Max Memories

My precious dog died this weekend.  I am heart broken. All these memories are surfacing.....and I don't want to forget a single one.  I writing them down here randomly as they come to mind. 

I am seeing the keyboard through tears. 

Max Memories

Max was a small rust colored cocker spaniel.

Max was born September 7^th, 2001  

He died July 11^th, 2014

at the age of 12 ½ yr old.

June 2014

I had seen a friend’s little cocker spaniel and commented that I had a cocker when I was a little girl and would love to get another one.  The friend told me where he had gotten his dog… a place in Minnesota called Neddlewoods. It had been a former family zoo type place. After okaying it with Dave, Mom and I went to Needlewoods.  We bought home Max and a bouquet of peacock feathers. Mom (as a present to me) bought Max for $75. The reason for the cheap price is that we got Max without papers, even though he was purebred. (It’s silly but I’m angry because I feel that it’s unfair that we still have the peacock features but not Max)

October 2001

I didn't know what to name Max.  I wanted to name him Cricket but my husband, Dave and our daughter, Jenny shot down that Idea. The name Max never did fit him.  He was more of a mini that a max.  I’d often call him Maxie which would bother Jenny. It made her think of “Maxi Pads”.

Dave got Jake and I got Max at about the same time.  The dogs were just a week apart in age.  Max was always the dominate pup even when Jake doubled Max’s size.  This was unusual because in everything else, Mas was timid.  The two dogs would pretend fight.  Max was very vocal while they wrestled too.

Jenny and the pups, Max & Jake

Jake was the smarter dog.  I would try to teach the dogs tricks.  Jake did pretty well.  Max learned how to stay and that’s about it. When I wanted him to sit up and beg…he'd wait for me to put my wrist up for him to balance against. (Jake died in June 2010)

Max followed me everywhere. He would even follow me into the bathroom at the lake.  (but not at home, because that is where you get a bath) He wanted to be with me in the bathroom at the lake but if I was taking a shower, he’d get bore and start scratching the door to get out.

5 yr old

At the lake, he would sit on the deck and watch for chipmunks.  When he spotted one he would dash off the deck but of course the chipmunk would be long gone before he got to the spot that the chipmunk had been at.

Always watching for chipmunks

He only wanted to be outside if my husband, Dave or I was with him.  Even at the lake…even though he loved chasing chipmunks.  Dave buried Max in a spot at the lake that overlooks the favorite Chipmunk sightings. Dave figured that if Max wasn't with us, that would be his 2^nd favorite spot.

Max had a couple different sweaters that I put on him after haircuts.

Once when Max was young, I took him with me over to Mom’s house. Something scared him and he got away from me. In a panic he ran with his leash dragging behind him. When I caught up to him he was running against busy traffic down 10^th street – a one way street. He was so glad for me to get to him. (The feeling was mutual)

Max’s breathing became harsh his last year.  I called it huffing.  The vet tried some medicine, but it didn't work.  A couple times I had to put him in the back entryway while we had Bible study because his breathing was so loud it was distracting.  Dave often told him to shut up….. meaning close your mouth…because it was so loud.

Max was an ideal dog. …Quiet…only barked at his shadow. Timid…..Preferred stuff animals to chew toys…. Was always licking.  He would let the kids do anything they wanted to him….he would put up with them. Sierra used to like to style Max's hair with water and an a brush. He put up with it....even though he'd rather be taking a nap.

Max and I played this game.  Whenever I saw the squirrel at the bird feeder, I’d say “SQUIRREL!” and Max would shoot out the door.  Funny…Max’s attitude was once he got out the door was pleasant surprise like  - Wow A Squirrel! And then he’d chase it. It was as if when I said “SQUIRREL!”…to Max it meant there’s going to be a surprise for you…and he’d get excited not knowing what it was going to be.  (You would have thought that he’d catch on…it’s a squirrel again)

Two things that Max never did forget was  - when I was teaching the pups to catch a freebie, I’d use slices of bread so that they wouldn't duck. Til the very end, Max would get excited when he saw me opening a loaf of bread…even though I hadn’t shared any bread with him in years.

Max also got excited when I poured milk on my cereal because when the dogs were puppies I used to give them milk. I did, however, let Max drink the milk left over in my cereal bowl.

Max lost most of his hearing the last year, so it was hard to call him back when he went across the street.

