Gotcha Day is over, but I did a Reiki and Animal Communicator Session

TGIF!!!! I need to relax LOL.

Layla and I went shopping last Saturday for her Gotcha Day on Tuesday, if she had her own way, she would have bought everything in the store LOL but I stuck to two bags of her favorite treats, minnows and shrimp and she cannot get enough of them in her snuffle toys.

My favorite pet store

I do not want the hat but want treats only

Mom did not buy this for me as she said it was too big for my tummy

On Wednesday the sun was shining so I took her to the park which she loved and just slept in the sun plus of course wandered around smelling all the pmail, she had to catch up on all the gossip which she has missed out on so she was one happy girl when we came home, and went to sleep, such a hard life.

 

In my last blog I had said there would be a surprise this week and this is the surprise, I have wanted for months to know if Layla is happy as she does not smile anymore, and have always been fascinated with people who do Reiki and communicate with animals so I have been following this woman on FB and when she contacted me to thank me for following her and sharing her posts she offered to do a session with Layla which I of course jumped on the idea.

Her name is Cherokee Billie Spiritual Advisor

YouTube : https://youtu.be/QTNmv5hrmd0

Website : https://cherokeebilliespiritualadvisor.com/

So last Sunday we did one on Zoom which unfortunately got cut off before it ended because of connections, but I got so many answers to my queries I was really pleased with the results as they have relaxed me. I am also understanding Layla more as she ages so our lives will be less stressful, anxious and we can age peacefully together.

When we started the session Layla was sitting on my lap in front of the camera and was very antsy, could not figure out where the voice was coming from so Billie suggested I put her on the floor, she went to drink water and then went to her normal sleeping place and totally calmed down.

I will share our video session on our blog next week as my laptop keeps freezing but cannot wait to share.

What I learned:

Since going blind Layla is afraid to go out, that is why she will only walk a little and then stares into space with her tail between her legs but is comfortable sitting in her stroller, so we are going to have to slow down on adventures in some ways so she is not afraid.

She cannot understand why her body is changing as she ages although she feels like a puppy inside and is very healthy TG.

Because of all the above she is not smiling anymore which has upset me as I miss her smiles, but I understand also and I am sure I would be the same if it happened to me.

She does love me very much.

Another thing I learned is that because of the above her anxiety has gone through the roof, so am checking into new calming solutions for her and keeping a t-shirt on all the time that does keep her calm. Billie also suggested music by Mozart or the Beatles to calm her so am going to do some research this weekend on YouTube to see what I can find although I have the Jazz on all the time I do not think it’s working for her.

So as a dog Mom to a senior dog I strongly suggest others do a session with Billie as it is an eye opener and will make everyone’s lives calmer and happier.

Everyone please have a safe happy weekend, make memories and enjoy your moments with your pets, they are precious and deserve the best.

 

Lots of love from

Layla

 

 

 

12 Year Journey with Layla

TGIF!!! It is the end of the week, the sun has been shining so we have managed to have some dog park time, fun and of course lots of chicken LOL.

It is Layla’s Gotcha Day on the 31st, she has been with me for 12 years and I still say it was the best online love affair in the world.

Where and how did it begin ? After Baby passed I waited about 3 months and then started searching on PetFinder and PetHarbor for a new munchkin to share my life with me. I had a friend who was in LA at the time working, so he told me to look in the shelters there for a fluffy butt that I wanted, if I saw one his friend who is a rescuer would go and get her and he would bring her to me in SF.  So after 3 days of searching I saw her sitting in a cage in the Carson Shelter, her face said it all although she was a matted mess, I told Cindy that was the ONE, Cindy went on the Saturday to get her, called me to say she was on her lap licking her and that said it all, Cindy took her home and the following day Michael brought her to me and the rest is history.

We have gone through a lot together it has been a wonderful blessed journey and now my goal as she ages is to keep her as happy and healthy as possible which in a way seems to be working.

She gets home cooked food and I have now added some new supplements to her food which seem to helping a lot plus she is sleeping better at night which is fantastic.  Thanks to Dr Harvey’s amazing products she is on his :

  • Kidney Health : A herbal and mushroom supplement designed to help support your dog’s kidneys.
  • Contains Rehmannia Root, Organic Reishi, Organic Shiitake, Organic Poria and Organic Cordyceps (all edible fungi), Organic Astragalus Root which provide overall kidney support and health by tonifying the kidneys.
  • Contains Codonopsis, a herb that works to boost the immune system of the whole body as well as the kidneys. Codonopsis also supports urinary health.

