Thursday's Threads: Shark Week Edition

 

I nearly forgot shark week, but I DIDN'T! Only Eros dressed up this week, so this post won't be too long. Here's what he wore:

Bridle: Joseph Sterling
Browband: Dark Jewel Designs

I went with the spiked browband since the spikes kind of remind me of shark's teeth. 

Saddle: Butet
Saddle Pad: generic baby pad, decoration via Cricut

Half Pad: Ippico

I had this old baby pad laying around that used to be one that I showed with in the jumper ring. Thanks to the Cricut it has a new place in life! 

Boots: Premier Equine

I really like these boots. I wish they hadn't stuck a bunch of red branding on the updated version though. Fortunately, I got these before the update happened so no red!

Okay, my turn! Here's what I wore yesterday:

Okay, real talk... It's mostly the same outfit I wore last year for Shark Week. But ya know, I have to watch the spending these days, and this outfit is still great if you ask me!

Helmet: One K MIPS CCS

I really like the blue one K. Wish they would make a green one though!

Shirt: Modcloth

It takes a lot oxy clean to keep this tee wearable after a humid day in the barn... Despite that, I think it's so cute!

Belt: C4

Shark belt! Between the Cricut and the fun prints at C4, I feel like just about any theme could be covered pretty easily.

Breeches: Taillored Sportsman

Nothing special here, just some gray TS breeches.

Socks: Dreamers and Schemers

Yaaassss, shark socks!!! I actually forgot I had these, but fortunately discovered them when I was pulling out the shark week outfit.

Boots: Celeris UK

I felt like these were the perfect shark week boots. They are basically shark color and the shiny teal feels oceany to me. 

That's it for this week! Any favorites?

What's Up Wednesday

 

What. A. Week. I'm not going to harp on the worst day ever since we've covered that plenty. I'll just share the other stuff since life happens all the time. 
I've been a little inconsistent with my horses this past (and current) week. I didn't get to ride last Friday because tropical storm Elsa stopped by to drop a ton of a rain. So that interfered with our second jumping day again. Both Shiny and Eros did get to pop over some fences on Thursday though, so at least we got to jump once last week! They were mostly fine I think. I can't remember, honestly... Here are some cute photos though:

Fortunately, it rained so hard on Friday that the water just kind of ran right off the ring. So the footing was okay to ride. And I rode A LOT. I did Fifi and Bellino over at the other barn first. Then came home and did Shiny and Eros. I was pooped after. Definitely not four horses fit right now! But I made sure to load Artie boy up and take him for a walk in his stroller. Which I've already mentioned was the best thing ever. I didn't take any photos or video from that walk, but I do have this very short clip from the first day we tried it out. I've never seen him so happy (peep that tail)!

This week started out bumpy with Eros springing a shoe on Tuesday so he had a bonus day off. Shiny had to work though. Today was a little crazy... The farrier was here bright and early to shoe Eros (he was due anyway, so good timing I guess) and trim Shiny. Then, I finally had my long awaited hair appointment (it's been two and a half YEARS since my last professional hair appointment). Gray hair is gone!

I got home only to have to leave again because my car was ready to be picked up. (It was in the shop for all kinds of frightening lights being on.) Finally back home again to ride, but only had time for Eros due to having to meet a friend followed by family dinner. It was a long day. One of many really. In between everything with Artie and all of the regular horse stuff, I've also been dealing with the cable company, the pool guy, the electrician, and the mechanic for my car. Always everything at once. Hopefully things are starting to come together with all that extra stuff. 

I don't have too much extra happening the rest of the week so hopefully I can get the horses back on their schedule. I really like having a schedule. I really dislike not having one. I find it very chaotic! 

With the exception of today, I do visit Pammon daily to stuff cookies in his face. A few times a week I'll pull his fly sheet and boots off and give him a nice grooming. He's generally happy to see me, though it's probably more about the cookies I bring. But whatever, I'll take it however I can get it!

He's pretty attached to the girls in the paddock next to him. They came in to work on Saturday and he called very sadly for them until they got back. Poor Pammon. 

P actually seems to be doing pretty well on her own. Today she wanted to play with some toys which she doesn't really do much anymore generally. And she's been looking more spry that normal. So hopefully that means she's happy as an only dog. I'll get her a friend if she wants one, but I think P may prefer to be an only pug for a bit. 

That's about it from here I think. Sorry this post is kind of all over the place. I should have my shit back together next week... Lol! Hopefully!

Truthful Tuesday: Eros edition

 

Eros here... I'm writing for Mom today because she said I should confess my behavior. So mom's been kinda bummed out about my little brother's passing. I didn't know him very well, but he would usually give me a hello bark in the morning when I was outside. Seemed like a nice guy. Mom loved him an awful lot. 

Anyway, I could tell mom was having a hard time getting motivated to ride today. She was puttering around the barn for like an hour before she even took my tack out. I was like, "come on mom... I don't want to be late for lunch!" But also, I didn't want to stress her. She seemed like she needed some time. But then I had the BEST idea. If I sprung a shoe, she wouldn't be able to ride me! So she could have some extra free time today to have her feelings, and I wouldn't miss lunch. Seemed like a win-win to me.

Mission accomplished!

