Making the Most of Every Moment

Making the Most of Every Moment (lurcher in the snow) | Not Dressed As Lamb

This week has been a challenging week for the UK – the “Beast from the East” weather bomb hit us, and we were once again reminded of the fact that we are woefully underprepared for extreme weather conditions of any kind.

This, from a nation whose no.1 topic of conversation is the weather (go figure)…!

Here in the South West – where we had a red weather warning from the Met Office – everything’s been shut down since lunchtime yesterday. The snow was epic (if you consider it’s considered warm enough to grow palm trees and banana plants down here then the amount of snow we had was definitely epic), and everything came to a grinding halt. It was kinda nice seeing kids playing in the street, with no cars going anywhere, and an eerie quiet falling over the town. Keith stayed at home today and we had a relaxing day and enjoyed our boy’s company.

Talking of whom… this image is of Riley in the snow this evening – it’s just a grainy photo Keith took with his phone, but it’s lovely all the same. He sent it to me less than five minutes after they’d popped out for a walk after the boy insisted on going out for his second walk of the day, DESPITE the freezing temperatures and DESPITE the snow that was still falling and DESPITE the bad news about his health. Many of you have asked on lots of different forums (emails, comments, private messages, etc.) how he’s doing, and you know what? He’s basically making the most of every moment. I don’t know whether this dog knows whether his time on the planet is now somewhat limited, but it’s as if someone has flipped a switch and he wants to make the most of every moment he has left.

(And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the messages of love and concern for him, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them.)

 

Making the most of every moment

He’s never been a big eater, but now he wolfs down every meal and wants more. He’s often getting 3-4 walks a day because he’s always up for an adventure at the moment (we let him lead the way and we’ve discovered loads of new roads and places we’ve never been to before, all thanks to him). Even today he romped (yes, ROMPED) in the snow with lots of other dogs… Keith had to chase after him at one point because that boy would have trotted home with another couple and their dog who were going in the opposite direction. This is all from the aloof lurcher who doesn’t chase balls, looks down his nose at other dogs and thinks he’s a human.

We think the painkillers he’s now on to make him comfortable have given him a new lease of life. And we’re enjoying every moment we can with him as well. All too often I tell Keith I have work to do and he takes Riley for a walk by himself – I’m doing this less now as I’ve realised I need to make the most of my time with him. So out into the snow I’ve ventured, and pretty wonderful it’s been too.

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So let’s all be a Riley and enjoy our food, go on adventures in the snow and demand attention from our loved ones, all at the same time as making them laugh and making them happy.

 

Quality of life and enjoying the simple things in life is something that we often take for granted (I know I do). Too often I spend all day AND EVENING at my desk working when I have two gorgeous silver-haired boys downstairs I could be spending time with. Granted, I am doing it to try and earn as much money as possible so that we can move somewhere bigger to have some more space (our terrace house is tiny) and a bigger garden for the boy, but there has to be a cut-off point in the day where at least not missing moments comes first.

This week I received some horribly sad news about an old friend whose life has been turned upside with the diagnosis of one of their young children (I don’t want to say more than that), and I’m devastated for them. I’m sure they now know the importance of making the most of every moment to the nth degree. It’s such a wake-up call as to just how precious life is and how frittering it away with petty arguments, or working too hard or too much, or failing to show up to a party or event or engagement because you just couldn’t be bothered is so damn WRONG. It’s an insult to the one life you’ve been given.

So let’s all be a Riley and enjoy our food, go on adventures in the snow and demand attention from our loved ones, all at the same time as making them laugh and making them happy. Because what else is there in life?!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHARE THIS WEEK – ANY SNOWMAGEDDON STORIES OF YOUR OWN? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS!

Catherine

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21 Comments

  1. 7 March 2018 / 7:27 pm

    Aw…I’m so glad Riley is enjoying life. We can learn a lot from animals, the older I get the more I want to be surrounded with them. I’m still trying hard to wear my husband down on the subject of getting a micro pig πŸ™‚

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

  2. 5 March 2018 / 10:53 pm

    We muddle along, doing what we do and then every so often we get a wake up call and for a while we re-adjust what we do.
    It’s a funny old thing this thing called life.
    I know you are making the most of that scrumptious boy. I see him looking all sedate and chilled in your photos and I love him.
    I thought I better mention I mean ‘Riley’ .. just in case!! lol xx

  3. 4 March 2018 / 6:47 pm

    Amen to this. We all need to do this. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week

  4. Heide V
    4 March 2018 / 1:57 pm

    So very glad you’re getting some time with Riley that is almost carefree…. I imagine it’s a gift you’ll always be grateful for. Thanks for sharing this with us so beautifully πŸ™‚

  5. Linda
    4 March 2018 / 11:36 am

    What a lovely post. As a family we were once told by a leading doctor in their field that it was “quality not quantity that made a great life”.
    We all need to take that to heart. You certainly are!

