The Daily Adventures of Sage and Erin

Sage's Birthday Bash

2012-02-08T09:05:00.000-06:00

In honor of Sage celebrating her 3rd birthday, I decided to try and make one of those "dog" birthday cakes! (But let's be honest, I was sort of procrastinating and projects always sound more appealing to me when I have something else I'm supposed to be doing...also, my mom had given me some cute dog bone sprinkles (originally for Halloween cupcakes) that I had been saving for this very occasion.)

Anyway, I went online and googled "dog birthday cake recipes" and clicked on the very first link, which unsurprisingly is called "Dog Birthday Cake Recipes."

Here's the recipe if you'd like to give it a try...Sage was VERY interested the entire time I was baking!

1 cup white or whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)

Mix together flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a ring mold sprayed with a nonstick spray for 40 minutes.

Frost this cake with low fat cottage cheese and decorate with carrot pieces. Store in refrigerator.

I made a couple of changes:

I didn't have a ring mold so I used two little loaf pans and instead of cottage cheese I used the cream cheese icing recipe for the frosting.

Cinnamon Frosting:

Combine the following ingredients and blend thoroughly:
12 ounces nonfat cream cheese (room temperature)
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp honey

I thought green frosting would be appropriate. (If you're new to our blog, you can read why I chose the color green, here.)

They actually smelled pretty good coming out of the oven!

I decided to make it a two layer cake because what dog doesn't deserve a two layer birthday cake?! (and one of the mini loafs was significantly smaller than the other one.) However, as you can see, I ran out of icing...but I think I played it off well!

I thought it turned out pretty cute!

Obviously I couldn't let Sage have all the fun, so I made some human-friendly cupcakes with cream cheese icing & cute dog bone sprinkles!

Sage reluctantly waited as I took this picture...I'm pretty sure she was drooling!

I let her have one little lick for the picture and then snatched it up before she could take a bite! My husband wanted to be a part of the party and he didn't get home until 6.

So this is Sage actually eating her birthday cake, which she devoured almost immediately! (NOTE: In order to avoid tummy aches, Sage was only allowed to have a little slice...)

Apart from a little oven burn on my wrist, we celebrated Sage's birthday with a bang! Next year we'll have some friends over!

Happy birthday Sagey! Let's hope your next year of life will be less eventful...

Happy 3rd Birthday Sagey!

2012-02-06T11:15:00.002-06:00

So Saturday wasn't just any old rainy Saturday...it was also Sage's 3rd birthday!!

I have been so preoccupied with getting her better the past couple of weeks, that her birthday almost slipped my mind! I'm so glad I had the camera handy and was feeling a little bit creative!

I'm so thankful to have the privilege of hanging out with this sweet puppy dog every day! She really is the greatest! Happy birthday Sagey; I love you dearly!

Rainy Saturdays

2012-02-04T13:19:00.001-06:00

Just thought I'd brighten your Saturday with a fun photo of Sagey!

That's all.

Feeling Good!

2012-02-01T22:05:00.002-06:00

Hi Blogger Friends,

Thanks for checking in on my sweet Sagey! Here is what's been going on since our last post...

Once her drain tube stopped draining, I bailed her out of the pantry jail and let her have the run of the downstairs again. She also got some supervised time without her cone of shame!

Don't be fooled by her lack of enthusiasm in this photo...

She assured me that napping was MUCH more comfortable without the cone.

Unfortunately I do have to share some sad news...Today, we had a fatality.

Sage's beloved cone of shame is no longer with us.

Sage said she had nothing to do with it...she looks so innocent doesn't she? The cause of death is still unknown, but I think it might have something to do with the frequent run-ins with the various walls throughout the house, the couch, our front and back doors, as well as the fence in the backyard.

Here's another exciting update: Sage's drain tube has been removed!

I loaded Sage up in the car an hour ago and we went to see our friends at the Animal Emergency Clinic. When we got there, Sage was showered with loving pats and kisses while they quickly took out her drain tube!

So far so good! Keep up the good work Sagey! (And thanks for helping me with my post tonight!)

A Quick Thank You!

2012-01-30T12:52:00.000-06:00

I have to admit, I'm not the most avid blogger. I started this blog as an English project my junior year in college because we were required to. Our assignment was to create a blog and just write about something we were interested in. So I chose to write about my favorite thing in the entire world; my dog Sage. She was 11 months old when this blogging adventure began and we had already had some pretty interesting adventures.

However, as I began to go through the pictures I had taken from the past year and put our memories into words, something incredible happened. I realized that the Daily Adventures of Sage & Erin wasn't just a blog for my English class, it was our life and our memories put into words! This blog forces me to really take advantage and appreciate all the time I have with Sage because for some reason, when I am writing, I think about the end of the story. I know that someday Sage will no longer be with me. That's really sad to think about, but I know that I can go back and read about my time with her. I not only document the good times, but the hard times too. These stories are real and they're emotional sometimes. But that's what having a dog is like. It's not always easy, but it's incredible. So I love this blog! I may not update all the time, but the important stuff is here and I will blog about my time with Sage until the very end.

So, that was a little deeper than I anticipated...but here is the real reason I wanted to write this post. I just wanted to say thank you to my blog friend Lauren for passing along two blog awards to us! I have been a terrible blogger because one of these blog awards came a long time ago. I think I'm supposed to pass them on, but I don't read many blogs! So, ya...like I said, I'm a terrible blogger.

So instead I want to say thank you to Lauren & Claire! Lauren's blog is called life with claire and it's awesome. Claire is Lauren's dog and their stories are hilarious. You should definitely check them out. (She also posts much more frequently than I do.)

I also want to take this time to say thank you to all of you who actually read this blog! I'm thankful for all the funny comments as well as all the kind and supportive ones you leave when times are tough. Thank you so much!

What A Shame, The Cone of Shame!

2012-01-30T12:22:00.000-06:00

So it's day 2 with the drain tube and things are already starting to look better! I am so relieved! I don't know if I could take it any longer if Sage didn't start to show improvement soon (it's been 9 days since the original dog bite). It's been so sad for me to see her in pain!

But today is a new day! Sage is MUCH more active and all she wants to do is be outside. Unfortunately, that's not an option right now so she's stuck inside and locked in the pantry.

She lets me know how miserable she is with her little whines and sad puppy dog eyes...

When she does get her allotted outside time, she takes full advantage. Her first trip is to the water bowl, where she spends the majority of her time...

(Sage wanted me to note how difficult it is to wear the cone of shame, both physically and emotionally.)

Then she explores a little.

Sometimes she finds some toys laying around, but often they get a little stuck, which is pretty embarrassing.

Then there is another trip to the water bowl...

Then it's back inside where Sage waits not so patiently for her next trip outside.

The cone of shame...What a shame!

Poppin' Pills

2012-01-29T20:13:00.001-06:00

It was a beautiful day in Texas this morning, but instead of enjoying the cool weather by going on a walk with Sage as we normally would, we instead made a trip to the Animal Emergency Clinic. The swelling in her leg seemed to be spreading and didn't look much better this morning, so I decided to take her in. I would rather be safe than sorry for sure...especially when it comes to Sage.

As we walked in the front door of the AEC, we were welcomed by some familiar faces. Sage is a bit of a celebrity there because of our frequent visits. The vet on call happened to be the same one who had seen us last Sunday. I was relieved because he just had that nature about him...you know those times when you meet someone and just immediately trust them? Ya, he is like that. He recommended that we put a drain tube in to relieve the pressure and allow the wound to continually drain.

A couple of hours later, Sagey was ready to come home. The vet prescribed another antibiotic to take in conjunction with the one she had been on as well as another pain medication. She is now on two different antibiotics and two different pain medications.

Sage spent the day hangin' out with John just resting (and draining). The good thing is that she is in good spirits and seems to be feeling better...I think the pain meds are working!

I'm confident that these meds are going to kick in and heal this nasty infection right up! The drain tube will be in for 3-4 days and the stitches will come out in 10-14. And unfortunately, the cone of shame will be around for 10 days as well, however I think she's used to it.

Sage's (FAT) vet bill folder

So here we are...3 sets of stitches, 2 dog bites, and 1 dirty piece of scrap metal all in 3 months. Is that some sort of a record?

Confession

2012-01-28T19:00:00.001-06:00

I guess I should just cut to the chase.

The reason it's been awhile since my last post is...well...just look for yourself...

Stitches. Again.

I didn't want our very next post to be about another injury!

Waiting for our sweet puppy at the emergency vet at 1AM!

Unfortunately, Sage got stitches a few weeks after our last post...We were playing frisbee and she ran into some scrap metal that someone carelessly through over their back fence. An expensive trip to the emergency vet left her with some stitches, antibiotics, and pain pills. A week later, they were ready to come out!

What a look!

Don't worry, I'm not done...

Notice the NEW shaved patch on Sage's leg along with the OLD shaved patch...

Last week John took Sage and his two dogs on a walk. The next morning when we woke up, Sage was limping. We checked her out and noticed her right forearm (right below the elbow) was pretty swollen. OBVIOUSLY it was a Sunday so we visited our friends at the emergency vet clinic. The vet seemed to think that Sage was suffering from a dog bite.

She went home with some pain pills and antibiotics.

The next couple of days her leg got more and more swollen. I took her to our normal family vet and they thought it might actually be a snake bite! Here is the short story: I freaked out, vet prescribed Benadryl, swelling went down, abscess in leg bursts, we went back to vet, vet said it was dog bite (not snake bite), we got more antibiotics.

Now, two days later Sage is confined to her crate because it seems that the abscess in her leg is getting bigger even while on antibiotics. The plan is to watch her and see if the spot on her leg continues to expand. If it does, we will go pay some money to our friends at the emergency vet clinic. I'm hoping that it will subside on its own...

So there. Sage has already had a pretty eventful 2012, what about you??

However, I will end my post with some fun pictures of Sage that I took between emergency vet visits...

playing with christmas presents

Sage throwing the frisbee to herself

Get better soon sweet girl!

On The Road To Recovery & Boredom

2011-12-05T11:08:00.001-06:00

Well, it hasn't been the easiest task trying to keep Sage from pulling out her stitches, but I'm happy to report that the healing process has been a success so far! This morning I took out her stitches, and everything is looking good! Maybe later we'll go on a little walk.

This past week felt SO long. Sage was inside most of the day, which means I was also home most of the day. As you may remember, Sage has a little incontinence problem so I normally don't leave her inside for more than 3 hours at a time.

Side note: She is usually on medicine for this problem, but I haven't given her those meds since last Sunday. After her minor surgery to get all stitched up, the vet told me to hold off on her dinner. Since you're supposed to give Proin with food, I also decided to hold off on that too. Additionally, I have read about some scary side-effects from Proin so I figured this would be a good time to see if her problem had somehow resolved itself. She has been "accident free" for 8 days! Let's hope she can be off of Proin for good!