3 yr old

Max was funny.  He really didn't care to ride in cars…he put up with it without complaining. He preferred the front seat. In fact if Dave was driving, when he had a chance he’d climb up in the front seat and squeeze in next to me.  I’d have to put the seatbelt across my lap and over him because he wouldn't move. If it was just Max and me, Max would sit up in the passenger seat and get this… he would duck every time we went under an overpass.  Ha  Ha

Fresh Haircut

7 yr old

Max loved to go on walks.  When he saw me get my tennis shoes on…he knew that I was going on a walk.  He’d jump all over the place.  I’d put on his leash and he’d lead me out of the yard.  EVERY TIME we’d get across the street by that open lot and he would stop and poop..

I’d bring a doggy bag along incase he’d want to poop again which rarely happened unless we were in front of someone’s house with the people out in their yard…then he’d poop

.

On walks, Max would lead out of the yard and down the block.  I’d lead the rest of the way until we turned to face home.  Then Max would take the lead again.  Max was not one of those dogs that had to stop and smell everything…which made him a good walking companion.

During his last year I rarely took him for walks.  His huffing made it too hard on him. Even though he wanted to go along, I could tell that it was torture.

9 yr old

It’s makes me sad to remember this….During his last year, when it was just me and Max at home during the evening, Max would stand in the back entryway and stare at the back door, waiting for Dave to come home.  I think that because Max had lost his hearing, he didn't want to miss Dave’s arrival.  Dave said that he’d wait for me to come home too.  Max wasn't comfortable unless we were all home.

Dave watches TV a lot so Max would either sleep with his head on Dave’s lap or right next to Dave’s leg or on the floor next to Dave. If I was watching TV Max would sleep on my feet on the couch.  (The problem was that I am not a sitter, so I’d be up and down and Max would give me the look as “I just got comfortable and you’re moving again?”)

7 yr old

Over the last year, during normal work days, Max would sleep hard. When I came home from work I actually had to touch him to wake him. That was totally abnormal for him.

Max was a cute dog…..  He looked more like a female than a male.  We always feed him expensive Science Diet food and no table scraps so his coat was always a shiny rust color. We had his hair cut once or twice a year.  His ears and legs would get matted.  Ironically, during Max’s last month I wasn't working or babysitting so I had time to keep his coat brushed. Boy did he shed! The one thing that we won’t miss is all the dog hair around the house.  It bothered Dave more than it bothered me, especially the hair that collected on the steps which rarely got vacuumed.

Two days before Max died, I came home in the evening and found Max hurting. One of his front paws wasn't working. He was walking on the top side of his paw. He hobbled around trying to follow me. I called Dave home. We were so worried.  We just knew that when we took him to the vet in the morning that he doc would suggest putting him down. We prayed and asked God for healing.  God didn't give us exactly what we asked for, but he did give us one more day with Max.  We awoke the next morning and Max was walking fine. He was his normal self with less energy. I took this video. (Max woke up the following morning unable to stand without falling over. He quit breathing twice on the way to the vet.)

Just now I looked down on the floor where Max always laid while I typed on the computer. It’s bringing tears to my eyes. I am sure that I will have to deal with this recurring lost feeling over and over for a while.  It hurts.  I miss him.

Addie Died Today

Addie DuBord

1930 - 2014

It's been a long time....

It's been a long time since I've added to this blog. I also haven't updated my websites in ages either.  I think it's because I've more or less journaled on Facebook instead. I've decided to drop my websites and update my blogs more often.....maybe that will be my 2014 New Year's Resolution????

Vikettes

I had the honor of driving the Kindred Vickettes to the State Competition in Grand forks. They took first place in all three of the categories that they competed in. Here is their "Pom" routine:

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2012 in Pictures

2012 was a busy year with a lot of changes. 

We made two trips to Colorado (February and November) and one trip to Iowa (Dave's Niece's wedding). Jason and Bekki came back to visit 3 times. (June, October, December)

We had one birth (Granddaughter, Bailey in August) and one death (Dave's brother, Dean in November). 

The winter was nearly snow-free. Which meant very good roads for school bus routes. The summer was very hot and dry. Which meant many hours in the water at the lake. We also got a lot accomplished at the lake.

Jason, Bekki, Jamie, Jenny and I changed jobs. Jason quit his day job.  Bekki started working for another company. Jamie became the general manager of a Best Buy Store. Jenny became an at-home mom. I started working in the new Kindred High School. (I also still drive a school bus) 

Bekki shot a trophy antelope and Jason shot a trophy bear. Dave didn't go deer/gun hunting at all this year. (odd)

Jamie and Ryan moved to Grand Forks. Dave talks a lot about moving. (retirement is coming up)

Here are the pictures:

January 2012

Brooklynn's 1st Birthday

Amy & I at CCEC's (belated) Christmas Party

Family Get-Together at the Solomons

 Jodi's Birthday

Lunch with Jamie

New Haircut/Color

Open winter - Very, very little snow!

