Han's Point of View...Amish Cheese House and Whole Foods

Wow, Mom just buckled me into my seat in the car and we're off again! I just love traveling in the car, I get to go to such interesting places. I wonder where she will take me next?

In my comfy place in the car

About 35 miles east of Tulsa is the small town of Chouteau, Oklahoma just north of Highway 412. In the area there is a thriving Amish community. Mom's sister-n-law, Karen, told her about this cheese, bakery and restaurant place called the Amish Cheese House, located about 5 minutes north of the highway just before the first stoplight on the west side of the main drag. 

Amish Cheese House in Chouteau Oklahoma

Mom loves grass fed rolled butter from cows and this is the only place so far in Oklahoma she has found that she can find it.  Otherwise she has to go to either Kansas City or Longview, Texas to get it.  Auntie Karen says it is wonderful and so fresh. The best they have ever had. It comes in two pound Rolls. I know Mom was so happy to get some. 

This butter is so good! So says Mom

When we got in the store two little boys came running up to me and the youngest one started to pet me (which is a no, no). Mom was real sweet and explained to the boys that I was a service dog, that means I help my mom, and I must not be distracted from my job while I am working. That is why I wear a special vest to tell people that I am working.  

Then a young girl came up and mom talked to her as well. She was very nice, she helped my mom find some things in the store.  We went through the store and tasted lots of samples. Mom also bought a yummy cinnamon butter spread for her toast. At least she said it was yummy as I am not allowed to taste it. 

Yummy Cinnamon Spread

We left the store and went back into Tulsa to the Whole Foods store at 41st and Peoria. Mom said it brought back a lot of memories for her as the back part of the store use to be a place called Joe's and that is where Mom and her love, Dave, had their first drink 47 years ago. Wish I could have known him. Mom says he was the best!

Buffalo Bones for Bone Broth

Mom was shopping for grass fed beef bones and got grass fed buffalo bones to make bone broth with instead.  The Whole Foods store in Oklahoma City was out of them and so she thought she would check with the Tulsa store while there. I love going into the store. I like seeing all the neat things that are in there, besides I like walking beside Mom's electric cart. People in there are so nice, however Mom and I saw a man being pursued by store employees as he was trying to shoplift a whole basket of food. I think he might have gotten away with a roast, but left everything else behind. The store employees were filming him on their cameras. Mom says you never know what causes a person to steal, I guess he was hungry.  

After we got the bones for broth, we got on the road back to Oklahoma City. Mom decided to go through Henrietta and back on I-40 as there was a lot of construction on the Turner Turnpike. Half way back Mom got real tired and said she was having trouble staying awake. So she pulled off the road at a big gas station and she and I took naps. She said she slept about an hour and felt so much better.  We got back to Norman around 6:45 p.m. and she fixed me a big bowl of food and I woofed it down and she had some dinner. 

It was a long day, but she did good and I am a happy hound.
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Mom here...I learned a long time ago not to try and fight it when you are tired. Just find a safe place to pull off and take a nap. You will be so glad you did and will arrive at your destination safe and sound, late maybe, but alive.  

Han's Point of View...New Butts to Sniff

WOW, I have butt load of butts to sniff, no pun intended. Layla, Rosie, Katie & Kiwi and I am the only boy, how did that happen. But it wasn't for long as this was not a social call. 

Mom and Me, aren't I a handsome guy!

Mom and I took a road trip to Tulsa to help her brother out when he was having a surgery Monday. We had to get up super early and be at Hillcrest Hospital near downtown Tulsa by 6:00 a.m. I got to meet the receptionist, nurses and doctors and see how Day Surgery works.  How fun, I was on my best behavior. 

Being in Day Surgery was very interesting as it was very busy with lots of people walking back and forth. I got to see an IV inserted, that must have hurt but Uncle Frank didn't flinch.  I got to meet the anesthesiologist, nice lady.

Day Surgery and all the hard working nurses

I decided to curl up under my mom's chair so I would be out of the way, too many people walking in and out of small quarters. Finally Uncle Frank was taken back to surgery. 

