LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, June 22, 2012

Fridays Are Golden



Ellie's ninth birthday was yesterday.  No, we didn't celebrate.  But we did feel extra love and gratitude that this amazing dog is part of our family.


Ellie has an exceptionally sweet personality, even exceeding the typical Golden Retriever.  She is totally committed to pleasing people.

Ellie is from Dichi Goldens (here), a breeder known for high quality, intelligent, and healthy dogs.  Some people criticize us for buying from a breeder rather than taking in a shelter dog.  Ellie was the first Golden Retriever we had, having had English Springer Spaniels before.  We were nearing retirement and knew we wanted a puppy.  While good health is never a guarantee, Ellie came from five generations in which there was no evidence of any of the abnormalities common to Goldens.  In truth neither I nor anyone else owes an explanation as to why they chose a certain pet.  So there!


She loves to sit on the big rocks.




Dichi Sirius Eleanor Rose on her first day with us.




The little yellow duck was in her crate to welcome her home.
She carried it everywhere.
 Alas, that Christmas she learned how to find the weak spot and disembowel the stuffie she got in her stocking that year.  So excited about this new skill, she systematically destroyed every single stuffie she owned.  The little yellow duck was replaced with tennis balls.



She loved the snows in WI.  She would run and run and roll around in the white stuff.
She looks so grown up at only six months of age.


I don't think I will ever love a dog more than I love Ellie.  She knows my every mood.  Of course, I thought the same thing about my first heart dog.  I never expected to find another dog that would become my soul mate.  And then came Ellie.  How lucky can one woman be?  (And yes, my husband loves her every bit as much as I do but she feels more like MY dog and Lucy is more like HIS dog.)


Today's quote comes from author Dean Koontz:

...we cherish dogs because their unblemished souls make us wish-consciously or unconsciously- that we were as innocent as they are and make us yearn for a place where innocence is universal and where the meanness and betrayals of this world are unknown...




HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!


21 comments:

kks said...

Ellie is a beauty indeed! And as you recall, I too have a Dichi! (Tahoe)......whatever would we do without our 4 legged loved ones?
Have a golden weekend!
Xoxo

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Love the puppy pics. She is a cutie. To quote Charles Schultz "Happiness is a warm puppy" :-)

Rudee said...

You need not explain why you have the dog you do...quite obviously she was meant to be a part of your pack! And, hey, breeder's dogs need homes, too. She didn't come from a mill, so I fail to see the argument about a breeder's healthy pup vs a rescue.

Happy Birthday, Miss Ellie!

How Sam Sees It said...

Happy Birthday, Ellie! I agree completely with Rudee!

Sam

Wayfarin' Stranger said...

I'm not a Dean Koontz fan, but I liked the quote.

My Mind's Eye said...

Happy 9th B-day sweet Ellie!!

I expect, even as a wee pup, Ellie chose you by hypnotizing you with your gorgeous eyes and sweet golden personality.
Madi certainly chose us by sashaying her little gray self back and forth with her high flying tail. And ooooh what she has added to our lives.
Hugs Madi and Mom

Ms. A said...

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

Great Koontz quote and it wasn't even scary.

The Bug said...

Oh Ellie - she's such a sweetie...

I love Dean Koontz books because there is almost always a dog of some kind. But my very favorite is One Door Away from Heaven - now THAT is a great book with a great dog...

NanaNor's said...

Happy Friday to you! Oh and happy birthday to Ellie. It always amazes me how we end up with the dogs/pups we do. For me, Hunter was totally different than I thought I wanted and needed but God has other plans. I didn't think I'd ever have a heart dog again after our Sadie but Hunter is renewing life in both hubby and I.
May you have many more years with Ellie!
Hugs, Noreen

Busy Bee Suz said...

Happy birthday to your sweet Ellie. I love the photos....and I love reading about her and her sweet sister.
I have this same deep love with Cocoa. But I'll never let on to Ozzie...as you would do the same with your other pups. :) It's funny how we can connect to humans like we can connect to animals. Deeply.
xo

Maery Rose said...

Best birthday wishes! It does amaze me how each dog finds a unique place in my heart. Even Latte, who does so much destruction is my clown girl and I cherish her.

Mary Lee said...

Believe me, I "get' soulmate dogs. The late Howard Lee was, Miss Piggy isn't.

I love that Ellie has a photo gallery. That first day photo erases any questions as to why you chose her. Or she chose you. Absolutely precious!

Carolina Linthead said...

My wife beat me to it. One Door Away from Heaven. It is not for the squeamish, but then again, anyone who has read a Dean Koontz book knows that there will be pain and death for some of his characters. That said, the man loves his dogs, and they may very well represent the best part of ourselves, our world, our cosmos. I look at Ellie, and I hear you describe your relationship, and there is something so right and good and pure about this that I must think it somehow reflects the divine.

George said...

I think you really hit the jackpot with Ellie. She is definitely a beautiful as well as intelligent companion.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh what a neat post... Everytime I see a Golden Retriever, I think of YOU...

Happy Birthday to Ellie... I had my Duchess for about 15 yrs --and still miss her to this day (although she has been gone for a long time).

Thanks for the Anniversary wishes.
Hugs,
Betsy

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
♥«´¨`•°..Happy Birthday Ellie!!°•´¨`»♥
.¸.•*(¸.•*´♥`*•.¸)`*•.
I wish you all many, many more happy years together!!!

Ellie is really a beautiful girl, inside and out! Being involved in rescue has given me an appreciation and admiration for breeders like the one you got your girl from because of all their hard work and dedication to a breed that I'll never be without in my life!

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!!

Cheryl said...

Ellie is beautiful....rescue or breeder that is your choice and I respect your decision, we are all different and that is what makes life so interesting.

I just love the fact you love her so much.....I so often see abandoned dogs here, and it breaks my heart.....

Happy birthday sweet girl......

BTW I had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Tansy) many years ago.
I thought I would never find a dog I loved as much as her, and then came Nella :)

Ginnie said...

She has certainly grown into a handsome lady. Many happy returns of the day, Ellie.

Vicki Lane said...

Happy Birthday to Ellie! Love her puppy pictures!

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Linthead, Wayfarin', and Bug - I have never read any books by Dean Koontz. I just happened across this post.

Julie Hargreaves said...

The pics of the are so beautiful a house a empty without a dog