I know I’ve been writing about summer a lot lately. I seem to be more into it this year than usual; maybe it’s the new house and all of our land and privacy bringing my love of outdoors to the forefront. It could just be that we’re having better weather than usual this year, it’s been much warmer and drier than past years it seems.
I do know I’ve been hyper-focused on enjoying the summer. We just got through a health scare with Sheba and thank goodness all the blood in her urine meant was that she had a UTI. The blood cleared up quickly, but her appetite, which had been off for a few weeks, wasn’t really coming back too quickly. We feared it truly was the cancer that was making her lose her appetite. The lumps on her side have been back for weeks now but she seemed to feel fine until this latest episode.
I’m happy to say now that her appetite and energy level seem to be back to normal! The UTI must have been coming on for a while before we became aware of it. However, I can’t help knowing in the back of my mind that this will probably be her last summer with us; and maybe that’s why I’m so focused on enjoying it.
Declaring this the “Summer of Sheba” doesn’t really change anything we’re doing – we already have planned to enjoy each day we have left with her to the fullest. We will take her for walks and swims and play daily with her and her siblings as always.
I think it’s more a state of mind thing for me. I want to remind myself to enjoy every moment with her and to savor it. It’s the little things – stopping to smell the roses, so to speak – that I want to enjoy. I am mostly a person who can’t sit still unless I’m on the computer. Either my mind or body has to be occupied at all times. Relaxing isn’t something I’m good at. But for this summer at least, I’m trying to do better. I want to just sit in the sunshine or shade with the dogs, take a deep breath, and appreciate all we have.
We are planning a BBQ later this month for family and friends, so I am busy painting and decorating and getting the house ready to show off. We’ll have our first overnight guest so we need to have an area ready for her to sleep in. I just need to balance all of that with making sure not just Sheba, but all of the pets also get the time and attention they need.
Once that party is over, I plan to take a break from working on the house and focus on enjoying the rest of the summer, exploring our woods and the roads around us with the dogs. Other than a weekend away at the beach with the girls it will be all about the dogs. I want to get back to a more consistent training schedule with Luke along with more regular walks with each of them.
Life will be mostly as normal, with just a little more emphasis on savoring it. I’ve been buying extra toys and letting Sheba and Luke just destroy them as they choose. Stuffed toys, which were usually restricted for indoor play, have been finding their way out into the yard, and we just try to remember to bring them in if it’s going to rain!
It may turn out to be fortuitous that I lost some bookkeeping work this summer, and though financially that is tough, I am glad to have the extra time and I’ll worry about more work in the fall.
A few months ago, when Sheba had her second surgery, I felt confident that we would at least have her with us through the summer. I wanted her to have the pond I’d promised, but that just couldn’t be (for financial reasons). I have read that the life expectancy for her type of cancer is 8 months after metastasis (to the lungs). We haven’t seen any sign of that yet – no coughing, struggling to breathe, or much slowing down (other than when the UTI was bothering her). Now my hope is that she will be with us for her next birthday in late October.
My hopes may be higher than they should, but no matter what happens, I want to always have my fond memories of the “Summer of Sheba”. I want the smell of a lake to remind me of her first swim in Goose Pond. When I throw a towel over the deck rail I want to be reminded of the first time I did this when coming home from that swim this year, or the many times I’ll do it after the dogs are wet from their pool. I want a trip to the local farm stand to remind me of my first trip there this year when I bought broccoli and cabbage for her homemade meals.
I want bittersweet memories of long summer days of play time in the morning followed by swims before lunch (on days I don’t have to go to work). Somewhere in there I find time to write a blog and do some chores, and then we’ll fill the pool and play some more. I want every first smell and sensation of future summers to remind me of our first wonderful summer in our new home, and how Sheba was here to happily share in it with us.
Sheba is a very sweet dog. I also often remember how fun I spent time with my golden retriever: we walked a lot and traveled. Those were great days.
It sounds like you have wonderful summer plans. I am glad Sheba is doing so well.
Continue to make memories and live, love and enjoy the moments. Hugs to you!
