The past month has been an unplanned hiatus and respite for us. We lost two beloved members of our family and farm, Daphne and Butch.

Our 15.5 y.o. retriever, Daphne, was our first English Golden. While she maintained a strong spirit right up until the end, her health has been sliding for months. We think losing her pal and half sister Mishka at Christmas last year was really hard on her.

Although we thought we were prepared for when this moment would come, we have been a mess, to be honest with you! Losing our three girls within a 1 1/2 year span has felt like losing family – and a big part of what has always made our home feel like home.

Daph's departure stirred the pot of grief for the loss of all three of the special girls in the photo below. This is the first time we've been dog-less in 25 years.

We are sitting still with it for now – but let me tell you, it will not stay this way for long.

Daphne Almax of Xanthos

11/3/95 – 6/18/11

Although deaf and struggling to walk, Daph could snatch a tennis ball out of the air right up until the end (well, as long as I aimed for her mouth). Her favorite past times: barking at rabbits, sucking on her fruffy toys, slurping Frosty Paws.

Our girls celebrating the holidays in '08 (left to right):

Emma (Melfricka Nth Degree), Daphne (Almax of Xanthos)

and Mishka (McCangus Queen of Hearts)

 

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More sad news. In June we had to say goodbye to Butch, the best Angora goat in the world. In goat years, he was getting up there. Somehow he managed to dislocate his hip, to the point where our vet was unable to pop it back into the socket. He was our buddy. I will miss him sucking on my hair and stealing my winter hats.

Gypsy is lonesome for a goat buddy. We are working on finding a good companion for her.

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Sorry to break my blog hiatus with bad news. There are some wonderful things in the works here and I have news to share in a separate post.

Butch