So, Sage and I had a pretty uneventful week. However we did manage to keep ourselves occupied with some stylish modeling shots.

And I also fooled around on photoshop quite a bit...

Finally the weekend rolled around and my sweet husband helped us decorate the house for Christmas!

We also took some fun photos at the Old Time Christmas Tree Farm where we cut down our first Christmas tree as a married couple!

I also thought the Christmas dog that lives by the front door needed some dog booties to keep her feet warm. Sage said it was ok to borrow hers.

It's starting to feel like Christmas!

Sagey's Creative Side(s)

2011-11-29T19:44:00.001-06:00

I had no idea Sage was so creative...

Remember the incident this summer when the deer attacked her out of nowhere?

Ya, it sort of resembled a Zorro "Z" or Harry Potter's scar...

Then, on the way to the emergency vet on Sunday, I couldn't help but notice the shape of her newest injury.

I think the vet agreed with me...

So, not only are her injuries unbelievable, but also the shapes of her injuries! What a strange dog I ended up with!

Lazy Day

2011-11-28T19:08:00.001-06:00

Thank you for all your sweet words about Sage and her recovery! She is feeling much better! I made her take it easy today while my Mom and I worked on some Christmas decorations.

The day started early around 5:30 AM when I heard Sage whining downstairs and when Sage is injured, I go into full action mode. I jumped out of bed and hustled down the stairs to make sure everything was OK. Sage, sporting her cone of shame, let me know not so subtlety that she was VERY hungry (and that the cone of shame needed to come off...immediately). Since I'm a push-over, I'm letting Sage go cone free when under my direct supervision.

Typically after her morning meal and potty break, Sage is feeling good. However, this morning she still seemed a little bummed.

So, being the good Dog Mom that I am, I took it on myself to help lift her spirits. A quick trip to Petco was all it took...

In addition to some new toys with functioning squeakies, I picked up a new little treat...

Yes, yes I know...frozen yogurt for dogs; I must be crazy! Well, to be honest, I got it purely for some good blogging material. Although I told Sage it was because she was so good (don't tell)!

Needless to say, it was a BIG hit! I got a pack of four so Sage will be indulging in some banana & peanut butter frozen yogurt for another few days.

Anything to lift her spirits, right?!

I Guess We'll Stay On The Topic Of Injuries...

2011-11-27T22:42:00.001-06:00

I'd like to start this post off by saying that I'm actually a good Dog Mom. I love Sagey very much and try to keep her healthy and safe. It just seems Sage is drawn to danger or is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Today it was the latter...

Today, Sage and I tagged along with the hubby when he went to pick up Lady & Hawk (Sage's brother and sister) from his sister's house. John's sister and brother-in-law live on some land sort of out in the country. They often find themselves taking in stray dogs that wander onto their property malnourished and in rough shape. Right now I think they have 7 dogs. They're pretty great!

John brought Sage's Chunk-It thrower and tennis ball out there and found a good place to play Sage's favorite game. While they were playing catch, one of the other dogs nipped at Sage as she ran by to get her ball. It wasn't until the dog ran back to the house that Sage hesitantly trotted back to John. Apparently, one of the dog's teeth tore and ripped some of Sage's skin aside leaving a large, gaping hole.

We decided that it would be best to take Sage to the emergency vet to get antibiotics at the least, since she has a history of infections, especially with dog bites. Since John's sister lives about 45 minutes from our house, we immediately began the trek home. Sage was in good spirits and didn't seem phased at all...well, maybe a little.

I was expecting for Sage to be seen by a vet and quickly sent home with a large dose of antibiotics, but instead the vet said Sage needed to be sedated and sutured to prevent the wound from getting infected. I was a little caught off guard and reluctantly watched as they took Sage to the back to await surgery.

John came to pick me up and I nervously waited for the call to hear how the surgery went. A couple of hours later, I was able to pick Sage up and take her home.

8 stitches later, Sage was more than ready to go home!

She is supposed to wear the cone until the stitches come out...which I hear is in 10-14 days. Although I took it off for a little while at home since she was having trouble getting through the door frames! I'll put it on when we go to sleep tonight.

Feel better soon Sagey Girl, but can you please explain to me how in the world you get hurt all the time? Seriously, this is getting a little hard to explain!!

While We're On The Topic Of Injuries...

2011-11-08T16:24:00.001-06:00

First of all, I'd like to say thank you to my iPhone for being a loyal companion and taking pretty good pictures when I am without the proper equipment. (You may be able to distinguish between the pictures I took with my old iPhone 3GS and my new, shiny iPhone 4GS which takes pictures and video in HD!)

new iPhone

Do you see that little bald spot over Sage's eye? Well, that is what's remaining of Sage's little staph infection. After the wound pretended to heal and then reappeared swollen and full of pus a few times, I decided to take her to the vet to figure out why it wasn't going away. $170 later, I found out she had staph. Some antibiotics and topical steroid cream cleared it up in days.

On the very last day of her 10 day antibiotic regimen, we deiced to celebrate with a fun "walk." Remember, Sage's "walks" aren't really walks...they're more of free range runs where she never ever slows down! Unfortunately, the walk ended rather abruptly when I discovered this...

new iPhone

As you know, Sage is somewhat accident prone. I'm still not completely sure what happened since she's always 30-40 yards ahead of me on her "walks." However, this injury resembles the other injury she received while on a walk in May. If you remember, I blogged about this incident and you can re-read it here.

old iPhone

Anyways, we were lucky that there was still some antibiotics in her system so we didn't need to make another trip to the vet!

Here's what else we've been up to...

1) Sage got a car bed. Now if you don't know what a car bed is, well, it's just a dog bed that you put in the car. Pretty simple right? Well, yes. And I know it's not really the safest thing (compared to a kennel) but I can't really see out of the back of my car when the kennel is in there. Additionally, I don't get to turn around at a red light and see this...

old iPhone

and this...

new iPhone

We've been spending a lot of time in the car lately...

2) Sage is famous! Well, not really but she looks famous! My cousin Genie is a really talented painter so I asked her to do a painting of Sage for our house (we're still decorating)! It turned out awesome and I love love it so much!

3) The dog toys got washed!!

This may not seem like a big deal to most, but I can assure you...washing the dog toys makes a HUGE difference. Now, I can play tug-of-war with Sage and not have to rush to the sink to wash my hands! HURRAY!

4) I wish I lived in a small town where my dog could come everywhere with me...

Recently, I've been taking Sage lots of places with me! I just finished coaching field hockey (because our season ended) this fall and my mom offered to let Sage hang out at her house while I was at practice instead of leaving her at home. TALK ABOUT SPOILED! It's been so fun bringing her with me to field hockey games and taking her with me when I need a companion. The pictures above were taken when Sage came with me to check on a house near the bay for a friend. It's just fun having her around. She's pretty great!

5) Apparently I like changing iPhone backgrounds to feature Sage. Maybe I think it's funny or maybe I just think everyone should have Sage as their background...However, the other night I was having dinner with my parents and the subject of Sage's painting came up. Well, immediately my dad pulled out his phone and said, "oh look!" We all laughed and then my mom pulled out her phone...

Consider yourself warned...if I have your iPhone, I may be changing your background to feature my favorite furry friend!

Anyways, that's all for now! Let's hope Sage keeps herself out of trouble (or not if you want some blog reading material...)

Sage's Bizarre Colorado Injuries

2011-10-16T21:56:00.001-05:00

Don't you hate those people that are lucky all the time? You know...the people that get pulled over by a cop and drive away with a warning or the people that always get the front row parking place.

Well, lets just say I always get tickets and whenever there is a front row parking place, some idiot usually takes it...even if my blinker is on and I'm clearly about to pull in!

So it should come to no surprise that I end up with the most injury prone dog that has ever walked the planet. If you know Sage, you know she is notorious for getting rare and random (and expensive) dog ailments. I probably should have known this trip to Colorado was bound to have a bizarre injury or two...

What is that in Sage's eyebrow and tail you might ask? Oh you know, it's just a couple of porcupine quills.

Sage just happened to find a dead porcupine carcass in the middle of a random field and decided it would be a really good idea to roll around in it! You wouldn't believe how hard it is to pull those suckers out! Those quills get in there pretty deep.

So after a few pictures and a good laugh, I was happy to have Sage's random and rare injury out of the way so I could enjoy the rest of the trip. Unfortunately, I was oh so wrong!

Sage had a little run-in with a very protective mommy deer. She was taking a little potty break when she spotted a deer walking across a field. She automatically took off fully expecting the deer to run away and challenge her in a little game of chase. Well, mommy deer with infant babies don't actually run away. Instead, they hold their ground and proceed to charge at full speed towards the enemy. As Sage ran for her life, I watched this entire thing unfold from a safe distance with my camera at hand thinking this would be good blog material. However, the iPhone turned into my weapon of choice when the deer started to pound Sage into the ground with her hoofs. I frantically ran towards my yelping dog and nailed the deer in the butt with my phone. As I got to Sage, I could see she was horrified and in shock. She was panting hard and smelled weird. As my husband loaded her in the car, we figured out that the smell was from Sage peeing on herself out of fear.

This is my sweet Sage, after a really cold bath with Colorado water, and her nice "harry potter" style scar from the deer's hoofs.

Poor Sagey. Colorado was a dangerous place. (Notice the scar on her side in the picture above.)

We're Back...With Pictures!

2011-10-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! Sorry we have been on a break for the past couple of months, but I'm happy to report all is well! We have lots to share, but we'll start by posting some pictures from our wonderful Colorado summer. Sage had such a blast camping in the mountains for 3 weeks and I don't think her tail stopped wagging the entire trip. She was such a trooper and I so enjoyed having her with me 24/7. She even slept with us in our tent! More stories to come...

Mountains, Here We Come!

2011-07-05T17:08:00.000-05:00

Last summer John and I went to Colorado for a week and it was AWESOME. It was so nice spending time in the mountains, getting away from the Texas summer heat, camping, riding dirt bikes, and getting engaged...

Unfortunately, Sage couldn't be there with us last summer, so Photoshop Sage gladly took her place. However, this summer Sage is coming with us! She is so excited and has been training hard for her Colorado adventures!

Let me tell you a little bit about her gear:

Both her mountain pack and her dog boots are made by a cool company called RuffWear. They specialize in making performance dog gear that allow our dog friends to come with us on all our adventures! Sage's dog boots will protect her paws while we are hiking the rough and unfamiliar terrain in the mountains of Colorado. In her pack she will be able to carry her water, leash, water bowl, and maybe a tennis ball or two!

They took awhile to get used to, but nothing can slow this dog down!

We are counting down the days until we are in the mountains!!! Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

We're Under Construction!

