Man's Best Friend , "My Best Friend" !.

One year ago today at 1:35 pm on a mild winter day in Seabrook I had to lay to rest my best Friend , a female pure-bred Dalmation . Her name was "Dominique".

I have never talked about her on my blog, It saddens me 1 year later to look at these pic's taken over the years that Dominique traveled with the family across Texas.

I rescued her from an abandoned townhouse, in NW Houston in December 2003.Dirty and with an injury to her leg ,We think maybe trying to escape from the chain link fence.

The above photo is my very close friend Mike ,He was with me when we picked her up, There was always a special relationship between them when he came to the house.

I was not into digital photography when we first met ,but over the years many moments were captured on digital media. I am glad to write this and share the love she offered to my family during the next 6 years of her life.

Our vet estimated she was about 4 to 5 years old when God put her in our lives.

She never sleep outside again for the rest of her life.

She was never a problem and never demanded any thing from us but , Love !

She only gave, with no expectations other than food and water , But we spoiled her so much that her loss was devastating to our family to this day.

The pic's below tell a 1000 words.

This first shot taken at the McDonald Observatory near Ft Davis

A shot with Smythe and Taylor before a Fourth of July party in the Mountain's.

While we still were camping in Ft Davis.

At the Starlite Theater and Trading Post in Terlingua.

Behind the "Ghos Town" in Terlingua , ya that's the way it's spelled , Talk to Bill Ivey and verify.

A visit to Lake LBJ and a stop at Spencer's were some good times for her.

Many times we wore her out , but she never got bitchy or whined, It was just her nature.

She really didn't like the water until we started to camp and so you see , no problem

Another shot playing at Lake LBJ.

A day in the winter of 07 at the private beach we had in Seabrook.

With our Daughter as she exhibits an excellent pose and shows off her magnificent stance , She was a champion no doubt!
I use this shot as my laptop screen saver and will never change it !

I will always remember this day.

She shares her pillow with me while I jack around on my computer at the cabin.This was before I had even started to finish out the interior walls.

These shots were taken last year on the 31st.

My wife gently brushes her early that morning , Dominique had developed a tumor in her brain and was suffering inside more than I could take.

At this point in an animals life you have to make decisions for them, They can't call the Vet , You have too! Many people are selfish about finality of a beloved pet, But to let a loved one suffer is pure selfishness on your behalf.

I can not put into words how difficult the call to the vet to come to the home in Seabrook and have her euthanized in our home with all of us there for her last breath.

It was only the right thing to do. Remembering her as a strong member of our family. Not crumpled up in the corner of a cold vet hospital waiting to die alone.

She deserved better and it was my call as she gently asked me in her own way to make the call. I could just see it in her bloodshot eye's telling me that she was ready to go .

My wife was affected for many months, Her last picture with Dominique.

She rose late that morning hungry ,She had not had much of an appetite for days before I had already made the decision. I was glad to see her eat a can of food before the doctor arrived. Her head was swollen the day before and could not arrange this until Saturday afternoon.
It really gave me 2nd feelings about what I had put into motion.

She was a very beautiful lady and went out that way.

The last photo taken of my very special friend. As I said her eyes told me she was ready to go home for good , Bye Dominique. I still wonder if I'll be united in another life ?

I know most of us have had to deal with this at least once, for me this is the 5th dog I have outlived . It dose not get easier.

My wife and I have not tried to "replace" the empty spot she left in our hearts.

For this time I realize we can't replace Dominique .We can only remember all the good times spent with her, She was by far the most important dog I have ever had the pleasure of being associated with. She owned me!

Dominique now rests at the cabin looking over the property waiting for us to drive up the driveway and come home to her for good. A day not far in the future.

This has taken me several hours to process the emotional side of doing this today as the memories are still fresh.

This is by far the most difficult post for me to write . "My Good ol Dog" I miss ya .

cheers!

.bb

The South Will Rise Again !

Hey OGT your right, Been working out in East Texas on a large sawmill job .

Doing well and making excellent $change$ in the progress.

Been out of town so much and have not really felt like writing about replacing
motors and controls on extremely large pulp machines, ya know it smells like s::t!

But to give you a idea just take a look at my friends machine shop.I spent many summers here while growing up with my grand parents.

This is a town that most city folk's Don't want to mess around in , If ya know what I mean !!!!


This is common down here and they "Mean It".



back in a few day's. then just waiting on the weather in Ft Davis to be a little kinder to work in.

and that's the way it is.

cheers!

.bb

From Houston to Ft Davis Christmas and New Year 2009/2010

Happy New Year to all.

Here is a collection of pictures from Houston to Ft Davis over the Christmas and New Year Holidays 2009 / 2010.

Starting in Houston area on Christmas Day.


My daughter and myself.

The Christmas ham making it's way to the table.

Got a point and shoot for quick shots on the run.

"Lucky Star's" got the new Dell this year.

And her and good "old" dad make the first boot-up and install software.

Just what I wanted ! for my wife , cuz I can't do it !

Food is always a good thing!

And a little cat nap for Ozzie.

It's getting serious at this table !

After I went back to the coast my wife took a few across the horizon as another storm decided to drop in.

She said it was not cold ? I beg to differ with her !

A clear to partly cloudy day in the mountains , cold and windy also.

A few hours later some more of the cold stuff drifted in.

Been busy working on final interior frame-out plans and letting the floor settle for about a month before I start up again , also when the temps drop into the teens I chose not to take part in all of this fun!

and that's the way it is.

cheers!

.bb

New Day ,New Year ,Here We Go !

Here we are , 2010 a new year forward , and goodbye to 2009 !

We spent a quite night by the fire and did little more than watch a good
Robert De Niro movie "Score".

Got cold last night and was helping a friend get his water running this morning.

Also started a brisket at Barry's for tonight's feast and dominoes game.

I took advantage of the nice weather this afternoon to work on the floor .

Finished through bolting the frame and installed 62 rafter ties (hurricane ties on the coast) on lower floor , getting ready to move on to framing and roof by February.


The wood burner with a 8" x 20" piece of oak. The coals have been hot for a week.

Getting ready for some very critical and necessary extras so this thing won't launch with the up to 80 mph winds that role through in April and May.

My daughter caught me working.

Tools for the heavy stuff, using 1/2"/ 13 x 8" carriage bolts for through bolts and 3/8" x 6" lags and washers to pin everything together

A look across the span.

These ties will connect the frame to the floor joist. This is code in most places today and mandatory for all coastal building. They will also be used on the walls to the roof joist making for a solid and sturdy building. Building codes call for 1 tie every four feet.

Yes , I know they are installed offset but on the floor they work fine and are easier to install, on the walls to roof they will be "proper" with left and rights used , all they had where rights in Ft Davis ya ya ya. I know !!!!

I have never used these ties for any type of foundation work until today.

A look down row 4 after the clips are installed.

Hurricane ties , lags and carriage bolts installed , but not finished yet.

Same thing.

Another look down row 4.

A look down row 5.

And a final shot before I go down hill , Well worth 4 hours of labor for piece of mine.

Low temp this morning 14 degrees

High temp 54

and that's the way it is!

cheers!

Happy New Year.

.bb