Way, way off topic..

[On_yer_left!]

... but I can't help myself. I wanna show off my babies.
My sweet old girl Niki -- 14 year-old lab/shep mix -- left me several weeks back after developing cancer. Life has been so strange without her! But with so many pooches up for adoption after the hurricanes, I decided to open my home again -- and ruin my floors -- by adopting two homeless puppies.
Though I haven't been on a bike since adopting them (too busy picking up failed paper-training efforts), these little guys bring the same kind of joy that a good ride in the mountains does. So we're all getting fatter together.

Meet Mocha and Java...

[DeniseGoldberg]

They are absolutely gorgeous! Congrats on the additions to your "family"...

--- Denise

[Trekhawk]

Oohh they are so cute. I can understand you spending all your spare time with them. How could anyone resist those two. :)

[sydney_b]

They're irresistable and triggered one of those "awww, I want one too" responses. I'm so glad they've found a good home. You'll have to get a double trailer so they can go with you on your bike.

:)

[kaybee]

They are beautiful! You've done a wonderful thing.

[pkq]

They are so cute! I am glad they have found a good home.

[mtbdarby]

AWWWW is right. I see many chewed shoes in your future but they are adorable!

[On_yer_left!]

thanks for the aawwwws. They are two sweet little monsters, and can't wait till they're big enough for some hikes in the Rockies! I've thought about a bike trailer -- the one for kids, but sticking those two in for a ride instead. I just don't think they could sit still for more than 5 seconds at a time...

[bikerchick68]

omygosh! they are so cute... THANK YOU for rescuing them!!!

I have a good friend who is with the local SPCA... they went to the Gulf region the week after the floods and just their team alone was able to rescue 5000 animals in a weeks time... good to know some of them are finding loving homes... :)

[caligurl]

OMG! HOW CUTE! they are precious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[On_yer_left!]

My family told me to wait and "grieve" properly for Niki, but I just didn't see the sense in that when there were so many dogs, both from the hurricane and in general, that needed homes. It was heartbreaking going to the shelter, you just want to save them all. But Niki was a pound dog herself, so I'm thinking she'd be happy knowing some fellow orphans were enjoying her toys and the wisps of her hair that still float around the house. Funny seeing a bunch of Niki hair on the little one's nose -- a kiss from the older generation!
Thank God for sweet animals and bicycles.

[caligurl]

i think niki would be most pleased with you! and you aren't replacing her... you never replace them... you are just giving all that love away that you have to give!

everyone has their own waiting period.... my mom, when she lost her sheltie... got a cat within days cuz she couldn't stand not having an animal in the house!

i, on the other hand.. when we lost kassie... did wait a year.. HOWEVER.. we had 2 dogs that were receiving our love... finally one day it was time and we rescued one pound kittie.. then another!

you are happy.. the puppies are happy! everyone is happy and loved!!!!!

(a house without a pet isn't a home!)

[Selkie]

I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet girl, Niki. Losing a pet is hard. You know that Niki is probably wagging her tail, knowing that you had to replace her with two doggies (that's a lot of love). You were right to listen to your heart and to adopt those two puppy bears. They will bring a lot of joy into your life.
I've often thought about getting one of those kid trailers for my bike and taking my goldens w/me occasionally. One at a time, though. :) They are big gals (Agnes is a 96lber; Maeve, 85 lbs; and Maud, 60 lbs).

[On_yer_left!]

oh, goldens are great! That setup would stop traffic -- plus the idea of pulling 200-plus pounds behind me... yikes. They must be a lot of fun, though!

[SalsaMTB]

They are so cute! I love puppies!!

[go get em]

Your babies are so cute. I'm so glad you didn't wait, because those two little guys really needed you. Congratulations.

[Trek420]

Awwwwww, you're two fur-covered kids are too cute. My hat's off to you for fostering them. What's next for these cuties? Can you find the owners? Adoption?

You deserve many miles of happy trails and tailwinds for doing this. :)

[On_yer_left!]

already adopted them, Trek! They're great with each other -- they wrestle with each other, fight over cool toys and fall asleep curled up together. The older, 4-month old was probably abused -- flinched when I put my hand out to pet him, scared of going outside -- but he's warmed up quite a bit in just a couple of days. The little one's insane. Tiny ball of squirming energy, a mini tasmanian devil.
As for what's next, hopefully housetraining. Quick.

[latelatebloomer]

Oh I am SOOOOOOOOO jealous! I wanted to get a pup or grown dog soon after we lost Reba, but DH couldn't handle it. In my family, we always got a new dog pretty soon - not to replace, but to have the spark of new life in the house to help heal. Give them some kisses and squeezles for me. Names???

