Blog

YourHub.com \\ Lakewood \\ Blogs \\ Family & Community \\ Community

Blog Entry 11 of 18 A Therapy Dog's Journal

I was curious about pet therapy when I first learned about it in the mid-90s. Pets can have an important role in the well-being of children, the elderly and hospitalized patients. In 2002, I was ready to look for the dog which would be compatible with me as a therapy dog. I wanted a smooth-haired dog; clean and easy to groom. I wanted it to be small enough to carry in my arms, hold on my lap, and travel in a little crate in the car. It must also be trainable, healthy and have a people-pleasing, forgiving temperament. I liked many of the characteristics of dachshunds. I owned one before, but she passed away in 1997, at age sixteen. This dog won an AKC obedience title. I narrowed my search for another dachshund. There were puppies available, but I didn’t want one from a pet store or puppy mill. In 2004, I heard about a litter in Utah. After several long distance calls and emails, I was excited about the runt. I drove to meet the breeder at a dog show in Greeley. Jewel and I were a good match. We visited for a while then I bought the puppy and brought her home. Jewel is a ten pound, smooth-coated, black and tan daughter of AKC champions. Jewel was sold to me as a pet, and has never been a show dog. But she’s a very healthy, happy and pretty little girl. Some day I might write her story as a book for young children, but am starting with this blog. It tells the adventures of Jewel: Therapy Dog.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~JewelWeekly

Family reunion

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Gail Kirkegaard on 3/15/2008

This isn't really about Jewel, but she's part of the reunions!

A few years ago, my older sister, Cheryl, and I began organizing family reunions for our immediate family, now that all five of us kids are grown and have children of our own. The other three of our siblings are brothers, all born between the two of us girls.

Mom died in 1997, and Dad in 2000. I wish they could join us. Our reunions have been held in odd years. On even years, we travel to northeastern Nebraska for the larger family reunion with aunts and uncles and cousins and all their kids and grandkids. One of my aunts is good at keeping the family tree record for us.

Something along that line that I do is compile pages in a binder for my siblings and our offspring. I call it the Family Storybook, by which we will pass on our history to future generations. I divided it into five main sections, for each of us, with sub-sections for each of their children, then sub-sub sections for grandkids. We have our life stories novicely written to date, and revise and update them at reunions. The youngest ones can include drawings or photos, since they don't write yet. Ideally, the book is expected to grow larger at each reunion.

We've had our first two reunions, 2005 and 2007, in southern Colorado, at Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center. They have lots of facilities, including a gym and pool, tennis and volleyball courts, a dining hall, lodge and cabins. There's a B & B across the street if you prefer homier accomodations. Most of our family pitch tents at the campground, where we are close enough together to share activities like weenie and marshmallow roasts, play cards, and pitch horse shoes with the loved ones we don't see often enough. See the photo of my husband, Bob,and nephews playing putt putt golf.

Golden Bell Camp is not far from the little town of Cripple Creek. On reunion Saturdays most members of our reunion pile into cars and drive to this little, historic mining-town-turned-gambling-town to enjoy a picnic in the park. Then we all walk over to the Butte Opera House, where we have reservations for the current melodrama. It's one of the highlights of our weekend. If you haven't ever been to a melodrama, I enthusiastically encourage you to see this kind of performance. For one nearby, check the Heritage Square Music Hall in Golden, for their schedule. Bob and I go there a couple times a year.

Leashed dogs are allowed at Golden Bell's campground. Chipmunks teased the dogs, Jewel and Sassy, who were both out of reach on their ropes. Family as young as 17 months old have come to the reunion. See the attached picture of my great niece, Lindsay! She slept in her Mommy and Daddy's tent, but brought her own along for fun.

It's almost time to plan the next reunion. We haven't decided on where we'll meet. Suggestions so far include the Great Sand Dunes near Alamosa, Ponderosa Retreat near Larkspur, and Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park. Since we like tent camping, because it's cheap and we can bring our dogs, we will choose a place with that option. I look forward to the summer of 2009!

< Previous: 'Afternoons with Puppy' | Next: 'Jewel to be a night owl' >

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog

Current Rating

Based on 2 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard

posted on 3/19/2008 @ 11:01:54 AM

(Not Rated)

Erin and Jamie, it should provide something for us to do and talk about during the quiet moments at reunions. It takes persuasion to get people to contribute their stories. I'm looking forward to watching the book grow!

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Jamie VanEaton

posted on 3/18/2008 @ 8:45:12 AM

Rated Blog Entry

I love the idea for a living anthology of your family! It sounds like you guys have a great time!

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Erin Feese

posted on 3/17/2008 @ 3:00:31 PM

Rated Blog Entry

Gail -- that is so great! The closest I have had to family reunions is spending the 4th of July with my mom's family in California. It was a great time -- food, games, swimming, cards, all that good stuff like you mentioned. You have inspired me, I would love to start a similar tradition. And I am so impressed by your scrapbook -- what a great keepsake.

[Report as objectionable]

Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Gail Kirkegaard

Lakewood , CO

Gail Kirkegaard has posted 18 blog entries and 218 comments since joining on 3/2/2006. Gail Kirkegaard 's average blog rating is 4.85.

view profile » view other postings from Gail Kirkegaard »

SAVE AND SHARE THIS BLOG ENTRY

digg	Google
del.icio.us	Yahoo!
reddit	Newsvine

What is this?

BLOG ENTRY RSS FEEDS

All blog entries

All blog entries in Lakewood

All blog entries by Gail Kirkegaard

BLOG LIST

WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?

Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyonewhat events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

Loading Ad