Helen's Home World

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Wordless Wednesday - National Flag Day

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Travel Plans

Looking for summer

Well, it's that time of year when I get rather tired of winter and when reservations open up to book campgrounds. I hope to do more agility trials with Liam this summer, so I looked at all the posted trial dates and decided which ones I would likely enter him in, that showed me what date windows we would have for camping.

Then my sisters and I found some campsites in New York state parks. I've always wanted to go to Watkins Glen but since dogs aren't allowed on the Gorge trail, I'd never gone. Hopefully, since I'll be with other people, we can take turns doing the trail or perhaps the dogs can stay with someone back at the campsite. Like many provincial parks here in Ontario, the New York state parks fill up fast, by the time we booked at Watkins Glen there were only four electric sites left. My youngest sister and I took the two sites that were side by side with my other sister booked the site just down the road. For me, this will be quite a long drive and you never know what kind of delay there will be crossing the border, so my youngest sister and I will stop at Westcott Beach on the way down and Selkirk Shores on the way back. We're already looking at wineries and breweries that we can go to when we're at Watkins Glen as the Finger Lakes region of New York is famous for that.

I have been to Letchworth State park in New York where the dogs were allowed on the gorge trail. Letchworth is called the Grand Canyon of the east.

Beckett at Letchworth

Keltic at Letchworth

Letchworth canyon trail

Letchworth Falls

So, it will be a trip to New York in June. This morning, we got up early to try and book at Bon Echo Provincial Park for Jul; we didn't get the sites we wanted but did get two sites in the park. It's crazy that it's so hard to get camp sites, Ontario has even reduced the number of days you can book from 23 down to 7 days, but I'm not sure what measures they have to ensure you just don't do back-to-back bookings. We stopped at Bon Echo on our way back last year but couldn't even get two nights in a row, so it was just a one-night stop. Bon Echo has a nice little dog beach, so I hope this year to really be able to take the dogs swimming there.

Mazinaw Rock

Bridge over to the dog beach

In Aug, I have dates where I can get some more camping in, but we'll have to wait for booking windows to open up for those dates. Who knows maybe Vermont, although, their state parks now charge $2 per dog per night. What's up with that? I don't mind pet fees but per dog per night; like really what extra service is provided for that fee, free poop bags? The Lake George or Lake Champlain regions of New York could be another option.

But the big travel plans are in Sep when we've booked a Danube cruise starting with a land portion in Bucharest and Brasov, Romania and ending with a land portion in Vienna, Austria. Vienna has always been on my bucket list. The trip is of the lower Danube so apparently while there's a lot of history, we won't see fairytale villages. We'll be sailing again with Amawaterways. We did a Rhine River cruise with them in 2016 and just loved it.

Amacerto on the Rhine River

Riquewihr, France

Afterwards we're planning to take the train from Vienna to Prague where we'll stay five nights. This part of the trip will be on our own. Our flights have been booked and a hotel in Prague is already reserved.

So, you can see why I'm eager to see the end of winter. It can't come soon enough but I know we probably have another month or so to go.

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Gaston in his Glory

I went out to get my Christmas tree earlier than planned. I had friends coming over to help me decorate on 18 Dec, so I had thought to get the tree on the Friday before but when I came home from my agility class on the Monday, 12 Dec, I drove by the Christmas tree lot, and it seemed the stock was dwindling rapidly. So, I went home, emptied the car and drove back up to the lot to get the tree. There still was a quite good selection, although everything they had was now in the lot. Usually, I look for a tree with a nice top and a fairly thick trunk as even though my tree stand looks like it would hold a very small trunk, the tree stands more solidly with a thicker trunk. I had looked at several trees before I stood up this one and I just knew it was the one. The trunk wasn't as thick as I would have liked but it had a beautiful top and a great shape.

I had three friends over to help decorate; it goes so much faster with people to help. I had already done the lights, so it was just putting on the ornaments. We were done in no time at all. Another of my friends names their Christmas tree so I decided this year to do the same. The first suggestion my friends made didn't work at all in my mind, but the second seemed to fit him and so Gaston was named.

Gaston in his glory!

Of course, Gaston was the focal point for many pictures over the Christmas holidays. He filled the dark nights with such a wonderful light.

Gaston was part of our New Year's celebrations too. I had some friends over again this year for New Year's Eve. We kept the evening to a small number, and we didn't actually stay up until midnight but did our toast for 2023 at about 10pm.

Epiphany

It's sort of a sad time to have to say goodbye to such a beautiful tree. I always wait until after Epiphany to take down the tree; that's what we did when we were kids. I don't understand people who put it away on Boxing Day; I like the season to last. Gaston didn't really want to go, and he hid an ornament from me right until the very end. I thought for sure I would find the ornament when I took the lights off, but no.

Lights coming off.

Just a star!

Gaston has left the house.

I looked and looked for that last ornament before putting Gaston out on the porch. One of my sisters suggested giving him a good shake which I did but to no avail. Gaston dropped lots of needles but still I didn't find the ornament.

What Gaston left on the porch.

I took Gaston done to the end of the driveway, turned him round and round and laid him against the snowbank after giving him yet another shake, but I still didn't find the ornament. I took one last picture of Gaston out waiting for his lift and decided then to take just one more look. I'm sure glad I did as there was the little ornament! It was nearly at the bottom of the tree and luckily near the front or I wouldn't have seen it.

Perhaps Gaston wanted a souvenir of his time as a Christmas tree with me and the dogs as the ornament he hid is of a Christmas tree with a dog running round it called Chasing his Tail. The dog actually does go round the tree, good thing my dogs don't run round the tree.

Chasing His Tail

Last night at home with Gaston.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Wordless Wednesday - Fur Angels

Duffy

Gryffon

Ceilidh

Tucker

Beckett

Keltic

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Wordless Wednesday - Things My Mother Made Me.

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother