Sam, the Border Collie's story is a touching and funny one!  In 2009, when our Border Collie, Max, passed away suddenly, our Border girl, Gracie, went into deep depression.  I had no idea that dogs could grieve.  We tried exposing her to new surroundings (Home Depot and dog-friendly restauarants), lots of play time, and tons of love.  Nothing seemed to pull her out of it.  So we called Gracie's breeder and a new litter was expected soon.  When the pups were born, we went to the ranch and chose this red boy - he was named Simon, but we renamed him - SAM!   He earned some descriptive nicknames:  Wiggle Butt (his butt wiggled when he was happy), Red Dog, and Little Buddy.
     We couldn't keep away from him.  We drove the hour+ every weekend after he was born to visit, counting the days until he could come home with us.

     When the big day came to take Sam home, we decided to take Gracie with us.  We had taken her to the ranch twice, but she had to stay in the car.  We came back smelling of Sam and let her sniff, sniff, sniff; we hoped she'd get used to his smell.
     I held puppy Sam in a towel, got into the back seat with Gracie, and waited for her reaction.  It wasn't what I expected.  She situated herself as close to the door as possible and refused to even look in our direction for the entire trip home.  Stubborn girl and perhaps a bit jealous?

     Once home, things got a bit better.  Gracie tolerated Sam and learned to play with him, but never to the extent that she loved Max.  With Max, Gracie would snuggle up and sleep with him, play for hours, and follow him everywhere.  Sam had to work hard to win her over. but eventually they came to love each other.

     As Sam grew, it was clear he was as smart as a whip!  Something else clear was the length of his tongue.  To this day, I've never seen one so long!  

     Sam loved a pillow or soft cushion.  That boy made himself comfy all over the house; no place was sacred for humans only!   If there was a pillow, his head was on it.

     Sam pretended to be brave.  Since we lived on a corner lot, he was able to chase walkers, trucks, and cars along the length of our fence.  He barked, herded, and chased; he also maintained as guardian/bodyguard for the plants in the garden.  He was as brave as could be with those plants.  He took his job as Garden Guardian quite seriously. 
     Whenever a thunderstorm, hailstorm, or fireworks were around, his brave self faded into the background.  He wasn't as terrified as Gracie, but he came in a close second.  He frequently jumped on the bed and hid behind our pillows.  We discovered Thundershirts and his worked a bit.  Gracie's did not, but Sam was far more secure and relaxed with his Thundershirt on during storms and noisy holiday fireworks.  Later on, he developed a fear of small children laughing and screaming.  Sam's unique.

     As a teacher, I brought loads of work home with me.  I usually settled in on the sofa, listening to the TV and visiting with hubby while doing my teacher "homework."  Teacher stuff bored Gracie, but Sam thought it was ever so interesting.  He loved to snuggle up next to me and provide educational support!

    Mr. Touchy-Feely had to be touching his humans all the time.  In a pinch, we even made a good pillow!

     Our Border Collies loved our three acres out in the Texas Hill Country.  I did too - the wildflowers, the shady oaks, our fig and fruit trees, and the peaceful nights spent on the terrace.  Things change though...

     By 2013, we had decided to go to Uruguay.  There wasn't a doubt in our mind that Sam and Gracie would travel with us to South America.  We spend months agonizing over flying Sam and Gracie to Uruguay and finally found Pet Relocation, right there in Austin.  Sam and Grace flew to Uruguay a week before me, arrived safe and sound into Hubby's arms after two flights and a ferry ride.

     For quite a long time, we lived in a house one-fourth the size of our Texas home, yet having Sam and Gracie with everything cozy and complete.   Sam adjusted and took his usual place on the sofa.

     Sam and Gracie acclimated to Uruguay well, probably better than I.  There were new sights and sounds  (horses and sheep to herd), new roads, and lots of peace and quiet.

     Some things were familiar - the rain lilies we had in the Texas Hill Country were also in Uruguay.  Sam loved to run amongst them on both continents.

     As affectionate as Grace, but such a lover - Sam loved to snuggle and make physical contact whenever possible.  He always seemed to intuit when we were depressed and  needed a warm paw or nose kiss.  Some say that dogs are angels sent from above to aid us in our times of need.  Sam was truly an angel.

