Hello Gary,
Nice story. Abby left us this spring after 15yrs. Those who know me know she was always with me EVERYWHERE.
I always said "If she isn't allowed, neither is my wallet"

to honor mine that I just lost a couple days ago (see matilda in the lost my pup thread) I am going to take a stone from her grave to place on the grave site of the Cherokee Princess here in Dahlonega so she will look after her. here is the story and tradition of placing stones at the Princess' grave.





Each day cars whiz by a nondescript pile of stone north of Dahlonega, occasionally slowing to read the historic marker. The rocks are the grave of a Cherokee who loved the forest and called the mountains of North Georgia home. Trahlyta, according to legend, lived on a mountain near her grave. She was told to walk along a path, drink from the spring and wish never to grow old by the "Mountain Medicine Man" or the Witch of Cedar Mountain, depending on which legend you believe. "You will become more beautiful with each sip" the voice told her. She followed the path and drank from the spring. Word of her beauty quickly spread. Desoto the explorer reportedly sent soldiers to investigate her "Fountain of Youth" as witnessed by a Spanish conquistador helmet which was found not far from the spring.

The Cherokee warrior Wahsega, whom she rejected as a suitor, kidnapped her and took her west to his home. She begged and pleaded for her release, but Wahsega would not permit it. With each day her strength waned, her happiness gone, longing for her mountain forest. Crying tears of pure gold as she lay dying, Trahlyta asked to be buried in the mountain paradise from which she had come. "Strangers, as they pass by, may drop a stone on my grave and they too shall be young and happy, as I once was." she said, "What they wish for shall be theirs!."

The Legend grew, and soon all passersby, would pick up a nearby stone and add it to her grave for good luck. Today her grave is in Stonepile Gap, the spring still exists, and the mountain she lived on, Cedar Mountain, is just a stone's throw away.

Twice the Department of Highways has attempted to move the grave during road construction. Both times at least one person died in an accident while moving the pile. The stone grave remains today in the same place it has always been. Porter Springs, in the latter 1800's and early 1900's was site of a popular health spa to which people came from all across the planet to soak in and drink the water. The hotel burned to the ground in the early 1900's, but the series of springs are the foot of the mountain, and they still run sweet and clear.

I knew she was close when you were down here visiting.
I never saw you on the water w/o Abby. First time we had Pepper on the Sonic, she went straight to the sun lounge and did her best Abby pose and I instantly thought of your dog.

BTW, I have a new # if you are back down in the area. We are now in Vero Beach.
772-559-0881

Got it Gary. Thanks
We should be down at least once more this winter.
She made it a little over a year after that but it was a tuff year.
Not getting any more "heartbreakers"

Sorry for your loss. On a positive note, it looks as you gave your dogs one heck of a good life! Be proud of that!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]515313[/ATTACH]
Lexi going for first ride on fountain!

>>>On a positive note, it looks as you gave your dogs one heck of a good life! Be proud of that!
Thanks Joe! Never thought of it that way...
My daughters were jealous of her and my boating friends said they wanted to be reincarnated as my dog:)

Can't wait to meet Pepper Gary

You already have. We had her when you were down here.

We are on a waiting list for a new Lab pup. His name will be "Stinky" in honor of Slick who used to clear rooms w/his farts as a puppy.

I understand your comments about heart break too. I say the same thing every time but I cannot imagine my life without my kids.


12meterjoe, great picture.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...psb5b75e93.jpg

Great story, you are one dedicated master! Thanks for sharing as others have said.

We normally leave Enzo at home on day trips, being a great dane (small one at ~110lbs) he's tough to get in and out of the water if there is no dock (floating preferred). Looking forward to April for you so you can begin writing a new chapter.

Papa and Enzo waking in the coffin (the space tests Danielle's claustrophobia too much, she prefers the pullout in the 31, but he'd just find a way to sqeeze in between anyway!)
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...o/DSCN0553.jpg

Ezno just watches for me when we leave him anywhere. On the back of mom and dad's boat while we go out for dinner..
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...o/DSCN0707.jpg

Don't mess with HIS rig:)
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...8242402670.jpg

Enzo musky fishing, never wants to be away from me so had to get creative to keep him warm as it was a cold October day...
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...o/DSCN0568.jpg

Hoping you enjoy the pics. If I was in your shoes I'd need to celebrate life or it's just too depressing.

Dave

deemo99, great pix's. Love em, thanks!

When Slick was younger, I used to put on a boating event up on the Ohio River. I'd let him have the run of the park and he always stayed close and everyone knew him.
I'd have to tie him up or lock him up if I went out on a boat so he couldn't see me.
I found this out when I noticed him chasing our boat along the shore line! When we slowed for me to yell at him, he jumped in and swam to the boat.
No one there had ever seen that before. Including me.

If I went to the store and left him in the car, he 'd stay all day as long as he could see the door I went in. If not, he would destroy the car trying to get to me.

We have been on a breeders waiting list and just missed the most recent batch that was all spoken for. We were on that list in case they had pups than were spoken for.

The wife got a call this morning that they had their litter and there was one extra pup and it was a chocolate male w/our name on it!! The breeder knew how much we wanted on one, and knows our story and said it must be destiny.
Can't hardly believe it.

I got out pix's of Slick and probably shouldn't have. I hope he and his step brother are having fun on their beach.

Only have one shot so far and all we know at this point is it's one of the three (males) in the picture. Just to the edge pf the shot is their one sister. They are 5 days old and now we wait for 8 more wks.
Lab pups look like balls of fur w/legs sticking out of them ;)

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...psc8e00950.jpg

Great story.