Now we have to go out to the waiting room, lots of people out there, more than before. I had to go to a green spot so mom took me on this moving platform thing. There was this deep dark space from solid ground to the platform that I didn't want to cross, but mom said it was okay. Mom presses a button on the wall and this platform thing seems to be still yet it moves. How can that be? It confuses me and I try to hug the floor. It makes me real nervous. Then the doors open. Boy there are a lot of strange things in this world.
Once outside mom finds me a green spot away from everything so I can do my business. Then we went back inside again to the moving platform and once again I had to cross the dreaded dark space, up we went to Day Surgery, again I had to cross another dreaded dark space. Will it ever stop?  

There is this strange bell that keeps chiming and people come through a door that opens and closes magically. Ah, that moving platform thing, mom calls it an elevator. I call it nuts! I'll take the stairs any day. 

This lady came out and called a persons name, she had on funny clothes and a real funny looking hat on her head that I didn't think should be there so I let her know and barked at her. Mom said it was okay that it was a hat used during surgery. I remember now, Uncle Frank had one on. 

A nice nurse came out and asked if I would like a warm blanket to curl up on. Well heck yeah! It felt nice.  Then suddenly an man with a plaid jacket and a funny hat on came out of nowhere and that frighten me so I barked at him too. Just once though. Just thought I would let him know I was there. Again mom had to hush me up. Sure like this warm blanket, think I will curl up and take a nap right here. 

The nice warm blanket the nurse gave me, ah warmth!

Pretty soon the Doctor came and called us back to the consultation room.  Uncle Frank was out of surgery and doing well and they were getting him ready to go home. 
We went back to where he was and he was just about ready to go. Mom and I went out to get the car and pulled around to the front of the Day Surgery building and out came Uncle Frank being pushed in this contraption. Mom called it a wheelchair. Looks like a torture chair to me. We went to the pharmacy to pick up his prescription but it wasn't ready so mom took Uncle Frank home and then went back to get his meds. 

She got him all settled and then we struck out for 
Chouteau, that's another story...
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Mom here...Han did really well at the hospital. Everyone was so nice and the nurses gushed over him. Several came up to us to tell us about their dogs. Several wanted to know what kind of dog Han was.  He is 1/2 Blue Heeler, 1/4 Great Pyrenees and 1/4 Lab. A lot of people in the waiting room were very interested in him.  He is quite the ice breaker. In his own special way he seemed to calm one person down, who was getting ready to have a surgery, by just his presence. I could see the anxiety melt from them as they talked to him. Cheeky little pup. Han is 6 months old now and a whopping 50 lbs. And so the adventure continues. 

Han's Point of View...Lots of Travel Hither and To

I have been very busy traveling. Always on the go it seems. Mom made a very comfy place for me to travel in the car.  I have front seat privileges and my very own seat belt harness. 

My new service vest

The other day a special package came for me and it was a special harness that says Service Dog! It is red and black with reflector tape on it so people can see me when I take a walk at night. I feel so special. Mom says I have to  wear it when we go out as she needs help when we go shopping. 

Bazaar Cattle Pens in the Flint Hills of Kansas a cool place to stop

Last week I got to go to Kansas City to see my brother Chewbacca (Chewie) and Lizzie. Chewie is a bit off the wall and loves to play and we have lots of fun chasing each other and wrestling. Sometimes we got so rowdy that mom had to our leads on us to get us to settle down. Lizzy is my sweet step sister, who snarls at both Chewie and me. She just likes her space like most girls do. 

I had a great visit with my brother and Lizzie and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Chewie and me passed out after a hard day at play

Mom Here...Han is such a delight. He has completed his  Puppy class. And we are waiting for his Basic Obedience Classes to start. He is very smart and learns quickly. I can't wait to see what adventures Han leads us on. 

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There Be Puppies in Texas...

I had had my hands full with three dogs again, two of them being puppies that pee everywhere. Thank goodness for a full grown dog who knows how to get outside quick!  