2011-05-30T13:15:00.004-05:00

Hopefully, everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend and thinking about our US troops here and overseas! Photoshop Sage (welcome back!) really enjoyed thanking our troops and military dogs in person, as well as showing off her Ray Ban shades (which she thought looked so much cooler than Doggles...no offense)!

It's been HOT here in Texas recently so Sage has been spending lots of time indoors. She finished her antibiotics this week and all the swelling in her leg is finally gone (thank goodness)! She went on her first walk since the Izzy bite on Saturday and had a blast!

Speaking of hot and outside...I've been on the market for an outdoor dog bed for quite some time for Sage because she is weird about where she lays down while she is outside. Usually when she's out, I lay a towel down for her to sleep on, which she gratefully uses. Well, I pulled the trigger and purchased a Coolaroo dog bed, and Sage loves it! It's off the ground, provides good airflow underneath that is supposed to keep your dog cool, and it was perfect when Sage was injured since she was having a hard time getting up! If you're in the market for one, I recommend it (no, I'm not a spokesperson for Coolaroo dog beds)!

Ok, finally what you've been waiting for...what in the world is under construction?!

Well, the old dog house in the backyard was on it's last leg so plans were drawn up for new and improved living quarters for our canine family members. And well, things quickly got out of hand...

We figured an insulated and air conditioned dog house was the only way to go.

My husband has been working hard all weekend trying to finish, and it is definitely coming along! I'm very impressed at his mad building skills. Now, from this picture above you might be under the impression that Sage has been a loyal and encouraging helper throughout this whole process...but you couldn't be more wrong! As John was doing this...

Sage was doing this...

...and I...well, I have been listening to Brad Paisley's new album (again, I'm not a paid spokesperson) and messing around on my newly downloaded photography editing program...(can't you tell...?)

So the moral of this story is...my husband is a stud and Sage and I are not!

I'll keep you posted on the dog house construction...I think he'll finish this evening!

This Is What Destruction Looks Like

2011-05-27T09:38:00.001-05:00

I LOVE this photo. Did you notice the small traces of stuffing still attached to Sage's mouth or the paw still trapping the demolished toy? This picture makes me laugh every time I see it! It's such a dog picture.

Anyways, when I walked downstairs to check on Sagey, this is what I found...I especially like the look on Sage's face as she casually glances over her shoulder as if to say, "um yes, I did that! so what?"

Destruction is hard work apparently.

Attention All Dog Owners!

2011-05-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

When your dog starts the car trip here, you should know that they will probably end up here...

Unless confined in a kennel.

This is what I learned today.

(preview for next blog post...)

Shadow Dog: Just Pictures

2011-05-19T22:46:00.000-05:00

We thought these were fun!

Feeling Better

2011-05-19T22:45:00.001-05:00

Hi friends! Sage wanted me to let you know that she is feeling TONS better! The antibiotics and steroids have been working wonders. The swelling has decreased significantly and is almost completely gone. We are so thankful for her quick recovery!

Thanks for thinking of us! I'll supplement with a picture post!

Sweet Sage...and Satan's Apprentice

2011-05-16T10:01:00.006-05:00

The neosporin is back...but this time it's worse!! Sage spent the weekend in and out of the Animal Emergency Clinic after a run-in with Satan's Apprentice.

It all happened Friday night, when a ferocious beast came out of the devil's lair and bit Sage on the back leg and on the front arm. (Yes, dogs have 2 arms and 2 legs...not 4 legs.) What kind of beast would do such a thing to Sage? Well, the criminal has been apprehended!

It's none other than my dad's bloodhound Izzy!!

Here's what really happened...

I brought Sage over to my parents house for a play date on Friday. Everything was going well until *someone (that person will remain anonymous) came outside holding a cracker. For a normal dog, this would be nothing that would cause alarm, however, Izzy is food aggressive (a problem that should be addressed immediately). When that *someone came outside, Izzy went crazy and attacked Sage!

When I got back to the house, that *someone told me about the accident and I checked Sage for bite marks, however I found none and Sage seemed in good spirits. However, later that evening I found blood on a towel where Sage was resting. I found a small hole on her knee cap and I quickly poured some rubbing alcohol on it to kill any bacteria that could cause infection.

After that everything seemed fine...Sage was happy and everything seemed fine. Until the next morning when Sage didn't want to get out of bed. Everything she tried to do seemed impossible. It was hard to get up and it was hard to walk! Sage was NOT herself. She was lethargic and depressed. Not to mention that her leg was pretty swollen.

So this leads us to our first trip to the emergency room...where Sage got some steroids, antibiotics, and a sweet hair cut.

I watched her very closely and made sure she got her meds every 8 hours (which meant setting my alarm for 1 am)...and sleeping close-by...

In the morning, Sage was a completely different dog! She was no longer sluggish or depressed. I could tell she was feeling a lot better, however, the swelling was significantly worse.

Sage was on bed rest for the remainder of the day while I watched her progress closely.

By the end of the day (yesterday) I still had not seen a decrease in swelling, but more of an increase. So we made our trek to the emergency room again to make sure everything was ok.

The vet suggested that they should either put a drain in the wound to make sure *everything (I will try and spare you from all the yucky details) came out OR I could try and get *everything to drain myself. I decided to give it a try to spare Sage from anesthesia and a minor surgery. We've been doing warm compresses three times a day and *everything has been draining nicely!

Sage is doing great and feeling lots better! We will keep you posed on her progress!

Poor Sage!

Well, I Guess We Can Check Modeling Off The List...

2011-05-07T14:40:00.002-05:00

So the other day, I took Sage and her brother Hawk on a walk. (No this post will not be in the form of a poem...) It was a beautiful morning and I just let Sage walk herself as I normally do! Sage is NOT the kind of dog that just trots calmly beside you as you leisurely stroll along the walking trail. Quite the contrary! I would say Sage runs 6x as far as I walk on any given "walk." This works great for me and it frees me up to take my camera along in case there are any strange happenings along the way.

Well, near the end of the walk Sage disappeared for a moment which may seem a little strange...however this is what our walk usually looks like...can you spot Sage?

So, this was not unusual, however when I whistled and called her name I didn't hear any rustling in the grass or splashing of water indicating that she was near and this was very unusual. I managed to stay pretty calm and finally Sage emerged from the tall grass. As she came closer I noticed that her tongue was completely red with blood!

(Now you see why I always...or almost always...have a camera handy!) When Sage was close enough to me to see her face, I noticed that there were two pretty deep cuts on the outside of her snout. One was a circular puncture wound while the other was a half-circle slice that went almost all the way through her lip. Both were pretty deep.

Once we got home I cleaned both wounds with betadine and caked on the neosporin. Both were tough tasks since Sage thought I was cleaning her ears (the one grooming procedure where she is totally uncooperative) and since the cuts are in tongue-reach!

Later that day I took Sage to the vet to make sure no stitches were needed, and although stitches would have helped close the wound, Sage's snout, as well as her whiskers, would have needed to be shaved. The vet told me the choice was mine and that if I chose not to go with the stitches, Sage would probably have some "cosmetic defects." Unfortunately for Sage's modeling career, I declined.

After a week, the half-circle slice healed up very nicely and is barely visible. However, as you can see, the puncture wound is giving us some trouble...but her hair is growing back so I'll be interested to see if her battle wound sticks around.

That's all for now!! Oh ya, and I still have no idea how she sliced up her face!?

(preview for Sage's next blog post...shadow dog!)

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T21:23:00.001-05:00

So my new favorite Atmar family tradition is getting baby ducks from the local feed store on Easter weekend. No, I'm not talking about toy ducks (like the one pictured above), but real freshly hatched baby ducks! This tradition started last year with two ducks named Hank and Willie. Now, my parents would have NEVER done anything like this when I was a kid, but since my little sister (age 12) is the baby of the family (and not to mention the 3rd child) anything goes I guess!

Hank & Willie

Hank and Willie quickly became the family favorites as we watched them grow, change and mature into adult Mallard ducks. So when the time came for Hank and Willie to be released, there was a sadness that settled over us all. However, plans were instantly made for new Easter ducks the next year. And well, here we are...Meet Bimba, Lola, Donald and Daffy (yes there are 4 this year!).

They're pretty cute and cuddly...but also pretty messy!

For fear of the blog becoming a duck blog, I arranged a meeting between the newly acquired ducks and Sage. I'd say it went pretty well...

Besides Sage trying to see what they tasted like, of course.

My Dad mentioned how confusing Sage must be since sometimes she's told to "be sweet" to ducks while other times she's retrieving dead ducks, and all the time, playing with her MANY duck toys of all shapes and sizes (and sounds)!

Speaking of toy ducks...the one that greeted you at the beginning of this post was my Easter present to Sage. Notice I said "was." Unfortunately, Puddles didn't make it.

I will spare you all the horrible details, but let's just say Puddles will be paying a visit to Sage's toy graveyard.

Well, all in all we had a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating family and an empty tomb! We hope you did too!

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" -Revelation 5:12

So This Is A Little Embarassing...

2011-04-18T12:07:00.004-05:00

**Before I begin this post I would like to say THANK YOU for all of your sweet words and encouragement concerning Rita. She was such a good dog and I'm so glad that Sage was able to spend her first two years of life with her; learning from her along the way.

What a privilege it was for me to have my Dad be a guest blogger! His words of wisdom have been speaking truth in my life ever since I was old enough (and smart enough) to listen. Thanks Dad, you're kind of my hero...

Ok, enough of that stuff...

So, this is a very sensitive topic and, as you can see from the photo above, Sage is a little embarrassed to talk about it. But when I explained to her that her "problem" might help someone else, she told me that it was ok for me to mention it to you guys. So here it goes...I'm just going to say it:

Sage has been wetting her bed at night.

Yes, it's true. Sage started wetting the bed around December or January when I moved back home after I graduated from A&M (although I do remember a time or two when she had an accident at A&M). At first there were only a few isolated accidents, then right before the wedding it was happening every night and sometime multiple times during the day: all when she was asleep. I took her to the vet and they tried antibiotics to rule out a bladder or urinary tract infection...but unfortunately that didn't solve the problem. After that, those vets started throwing around the word "incontinent."

Hormone-responsive incontinence most commonly occurs in female dogs that are spayed because the hormone estrogen is in charge of the sphincter that controls the passing of urine. Thus, when you get your dog spayed, the production of estrogen decreases. Over time, this causes the sphincter to become weaker. Apparently, this problem has a high occurrence in Labrador retrievers...and why not? Sage seems to be a magnet for problems that occur often in labs!

Don't worry! There is a good ending to this story. It's called Proin 75.

One-half of a chewable tablet twice daily by mouth fixes the problem immediately!

No more plastic sheets, extra towels for absorption, or baby gate to keep her confined...she's free!