Unfortunately, Mom didn't really agree that this was a great idea. I don't think she's really thought it through all the way, because I still think it was brilliant... I got to have an extra day off, she only had to ride Shiny. How is this bad? I still don't really know. But anyway, that's my confession to all of you today. 

Arthur Fonzarelli Seidman: The most perfect partial pug there ever was

 

This is a very hard post to draft. Both literally and figuratively because Google photos is the worst. Sheesh. Kicking me while I'm down! So while I had lots of photos I wanted to insert in here, I don't have the patience to get them all on here right now. But I can still share Artie's story, with or without 1000 photos. Probably the condensed version is better for anyone who isn't me anyway.

As most of you probably saw on social media, I had to say goodbye to Artie last night. He was diagnosed last year with heart failure and then last week with lymphoma. I expected more time with him, and was waiting on a call from the oncology department to weigh our options. Unfortunately, his lymph nodes were getting bigger before my eyes this weekend. The stress it was causing on his body was too much for his weak heart, and he was struggling to breath on Sunday when I got in from doing horse things most of the day. He couldn't walk without coughing and was panting pretty heavily when stationary. There was a look in his eye that hurt my heart and so I took him to the emergency room. I wasn't sure they could help him, but couldn't let him struggle like that until Monday. So I brought him. Due to covid, I couldn't go in with him right away and it was the most horribly long wait of my life. Finally they called me. They listed all kinds of tests they could run and things that could be options and that he would need to stay hospitalized. As hard as it was to ask, I choked out the question, "is all of that fair to him?" The answer was essentially no. That if any of those things could help him, it would be very temporary. Artie hated going to the vet. He hated being separated from me and P. The thought of leaving him there to extend his life but leave him in discomfort just wasn't right. I promised him no bad days. The vet assured me that it was the right decision, as he was really struggling at that point. (His anxiety being at the vet wasn't helpful in his condition.) And so that's what we had to do. I was allowed in to say goodbye and hold him until it was over. I told him what a good boy he was his whole life and that his work here was all finished. And that he'd be with me always. I miss him terribly already though. There's a very big hole in my heart. It's amazing it's still functioning since there are so many dog and horse shaped holes in it. P feels it too, so we spent the entire day together. 

But I don't want this post to be all about the sad part. I want to share Artie with all of you today, in all of his amazing partial pugness! I did a DNA test on him to find out what the non pug part of him was, and it was Welsh Corgi! That's what my hunch was so I wasn't surprised by the result.

The very first Artie photo I ever took

A good friend of mine shared Artie's listing to my facebook page back in 2013. But it was terrible timing because I was leaving for VT to show for two weeks. I reached out to the rescue to let them know I was interested, but that I couldn't take him until I returned. They don't hold dogs, which I understood, and so I just hoped he'd still be available when I got home. I filled out the application just in case. As luck would have it, he was still around when I got back, so we set up a meet and greet for him and Pia right away. They got along just fine and I got to take him home that day! They settled in together like they'd known each other forever. 

Artie's first moments home, sitting here with his grandma

Pia and Artie were basically inseparable. I spent most of today going through every photo I've ever taken of him and honestly, there are very few without P by his side. I'm keeping a close eye on my girl, because I know her heart hurts as much, if not more, than mine. 

Artie was probably the most loving, happiest dog I've ever come across. He never met someone who wasn't immediately his best friend, be it a human or a canine. And everyone loved him right back. He always wanted to be with me when I was home and followed me around the house no matter what I was doing (unless I was vacuuming, he hated that). When we switched to working from home last year, he came up to the home office every day with me. Always by my side even when it was sweltering hot or freezing cold up there. I have a low window in that room, so I stuffed a soft duffle bag full of soft stuff so he could sit and look out the window. He loved that! Of course, I guess I never took a photo of him sitting on it. You'll just have to trust me. Mostly, he napped while I worked. But it was nice to have the company all the same. 

Artie LOVED to give kisses, and as a result, our selfies always had LOTS of outtakes. He also had a tongue too big for his mouth, so most photos of him show his tongue sticking out. Pretty endearing if you ask me.

Artie was a good sport whenever I wanted to dress him in ridiculous outfits. He always allowed it, even if he didn't exactly enjoy it. 

That streak in the back is his forever wagging tail.

While he didn't really enjoy outfits, especially silly ones, he DID love toys. He would throw them in the air and catch them, or whip them across the room and play fetch with himself. It was always hilarious.

He also loved rolling. Be it on the carpet, or in the grass. Sometimes he just laid on his back like that's totally normal for a doggo.

But his most favorite thing in the world (besides snacks) was taking walks with his big sister. Even though she sometimes slowed him down. He didn't mind, he'd wait for her. 

Artie hasn't really been able to go for walks the last year because of his heart condition. When I learned of his lymphoma, I immediately ordered a stroller for him. If his life was nearing the end, I wanted to figure out how to let him do his favorite thing. He LOVED the stroller. Unfortunately, we only got to use it twice. But it was definitely his last favorite thing which warms my broken heart just a little. 

Have you ever seen a happier dog? I have not.

I don't know anything about his life before we met, but I know his life since was full of love. Artie was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I'm devastated that our time together has come to an end, but I feel so incredibly lucky to have had him in my life. Next month would have been our 9 year anniversary together, which is a pretty good run.