Since she is on this she is not wanting to go out every hour to pee, sleeping better through the night as she does not need to pee as much and in a nutshell I have seen a big difference.

Since getting this in her food she seems to be more awake, full of energy and back to being bossy barker which is my favorite nickname for her LOL.

Golden Years : A proprietary Blend of Alfalfa, Kelp, Flaxseed, Brewer’s Yeast, Lecithin Granules, Spirulina, Garlic, Rose Hips, Fo-Ti Root, Bilberry Leaf, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf, Ginger Root, Licorice Root, Nettle Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Burdock Root, Red Clover, Suma, Yellowdock Root, Calendula………………………..2.6 grams

Like most dogs, Layla sometimes gets an upset tummy and the probiotics she was getting were not working so I got from Dr Harvey’s his Runs Be Done which is fantastic and I love that it is Natural with no chemicals. It contains : Dr. Harvey’s Runs Be Done is a digestive supplement for your dog. Ingredients : Pumpkin, Bentonite Clay, Slippery Elm Bark, Apple Pectin, Plantain, Marshmallow Root, Fennel Seed, Banana, Ginger Root, Chamomile.

She of course gets Dr Harvey’s Raw Vibrance which gives her all the nutrients she needs I feel she is getting the best of the best food and supplements, there are others she gets, but the plus is all supplements are in powder form so easy to give to her as I mix them all in her food so she does not know she is getting them.

If you want to learn more about his products you can find them on his website : https://www.drharveys.com/

You have a 10% coupon when shopping on his site : Layla10

We were sponsored by Dr Harvey’s for this blog.

So our journey plods along, we growing older together, I am so blessed to have her by my side every day, barking orders, sometimes not sleeping through the night, but would not change it for anything.

To celebrate her Gotcha Day next week I am doing a surprise for her on Sunday and am keeping it that way till you read all about it next week where we will also share our favorite photos of her, I am really excited and curious also.

This is Layla’s weekly woof this week, exciting and happy as always, she is at the moment napping and I  have the Jazz on so the music keeps our house calm.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe

With a woof and love from Layla

 

 

 

 

January is the month of freedom.

TGIF !! Rain has stopped, sun is out but it is still cold here.

Many of you do not know but January is the month of freedom for me, it is the month I ran from my ex, and it is the month I rescued Layla so it is her month of freedom also.

So, to celebrate our freedom, and the sun shining today, I took Layla on an adventure to our old haunt or should I say park. It is one I have not been to in ages, and it was wonderful to be there. It was bitter sweet as it was the park I used to go to with Baby who ran with me, and her ashes are buried in the park but it was great also, as it brought back so many good memories and being able to sit in the sun, relax, have a picnic with friends there it was the best medicine.

Baby RIP who died suddenly of IMHA at the age of 6

Lafayette Park is a beautiful big park in the city of San Francisco. It is beautifully kept, the view of the Bay from the top is just amazing, the old trees standing upright are stunning, the green lawns are just beautifully kept and sitting there, listening to the children playing and laughing down the hill in the children’s section is magical. There is nothing like listening to kids laugh and play, pure happiness. Thank you Robin and Roger for this wonderful time.

Where we sat on the hill with a view of the Bay

The lawn where Baby’ ashes were buried

The place Layla used to play when we used to come to this park

Layla wandered around, I had to watch her so she would not hurt herself, but she had so much fun and came home, finished her dinner, and went to sleep. A healthy sleep as I say as she had so much fresh air today it was the best of the best.

I am hoping the rain has stopped finally for a bit so that we can get out more, visit different parks and get lots of fresh air which is so important for both of us. I also notice that if she is out and about she is hungry and gobbles down her food which makes me happy and relaxed.

So that was our adventure this week, who knows what we will do next week but there is never a dull moment here plus Layla loves riding on the bus so it is exciting for her.

I had to pee on the way out so I marked my spot, Layla

Stay safe and warm everyone, have a wonderful weekend

With love from Layla

 

What a wet week

TGIF !!!!

 

Hi everyone and oy vey today is Friday the 13th. This day brings back so many memories of my childhood with my grandmother who was so superstitious that it drove all of us crazy. I must admit that thanks to her I wear a Hamsa all the time around my neck and has a blue stone in to protect me against evil. Layla has one on her harness too. (In Jewish culture, the Hamsa hand represents protection from evil and a reminder to pray. Five is a significant number in Judaism and is considered the number of protection)

Her blue stone fell out and I have glued new ones but they do not stay in, the fish on the hand symbolize luck and in the circle below the loop you will see Hebrew word Chai means Life

Some of my memories of my grandmother was her spitting on her hand and then touching her head, always avoiding walking under ladders and the funniest of all was when my sister crawled through a window to open a door so my grandmother made her crawl back through the window or she would not grow. We were not allowed to put keys on the table, we had to set our shoes in a certain way and the list can go on and on and I am giggling here while sharing.

So Friday the 13th brings back so many memories for me and what a wonderful weird life it was with all the superstitions.

Now lets go over to this past week, what a week !!!! Climate change is really happening and the storms in San Francisco is proof of it, the rain has been relentless, the hail, thunder and lightening WOW it has been hard to take Layla for long walks as we swim not walk plus Layla has this new thing of standing and staring into space so we stand for like 10 minutes every time getting drenched and that is how we were caught in the hail storm also. Thank goodness for the stroller and plastic cover I picked her up and put her in immediately and we ran home LOL.  Two wet old ladies, me and Layla.

Today thank goodness it did not rain so we went for a long long walk about 5 times, I am exhausted and Layla is sleeping at the moment. I hope she sleeps through the night which has become a new thing of her waking me up at about 2 to go potty and then we come inside, she moans for a treat of course and then I sit on the floor with her till she settles down and goes back to sleep which can take at least a half hour if not more. I am slowly becoming a zombie from lack of sleep and Layla is full of energy as she sleeps during the day also. It is a hard life for her LOL.

But however I share all this, watching her age is heartbreaking, and I would not change any of her quirks however irritating they can be sometimes, she is my fur kid and needs the best of best love and attention.

Her snuffle doodle bug was the best thing I ever got for her I think, she loves it and lately when she does not want to eat her food because of the supplements, I put the food in the snuffle doodle and she sniffs it and eats her food that way, it has become a game so am washing it all the time and cleaning the floor also. Never a dull moment here.

Doodle Bug Time

So no adventures this week, only swimming in the rain and trying to stay dry, have a wonderful weekend everyone, stay warm and dry and please be safe,

With a woof and love from

Layla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January is here

TGIF !!!! It is Friday and what a week we have had.

San Francisco has been wet with rain for over a week, Mom is not happy as walking me in the rain is making her wet and cold all the time BOL but as she says we need the rain.

I am getting old, so I love to go out in the middle of the night, I moan to Mom to tell her and then sit and wait for her to get out of her warm bed, get dressed and bundle me up for the cold weather. I think it is fun and wag my tail while Mom curses under her breath.

Mom surprised me this week to help me stay extra dry and warm from the winds and bought me a plastic stroller cover, so I sit under a tent as such and do not get wet. We learnt the hard way last weekend when it was pouring, and my stroller became a pool it had so much water in plus everything was wet, so our bathroom turned into a laundry room with everything drying.

There were no small ones in the store so bought whatever size I could find and it is working

Because of the rain we have not been out that much, and the past 24 hours have been really bad so we are doing short walks so that I can potty, but the best is coming home for treats and snuffle ball time which keeps me busy.

I am very lucky as I have a raincoat made out of an umbrella that a friend of Mom made for me, so while Mom tries to hold the umbrella, I wear one BOL and it keeps me warm and dry. Mom also bought me some fleece t-shirts which I sleep in so am cozy when I am in the house.

Layla loves sleeping with her head under the bed LOL

So, I should not complain as Mom does her best to keep me healthy, happy and warm in the cold weather and she dries me off when we get home and changes my clothes also so I am always wearing something dry.

That is what is happening in our neighborhood, please be safe and warm everyone,

With lots of love

Layla

 

 

 

 

2022 is over

TGIF !! I cannot believe this is the last Friday of 2022, what a year and it has gone so fast its frightening. Where do we begin.

Layla and I are now officially senior citizens, I hit the 65 mark and lately am feeling my age LOL although I am still very active and busy there are days when I look at her and want to nap like her LOL.

