Happy Birthday to a Special Friend

108 Replies

I haven’t posted in a while.

And it will be a while yet until I make a full return to blogging.

But I am here today because my heart  wants to share an old post in honour of the 11th birthday of my best beloved, Jack.

Jack 2018

Jack 2018

 

 

 

From 2013…………..

Oh shame on me! My mother has just reminded me that it is my dog’s birthday today. I had forgotten. I blame the stress of having a flu jab 😉 Never my poor memory, of course! With sincere apologies and much love, I wish you, my dear friend, Jack, a very Happy 6th Birthday. You […]

via Happy Birthday to a Special Friend. — silkannthreades

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108 thoughts on “Happy Birthday to a Special Friend”

    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thanks Melissa. He’s a sweetie. In recognition of the autumn chill and Jack’s advancing years, I have put his bed in the master bedroom at night for the first time in his life. He is so excited about it. The other night when he thought I was getting ready for bed, he came rushing in to the bed room carrying his favourite soft toy. It was adorable.

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thank you, Julie. My mind is very undisciplined at the moment, not unlike the way it was after the earthquakes, so it may be a while before I can gather my wits enough to write a fresh post. By the way, have you, or are you going to get, another rabbit?

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      🙂 🙂 Jack has his yearly vet check/jabs on Thursday. I hope the vet confirms that Jack is doing well and can look forward to more good years.

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  4. Steve Schwartzman

    This morning (here, now) I saw your comment to Steve Gingold: “Glorious! And a Happy Spring to you, too.” Just last night I’d suddenly thought about autumn moving in on you in Christchurch.

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  5. cindy knoke

    Your best beloved is darling and reminds me of Kipling. Happy Birthday 🐕
    On another subject, Have you read Christina Thompson? “I am almost finished with, “Come on Shore and We Will Kill You and Eat You.” She is amazing and the book has me transfixed and wondering if it resonates with you?

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      I have missed knowing about Christina Thompson until your comment. Sounds most fascinating. My best beloved is sunbathing this beautiful autumnal day. And, unlike the rarodogs, he hates water. 😀

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thank you, Sheila. Jack has been feeling the cold lately so I have relaxed “my no dog in the bedroom” rule and allowed him to sleep on his bean bag next to my bed. His joy about his new sleeping arrangements is so sweet. 🙂

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  10. Tiny

    He is so precious! Loved to see how he looks this year, very similar colors to what Dylan has. Happy belated birthday to Jack from both of us. Hugs and kisses ❤

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Jack says thank you. He is looking scruffy at the moment because it’s been a while since his last visit to the groomer. He could do with some style tips from Dylan. 🙂

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      1. Tiny

        🙂 Dylan will go on Thursday…but I will not tell him as yet. He gets very stressed knowing he’s going to the groomer. That’s an one and only activity he doesn’t like.

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  13. shoreacres

    What a delightful celebration of an obviously very special creature. I’ve never been one to want a dog, but there are certain species that appeal, and Jack’s is one of those. I think one of their defining characteristics is that air of enthusiasm you mentioned. Some dogs’ enthusiasm can morph into obnoxiousness, but I’ve never, ever known a Schnauzer to do that. Give Jack my best!

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Message conveyed, Linda. He’s enjoying his post-dinner snooze on his bean bag. It will be supper (treat) time soon. In my childhood we always had a dog and a cat. I liked them well enough but they didn’t mean the world to me, like this little Jack does. I think in my childhood dogs and cats led much more independent lives. They weren’t confined to a house or a fenced yard. The dog was free to bark and chase away strangers and was fairly free to wander. I sometimes feel sad that Jack doesn’t have that freedom but otherwise he has the best possible life.