The routine in the morning was for me to open up the back door and the outside garage back door. Lizzy would wait by the puppies crate as I opened their crate, then I would tell her to take them outside! And she did, on the double, without hesitation! I think I only had one accident while they learned what outside meant. 

At first as soon as Han's little feet hit the concrete on the patio he peed, Ugh! I had to get him to understand that he had to go on grass to which he then thought carpet in the house was grass. Noooo! Then he decided that he had to poop on the patio, Noooo again!

The purchased puppy pads were placed about the kitchen. It was a 50/50 proposition for sure as half the time they were peed on and half the time chewed up by you know who! 

Lizzie was not warming up to the puppies very well. She really didn't bite them but would bare her teeth and snarl. Once in a while she would get a nip in to let them know she didn't like them crawling all over her as they would mob her while playing in the back yard. Most of the time she would ignore them. 

It was time to leave for Texas and the 4th of July weekend. I had the car loaded and was putting puppies in the car, the final thing to do. This was a Friday, Christie was already in Texas, as she arrived on Thursday. I was going to go down Thursday, but needed one more adjustment from my Chiropractor. Lizzy was in the car, Han was in the car and as I was carrying Chewie out to the car, I stepped out the back door and my shoe caught the carpet and twisted sideways causing me to fall backwards.  I reached backwards with my right arm trying to catch a shelf, hyperextending my shoulder. I twisted my lower back landing on my right (bad) side. Sent the puppy flying and he landed next to the car, scurrying underneath. I had to lay there for a few minutes before trying to move, assessing my injuries. Any broken bones...no. Now to try and get up. That is my biggest problem, getting up. Ever since having artificial knees you can't get on them as they hurt like hell! I looked around and realized I had moved the dryer in front of the back door during the fall, not good. I scooched over to the back door and grabbed the door handle and pulled myself up to a position to where I could get one leg up under myself and get up on one knee then up to the other knee then stand up. Whew! I knew the drive ahead was not going to be a fun one now as I was starting to hurt.  I went into the house and took two Tylenol, went back out to the garage and recovered Chewie and got him into his crate. I finished locking up the house and proceeded toward Texas. Light sabers ready!

My trip had already been long, as I had been dealing with a medical problem on this little journey that I had an appointment for on the following Tuesday. It was hot and having to stop for any amount of time was not fun. Dogs, however do have to take potty breaks, especially puppies.  I was warned not to let them take breaks in public areas, so we would have to take breaks in the off beaten areas. Thankfully they were quick about it. 

You never know what you will find out on the highway. As I am traveling at 75mph as I spy a large purple sack on the side of the road. I say to myself "Nah, it cant be".  What do I do? Yep you guessed it. I went to the next exit got off, went back to the following exit and then went back to the large purple sack. 50 lbs. of Red Onions! Where they were located, I was actually taking my very life in my hands, I was parked on a bridge. I put on my emergency blinkers and went for it.  I had to drag them back to my car, unload about 5 lbs. into the floorboard of the car before I could find enough sacking to grab and lift the sucker up into the front seat of the car. Then I had to walk to the front of my car and wait for a break in the truck line to get my door open and in the car.  Boy those truckers don't give you an inch! But I got my onions! 

I arrived at the house and the kids were all excited to see the puppies. Especially Maggie. She just loves dogs. One of the first things Christie and I did after we unloaded the car was to go to Walmart and get a portable dog pen. This way we could set up a pen inside the house for the pups. Then Christie would have a place to coral Chewie at home.   

I was not feeling well enough to go to Jefferson to watch the fireworks, besides I didn't want the local fireworks to upset the pups, so I stayed home and kept them company. The rest of the family went and enjoyed the festivities. I watched season 2 of The Handmaids Tale on Hulu. 

Some of J's great photography shots of fireworks

Miss Maggie all decked out for the 4th

We noticed blood in Han's stool and had to take him to our Vet in Texas and found out that he had Hookworm, Roundworm, and Tapeworm. Poor baby! So both of the puppies were de-wormed again. At this Vet visit Han weighed 20 lbs. and Chewie 18 lbs. Shows how fast they are growing. 

