Blaze

We had to put our sweet dog, Blaze, to sleep this morning.

While it was the right thing to do, it does not make it any easier, or less sad.

She was almost 14 years old (we said she shared a birthday with Doreen, making her 13 years and three months old) and was having trouble getting around.

We picked her and her sister Daisy up one day in 2001 when we stopped by Wabash Feed Store to get some bird food. They were both so darned cute we had to take them home.

Blaze and Daisy didn't get along, and Daisy went to live with our great friend Gaye, who kept her happy until a year or so ago.

Both Blaze and Daisy had bad hips, though that didn't seem to stop either of them from making sure the house was safe from stray cats, raccoons, possums, squirrels, and the occasional mocking bird.

She had a great big bark, but would not hurt a fly, as was evidenced by the time we were broken into. All I can imagine is that she wagged her tail at the burglars and was hoping for treats.

One of her favorite places to hide was in the oleander bushes on the east side of our yard. She loved jumping up and barking at unsuspecting passers-by to see if they would be "jumpers" or "screamers" as our across the street neighbors would call them.

We had some very set routines that we followed every single day. We woke at 5:30 and walked (every day except when I was out of town) for almost 14 years. We would "police the yard" before I went to work to make sure it was clean, and then do "last rounds" before we went to bed - to make sure all the doors and gates were locked. She licked the cat bowls after they had their fill and ate most of our leftover protein so our garbage was always pretty clean.

If you look at some of the later photos in

Blaze 2000.12.25 - 2014.04.03

that album you will see a pot roast that we spent all day cooking, and then Blaze helped herself to off the counter. Which was funny, since we thought she had bad hips and we didn't think she could get up that high. Oh well. We couldn't punish her as we put the temptation right there for her to enjoy.

The house will be a quieter, and sadder place without her. Thanks to everyone who has written and sent condolences. I am sure we will soon be remembering only the good stories.