Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Eyes have it

This weeks SundayStills was Eyes. I attended a Graduation party last week and of course my camera came with me. This is a niece of our neighbors and I was trying to make her talk to me. I love the ways her eyes sparkle with mischief. I came that evening loaded my pictures to the computer then went to see what the challenge was!! Bingo I thought the perfect shot.

This is Chub it is not the best picture of him, but I needed to put in here for this week's challenge. Chub is somewhere around 16 years old an amazing age for a golden. He looks like he is smiling with contentment doesn't he?


It has come time for me to make a difficult choice and I am afraid this is my valiant friends last week. It has become so difficult for him to get up and walk but I just cannot bring myself to do it. I keep praying he will just pass away in his sleep. I still remember the all the times he drug the boys out of the lake by life jackets (he never understood the swimming for pleasure thing) , the time he ate all the minnows out of my minnow bucket. All the hours he sat on the pontoon with me while I night fished. We never hunted him all he ever retrieved was tennis balls and they just don't come in season.

23 comments:

Andrea Baker said...

I am so sorry sweetie! HUGS HUGS HUGS Just know that he will be in a better place!

I love your eye photos! great shots!

Aesox said...

Bless you--that's an incredibly difficult thing to do. You know in your heart it's the right thing to do. It's the last kindness you can offer.

Carroll Baker said...

Great Photos! Love the photo of CHUBs. My thoughts are with you for him!

Unknown said...

He does look like a happy pooch!

Sorry to hear that you're going to have to lose him, it's a tough decision.

I have a daughter who's eyes sparkle with mischief too! ;D

Sherri said...

It is really hard to lose a pet -- especially a faithful Golden who has grown up with your children. My daughter's 14 yr old Golden had to be put to sleep 2 years ago and it was hard for the whole family.

Loved both pics.

Ed said...

The young and the old, sounds like ol' Chub is a fantastic pooch..:-)

WildBlack said...

Nice shots! she is really pretty. I like her expression very much. :D

Anonymous said...

chub looks very happy & my thoughts are with in in this tough time
i've been through this before & only time will ease your pain <3

Anonymous said...

The photos are beautiful. Sorry about Chub, sounds like he's been a wonderful friend. Those kind oa decisions are always hard to make. Will be thinking of you.

Paintsmh said...

Beautiful pics.

And my deepest sympathies with your dog. They are some of the hardest to have to say goodbye too. So much joy and love they bring us, all for the sake of some kibble and a ball to play with. Give the sweet ole man a hug from me.

Jessica said...

Chub is just beautiful. You've been lucky to be blessed with his companionship for 16 years...I hope I get that long with my babies. Obvoiusly, he's lived a happy life and has been very well cared for. Good luck with your difficult decision...definitely the hardest part of having animals. But they bring so much joy to our lives that it would be such a shame to miss out on it. I guess we can just feel lucky for the time that we have with them and all the fun memories...

J9 said...

That is a difficult situation. I hope you are able to do what you need, at the time he needs you to. Have a talk with him. I do with all of my animals who are nearing the end. One chose to go in her own time, and the others have not been able to let go, until I've given my permission.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Yes, the little girl does look mischevious!
I am very sorry that the time has come to say goodbye to Chub, he sounds like he was a very faithful loved friend. It is never easy to have to help them along their way..but sometimes necessary..I always wished that ours would die in their sleep too..it never happened that way.
Those are tough days, but you have to do what is best for your best friends. :)

Anonymous said...

A sweet child and a dog, both wonderful subjects. Chubs looks like a happy dog.:) Nice job.

flowerweaver said...

What lovely photos, and a beautiful senior dog.

We have rescued a lot of dogs over the years and have chosen to make them as comfortable as possible and let them pass at home in their own time, usually in our arms.

Several of them lived years beyond what we or the vets expected with a little extra care. That time was precious. I hope you can extend your time together somehow. Blessings!

Carla said...

Great pictures.
Chub will tell you when it's time to go. You'll just know that "today is the day to call the vet". Stay strong. They give us everything they can, we do this one thing for them that is the ultimate gift of all.

Paula said...

Both pictures are fantastic. You can really see the little girl and your sweet dog's personalities shining through.
We have a 15 year old black lab, so completely understand your dilemma.

Patches said...

Nice pictures! Chub looks like a very content dog. Sorry to hear about your difficult decision. I'm sure you have more then enough good memories with him to keep him with you.

CTG Ponies said...

Great pics, especially of Chub. What a sweet face he has. I'm so sorry that you have to make this decision but you have a given him a good life and will give him a dignified end.

Unknown said...

Love your dog. It's so sad when the get in such bad shape. Old dogs are the best!

Anonymous said...

Great shots. gotta love the chubs!

Jen Mo said...

Too cute!

Regular Guy said...

Chubs has a great smile. I feel for you on his situation. My golden passed in his sleep a few years ago, it was very hard. Luckily my son was home from college and helped me with him. He will be better off and so will you.