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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Sabbath Keeping

How could someone POSSIBLY have thrown this beautiful little puppy by the side of the road? We figure there must have been others, who didn't make it, and this little feller was the only one left. He was running around, absolutely panicked and came straight to me when I called him. Right now, he's living in our outside kennel rug over the dog house to protect him from the elements,towel in the dog house for warmth and fresh water and puppy chow. He's liking this better than last night. God alone knows what happened last night.

See how his little...er, perhaps not so little...belly looks like a Budda Belly? He's just had his second meal of the day and is feeling full but he does NOT like the kennel and I don't blame him. He's young enough that he's, maybe, just, barely weaned and misses his litter mates and his mother. When I pick him up and cradle him, his cries turn to little sobs until he, finally, quietens and snuggles against my heartbeat. Little things enjoy being nestled against your heart; it lessons their fears, gives them warmth and quietens them into being calm.

He's not likeing the bars but until Dr. Anne comes tomorrow, that's where he'll stay. I'm going to try and find a good home and have someone in mind so pray, pray, pray Mike will want this little feller.Lat night was the Thompson Valley community supper and a fine time was had by all. The weather has been rainy, rainy, rainy all week and people were starved to be outside. Good food and good music, along with a silent auction, made the evening just about perfect. This week we had rain and tremendous storms. Here, the clouds are just beginning to roll over the mountains, into the valley and soon covered everything in a wet fog. Going across the mountain we found this little one, stuck in the middle of the road, going from here to there or there to here. Whichever. Dave stopped so I could pick him up and move him into the pasture, behind a fence. For reasons unknown to me, some folks like to run over things and would have considered this 'fair game'. Although, imo, there's nothing fair nor game about it. Did you ever have a box turtle? As a child, I was forever bringing home animals or animals were forever following me home...box turtles, cats, kittens, puppies, dogs, birds. When I was about 9, I nursed a barn owl back to health; when I was about 13, I raised six five-week old kittens on a bottle until they were strong enough to be given away...their mother had been killed in an accident.

My mother has a soft heart for animals so I get my soft heart from her. Dave, as well, has a soft heart for animals and he's as bad as I about stopping for a stray. Folks at church simply figure, when we're late, it must involve an animal.

Like today.

Sundays are supposed to be reflective, quiet, full of grace and mercy, tender, gentle and s-l-o-w.
Right?

Well, someone needs to tell who ever is in charge that my Sunday was anything but! The dogs and I woke early, as usual, and took dogs outside to potty, check out the smells of the skunk who comes to steal cat food and then back inside so I could slip on some shoes to head to the barn. I checked on barn cats, fed and watered them; sheep counted; horses counted and locks checked.

Back to the house where Sadie was fed breakfast which, btw, sorely puzzles Gracie and Abbie because they don't get breakfast. Although I am going to start feeding them twice a day, just half their rations each time. That's one of "those things"...Daddy always fed once a day, at night, and so have we but, since having Sadie, I'm thinking twice a day might be better. Sadie gets fed three times a day because that's what her breeder recommended. What about you? How do you feed your dog or dogs?

I headed to the shower and revel in the face it's the only place in the house I can be totally alone. At least, totally alone as in there's no one else in the shower with me. There are dogs, sometimes cats, in the bathroom when I get out of the shower but IN the shower...AHHHH, it's just me.

Flash forward, I'm dressed, hair dried and headed out the door when a neighbor comes up the driveway. He suggests we moved horses from one lot, across the barn lot, to another lot. Sounds easy peasy. HA! Why is it that anything that sounds easy peasy ends up being tough as nails?

As soon as the gate was opened the horses made a break for it, where ever 'it' is; I'm not sure but from the way they took off, they must have had a pretty good idea. I chased those dratted horses, lead rope whistling in the wind, up one side and down the other of the barn lot until they were cornered into the correct lot. The reason they are away from the other horses is...they are F-A-T and need to lose weight. Lightly is my first foal and she's now about 6 or 7 and gains weight on bread and water. Seriously. She has the metabolism of...well, of nothing. She eats and gains weight, that's what she does and she does it really well. Daniel is coming by tomorrow to trim her feet and then Lightly and I have a standing appointment, during the cool of the day, to work in the round pen. One way or another that girl as GOT to drop some weight. She's probably saying the same thing about me, ya think?

Hmmm...now that I'm rubbing a couple of brain cells together I'm thinking this is God's way of answering my prayer to lose weight. Blast! What I really wanted was for Him just to melt it off by Himself. I didn't want to actually sweat or anything.

So, now I look like the shower was merely a suggestion; formerly washed and blown dry hair is plastered to my face and head, I'm sweating like a pig and gasping for air like someone stuck my head under water. Oh yeah, I'm gonna look and feel my best when I get to church this morning.

Not.

Dave says, "do you want to still go?" I just look at him while I'm gasping for air, "Yes, I do" so we climb in the car with extra minutes still to spare. See, we're usually walking in just as they start service or a few seconds before. We seem to have a knack for being not quite late or barely late. It drives Dave crazy but I'm just glad to be there...finally.

We're headed to church when something catches both our eyes and he slams on the breaks. It's The Puppy. The one above...Budda Belly who looks like he might have Golden Retriever in him. Someone has thrown that precious little puppy away.

