Back to Birthdays!

I love this update. It makes me SO happy. This is Moonshadow Dad Mike reporting about Moonshadow Porter:

“The day we picked up Porter and brought him to his new home was the start of a love affair. I've had Labs and Goldens my whole life so I was used to good hearted big dogs but this little guy was something special.

By the second night he would sleep all night in his crate and didn't wake us up until 8 am. Potty training was a breeze and he learned quickly, from my Lab Micah, to be a landscaper! He has been to Puppy Schools with his litter mate Obi and they both did very well!

Unfortunately I've had back problems that caused a fall & ruptured the Quad in my knee. So he had to be my wellness dog instead of learning to track or scent train.

Moonshadow Mike — HEAL! ❤️

He loves his humans, Mom, Dad and his Uncle Bert.

Oh and let me not forget his brother from another mother Micah. Those two play so hard yet they settle down, after a short while, in the house with us every night.

Just a beautiful loving boy…”

A recent painting done of this beloved boy.

I think our dogs are like a mirror, reflecting back things about ourselves.

The way we describe them matters — do we tell a problem-saturated story that reflects our typical problem-saturated storylines about everything in our life? Or do we have the ability to look at what is imperfect and see the joy, the good, the wonder?

It’s a choice and one that benefits — or burdens — the object of our narrative, and ourselves.

I read Mike’s update and I thought (yet again), “what an amazingly Good Human.” Porter is so very lucky to live with Mike and Patty.

Thank you, Mike and Patty — and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOONSHADOW PORTER.

Life Interrupted

If Sparkle looks sad, it is with good reasons.

Her sister, Ava, died recently — suddenly and peacefully and unexpectedly 💔 Love and support and gratitude and condolences to Kathy and Jack.

And there is more to interrupt the Birthday Party for a few days.

This is Sparkle with her human grandpa, my dad, and his sister at the Berkeley marina…

Like Ava, my dad died suddenly and peacefully and unexpectedly 💔

We will resume the birthdays in a few days.

In the meantime, please rest your heart and mind on my dad.

My dad sitting on the bench dedicated to his father on the UC Berkeley campus (next to Sather Gate)

Back to a Bright Star

I am waiting for the rest of the Moonshadows but let’s take this chance to catch up on another Bright Star: Dallas Nova Jr.

John and Kristine have been very, very busy with their new business, Freedom Bagels, which is located near Boise.

I can attest to the fact that they serve up amazing bagels and food — and they just added Peet’s coffee. If I lived in the Boise area, I would be there daily — and not just to say “hey!” to some of my favorite humans ❤️

John sends us this update:

“Dallas continues to wow us with her intelligence.  Her favorite spot is anywhere we are… and she makes every attempt to be a lap dog!  

She loves children and her family, but most of all she loves alerting us when packages or people arrive at the front door (and also riding in the car).

We have been working on basic commands and her speed and willingness to work are stunning!  

Motivated by food, she spends lots of time in the kitchen while we cook — very useful for mini training sessions.  

She is a beautiful, smart, and fun addition to our busy family!”

Thank you so much John — and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALLAS NOVA Jr.!