2006, and went with them. So I've known him just as long as I've known my mom and dad. Here's a photo of me as a little puppy with Grandaddy that weekend.

I really liked sleeping in his arms, because he was so gentle and loving with me and made me feel secure.

Here's a video of me when I was a little puppy. I was only 9 weeks old, and I was retrieving already. In this video, you can see Grandaddy outside playing with me. He thought I was cute!

Click To Play

As I grew older, if he was up here visiting with us on my dock diving practice days, he would always come to watch me practice. He was so proud of me!! He even bought me a special bag with my name "Sally" right on the bag for me to carry my towels, throw objects, treats, and other things I needed.

I always got very, very excited when Grandaddy came to visit. Every morning when I got up, I would run right back to his room and wait for him to get up. Sometimes, if I could nudge the door open, I would run in there and give him a big kiss to wake him up! Here's a photo of Grandaddy loving me just last Christmas. He didn't feel real good, but we didn't know he was getting so very sick.

See how much my Grandaddy and I love each other.

Now I keep hearing my mom and dad talk about how they brought him up here to where we live, but he's not at our house. He's in something they call a "nursing home." And he's getting cared for by some people they call "hospice." I hear the word "cancer" used a lot.

I don't know what all this means, but now when they talk about Grandaddy, they are not happy any longer. Everyone is very serious and somber, sometimes even sad. I know he's up here in Athens (which is very near us), and I keep wanting to go see him, but they won't take me.

But all of this sudden activity involving my mom and dad taking care of Grandaddy is why I haven't posted in a while. I promise I'll post more very soon. I need to post the results of our event in Destin. (I'm waiting for pictures from friends.) Right now, however, we are all concentrating on helping Grandaddy. Please remember him in your thoughts and prayers.

See you on the dock,
Sally
The Fire in Team Fire and Ice
Dixie Dock Dogs

Pack it up. We're off to Destin

Spud and I are going to Destin this weekend, to the SanDestin Resort, for a dock diving event. We are so excited! My mom began packing last night. I always know we are going on a dock diving trip when she gets out this big red box and starts putting stuff out on the table. And when that black and yellow equipment case comes out.....yippee!


Mom puts all the good stuff in the equipment case, because that's what goes to the event with us. (The red storage box stays in the motel room.) See what I mean? She puts bumpers and ducks and treats and all kinds of good stuff in that equipment case.

Sometimes Spud and I help her.

And then, once she gets everything packed, she loads the car. Boy, that is a job. She has to load crates, the ice chest, equipment box, storage box, her chair, water, her bag, and lots of other stuff.

Spud and I always supervise to make sure she doesn't forget anything. "Don't forget the chuck-it and tennis balls, Mom, so we can stop and play on the ride down there."

We think she did a pretty good job.

We will be back late Sunday night (or early Monday morning!). The only bad thing about this trip is that our dad can't go with us. He has to shoot some football or soccer or some type games up in North Georgia.

Wish us luck to jump big! Spud and I and our mom are very, very excited!!!

See ya on the dock,
Sally
The Fire of Team Fire and Ice
Dixie Dock Dogs

A party for dogs

Have you ever been to a party for dogs? Especially dock diving dogs? Well, it has to involve water and swimming and retrieving. And that's just what our party had yesterday.

Our dock diving club, Dixie Dock Dogs, had what my mom and dad called a "social" over at Ft. Yargo. That's a state park in Winder, Georgia. Oh my goodness! It was perfect for us dock divers. There was a big lake and lots of bumpers and balls and plenty of grass and trees and lots of adults throwing stuff for us to retrieve all day long!

They did stop once for a little while to eat, but then it was right back to swimming, retrieving, and running! We dogs had a BLAST!! I think the humans did, too.

There were about 19 humans at the dog party and 13 dogs. Most of them were Labrador Retrievers like Spud and me. But we also had a couple of Golden Retriever mixes and even one Basset Hound. He was crazy. His name was Emmett and he kept running around barking at us. He walked down into the water, but he doesn't retrieve or swim. But he sure barks and sniffs!

By the time it was all over, Spud and I were really, really tired. My mom called us "worn out."

My dad took lots of photographs, and my mom made a cool video from them. Here it is. You can see for yourself what a party for dogs looks like.

Click To Play

Thanks for looking at the video and reading about our party. Maybe next time, you can come to our dogs' party!

See you on the dock,
Sally
The FIRE of Team Fire and Ice
Dixie Dock Dogs

Daddy, when are we going to get there!

I really like going places with my mom and dad, and of course, Spud. Sometimes when I go some place with just my mom, it's not always fun. Sometimes, it's just to a building where she drives up to some window and talks to a lady. (I think she calls it a bank.) Or we will ride down to some other big building with lots of cars and people and the letters K-R-O-G-E-R on the front. Then she always leaves me in the car while she goes in that big building. She never stays long, and I actually like looking all around at the people while she is in there.

Other times we go to this really neat store where I can go in with her and get our dog food. Sometimes we go to this place where she pulls up to a big tall thing and shuts off her car. She gets out and puts a big hose into the back of the car.

Going on these "errands" (that's what my mom calls these trips) with my mom is okay. But when my mom and dad take me and Spud in my dad's truck, it's ALWAYS for a fun time! We are either going dock diving or to play chuck-it at the ball field or somewhere really, really neat.

So when we are traveling together, I'm always very anxious to see what's up now. This is the way I let my dad know I want to get there NOW!

Usually, when I do this, he'll say something like, "Oh, Stinky!" (that's what he calls me) But if I get no response at all from him, I'll sigh really loud...right in his ear. That gets his attention. (hee-hee!)

I love my dad. But I'd love him even more if he would just hurry up and get Spud and me to the next fun time!!

See you on the dock,
Sally
The FIRE of Team Fire and Ice