Sage has been on her medicine for almost a week and we've had no accidents (knock on wood). We've also been working extensively to restore her self-esteem. But all in all, she's doing really well.

We'll keep you posted!

Goodbye for now Rita

2011-04-15T17:53:00.011-05:00

Hello friends. I come to you with a heavy heart because today, our family lost Rita, our 14 year old black lab. She has been a loyal and constant companion to our family since I was 8 years old. Like it was when I turned 16 and my Dad let me "borrow" HIS car, Rita was really HIS dog. So, I thought the best way to pay tribute to our 6th family member was to ask my Dad to be a guest blogger:

What a privilege to be a guest blogger on the Daily Adventures of Sage Blog. Thanks for your readership and support - sharing the journey with my daughter, Erin.

I introduced Erin to the wonderful world of water dogs (black labs) and to duck hunting at the age of three (I would have done it sooner, if it had been possible).

Erin, age 3

Back then, I had a great big, wonderful male lab named: Primo.

Erin & Primo

He went everywhere with me and retrieved so many ducks that he became pretty good at it. He could read hand signals and he could read my mind. When he died, I was heartbroken so my family bought me a new female lab named Rita. She was much smaller, never slobbered and was always happy to see me.

Dad & Rita

I was pretty careful with my heart as I got to know Rita - knowing that someday, she too would die. Nevertheless, Rita won me over and became my constant companion on trips to the beach, on hunting trips and on walks.

Rita at the beach

My kids grew up with her and she made my wife feel safe when I was not at home. Her big, brown eyes, her wagging tail and her willingness to go with you anywhere made her irresistible.

Marie, age 3, with Rita at the beach

Marie, age 10, with Rita

Still, as she grew old and blind and cripple, I kept my heart prepared in case something ever happened to her.

Well, it happened last night.

I tried to warn Erin not to buy a puppy until she was totally prepared for the ENTIRE experience of owning a dog. But, what a joke that was! (not only would Erin not listen to my reason, there was really no "preparing" for life's disappointments). Life just happens and we live this adventure with HUGE blessings like our beloved pets and lots of amazing adventures and the best way to "prepare" is to enjoy each day - one at a time... thanking God always for both the ups and the downs.

Thank you God for Rita!

Rita & Izzy

My favorite dog poem is by Jimmy Stewart (please watch):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNJjIwlHk8

Rita & Sage

Two Toys Is Never Good Enough...

2011-04-10T22:05:00.002-05:00

Dates

2011-03-29T19:44:00.001-05:00

Yes, hello! Sage and I apologize it has been so long since we've posted...but as you will see, there has been a lot going on. Here's the scoop!

February 4, 2011: Sage turns 2! Happy Birthday Sagey!

February 21, 2011: These little munchkins arrive at my parents house...

February 22-24, 2011: I accidentally fell in love with the munchkins. Can you blame me??

February 25, 2011: Munchkins leave for their new foster home. I may have cried a little. (There will be more about the puppies soon...)

March 10, 2011: Sage is dropped off for her Spring Break vacation! I definitely cried.

March 12, 2011: I married the man of my dreams!

March 14-21, 2011: New husband takes me to paradise for a week honeymoon!

March 15, 2011- I get my Sagey back!

March 16-present, 2011: Settling into our new home with our new family...all 5 of us!

We Run, We Play, We Catch Things...

2011-02-20T21:54:00.000-06:00

So lately I've been having a hard time getting this crazy dog tired! Just the other day I went to the park and ran 3 miles. I took Sage along thinking she would surely be exhausted after a mile or two. We passed many runners dragging their dogs along behind them, willing them to make it another mile! But, I was the one being dragged as Sage seemed unfazed by the distance or the pace.

Thus, I've been trying to be creative as to how to run down some of this pent-up energy. I even took Sage on a run/walk as I rode the bike along side her. However, I've found the best way to get Sage tired is simply a good old fashion Frisbee game...

I've mentioned the ChunkIt Frisbee before on a previous blog post, but it's worth mentioning it again because Sage LOVES it.

She can play for hours...

Between throws, Sage very politely brings the Frisbee back and drops it at my feet.

But most of the time, she very politely drops it ON my feet. Apparently thinks that's more effective in communicating to me that she is NOT done playing yet.

When she drops it at her feet, that means she needs to take a "breather." Trust me, these are few and far between, and when they do occur...they don't last very long.

Sorry, time to go...I think Sage is ready to play some more! Frisbee and paw on my foot means business!

It's Been a Little Chilly Here...

2011-02-10T22:32:00.000-06:00

So I'd like to let you all in on a little secret...

Are you ready?

Ok, here it is! Sage can walk on water.

Yes, I know that may be a little shocking to some of you, but it's ok. Sage may be a DOG and those letters rearranged may look a lot like another person who can do some miraculous things, but I'm not being disrespectful here.

You see, even though Sage and I live in Texas, there has been some pretty chilly weather lately. And well, I had to do what I do best...get the camera and make Sage do whatever I tell her to!

So since the baby pool was frozen over, I thought it'd be fun to see if it was strong enough to hold someone's body weight. That someone wasn't about to be ME considering I was in tall, wool socks and pajama pants feeling so very warm and snuggley. Additionally, I was not going to take the chance that the ice wasn't strong enough to hold anyone's body weight! So I politely asked Sage if she would give it a try.

She did and after sliding around on top for a few seconds she was over it. So I had to drag her back on in order to snap a couple of pics!

Stay warm!

Sage Says to Get Married Already!!

2011-02-08T22:30:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm sure Sage has told you already by the pitiful whining at the backdoor and stored up energy seeping from her every movement, but she has been feeling a little neglected lately...

First it was the rain, then it was the cold weather, and now...well, needless to say Sage is ready for me to "get married already!!!" Despite all my distractions, Sage has been doing a really good job of getting involved in the process so we can spend time together...

However, she doesn't have a very long attention span and often falls asleep quickly...

But if you ask me, I think she's being a little dramatic...

I keep telling her though, 32 days will go by very quickly and she should enjoy having her own room (and bed)! Because once we move in with the hubby and his dogs, I can't make any promises...

Backyard Destruction

2011-01-18T13:40:00.001-06:00

Say it with me..."awwwwwwww!!! Isn't she the cutest??"

Do you see this sweet, innocent-looking puppy dog? Doesn't she just melt your heart? Don't you just want one just like her?

Well, believe it or not, she has us all fooled! Sage may be sweet, she may even be really cute, but she definitely has a need for destruction. Please browse through the following pictures and maybe feel better about your own dog...and also feel ~~a little~~ very sorry for my poor dad's backyard...

The wire over the holes is supposed to discourage digging...

...and discourage biting leaves off small trees and bushes...

Remember her, well, she doesn't look so innocent anymore, does she??

R.I.P. Gopher

2011-01-03T00:57:00.000-06:00

Note: This post may contain some material that might be offensive to people holding strong feelings of closeness toward a particular animal species...namely gophers. If you happen to fall into this category, proceed with caution.

If you are frequent visitor to our blog, you may remember a post titled, "R.I.P. Nutria" from last February. I must start by saying that Sage is not a cold blooded killer. This is only her second rodent mortality in her not quite two years of life. We are working on it...

Anyways, here's how it happened. It was a VERY foggy morning and I could tell Sage was ready for an adventure. And, because I too was ready for an adventure, I came armed with my camera...which is a necessity for any great adventure.

It started off as a normal walk on the ranch. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The normal obstacles were present and stoically avoided. There were cattle guards that needed to be bypassed, sticker burrs that were plucked from tender paws, barbed wire that challenged unwelcomed visitors, and scary longhorn cows that protected the path.

Sage and I were on a mission. A mission to make it to the end of the road (and then turn around and walk back). It was all very exciting.

Well, actually, the walk wasn't all that exciting at all! It was muggy outside and the air was so thick you couldn't see farther than 30 yards. I was worried that my camera lens would fog up and almost didn't bring it along. Not much was going on. However, things quickly took an exciting turn...

Thinking I would get another neat picture like this one, I snapped a few before I realized that Sage's head was missing! Before I knew it, she was trotting over proudly with something in her mouth. "Sage, what do you have...?" As she dropped it at my feet, I couldn't stop shaking my head. So, being the caring and compassionate person that I am, I took the lens cap off the camera and got down to ground level to document the moment!

The poor gopher was not amused and additionally, he wasn't completely dead. I will spare you the details, but Sage "played" with him a bit longer before the end came for him, which was probably not soon enough.

I was somewhat traumatized by the whole ordeal, but Sage seemed to get over it pretty quickly. Sage spent the rest of the morning checking out other gopher mounds while I tried to capture her on camera.

I will try not to make too many excused for Sage, but I would like to say (for the record) that she is a very playful, adventurous dog that isn't too picky when choosing her playmates. This causes a problem sometimes when she chooses playmates that are too fragile to withstand the level of intensity she attains. Rodents seem to fall into this category, unfortunately for them. Especially because Sage is pretty fun to play with!

While these R.I.P. posts are quite entertaining, I hope Sage and I don't accumulate too many of them. Or at least I hope we stick to rodents...

The Daily Adventures of Sage and Erin: The Book

2010-12-30T15:26:00.003-06:00

Well, we have almost hit the 1 year anniversary of The Daily Adventures of Sage and Erin blog. I started writing posts last January as an English project for one of my classes. The semester came and went but the Sage blog has continued...Thank you so much for reading and following us on our adventures (special thanks to JackDaddy and Khyra And Sometimes Her Mom for your continued comments and support for our blog).

For Christmas, my sweet fiancé printed my blog and created a neat book so that we would remember my blogging year and my crazy dog adventures. A couple of days ago, it arrived on the doorstep. It is hardback, 90 pages long, and complete with a table of contents. It was neat for me to flip through the pages last night and remember the stories I've written.

I found myself laughing out loud at the Water Dog post as it took me back to that day at the park. I got a little teary eyed as I read Happy Birthday Sage all about our first year together. In one post I wrote, "I hope that it doesn't take a birthday, holiday, or special event to let the people we love know how important they are to us; that they've stolen our heart and we'll never be the same again. Because in the end, that's what matters. So thank you Sage, for reminding me of what's really important in life."

This is not just a blog to me. It's a place where I can come to look deep inside and try to put into words this journey called life. When I chose to write about Sage for my English project, I thought it would be filled with some good pictures and some funny stories (although I often find myself laughing out loud when recounting these stories). However, this blog has become so much more than that.

This blog is a story. It's not highly edited nor completely professional. It's raw and real. It tells of a girl who thought she was ready for a dog, but was completely and pleasantly surprised when she realized what she had gotten herself into.

You see, I didn't realize that having a dog was all that difficult. And for some, it isn't. There are so many dog owners that leave their pets in the backyard and rarely interact with them except for the occasional, required trip to the vet. For those people, their dog is just another thing you're supposed to have when you grow up. Well, this wasn't the case for me. After I met Sage, everything changed.