Gidget is spending the week with us so she is keeping me on my toes LOL, doing double walks but I adore her and although she has become bratty with age I would not stop it for anything, her new favorite is to play the squeaky toys at midnight just as I am planning to sleep and her other favorite is sleeping in Layla’s bed which Layla in not amused with LOL but sharing is important and sharing with Gidget is a blessing.

I got the bed while Layla sleeps on the floor BOL

We have lost some amazing people this past year, Paula the fantastic cat blogger who I think about each time I use my sleepypod products I won on a giveaway she did, a close friend of mine and neighbor that every Christmas baked the most amazing goodies and they were sorely missed this year and the world lost them also plus many more.

So reflecting on the last year, it has been tough but like everything else we need to look also at the positive in our life and the one most important positive in my life is Layla, who is 16 years old, blind but still walking, eating and everything else a healthy dog should do and I am so blessed. I have tried going to as many events with her this year also, to make the memories but also keeps us going and getting out of the house and doing things means seeing others, I am using the stroller more for her especially when we go out but she loves it and sits in it like a Diva, which she is LOL. She is very smart cos if she wants to  potty she stands up trying to get out of the stroller and the minute I put her down she potties so I am really proud of her,

 

As we always do we remind everyone to keep their pets safe on New Years Eve, especially with the fireworks which I personally hate and the money people burn on them should be donated to charities that are battling to stay open, plus I think of the pets and animals that are petrified from the noise, the people that suffer PTSD, and the list can go on as I think those setting off the fireworks are selfish, inconsiderate and only think of themselves.

 

How do I keep Layla safe from the fireworks, which is my routine and works wonders with her, I give her a calming supplement early in the evening, I walk her early so there is nothing to scare her, I make a bed in the shower with water, food and some of her toys plus lots of blankets and she sleeps there through the night, I also keep the TV on the Jazz Station which keeps her relaxed. It works wonders for her plus having a tshirt on even makes it better for her plus I am relaxed. I do not go out anywhere but stay at home with her as I feel it is only fair to her. What do you do for your pets on New Years Eve.

 

So to all our friends, Happy New Year but please keep your fur kids safe and you safe of course also,

 

With love and hugs from Layla

 

 

Christmas is here

TGIF!!!  Christmas has arrived WOW, can you believe we nearly at the end of the year, it seems like yesterday the year started.

I do not celebrate Christmas although I love seeing all the lights, trees, and decorations all over the place, it brings happiness.

With all the gifts and fun with family we also must remember something dear to my heart, which many do, and it is so wrong.

Pets are not gifts and when the excitement is over, they will be dumped in shelters, pets are family and for life, and if you cannot commit or a family member cannot commit then please do not get them one, it is not fair to the pet, plus it is one of the reasons shelters are overflowing with unwanted gifts in January.

 

Another reason shelters are overflowing is those wannabe pet lovers are dumping their senior pets in the shelters so that they can get a new puppy, and those people should not be allowed to own pets and put on a registry. Those dumped seniors do not have a chance of getting out alive which is horrific and breaks my heart.

So although Christmas is a happy family holiday, don’t forget to include your fur kids as they are part of the family and have every right to be there with you.

Merry Christmas to all, be safe, stay warm and enjoy

Am ending with Layla’s wish which we hope you will watch :

https://youtube.com/shorts/loYV3LhgsX0?feature=share

Merry Christmas, be safe and enjoy

Love Layla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Hanukkah Everyone

What a busy weekend last week.

TGIF!!!! Friday has arrived and our plans are to kick back and relax as we had such a busy weekend last week, especially Sunday.

On Saturday it was raining all day so Mom would take me out for quick walks or as she called them swims as the rain did not stop, we need the rain but it can also become a headache and I do not like getting my paws wet so I was riding around in my stroller BOL.

On Sunday was the annual Skivvy run which is a fund raiser for the AIDS Foundation of San Francisco, the guys run through a part of the city in underwear, they close off a street and people party, have fun and of course eat lots of food. The sun was shining, it was chilly but worth going to. Layla met the Grinch, and he was kind enough to hold her so I could get a photograph of them together. I took many photos and am sharing some of them here.

Me and the Grinch, he has weird furry green hands which kept me warm

 

In the afternoon we went to our annual Hanukkah party, light the Hanukkiah and eat latkes yummy. It was wonderful being with friends and celebrating the Miracle of Lights. For those that do not know the story of Hanukkah in a short version the Maccabees found oil for their lamps for one day but it lasted 8 days and that Is why for 8 days we light a candle each night, and eat fried foods, traditionally latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). The children play a game with a spinning top called a Dreidel, and each time they win they get chocolate coins or as they say in Yiddish Hanukkah Geld.

Happy Hanukkah Everyone

 

By the time we got home Mom was exhausted and so was I but it was a diverse day of fun and well worth it.

 

The rest of this week we have just gone with the flow which is what Mom likes BOL, so to all my friends celebrating Hanukkah, Chag Sameach and don’t eat too much BOL

 

Be safe and have a wonderful weekend

Love from Layla

 

Winter has arrived and so has the fun

Brrrr the past few days have been cold here in San Francisco, so we have been indoors a lot, Madam is not that happy, but it has been too cold and damp to sit in the park.

Layla on Monday got groomed, full spa day and what was great was she and one another dog were the only ones there which surprised me although my groomer does not normally work on a Monday, but I was happy as it was not crowded and less stressful for her. We unfortunately had to cut her hair short this time as from the rain it had got matted especially on her paws so I am worrying now she will be cold and keeping clothing on her in the house so that she is comfortable and layering her up when we go out.

Phew at home from the groomer

Mom has blankets at the side of the bed as I love sleeping there plus one over lapping the bed so I wont bang my head

Events are starting up again and this weekend we are going to two different events on the same day oy vey. On Sunday they having the annual Skivvy Run in the Castro which is an amazing and fun fundraiser for AIDS and then we going to a Hannukah party which I am really looking forward to. Photos will be on the blog next week for all of you to see.

We are taking precautions, wearing masks and of course will test myself before going to be safe. I am not taking any chances as it is not worth it.

So socially life is picking up but am not over doing it either as LOL I do not want to put on weight after losing so much and feeling good with myself.

I was also surprised last week; I belong to a women’s international forum, and they asked us what talents we have so I told them I write a blog and gave them the link. I was chosen as one of the five winners and got a $50.00 on line debit card for shopping so guess who is getting two new fleece lined t-shirts which she can sleep in and be warm, Layla of course, it is her blog so she does deserve it and It will be the start of her Hanukkah gifts this year.

So that is what is happening in the Layla neighborhood, we are aging slowly, cold but enjoying life wherever possible.

Please stay warm and dry, have a wonderful weekend,

With love from Layla

 

 

 

Thanksgiving fun

TGIF!!!!!

We had so much fun over Thanksgiving weekend and Mom really messed up with her dinner BOL although I lucked out because of it.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we went on adventure with Moms friend and her two rescued dogs Thomas and Coco to Golden Gate Park. We got there with a picnic and of course treats for us and in the middle of the place we were going to sit in the sun there were two yellow chairs, we are not sure who they belonged to but of course the hoomans had to sit on them and we had the blanket to ourselves. Laura brought a delicious picnic for her and Mom and they used my stroller as the table BOL,

Watching, sniffing and enjoying the outdoors

There were lots of gophers popping up and down from their holes and lots of new smells so it was loads of fun to be there plus the weather was perfect, So the hoomans were talking about Thanksgiving dinner and Mom was saying what she wanted and had done no shopping BOL so Laura said I will take you to fetch a dinner, When we left the park we went to Costco and Mom got what she wanted and came home, both of us happy, relaxed and looking forward to Thursday, me for turkey of course, yummm

Peek a boo guess who

On Thursday we went to the dog park to enjoy the sun and all Mom could think about was her dinner, so when we came home for dinner and guess what !!!! BOL !!!!!! The turkey was not cooked, everything else was, plus Mom could not find the gravy so we ran to the supermarket across the road to get some. Mom then sliced some raw turkey and cooked it in the air fryer BOL and when cooked ate it with the rest of the food plus of course she gave me some.

BOL Mom really messed up with her dinner but the best part of all was when she was putting the food in plastic containers she found the gravy also so for once I can laugh at Mom for her silliness.

Since then we have been spending time outdoors till yesterday when the rain has arrived so no more park at the moment but I am making Mom take me for strolls in my stroller, cannot complain cos my paws are not getting wet but Mom is BOL.

I am now off to sleep, I need my beauty sleep,

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

With love, Layla