RIP our Ducky Dog....

Sadly, today our heavy hearts are weeping over the loss of our collie, Duchess (a.k.a. Ducky)  She gave us almost 14 years of her wonderful whacky nosy food gobbling and ridiculous love...

I had been away for a week-long vacation with weaving friends Rosie and Linda, and was 470 miles away in Bethel, MO.  After a few phone calls back and forth last night with Steveio and my dog sitter, Sarah, we knew it was close to "The Time"....  you know, where all kind compassionate pet owners decide to do what is best for their loved furry friends.

I left my vacation buddies behind and zoomed home this morning as fast as I could legally go.  I was too late.  Steve had to deal with it on his own, and by the look in her eyes, the pleading and the pain, he had to bring her in to the vet and do the right thing.  I had wanted to come and help spare him this hurt, as this dog was "his" ever since it sniffed his tennis shoes and fell in love with him at the breeders that day oh so long ago.  It followed him everywhere in that yard, and made sure she was the "Pick of the Litter" to that man with the irresistible shoes, and made sure she was the dog going home with us that day.

She is now buried in the back yard, under the tiger lillies.   This little statue was named "Ducky" by our daughter Heather many years ago, (before we even had a real live dog named "Ducky"!)   We used it as a door stop in our various campers and motorhomes.  Now it's her head stone in the back yard.  Her collar is draped around it's neck, with her "Duchess"  heart tag on it.

And because I have a zillion pics of that goofy hound, here are just a few to share how much she meant to us....

No matter how much dirt and mud she laid in, she was always a pretty girl! 

And sometimes she laid in the grass...  

she loved camping and has many many many miles on her! 

She would allow the Quality Control Tasks of checking out the socks as an assisstant... 

But Duke and Akasha were the serious ones on the job.

What a pretty girl.. even in her later years. 

She loved water and swimming and playing with the kids

I remember this day, we took a long walk, 

and the evening sunshine made her glimmer like GOLD

at her "awkward stage" of being a gangling youngster pup

she was all elbows and knees and would slide all over the ceramic floors

For some goofy reason, if she was ramming around like a nut case,

Steve would scoop her up, perch her like a parrot on his shoulder, 

and she would calm down and survey all she could see from the high vantage point

she likes laying down to eat, puts her nose closer to the food! 

Aww taking a puppy camping for the first time.... and she has many many more thousands of miles on  her travelling in the motorhome and enjoying new sights and places to sniff! 

Santa brought her a toy named "Ducky"....

She would always sleep in crazy upside down positions

More Sockie Wockies... with some socks I got from my friend, Linda in Tennessee.  

They were collie socks and tested out perfectly.

She liked me... but she LOVED Steveio.

The world was right and good when he was back in her scope of the world.

and she put up with whatever we did to her..........

A gangly teenager waiting to be let in the house

When it thundered .... she would chatter her teeth inside her long snout....

and it echoed and sounded like a woodpecker knocking on wood 

She was happiest to be perched up on the couch in the motorhome, 

waiting to see where we would take her next 

A True Travelling Dog

She always felt that her spot was right up in the middle of our bed.  

(Since Steveio put her there in our bed from the first night as an 8 week old puppy!~)

Ducky was lonely after Akasha died, so we got her Duke to keep her company. 

They were Best Buddies. 

We even lent her out one weekend at a campground

 to a 10 year old girl who wanted to walk her in the kiddee parade. 

 She became a "Flag Dog"! 

Mom always said "The Nose Knows"  

as Ducky would be right underfoot for any cooking or serving of food.  

I missed her tonight underfoot in the kitchen, hoping I would drop something into her mouth. 

And this is my favorite pic... she LOVED water as in lakes, rivers, puddles and outdoors.... 

but when it came to a BATH----- not so much. 

RIP Ducky

See you at the Rainbow Bridge....