Happy New Year!

Happy New Year's Eve morning everyone! Here we are, on this last day of 2023. We are finishing the year with some gloomy weather, which has been with us for the past week. It's been wet, mucky, the grass is squishy, the perfect recipe to keep those little paws clean.  Cooper loves to scratch and kick up mud.....he's had more than a few cleanups last week!

We had a nice Christmas. We started the day with some fun in the basement with Cooper and Spicy. Toys and snuffling mats were awaiting them. It was nice to see both of them having a good time. We created yet more beautiful memories. Christmas dinner was a success. Everybody enjoyed themselves and our turkey was delicious. We toasted the newly engaged couple, our nephew Sean and Julie. The wedding will most likely take place in June 2025.  I wish we had taken photos of everyone, we didn't think about it although Julie took a photo of the four of us in front of the Christmas tree and one of me having a quiet moment with Spicy. 

Our pooches are holding their own. On Boxing Day, we started Spicy on a low dose of dexamethasone, prescribed by the neurologist. It is meant to be used as a palliative treatment and the side effects are minimal given the low dosage....a little more peeing, a bit of panting and an increase in her appetite which is a good thing as it started decreasing on Christmas Eve. Now, our little girl devours her food and wants more. This medication doesn't take away the wobbliness and body tilt but is making Spicy more alert and mobile, which is comforting. 

Mr. Cooper is doing good and his appetite seems a bit better. I suppose seeing his best girl eat with gusto is helping. At the moment, both are eating kibbles which I soak in zero sodium beef broth overnight. Add to that a little topper of cooked ground meat/veggies and we have a recipe for success, for now anyway until they both tell me they want something else.... and Miss Spicy quite likes some scrambled eggs as a topper 😊

Our New Year's celebrations will be quiet, just the four of us. We're keeping the meals simple this year, no big turkey tomorrow.  Russell will watch the many bowl games. I'll find myself something to watch. I've got a good book going but I can't seem to focus long enough to read. Cooper and Spicy will chill and probably enjoy a couple of rounds of snuffling. 

That's my last blog for 2023. As we are about to enter a brand new year, may good health, happiness and love accompany you each and every day. Embrace the present. Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New Year!

A precious family Christmas moment
captured by Julie.

Enjoying some quiet cuddles with the
Spicy girl.

The Christmas morning snuffle zone ready 
for the snufflers.

Spicy and Cooper hard at it...got to find all
the hidden treats.

Cooper found his lamb chop!

Taking a small break from the treat quest.

Spicy in a very reflective moment...
wonder what she is thinking.

Cooper looking regal on his chair.

 

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel!

Happy Christmas Eve morning everyone! It's very quiet in our house. Our pooches are snug in their beds, having a little rest before their day starts. Our weather is mild and green.

This past week wasn't much different than our previous couple of weeks. We are navigating through some tough times with Spicy and Cooper. Our little girl is showing small declines but she still has a good life. She sleeps well and her appetite is quite good. She continues to enjoy the snuffling mats and that makes us smile. As for Cooper, no doubt that his lack of appetite is partly due to him sensing that his best girl is not herself. Every now and then, I find myself hand feeding him softened kibbles. He seems to enjoy that....the hand feeding or the kibbles? Maybe both. Whatever it takes, we do. He is doing well otherwise. We are making the most of each day that these two precious souls give us. I want to add that the support system we are getting from Dr. Stiles and her team is wonderful. It's been very comforting.

I have lots to do to get ready for our dinner tomorrow. Our big Butterball is thawing nicely. I will cook all the veggies and make the stuffing later this morning.The more I do today, the less crazy tomorrow will be. Yesterday, I set up Cooper and Spicy's Christmas corner in the basement for their Christmas morning fun. We will make it a memorable one.

Last Sunday, we found out that our nephew Sean got engaged. Julie is a very sweet young woman. We wish them the very best. They will join us tomorrow and we will celebrate this joyful moment.

I leave you with the last three pics of our family photo session of November 11. Cooper and Spicy got to enjoy their very own plate of cookies. How sweet do they look! I suspect Santa will be indulging in a cookie or two throughout his journey tonight.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May it be filled with joy, laughter and peace. 

Much love,

Anne, Russell, Cooper & Spicy

Cooper and Spicy getting ready to dive
in to the plate of cookies.

Spicy is impatient as always and edges closer 
for a sniff.

Time to grab a cookie, Cooper and Spicy
say we've waited long enough...we have to 
eat these before Santa gets here.
Merry Christmas!

Following our heart

Happy Sunday morning! We've been up for a while, seems to be our thing these days. It's a mild morning and we have a rainfall warning in effect. Lots of rain later today and tomorrow. Definitely looks like it will be a green Christmas.

This past week had its highs and lows, and a little bit of everything in between. The highlight of our week was having Pauline and Errol over for lunch on Tuesday. We had such a great time. We chatted around the kitchen table for hours. We shared some good laughs, fun stories and even shed a few tears. It was good for the soul to be able to relax amongst friends. Our pooches were the perfect hosts. We caught Pauline sitting on the floor a few times getting some good doggie snuggles. Errol was in his element sitting on the couch and getting wet willies from the Coop and a big hug from the Spice girl.  

Cooper's appetite is about the same, not the best. We do not know from one meal to the next if he will eat and, most importantly, what he will eat. We have a little smorgasbord going on at the moment...ground chicken, eggs and rice. Whatever tickles his fancy as long as his fragile GI can tolerate it. Cooper seems to be doing fine otherwise, his resting respiratory rate is in a good range.

Our little girl Spicy, on the other hand, is not doing so well. We were able to see a neurologist last week and the news is not good. After a thorough exam, and based on our many observations in the past two weeks, the neurologist strongly suspects a tumor in the area of the brain stem. An MRI would of course confirm it but it is risky given Spicy's heart condition and the outcome would not change our approach in supporting Spicy at this stage in her life.  As my friend Gerda so well said, "quality over quantity is our guiding light".  We are following our heart on this one, which is truly aching.

How is Spicy doing now? Her head and body tilt is more pronounced, we are noticing almost a daily change. She walks like a cute little drunken sailor. Finding her legs is difficult when she gets up after lying down. One of us is always there to help her and once she has her footing, she gets going. Her appetite is good, actually better than Cooper's. She is still on Cerenia which seems to help with whatever nausea she would have from being tilted and wobbly. She doesn't seem to be in any discomfort at the moment. Her eyes don't have much spark in them although I saw a twinkle when I brought up the snuffling mats yesterday. She got right into it. That put a smile on my face.

We are to follow up with the neurologist in two weeks. Until then, we are taking it one day at a time. We are watching Spicy very closely and making notes of any new changes. We are sad beyond words. Writing about this is very difficult but I know that my blog followers would want to know. We love our little girl so deeply. 

I don't have much else to add to this blog. We are one week away from Christmas. Our hearts are not in it but we will make it happen. Russell and I will find the strength to get through this. We are not the only ones going through some tough times. Such is life. 

I leave you with a few more photos from our Christmas shoot. We can't help but notice what a difference a month has made. Have a great week everyone and enjoy all those Christmas preparations. My next blog will be on Christmas Eve 🎄🎅 

Spicy and Cooper revelling in the moment,
they exude Christmas spirit.

Spicy sitting pretty with her dainty smile.

Cooper handsome as ever!

A tender moment captured for ever...Spicy
is such a snuggle bug, she is cherished.

Cooper and his daddy...Cooper is adored.

Errol getting a wet willy from
Cooper.

Spicy loves a good snuggle and Errol
readily obliges.

Yin and yang...peas in a pod
BFF's. 

A rainy December morning

Happy Sunday everyone! It's very quiet in our house at the moment. We've been up for a while, the pooches are having their pre-breakfast nap. It's dark outside and very mild. We are expecting lots of rain today.

This past week was not the best for us. Cooper's appetite has diminished and it is concerning. We now feed him smaller amounts throughout the day. His loss of appetite makes him more picky with food so I've had to become very creative in preparing his meals. The administration of his meds has also become a bit of a challenge but we are managing it. Missing a dose is not an option.

As for our little girl Spicy, she is going through a rough patch. We started noticing some balance issues when walking as well as a distinct tilt of her head and body. Her appetite has also been poor and her spark is just not there. Following a thorough consultation with Dr. Stiles last week, vestibular disease and ear infection were basically ruled out.  We are getting a referral to see a neurologist. We are waiting for an appointment.  Until then, Spicy is on Cerenia, an anti nausea medication which has helped restore her appetite, somewhat.  She also gets small meals throughout the day. We make a point of getting her to walk around in the house to keep those little legs moving. She won't jump up and down on the bed or couch on her own. She also no longer sleeps on her back. We are keeping track of all changes that we are noticing, however small. Needless to say, we are very distraught by this and are taking it one day at a time. Each day with both is a gift 💝

Despite all this, we are trying to get into the holiday spirit. It's hard to believe that Christmas Eve is two weeks away. My brother and nephews will join us for Christmas dinner. I have to start thinking about that. 

