Category Archives: Working Dogs

Baileys Everywhere

05 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by in adopting a new dog, adopting dogs, amazon.com, animal companions, animal families, birds, dog kisses, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, faith, letters, missing your dog, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

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Dear Bailey,

We must try to keep up with our letters! We have been been bad, although we talk and talk, don’t we? In the park, at the sky and the moon. There is currently a commercial on lately with a dog that reminds me of you. I see “Baileys” everywhere.

Your loving sister Joy says woof/hello. Today I have to take in Sabie for his echo on his little heart. Yes, he is still a little biter and yes, I have tried and tried, it’s just who he is, though he has gotten better but he is only 5, coming up on 6 in the summer. Here are some current pics for you.

How are things up in Hyfryd? We have this crazy thing called a pandemic all over the world. It’s a very bad virus that is highly contagious and because of that we cannot travel. Someday, we will be able to do that again and it is my goal to get to Wales especially Aberystwyth which is on the ocean. Border Collies descend from there as you well know, and I would like to visit some while there and see them herding on the vast farms that are there. Joy just herds Sabie all over the places. She likes to herd ducks in Pennsylvania and birds no matter where we are. And she now barks constantly at the postwoman and all delivery trucks. Yes, we are still snowbirds ourselves. I want to hear more about how you are doing and please let me know about all my other kids, especially Tarzan Cheetah, Jane, Freedom and Lucky. I thank you for taking care of them over the Rainbow Bridge.

Well, you write me back as soon as possible and I will watch for your letter. Recently a few people bought our book, I get notices from Amazon each time someone does. It’s nice to know because I feel our book helps people!

I love and miss you my Sweet Bailey and just like when you and I walked the planet together, everywhere I go without fail, someone tells me what a beautiful girl Joy is, which always reminds me that the same comments were always made with you as well. I know you are with us on every walk in every motion in every micro atom in which we exist. xoxoox, Mommy

The Color of Bailey

06 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in animal companions, animal families, border collies, cats, Christmas, dog/human relationships, Dogs named Bailey, faith, Fall, Journaling, joy, love, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, rescue dogs, Senior Dogs, spirituality, Starbucks, The Rainbow Bridge, Working Dogs

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Dear Mommy,

I know you keep visiting our tree and I keep telling you that I would write to you but I haven’t and I feel badly, so I wanted to take some time to do that this morning!

I just am always so busy with taking care of everyone and working here in Hyfryd. I have messages from Safari, Cheetah, Tarzan and Freedom! They all have been bugging me to write to you so they could relay how much they love and miss you. Of course I do too but I have all this responsibilities being the Mom here. Basically I am you up here. There is always so much to do. They are all doing great and I am too.

Can you believe how big our tree has grown at Buhl Park? Wow! It looks so pretty in the Fall with the beautiful red leaves (my favorite color) but when they start to fall off it looks so skinny doesn’t it? I think they tree’s growth shows us how time moves right past us with such subtly. Do you notice how I make the wind blow every day when you come visit? I know you plan on coming today in the rain after your appointment and I cannot wait to see you. I feel you when you kiss the leaves too. I like watching the dogs in the doggie park. Only you could have picked the perfect spot for the tree! Remember when there was no dog park? Now it’s even more joyful!

Hyfryd is getting ready for Christmas too. Yours truly is in charge of all the decorations in our section of town. Oh! I forgot to tell you the best news! How could I forget? Three months ago I opened two businesses. Well, of course everything here in Hyfryd is free. Remember how I used to knock over your Starbucks so I could get a taste of coffee? I know I was not supposed to do that but I just could not help myself sometimes! Anyway I opened Bailey’s Pup Cup Coffee Cafe! That was another reason I was so busy. Of course we can drink or eat anything here without getting sick – that is one really cool thing that everyone LOVES! We don’t have to be worried about fat-free, grain-free or anything. We are really free to enjoy everything! And right next door is the Kit Kat Kitchen, which of course is headed up by Tarzan and Safari and Cheetah and Freedom work with the customers! All our food and drinks are so yummy! The Hyfryd News rated both places 10 starts out of 10!

So all is well up here Mommy. I have pictures of everyone in our family on the walls of both places, including these favorites of yours but I think we have about 10,000 pictures!Screen Shot 2016-12-09 at 4.02.46 PM.png

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I love you Mommy! I miss you every second of every day and you know a little of me is inside Joy – you know that and feel it every time she rolls around our tree in the park the second you arrive. I am there too, right next to you, smiling. Give Joy and Sabie a kiss for me. Safari told me to tell you to tell Sabie quit the biting. I know, you told him too 1000 times, I think he is improving, but he is still a baby. Keep working on him says Safari.

I promise to write more often and you do the same! I am sending you a million hugs and kisses from me and the kitty crew.

