The life and times of a Mountain Barbie
August 28, 2009 | Filed under: Stuff
I knew from the moment she fell asleep like this on her first day home with us that she was going to be something special.
It was in her eyes.
They always, without fail, revealed her thoughts. Granted, her thoughts were simple, such as “hey dudette, it’s butt ass cold out here, how about some hot chocolate?”
One of her finest traits was her laid-back-ness, her easy-going ways that allowed her to love everyone and everything, including a very bitchy cat who liked to used Mountain Barbie to sharpen her claws.
But Mountain Barbie’s greatest love was the water. It didn’t matter if it was a puddle or a sprinkler or the lake. She was game.
And I realize that this picture gives the impression that she was a hard working dog …
But actually, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Mountain Barbie mastered in nap-taking, and had it down to a fine science.
She wasn’t much for complex thinking, our Mountain Barbie.
But she was truly one of a kind.
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
Stefanie H. says:
Oh, could not sleep. Now I’m crying. As the proud owner of a dim-witted but oh so lovable chocolate lab, I know the devotion these dogs inspire.
I am so sorry for the loss of Mountain Barbie.
Have just eaten six cookies in her honor.
Take care,
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 1:19 amStefanie H.
Judy F says:
((((HUGS))))
What a special dog, I know you all still miss her greatly. Sending lots of prayers and hugs to you all
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 2:50 amCaroline says:
Wahhhh! As soon as I saw the title of your blog I “knew” I was gonna cry. And I am. Take care. Caroline x
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 3:09 amStacy ~ says:
(((Jill))) Thank you for the sweet memories. We all loved her too, and remember how you brightened our days with stories about the lovably ditzy MB. Thank you for sharing her with us, and for this lovely tribute to her. She’s so beautiful, and those eyes get to me everytime. Hugs to you all.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 3:13 amLaura says:
I loved the pictures and the way you’re able to document her life through them. It has everything in the world to do with me taking a photography class this semester.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 4:01 amPat L. says:
Ah, Jill – sweet memories. My eyes are tearing up also.
You are so talented; not only can you make us laugh, but cry too; not everyone can do that. And I know that was not your intention but just to share with us your precious friend.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 4:21 amBailey Stewart says:
Wonderful tribute sweetie. She was a sweet girl, and she loved as much as she was loved.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 4:38 amJulie H says:
Awwww…that is such a sweet tribute. I am in the process of gathering pictures of our darling golden Pringles who after 11 years died suddenly yesterday at home. And even though she was 11…she was healthy and it was totally unexpected. My youngest son had a terrible time with it…she was always there in his life….my teenage daughter..the only other one still at home was devasted….our entire house cried themselves to sleep last night. But we were blessed to have her for so long..she was the perfect dog for our family..she was loved and she gave us tons of love..she will be missed.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 5:34 amTeeny says:
Ohh, what a lovely post… I live in fear for the day one of my pets dies
LOVE that last picture – that’s a great way to remember her!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 6:00 amSamantha says:
Thanks again for sharing Jill. I miss the funny Mountain Barbie stories you would always post. It’s so hard when you lose a member of the family. My Dad just had to put his beautiful Akita down yesterday. Although I only got to see him when I visited my Dad I will still miss him terribly. My heart and thoughts still go out to you and your family.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 6:06 amAshley says:
Aww. Hugs to you!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 6:43 amLiza says:
Big hugs to you Jill! I miss my weekly Mountain Barbie stories. There is just something special about those chocolate labs. Makes we want to hug on my dad’s brown bear of a lab.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 6:58 amDee says:
Awww, this made me teary. She’s in doggie heaven now, I know it.
You posted the other day about wanting recipes. Here’s one of the world’s easiest, and I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love it.
Take a package of chicken filets, wash and salt them. Lay them aside for 15 minutes or so and go do something else, like find a 9×13 pan. Melt some butter in the microwave, and dip each chicken piece in it. Put it in the bottom of a pan. Sprinkle some mushrooms on top, if you want. Take a carton of heavy whipping cream and pour it over the chicken. Take some real parmesan cheese and sprinkle about half a cup over your chicken and cream. Bake at 350 for an hour.
If you have time, a great thing to do is wash and salt the chicken, then melt the butter and get a dish of flour ready. Roll the pieces in butter, then cover in flour. Brown in the skillet. THEN lay them in the pan and cover with cream and parmesan and ‘shrooms, then bake.
Of course, if you have high cholesterol, avoid this recipe…
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 7:15 amsls-rainey says:
She was very adorable. Her dock diving looks like she was a very deidcated water lover. Great for your family. Thanks for sharing such great pictures.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 7:45 amI know you all miss her horribly.
Dee B says:
What a beautiful domentary of her life. She not only had a special place in your heart but in ours also. Thank you for sharing this special dog with us – as well as the other pets in your family, and your girls!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:11 amLori says:
Love, love, love looking at the pics of Mountain Barbie. Your love for her spills over in the pictures and your words.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:24 amNicole S says:
Those are such wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing them with us!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:28 amtrish c says:
Someone is missing MB today! She had a wonderful life. What a lucky dog and lucky dog owners!!!!!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:32 amDarlene says:
I’m so sorry. Sounds like MB had an absolutely wonderful life with people who loved her dearly in a beautiful part of the country. What more could a dog (or any of us) want in a life?