Russell had his physical last Monday and all is good. He really likes his new doctor. He is very thorough. It looks like it's time to get the other knee replaced. Russell will get an x-ray today then make an appointment with the surgeon. The wait time is most likely at least one year away. 

Our friends from the park are coming over for lunch on Tuesday. It will be nice to see Pauline and Errol again. Cooper & Spicy will also be happy to see them. Yesterday, I went to the park with the Coop for a stroll. It was our first walk in well over a week. He enjoys his walks no matter what so I plan on walking with him often. The Spicy girl is too wobbly right now for walks. She will stay home with her daddy and snuggle. 

That's my blog for today. Starting Tuesday, we are in for a good stretch of sunshine. That will do us some good. I find there is nothing worse than lack of sunshine in the Winter. I leave you with a few photos of our two little munchkins from our November 11 holiday shoot. I also include a photo of our "doggie tree" with those precious ornaments. Have a great week everyone!

Cooper and Spicy are natural at posing for
photos...happy smiles all around.

Spicy says, is this my best side?
She is such a princess.

Cooper is always ready and alert,
such a handsome fellow.

The Doggie ornament Christmas
Tree...so precious!

A snowy view on the walk with Cooper at
Edgewater Park yesterday.

Welcome December

Happy Sunday everyone! We've been up since 6 am, it's still dark out as I'm writing this blog. Russell and I are having our coffee, Cooper and Spicy are napping.

This past week was good and very quiet. Our weather didn't cooperate too much for walking the pooches so it was a lazy week for them. They don't mind. They are both doing good although Cooper seems a bit fussy with his food at the moment. Not sure if it's a phase or just lack of appetite. We're keeping an eye on it. Spicy seems to have gotten over whatever bug she might have had last week although she is not her perky self. We have an appointment with our vet this week to discuss a few things. Better to err on the side of caution. 

Our house is decorated for Christmas. I put up our tree on Friday. It's looking nice. I will take some photos this week. I also got some baking done and will finish today. I baked a batch of shortbreads and they are nicely tucked away in the freezer. I also made "Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars", a recipe from Rose Reisman, a well known Toronto nutritionist and author of many cookbooks that I follow on Instagram. Russell and I each had one and thought they were delicious. The rest are in the freezer 😊 Today, I will make my hubby's absolute favorite, coconut macarons. 

Russell had his blood work done last week. Tomorrow he will have his physical. He is really pleased with his new clinic so far. He is still sorting out his coin collection. As for me, I'm good although I had to deal with some family drama last week. It put me in a bit of a funk for a few days then I decided that life was too short to lose sleep over things that I can't control.

Our weather has been quite mild. We are expecting our first snowfall tonight. Not much else is going on with us. We are slowly getting into the holiday spirit. 

That's my blog for today. I leave you with a few photos from our family Christmas shoot.  I will post a few in each blog until Christmas.  Every single photo is so very special to us. 

Have a great week everyone!

Cooper is majestic and we adore him...this
special moment tells the entire story of our 
devotion to this fine fellow.

Spicy is our Princess and she is so loving and
a true snuggle bug...we are enraptured with her.

It is a Family affair in every sense of the word.

Annie Viens Photography perfectly captured each 
precious moment. 

Christmas Treasures 2023

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up to mild and sunny weather. Not a bad way to end the month of November. This coming week looks decent.

This past week was good and quiet. Our pooches had a couple of walks then the weather got wet, damp and windy.  Cooper continues to do well. Spicy is doing good although she's been under the weather for a few days. Russell and I were reflecting yesterday on how different our duo is growing old. Coop has a very sick heart and is still full of life. Outwardly, he looks totally healthy. Spicy, on the other hand, is showing some signs of slowing down, despite her heart condition being very stable. She doesn't have a spring in her step like she used to and her eyes are not as sparkly. Despite this, she perks up when I get the snuffle mats out. It's an activity that they both truly enjoy and we indulge them. Each day with them is a gift.