Sierra's 8th Birthday

Bunco!

February 2012

Cousins Nite Out

Max

Jenny and Mom

Hawkeye and Kimberly

Kindred Water Tower

Lunch with the Girls

Matt's Birthday

The one and only time that Dave had to Blow Snow

Sierra and Jenny's cat

Warm enough temps to melt snow and read out on the deck.

March 2012

Debbie's Birthday

Our snowless back yard

Bunco!

Bookclub

Sierra & Lily

Get-together at the Jobgens

Having lunch with Sierra at her school

My cousin, Gene & I having lunch in Grand Forks

Brooklynn playing at the cupboard that my dad had made for me when I was small.

April 2012

Ron, Illa and Jen at Cousins Nite Out

Gerry and John

A Meal with the Family

Bunco!

Dave with the Easter Turkey

Easter at Solomons

Jenny's 25th birthday

Jenny's Baby Bump

Lunch with Jamie and my Mom

Michelle's spa party

Mom and Gene

Lunch with the Paras

Speech Coaches and a couple Students

Speech kids in Bismark

Book Club

May 2012

new planter

last day for me to work in the old kitchen

Fellow Bus drivers: Kermit and Vic 

Ryan replacing roof on Bungaloo

Fixing up the Bunk House

Brooklynn and Max

Ryan & Brooklynn at the Bonfire

Our House

Co-Workers: Altea & Mary

Last day for us to work in this kitchen. (On to the new HS building)

Dave & old Friend Jerry

Graduation Party

Our Cottage and the Log House Next  Door

Lunch with my girls

Cousins from Mott, Janelle and Hubby
I had lunch with them in Bismarck while on an activity run.

New Hair cut

Lily & Sierra

Field trip to Wahpeton Zoo

Bunco!

Cousin's Nite Out

Lake

My bus kids on the last day  at Davenport School

Davenport teachers waving good bye for the final time (School closed)

June 2012

Jenny's growing baby bump

Bubbles

My nephew, Shaun

Dave & Max at the bonfire

Early morning

Jenny & Bekki

Jamie & her daughters

Lunch with the girls

Amber and her new hubby
(wedding in Iowa)

Rick & Liz

Brent and Matt
hanging out at the motel before the wedding

Jenny's baby shower

Brooklynn, Jamie, Bekki and Farrah

The fam hanging out at our house

Me and the granddaughters at Yunker's Farm

lunch at T&T

The first time that my mom met her newest great granddaughter Farrah

Farrah and Bekki

Frozen Yogurt

Bekki, sierra, Jason and Farrah at Wahpeton

Babies and baby ducks

The Wahpeton Zoo

Teddy Bear Parade

Island Park

Fixing up the Bungalo

Cleaning Fish

The DuBords

Dave's 60th Birthday

Our cottage

Sisters, sierra & Brooklynn at Burger King

Shot Ski

Piano Players

New hair cut and color

at the lake

Farrah and Grandpa Dave

Lorie & Brent

Dave & I

cousins: Shawn & Jamie

Mom and I at Summerhill Farm

Picnic with the neighbor, Helen

making a mess

Sierra and her catch

Rachel, Lindsey and Mari at the baby shower that Lorie held for Jenny

Hanging out with Friends at Starr Lake

Lorie, Jenny and Lindsey

Jenny, Sierra Me and Brooklynn

Sierra and Helen

cousin's Nite Out

Farrah came to visit us while we were working the school board election

Auntie Jen holding Brooklynn

July 2012

Sierra at the downtown street fair

a lot of time was spent in the water

It was a hot summer.  I spent more time in the lake than I ever had...at this cottage.

Brooklynn and Sierra

CCEC family picnic

Olive Garden with Jamie and the girls

All the Grovers/DuBords on the 4th of July

Shorem Chapel is where Mom and I attend church during the summer

Kindred Wildlife Club House

Kindred wild life club - wives

Sierra visiting Jenny at work (Fargo Tire)

the Kindred Wild Life men made us dinner

Sierra & Helen making waffle cones

Dave and I took mom out to eat at the lake

Sierra having lunch at summer school

Kindred High School going down

Yum! Sweet potato fries!

Leonard kids and Sierra
I drive the kids to swimming lessons 2 weeks out of each summer.