This blog is all about that change. To see how this all started, I invite you to start at the beginning.

Meet Sage.

It's Procrastinating Time Again!

2010-12-07T13:27:00.000-06:00

So the majority of the people reading this blog will say, once they see this post pop up in their email, "TYPICAL Erin!" The reason is, well, it's finals time once again in Aggieland! But this time around, it's different. Why, you ask? Well, because this is the LAST round of finals of my college career! After Tuesday (assuming I pass all my finals) I will be a college grad! (Please excuse all the "!")

So, because I am procrastinating, I will take my time in recounting our Thanksgiving weekend. Actually, for me, it was quite uneventful. I spent some time with family, ate some turkey, and worked on my 20 page paper that was due the week after. But Sage, she had a FANTASTIC weekend. She woke up early, retrieved some ducks, played with her Frisbee, did some fishing, played with her tennis ball, chased some ducks, explored the beach, and then repeated this cycle for 3 days!

I didn't get to accompany John and my cousin on the morning hunting trips, but all John could do was rave about how well Sage did in the duck blind. As she has gotten a little older, she is MUCH more well behaved and patient waiting for the birds to come. She pays attention well (except for the last morning of the trip). John said she was so tired on the last day that she was sleeping ON HER BACK, with all 4 paws in the air while waiting for some ducks to come!

Sage also had fun fishing. She has never really expressed any interest in watching people fish, but Thanksgiving was different...I think it's because there were lots and lots of fish being reeled in!

Since Thanksgiving, Sage has been staying in Houston as I prepare for finals. It's been real quiet around here and I'm not sure I like it! I hear no barking as people walk by the house, I hear no snoring while Sage sleeps soundly in her bed, and feel no wet slobbery tennis balls in my lap as I try to read a textbook! I can't wait for finals to be over so I can be done with college, but mostly I want to be reunited with my little Sage. Life is pretty uneventful without her close by and it's not nearly as fun coming home without being greeted at the door by an overly excited Sage with a teddy bear, tennis ball and stuffed duck held tightly in her mouth.

A Weekend at the Beach

2010-11-08T17:30:00.004-06:00

Well, friends...I'm excited to share with you this new post because I have lots and lots of photos to show you! I recently purchased the 5d Mark II digital camera by Canon and LOVE would be an understatement as to how I feel about my newest investment. I have to be honest though, I did not feel this way when I handed over the cash. Now, Mark Dos (as my fiancé lovingly calls him) has really grown on me. It definitely helps to have a model as beautiful and radiant (for you, Dad) as my Sagey. The picture (above) was my first...

This weekend I had lots of opportunities to practice with Mark. The fiancé and I loaded up the dogs and we headed to the coast for a weekend away. We all had a wonderful time! The weather was perfect, the fish were plenty, and the dogs just played and played and played.

I laughed out loud when I reviewed this photo after taking it. Sage lets it all go when she's playing...it's serious business.

Did I mention the weather...?

Note: Sage is not furious (although she might look as though she is in this photo). She just plays hard. But please, don't get in her way.

Besides getting some quality play time at the beach, Sage had her first hunt of the season. Unfortunately, the ducks knew we were coming and stayed away from our little pond.

Sage was a good little helper setting up the decoys. Actually come to think of it, she wasn't at all! At one point, she was spooked when the decoy got wrapped around her leg and followed her while she tried to escape. Scary!

Even though there were no ducks, Sage had a great time! However, I blame her for our lack of birds because she insisted on wearing her "peace sign" collar while hunting....

The weekend was perfect, and we were sad to leave.

I'll end this post with my favorite pic of the weekend. Until next time...

Erin & Sage

Thursday in Pictures

2010-10-28T14:17:00.001-05:00

So I decided, instead of a formal post with lots of words, to give you a post with mostly pictures! I apologize in advance for some of the pictures being a little blurry...they were all taken on my iphone. I typically take great pride in my Sage photography, but my camera has been having some problems.

As usual, Sage and I have been spending a lot of quality time at the park. We've also enjoyed some really pretty sunsets this semester!

It always makes me laugh when Sage sits in front of my roommate's door. Her name also starts with an "S."

Leave it to Sage to find a wet place to cool off while on our walk.

The best thing about spending time at the park is how exhausted Sage is afterward. We both sleep like babies!

My High Maintenance Dog

2010-10-21T10:30:00.001-05:00

One time I thought it would be interesting to see how much money I had spent on Sage since I got her. So I went through my Bank of America bills and started crunching numbers. I quickly realized that having a dog was expensive...and I immediately put the old bills away. Almost from the moment I brought Sage home, she has been higher maintenance than the normal family dog.

The funny thing is, I started writing this post last spring but never posted it, thinking I'd just jinx myself, but now it's time to revisit this topic. Yesterday, Sage and I had another expensive trip to the vet. You know, one thing about the vet is that they are so good at getting you to purchase all kinds of special "remedies" to alleviate all kinds of secondary ailments. I came home with some ear cleaner, joint supplements, and fish oil tablets. But anyways, the point is, my dog is high maintenance.

Since the day of her arrival into my life Sage has suffered from puppy dermatitis, seasonal allergies, food allergies, a luxating patella, one hot spot, multiple bouts of dry skin, a benign tumor that showed up and went away within a couple of weeks, and most recently, an ear infection. Now it's perfectly normal for dogs to have different kinds of problems throughout their lifetime, however, Sage is still under the age of 2. I'm thinking we're going to have quite the journey ahead of us.

But let's be honest, we love our pets and would do anything for them...even if they are high maintenance!

Labor Day at Deer Valley

2010-09-08T11:16:00.003-05:00

Well, Labor Day has come and gone...and now Sage and I (well, mainly Sage) are recovering from our fun filled weekend. For Sage and I, the trek started around 8 pm when we left College Station on Friday night. An hour and a half later we arrived in Houston and proceeded to wait for the third member of our trio to meet us. At approximately 11:30 pm, the three of us left for Deer Valley Ranch in Medina. Being the great car companions that we are, Sage and I slept almost the entirety of the trip. We decided to wake up 30 min before we arrived to help with directions. Needless to say, it was a late night!

The rest of the weekend seemed like a blur of swimming...

...horses...

...exploring...

...tennis ball retrieving...

...and of course, more swimming!

As for the humans, well, we did a lot of the same. There was horseback riding, hiking, jeep riding, swimming, TENNIS BALL THROWING, star gazing, dirt bike riding, zip lining, belly flopping, exploring, dancing, chatting, bike riding...gosh, no wonder I'm so tired!

Sage may have also found a secret entrance into the house...

All in all, it was a great trip! Everyone had such a great time just enjoying being outside and catching up with friends!

Until next time,

Erin & Sage

So Long Photoshop Sage!

2010-08-31T20:05:00.001-05:00

Ok, so on a lighter note...I'd like to send off my trusty travel companion, Photoshop Sage. Photoshop Sage has been all over the country this summer. She visited the beautiful Colorado mountains, the white beaches in Hawaii, many stops along the road from Houston to California, and the breathtaking Yellowstone National Park. We've seen Aspen groves, snow-covered mountains, abandon mining towns, volcanoes, big waves, black sand beaches, white sand beaches, petrified rocks, pink jeeps, the Grand Canyon, Pebble Beach, Elk, Grizzly Bears, Old Faithful, the Tetons, and Mammoth Hot Springs! We had such a great summer!

Thanks for following us this summer! Real Sage is back in action now and can't wait to be back on the blog soon.

Update: Sage and I moved into our new house yesterday! Sage was very excited to check out her new room and backyard complete with her toy basket and baby pool. Once the excitement subsided, I could tell she was a little upset to leave her good pal Izzy, the bloodhound at my parent's house. How did I know this...? Well, for about an hour she stood by the front door waiting to get back in the car and go HOME! However, I'm happy to say that we made it through the night and visited her favorite park this morning. You can always tell when you have a happy dog when you see her wagging her tail whilst squatting to pee!

Goodbye for now

2010-08-30T12:31:00.001-05:00

Well, first of all I'd like to apologize for our absence. Things have been pretty hectic since our last post. Second of all, I'd like to dedicate this post to my grandfather, Stewart Campbell. Almost four weeks ago, on August 4th, he passed away after a heroic battle with multiple myeloma. My grandfather, who we lovingly called 'Grumps' was a pretty amazing man. Among his many talents, duck hunting and blue marlin fishing were his favorite. In preparation for the memorial service, I searched through some old photographs for the purpose of making a slide show. While going through hundreds and hundreds of photographs, I discovered a man with a heart for adventure.

Initially this post was titled "Goodbye for now Photoshop Sage," as I was going to end the summer postings with a tribute to my created Photoshop Sage, however as I contemplated "Goodbye for Now," it seems a fitting title to pay tribute to the man who taught me so much. I feel so very blessed to have been the granddaugher of such a great man. So, goodbye for now, Grumps...this not goodbye forever.

Road Trip Status & Final Destination: Carmel, California.

2010-07-14T19:02:00.005-05:00

Well everyone, we made it to Carmel! Actually, we got here on Sunday night but I needed a few days to recover before recounting our arrival. So now that I'm fully recovered, here we go...

It has been so nice here and we've all been enjoying the cool temperatures and beautiful scenery. Yesterday we went on a "hike" in Big Sur to see a waterfall. The reason I'm reluctant to call it a hike is because it was approximately a quarter of a mile and very easy, however it was in a book called, "Day Hikes Around Big Sur." So you can see why I'm confused...

Once we arrived at the trail head, we were disappointed to see a sign indicating that dogs were not allowed on the trail.

However, after much deliberation, we decided that the sign wasn't saying that all dogs were banned from the trail...only the dog depicted in the sign. So, after a close inspection of the sign, we determined that Sage looked nothing like the depicted dog. I'm still not sure why the trail doesn't allow these particular dogs on the trail, but I am glad that Sage was able to enjoy the trail with us because the view from the trail was pretty spectacular.

Later that afternoon, Larkin and I went by my favorite store in all of Carmel...Diggidy Dog. OK, well maybe it's not my FAVORITE store, but it's pretty cute. The reason I really enjoy it so much is because they have the cutest dog collars I have ever seen. And since Sage is so stylish, I enjoy picking her out new, fun collars for the next year.

Here are the two I settled on after spending much too long browsing all the wonderfully colorful choices.

I think they're pretty cute!

For those of you wondering, these collars are from Up Country and are not Sage's first. My little sister, Marie, got Sage her first Up Country dog collar for Christmas this year and it's held up pretty well!

My other purchase was this fun sticker. I have seen them around and think they are super cute.

That's all for now! "Wag More, Bark Less!"