     Sam acquired a new job when our household added Sophie Cat.  She was little and he had never been around a cat, so we gave him a job - "Guard Sophie."   Being the compulsive boy, he carried this a bit too far and started snapping at Gracie if she came near Sophie.  When you have a smart Border Collie, changing commands are easy.  We switched the command to:  "Love Sophie."  Sam understood the difference and all was well.  He and Sophie became best friends.

     This is the pose we'll best remember for Sam:  flying through the grass and wildflowers, tongue out, eyes alert, and wishing for us to throw a stick!

     Sam was the best companion, the craziest boy, the most sympathetic friend, an uncompromising personality, an intelligent being, and a dedicated giver and receiver of hugs.

     These two pups bring so much joy into our lives. I can no longer imagine how my life would have been without them in it.  Border Collies are a special breed, so darn smart!  These two are no exception.
     Gracie (black and white) will be 15 this year!   She's amazing and the most loving dog you will every meet.  She is terrified of thunder and fireworks, but loves a stick.
     Sam will be 10 this year.  He's always been a bit quirky, but the best boy ever!  He's scared of children - go figure.  He can handle a bit of thunder, but doesn't like it.  He loves to cuddle with me, while Gracie is a Daddy's Girl. 
   As we go into the new year, I am thankful for every minute I'm in their presence.

   Our silly porch cats are simply the best!  Benny is gray and white and his mother, Sissy, is the black and white.  Benny is guardian of the porch and the garden!  Sissy shows us how to love.
   A porch is not a porch without a cat!

​     As this year comes to an end, I have to give thanks for our pets.  We now have 5 cats, 2 dogs, and 2 horses.  The horses just visit from next door, but we'll count them in!
     I was once a no-pet kinda woman.  I didn't even want a goldfish. Once I met my husband, he turned my way of thinking around 360 degrees. 
     Here's how we got our first pet in Texas:  Hubby (then live-in boyfriend) told me he'd seen a cat on our courtyard deck.  I said, "Gah!!!!  No cats; I hate cats.  I hope it leaves soon.  Whatever you do, don't feed it.  Then it will never leave!"
     "But it's a pretty neat cat and looks hungry," he said sadly. 
      A couple of days later, he suddenly needed to make a trip to the supermarket.  He looked suspicious, so once again, I said, "Don't you get cat food.  We'll never get rid of the cat."  Of course he bought cat food and milk and put it on the deck.
     A week later on a very rainy Friday afternoon, I came home from work.  I went back to the office to find Hubby.  Well, who was sitting on his lap at the computer?  That cat - all nice, warm, and dry.  At that point, I threw my hands into the air and gave up.  We had a cat!   We named him Franz and he was the best cat ever.  He was a Snowshoe - very Siamese looking with white paws.  His ears were very, very short, but we didn't know why.  Turns out most of the neighborhood knew him. 
      We took him to the vet, who lived 2 houses down from us.  She said, "Oh, yes.  This poor baby was left when the neighbors on the corner moved and deserted him.  Their teenage boys put firecrackers behind his ears one time and that's why they're short. The firecrackers burned the ends off."  Horrific - now i really fell in love with this little guy. 
     We installed a cat door in the garage at first, to let him venture in and out.  After we'd had him about a month, I came down with a terrible case of the flu.  As I was lying in the bed, half asleep with a high fever, I awoke to find Franz standing on my stomach with a note attached to his collar.  I thought I was hallucinating from the fever. 
     I pulled the note off and read it:  "Dear neighbors.  We saw his collar and want to thank whoever has him now.  We've been feeding him for months since his owners left him.  We named him Boots."
     Franz didn't seem to want to leave the house anymore, so we deemed him an indoor kitty and sealed up the cat door.  Instead of going out, Franz loved to sit on the sill of our front window and look out at the sidewalk and the park across the street. The cat ownership was real!
     Franz's first Halloween with us was eventful.  Two adorable little girls came giggling up to our door, yelling "Trick or Treat!"
     When I opened the door, they said, "You have White Socks."  Huh?  I asked them what they meant.
    "We see White Socks, the cat, sitting in your window every day.  We used to see him around the neighborhood and pet him.  We call him White Socks."
     At first, I was terrified that they wanted him.  I could NOT give up this cat.  Turns out they'd just loved to pet him as he roamed the neighborhood.  Whew!  Turns out Franz has many personas!
     After all his mistreatment by others, Franz was a people-lover.  When we had parties, he begged to be picked up so much that he would actually be sore the next day!  What a lover-boy.  He lived a long and happy life with us.
     Our pets are all blessings - they've taught me to be a better person, to love unconditionally, and to be forgiving.

     We found Sissy's kitties under the woodpile; they are growing and very happy. They are the best cats!  Ashley (solid gray female) is the huntress and a bit feral.  She goes out hunting every morning and comes home with at least a bug.  Benny (gray and white male) is the protector and the kool kitty.  He's loving and laidback, but will protect his sisters and Mama, if need be.  Freddie (black and white female) is a shy girl.  She's loving, but likes her space.
These kitties and their mama, Sissy, have given me so much insight into family life.  Sissy is the best Mama and these kittens have so much love for her and each other.

   Dear little Sissy Kat appeared about three weeks ago and before we could take her to get spayed, we spotted her 4 kittens following her out from under our construction scrap woodpile! 
   They've finally gotten brave enough to climb up on the porch.  Mamma Sissy Kat has moved them to our side porch is a sheltered area we made for them.  That sounds so fancy!  It's actually on top of our old washer and dryer from Texas.  Ha!
   Now I have photos!!  The gray and white male is Jack Benny; he's identical to our indoor cat, Sophie, except with short hair.  The black and white female is Freddie; she looks a whole lot like her mama, Sissy.  The solid gray female is Ashley with bright green eyes.  The gray and white female with the pink nose is Pinky.
   We cannot bring them all inside.  We have two Border Collies and a cat inside now.  So they are going to be porch cats.  I'll probably worry about them every day, but hopefully they'll be fine.
   I had forgotten how cute kittens are!  We will be bringing them and their mother for spay/neuter services as soon as they're old enough.

  ​

     Wouldn't you know it?  She emerged from the woodpile with 4 kittens following her.  They looked to be about 1 month old, but at first wouldn't show themselves long enough for me to snap a photo.  Oh my, the joys of living in the countryside.  We now have 6 cats.

When Sophie Kat came into our lives and household in June, we worried that our two Border Collies, Grace and Sam, might not accept her.  We gave Sam (who is more aggressive) a job: "Guard Sophie!."  That worked like a charm, he was gentle with her and loving. 
 
HOWEVER, Border Collies tend to take things one step forward.  When Gracie showed any interest in Sophie, Sam would bark at Gracie and get angry.  We had to change the command to:  "Love Sophie."   Border Collies are so darn smart that they can distinguish between the nuances of words.  "Guard" means keep safe and "love" means to cherish.  Sam figured the differences out in a day or two!
 
Sam and Sophie are famous friends, but also let Gracie in on some of the love!

     Well, they say that cats choose you.  We've been chosen!  While sitting on the porch a couple of nights ago, minding our own sweet business and sipping a nice glass of wine, a young cat appeared from nowhere and jumped up in my lap.
     I picked it up and put it back down on the porch decking.  Up it came again, down it went, up it came....  There was a pattern here. 
     After about the 5th attempt to remove the cat from my lap, I turned to hubby and said, "I guess we now have a cat."
     Gracie, our older Border Collie was raised with our cat, Franz, from the time she was a baby.  They got along well.  Franz passed away long before Sam came on the scene.  Sam has only ever seen (and chased) the neighbor's cats in Texas.  This will be an experiment for certain!
     IT's a SHE!  We brought her (now named Sophie) into the laundry room to get the dogs used to her.  Gracie was over the whole thrill in about 15 seconds, completely ignoring Sophie, the cat.  Sam was Mr. Curious.  We decided to give Sam a job; he is, after all, a Border Collie! His command was, "Sam, guard Sophie."  Sam took it to heart.  He follows Sophie everywhere,stares at her endlessly, licks her, and herds her. 
     Turns out our neighbor was present when Sophie was born to a neighborhood stray in the barn next door.  So we have her "birth" photo!