Losing Lottie

It is with extreme sadness that I must type an entry to say that Lottie Dah has passed. She entered eternal sleep in the afternoon of August 16, 2011.

Her last 24 hours were her best 24 hours in months. They were filled with all the things that made her happiest. Car rides. A run along the beach. Her sock game. Her duckie. Long rests in my arms and naps on the couch.

She seemed to know her troubles were to be over soon, and hopefully now they are and she is finally at peace.

Dog of the Day?

Wow, Lottie Dah? Dogster Dog of the Day? No way! How cool is that?

Lottie thought it was already a great day because it's sunny enough today to take a nap on my beloved porch! Now this?!

Thanks! :o)

Did Lottie Mention...

FUNNEL CAKE!!!

The very first people food Lottie got was a bit of bread. The night Lottie was adopted, Lottie didn't eat much supper, but was in the room with my Trista while she ate at the kitchen table. She let me have a piece of bread.

From this Lottie learned two very important things. 1 - If you hold out, you can get the good stuff. 2 - Lottie desires all doughy people foods.

Got french fries? Can Lottie have one?
What about some of that roll?
Can Lottie have some of the pizza crust?
Or pound cake?
What about a donut?
A butter cookie? It looks bready too...

Lottie doesn't get it all...but Lucie and Lottie smelled this fantastic food at the Farmer's Market two weeks ago. It was FUNNEL CAKE! We double teamed my Trista and we got some! We wanted more! But some is something.

Last week, my Trista was disappointed by what was at the Market, so she got another funnel cake. That's right, we go to a Farmer's Market and we come away with carnival food, BOL. Suits me and Lucie just fine...

FUNNEL CAKE!

Ahh!!

FUNNEL CAKE!!!!

(without the sugar....)

OMD!

FUNNEL CAKE!!

More on this subject later...

Pleading the Fourth

Well, Lottie's late telling all about our Fourth of July - but Lottie still beat Lucie. Only fair, since she told all about it last year.

We had to wake up early and get our business done before the parade began. We did ones and twos and were up on the chaise just in time to take a few photos before it began.

A few minutes before, the fire whistle sounds and loads of people come out of their house. Plenty of good seating to be had, but we had the best. Lottie ended up taking the seat by my Mommy's feet - what could be better than that. Lottie sang along with the bagpipers just a little bit. Then she heard they already had accompaniment this year - drummers, so Lottie went back to being just a spectator...or a listener, Lottie doesn't "watch" the parade like Lucie.

There was a doggie in the parade, a pug. His mommy was dressed as the Statue of Liberty and he rode in the back of her scooter dressed up. We were sorta dressed up too, but not so much that Lottie minded. ;o)

Last year, Lottie and Lucie really sang at the end when all the fire trucks and ambulances went by. Not this year. The firehouse is a half block from us, so we're used to those sounds now, or if not used to them, at the least, we're not impressed by them anymore.

After the parade, Lucie and Lottie napped. Then we finally ate. Then we napped. Then it was such a nice day we went on the back deck. And we napped. Then we ate. Then we napped. Then we watched the Mets, but they weren't watchable. So, we napped. Then we went on the side deck for the fireworks that the town next over has. We did our business first. Then Lottie got the chair next to my mommy and Lucie paced and barked - otherwise, Lottie thinks she could've napped during them. Then we went on the front porch while the people walked home from the show. Lucie watched, and Lottie sang at them with my puggle neighbor. (We have an understanding. We both like to play guarddog. We give each other the heads-up when people are passing and lots of times we both sing at them, but sometimes you just have to nap, so we also work in shifts, like we did that day. Together we always have it covered.) Then, after a little nap, it was just about time for bed!

The Social Butterfly!

Lottie got to spend a week with her new boyfriend recently. He's working on our "old" house to get it ready for sale and Lottie loves him. Lottie would wake up waiting for him to come over and Lottie would bark and wag for him and Lottie would sniff his feet and sneak a lick.

But then we came back home and Lottie went back to being a Mommy's girl. Then we had company. Can you believe it? My Mommy and my Trista would never have thought it. But...Lottie likes company! In fact, Lottie loves company. At least this company. Lottie had met one of the company before and grred at her. But this time she was with another man and lady. Lottie liked them both (they have 2 dogs - my boyfriend has 3), so Lottie liked "Aunt Nancy" now too.

Lottie went to one and the other and the other and back and forth and rubbed and got petted and rolled and they loved Lottie!

(Lucie took the opportunity to lay in Lottie's bed - don't think that Lottie didn't know it either! She doesn't get up for company - they can do as they please, they can pet her or not, they can steal the house or not...)