Road Trip Status: Grand Canyon

2010-07-10T19:25:00.001-05:00

Greetings, faithful followers! Larkin here once again. I apologize for my absence; it's tough traveling cross-country with a dog, you know. After getting off to a rocky (no pun intended) start this morning, we arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park. It seemed like everyone and their dog (again with the puns) wanted their picture made with the park sign, so when we finally made it to the front of the line, we had to make the most of it.

As always, we posed in a few different fashions while Sage waited patiently for us to get settled. I think the pictures turned out nicely. Sage is so consistent in her pictures; never a hair out of place or dog food in her teeth. Must be nice!

After we visited the sign, the real adventure began! We headed into the park and were amazed at what we saw before us. These pictures are representative of our meager attempt to capture the grandeur of the canyon itself.

However, Sage wasn't interested in sitting around and talking about how awesome it was, so we stopped to snap a few more photos!

Sage is used to being the center of attention, but I must say she seemed pretty small comparatively speaking. But not to worry, she resumed her normal status as soon as we left the park. Goodbye for now, we're off to try and catch the sunset at the canyon. Hopefully the next time you hear from us we will have reached our final destination: California!

Road Trip Status: Sedona, AZ

2010-07-10T00:48:00.003-05:00

Well everyone, we finally made it to Arizona! After spending a couple of days in Santa Fe, it was time to move on to another state. The drive through New Mexico was full of beautiful red rock formations! However, as we made our way through Arizona we discovered that Arizona had red rocks too. A lot of 'em! After crossing the state line, it was time for another picture. We wanted to try a hand stand picture after the success of our "jump" picture at the New Mexico-Texas state line, but I was a little nervous about Sage's ability to do one...but, one again, Sage proved me wrong! She even one up-ed me with a one-handed hand stand!

She also utilized the "Pet Exercise Area" to stretch her legs a little bit before getting in the car once again.

We made another stop at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona to see what it had to offer. We all thought it was pretty neat. There were some really great views from the park's highest point where you could see for 120 miles all the way to Flagstaff! This picture of all three of us on top of the sign was pretty difficult to capture. I came away with some pretty nasty scratches...

After spending the night in Flagstaff, we left this morning for a quick one hour drive to Sedona. We were greeted by the 109 degree heat once we arrived! Our favorite part of the day was the Pink Jeep Tour through the beautiful sandstone.

There were some awesome views on the Broken Arrow tour. Sage could see for miles.

Sage even got a little adventurous and decided to show off her climbing skills. As she reenacted the scene from the Lion King, I snapped this picture. Don't worry, she was very careful!

We are headed to the Grand Canyon tomorrow. Stay tuned, there are be more great adventures ahead!

Road Trip Status: Santa Fe

2010-07-07T23:12:00.002-05:00

Well, we've made it to New Mexico! Tonight is our second night in Santa Fe and it has been delightful. The weather has been so nice that we even wore long sleeves this morning! As we were driving into town, we saw a BIG sign for the Sage Inn. I thought it was so fun that there was something with Sage's name on it, that I just had to take a picture. I figured it was pretty rare. However as we walked around the town square, I began to notice something interesting...

Sage was everywhere! I thought it was so great that everyone in Santa Fe had been reading my blog and decided to dedicate their business to my Sage! However, after asking around I found out that it wasn't MY Sage that the shops and galleries were named after, it was a plant. Sage, the plant, happens to be pretty popular in these parts. However, I will choose to go on thinking that it is my Sage that inspires the popular name in Santa Fe.

I also thought I'd end this post with a dedication. San Retriever de Labrador, Patron Saint of Tennis Balls.

Off to Flagstaff tomorrow. Stay tuned

Road Trip Status: Amarillo

2010-07-05T22:33:00.001-05:00

Hello readers, Larkin here! I will be filling in for Erin tonight as we have had a long and tiring day! Today was a fun day on the road complete with a few bizarre, yet intriguing sights. Oh, and did I mention Sage came along with us? The first stop we made was at the Cowboy Church, which Sage took a particular liking to. It must have been something about the 2-dimensional state that she shares with the cowboy and his horse that made her feel right at home!

After visiting the Cowboy Church, we all took cat naps (or should I say dog naps?) and ate a nice chicken dinner before heading out to our next destination: Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, TX.

Erin and I had fun spray painting the cars and practicing our modeling poses while Sage stood atop a car and watched the people below.

We are now back at the hotel scrubbing the paint from our hands and preparing for tomorrow's trip to Santa Fe. I wonder what Sage will get herself into in New Mexico!

Sage in Hawaii

2010-07-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

So, I'm a little late in posting about Hawaii seeing as I am now off on my next adventure. However, I will attempt to catch up on all that has been going on.

We all had a great time visiting the black sand beach at Waipi'o Valley on the big island of Hawaii. After a early start to the day doing homework (and a long drive) we made our way up see the volcano. Sage really enjoyed seeing where the lava took over the road. We were a little disappointed that there was no lava flow.

We had fun snorkeling and laying in the sun at the beautiful white sand beaches as well.

On our trip back from the beach one afternoon, we found a lava tube on the side of the highway. Lava tubes are are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow. I snapped a couple of fun photos of John being silly at the entrance of a lava tube.

We ended the trip watching a beautiful sunset! Aloha.

While I was Away...

2010-07-04T21:43:00.001-05:00

Sage has been having a blast while I've been gone. She has gotten to spend some time at the beach, play some quality Frisbee, and meet some new friends. My parents snapped some pictures of Sage last weekend and emailed them to me. My little sister made that sand masterpiece for Sage.

Part of the Family

2010-06-22T10:55:00.000-05:00

Hi from Colorado! The weather is beautiful here...much better than hot, humid Houston. Sage is having fun too...Ok, so she's not really here. But, I'm really missing her right now and know she would be having a blast if she were here. There is tons of cold water for her to jump in, deer for her to chase, and beautiful countryside for her to run and play.

Now for the most exciting news of all!

Sage is going to have a Dad! Well, John has already been her Dad, just now it's going to be official! We are so excited and wish that Sage was with us. But for now, Photoshop will just have to do.

Meet Photoshop Sage

2010-06-22T10:53:00.002-05:00

So, this summer I get to do some really awesome things! However, Sage is stuck at home in Houston. My awesome parents are adopting summer Sage so that I can enjoy some really great trips to Colorado, Hawaii, California, and Wyoming. I really wish I could bring Sage along on my summer adventures, but I don't think she'd be up for those really long car trips. So, I thought of a really great way to include her.

Meet Photoshop Sage. She is pretty amazing. Here are some photos of photoshop Sage's favorite activities.

Mountain climbing.

Mudding and rock crawling.

Sunday church in Portugal.

and blue marlin fishing.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Photoshop Sage. Stay tuned for her next big adventure.

Meanwhile, this is what real Sage is most likely up to!

Backyard Summer

2010-06-10T21:03:00.000-05:00

Well I've been holding out and waiting for some quality blogging material, but it has yet to come! I wanted to be able to relay a funny story about something horrible Sage did and I'm surprised to say that it's been a fairly relaxing and un-extraordinary summer so far. However, as I began to contemplate this, it occurred to me that is a good thing! So instead of recounting some exciting story, I'll just fill you in as to what has been going on...

As is custom in my family, spending quality time sitting on the driveway to hang with the dogs is pretty much a requirement (much to my Mom's dismay). Sage enjoys being the center of attention and usually pulls up a chair of her own...

...she is happiest when hers is the one closest to mine.

Duck watching is the sport of choice for the dogs most of the day.

Meet Hank and Willie. My little sister got these two for Easter and they now live in the backyard. They're really cute, but I fear they get tormented by Sage and Izzy all day long.

And now for the biggest news...

The baby pool that I bought last summer now has a hole in it! Sage was very upset and as I tried to console her, she told me that the only way to make her feel better was to get her a new one.

I was disappointed that Academy didn't have the shell pools, but I think Sage likes this one alright!

That's all for now! I hope to have more exciting news next time!

While We Were Away...

2010-06-04T23:51:00.001-05:00

So, now as I have almost recovered from the traumatic experience of taking the MCAT, I can fully recount the moments leading up to that much dreaded day. Well, Sage's moments anyway...

Poor Sage took the lack of attention pretty hard. As you can see from the photo above, Sage was all torn up about it too. I had two weeks from the day of my last final to the day I was signed up to take the MCAT. For the first week I felt like all I did was study, while Sage lounged in the backyard with her friends. I could tell she was feeling a little left out, so I tried my hardest to woo her with toys of all shapes and sizes. That worked pretty well until the toy had to be confiscated due to a safety hazard.

After about a week of studying, I was sick of it! Yes, I know...it had only been one full week, but I had already been studying for finals for a couple of weeks. So, I decided I'd go on a little trip to the Gulf for some new scenery and less distractions. I also figured Sage and I could play some for my study breaks!

Sage and I loaded up the car and headed for the beach! Even though she is great in the car, Sage was anxious to get there, as usual. However, once we got there, we both really enjoyed our time hanging outside and taking periodic breaks to walk on the beach or throw the tennis ball. I was happy that I was in a place where Sage could just run free and explore. Despite a little run in with a Longhorn steer, Sage had a blast.

We swam a little bit, studied some, and played a lot! It was the perfect place to escape from the realities laying ahead and prepare for the MCAT without feeling any pressure. But when the second week finally came to a close, I knew it was time to head back to Houston and face the looming darkness.

When May 27 arrived, I was ready...but mostly ready for it to be over. And 5.5 hours later it was!

Sage and I just got home from a walk around the neighborhood with my Dad and we're pretty tired. So this is where we'll say goodnight! Can't wait to share more summer adventures soon.

Hello...We're back!

2010-05-28T00:13:00.000-05:00

Well, hello! I know some of you may have forgotten about us. But let me assure you, we are back! The MCAT is now behind us and we're ready ready ready for summer. It's going to be a great summer too! I can't wait to fill you in with the happenings over the past two weeks. In the mean time, we're glad to be back. Oh, and happy summer!

Home Stretch

2010-05-09T20:30:00.000-05:00

Well, school is almost over and I can taste summer. All the stuff in my house is almost completely gone and scattered all over my parent's house in Houston, which they are not thrilled about, I can assure you! Construction has begun on the lot next door which was completely barren all year. I know this because of the absence of the fence that once stood between that lot and Sage's backyard, and the hammer pounding at 7 a.m. So, I was forced to ban Sage to my parent's house with her friend Izzy. It's really quiet here without her and as I look around my room I see the lines in the carpet where her kennel and toy basket used to be. The backyard no longer houses her baby pool or her dogloo.

So as I study here in College Station for my last final, I can't help but miss my wiggly, happy dog. However, I know she'll be doing a lot of playing until I get home.