May you have many happy years and miles together. :D

[On_yer_left!]

thanks lateX2. The names? Mocha and Java. Well, javabean. Or bean for short. Or beanie. Or little s*** when she pees in my shoes

There's a Norwegian expression that translated means, "a well-loved child has many names".

[VenusdeVelo]

Now those pictures really make you SMILE :D

[makbike]

Congratulations on the new additions. Only you know when you are ready to open your heart to a new addition and I'm glad you listened to your heart! There is nothing like a cat or dog to share your life and home with, they love you no matter what. I share my home with six cats, three dogs, a guinea pig, a chinchilla and a rabbit and I simply can't image not having them in my life. May you have many, many years of pure joy with your new additions!

[wabisabi]

Oh, good for you, there are many karma credits in rescuing beings! I'm missing my girl who died a couple of weeks ago--so is her companion--and there is a shelter right along my bike route, pulling me in...

[On_yer_left!]

I'm sorry for your loss, wabisabi -- it was one of the most heartbreaking things to do, making the decision to let go. But I hope you let that shelter pull you in! Your dog needs another companion -- or a youngster to boss around!

[wabisabi]

Thanks, left, I think it will happen soon!

[bcipam]

VERY CUTE! The first photo of the little brown guy made me giggle!

[doctorfrau]

How could anyone resist those eyes in the last pic? :)

[Bustertb]

OMGoodness! They are adorable!! Cute names :)

[Trek420]

On_yer_left! sez "The older, 4-month old was probably abused -- flinched when I put my hand out to pet him, scared of going outside -- but he's warmed up quite a bit in just a couple of days"

with your care he'll turn out to be a great dog, learn to trust people again.

"The little one's insane. Tiny ball of squirming energy, a mini tasmanian devil."

Older one looks like a German Shepard, mini-Taz is ??????? cute though. Pound-pets are best. What's their story? How'd you manage to adopt them? the boyfriend of a gal I was on the AIDS ride with last year went down to LA with a Shelter and ended up rescuing who knows how many.

[wavedancer]

I'm thinking she'd be happy knowing some fellow orphans were enjoying her toys and the wisps of her hair that still float around the house. Funny seeing a bunch of Niki hair on the little one's nose -- a kiss from the older generation!
Thank God for sweet animals and bicycles.

I'm sure the house is full of Niki's love and is helping your new little ones become wonderful companions. I adopted my Ebby from the shelter three years after losing my 14-year Apollo, and within two days she found one of his bones that had become pushed way under a radiator. She pulled it out and happily started chewing on it. It was as if old Apollo was there smiling and welcoming her! :)

Wishing you lots of love and joy with your two adorable pups!

[Jo-n-NY]

How absolutely adorable. Much luck with you new babies and how nice that they have found such a loving home!

JoAnn

[short cut sally]

O-Y-L, so glad you could take in 2 sweet little puppies, you will be busy for sure. Thanks for sharing your pics. They are sooo adorable. shellyj

[cusepack]

Are they ever adorable:) They're two lucky pups. As an animal lover (and "mommy" to furry children several times over) thank you for opening your heart and home to them. I'm certain Niki is very proud of her mama.

[On_yer_left!]

Thanks for the sweet notes. I can't tell you what a blessing these two are. ..
A friend of mine ended her life this weekend, leaving a daughter without a mother and a whole bunch of us grieving anf wondering why she couldn't let us help her. Spending the days walking around in a stupor, then come home to two little embodiments of joy -- two destructive, messy, disobediant embodiments of joy. I'm sure those of you with kids feel that very thing many times over; that's the way these two can just save my butt and remind me there's plenty of joy in life if we reach for it.

Call me a sappy mess, but man, it's true!

[short cut sally]

O-Y-L, glad you had your "kids" to hug and embrace over that terrible tragedy of your friend. Hope things work out well for everyone, shelly

[trayc]

I want to say thank you for adopting those two great looking pups. I was in the process of adopting a dog from hurricane katrina when the area I live in was hit by hurricane rita. So, I have been very concerned that those animals that were in my area from Katrina might not have found homes. I hope once my house is put back to right that I might go back and see if I can adopt a pup. So, o-y-l thanks again for opening your home to some homeless puppies.

[latelatebloomer]

Very sorry to hear such sad news about your friend, O-Y-L. Animals are such a great comfort in hard times. Sending loving energy to all who are quaking with such a loss. llb