A Few of Her Favorite Things

Treasure, in true Westie fashion, developed quite a few preferences that she insisted be a part of her daily activities. Her vocabulary increased as we discovered these favorite things of hers. One of them was to take a ride in the car. We had various car seats for her, most of which she was quite satisfied to ride in, for they lifted her up to the window so she could see the world around her. All I had to say was, "Let's go ride in the car!" and she would be waiting for me at the door to the garage, ready to go wherever I would take her.



Her next most favorite activity was taking our daily walks. Except for the times I was out of town, I can count on one hand the number of days we missed our walk together. Seriously, she simply would not let a day go by that we didn't take some kind of walk. If I even mentioned the word "walk" she would dance and somersault all the way to the front door. She loved everyone we met along the way, and there was not a dog she didn't befriend. There was only one thing she couldn't understand - what does "Keep off the grass" mean?


The first time we took her with us to visit the Whites and Jefferson, Treasure was captivated by all the critters in their backyard sanctuary (known as Critter Creek.) She stood in the window, watching squirrels, birds and deer for the longest time. She would chase a squirrel or two in our back yard, but never saw a congregation of squirrels such as in Critter Creek.

Treasure loved to get up on the back of our squishy leather sofas, usually when one of her favorite persons was sitting or lying on it. If afforded her a seat as close as possible to her person, got her out of reach of little grandchildren, and was soft enough to make a comfortable napping spot. We often found her on top of the sofa at Jo's or Meredith's house as well.

Treasure had been with us only a year when we first took her out to our ranch in Bandera. She proved to us how really tough a Westie can be, supervising the gathering of rocks, or watching the cows come up for feed. She even got a kick out of walking in the creek and getting herself thoroughly wet and dirty, then sleeping in the back seat of the truck all the way back home.

When Meredith was pregnant with Adrian I took a class to learn how to quilt. I fixed up the small bedroom upstairs with a nice table and my sewing machine and always had some project going. That meant that piles of fabric were always laid out on the table and quilt pieces were stacked up everywhere. Treasure learned that she could jump on a chair to get up on the sewing table and settle in on whatever fabric was handy. I rarely worked on a quilt that she didn't supervise closely, if not on top of the table, then right at my feet.

The finishing part of all the quilts I have made always took place on the floor of one room in the house. There was not a single quilt that did not get the Westie stamp of approval before I could finish it. Treasure always found a spot to sleep on during the pinning process. Her little habit prompted me to wash every quilt before I gave it away!

This sweet little dog brought a huge personality with her when she came into my life. Every day was filled with routine that never grew old. Every day held an adventure she wanted to share. As long as we did it together, her heart was happy. I will remember a few of her favorite things, and that will make my heart happy too.

Treasure and Jefferson - a Special Friendship

Treasure had a special friendship with a very unique poodle named Jefferson White. Their "people" are great friends, so it was only natural that these two pooches would spend time together. In fact, Jefferson and Treasure were Bible study mates for a couple of years. They got into a little mischief at times, but were usually the model of sanctification during these meetings! It is in this vein that I wish to tell the following story ~ an important part of Treasure's last tale ~ interspersed with pictures of them together.

Treasure is willing to share her most favorite man with her friend.

Thursday morning, once I recognized what needed to happen that day and had made our appointment, I asked Graham to call Jo and let her know that I wouldn't be at Bible study that day and to explain why. And as soon as Lois came to Jo's door, she was informed of my decision and set wheels in motion for Doug and Jefferson to come with her to Dr. Earl's office and meet us there. It seemed most fitting as they were the ones who introduced us to Dr. Earl and accompanied us to that first appointment.

Jefferson invited Treasure to ride with him on his motorcycle, though it appears that Treasure is not too sure of his driving skills.

Once we were situated in the exam room and Treasure was comfortably settled on the table, Jefferson hopped up beside her and began sniffing and kissing her all over. He had such concern for her and couldn't take his eyes away from her. Even when Dr. Earl came into the room, his focus remained on Treasure. Lois held him throughout the procedure and then allowed him to inspect her little lifeless body. Then she sent him out to the waiting room with Doug and Graham and he began to cry in his loud, cat-like voice.

Treasure and Jefferson enjoyed a rare moment of quiet together on a sunny winter afternoon. Treasure loved watching the squirrels and birds that live in Critter Creek outside this window.