Once, I was talking to an older gentleman who was giving one of my foundlings a home. This older man's dog has passed away and the man had open heart surgery and was supposed to walk every day. He just couldn't bring himself to go walking without his companion so God put the three of us together. Anyway, this gent and I were talking about people who threw away animals. He looked at the elderly Chihuahua on my lap and said, "Well, sir. I figure if I saw someone throwing this little girl, or any dog, out on the road...they might get a meal but I'd at least get a sandwich!"

YES! A man after my own heart! Someone who doesn't want to see anything, animal or human, thrown away, abused or hurt. There's entirely too much of that in this frosty old world and I know, truly I do, that I can't save them all. But, God willing, I can save those He puts before me. Thank God, Dave feels the same way.
So, would you like a puppy? After tomorrow he'll have his first shots, be de-wormed with his first physical. He's a lovely little thing, full of personality and love galore and it's all waiting just for YOU. I'll even let you name him.

Blessings ~ puppies ~ Dave who will stop for puppies ~ church members who think we're crazy but love us anyway or, at least, pretend they love us anyway ~ community suppers ~ turtles ~ rain ~ fog ~

12 comments:

  1. Hello! I saw your article in Country magazine (Great article by the way) and headed over to check out your blog. I'm enjoying it and had to comment after seeing the rescued puppy. I'm glad God sent you along to take care of him. It's heartbreaking how people can do that to little creatures. I rescued a dog alongside the road about three years ago--nothing but skin and bones, mange and open wounds. Not a dog I would have ever in a million years picked for myself, but God had other ideas. Boone, after he gained 60-70 lbs turned out to be a full blooded French Mastiff (think Hooch). He has been a handful at times, and costly to boot, but he is something else too, and all he wants to do is be by my side all the time. I also have Shetland sheep. Anyway, just wanted to say I'm enjoying your blog.
    Tammy

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  2. He's adorable. Thank God you found him. It is sad to think about it but many people do not cherish the life of innocent creatures. I can relate to you. I really think at times, creatures that need help are drawn to me. I have a box turtle that my brother-in-law brought to me 15 years ago. He is now living with my mom.

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  3. He's an adorable puppy and I said a prayer for him a home.

    We have 4 Airedale Terriers and I'd be in the dog house if we had another pet.

    Puppies are the sweetest.

    Enjoyed reading your post!
    Many Blessings,
    ~Deanna~

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  4. i hope that sweet little puppy finds a wonderful family.
    i just finished watching marley and me...i was bawling like a baby! dogs are such special friends.
    have a lovely day and good luck for the pup.
    chasity

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  5. Are you sure the cute little puppy can't live with you? This coming from me, with 6 big dogs who ALL want nothing more than to shadow me.

    You sure hit the nail on the head when you talked about being not quite on time ( very different from being late, don't you think ? )as I am often heading out to town or for appointments only to discover I have to tend to an animal who the night before was fine and dandy but now needs immediate care....and my poor sisters and others who can't possibly know all that is involved in me getting there on time just roll their eyes as I appear 'not quite on time'.( usually with manure or hay stuck somewhere on my good shoes)I would not trade my life with anyone tough, just wish they had an inkling of understanding.

    The poor puppy is a cutie, and now that he has you as an advocate I think he has a happy life ahead of him. Surely an answer to prayer!

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  6. Oh, I'd love this puppy, but we live a little far away to have him ...:-(
    But I hope you will find him a lovely home!

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  7. I'm a softie too. I'd love a new puppie but we have a 12 year old cranky Boston. He's happy being the only child for now.

    Bless you for taking in the wee one.

    I have an Aunt, Uncle, and cousins in Roanoke. Love seeing the view of the mountains again.

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  8. Such a sweet puppy -- if I were close, I'd run over and bring him home! For years, our cherished pets have been those abandoned by others -- their loss! And BTW, could you send me your address again? I can't seem to find it in my e-mail and want to send you your buttons! Thanks.

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  9. What an adorable little puppy! I am so glad you are taking care of him.

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  10. Hi Tammy, we've always said there was a unicorn flying over our farm. Unicorns are patron saints of lost, foundling, strays. Thanks for visiting, come back soon.

    Hi Leslie, I think 15 years is a record for a box turtle!

    Hi Deanna, we have both house and land for four dogs; I just don't know that we have enough "me"!

    Hi Chasity, you have more courage than I; I've not seen Marley and Me and not sure I can watch it!

    Hi Kathy, no, not sure at all especially as Sadie really, really likes having a little one to chew! Honestly though, Sam...that's what Dave is calling him...gives almost as good as he takes and he's only a few pounds.

    Hi Timi, I wish you could have him as well. I just know Sam would love Hungary as much as I loved Hungary!

    Hi Becky, cranky Boston, eh? No worse kind than a cranky terror -smile- .

    Hi Georgiann, Sam is sweet and wish he could be yours. I'm willing to meet you halfway??? -smile-

    Hi Jennifer, I'm glad too, I think. -smile-

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  11. Oh Sandra, he is so sweet! I don't know how anyone can do this!I saw four or five little "Marley" pups at the shelter the other day. Why not take them to a shelter? I always wonder, if they will dump the puppies like this, what kind of care does the Mommy dog get?
    God Bless you for caring!

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  12. Hi Carol, you have a far less suspicious mind than do I; I always wonder what kind of care Mama gets?!

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