Good Morning folks,
We got about 3" of snow last night, I don't really enjoy that cold white stuff.  Mom and dad are nice and take us out to do our bathroom duties through the basement and we go out the back door and then end up under the deck.  There isn't much snow there so it's much easier on our feet.  However, this new dog is bigger, like Jaybo was, and bigger dogs don't seem to mind going out in the snow as much.  So Katie and mom took Eve in the pool area.  They left her run and she had a ball.  Here a picture Katie snapped of her in action!  What an action shot, her ears are standing up, she looks like a bunny!  LOL!   She is a cool dog.  The cats don't like her yet and seem to keep to the other side of the house.  Mom has stuff there so Eve can't get through to them, so they feel safe! 

Anyway, after our adventure outside this morning, we all decided it's time for a good nap.  I had the cover on my head but mom insisted that I get my head out from under the cover, so I looked out for just a minute.   So here we are!  Keep warm, it's supposed to get cold tonight.  We plan on it! 

Later,
Leonard

So Eve moved in to our house on February 2nd.  She is pretty cool, we all hang out on the sofa together.  Mom has commented that she thinks we need a bigger sofa so mom can sit here too.  That's fine with me as long as we make it cat proof.  Speaking of cats, this Eve dog is amazing.  I have not seen any of those stupid cats since she moved in.  She is my kind of dog!  wow!   Mom is concerned about the cats, but everyone says it'll take awhile for the cats to show their faces again.  Suits me fine, don't know what the heck mom is worrying about.  I hear the family say the cats are hiding out in what we call the music room.  Fine with me, I don't often venture into that room anyway unless I sit on the window seat there, but the sun hasn't been out, so I haven't been over there in awhile. 

This Eve dog seems to really like Katie.  This dog is very tall towards me and can actually hug and kiss Katie.  I found this picture in mom's computer of Katie and Eve.  I think they both look cute, don't they?

So today, is Groundhog's Day and I hear the groundhog saw his shadow and the baby ran back into his den for another 6 weeks while the rest of us have to endure more weeks of winter.  Thanks Phil, you big baby! 

The surprise mom had for us today was a new dog!  THANK GOODNESS it wasn't a new cat.  Here is the picture that mom took of the new dog and of course, my great friend, Katie! 

 

This is EVE!  Welcome Eve.  She came from a rescue.  Mom and dad weren't  looking for a dog.   As a matter of fact, after we put Jaybo to sleep, mom said "Okay God, we have two dogs and we really don't need another.  We aren't gonna look for another dog, if you want us to take another dog, you will have to push something our way".  A few days later a friend of Katie's told her about a dog that was at a rescue and this lady knew the dog was a real sweetheart.  So, Katie presented the information to mom and dad.  As they say on tv.  The rest is History!  So we welcome Eve. Personally, I think she is amazing.  Penny isn't thrilled with her. The greatest thing is the cats really hate her!   Isn't that cool?  Eve keep sniffing them out and scares the heck out of them.  How cool is that?? She is my true hero!  

your friend, 

Leonard!   

PS, oh yes, after our big meeting today, we all took a long nap together.  This Eve is the coolest! 

Hi Folks,

Mom says Penny and I have to be on our best behavior tomorrow afternoon (Feburary 2, 2017).
We are getting company.  I'm sort of worried what is gonna happen tomorrow. I hope that stupid groundhog isn't gonna be coming to visit us.  I don't like groundhogs.   I don't like these outdoor animals.  Do you know when mom came home this afternoon and left us go outside (to well you know why they let us outside), it smelled so bad out there.  Mom said there must have been a skunk around the area. Well let me tell you, that Mr Skunk better get himself to a groomer or something, he really needs a bath, my goodness. I bet Jaybo could smell him up in heaven!   That Mr Skunk Animal has a major stink problem.

Oh goodness, I hope that Mr Skunk guy isn't gonna move into our house, since he lives in the neighborhood!  This could be bad.  Maybe I'll let that groundhog move in instead of the smelly Mr Skunk.  

Wow, I'm worried now, what's up with tomorrow?     Stay tuned, we'll all find out what's the big surprise for tomorrow!  

Until then, sleep well my friends!  

Love
Leonard

Dear Friends
Our family is having a very difficult week.   This morning when we got up we found our beautiful dove, Cinnamon dead in the bottom of her cage. Cinnamon had a beautiful song to share as she "cooed" for all of us.  We know she was aging, she no longer cooed for us and she didn't sit on her perch, instead she sat on the floor of her cage.

Cinnamon was adopted from a bird rescue on September 18, 2005.  We have no idea how old she was at that time, but if you are a math major you'll be able to figure she lived with us over 11 years.  Which seems like a long life for a bird.

Mom always decorated the top of her cage with Christmas lights or red for valentine, green for March and so on depending on the season.  It was so precious the first time mom did this and then lite the lights.  Cinnamon looked up and around and almost fell off her perch looking at the lights.  Mom cracked up and will always have that sweet memory of Cinnamon and her Christmas Lights.  We do think Cinnamon  enjoyed the lights cause when mom would change them she'd look up to check them out.

We will miss her beautiful song, at least we do have a recording of it.  Sorry I can't upload a recording to this page.  Cinnamon, you were a sweet bird, even if Holli and Addi scared you a few time pawing at  you through the openings in the cage.  Mom was freaked out the time she forgot to close your cage's door  and looked around to see Addi in the cage. Luckily mom jumped in to rescue you from the crazy little cat.

Cinnamon, you and Jaybo can run around Heaven and play together now, just remember to meet all of us as we cross that Rainbow Bridge!


RIP Cinnamon

Love
Leonard

Our Dear Dog Jaybo    

Katie and Jaybo December 2005

Jaybo Born September 2005

                    died January 17, 2017

Jaybo was born in Ohio.  She joined the Zambanini Family November 4, 2005.   After the Zambanini Family lost their dogs earlier that year, Jaybo’s dad, Rob wasn’t ready to get another dog.  However, hurricane Katrina happened and there were so many dogs who needed homes that Rob agreed that Katie and Luann could look for a Katrina dog needing a home.  After searching Luann happened to come across a litter of puppies being fostered in the Allentown area through Peaceable Kingdom.  It was love at first site for Luann and Katie and with Rob’s blessing they adopted this puppy they would name Jaybo.  You may wonder where Jaybo got her name.  During Rob’s days at college working on his PhD, he had an awesome college professor “John B. Ochs” who really helped him during really rough time.  Finally after Rob graduated in 2000 with his PhD, I told Dr Ochs that I was too old have another child, but we would name our next dog after him.  Once we got this puppy in November of 2005, we figured we’d name her Ochs (pronounced “Oaks”).  But it just didn’t sound right.  I was thinking a lot about it and remembered that a lot of folks called Dr Ochs by his initial “JBO”, so I started saying JBO, JBO, “Jaybo” came to mind and our puppy became known as “Jaybo”. 

Jaybo was your normal naughty puppy.  She stole pens and chewed them.  She was so excited when we were outside and didn’t take her along, she tore through every patio door screen we had. (We have 3 patio doors) also she tore through the basement screen door.  Jaybo ripped curtain (to look out the window).  All those puppy things.

Rob didn’t get close to Jaybo, he really didn’t want a dog, he just agreed we could get one.  Well, in July of 2007, Rob tore his Achilles tendon and Jaybo became his best friend.  Rob, who slept on the pull out sofa downstairs, for months, had a buddy with him. The buddy named Jaybo.  Jaybo was with Rob all the time and they bonded. 

Jaybo and her girl Katie

After Rob was back in the swing of walking, he would walk Jaybo a mile each night. They would go rain or shine or even snowstorm.  For years they walked.  The past few months at times Jaybo would walk part way and then stop like she was saying “That’s enough dad, I’m tired”.  Rob would turn around and come home.  Even the week before she died she walked the normal mile walk with him.  But that would be the last time she’d go that far.  The last few days she would just look at him, her heart and head wanted to go, but the body was refusing.  Jaybo had liver cancer.  We don’t know how long she had it, she just seemed sad a few months and then for a few weeks she didn’t finish her food.  Finally after test, it was discovered and very soon after that her quality of life wasn’t there.  We would not let her suffer and on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 we sent her across the rainbow bridge.  As Rob, Katie and I laid on the floor in the vet’s office we all told her how much we loved her and petted her as she fell to that eternal sleep.  She will be missed very much by so many.  

 Even the folks in the vets office loved Jaybo and all hugged her “goodbye”.    

Tulip Time, Spring 2008

And so we go on to Jaybo’s obituary……..

Jaybo was born sometime in September 2005 in Ohio.  She came to live with the Zambanini Family November 4, 2005. 

Jaybo is survived by her beloved human family, Luann, Rob, Katie and Cody.  Her beloved animal family of her dog sister, Penny, her dog brother Leonard.   Her cat sisters, Frankie, and Holli.   Along with her feathers sisters Sandy and Cinnamon, and her feathered brother Atilla.  Jaybo also leaves her cat nephew, Perkins and her cat niece Addie. 

Jaybo by the pool that she enjoyed!

Jay, Leonard & Penny

 She was proceeded in death by her cat sisters Antoinette "Tony" and Samantha “Sam.”

Jaybo will be greatly missed by her human family, the animal family and many family members and friends. 

We love you Jaybo, our sweet old gal!

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole” … Roger Caras

I saw mom typing something and after reading it I thought I have to share this on my blog.  You see Mom, Dad and Katie had to put Jaybo to sleep today.  She was very ill and wouldn't eat. Here liver cancer was spreading.  But mom, dad and Katie are heartbroken. I thought mom wrote something really beautiful and I had to share it. 

Dear Jesus,

My family and I are giving back the very very special gift that you gave us 11 years ago. We are so very thankful you put her in our lives and you left us keep her for those wonderful 11 years. We would have liked to keep her for 80 years, but we know, a dog’s life doesn’t work that way. So, having Jaybo, our big beautiful doggie, for 11 years has been very special to us. We thank you so much for sharing this special dog of yours with us.

She has made a very big paw print on the hearts of each of the members of our family. We know she has put her paw print on the hearts of some of our family and friends through the years.

We ask that you make her transition the easiest as possible. Can you have a big ball with a pool full of kids to greet her? She’ll just love that. Reminder her often how much we loved her and how special she was to us, and that she’ll always live in our hearts! Thank you! 

It seems strange without our big Jaybo around here.