All My Love,

Bailey Girl

Faith and Love

24 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in border collies, Christmas, dog/human relationships, doggy kisses, dogs, Hallmark Movies, Journaling, joy, kisses, love, rainbow bridge, rememberence, rescue dogs, spirituality, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

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Dear Mommy,

Just want you to know that Me, Safari, Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom, Jane and Lucky are having a lot of fun up here in Hyfrd over the Bridge. We are having the town’s BIG Christmas party tonight and of course I am the coordinator!  I will herd everyone over there at 6pm and light up Hyfryd in the town square! It looks just like all the Hallmark movies you watch!

I cannot believe it’s been five years since you kissed me and held me, can you? I know you see me in so many ways and I certainly see you as well. Just know that love and faith is the glue that holds us tightly together. Always and Forever. #ADogsPurpose I love you Mommy!

Your Bailey Girl….xoxooxoxoxooxox

Bailey’s Tree- Fall’s First Blush

15 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by in animal companions, animal families, border collies, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, faith, Fall, Journaling, love, loving dogs, loving life, parks, rememberence, rescue dogs, spirituality, The Rainbow Bridge, trees, Uncategorized, walking, Working Dogs

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The weather is finally Fall-like in Western, Pennsylvania. Bailey’s tree, her beautiful Red Maple, is dedicated to her at Buhl Park. We spent a lot of time there, as do Joy and I.

I love to watch the tree grow grow bigger each year and each Fall we look at the leaves and watch the little bits of red paint blush the tree leaves. Red was Bailey’s color. It was the color of her Coach collar and leash. A Red Maple is so fitting for her special tree and that is why I chose it.

The dog park she now faces was not there when the tree was planted. It is a new addition to the park and her tree has a perfect view of the dogs romping and playing. It’s perfect.

The leaves have just started to turn. I like that the change is slow and subtle. Joy and I walk in the park so many days during the week and it’s fun to see what changes happen right before our eyes.

Fall has always been my favorite season. It’s so colorful and crisp, although global warming has made it much warmer then I would like. I remember when September and October were freezing growing up in Chicago. 

Bailey died in the Fall of 2011, so while I love Fall it also brings  with it the anniversary of her crossing the Rainbow Bridge although I never feel like I am without her. She is omnipresent and she is within my heart. In the Fall and in each season, as the moon grows full and the earth rotates, we live our lives connected by nature.

 

The Purpose of A Dog is Love

19 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in adopting a new dog, adopting dogs, books, border collies, dog adoption., dog kisses, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, joy, love, loving dogs, missing your dog, rescue dogs, Senior Dogs, spirituality, The Rainbow Bridge, trees, Working Dogs

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Dear Bailey,

Tomorrow is the day 5 years ago you left us in physical spirit but not a day goes by without your life beating in a large space in my heart and I am sure part of you in inside Ms. Joy. When I was walking her today at the park and visiting your tree I thought about the book, A Dog’s Purpose, which I read after you went over the Rainbow Bridge. Well, they are making a movie of the book and I will be the first one in line on January 26th. Of course the book begins with a dog names Bailey.

I remember thinking after I read that book not only do I totally agree that every animal we rescue takes on the spirit of the former fur child, but that a dog’s purpose is simply love and you and I loved each other so much even though you were a senior when I found you and we did not have as much time together as we would have liked, but I think I crammed at least 15 years of fun and love into the 3-1/2 years we enjoyed together. You were such a pleasure to be with and you shared your love so freely.  Joy is learning to do that more and more with others and I am certain you are helping out with that, and I am proud of her and you for caring so much about Joy, who is, like you a special girl who I am madly in love with.

I just wanted to say that you missed physically every day Bailey but you are with me and I am with you always and forever in our hearts and souls.

With all my love,

Mommy

Happy Birthday Bailey Girl…You little “deer”

20 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by in animal families, Birthdays, border collies, coincidence, death, deer, dog kisses, Dog walking, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, faith, letters, love, loving dogs, missing your dog, nature, parks, rainbow bridge, rememberence, rescue dogs, Senior Dogs, spirituality, summer, The Rainbow Bridge, walking, Working Dogs

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bailey buhl fall 3  2011, Buhl Park, Sharon, PA

Dear Bailey,

Today would have been your 14th birthday had your bladder not gotten the best of you. Joy and I went to Buhl Park, exactly where this, and so many pictures of you were taken as we shared beautiful summer days and cool evenings wandering this park where your dedicated Red Maple Tree stands so tall and proud.