Then two of them left and Aunt Nancy stayed. She stayed the night. After bedtime potty, instead of going straight to my Mommy's room, Lottie went right to say night night to Aunt Nancy. Lottie put her paws right up on the couch by her head and got petted. (Lucie sat in the doorway wondering why she had to wait an extra minute to go to bed.)

In the morning, my Mommy was going to put Lottie in my Trista's room so Lottie could sleep a bit longer while she visited with Aunt Nancy. But, Lottie went right by the door - Lottie wants to visit more too!

We all went garage sale-ing and Lottie let Aunt Nancy put her hands in my basket and pet me. (Lottie doesn't care for it when my Trista does it...but for company!)

Then we drove her back to where she was staying and since it was the Friday before Memorial Day it took forever. A forever ride, Lottie loved it! When we got there, Lucie walked and went potty and got her front seat back, finally. Lottie wonders if Lucie even knew we had company...

Lottie walked too but didn't do potty. Too much to smell. Lottie "saw" ducks and wanted to visit them! Then the other company we had came out with their two dogs. Lottie was weary, but they're with company, so Lottie has to go see. We sniffed and one barked (and not me!), but too much company, time for Lottie to go home.

Company would never had known Lottie is insecure and can't see and that Lucie is the outgoing one who loves to meet anyone. Lottie guesses it all depends where the company is - on the street or in our home.

Gotcha Day!

Today is my Homecoming Anniversary. Lottie was adopted one year ago today!

Lottie didn't know what to expect today - especially since yesterday Lottie got a trip to the vet and a shot!

Today was made up of all of Lottie's favorite things!

First, Lottie got to get up on the bed with my Mommy. Lottie hasn't done that in ages because it means Lottie has to stay on the bed and Lottie would rather have the freedom to move around the room. But today was different. You just had to ask and Lottie was ready to get up. Then Lottie got held in my Mommy's arms and got petted lots.

After a regular potty and regular breakfast, Lottie and Lucie got a little of one of favorite foods - eggs! Then Lottie got pictures taken. That's a tradition with Lucie Goosie, so Lottie wants to do it too - even if it means wearing a hat, or crown as it were. Lottie got good girl treats for that.

Then, later, we went birthday shopping. My Trista knew what she wanted to get me, but of course when she went for it yesterday, they were sold out. So, she went to four different stores today looking for the pawfect new toy. Lottie got a great nap in the car with my Mommy and Lucie while she shopped. The fourth store - the one that had been a strikeout yesterday - had something that she thought even more pawfect than what she was originally thinking.

After that, we went to the riverfront beach. Lottie hasn't been there since the fall. At least, Lottie hasn't gotten out since then. Lucie had to stay in the car, BOL. It was just Lottie and my Trista. Lottie had forgotten all about the texture of sand on your paws and Lottie walked around for a bit like she had sand in pants.

The ducks and the geese watched Lottie, but Lottie was too busy to see them - smelling everything and walking down the beach one way, then back, then forward, then back. The tide was out and so Lottie could get near the boat launch. Boy, that smelled interesting!

Then we came home. Lucie and Lottie had another of Lottie's favorite foods - rice cake! Then Lottie got to open her present. It's another duckie! Like my favorite stuffy! But different! It looks real and it honks. It's a sound Lottie's never heard before. Interesting!

Then Lottie needed a nap! Lottie was so excited when she woke up - what might be next? Oh! There's my honker duck. ::Shake Shake:: ::Toss:: ::Pounce:: ::Hooooonnnk:: What was that???? GRRRRRR... Hee hee.

After we went out for our 7 o'clock potty, Lucie and Lottie usually get a "Mommy's treat." But, tonight we went out on the porch and Lottie had to get her picture taken with Lucie....with that hat again. After that, we got a slice of angel food cake!

Wow! My Trista couldn't even get a photo of that. Lottie picked the whole piece up and chomped chomped until it was all gone. Lottie wasn't going to risk putting that down and losing it! Lucie didn't know what to make of the cake - she never had cake before either...she thought maybe she was just being given a plate to eat and she began to sniff around away from it. My Trista picked it up to show her there was something on the plate and she caught on. She ate it just like Lottie - one big gulp. Lucie had a silly grin on her face after that! Wow it was GOOD.

It was a GOOD day!

So tell me...

What are you supposed to get on your birthday? Tomorrow's my Gotcha Day and Lottie got a trip to the vet and a shot. Does that sound right??