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      1. shoreacres

        Many years ago, I think there was more space for them to roam, too. And many of the dogs and cats had work to do outside: keeping the rats out of the barns, announcing someone on the road, and so on. My country friends still have dogs and cats that roam freely, with all the risks that entails. Sometimes, dogs get shot for going after the sheep or goats, and sometimes cats get carted off by coyotes. But, now that I think about it, coyotes keep our city’s feral cat population in check, too — the boundary between the wild world and ours can be a little thin sometimes.

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        1. Gallivanta Post author

          Jack would have adored doing the work Schnauzers were bred for; rat catching. I wasn’t with him when he saw his first rat but apparently he was wildly excited and desperately wanted to follow it up the tree. So perhaps I can say that the boundary between his civilized life and his wild (natural ) world is a little thin too.

    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Indeed he is. I am not sure of his watch dog capabilities though. About a week ago someone stole 3 of our pumpkins that were growing on a fence. Not a peep or squeak came from Jack. He must have been fast asleep. If it had been a hedgehog in the garden he would have started awake and barked the house down.

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      He would be amazed to know he has friends all over the world to help him celebrate. How are you getting along learning “crow”? They will be very talkative at this time of the year. I loved learning that little birds don’t always get their songs right at first which means that at certain times of the year we could, if we listen carefully, pick up some baby bird babble. https://youtu.be/r5_ZSnFDPRg

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  18. Clare Pooley

    Happy Birthday to Jack! I like Schnauzers very much – friends of ours have a standard Schnauzer who is the most spoilt dog I have ever met but so sweet as well.
    Take care, my friend, and know that whenever you decide to blog again we will all still be here.

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thanks Clare. I have met a couple of standard Schnauzers and I have encountered one Giant Schnauzer. They all look beautiful but my heart is lost to the miniatures. I love the air of enthusiasm they have about them.

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      1. Clare Pooley

        I like the little dogs too, though I doubt if we’ll ever get one. I was attacked by a dog when I was young and even though I wasn’t badly hurt and I get on well with dogs most of the time I get very nervous if a dog starts to growl and bark. I don’t think my reactions would be fair on a dog.

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        1. Gallivanta Post author

          Dear Clare, How wise of you to consider how greatly your unfortunate dog experience would affect the welfare of any dog in your household. And on the entire family really. Until I contacted Jack’s wonderful dog trainer and walker several years ago, I didn’t fully understand how much my own stress levels and anxieties were being reflected in Jack’s unsettled behaviour. We are all much happier now.

        2. Clare Pooley

          Yes, dogs are so sensitive and often worry and get frightened when their owners are troubled and unhappy. I am glad you are a happier family now. Hooray for skilled dog trainers!

    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Yes, the years and moments go so quickly. It took me a long time to decide if I wanted to have a dog in the house. Now I can’t imagine life without him. I hope you will have some lovely photos to show us on Totti’s 10th birthday. 🙂

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        2. Leya

          In fact, I have never seen so many dogs in any country before. Almost all of them looking healthy. Our guide told us the dogs walk up to a door and wait at the doorstep. Then they will be treated well, both with food and gentleness. And I saw pups everywhere as well. Some thin mamas, but the pups alright.

        4. Leya

          Very informative – thank you! Our guide said that the dog I saw with an ear mark, was a sterilized dog. We were not told to stay away from the dogs either.

        6. Leya

          Yes! When we had finished eating out in the tents – the dogs got everything of the leftovers. The sat patiently waiting.

  21. Iris@poetsmith

    So wonderful to celebrate your trusted companion’s birthday with you, Gallivanta… enjoy!! 🐶 😃 Hope you are keeping well, take good care. Much love and prayers ❤

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  22. insearchofitall

    He is quite a handsome fellow. Wish him happy birthday for me as well. They do ease the burdens of life so much. I used to take my Schatzie to McDonald’s on her birthday for a small vanilla ice cream cone which she devoured completely. It was a favorite treat and fortunately agreed with her very sensitive stomach. Oh how we love to spoil our fur babies. Hope you feel like blogging again soon and all is in good repair once again. Including you.

