Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Dear Jorja,

You were born on February 16, 2008, in pastoral northern Duval county, which might as well be southern Georgia, but technically is Jacksonville, Florida. 

You had two owners before us but you didn't get along with the previous owner's other dogs so you became our Precious Little Puppy in 2009 when you were 18 or so months old.


Your Birth Certificate

Remember the time we went to Savannah for the weekend? We stayed at Residence Inn by the train museum because they let doggies stay there, too. You really loved to go on the elevator.


Courtyard at Residence Inn
Savannah 2012
That was four years ago. Daddy took our favorite picture of you on the back porch around the same time.



Backporch Bliss

We had taken you to see Dr Holloway at the end of October for your knee but he was afraid you might have lymphoma. We went to see the oncologist at the animal hospital. He confirmed that you did. 

The only treatment was chemotherapy. It was very expensive and you might only have lived for another year.   

The doctor prescribed the steroid, Prednisone, so that you and I could go on walks for four more months. 


Your paw print

Most of the posts on this blog I made for you (and me) were from those treasured months. 

You stopped eating and drinking the weekend after our walk at Jacksonville Arboretum. 

We took you to the hospital on Monday morning, February 22nd, where you went peacefully to sleep.


We will always miss you, Jorgie Porgie.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy




Saturday, February 27, 2016

My co-pilot


In the early days, Jorja loved for me to drive her around the neighborhood. She would balance one paw on the armrest, the other on the open window ledge, and lean out to look at the road. 

For almost seven years the PT Cruiser was Jorja's car. There was never a time when she didn't want to go for a ride. Unless she wanted to go for a walk. 

Doggie Blanket

If she was sleeping all I had to do was jingle the car keys and she would jump up and run to the door.


Waiting for me to start the car ~
 Dec. 12, 2015

Mostly she liked to sit like a proper passenger and watch the road ahead. Unless a loud engine on a truck or SUV made her jump to her cubbyhole. Sometimes she would sleep in her space on the floorboard.


 At Fort Caroline parking lot, Oct. 3rd


The creek at Spanish Pond

John was on travel in Bangor, WA in early October when Jorja and I decided to go for a drive. We filled up our tank and tires on Monument Rd. and then drove out to Spanish Pond at Fort Caroline. 

JEA generating station and Blount Island
as seen from Monument at Holly Oaks.

I took Jorja to the bathroom but didn't think she would want to walk very far after that. Jorja found the trail and to my surprise, she pulled me around the boardwalk.


"Okay. Maybe just a little way..."


"Well, it's not really a pond.
More like an overgrown marsh."

When we passed a creek she jumped in for a cool drink. On our way back to the car we passed purple Beautyberries.


Spanish Creek


Callicarpa Americana

We drove over to the visitor's center. The park ranger keeps a doggie bowl especially for thirsty canines.

Big day at the pond

We went back to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve at Fort Caroline in January and February.



Fort Caroline and Jacksonville Arboretum



Our trips to Ft. Caroline were magical. The second time we found the boat dock. On our last trip we walked out to the great lawn by the fort.

On the trail at the boat dock rest stop ~
Jan. 29, 2016

Looking east toward
Ribault Column...

Sitting on the dock enjoying
the view and breeze. 

View from Ribault Column ~
Jan. 30, 2016

By the boat dock is a Man O' War 
at low tide ~ Feb. 11, 2016

 Past the dock is a great lawn
in front of the fort... 


Four days later we drove to the nature preserve near Regency. It's much closer than Fort Caroline but not quite as pretty, especially in winter. We went on President's Day and the trails were crowded. We didn't stay too long on Monday.


Feb. 15 and 18, 2016 

Palmetto grove at the
Aralia trail head

Jorja sees the wooden bridge
over the ravine.

We went back on Thursday. Jorja remembered the way to the trail and we walked farther than we had anyplace else. We went to the Upper and Lower Ravines and around the Aralia Loop twice, or at least one and a half times. 



Maybe Jorja knew this would be the last walk we would take together.



Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Walks on a country lane

Along the sidewalk on Arlington just south of Winn-Dixie, Jorja found an unpaved road with several homes on private property. The road ended in a long driveway which turned out to be a pleasant wooded trail with flowers and a creek.

We went back several times...

Nov. 17, 2015 
Firespike plant
A drink in the creek
Dec. 13, 2015
Meeting the dog
who lives at the end of the trail
"That was pretty cool!"
Azaleas ~ Jan.13, 2016

Floorboard facial studies ~ Nov, 24, 2015

Happy

Curious

Impatient




Forestry Tower Park ~ Nov. 7, 2015

"What the heck is going on over there?"

"I'm not sure I like this park!"

"Okay, this isn't so bad..."

That looks like fun!

Happy face