Lucky # 13, Part 2

What an amazing thing to celebrate a 13-year old Berner.

Aside from arthritis, Harper is doing well. She gets Rimadyl daily and Librela once each month — that is it. Her eyesight and hearing are not as sharp, and she has some minor cognitive changes that have shown up as anxiety and a strong dislike of Sparkle 🤷🏼‍♀️ So strange — EVERYONE loves Sparkle!!

Sparkle and one of her many, many BFFs

Everyone except Harper B for Be Gone Sparkle, that is!

The party was a big success — Pozy helped with the hats.

Capella made sure everything was ready to go.

Early guests helped with hats.

Capella helped with greeting.

Berkeley served Harper her pumpkin cupcake.

Harper B for Big Hit.

I love this photo of Capella, Sparkle, and Kira 🩷

Uh Oh — get that girl a hat!

Sparkle and another BFF

By the end, Harper was tired and so her birthday walk was rescheduled for today.

She will be glad to show her new birthday toys around the neighborhood (thanks, Cindy!).

Harper B for Blessing 🙏

A Really Big Birthday (in two parts)

I can’t do Harper B for Birthday without thinking of Terri Z — this was the last birthday card Terri sent to her grandpuppy, Harper.

Gone much too soon, Terri Z is loved, missed, and remembered.

Terri owned Harper’s dad, Zed, from my F Litter. This is Harper with both of her parents, Sydney (G Litter) and Zed.

Old dog birthdays are so very bittersweet. Yes, we celebrate the one who is here but we also remember the ones who have left, and the people who love them.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Laney, Mesa, Heidi, Zeke, Holden, and Auggie.

I sit here in tears as I remember each of those dogs and Terri — and Claire, whose loss is still so fresh and raw. And Daisy.

And yet, Harper B deserves her party. She deserves to be celebrated. Her 13th birthday must be a joyful, happy day.

The losses and grief cannot be forgotten or ignored. They exist because of who and what mattered. But the long shadows of grief must not be allowed to rob celebrations of their rightful joy.

And while every day includes reasons to celebrate, Harper’s 13th birthday is an especially important day to throw a happy, fun celebration that is filled with joy.

And so we will.

XEENA!

Bright Star, Xeena, lives north of us in Canada and she is rocking it in Nosework.

Her human, Kim, sent this fun report: “Xeena earned her SDDA Champion title (nosework) today! She had a great weekend and went 7/8 on her runs. For a CH you need 5 titles at the advanced and excellent level and at least 2 must be at the excellent level. Xeena finished today with an Excellent interior pass with a perfect score.”

Any new title represents a series of small, patient steps over a long period of time. Not every human (or every dog) can sustain the effort needed to achieve the milestones that titles represent. I send gratitude and congratulations to Team Xeena for that title but even more — for the grit and commitment that title represents. Well done, Team ⭐️