Quiet Around Hayes House

This has been a sadly quiet week around our house. Last Sunday when we came home from church our gate was standing open. Joel our next door neighbor noticed it when he took a walk. I went out to shut it and noticed our border collie mix, Tristan was gone. Jim, Austin and I searched for most of the day to no avail. I called our vet, the animal shelter--no Tristan.

We bought Tris from a lady in Shallowater who assured us that he was a FULL BLOOD border collie. She told us to call her in two weeks to get his papers. In the mean time his little face began to look more like a lab and a big brown "saddle" on his back began to look a little Beagle-ish. Needless to say in two weeks the lady had moved and the phone was disconnected. We had already fallen in love with our "Beaglaborcollie". He always had a smile on his face, was easily house broken and was precious. He became a much loved member of the family. He had his faults, he couldn't concentrate, and when he came in the house he was like the "Tasmainian Devil". His tail had the strength of a crane and anything it came in contact with got slapped across the room, while our other dog would come inside and go obediently to her bed when told. Tristan had to root out all the cat toys, and chase the cat to the top of the frig at least once.

He took all the obedience classes and had passed his therapy dog class. We went to the hospital on one of the party days and he was amazing with the children. They pulled his ears, sat on his back and gave him hugs while he sat patiently and smiled. He loved his walks and always was interested in all the children playing.

One day we were taking a walk when a littl girl was trying to learn to ride her bike, she lost her balance and veered into me. Tristan was so upset he snapped at the child--he thought she was trying to hurt me. After that he trusted children no longer, and if a child tried to pet him he snapped at them. That was the end of his therapy days. I couldn't trust him after that. He became just a family dog at that point, no more community service. He would be sitting "smiling" at the back door whenever we came in. If he got our glance he would tilt his head from side to side in that ever so adoring way.

I hope you are safe Tris, well fed and have a warm bed, wherever you are. I also hope that whoever has you, sees in you, all the good qualities you possess. I hope you are happy---we still love you.

Yoda Beth--an afternoon nap.

Cover Boy

It is only fitting to introduce my "Cover Boy" Boomer James. He is a nine year old Himalayan. He started out as a aparment cat at the University of Oklahoma. And actually was doing quite well there until getting out one afternoon. My daughter got a call from the apartment manager (not a fan of cats by the way). "Erin! Will you please come to my office IMMEDIATELY?" When she arrived, there sat Boomer stretched out, relaxing on the manager's desk. The manager, somewhat irritated, told her, "Keep him IN your apartment and if this EVER happens again--YOU will both be asked to leave--AGREED??"

They both went back to the apartment--slightly embarassed. She said that was when Boomer started smiling.

Next Erin got married--to a dog lover. Boomer traveled with Erin to Arizona where a new job and hubby were waiting. It was only a matter of days until the honeymoon was over--with Adam and Boomer at least. When Erin would leave for work Adam would push Boomer out the door of their two story townhome. Boomer would wait in the bushes for a few moments and then start his climb up the stucco wall to their second floor balcony. He carefully peeled the screen away from the door and slipped back into the house. Adam would eventually find him again and chase him out the front door with the vacuum cleaner. Then the whole scene would repeat itself.

Several months later I get a crying phone call. "Mom!! Adam wants Boomer to go to the pound!" I told her I would meet her halfway--Boomer moved in with me. He has become an upstanding member of our family--well there have only been a few slip-ups :)

Boomer and his sidekick Yoda Beth "cat-piling" in
the bedroom chair.