Passing On The Torch ~

Rascal & Annika

I've spent the best part of two days now making up a photo book for Kittaka.  It's been a tough go.  Only a few months since her passing - looking back over the years of her life with us was a trip down memory lane.  Fourteen-years is a long time in anyone's life - including mine.  As I had to go back to photo albums - YES - real photo books, Butch came in, saw them on the table & I would hear exclamations as he too realized the changes time has wrought.

Amazing how the trees grow, the girls mature, grand-kids appear & then they too start to grow!   Where has the time gone, well - it's right there in those pictures!  With Abby, the first dog our family owned.  The one who made the move with us to the Homestead in 1990.  The beginning of the direct line of dogs who have followed.  Abby was with us the night we brought Kittaka home in Nov. 1997.  When Abby left us after a long (14-year) life full of adventure, we brought Rowdy home.   Even though Kitt was six-years old, he was the one she  loved the most.  The one who bonded to me & learned the ropes from her!  She treated him as her pup, schooling, scolding & teaching him the routines she'd learned from Abby. 

Rowdy with Kittaka - April 18, 2009

When he died so young & unexpectedly - she & I both found it hard to move on...  But moving on is what life is about;  so next was Rascal.  He was a different kind of Beagle - independent to a fault, not necessarily in need of much attention, but again - at age eleven - Kitt decided it was up to her, to make a dog out of him.  She didn't give him the love or attention she had Rowdy - but she made darn sure that he figured things out or paid the price!  :-) 

Kitt with Rascal - November 1, 2009

 Eventually, as Kitt continued to age - Rascal became more important to her.  Her ears, her eyes, her companion & help mate.  Rascal stepped up to the task too - if not with her, he would be close by.  With her loss, then the loss of Mischief so closely following - Rascal had an unwelcome taste of what it felt like to be lonely - the only Beagle, the only dog...  We all had some very tough times.

But then... along came Annika.  A different kind of dog & yet - there was something about her, something that we recognized?   An independence, a happy outlook on life, a way of smiling when she sees us.  Without any way of knowing - she somehow seemed to sense what was missing.  Rascal has been training her of course, in his way - but there are some things...  The way she seems to like the same special spots in the yard, a little of the look - when she runs to greet us, just to see that flash of gold again when I'm walking the woods.

This afternoon though - when I looked out to see, then grabbed the camera to capture the moment - it's a picture of life here on the Homestead making a full-circle.  A good day, a fresh, sweet breeze from the cleansing, welcome rain of last night~

Annika Joins our Family!

A new puppy for us!

Years ago, when we'd taken Kitt over to Dr. Essex for vaccinations - we were looking at his AKC wall chart of dog breeds.  We found the Norwegian Buhund - & all thought they looked the closest to Kitt - in coloring & size.  We'd done some research on the breed, but even with Kitt's passing - had decided that two Beagles were enough.  Then, while I was on my trip to CO - I received a Facebook message from the breeder that I'd been in contact with - he had a litter of puppies available.  I really didn't think I'd be able to talk Butch into a third dog - even though I really missed Kitt's presence as my protector.

Returning home to find that we'd lost Mischief was a shock.  It took a while for us to absorb her loss.  It was just way too quiet with only Rascal.  He looked so lonely - started jumping in the truck when I was leaving - something he'd never done before - he gets carsick...  Next - I woke one morning to hear him attempting a very lonely howl...  Beagles don't normally howl, so when they do - you know that something isn't right...  

Nose up & howling...

Butch & I talked it over & decided to contact the breeder to see if we could make arrangements to meet the puppies.  Sunday - was the day for the long drive.  What fun it was to meet the breed for the first time!   They were all beautiful, well cared for & happy dogs.  We wanted a female, there were three to choose from.  After playing with them all & talking to Jimmy - we decided on the smallest female.  She was bright, alert, outgoing & seemed the best match for us.  

Happy husband with the soon to be christened Annika :-)

Does anyone every go home without a puppy?  I know it seems that we sure don't!  :-)  Rascal had come along with us - we had the kennel cab on the back seat, next to his blanket.  He was in total shock when we put her in the kennel!  "Are you kidding?!"  "You're bringing it home?!"  He came up front & sat in my lap for the return trip - too traumatic to even think of sharing the back seat with THAT!  (We both were remembering the night 15-years ago - when we brought Kitt home & Abby having the same response to the interloper :-)

Solid traffic on Snoqualmie Pass - 2hr's from Ellensburg over the top..

After the very long drive...  we were more than happy to be back home just before dark.  Rascal jumped out - we let the puppy out & I showed her where water was.  She took a big drink - then followed Rascal to the porch where he was expecting his cookie!  She was happy with that!  Dinner followed & that passed inspection too!  We sat out with on the patio to watch & see how things went.  Butch looked up names & we finally settled on Annika - Norwegian - with a slightly different spelling for "Anna".  Nika for short :-)  She started exploring - making wider & wider circles from where we were sitting.  Climbed into both our laps & seemed very content.  Rascal's attitude too changed.  He fluffed out the feathers on his tail, did a bit more of his confident strut & let her know that after all - he thought that she just might be OK :-)

Rascal & Nika - early morning sunshine~

After Butch left this morning - I looked out to see her laying near him as he enjoyed the early morning sunshine :-)  "She's a pain - but I guess she's mine..."  :-)

Losing our Golden Girl ~

Kittaka was special from the very beginning. Sweet, loving & smart - quick & fast. Beautiful as could possibly be & rare.  At her very first trip to the Vet for vaccinations, we were warned that she was a either a wolf or coyote hybrid. 

 I pulled up to our gate one afternoon to see something thrashing at the north pasture fence. It was a deer Kitt had hamstrung. I got the rifle, asked Kitt to get away & shot the deer. She also loved to hunt Squirrel - then eat them! I understand Squirrel meat is actually very good. Since ours live on the nearby walnut trees, I'm sure they were!

Raised by our 7-year old Beagle, Abby --  Kitt did her best to dominate :-) As she grew taller, she would stand over Abby & the two of them looked like a dog with 8-legs. When we took the two of them with us to the Alpine endurance ride camp - she spent the day hopping around the pasture catching grasshoppers :-)  She also learned to hunt for grubs. Each spring & sometimes in the fall, she could be found sniffing around the yard. Stopping, digging a bit with a paw - then eating whatever grub it was. I attribute all that fine protein to her longevity.

Kitt & Abby - 2-25-1999

The only time she had an "accident" was when she found & tasted slug-bait. We raced her into Pilchuck Veterinary Clinic & she survived without any problems. That was the end of slug-bait on the Homestead. 

She grieved with us at Abby's passing in 2004.  When Rowdy came home with us, she took on the responsibility of teaching him our routine.  She loved him as though he were her own & spent hours playing with him - he could get away with almost anything!  We were amazed...

Rowdy & Kitt - 2-10-2004

The two were an almost inseparable pair.

Kitt & Rowdy - 1-9-2005

At the age of twelve, she suffered with us when we lost Rowdy.  We were all so lonely, we again searched to find another Beagle & came home with Rascal.  Kitt tolerated him, but he couldn't replace Rowdy.  He had to make his own way & find his own path to our hearts.

Kitt with Rascal - 11-1-2009

 We had Coyote's around in the early days, some evenings they would start to howl, setting off the dogs in the valley. Kitt would walk out to the center of our driveway - puff herself up & send off her own howls. They were so incredible - you felt you were listening to Wolves in Alaska. After her first howl, there would be utter silence!~ Not one more bark, not one more howl, nothing. She would finish her song with a flourish & strut away - Queen.

As she aged & lost her hearing, the howling stopped. We have no idea why - but it was a terrible loss to us. My first cell phone with a video mode, I managed to catch her song one morning when emergency vehicles went by down the hill.  I think I somehow knew those songs were numbered.

Here. I'll share with you - as a final tribute to the finest canine companion any mere mortal could ever possibly hope for ~

Walk In the Woods~

Since we did not get the hoped for sunshine today, I'm posting a slideshow/video of the sunshine we enjoyed so much last Tuesday!  Yesterday, I found the tops eaten off my newly planted onions.  The little bunny appeared again last evening!  Two Beagles, a 1/2 Coyote & a rabbit???  What's wrong with that picture?  :-)

As if that wasn't enough -- the slugs had been out in force to eat on my Dill & "Chocolate" Basil!  Back to Lowe's this morning for more supplies!  More wire for the "Invisible fence" installation, (Not enough wire is included for five-acres.) to keep the Beagles Home!  Rabbit wire for around the garden, to keep those cute bunnies Out...  Pepper spray to dissuade any further "pests" from enjoying the fruits of my labor!  I mentioned to Butch there's a reason, I never plant much of a garden!  He says when I finally get to enjoy those onions or zucchini, I'll change my mind!