Right after Joy and I got to your tree, we walked across the way and we heard a rustle. There was a beautiful little cotton tail deer looking right at us. Joy was so elated she could have pulled my arm out of its socket! i figured it was you. Birds talk to me by your tree, owls hoot, something is always happening when we visit. You are omnipresent that is for sure, I have always said that. I took these pictures today to share with you:

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Joy n me
Bailey’s Tree

The park was particularly perfect today. After days of high humidity and high temps, your birthday was perfect and as you can see, Joy was still looking around trying to see if we could not spot the deer (you?) again.

Of course I talk to you at the tree all the time (and in my mind) but I am long overdue for a letter from you…just a thought from your mommy.

I wanted to send you love and hope you are having a lot of whipped creme today with Safari, Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom, Lucky and Barkley! Are you having a little cake with the whipped creme? I hope so and it should have pink frosting because you are the girliest girl ever – well you and Joy, of course. You never would have sent me anyone who was not all girl!

I love you Bailey and I know that deer was you; prancing through the brush and dodging out to say hello and I love you too.

xoxooxoxoxooxox 4evernever

 

 

A New Year’s Wish of Remembrence

01 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in adopting a new dog, adopting dogs, animal families, border collies, coincidence, dog/human relationships, dogs, Journaling, joy, letters, love, loving dogs, loving life, memories, missing your dog, rescue dogs, second chances, The Rainbow Bridge, Uncategorized, Working Dogs

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Bailey and me on the day she was adopted

Bailey and me on the day she was adopted

Dear Mommy,

I keep this picture in my den right next to my bed. We have so MANY great pics together but this is a favorite because it’s the day you brought me home and we both were so very happy. Every year at this time I do get a little sad because it does not seem fair that I only had 3-1/2 years by your side. I am SO grateful you adopted me as a BEAUTIFUL senior, but I wish you  were mine since I was a puppy. However, I still squeezed SO much LOVE into those years with you, Safari and Daddy and so did you of course. When I think of all the adventures I had in both the FL and PA houses it’s amazing!

Mommy, I just want you to know that I always miss you when the New Year turns because it sort of ticks off another year that we have been physically apart and it makes me sad. But, I get happy when I think how the last part of my life was the BEST part and I think even for old people that is important because it is what you remember the most. You are the best Mommy ever and when I talk about you everyone is jealous! Ha!

Please tell Safari, Daddy and of course Joy, whom I hand picked for you, that I love and miss them too. By the way, Tarzan, Cheetah, Freedom and Lucky send their love as well – they miss you so much too. We all do, but we know that our pictures are all OVER those houses and most of all in your heart.

Happy New Year Sweet Mommy,

Love your Daughter, Bailey with all my paws and heart. xoxoxoox

Naked Leaves

31 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in animal families, border collies, dog kisses, Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Fall, kisses, letters, love, loving dogs, loving life, memories, missing your dog, nature, parks, rainbow bridge, rememberence, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, sky, spirituality, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, trees, Uncategorized, walking, Working Dogs

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baileys tree fall 2014 naked leaves 4baileys tree fall 2014 naked leaves 2baileys tree fall 2014 naked leaves 2

 

Dearest Bailey,

It’s that time of year. Three years and three days ago we were robbed of being with each other physically on earth together. But really we have never missed being with each other, have we? I must admit i loved to fluff up your long thick hair and kiss your long nose, but when I kiss Joy’s nose it’s just like yours. You Border Collies have that certain something – a cuddle factor unmatched by any other breed of dog child.

So we wrote the book together and just recently I was in Chicago and a girl who I had not seen in a long time, asked me to sign her copy. That was nice. You are everywhere, even when I travel. Today it’s Halloween. The weather was too rainy to get to the park, but it’s supposed to snow tomorrow, so even if it’s yucky, Joy and I will drive over to the park to see the snow there. I’m sure all your leaves will be gone by now.

Several days ago when I took these pictures of your tree at Buhl park, it was a gorgeous day, with air so crisp like a Winesap apple. Joy was having so much fun crunching in the colorful leaves she turned around twice just to jump up on me and kiss me as though she were thanking me – in fact I know she was- she was so happy to be there on such a nice day!

Each time we go I kiss one of your leaves until there are no more. I do not know why I feel your presence so much more there then in the yard in your special spot. I feel you come alive in the park so easily, through the wind and the way it blows, and motions that Joy makes either by rolling around in the grass by your tree or smelling spots exactly where you did. Not a day goes by little girl that you are not in my mind and heart. I wear your necklace and never take it off. You will always be there in many different ways and I just wanted you to know that I am always thinking of you! It’s your turn. Write me back. I hope you and everyone in Hyfryd are doing something fun for your Howl-O-Ween! Love, Mommy xoxoxoxoxox

A Bird, a Bug and a Rustle of Wind…

17 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by in border collies, dog kisses, dog/human relationships, Dogs named Bailey, letters, loving dogs, spirituality, summer, talking dogs, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, Working Dogs

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I KNOW, I KNOW! I AM SO SORRY! It was NOT that I was not excited that the book arrived! I AM SO excited, except it was only the proof copy! haha! Okay, I know I am being terrible, but I know you that YOU KNEW it was me the other day when you felt that bug gently kiss you on the face! Then today I told that bird to chirp and then I rustled the leaves on our tree at Buhl Park! You know that was my apology for not writing sooner. I have JUST been so crazy busy finishing up the den – it is all finished now and it’s so big! Tarzie, Cheetah and Freedom’s place are all attached and of course Barkley – It’s like we have 3 Towndog Dens in one! It is fantastic!!

