Well, the last month hasn’t been the best month of my life as far as my health is concerned.  After multiple doctor visits, an ER visit and numerous tests I still don’t have any real answers.  I’m hoping that with the next two tests I will finally have some answers and will be able to focus on getting well.

One thing I’ve realized during this past month is that even though it is easy to say “why me” it is best to say “that’s ok, I’ll be fine”…or as Alex likes to say “meh”.  I say “meh” to illness and I’m not going to let it win or get me down!  I think that Henry is a perfect example of not giving up.  I am truly amazed as I watch him as he goes about normal doggie things on a daily basis.  With his peg like leg he can’t always do everything he would like (sometimes this is a good thing) but he always tries and never gives up.  He has more heart than any other dog I’ve known and I think us humans could learn from him.  So from now on I’m going to live like Henry…I just hope I don’t get as many wrinkles and have much saggy skin as him!!!!

Henry and Eve

On a positive note, Eve is finally eating!  Who would have thought that you would have a problem getting a basset to eat?! I guess she has now gained an appetite and was even caught trying to steal some food the other morning.  Hopefully this will help her grow and fill out a little more before our next show!!!

Henry and I are currently in obedience classes and it is going well so far.  With his leg it is a little bit harder for us to do all the commands as they should be done but he at least does them.  I’m just glad that he seems to be liking it and is following commands pretty well.

Alex is currently working on planning out our gardens for the spring.  We have big plans to turn a lot of our front yard into veggie gardens so he has been busy drawing up plans and ordering some seeds.  As soon as the frost leaves the ground we will put in fencing to enclose the front yard.

Balm labels

Another thing that we have been working on is adding to the list of things we make with beeswax.  Last year we started by making soap, which ended up turning out very nicely.  This year Alex decided we should try some balms and salves.  Once again, I think that they have turned out well.  So far my favorites are the Lavender and the Tea Tree balms.

Until next time…

Well, another year has come and gone.  I wouldn’t say 2011 was a bad year and I wouldn’t say it was a spectacular year either.  It was one of those years that was just ok.

Christmas day in Grand Marais 2011

The good…

- We figured out a few health issues and are coping with them.

- Got two new hounds, Henry and Eve.

- Got chickens.

- Helped raise pigs.

- Harvested 5 gallons of honey from our hives.

- Put in more gardens.

- Started to repaint the house…again!

- Bought a BUV, our new to us minivan

- Started my new adventure of showing basset hounds.

The bad…

- Lost both Gerdie and Madelyn

- Lost Beyonce

- Had some health issues

So all in all, I can’t complain.  I have a wonderful family, a house full of hounds, a good job and my health is improving some.  So I welcome 2012 with open arms and I hope it is a great one!

Well, another heart walk is under my belt.  Todays walk seems to have been successful, even in this horrible economy.  I want to thank everyone who helped support me in raising funds, I was able to reach my goal of $500 again this year.  I also want to thank Alex, my mom and dad, Annie and Lisa F for coming out and joining me for the walk!  Here are a few memories from today:

Bayfront Festival Park

It was cold but people were still coming out to support the cause!

Large ship leaving the port

We got to see a large ship leave the port and announce it’s exit to the lift bridge!

Henry hanging out

Henry was very popular and was saying hi to anyone and everyone that would stop to say hi!  At this point he was joining some UMD folks for some snuggle time!

Henry and Champ nose to nose

Henry even was popular with Champ, UMD’s mascot!

Henry getting a pet from Champ

Henry posing with Champ

And finally…

"Kisses"

Henry gave and received many many kisses today!

Love…this week has really taught me what true love is and how love works.  I think too many people just carelessly throw the word around without even thinking about its meaning.  For me, when I say I love something or someone, I really mean it with all of my heart!

Our wedding day

This week I haven’t felt very well health wise, which obviously puts added stress on my entire household, as they take care of me and make sure I’m cared for.  It was eight years ago on September 14th that I married my best friend and soul mate, Alex!  There have been many times in the past eight years where he could have said “I give up” or “This is too hard” or “I can’t help you” but instead I get “I love you” and “Are you doing ok” and “Do you need me to do anything”.  Now that is what the true meaning of marriage is and I am forever grateful for it every day!

I’ve also learned to look at things from the other side, as the care taker.  It isn’t an easy task and even harder when you yourself don’t feel well.  I am in the process of learning how to fill this role to be as supportive as possible.  It is really hard to watch someone you love not feel well!

Maddie, Oliver and Henry

I have also found that even when you think you don’t have any more love to give another hound, one seems to find their way into your heart!  My heart was crushed when Homer passed away.  I thought that there was no way another dog would ever wiggle their way into my heart as much as he did.  Well, I’m learning that they all wiggle their way into your heart, just in different ways.  For me, all of the hounds seem to have a different role in our lives here at Chez Jokela.  Homer was truly my heart dog and could sense when my NCS was acting up.  Sarge is the gentle laid back hound that just makes you smile and helps snuggle away the sorrow and pain.  Oliver is the the new sensor of NCS flare ups and is known as the house clown, who needed us as much as we needed him.  Maddie is the girl who keeps you going, is very loyal and is eager to learn.  Gerdie was my girl.  She was my shadow, the one who watched over me, the first one to greet me and the alpha female of the house.  She kept everyone in line with an iron but gentle paw.  When she left us in July I was devastated and didn’t know if my heart would ever heal.

Henry playing nurse

Once again I was feeling that emptiness that I had felt when Homer left.  Well, of course along came Henry and now my heart is a little less broken…ok a lot less broken!  This boy makes you smile everyday and is the best behaved puppy I have ever had.  Yes, I probably just jinxed it now and yes I know I said puppy when I said after Homer I would never get another puppy and yes it isn’t hard to not be a better behaved puppy than Homer was.  As the 6.5 month old Henry slept and snuggled on the bed with me for 6 hours on Tuesday, while Alex was at work, I knew I was well cared for and that I loved him even more than I thought I ever could.

So there you have it…I am very blessed and glad that I am able to love and be loved!

Sunflower Rooster Pitcher

This past Wednesday was our 8th anniversary, so we headed out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Va Benne.  It just so happens that next to Va Benne is an italian ceramic/pottery shop and this shop had rooster pitchers in their window.

Let’s see…the 8th anniversary gift is pottery and there is a rooster pitcher staring back at us, how can that not be fate?!  Even better, the store was suppose to be closed but there was another couple in there shopping so they told us to come on in!

So we picked out one of the rooster pitchers and then read the history behind them.  You can read the full story behind the creation of these pitchers here.   These pitchers are suppose to bring  good fortune or good luck to those whom it belongs to.

Here is hoping that it brings the Jokela household some of that good fortune and luck!