Han waiting for results

Christie left with Lizzy and Chewie to go back to Kansas City on Thursday as she had a class to teach on Friday. I left on Saturday with Andy and Han. I had put Han in the front seat...big mistake. He chewed through the audio cable and the power cable to Andy's DVD player. So into the crate he went for the ride home. 

Maggie loved on the puppies so much that I know she will miss them. She calls them both Chewie.

Maggie Loving on Han

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The Vet Visit...Oops Wrong Vet...

When we got Chewie and Han I asked Rodney their former owner who he used as their veterinarian. He told me Westwood Veterinarian Services on Mercedes in Norman.  As it was time for their next set of shots, I called and made their appointment. 

Christie had to go back home to and get things ready there for Chewie in Kansas City before she could take him up there. So I was taking care of two puppies and Lizzie until we were to meet up in Texas for the 4th of July. 

I must have had a severe brain fart, you know, one of those senior moments,  for when it came time for the puppies vet visit, I went to the wrong Veterinarian! I went to Rose Rock Veterinarian Hospital on 24th. They came out and got the puppies and took them into their puppy room. They looked and looked for their record and it was then I realized my mistake and called Westwood and had their records transferred over to Rose Rock. Oh Bother! The Dr., attendants and staff there at Rose Rock were wonderful and understanding and so great with the pups. They got their shots, de-worming and nails clipped.  One tip to clipping nails is to put a bead of cheese whiz from a can down for the pup to lick while you clips its nails.  Great distraction!

Han was up to 16 lbs. and Chewie 14 lbs.  When we got them Han was 10 lbs. and Chewie 8 lbs. Han is going to be more like the Great Pyrenees and Chewie like the Blue Heeler.

Puppy play after puppy shots at the Vet!

All tuckered out after hard puppy play!

Han Solo...Did you say HAN SOLO...And CHEWBACCA

When Bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge

I said I would not get another dog. Then two months later Christie lost our most beloved Fitzwilliam Darcy most unexpectedly.

He died on a Saturday without warning and she had him cremated on a Sunday. She lives in an area where there is no place to bury him. Several days later on Facebook a dear friend posted the most adorable picture of this little fellow. I instantly fell in love with that little face. I don't know why, but I did. Again I reminded myself I did not want another dog but the irresistible pull of this little fellows face was too much!

Han Solo at 4 weeks

Christie was coming into town later in the week for a work related thing and would be staying for a bit. So I made arrangements on Thursday with the owner to meet at Lions Park after she got into town on Friday and dropped her car off at Firestone to be worked on, to meet this little fellow. I also asked for him to bring another puppy. He had just the perfect little fellow in mind.  We got there and she took her big dog Lizzy for a walk and I waited for the puppies. They arrived! Christie put Lizzy up and came over to the car to meet the puppy and was shocked to see two! I told her I had a surprised for her. She was expecting to see only one, the one for me. However I had the gentleman bring one for her. I knew she was heartbroken over Fitz and I knew a new puppy would not only help her, but help Lizzy as well. This little guy was precious.

Chewie at 8 weeks

We took them both! Besides, they were free and already had their first puppy shots.  Their parents are...Daddy, full blood Queensland Blue Heeler...Mother, Half Great Pyrenees-Half Labrador.

We brought them home. Christie got out Fitz's old wire crate and cleaned it up for the puppies to stay in (That is why you never throw anything away even after 10 years). We washed bedding and towels. Purchased puppy food and new toys and treats. Cleaned out past dog dishes and water bowls and made them comfortable.

The next thing to do was to name them. We are big Marvel Fans and Started to Name them Bucky and Steve. I would have Bucky and Christie would have Steve, but as the evening wore on the names didn't fit the personality of the dogs. Her dog chewed everything including my hands and arms (I looked like a pin cushion) and my dog was a complete little rogue. Hmmm, who did we know that fit that combination other than Chewbacca and Han Solo! It just fit! And so they were named! Han and Chewie!