I’m so glad that you are enjoying every day of the summer with Sheba. We hope she makes it to her birthday too. Love Dolly
I hope you all enjoy the Summer of Sheba to the fullest, as you have planned and are doing now-it sounds like a marvelous idea, and you are doing a great job so far. Lovely to see Sheba at Goose Pond-so happy the house you have moved to is just perfect for you to enjoy the outdoors as you love! Enjoy these wonderful times indeed!
With all the good things you’ve been doing for Sheba since her diagnosis, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s still with you next summer. Especially if you continue enjoying every moment with her. And, hopefully, her guardian angel Callie will continue to have the same POTP she’s had since getting her wings.
I hope you’re right, Sue. With Callie on our side, next summer is definitely a possibility!
This really is a lovely post! I’m glad that you’re making the most of summer–it looks like Sheba has no complaints about all of the extra summertime relaxing you’ve been doing 😉
Of all the dogs, Sheba loves the outdoors the most. She’ll often be out there napping even when everyone else is in the house. So I think it makes her extra happy when we are out there with her!
Looks like your making some great memories with Sheba in the new house. Sorry about your jobs but true life is short take time to enjoy the summer with the pooches.
Your attitude about enjoying life & the Summer of Sheba is perfect, and something I’m going to try to work on myself. It’s important to reflect on what’s important, and take time to sit back and enjoy it.
It’s important to stop and enjoy life. One of mom’s hardest things with losing Katie is she never felt it would be over. She always thought Katie would be able to keep going, but it wasn’t the case. Enjoy the rest of the summer in your new home with the pups.
We like to believe that you will all be with us forever, even though we know it isn’t true. ♥
We love that this is the Summer of Sheba! We purr that she continues to feel good and eat well and enjoys every minute of it. 🙂
This made me cry. Mostly because I get it. Sampson will be 12 this month and while he’s healthy as far as we know, (no diagnosis on the adrenal/heart murmur/irregular heartbeat) my brain and heart know our time is coming to a close. We’ve done a lot together, vacations and special hikes etc, but I still want to enjoy every moment, every cuddle, every kiss.
I hope you are wrong and that she is with you next summer too!
I hope I’m wrong too! I know exactly what you are saying, Cricket will be 12 not long after Sampson. I feel badly sometimes that she gets lost in the shuffle a bit. Between Sheba’s cancer and Luke’s fear issues, she’s almost like the middle child (though she’s actually the oldest of the dogs). She’s healthy and happy, but I’m also trying to remember to give her special attention and to enjoy every moment with her as well.
I applaud you! It can’t be easy but your attitude/outlook (oops, aren’t they the same? lol) are just fabulous. You are savoring/enjoying EVERY day, as you SHOULD!! Please give kisses to that precious girl and to all of your babies!!! xoxo
Kisses right back to you, Caren, thank you! xxoo
We will celebrate the Summer of Sheba with you! It will be 24 carat Golden ♥
There is a scene in the play “Our Town” where the main character looks back at her life and realizes that it went so fast. It’s good to reflect on it and enjoy each day like you are doing.
The trick is to remember to do that even when we’re not facing a health issue, and with all the crappy stuff going on in the world right now, that’s a great reminder too.
So glad her appetite is back. She’s such a sweet girl, glad to see her enjoying her summer.
She’s a very special dog and she has an amazing life thx to her Mom & Dad. ❤️????
Thank you, Auntie Sheryl! ♥
That sounds like an awesome summer for Sheba, and for you! Enjoy it 🙂
Such a poignant post. Sheba is clearly a very happy pup and I truly hope she’s with you longer than expected. All her pictures are beautiful, but that one of her relaxing in the shade is uber-beautiful. Raising a toast to the Summer of Sheba!
Hear hear, and thank you!
The Summer of Sheba makes this summer to a special one… for you and for your readers…. and I’m glad to read good news :o)
Have a super BBQ… and if you need more places for overnight guests, we have a tent in the backyard what has no happy camper inside, because Easy dislikes it :o)