Dennis's 50 birthday

Dave and his childhood friends: Jake and Doug

Sierra's swimming lessons

replacing deck boards

My two brothers: Bob and Ron

Rachel, my cousin's daughter, and me

Ryan and Brooklynn

Brooklynn and Jamie

My cousin, John and Me

Out to eat with my brother and hubby

Ron and his daughter, Jamie and Midnight the dog

July 2012

Sierra, Zach and friends

Dave and I celebrating our 39th anniversary

Sierra reading to Brooklynn

Our cottage

Brooklynn

Jamie playing with the little ones

Sierra

Sierra and bible School at Bethel Church

Dave and friends on Kindred Days

Jamie and the girls in front of their  home in west Fargo

Jamie

Kindred Days

Ryan, Matt, Jenny and Jamie at Kindred Days

Sierra and the neighborhood kids

Brooklynn decorating Jenny's baby bump

Sierra, Lily and Brooklynn at Cousin's Nite Out

Lorie and her mom, Addie

Dave and his new toy

Sierra and Helen at their "store"

Pizza/Craft Party

Farrah at Walmart

Jamie's 30th Birthday

Bailey has arrived!

Checking out the new addition to our family. (4 generation picture)

Proud grandma

precious baby Bailey



Everyone wants to see the baby

September 2012

Max

Lisa received flowers at work

Jason shot a huge bear

We celebrated Bob Odegaard's life at the Air Museum

Out to lunch with Mom at Borna's Bagels

Rachel at her baby shower

Mari and I at Rachel's baby shower

Bunco!

Lorie and Brent's lake home

Siblings: Rick Lorie and Dave

Joe and the girls

Bailey

Kindred Home Coming parade

Liz, Lorie and Me

Anne, Joe and Reese

Lindsey and her boyfriend

Anne and Alexis

Illa, Ron, Rick and Liz

Lorie and Brent

Check out how far the lake is down!!

The steps normally are at the water's edge.

Bauhaus... a German restaurant outside of Park Rapids

Fort Ransom

Jamie, Brooklynn and Dave

Illa and Ron

October 2012

 Bailey

 Cousins and spouses

 Shaun, Jenny Jason and Mom at Drunkn Noodles

 Jenny and Jason at Concordia's Home coming Parade

 My 60th birthday

 Sierra at Cabela's

 Jenny, Lindsey, Lexi, Anne and Bailey

 Getting together at the Gastro Pub

 Lunch with my son in Lisbon

 Father and son at the airport

 The new high school where I work

 We had a chef come in and prepare a meal for the kids

 My co-workers in the school kitchen

 Little Bailey

 Halloween in the kitchen
(celebrating my birthday)

 We just picked up Jason at the airport...stopped to chat at Lucky 13

 Cousin's Nite Out

Little Farrah in Colorado

November 2012

 Cut and color done by Denise.

 Breakfast after church with my mom at CJ's

cousin's nite out

 Me and Bailey

 Kirk'n of the Tartans

Holiday Tour of Homes

Dean's Funeral (Dave's Brother)

Lunch after the funeral

 The Jobgens

The Solomons

Dave and I

Nick and Kayla

 Jenny and Bailey

Amber and hubby

Dave and Lorie with their mom, Addie

They sold Dean's van to my neice, Jamie.

 After the funeral we flew to Colorado.

We went for a stroll in a park that is
a short distance from Jason and Bekki's home.

 We went to Littleton to watch Santa come to town
and lighting up the city Christmas Tree.

 Jason and Farrah

Wonderful!.

Thanksgiving dinner

Black Friday

Breakfast after early morning shopping

Waiting for the train to take us to the Nuggets game

Nuggets Game

Ride home after the game

Ta Da! The tree is trimmed!

Trying new beers at Jakes.

We ate at this little cafe before flying home.

December 2012

 Hanging up the lights

 Sharon's birthday

 Para/teacher get-together at Mexican Village

Bunco Christmas Party

 Comparing Farrah's and Bailey's feet

 Making salt dough hand print ornaments

 Dinner after after watching football

 Making gifts

 Kutless christmas Concert w/ Jodi

 Church Christmas Luncheon with Mom and Rita

 Cook's Christmas Party at Lisa's House

Family Picture

 Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve

 Jenny reading to Brooklynn and Farrah

Bailey and her new doll
(the doll has Bailey's name embroidered on her dress)

Jason made a "growth guage" for the Solomons

This year I bought a couple Christmas Stocking Trees

Christmas morning opening stockings

Our 4 Granddaughters

Brooklynn and Jamie

 Christmas Dinner
The solomons and the Jobgens left.
Mom and Ron came.

Bekki's mom, Patti and I at Applebees

Having coffee at Hodenattes in Lisbon.
(we're celebrating Patti's new job offer)

 New Year's Eve we had a drink at the new bar in town,
Kindred Spirits

New Year's Eve we had dinner at Deweys

Looking back, God blessed us with a good year!
Wonder what's in store for 2013....

Note: 
You can see more pictures in my online photo album at
  www.barbspictures.phanfare.com