I haven't put up our Christmas tree nor have I started baking. I don't quite have that Holiday spirit in me yet but it will come. I did buy our 2023 Family Christmas ornaments. We call them our little treasures. They will be added to our "doggie" tree.  I also got Coop and the Spice girl a new snuffle mat for Christmas. It came yesterday. They say Christmas is for children...we say it's for our pooches 🎄💝

Russell and I are doing well although we are not getting the best sleep. We now find ourselves having a quick power nap in the afternoon. It helps recharge the battery. We both had a pedicure last week, a little pampering also helps.

Not much else is happening. It's hard to believe that November is coming to an end. Christmas Eve is four weeks away. I better get my act together. 

That's my blog for this week. I leave you with a few pics that I captured last week and one of our little Christmas treasures. Have a great week everyone!

The Duncan Family Christmas ornaments 2023.

The duo catching a pre-breakfast snooze...it is 
a pampered dog's life.

Spicy in post-breakfast nap mode on her sofa!

Holding vigil is a ritual, a routine, their duty -
 they keep us safe from Prime, Fedex,
Canada Post, intruders and
squirrels.

Grey Cup Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone! It's 7:00 AM, Russell and I are having our first cup of coffee and catching up on the news. Our pooches got their pre-breakfast meds and are now having a nap. Our weather is looking good for today. Looks like it will be nice weather for the Grey Cup also. 

This past week was good. On Tuesday, Cooper had his consultation with Dr. Javard. All went well. Given that Cooper's resting respiratory rate (RRR) remains in the 22-24 range at the moment,  Dr. J. recommended to hold off on increasing the spironolactone dosage. If it increases to above 30 on a consistent basis, we are to up the dosage. His furosemide remains at 30 mg, three times daily. His blood work was also good, especially his kidney function. All things being equal, we will have another follow-up in three months or so. We are grateful for these good news. Each day is a beautiful gift. 

As we were chatting away with Dr. Javard, we mentioned that we were using the video to measure the RRR. He thought this was brilliant and even told his assistant to make note of it for other patients. Thank you again Gerda for letting me know about this. So much easier and can be done even at a distance without disrupting Cooper's rest/sleep. 

Our little girl Spicy came to DMV with us and kept us smiling while the Coop was being poked around. People couldn't get enough of her in the wait room.  She is doing good and her RRR is in the 14-18 range. 

Other than those doggie news, Russell and I are doing well. I resumed my workouts last week after slacking off for a while. I also bought all the baking ingredients for those Holiday yummies. Working out and baking go hand in hand, don't you think? 😂

Russell found himself a little project. He is sorting out the coins that were gifted to him when his father and uncle passed away. It is a tedious process, sorting them out by denomination and year, then putting a collector's value on them. It's a good thing Russell has the patience for it, me, not so much LOL!

I end this blog by wishing Spicy's daughter, Pepper, a Happy 11th Birthday tomorrow. She takes after her mommy in every way possible. A very sweet girl 💝

Have a great week everyone! For those who will be watching the Grey Cup, enjoy. Good luck to both teams!

Cooper and Spicy in the car waiting for my return
with their meds.

Spicy giving Cooper a little doggie
snuggle.

Spicy says, come on over, there is 
room enough for two on the sofa.

Snuffle time...always a fun and rewarding
activity for Cooper and Spicy. Finding those
little dried chicken treats is 'hard' work.

Cooper on another patrol in the backyard, he 
ensures his domain is squirrel free.

Happy 11th Birthday Pepper from
Cooper and your mommy Spicy.

Preparing for the Season

Good morning and happy Sunday! It is a cloudy morning for us. The weather this week is looking relatively nice and mild. 

This past week was good. We enjoyed a few walks by the Lake. We hardly saw anyone, looks like many people are starting to hibernate. We plan on continuing our walks throughout the Winter as we have done in the past, weather permitting.

We got the echocardiogram results for our duo. Spicy's MVD remains stable, no change in her meds, she is still in stage B2. Very good news for our little girl. Cooper's condition has not significantly increased since May, considering that he is in Stage D, last stage of MVD. We take comfort in this. He is at high risk of recurrence of pulmonary edema in the short term so the cardiologist is recommending an increase in one of the diuretics, Spironolactone. Before doing so, we decided to get the opinion of Coop's trusted internal medicine specialist, Dr. Javard. We will be consulting with him on Tuesday afternoon. We look forward to this appointment as we have a few questions, the kind that are best asked face to face. 