  6. 3 March 2018 / 6:37 pm

    Catherine, I have been following your tales of Riley and I am so glad to hear he is “romping” in the snow! We lost our beloved Schnauzer last summer after he went downhill from seizures and I know how tough this is. Enjoy every single minute. And wow–that snow and that cold!! Do stay warm and take care,
    Darlene

  7. 3 March 2018 / 2:19 pm

    Thank you for posting these words on this specific Saturday. Let me just say your words came at a right moment in my life. Love, Lieske

  8. 3 March 2018 / 1:08 pm

    So beautiful Catherine! Thanks for sharing.

  9. 3 March 2018 / 12:58 pm

    Catherine,

    What a lovely post about your sweet Riley.
    It is so true we need to live life to the fullest and enjoy every day we can.
    I am sorry for your friend’s child’s health issue. One of the hardest thing a parent goes through is watching their children suffer or struggle in their personal journey.

    Thank you for sharing today!
    Robin

  10. 3 March 2018 / 11:51 am

    Such a wonderfully important message, Catherine. I have been trying to be much conscious of embracing the little things in life and making the best of every moment lately. Getting closer to more people, allowing more love and beautiful energy into my life every single day, cherishing my family and friends and the time spent with them. Life is too short to waste our time on the silly stuff (unless that silly stuff makes us laugh and laugh). Sending prayers to your sweet Riley and to your friend and her family.

    Shelbee

  11. Karen
    3 March 2018 / 10:21 am

    Oh Catherine…you have brought a tear to my eye reading this post – how very true ! life is so short and we are all guilty of going full steam ahead and not stopping to capture the moment.
    I wish you and Keith and Riley a lovely family weekend, take care x

  12. Rozanne
    3 March 2018 / 9:41 am

    Riley is a wise old soul and how wonderful that you have each other. It is as if he is expressing his joy at his life with you. Our pets have so much to teach us, I wouldn’t be without my dog(s) over the years. Such a beautiful, poignant but uplifting post. Riley, you are one helluva a guy! X

  13. 3 March 2018 / 8:51 am

    That really is a lovely photo of Riley making the most of life out in the snow. Speaking of the snow, I’ve been watching the news and it looks like it’s causing quite a lot of chaos over there lol (so typical of the UK, isn’t it?!). Here in the Algarve, we’re having some pretty heavy rain storms but we’re ok with it because we’ve been in desperate need of rain. We’ve hardly had any this winter so we’re happy πŸ™‚
    Enjoy the snow, Catherine!
    Hugs
    Suzy xx

  14. 3 March 2018 / 8:19 am

    Aww, bless him πŸ™ Sorry to read about Riley xx

  15. 3 March 2018 / 6:45 am

    Keep loving him and enjoy every moment – amazing what we can learn about life from our dear furry friends – they teach us so much. Sorry for your grim weather, I wouldn’t know what to do, we never experience weather that extreme in these parts…hang in there and enjoy the weekend with your beautiful dog.
    xx
    Suzanne

  16. 3 March 2018 / 5:10 am

    I prefer -40C blue sky over windy snow blowing around -5C any time. This week started out with snow blowing around the freezing point (which is worse than around -5C). Then we had -26C in the mid of the week but blue sky and no wind. It sounds crazy, but it feels so more comfortable. It is dry. The blue skies make happy. Cold is quite bearable without wind and without moisture. But when either moisture or wind is in the game, weather is just “MISERABLE.” I feel so lucky living in Interior Alaska where wind is calm and moisture is low. I feel so sorry for you for windy, moist cold weather.

  17. 2 March 2018 / 11:29 pm

    Dearest Catherine – just a few days ago I watched a movie that explored the idea of how we humans are obsessed with some sort of “life after death” because we are afraid that we haven’t “lived” enough in THIS one. How terribly sad is that?? I agree that we can all learn a huge lesson from our animal friends and enjoy every single day – make that every single MOMENT! – as much as we possibly can. But it’s a difficult lesson, too; somehow those trivialities and issues that we promise ourselves will no longer matter starting right. now. always seem to creep back, don’t they?? I guess we just have to keep trying!! XOXO

  18. 2 March 2018 / 10:39 pm

    Dogs and pets hold such a special place in our hearts don’t they. Sending you hugs and best wishes for your dog. A really heartfelt post, that nearly had me in tears. I’m hoping you have a good weekend.
    Jacqui
    mummabstylish

  19. 2 March 2018 / 10:08 pm

    Love him as long as possible! Enjoy your weekend!

  20. Vicky
    2 March 2018 / 9:53 pm

    God bless you for loving Riley. I know the wonderful love of a companion animal, as well as the pain of their loss, Our own sweet Wendy turned 10 in November, and we were told we would have 4 to 5 years together when we adopted her. May all three of you enjoy every minute you have together.

  21. 2 March 2018 / 9:47 pm

    Oh Catherine, your Riley posts always make me cry. This is so poignant, so wise, so sweet (and bittersweet), and is a reminder to me of why we have pets; they teach us so much about life and love. I’m going to go dry off my keyboard now (sob) but I’m sending you and Keith and Riley the biggest adventure-filled hug possible. xxxxx

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