This might have been the end of an isolated episode had it not been for a visit we made to the White's house on Saturday. We had gone over to discuss a river trip with them and I had no sooner sat down on the sofa when Lois let Jeffie out of his room upstairs. He bounded down the stairs and nearly flew through the air to the sofa, whereupon he began to smother me with kisses. He stayed on my lap for the longest time and, when Lois finally put him down, he ran over to Graham and did the same to him! It was remarkable in that Jefferson had always deferred my lap to Treasure. But now he seemed to be telling me that he knew and that he understood. It was an extraordinary moment, one I will not soon forget.

Treasure's Final Tale

This is the post I never wanted to write. Yesterday we took our beloved Treasure to Dr. Earl and released her from her struggle with cancer. She was first diagnosed on August 28, 2008 and given two months to live. I took her to Dr. Earl on September 29, 2008 and she thrived under his care for the next 24 1/2 months.

When we returned home from France in June, the ultrasound check showed that her cancer had begun to grow. She was showing more signs of her health deteriorating as we approached the time of our departure for Canada. When we returned from that trip Treasure, I think, sensed that the end was near. Her appetite waned and she began losing weight. Her back legs were making it very hard for her to take her walks and I would invariably have to carry her home each time we went out.

One thing that never diminished was her Westie spirit. If I even looked like I was heading to the front door, she would dance all the way and beat me there, wagging her tail in anticipation of the great outdoors. Mostly we would just go walk around the yard, slipping around and through the bushes in the garden. Thursday morning we just sat together in the grass, warmed by the sunshine. Meredith and Murphy had both come by at lunchtime. Treasure even shared a bite of fajita from Murphy, the only food she had eaten in two days.


I had called Dr. Earl's office earlier in the morning, and told them that we were ready for her "quality of life" appointment. He told me last week that she would know and would let me know when the time was right. All day Wednesday her eyes were telling me that she was no longer able to find comfort in her struggle. Her legs were being affected by the growing tumor, yet in her Westie determination, she could still, remarkably, climb up the twelve steps to "our room" where my computer and sewing machine are - a room where we shared so many hours together, a room that will hold many memories in the days to come.


As I watched her nap, just hours before her final appointment, I was reminded of a poem shared by an internet friend years ago, and I knew that I couldn't reverse the progress of this day.

If It Should Be

If it should be that I grow weak,

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done,

For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand,

Don't let your grief then stay your hand,

For this day more than all the rest,

Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,

What is to come can hold no fears,

You'd not want me to suffer so,

The time has come, please let me go.

Take me where my need they'll tend,

And please stay with me until the end.

I know in time that you will see,

The kindness that you did for me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Please do not grieve, it must be you

Who had this painful thing to do.

We've been so close, we two, these years,

Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

Author Unknown

So, with the heaviest heart, Graham and I took my precious Treasure to Dr. Earl yesterday afternoon. Our friends, Lois and Doug with Jefferson, met us there and, as a family, we loved Treasure through her final minutes. She was handled with such love and care by Dr. Earl and his staff, and as much care and love was given to me and I am forever grateful.

This blog post is going to serve as grief-therapy for me, so please forgive me if I bring you to tears. I have picked just a few pictures of some of the aspects of Treasure's personality. There are many more and I will probably post more in the days ahead. When she first came to us I wrote short stories about her called "Treasure's Tales". This may be the final tale in her story, but it also may motivate me to go back into the archives and tell her stories all over again.

Treasure, after successfully opening her Christmas present from Auntie Jo, takes her bounty into her favorite closet to enjoy all by herself!


Following our return from France, I got the message loud and clear that if I were planning to go somewhere, Treasure was going to go with me!

Murphy adored Treasure and worked diligently to train her to sit up and beg for her treats.

When I began quilting, Treasure spent many happy hours in the vicinity of my work. Sometimes she was on the floor by my feet, but more often she preferred the tabletop where there were always stacks of fabric to snooze on. She was my quilt tester and has been photographed on almost all of the quilts I've made.

Here she comes up the stairs! She would start at the bottom and in one long breath run nonstop up to the top. Because she always wanted to be wherever I was, this would occur multiple times a day. Unbelievably, she did this on the morning of her homegoing.

My sweet Treasure came into my life as a six year old on Valentine's Day, 2004. We loved each other the moment our eyes met and shared that bond until her very last breath. Rest in peace, little angel.