I’ll post more later since I don’t have much time this am before heading over to help with the hounds and to cheer them on in the ring.

Until later…

After a week of being sick I was starting to think I wasn’t going to be able to make it to Basset Hound Nationals like I had planned.  At the last minute the dr said I should be fine to go and I decided to go for it!!

Sunset on the way to Racine, MN

Thursday afternoon Alex drove me to Nancy’s house in Racine, MN.  We had an uneventful drive with a quick stop at my mom and dad’s to pick up a what-a-chair to bring with.  Rebekah enjoyed the surprise visit and even gave us a leaf as our going away gift!  Of course that was after getting her jacket and shoes on to come see Auntie Mim’s green bug!

Once at Nancy’s we unpacked my stuff from the car and Alex headed for home, since it would be a 4-4.5hr drive back home for him.  Nancy and I headed out to the kennel to see the puppies and also give baths.  All I can say is there is nothing like a pack of hounds and puppies to help you feel better!

We left early Friday morning for Kentucky and arrived at the hotel a little after 7pm.  After getting checked in and settled we decided to head down to the restaurant to get some dinner.  Then it was bed time as we had had a long day.

Are we there yet?!

Saturday we had hoped to go see the Kentucky Horse Track but they said that they don’t allow any dogs in vehicles in their parking lot so we had to go with plan b.  Plan b included a trip to Walmart, lunch at Bob Evans, checking out the venue, walking hounds and then dinner at the restaurant.  I was able to go say hi to Sandi and meet all of the Red Bay hounds.  I’ve also been introduced to many many other new basset hound folks during the past two days.

Today is a day of education with seminars this morning and this afternoon.  Should be a very informational day for me and I’m excited to be able to attend them.

So far there have been many laughs and I’m sure there will be many many more to come!

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!

You would like after being sprayed directly in the face twice in the last 6 months, that Oliver would learn that chasing a black animal with a white stripe will result in him getting multiple baths and not being able to sleep out of his crate.  But once again tonight he proved that the urge to hunt is greater than the consequences that come from being sprayed!

I haz been skunktz!

Here is hoping that the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dawn dish soap recipe worked its magic again this time!   For now, Oliver is sleeping in his crate!  We shall see how he smells tomorrow morning…or sooner, since he usually makes 2-3 potty runs during the night!

Nurse Maddie to the rescue!

Sarge hasn’t been feeling well since Friday, with what seems to be an upset digestive system.  He finally drank a little broth and had a little bite to eat today.  Mostly he has been sleeping 24 x 7!  Tonight I came downstairs to see Maddie and Sarge sleeping together on the ottoman.  Sarge had been on the ottoman most of the afternoon so Maddie must have felt the need to snuggle in with her buddy to help him feel better.  She even chose sleeping with Sarge over her newly added down alternative comforter on top of her Kuranda bed in her crate which is her new favorite napping spot…yes she is spoiled rotten!

Well, my first attempt with blogging didn’t quite go as expected!  I got off to a quick start and then seemed to burn out.  One main reason…it wasn’t easy to post.  So after some revamping and remodeling I am back to try it out again.

A lot has happened in the past few months: