Wednesday, December 31, 2014

goodbye 2014




Tiny chumley is quitely sleeping in his heat cave as I write this.  I am reminded of his forefathers, Kep and Padua, who in their senior years, slept much of their day away.  But the little kielbasa is not that old yet, I think to myself.  He's just waiting for something interesting to happen. 

Younger dachshunds often make their own kind of interesting happen when their moms and dads are busy, chewing on things or expressing their displeasure at being ignored in often wet and odorous ways.  But we've been lucky with Baxter.  Through praise and snackie love, we've been able to develop a language with tiny chumley that allows him to speak his mind and get our attention in usually more welcome ways.  Except maybe when there are no more socks or shoes to be brought, or when we are so deep in thought or makey that we fail to notice the sound of his tail gently thumping on the floor, and the sight of his little tummy being offered up for a belly kiss.  Except for those moments, when he knows that only a bark will do.

Tiny chumley turned eight this past year. The white hairs are sprouting up and lightening his face and paws in a slow but steady fashion now, and though they do little to keep Baxter from rocketing off in pursuit of a kitty in his backyard, they give me pause every time I see them.  The entrance to the tunnel of his senior years is clearly on the horizon now.  His future, if we are lucky, will be gift wrapped in slow, sleepy days filled with the sound of snoring and other uncouthy but welcome digestive noises. 



As 2014 comes to a close, I am grateful for having been able to share tiny chumley's evolving but always happy go lucky life, and our sometimes rather fantastical adventures in makey and toyfriend world.  I am grateful for the love and joy we both share and receive here in our tiny, insulated microcosmic cyber home. The new year will come, as it always does, with its own unique challenges and twists, and I hope we will see it through as we always do, surrounded by family and friends, with a waggly tail and a belly rub, and maybe just a bark or two. :)







8 comments:

Cheryl Scripter said...

Happy New Year Baxter and family. Looking forward to a mischief filled 2015.

hollydeeds said...

Lovely post today. The advent of white hairs on Baxter or on any of our four-legged companions is always initially disquieting--why can't they stay with us forever?--but eventually, as the white hairs spread, we are reminded of all the wonderful times we have had together earning those white hairs. I now have a black and white dachshund; her tan points are gone in the wake of the 14+ years we have shared. Every day with her is a gift, as is every day with her younger "sisters." Farewell to 2014, and may 2015 be a happy, healthy year for us all.

Unknown said...

lovely post and i wanted to wish all of you and your famiy . a very happy new year. may it be blessed with good health, prosperity, and most of all love and happiness. from all of the carrell pack here in louisana.

Jean in Georgia said...

I love seeing Baxter - he reminds me so very much of my precious little Oscar. We had Oscar healthy and happy for 15 1/2 years... I hope the same for you and Baxter. (that's Oscar in my profile pic).

Anonymous said...

Happy New Years Baxter! To you and your mom and dad! Princess Kirby and I love reading your posts and following your adventures. We will look forward to more of them in 2015! Kirby will be sending you kisses at midnight!

Hugs,
Miss Linda and Princess Kirby

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Baxter from Wally & B. I hope you and DukDuk will be able to share more of your exploits through 2015 and many more years to come. Wally will be 8 as well this year and although still mischievous and sometimes naughty, I wouldn't trade all the fun and love and companionship we have shared over those 8 years for anything. Keep up the happy wagging tail for all the world to see!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to Baxter and his family! We wish you much happiness, laughter, prosperity, good health and gentle living. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with us and keeping us smiling with Baxter's exploits! There really is no sweeter love than the bond we have with our pets. They are always our best fans and our greatest friends. Little Wishy is about to turn 7 and the gray is on her muzzle and these days she is more content to watch the birds instead of chasing them. We take each day as it comes and try to live in the present moment. Your blog is part of our every day routine and we are grateful for the smile it puts on our faces!

xoxoxo
Dawn and Wishy

Unknown said...

Dear Baxter,
Your Mom's New Year's Eve posting is beautiful and reflects how much you are loved! The post made me think of the precious dachshunds that have been and are a part of my life....Trailer Longfellow my pal and "little brother" when I was a child. Shylock Bastille was my sister's and my first child. Klaus Steinbeck our current baby. Each of them a true blessing.

Little Klaus' Mom