I really am so excited. I cannot WAIT though until it is finally ALL done and in your hands and at the library and everywhere! Having the summer off is so nice, but I do have some preparation to do before classes start in the Fall again, but it will be nice to just play and have some fun now that the big project is finally done. Our place in the coolest in Hyfryd. Everyone comes by to admire it. I know that sounds a bit braggadocios, but it is really true! haha! We love it. I have to tell you that Tarzan of yours is quite the funny guy. He is a really good worker. He is so feisty, I can only imagine what HE was like as a kitten. Cheetah told me she used to unravel all the toilet paper when she was a kitten. She is so puuuurrrrrfect, I cannot imagine her doing anything wrong. You really have quite a long history mommy of interesting critter characters! Every one of them are so wonderful. Freedom is the most cuddly thing, always rubbing up against me. You could not have had better cats.  Being your first and very best dog (yeah, yeah I know you LOVE Joy too! – It’s Ok!) well, I know I set the bar high because I am a nice girl now aren’t I mommy?

I know I just do not write back fast enough sometimes and I feel especially bad about it since you told me the book was complete. Call them tomorrow and see what is going on with your final edit! I know you will listen to my advice because you have to as I AM THE CO-AUTHOR!

Well, I just wanted to say how much I love you and how proud I am that we will soon be promoting our book – that is the next project! You always have so much work on your desk mommy, sometimes I feel bad for you but I know you like it most of the time, just like me. We girls rather be busy than bored! Write me back soon, even though I do not deserve a letter so quickly – haha! I will be seeing you at the park! I am very jealous of all the whipped crème Joy gets at Starbucks, by the way. I could not have it very often due to my sensitive tummy, but now I can have all I want and it’s ALWAYS in my fridge! It’s so sweet, just like YOU!

I love you so very much and miss you each day,

Your Sweet Bailey Girl

We Arrived and So Did the Book…

01 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by in books, border collies, dog kisses, dog/human relationships, dogs, Journaling, joy, letters, loving dogs, missing your dog, parks, rememberence, rescue organizations www.petfindder.com, Senior Dogs, spirituality, The Rainbow Bridge, Working Dogs

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Dear Bailey,

It’s June 1st! When we arrived back in PA, the proof of our book, Letters to Each Other, was waiting at the mailroom. After the exhausting two-day drive, I took a break and read through some of it. I have to read the whole thing again to make sure it is perfect. As I started to read it, I thought of everything that happened in our life together and why the book was even written. I started to cry just looking at it. It is beautiful and I am still in awe of the fact that it is a book. I am not sure it has fully sunk in yet. I know you will be excited to hear this news and even though I am so tired, I had to sit down and write you this note.

I plan on reading the whole thing tomorrow, cover to cover. It’s supposed to rain and after the church breakfast that is my plan, so I can call the publisher on Monday. I am so proud of us Bailey. I really am. I was thinking about you so much today. Joy and I were playing with her new soft Frisbee, courtesy of the Marriott Residence Inn where we stayed. It was really windy and the Frisbee is so light it was sailing on the breeze and she was having fun trying to catch it before it hit the ground. She LOVES this new toy and I was thinking how much youIMG_0072

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and her would have loved each other. You are so similar in so many ways. I am sending you this picture of her I took today. We also went to Kraynaks to get vegetable plants and flowers for your special spot. Wait till you see all the lovely red flowers I got! You will love them. Let me know what you think with one of your many signs and I will look toward the sky.

It’s supposed to cool off after the rains tomorrow. I was hoping to get to Buhl Park to see the tree tomorrow. I am so excited to see how much it has grown. The winter here was more rainy than snowy, so I am curious to see what kind of growth occurred. I am sure it is green and lush and beautiful just like you. Safari is sitting right here on the desk as I wrote you this letter, as he always does. I think he likes when I write to you and wants to be close.

Well, I just wanted to tell you that we arrived and so did the book. I was hoping it would be here and it was. Tomorrow is a special day. Maybe I will pick a quiet spot, read it out loud so you can listen along. We have accomplished quite a big goal my sweet girl. I love you so very much and always will….

Written with love and heart,

mommy