Thank you to all of your kind words about Sage's luxating patella. She is doing fine. I have been documenting the times when she begins to limp or hold her foot up and it seems to be becoming more frequent. With that said, she doesn't seem to be in any pain. I feel that it is just more of a bother than anything because she doesn't yelp or cry when it happens. I'm planning on calling the vet again and seeing whether surgery is the best option. She still runs and plays like nothing is wrong, but then all the sudden freezes while holding her foot off the ground. I guess we'll see what happens.

Heavy Heart for Sage

2010-05-04T13:11:00.002-05:00

I come to you with a sad heart today. Yesterday Sage and I went to the vet for her 1-year-old checkup expecting a clean bill of health...unfortunately that was not the case. Recently I've noticed Sage holding up her left leg and limping occasionally. I didn't think too much of it because shortly after she would run and play like nothing was wrong. I mentioned this to the vet yesterday, thinking it was nothing serious. The vet thought it might be hip dysplasia, which is a common problem with labs. However, while she was checking Sage's hips, she felt Sage's knee cap pop medially out of joint. "Oh, she has a luxating patella," the vet said with a sigh. She informed me that luxating patellas are a common problem in miniature dog breeds, but are rare in large breed dogs like Labradors. Fortunately Sage is a grade 1 (out of 4) which means her symptoms are minor right now. Last night I did a lot of researching online and read up on the general information and treatment options, then today I called another vet to ask some more educated questions. From him I found out that surgery was probably inevitable and that Sage's symptoms would mostly likely get worse. As I drafted this blog post, I got pretty emotional about the whole situation. She's my baby, and she's hurting. It's my responsibility to make these tough decisions and watch her go through this. I hate it. No one said choosing to be a dog owner (I feel more like a parent) would be easy.

So in the mean time, Sage and I will be taking it a little easier than we're used to. I will be watching her closely and recording how often her patella seems to come out of joint. We'll see what happens...keep Sage in your thoughts and prayers.

Dreaming About Summer

2010-04-29T19:40:00.000-05:00

Well, as the school year begins to come to a close, there is only one thing on our minds...SUMMER! However, right now there are two finals standing in the way. So while I study my life away, Sage sleeps!

Hope your weekend is nothing like mine...free of class notes, thick textbooks, and studying!

Sage's Toy Graveyard

2010-04-22T19:25:00.001-05:00

When Sage was a puppy, I was thrilled when she expressed interest in her toys. I had so much fun going to the pet store and picking out squeaky toys that looked like animals. It made me laugh seeing her walking around with stuffed porcupines, ducks, butterflies, pelicans, skunks, and even squirrels! Sage loves her toys! You could almost say that she loves them to death...

Because of the speed at which Sage is able to skin, gut, and extract the squeaky...I have been forced to work on my sewing skills and I'm proud to say that I've gotten pretty proficient. However, as school work has piled up, so have Sage's dead toys.

Finally, as Sage's toy basket supply became dreadfully low, I decided it was time to pull out the needle and thread.

While I performed surgery after surgery, Sage was nearby pacing back and forth eager to reunite with her favorite toys. Here are some before pictures. Beware, they're a bit graphic...

Some toys needed only minor patching...

...but there were some that were beyond repair!

It was difficult being the one making all the tough choices, but we got through it.

And now her toy basket is overflowing!

The only problem is...she's at it again.

Sage Got Her Aggie Ring!

2010-04-19T13:05:00.000-05:00

Well, actually I got my Aggie ring, but Sage borrowed it for some pictures. For those of you who don't know, the Aggie Ring is the most recognizable symbol of the Aggie Network. Each year, thousands of excited Aggies gather at The Association of Former Students to pick up their Aggie Rings on Ring Day. Make no mistake; this is no ordinary ring and Aggies are very serious about their rings. I was very excited to get mine, too...along with the 4,000 other students also picking up their rings. Sage and I loved having our family there to celebrate.

We especially loved seeing them decked out in maroon and white (their preferred color is burnt orange)!

Sage got some special attention too while everyone was in town...

All in all, it was a great weekend and I'm so thankful the people I love were able to put their college rivalries aside and celebrate this special day with me!

Thanks for reading and Gig 'em!

Sage the Exterminator

2010-04-16T09:18:00.000-05:00

We're being invaded! It seems that every time I try to come in or out of the door to my house, those darn Mosquito hawks are waiting to sneak inside. It doesn't matter what time of the day either...the Mosquito Hawks are everywhere. Luckily, I have a secret weapon. As it turns out, Sage is a master at catching little critters. Moths, June bugs...and yes, even Mosquito hawks are unable to escape her death grip. We have the catching process down to an art, it's beautiful actually. After one of those stealthy critters gets inside, I quickly spot it. I call Sage over in hushed tones so as not to spook the prey we're stalking. "Sage, Sage! Over here." Sage responds like a pro and comes quickly to my side. After she marks the creature I'm pointing to, she waits. Sage is very patient and will watch and follow that thing all over the house until it comes within reach. Eventually, the critter makes a fatal error by flying too low. Instantly the patient Sage jumps up and with one quick snap of her jaws devours the annoying insect. Like I said...it's beautiful! I guess this is one way to exterminate. Happy hunting everyone!

Play day

2010-04-14T13:26:00.001-05:00

It's always fun to go home and visit my family for the weekend. I get to enjoy some home cooked meals, free laundry, and my dog gets to play with Izzy. Izzy is my dad's bloodhound. According to him, she is "radiant."

Izzy and Sage love to play together.

Apparently the pool was "base" because Sage seemed to think she was safe there...

But once she left the safe haven of the baby pool, anything was fair game...

Sage loves her Chunk It...this is her second one in two weeks. She better make this one last because they definitely aren't cheap.

Sage loves to see how many different toys she can fit in her mouth and carry around. She is easily able to hold both her Chunk It and tennis ball. I think she is also trying to guard them from toy stealers...(Izzy!)

You know Sage has had a good work out when she goes to lay in the pool after every couple of throws...

Notice the slobber slowly blowing in the wind...

But after all that playing, Sage still wasn't ready to stop. So we played and played and played...

...while Izzy slept soundly nearby!

Looks Like We're Hooked!

2010-04-10T22:38:00.000-05:00

Well, after much encouragement from some blogging friends and prompting from my Dad, Sage and I decided to check out the infamous DockDogs competition. As it turns out, the Heart of Texas DockDogs club was hosting a competition in Houston this weekend so I loaded up the Sage and some toys that float and we headed to down to Houston. Yesterday the dock was open for practice, so I decided it would be a good idea to check things out before we officially entered.

Sage trotted down to the end of the dock, checked out the water, and knew exactly what she was supposed to do.

She was a natural. So I entered her into the competition and we went home to get mentally prepared her DockDogs debut.

This morning was a little chilly and rainy (contrary to what the weatherman predicted) as we headed to the dock. Sage was entered in the 9:00 a.m. heat of the Big Wave competition. In the Big Wave, the dogs are scored on how far out they jump. Each dog gets two jumps a piece. After warming up, Sage was looking pretty good for a rookie. On her first attempt she jumped 11' and increased her score to 11' 9'' on her second jump. I was a very proud momma today. Sage was awesome. Here are some pictures from today (compliments of my sweet boyfriend and self-proclaimed photographer dad)!

Sage's first jump.

Sage's second jump. Check out those ears...

I think Sage would have won the biggest splash contest!

There were all kinds of dogs that participated this weekend, too...

beginners...

divers...

pros...

and just straight up studs!

It was a really great experience and I highly recommend making it out to a DockDog event if you've never been to one before. I promise you won't be disappointed. We are looking forward to Duck Jam in College Station for another chance to have fun and jump far!

Bath Time

2010-04-07T08:06:00.000-05:00

Since Sage is an inside dog, I try to give her a bath often. My little Sage has allergies, which is not as uncommon as you may think, and the vet told me that regular bathing is very beneficial to dogs with airborne allergies. So, Sage gets a bath almost every week.

I haven’t really decided if she hates it or not. Sometimes she seems to enjoy it, while other times I think she is going to jump clear over the fence in the backyard and escape. But either way, she is used to it. She knows exactly what is about to happen when I walk outside with a bottle of shampoo and a towel.

Recently she has even started to play this game where she pretends not to notice I’ve come outside and goes about her backyard patrolling. I call her name and she ignores me. I walk over to her and she is un-phased. It isn’t until I grab her collar that she looks at me as if to say, “Oh hi Mom, have you been out here the whole time?” We then go through the normal routine of shampoo, rinse, medicated conditioner, rinse, towel off, and then she tears around the backyard like a wild crazy animal (which seems to be her favorite part). I then have to wash her feet off again before she comes inside. Then my favorite part of the bath comes into play…snuggle time. It seems that after a bath, Sage always wants to snuggle. I usually sit on the carpet in the living room and Sage trots over with a toy in her mouth. She then makes a couple of circles around me and lies down in my lap. If I don’t immediately start petting her, she rolls over on her back and paws at me with her front paws. After we play a little bit, Sage usually falls asleep with her head in my lap while I do homework. Bath time doesn’t seem so bad to me…

We Love Easter

2010-04-05T16:51:00.002-05:00

Sage celebrated her second Easter yesterday and loved every minute of it. She got to meet some new friends...some she liked and some she didn't. The chickens she tried to make friends with were a little skeptical of her intentions seeing as she chased them with drool dripping from her lips, the sheep didn't like her tone of bark, and the snake...well, the snake didn't have a head anymore so they didn't really hit it off either. However, she did meet some dog friends that enjoyed her love of water and a good game of chase.

We also got a chance to enjoy the bluebonnets...

...a lot!

But that's not the only reason that Sage and I love Easter...We love Easter because He has risen!

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" -Revelation 5:12

Brighten Up

2010-03-31T20:07:00.015-05:00

As I was looking through my computer at some old (and new) pictures of Sage, my eyes were instantly drawn the ones with the brightest colors. Since Sage is so dark in color, everything else around her seems to brighten in her presence. It seems she has this effect on people too, not just color.

She has an extraordinary ability to put a smile on anyone's face, especially mine. I know that when I'm having a terrible day, all I need in order to cheer up is spend a few minutes hangin' with Sagey. Whether it's a big sloppy kiss on the cheek or a 65 lb "lap dog" sitting on your face, a smile is inevitable when Sage is around.

It's not just me that she has this effect on either, it's anyone she meets. A brief encounter with someone at the park leaves the passerby with a grin spreading across their face.

Aren't all dogs like this too? They aren't prejudice or selective; they don't care about appearance or intelligence; they love with everything they have, it's all they know how to do.

So I'm going to take a lesson from my four-legged friend on how to love with my whole heart, not just part of it.