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thank you kindly. Jack would LOVE to have an ice cream. He loves to eat and is ready to eat anything offered but we, his walkers, have learned the hard way that he needs a steady, plain diet. 🙂 What a sweet Schatzie. She must have been very well behaved to be allowed in a McDonald’s. No matter how well behaved our fur babies we can’t take them into shops or restaurants in NZ. 😦

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      1. insearchofitall

        We didn’t go inside the restaurant. We went through the drive through and tickled the cashier at the window when she realized the ice cream was for the dog. She looked a lot like your Jack. A Yorkiepoo with silver hair. Every one thought she was a little bit Schnauzer. 😉 She was well behaved though. 🙂 Miss her daily.

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        1. Gallivanta Post author

          Ah, I see now how that works. How sensible. I can imagine the missing. I miss Jack even if I have to go away for a few days and he has to go to the kennels. It’s like I have lost a piece of me.

    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Hmm…well, I had to write “a bit” because at first I was stressed I wouldn’t be able to find a battery and I would have to bury my camera in the trash. I couldn’t bear the thought of having to throw out an adequate camera for lack of a battery, and I knew that sort of waste would have appalled my father. But all is well, or will be, thanks to a very helpful company I eventually found in Christchurch.

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  25. KerryCan

    Jack’s birthday definitely merits a return to blogging, even if briefly! I hope he had a great day that develops into a great year and I hope you come back to us, fully, soon!

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Let’s hope so. I am temporarily without a camera as the battery in my faithful old Panasonic Lumix died a couple of weeks ago. I have finally managed to source a new battery but it won’t be here until the beginning of May. So if I do blog before then I will have to use photos from my archives or blurry photos via my mobile phone camera! My father gave me the camera so it makes me smile a bit that their ‘batteries’ both quit at more or less the same time.

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      1. KerryCan

        That makes me think of the old song about “My Grandfather’s Clock”–do you know that one? I’m glad you are able to get the camera fixed, since it has special meaning, plus I know those Lumix’s are good cameras! I’d be satisfied with blurry or old photos, should you feel the urge to blog!

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        1. Gallivanta Post author

          I do indeed know My Grandfather’s Clock but until now I had no idea that it was first published in 1876. A real oldie. I have to say though that a lot of old clocks stopped because the owners simply tired of winding them. 😉 Ditto with old watches.

    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thanks Ruth. Last year, I decided to give him a special birthday dinner of venison. Most unwise as his stomach didn’t appreciate it. This year he got his normal dog roll and he devoured it with much gusto and appreciation. He is so easy to please. 🙂

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    1. Gallivanta Post author

      Thanks Jo. I enjoyed coming across my old birthday post about Jack. It seemed right to post it again. Lovely to read your post today about your father and your ties to Poland. There are definitely places that call us.

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  31. thecontentedcrafter

    I knew it would be Jack as soon as I saw this post. Happy Birthday to you and your dear little fella! He looks so adorable and I know he will simply adore you because that is what our little friends do. I always wish the owners ‘Happy Birthday’ because really our fur babies don’t care (Siddy thinks every day is his birthday) and it’s a chance for a special congratulations to us for being clever enough to have opened our hearts to them ❤ Sending hugs my dear – we'll see you when we see you.

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  32. Travelling Kiwi

    Happy birthday to Jack! I am glad he still seems to be doing well. Long may he continue to enjoy life!

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      1. Mél@nie

        bon anniv’ à “frère Jacques”! ❤ even though I'm a cat-lover, may I doggie-sit him, SVP?!… 😉 🙂
        * * *
        hope and wish him health and a long life for you joy! 🙂

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  33. Michele LaFollette

    Amanda Anne, So happy to see the email regarding your post hit my inbox! Best wishes to your special friend. They are special. I know…I love all three of mine! You’ve been in my thoughts. I hope the days are getting easier for you. Take as much time off as you need. I know your readers will be waiting for you. Hugs, Michele

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