February 5, 2026

Bailey had her surgery today to remove the lump on her back and the lump on her chest. Everything went very well and I'll be picking her up in an hour or so. Yay!

February 1, 2026

Hazel and Clara joined me for a walk through the neighborhood this afternoon. Now, Hazel is relaxing on the couch with her favorite toy.

January 27, 2025

Today is Bailey's turn for a wellness exam with Dr Julia. We're getting a blood panel, a heartworm test and checking some suspicious bumps, one on her tummy and one on her back.

She's always so cooperative at the vet ex

cept that she urinated in the exam room. 

January 25, 2025

Shih Tzu Sunday  

January 24, 2025

I'm usually not home when the letter carrier arrives at our door, but we're awaiting the arrival of rare snow in Albuquerque, and I'm cocooning. We still have only rain. I am greatly amused that my companions react like this to the letter carrier when they deliver the mail. 

Of course, they'll all bark if a dog on the television barks.

January 9, 2026

I've reinstituted dog walks with our motley crew, benefiting them as well as my health. I only walk one or two per day for now. Since my hip became painful, dog walks became shorter and shorter until they were nonexistent. After two years with the new hip, it seemed like I should really get back in the habit. In an unusual coincidence, it turns out that January is National Walk Your Dog Month!

January is National Walk Your Dog Month, an annual observance encouraging pet owners to prioritize regular walks for their dogs to boost both canine and human health, happiness, and bonding, especially at the start of the new year to build healthy habits. It's a great time to get moving with your pup, providing essential exercise, mental stimulation, and strengthening your relationship through shared outdoor adventures. 

December 18, 2025

Our little Miss Diva, who is 17 years old this year (actual birth year unknown), was overdue for a grooming. Today, she was groomed by a mobile groomer who did a fantastic job with our old girl. Diva looks so adorable.

November 14, 2025

Oh, Roman, you're such a character. You've been our biggest canine challenge since you walked into our home on February 4, 2018. Last month, you had a wellness check which went rather well, all things considered (like driving you back and forth to Dr. Julia in a crate). His liver numbers were elevated as they have been for a year or so, but not to a concerning level.

Roman's ornament from Kathie

Two days ago on Wednesday, Roman stopped eating and could no longer walk by himself. Amazingly, Roman let nephew Michael pick him up to go out to the yard and drink some water. Something in my head began to trouble me as these events began unfolding. The way Roman looked at me when we communicated told me all I needed to know. We were going to lose him. He looked stately, calm, and resigned. Much of the wildness that normally flows through his attitude was absent.

Roman on a calm day in 2020

I gave him a day to discern whether these symptoms would persist, which they did. Today, I carried a very limp Roman into Good Shepherd and handed him to Susan, Dr. Julia's trusted tech, who adores His Highness. Shortly after arriving home, I received a call from Cindy with truly bad news. His liver and kidneys have shut down and there is nothing that can be done to cure him. This is exactly what I saw in his eyes as he looked at me across the last 24 hours. He knew. I knew. I ended the call and cried. Roman has always been a troubled soul, but he's OUR troubled soul and there will never be another dog like him in our house. I let nephew Michael know the bad news and we both consoled each other. 

Ken is rushing to town so that we can all be together to bid our Roman a proper farewell as he departs this life. Now, we are seven.

   Roman in February 2018

October 9, 2025

 As we roll into the crisp days of autumn here in New Mexico, the annual Balloon Fiesta is in full swing. For Roman, that means his annual vet visit which is, to say the least, rather traumatic for him. Since he cannot be leashed, he needs to be crated for his short trip to the vet's office. Unfortunately, Pumpkin, our trusted van that we've owned for 15 years, is in for its first major service, getting a new power steering pump, new motor mounts, and a transmission flush. Pumpkin is missed! This means that Roman must take the short journey in the pickup bed. At least it's cool today, so the open-air experience isn't too bad.

I've included a slightly older photo of Roman just to remind you how handsome he is. Today, the vet will do a complete blood workup to check up on the Lyme disease, trim his nails, fit a new muzzle (which he wears full-time) and treat a growth he has developed just below his left eye. Fingers crossed that all goes well. 

May 30, 2025

I'm sorry to report that we have devastating news. Tabs visited the vet on Tuesday and yesterday. The biopsy report indicated squamous cell cancer and the growth on her tongue has doubled in size in two days. Dr. Julia gave her subcutaneous fluid, but Tabs is unable to eat due to the obstruction on her tongue. We are distraught.