Tin Foil the Sage

2010-03-31T17:31:00.007-05:00

So the other day, after an entire afternoon of studying, I decided that I desperately needed some warm chocolate chip cookies to boost my spirits. I got out the package of cookie dough and found my cookie sheet. Instead of using my non stick cookie pan liner, I decided to try tin foil so I wouldn't have to wash it. Well, after I lined the cookie sheet with tin foil, I began to worry that the tin foil would stick to the bottom of my delicious cookies! So, after much debate, I decided to go with my nonstick cookie sheet liner instead.

So what do I do with this extra sheet of foil...? The moment I looked up from the piece of foil I was holding in my hand, Sage raised her head and our eyes met. "Come here Sagey..." I said in the sweetest, most innocent voice I could muster up. Wearily she got up from her warm spot on the carpet and came over to me. I took the piece of foil and wrapped it around the middle of her tail. Sage must have been wondering what in the world I was thinking, but she just stood there while I secured the foreign material around her tail. Much to my surprise, she didn't seem that bothered by it, just confused. She began to walk around the house with her tail sticking straight up, holding it as still as possible. Every once and a while she would turn around and just look at it. (Meanwhile, I was laughing uncontrollably...)

So then I decided to outfit her other extremities with foil (typical procrastinating behavior). I got four other pieces of foil and wrapped them around her front and back legs. This time Sage stood statue still. Finally she made a little circle around the kitchen. When she walked she picked up every paw carefully, raising it about 5 inches higher off the ground than normal. (If you have ever put booties on your dog, you know what this looks like.) I was on the floor laughing...she looked like she was preparing to go to space!

I then, knocked on my roommates door in order to share this joyous occasion with somebody else! "I'm sleeping," is the response I got from the other side of the door. I open the door and Sage busted in with the tin foil crunching loudly as she made a circle around the room. "Erin, you're so weird," is the response I got for all my creativity! After some pictures I freed Sage from her tin foil bondage.

Then I gave her a bone for putting up with such a weird Mom!

Not Much Has Changed

2010-03-28T09:30:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if this big, grown up dog I have laying at my feet is the same little puppy I bought a year ago. Besides the fact that she is the same color, little else is the same, appearance wise. The puppy teeth have been replaced with grown up teeth, the puppy breath has disappeared, and there is about a 65 lb difference between the puppy I bought just about a year ago today, than the dog I have now. However, there are times that the little puppy shines through and I realize not much has changed.

Sage's first trip to the beach...

...she still loves to get sandy.

I was frantic to capture this picture because I was certain Sage would never just lay in the baby pool again...

...I was wrong.

Nothing better than chewing on a toy while laying on your back!

Still nothing better...apparently.

Sage loves to carry around and chew on a good stick.

You know, having a puppy is pretty great. They are little and cute and people stop you to tell you how little and cute your new pup is. But honestly, I’ve had more adventures with Sage since she’s entered adulthood. I can't wait to see what this next year brings...I just hope I can keep up!

Sage's Favorite Things

2010-03-21T19:37:00.020-05:00

For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Sage in person, here are some conversation starters if you ever get the opportunity. Ok, you can't really have a conversation with Sage, but here they are anyway (if you're like me and DO have conversations with Sage). These are some of Sage’s Favorite things…you can read this list out loud or sing it to the tune of “The Sound of Music” (not really, but I was singing it while writing this). Ok, here they are...in no particular order.

1. Nothing gets to Sage’s heart (or stomach) more quickly than rawhide bones. Bring one of these and you’ll be an instant hit.

2. Sage is a hunting dog. Although she doesn’t get to show off her ability as often as she would like, she is a natural.

3. If you can’t see the little tail sticking up from the middle of this massive, award-winning splash, it’s there and it belongs to Sage. Swimming is definitely one of Sage’s top 3 things to do.

4. Her tennis ball. Those words (and picture) speak for themselves. You can hardly catch Sage without a tennis ball in her mouth. She loves ‘em.

NOT the cone of shame.

5. Meet Hawk. When Sage was a puppy she lived with my boyfriend for a couple of months because I lived in an apartment. Hawk is one of John’s dogs. He put up with a lot from Sage when she was little (and still now). She would steal his toys, kiss his face, chew on his skin, and bother him ruthlessly. He is the sweetest boy and Sage loves him to pieces.

6. Sage loves digging. She’ll dig at the beach, in my backyard, in my dad’s backyard, and anywhere else with some soft, cool dirt. She tries to hide the fact that she loves to dig, but I have a sixth sense that tells me when she decides to get dirty.

7. It’s always fun to take Sage to the beach on a beautiful day. She gets to swim in the water, chase sand crabs, and go exploring all in one place.

8. Ever since Sage was little little she has loved her toys. She prefers stuffed animals with a squeaky inside, but any toy will do. If you come to visit Sage at her house, she will most likely greet you with a toy in mouth.

9. Sleeping. Sagey loves sleeping, especially with her old friend Rita. (Notice the ball close by...)

10. Last, but definitely not least, is me! I would say that I am one of Sage’s favorite things, not just because I am the one who feeds her, but also because I love her back. No matter how big of a mess she makes or how much money I have to spend on her behalf, I will always be her biggest fan….and I think she likes me ok too.

Spring Break Adventures...Part 2

2010-03-19T21:06:00.022-05:00

Well, Sage and I are back in College Station after finishing up our Spring Break on the Texas Gulf Coast. We had a blast hangin’ with the family and catching some rays. Sage spent the majority of her time working on her suntan. The weather was awesome. The first three days were perfect. The first day we drove down, Sage showed off her Frisbee skills in front of the whole family.

My little sister captured some pretty solid pictures of Sage in mid-air (upcoming photographer like her sister…hope so). Unfortunately the Frisbee didn’t last much longer after this picture was taken (may it rest in peace) because Sage slowly chewed a hole through the middle. It was pretty funny to see Sage trotting back with the Frisbee in her mouth with her bottom teeth sticking through the hole in the middle. The Frisbee took a turn for the worst when Sage delivered a fatal bite to the center, which caused it to sharply veer to the left whenever it was thrown. I guess that means I might need to invest in a new Frisbee! So after the death of the Frisbee, Sage needed another way to be entertained. Since everyone was getting tired of throwing the slobbery tennis ball, I went rummaging through the closets and found a tennis racket to use to hit the ball instead. Then, my little sister further modified the sport…

She found one of my mom’s socks to use as a slobber protector for her hand. Sage (as you can see in the picture) loved playing with Marie! We would play until Sage stopped bringing the ball back and instead took it with her to lay in the shade under the trees. That’s when we knew she was finally tired! Yesterday, we went to the beach. The water was not its usual green-brown color, but an aqua blue, which made me feel like I was in Mexico. It was beautiful.

The beach definitely didn’t stop Sage from doing what she does best…retrieving stuff. I brought her tennis ball, but I guess she didn’t like the carrying around the sand covered ball in her mouth so she opted for a good water logged stick instead.

After some good retrieving and digging, Sage was super tired and slept in my lap wrapped in a towel all the way home.

We rounded out the day with a good kayak ride across the canal.

Yes, I am wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt in this picture, and yes, I am soaking wet. Here is what happened. I had just gotten back from riding dirt bikes and Sage wanted to go swimming. Since it was a pretty low tide, Sage would have a hard time getting out of the water so I thought it would be a good idea to put a kayak in so she could use it to get out. Not thinking I would get wet, I decided to hop in and paddle around so Sage could swim a little bit. I definitely didn’t anticipate Sage wanting to paddle around with me. Needless to say, she did. I got in the water and immediately Sage wanted on. We almost flipped over as she tried desperately to climb on with me. But once I got her safely on board and sitting in my lap, she was fine. What a big baby! Unfortunately, Sage and I have to leave the beach tomorrow. This is been a great and much needed Spring Break and we’re not really ready to go back to school, but who is?

Thanks for reading!

Spring Break Adventures...Part 1

2010-03-19T19:33:00.015-05:00

Well, Spring Break started in the car, and I really don't like riding in the car. Sage, on the other hand, was a really good sport, as she was smashed in the back seat with all the suitcases, pillows, sleeping bags, and all my MCAT study materials. We were heading towards Marble Falls, TX to ride dirt bikes at this really cool place in the hill country. We were packed to the tee, and Sage's kennel barely made it...

The 4-5 ish hour car ride became immediately worth it once we made it to our destination. The weather was perfect...sunny skies, 65 degrees during the day and 40 degrees at night for three days. We did some camping, dirt bike riding, swimming, Frisbee playing, hiking, and lots of exploring! It was a great start Spring Break. Here are some pictures to prove it...

I was really glad I brought my camera along on this morning walk with Sage. I just love the hill country!

As it turns out, Sage is a really really good Frisbee player! But the bad thing is, she is now addicted. I had to hide the Frisbee so she wouldn't get overheated because she would just go and go until she couldn't go any longer!

The sunsets were beautiful! If you look closely you can see Sage's outline in front of the fire.

So this is Sage sleeping, which is nothing unusual in the middle of the day. What is unusual is that she is sleeping in the fire pit. I looked up from my physics book to see Sage glance over her shoulder at me with a look that said "yes I'm sleeping in the fire pit, so what?" I quickly fished her out of the ashes and laughed as she emerged with a gray coat!

Besides the rain that fell all night long on Monday night, we had a great trip! The best part is...Spring Break isn't over yet! Stay tuned for Spring Break Adventures Part 2.

Splashes of Color

2010-03-10T15:59:00.003-06:00

It's been a weird semester weather-wise. One day it's 65 degrees and sunny and the next day it's 30 degrees and snowing! Don't get me wrong, Sage and I have enjoyed the snow, but we're ready for some color! It's a bummer when you look in your backyard and it's completely dirt, especially when I have to shove Sage in her pool before she comes in the house! But today, as Sage and I were at the park, I noticed something I didn't notice yesterday. As I walked across the field to my ideal sitting spot, I could see little flowers starting to bloom. I dropped my book and got down on my hands and knees to check out the flowers. Sage came tromping up behind and pushed me out of the way to see what I was looking at. After I pushed myself back on my knees, I saw the little flower sticking out from between her teeth! As, I tried to get over the fact that Sage had eaten the very first flower of Spring and that we were probably cursed for all eternity, I noticed that there were little splashes of color all over the field!

Sage and I were very excited and we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon frolicking through the field. After Sage was all tuckered out, I studied. (Yes, I learned my lesson yesterday.) Here are a couple of other reasons why we are excited for Spring...

1) Bluebonnets. I love bluebonnets (so does Sage).

2) Swimming after a long day at the park to cool off.

3) The beach. Ok, ok...this was taken in the summer. But summer comes after spring, so that counts!

Anyway, the point is, Sage and I are ready for the spring. Spring break is in two days and we are anxiously anticipating some time to relax and recharge. Thanks for reading!

Winter paws. See you next year.

Spring paws. Are here.

Summer paws. We can't wait.