Time Passes At Peaceful Forest Homestead

Our backyard!

Today, was three weeks ago that my little girl, Nikita passed away. It is also seven months ago today, that my father passed away. Both are missed and thought of every day. My father of course, did not live with me. When he was in the hospital dying, I did not have the time to properly grieve for him. I was the one making all the decisions for him and trying to do the right thing by him. My niece was causing me so many problems, as was her boyfriend too. So I spent my energy on senseless problems. Instead of what mattered.

The horses playing in the snow!

Animals basically live their life only focused on today. Not what might happen tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. Maybe they are living for the moment or maybe not? We see the birds planning ahead when they first arrive back to our home in the spring. They are expected any day. They will rest those first few days back. Often we spot the first robins resting in the tree tops around our homestead. Singing their familiar song, which is what usually alerts us to the fact that they are back home. Soon they are onto family planning and building nests.

Hobo hanging out last summer in a planter!

Our cats here live the way they want. They come and go all day long. In and out, in and out. Push me toward their food dish, even if it isn't empty, which it never is. Get on a lap if possible. Sleep all day. Go outside if they feel like it. If it is cold, they might go out to go potty and then come back in. Or they can use the indoor litter box if they so choose, which Callie does. Their whole world is right here. They are not wanderers and stay close here. They are all older cats now, Callie and Patches are both 13 this year. Hobo is younger, but I am not sure exactly what her age is.

My husband on Dark Shadow, in 2003. Nikita was never far behind!

Just like a garden, our life passes by too. It is important to pay attention to each and every member of your family. Including your precious pets. Their lives are so short. Take lots of pictures and tell everyone what you want them to know. I have no regrets there. Nikita spent almost every hour of her day with me. I talked to her all the time. She understood me perfectly. My husband was "her" person. She loved him so much and showed him constantly, just how much. He, and my son, both. gave her a lot of attention. Maybe she was an "old lady" in dog years, but she was dearly loved and knew it. Now life goes on..........

Copyright © 2013 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2013  Kathleen G. Lupole

Nikita's Fourteenth Birthday!

Nikita Blackwolf Lupole - January 7, 1998

Nikita Blackwolf is our dog who is celebrating her fourteenth birthday today. I thought for sure she would not make it to this birthday. Though she is in good shape, healthy looking, despite being overweight (an issue we are presently working on), and having some weird lumps and bumps on various parts of her body. For the most part she is a very happy girl even after having had to give up some of her favorite activities as she got older.

In the yard

One being sleeping upstairs in the bedroom. Once the stairs became too much for her, some years back, we had to move her bed downstairs for good. She adapted well to this change. But I know she misses being up there. She used to come to my husband when he was in bed and tell him good night. If he went to bed without telling her good night, she'd get up and come to him.

July 2011, hanging out!

In 2003, we bought our truck which has a big step to get in and a teeny space for the back seat. She was able to get in and out very cautiously, but soon could not go with us anymore. I was very sad over this, as I missed her attention to things she'd see along the road. She loved going to the grocery store with me and would be watching for me to come out. In fact, I know that is how she understands where we get the food from. Her favorite thing was to see a cat or another dog along the road. She'd growl and bark and act like she wanted to tear them apart.......but in reality, she is a very gentle girl and loves cats. I always hoped I'd be able to get another car for her and me to go in. I haven't been able to do that. Now, I don't think it will be possible before she is gone.

Winter 2011, loving the snow!

One of her most favorite things she used to do was to go on horseback rides. She would go for miles and never tire or have a problem. Trotting right alongside the horses. Riding past other homes, with other dogs in the yard did not deter her from sticking with the horses. One time I remember she went with my husband up the road. Soon my horse, Georgie Girl, was standing riderless out front with Nikita standing right beside her. I didn't know what had happened. Soon my husband was walking in the driveway, mad because he had gotten off Georgie Girl to fasten a gate, and she took off and left him behind. Nikita though, chose to stay with the horse.

In 2000, the area that became the paddock!

My husband and Nikita hiked all the trails through out the state forest around us. They'd be gone for hours. Investigating areas that were so deep in the forest that even the hunters hadn't discovered them. Nikita loved doing that! My husband has said many times that he really misses those walks. They were a team!  He hardly ever hikes anywhere anymore without her. It just is not the same.

In 1998

It is sad to see her activities change, but it happens to all of us. People, horses, cats and dogs. Life goes on and you can't dwell on that part of it. Instead seek out other activities that you can do. For an animal it is different since they can't take up a hobby or other activity. All I can do is to encourage her to go outside and take a walk in the woods with me. Give her all the love and attention I can at this time in her life. She is a very pampered girl and we cherish each and every day with her.

Callie sleeping with Nikita!

One thing I have noticed as she had become older is that now she seems very wise. She observes things you wouldn't think a dog would understand. Her knowledge as she got older, became so apparent to us. Like somehow, she passed us by, and was now the one who was taking care of us. She has many conversations with us by staring into our eyes, and I can feel her words through those meaningful looks.

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

DIY Rear Lift For Older Dogs Going Up Stairs

Nikita loves laying in snow!

We had been having some issues with our dog, Nikita, as she ages. She is now thirteen and except for her weight issue, seems to be healthy. She has always been very picky about her food. I have tried to feed her the raw food diet, which consists of meat and raw bones. She loves both and it is her choice over all other. I have to work on her to get her to eat dog food. Another food she loves is cat food, and that is something she has been eating right along. I think it may have contributed to her gaining so much weight. She steals it when no one is looking. Now she has been on a diet and has not had any cat food, or any greasy meats. She has been doing good on it and looks like she has lost some weight already.

Nikita Could Not Get Up These Stairs

A couple weeks ago, she went outside and could not get back up the stairs. So my husband had to build a ramp out of whatever he had on hand. The ramp came out pretty good and I like it for myself. At first, Nikita would not use it. She was nervous about it and would not go on it. He got mad and went out to our little graveyard to dig a grave for her. He said if she can't come in the house, we cannot leave her outside.

The New Ramp!

I saw him take the shovel and pick and head out there. But I said to myself, "Oh no, it is not time for that. She is not that bad off." I headed to my computer. Started searching for a way to get her up the stairs. This is what I found for helping a dog go up the stairs.......the Walkin' Support Sling (This is a different one than the original one I found that day. It seems that particular one has been discontinued.). I needed something that day though, not something I had to order and wait for. So that was out. Besides, I don't think she'd have accepted the original one I had found because it had loops around each separate leg. I know my dog. She is VERY particular about things. This newer style one she would have used with no problems.

The Ramp Has Asphalt Roofing On Surface.

Then I found these answers on Yahoo Answers:

"They do make slings which fit under the dogs belly both front and back. then with his size you would need 2 people to lift and carry up the stairs. This works well for large size dogs. It just lifts his feet up and off you go and he can walk if he is able while you are supporting most of his weight. i would not use right after eating or drinking. Available in large pet stores. Good luck, I have been there also."

"Now use a beach towel looped under the tuck up (where the hind legs meet the body. and support the rear, this will help."

Stairs Are Not Easy For Us!

I took a big towel and went out to the barn where Nikita was laying. I told her I found the answer and she got up and seemed excited. I put the towel around her, in front of the back legs and walked her to the back stairs. I called Jeff (my son) to come help. He and I worked together and she was able to go right up the stairs. She was so happy to get back in the house! Then Jeff went out to the graveyard and told Larry. He was happy too as he did not want to lose our little girl yet. Nikita is a big part of our life and taking the stress off her about going up and down the stairs once she learned to use the ramp made her indeed, a very happy girl.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2011  Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2016

Another Happy Birthday To Nikita Blackwolf!

Nikita's 13th birthday is today! 

Nikita doesn't understand what we are talking about. That is unusual in itself, as she is extremely intelligent and we are careful about what we say in front of her. She understands things you wouldn't expect a dog to know. I wrote about her in My Memories Of Life - Nikita in November. In that post I told of how we got her and her puppy years. She was so frisky as a puppy! Now of course, she has slowed down much. Just like we have.

I keep thinking each year would be her last year. Two years ago she was having so much trouble walking and was limping. Now for some reason that limp is gone. She gained weight do to less exercise. Now this year she is going out into the woods again. Just yesterday, my husband was way out in the woods and she kept watching for him. Pretty soon she went outside and then I noticed she was gone. I knew she probably went to find him. She tracked him because he was pretty far out. So now, I don't know. She is still overweight and she is not a big eater at all. Very fussy. She hates dog food. And she won't eat most of our people food unless it is plain meat, and if it is raw..........that is even better. She likes the BARF diet the best.

So I am happy to have her. She is my best buddy, not really like a pet at all, but more like a person in a dog's body. Kind of like the Shaggy DA, I guess (it was a movie, long ago). Today I will do my best to spoil and pamper her, though I guess I do that every single day of the year. She loves snow and must be that why we had so much this morning. Have a good homesteading day all!

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole