Tiki and the Dogs

Tiki and the Dogs

 As many of my readers know, when Mike and I married he had pets. Two dogs and a cat to be specific, though one of the dogs actually belonged Mike's son. Roxy is a pit bull and the most loving, caring dog I’ve ever known since Max Lightening the Wonder Dog died several years ago.

The other dog in our house, a Blue Healer named Honeybee didn’t have much to do with me at first. Typically, Blue Healers are “one person” or “one family” dogs. Honeybee, or “Bee” as we often called her, eventually opened up a bit. I could pet her behind her ears without her fussing and she didn’t mind accepting a bite of food from my hand. I think she knew I loved Mike and he loved me, paving the way for a more positive relationship.

The cat? Tiki, named after a resort in Islamorada, remained a creature unto herself. Though Roxy longed to play with her, Tiki turned up her nose at the offer and ducked under the bed to avoid the awkward social situation of a dog and cat friendship.

When Bee started slowing down and showing sides of failing health, the cat was concerned. She watched from afar but it was Roxy who tried to offer comfort and support to the old gal. 

Roxy had been staying with us, but as I said, she is Shawn’s dog. With Bee not feeling well, Shawn came and took Roxy back home with him. This left Tiki to shoulder the pet watch by herself. 

Bee was growing weaker each day.  She managed to drink water but ate very little. Mike and I researched companies that would come to the house if we reached a point where euthanizing our sweet girl was best for her. 

Honeybee

The thought was painful, but so was watching her falter standing up or list to the left a bit as she walked. 

I was glad Roxy wasn’t here to witness it all. Tiki seemed indifferent to the changes.

Then one night, Honeybee woke up fidgeting. Squirming. Uncomfortable for a bit. Then she seemed to settle down and go back to sleep.

In the morning, Mike got up before I did. He leaned over and kissed me good morning and whispered in my ear, “Bee is gone.” 

I looked over to her bed where she looked to be resting peacefully. Expected? Yes. But hard. We buried her in the backyard, an azalea bush marking her grave. 

Roxy is still at her own house. I don’t know how she will respond when she discovers Honeybee is missing from ours. I imagine she will search the house over for her friend. 

But the cat? Tiki is the one who has surprised us. 

Tiki misses her dogs. She was okay for a while after Roxy left, but after Bee died, she became less aloof and more clingy. She wanders the house looking for her dogs. She climbs in our laps and looks up at us quizzically. “Where are my dogs?” You can see it in her eyes. 

We will “doggy sit Roxy” from time-to-time, but we don’t think we’ll get another puppy yet. We likely will find another canine member of the household in the future, but before that happens, we have a few things we’d like to do. 

Until then, we have a clingy cat to entertain and soothe in the aftermath of losing her dogs.

Roxy

 

Old Florida

"Exploring “Old Florida”

Most folks around the country hear the word ”Florida’’ and immediately think of warm weather, orange juice,  and sandy, sun-kissed beaches. I get it. But if you read my post about Rainbow River a couple of weeks ago, you begin to see the beauty of Florida’s interior.

After church Sunday, Mike suggested we take a ride to Chiefland for a sandwich at a great barbeque place he knows and maybe poke around the area a bit. Mike has been all over that part of the state and knew I would like to explore it a bit. 

A Sunday drive in the Corvette around Florida? I was in! I like those impromptu dates with my husband. 

Mike was right about the barbeque place. It was delicious. I trust Mike, but when you walk in a restaurant and it looks like everyone from the county is there, you know it’s going to be good food. And it was. Barbeque pork sandwiches and sweet tea. It doesn’t get any more Southern than that. We were off to a good start.

A few miles north of the restaurant we pulled off at a park located on the Suwannee River. I’ve only seen the river from the interstate before. Up close, the strong current hardly matches the lazy rhythm of the song. But it is beautiful! Captivating, even. A teenager was trying his hand fishing in the strong current, but meeting with no success. “Maybe if he took his shoes off,” I thought. I mean if you’re going to fish the Suwanee river…

The history of the bridge and a portion of the old structure is displayed in the park as well. It is all part of “Old Florida.”

We next drove miles on a desolate highway lined with woods and palmettos to Cedar Key. Cedar Key is an old coastal town. I have long heard of the place but had never been there. I know they have an outdoor art show there every year and many boats. I understand the restaurants in the area are excellent. All these things attract tourists, Florida’s number one industry.

We poked around a bit in art stores and examined the old structures lining the streets. We walked down along the waterfront. It is an interesting and beautiful piece of “Old Florida’s” history. But it was extremely hot and humid that day, so we made our way back to the car and headed home, vowing to return when the temperature cools a bit in the fall.

The day was wonderful. We set out to enjoy a bit of “Old Florida.” But that evening, as I stood on our back deck looking out over the lawn with the lake beyond, I realized “Old Florida” is in our own back yard. And it is beautiful.