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 10:05 amcheryl c. says:
She was gone too soon, but you guys gave her a GREAT life!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 10:08 amcatslady says:
Well now I’m sobbing – sorry Julie too for your loss and of course it reminds me our mixed black dog, Shadow, who we had for 17 years and was also one of those special ones. She’s been gone for 9 years but it doesn’t seem like it.
The only picture I didn’t see was my favorite one of MB smiling
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 10:16 amHelenKay Dimon says:
Oh, man. Hard not to be weepy seeing that adorable face. Just know you gave her an awesome life.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 10:32 amStephanee says:
Oh my, now you’ve got me crying all over again just like she was one of my furbabies.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 11:23 amtennismom mary g says:
Sorry for your loss Julie.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 12:59 pmJill I love the puppy pictures. I had never seen them. She looks like she’s made of milk chocolate. No wonder you fell in love with her. My faves are still the jumping in the water pics. Thanks for sharing. I won’t mention messing up my mascara at work.
Patricia says:
Jill, Your stories & pix made me love her, though, she & I had never met. Like others said, it was obvious she had a great & fun life with you, AM, Oldest, Middle & Youngest. Hugs to you all.
Patricia
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 1:18 pmBrandy says:
You’ve made me cry! I shared your picture and this post with my Daughter who said MB was the cutest puppy she’d ever seen. You made her short life loved and fun, we can’t ask for more than that. She knew you loved her. Now I need to go find a tissue……
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 1:31 pmMegan says:
Ahhh, Jill you almost made me cry
Mountain Barbie is up in Heaven swimming and taking long long naps. lol 
She will be missed.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 1:44 pmMegan says:
But she will always be loved
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pmAlpha Man says:
Damn, I miss that dog.
Are you ready for a puppy?
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 1:54 pmtennismom mary g says:
Okay Alpha Man asked if you want a puppy? Jill there’s a book in there somewhere. AM you’re my hero!!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 2:45 pmJill Shalvis says:
Alpha Man, ha! Dream on.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 3:03 pmKarin says:
What a great tribute to Mountain Barbie. Great pictures, Jill.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 3:47 pmDonna M says:
Okay, I had to go get a handkerchief to soak up the tears! Great tribut to Mountain Barbie, may she be by the lake in the great outdoors in doggie Heaven.
((((Hugs))) to you & the family.
Love the pictures, she was such a sweetheart. Thanks for sharing her with us.
Julie, sorry to hear about your dog.
Everyone enjoy your weekend. I just had mine!!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 4:02 pmDonna M says:
Whoops! Somehow I missed the s on tribute!!
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 4:02 pmDonna M says:
Make that e on tribute not S. Maybe I should get off the computer!! 
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 4:03 pmLisa in California says:
I never met Mountain Barbie, but your stories made her so real to all of us. She was a special dog and your love for her is palatable. Thank you for sharing her with all of us.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 5:25 pmtennismom mary g says:
Okay you two. I’d say take a vote but I have a feeling Jill does all the training, cleaning & feeding of said puppy & everyone else just gets to play? Sorry AM if I’m wrong.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 7:51 pmJill Shalvis says:
Well Tennismom, to be honest, Alpha Man does the majority of the training, cleaning up after, and feeding of the animals …
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pmtennismom mary g says:
Well then maybe you’re just not ready. Don’t mean to get involved but you guys are taking it public so to speak. Just trying to keep the peace here LOL.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:19 pmtennismom mary g says:
BTW – I keep coming back & looking at the third picture. MB looks like she has fairy dust on her face.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:20 pmKathy from California says:
So sorry she’s gone, for all of you.
Thanks for the pictures. She sure was a darling puppy.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pmLinda Henderson says:
She will always be with you.
Posted on August 29th, 2009 at 11:06 amTerri W. says:
Thank you for sharing the pics of Mountain Barbie! She’s so cute and adorable!
I’m sorry to hear about your loss!
Posted on August 29th, 2009 at 12:19 pmcatslady says:
Our first dog of 13 years was our baby. We didn’t have kids until a year and a half after that. When we had to put her down I said NEVER AGAIN. The next day I was sitting on the floor sobbing when my husband came home with a new puppy who jumped right in my lap and started licking my tears. Although we loved our first dog dearly, we had the second dog, Shadow, 17 years and she was one of those special ones. When we had to put her down we both said NEVER AGAIN and stuck to it this time but we miss having a dog (although we have 6 cats instead lol).
Posted on August 29th, 2009 at 1:14 pmvicki says:
what a beautiful animal… i am so deeply sorry for your loss…makin me go miss mine again, i tell you…
Posted on August 31st, 2009 at 5:04 pmsigh…but hey..Tucker was up there to greet her…yeah, so maybe Tucker will now have a girlfriend that is actually a dog…and not a deer…i can hope!
Diana says:
Beautiful pictures of Mountain Barbie!
Posted on September 1st, 2009 at 8:00 pmLoretta says:
Posted on September 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pmI love your pictures of MB.
Big Dog Mom Pam says:
Thank you for sharing. Love the Mountain Barbie stories and was so sad to learn of her passing. Her eyes did say it all. What a lovely shade of green. She reminds me of my Luci – a black lab, but also a little ditzy and a big water lover. Mountain Barbie is surely in doggie heaven with my beloved Blacky.
Posted on September 7th, 2009 at 7:04 pm