The vet did give Lottie a biscuit after, but Lottie didn't want it. This was the follow up booster for something or other, but Lottie got it at our new vet - the one treating Lucie's tail. We asked about Lottie's sight and age again. He thinks Lottie's 5 or 6. He says Lottie's blind in the one eye - a cataract AND a luxated lens. The other eye has a cataract and Lottie should only be able to see some shadows....which is a lie because Lottie can see my Mommy and my Trista and my wolfie and my duckie and my lizard, ANY food, the opened car door, oh lots of things... but not birthday presents... that's why Lottie's gotta ask - do you think the vet trip and shot were it?

Hmm.

My New Boyfriend. My Old Mommy.

Lottie's a helper girl, so it's only natural Lottie would fall for a helper guy. He's been working on our house - painting, etc. - and usually Lottie grrs at strangers, but this guy has a Shih Tzu of his own (plus a Dachshund and Chihuahua), so Lottie knew he had to be a good guy and so Lottie tries to follow him around while he's here. He almost makes Lottie forget about my old beau named Peapod. But, Peapod hasn't left any presents for Lottie to smell lately, and he hardly visits Lottie at all. It's time to drop the deadbeat and move on - helper guy?! where are you helper guy?

Today, Lottie got to see Lottie's new boyfriend again, but then Lottie and Lucie Goosie went for a ride. There's been talk around here for a week that Lucie was going to the vet. Whatever. We got there and Lucie and my Mommy went in, while Lottie hung out with my Trista in the car. Then Lucie came out...and Lottie was taken out of the car...what??

Last time, after Lottie went to a vet she ended up waiting in a parking lot and went home with my Mommy. Oh no! Lottie doesn't want a new Mommy! Waaa! Lottie shut down on the walk in. Lottie could smell the dred of all the dogs who went in before her.

When Lottie got inside she shook and shook and shook. The girls felt so bad for Lottie. The doctor had to come out and get Lottie and carry Lottie in.

But! Lottie's healthy! Yay. Lottie weighs 17.7 lbs, a little less then when Lottie was adopted last year. The doctor thinks the sight in Lottie's one eye is gone and Lottie can probably see some shadows in the other. He thinks Lottie could've been born with cataracts cuz he thinks Lottie's only about FIVE! My Mommy says Lottie does better than just a few shadows...and the doctor was very impressed when Lottie walked out so well on her own.

Lottie was so happy to be out of there. Lottie's tail wagged and wagged. My Trista took me back to the car while my Mommy stayed to pay. But after getting in the car and having a good girl treat, Lottie got worried again about the parking lot and the new Mommy. Lottie just got settled and somewhat relaxed in her surroundings. Will Lottie get to take her car seat? Lottie began to pant and try to get out of the car. Lottie took her paw and tightly gripped the arm of my Trista. Then? It's my Mommy! Yay, at least Lottie gets to see her again. Then we drove off.

...okay stopped for gas, okay.
...okay stopping again, okay.

It's home! We're home! No new Mommy! Yay!

Boy, Lottie needs a nap!

2009

There's been a few changes so far this year.

First, Lottie has a topknot now. Not like Lucie Goosie's, it'll never be like that. Lottie'll make sure of that. But, Lottie's hair is growing faster in the winter and Lottie's got bangs. Bangs that block some of the sight Lottie's got in her good eye. (Well, it blocks the bad eye too...) Lottie doesn't mind it. But, Lottie's got a tiny top knot and barretted bangs now anyway.

Despite not liking hats (which is an understatement), Lottie's been fine with the topknot. So, maybe it'll stay after winter.

Lottie's also decided to make a deal with my Trista about potty time. Lottie will jump right out of bed and will go to the door when Lottie hears, "Who's gotta go potty?" BUT, except for the first time each day, my Trista must carry Lottie out and put her on the ground. Good compromise, Lottie thinks. It just came to Lottie one day and my Trista picked it up immediately.

The other thing is, since Lottie'll now get out of bed at midnight when Lucie does her last potty, that means we go to bed at the same time now. But, Lucie sleeps with my Trista and Lottie sleeps with my Mommy and my Trista's room comes first. Well, the first night there was problems cuz if Lottie gets put to bed first, Lucie follows and ends up at the water bowl, after just having tinkled. So, Lucie goes to bed first and the door closes behind her. Lottie didn't know what to do, so she waited by the door a bit then decided to head off to my Mommy's room - all by Lottie's self. My Trista emerged from the other bedroom door and brought me to my Mommy. But, after that night, Lottie got it and understands that when my Trista says to Lucie, "Time to go to bed" and shuffles her to the door, it has a meaning to Lottie too and Lottie scampers off to Lottie's bed. Pretty good huh!