Two Rouges of a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Our two rouges

Good Bye Mr. Bear...

For three years now I have had a faithful little traveling partner who would travel in the navigators chair beside me while we tootled down the highway either in the motorhome or the car. Never complaining while doing so and always happy to go on the next adventure. Good ole Mr. Bear.

We got Mr. Bear from a couple in Texas in 2009 who could not take care of him any longer as they traveled too much. He was not sure of his place in the house as we had two dogs already, but he quickly established himself as the Alpha dog as so many little dogs do and just as quickly won a place in our hearts. 

The Three Amigos

He went on many adventures with the family and was a seasoned traveler.  

On the road again!

All ready for the Trip to Washington DC

He never objected to when our grandson or granddaughter hauled him around the yard on his lead. He happily followed. 

Andy and Maggie having a load of fun with Bear who never objected

Sometimes he would get himself into trouble with his barking, especially in the motorhome. RV Parks will kick you out if your dogs disturb other people. 

OK, The cat made me do it.

I heard a noise outside...so I bark, a lot!

Come on guys, let's get this party started, I want cake!

Did you say it was time to drink coffee? Oh Fitz!

Boy oh Boy, on the road again!

This last adventure he was so excited to hop in the car and was ready to go see his big brother Fitz and sister Lizzy in Kansas City and as always to "give 'em hell" in don't mess with me. We arrived and everyone was excited to greet each other. This was on Friday.

Saturday was good and he was playful and happy, but during the night sometime Bear started to become restless and not quite so playful, sort of like he was tired. This was Sunday.

Monday early, I could hear him becoming more restless and when I woke up he had pooped all over the floor which he never does and he was pacing. He made it downstairs, but he constantly walked from one end of the condo to the other, getting lost and standing in one place for long periods of time.

We finally called a Vet Service which came to the house and it was determined that Bear had a stroke and now was blind and deaf due to the swelling in his brain. We determined he could see shadows enough to avoid objects but could not hear us. The Vet started him on some steroids to reduce the swelling  to see if we could get him back on an even kilter.

We enclosed him in a smaller space for safety when away and put him in his house for sleeping for the remainder of the visit. The other dogs were very patient with him and at one point it looked like he might become his old self again as he started a tussle with Fitz. 

On Monday I drove home with him and he did fairly well, but a six hour drive was almost too much for him. The last hour he kept wanting to get up and try to walk around the car. It was all I could do to keep him still and drive. 

We finally made it home and I put him outside and it was like he knew the place, went to his water, got a drink and started to wander the yard and I thought to myself that we might make it after all. Tuesday morning I put him out and he trotted off around the corner of the house like it was normal, later I found him asleep in my granddaughter playhouse. Unfortunately when he woke up, he woke up really confused and unsteady.  

As this week progressed, Bear had another stroke. He wanders in tight little circles not knowing where he is going, bumping into things and crying, where before he was avoiding them. I can't pick him up as he has the worst scream in the world and tries to bite me when I do. He will wander for hours on end before he finally will collapse out of exhaustion. 

Now he can't find his food or water and if he does he steps in it knocking it all over the floor. The light in his eyes is gone. There is no recognition of anything. The quality of his life is not there, he is just existing.

Last night I was able to cover him in a big fluffy towel and pick him up and sit in my recliner and hold him and rock him for almost two hours while he slept. What a joy to hold the little guy. 

He has now progressed to the point of not being able to walk as of this afternoon or find his food or water and is crying with every breath. It is time for him to cross the Rainbow Bridge. My dear "daughter" Grace who is a Vet will lovingly administer the doses tomorrow at 3:00 pm. We have known Grace since grade school and know what a compassionate and caring person she is. He will be surrounded by people who know him and love him as he quietly slips into peace. 

Do I want to put him down? Not really, I would prefer God just gently take him over the Rainbow bridge like he did Tara and Pepper. I just want to say you were a faithful little companion who had a rough start, but were loved even if you were ornery. We love you dearly my little man. Rest well, you deserve it.   

Bear, always loving his bath!
i love his smile!