Aside from this, both are doing good. Cooper still enjoys his games of retrieve with his favorite lamb chop. He hasn't lost a beat. He is eating and sleeping well. He continues to pee at all hours of the day and night, to be expected with the diuretics. We pretty well have his peeing pattern locked in now LOL! Spicy continues to enjoy her enzymatic chews and takes pleasure in lounging around. Her appetite is not the best at the moment. She will only eat soft food (we have ruled out dental issues). She seems to be in cahoots with her daughter Pepper though....both are fussy with their foods and meds these days. We are finding ways to make it work.

Yesterday afternoon, we had a family Christmas photo session with a new photographer in Kirkland, Annie Viens Photographe. We got the proofs last night and are so happy with them. The hard part will be to choose the ones that we want...maybe all 87 of them! We will review them all today and send her our picks.

Russell booked his medical appointments, blood work, physical, etc. All will be done before the Holiday Season.  On that note, we are slowly preparing for it. Now that the family photos are out of the way, I will be looking to buy Cooper & Spicy's Christmas ornaments. I will also start giving some thought to my holiday baking. 

It is 8 am. Russell and Cooper had their breakfast, Spicy will get hers around 9 or 10 depending on her appetite. Not much on the go today. Russell will be watching an NFL game being played from Frankfurt, starting at 9:30 am. I believe today is the last International NFL game. I am still rejoicing from the HABS win against the Bruins last night, first win against Boston since November 2019. What a game! I will be watching the goal replays and post match interviews later today. Also, congratulations to the Montreal Alouettes for winning the Eastern Conference, off to the Grey Cup next week in Hamilton.

That's my blog for today. Have a great week everyone! On Thursday, I will meet up with Lise and Diane for our lunch, postponed twice so far. Looking forward to it!

The long stare down...or is it what is next? 
Whatever it is, these two are partners in crime.

Cooper retrieving the lamb chop...the lamb chop
never had a chance.

Always time for a chew...these guys love
their enzymatic chews - their teeth do too.

Spicy says do you like my new 
hairdo? I did it myself!

Grandfather Watkins on his return from service
in Europe, a newspaper clipping from the 
Montreal Star.

Uncle Charlie Duncan rests at National 
Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire.

Run free sweet Matisse!

Hello everyone and Happy Sunday! It was nice to wake up to a brighter morning. Our weather is looking a little gloomy at the moment but the weather experts are calling for sunshine. The past few days have been simply beautiful. I didn't think we would get more deck time in November but we did. It's been nice.

Today, we are remembering Matisse, Cooper and Spicy's walking buddy, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on November 2. He was 11. We met Matisse for the first time during the Summer of 2021 at Edgewater Park. We spotted him and his human from a distance and Russell asked what breed he was. Matisse was a beautiful and gentle Polish Lowland Sheepdog. He loved his walks, finding joy in every step. Since our first encounter with him and Pauline, we crossed paths often, more so in the past few months. We met almost every Monday morning. The three amigos formed a bond and it was really nice to watch. Matisse was so loved and lived a full life until the end. His paw prints will forever be in the heart of Pauline and those who had the privilege to know him. Run free sweet Matisse, you will be missed during our Monday morning strolls 💔

This past week was good. Halloween night was fun. Roughly 30 kids showed up and we watched them from our dining room window. Cooper and Spicy had their echocardiogram on Wednesday. We do not have the results yet, most likely in the next few days. We are a little anxious about it. 

We blew and bagged leaves on Friday. We have 18 bags for pick up tomorrow morning, just from our front yard. This year, it seems that our backyard was spared and all the leaves blew everywhere except in our yard. 

Now that Halloween is over, it is full on Christmas everywhere. I saw holiday planters at Provigo. Way too early in my opinion. On that note though, this coming Saturday, we have a family Christmas photo session booked. We haven't done it for a while. It's time.

That's my blog for today. Have a wonderful week everyone!

Majestic Matisse...a true gentle soul.

Ever attentive to Pauline,
Matisse was a rare gem.

The three amigos taking a rest to watch the goings
on at Edgewater park.

The new normal 'trick or treat' station, take one
please, complete with illuminated goblin!

Cooper and Russell keeping an eye out for the
little trick or treaters as seen from the dining
room window.

Spicy likes to do her part on lookout
for goblins.

Scary!

She said, "You can't tell me they are all the same?"

Cooper and Spicy are the picture
of patience as they wait for 
their echocardiogram.