The Life of Idlebrook Bjorn Erik Evensen AX AXJ XF DN

 

 Good morning,

We said goodbye to our beautiful Black Lab, Erik, this week.  He lived a long life from April 4, 2009 - March 26, 2025;  he lived to be nine days shy of sixteen years old, a long life for a Labrador Retriever.  

Erik lived an outstanding life and we are delighted that we have such wonderful memories of him as well as so many images of the life he lived.  If you care to walk down memory lane with me, I've published a few of the highlights of his life here.

Above is an image I've treasured since it was taken the day we brought Erik home and he was immediately hugged by our grandson, Alex.  

 Our Penny immediately took Erik into her care and they became life-long friends.  I love Penny's smile. 

 

 Our bed was a favorite spot.  These two kept us warm on many a cold night.

 

 Erik was very helpful.  Here he is watching over the goldfish in our back yard pond.

 

 Erik and Penny were all-season dogs. 

 Erik and his sisters were dock divers and competed when the weather turned warm.  Erik also participated in Gun Dog activities. 

 

 Erik was one of our team of Kitchen Lab Testers who were on duty every time we were in the kitchen.  Erik's shiny coat is credited to his raw diet.

 

 Another winter and another lovely portrait of Erik.

 

  Labs are known for their love of water.  Here Erik and Penny are playing ball in the pool.

 

 "Lean on me"

 

The pups always got excited when Catherine loaded up the car to go to dog shows or to visit friends.  Our pups travel in kennels in the car for safety reasons.  Should there be an accident, we wouldn't want them running on the roadway and there's no chance for a happy dog to jump on the driver's lap.

Erik was a canine athlete!

 

And, he was very good at it!  Catherine was his trainer and the two were an incredible pair at agility dog shows.

These are just a few of the many, many ribbons Erik and his sisters brought home.  In fact, we have so many ribbons we have run out of walls on which to display them.

 

 Erik tore a muscle in his leg and needed surgery in 2017.  Since he couldn't climb steps, we blocked off the end of the living room for his recovery room.  Catherine set up an air mattress so she could stay with him each night and we were with him each day.  

 

Of course, Penny was by his side throughout, too.

 

 Erik recovered well with lots of TLC and therapy. 

Erik and his sisters got along beautifully with the neighbors who were happy to bring them treats at the fence.  That's our neighbor of forty years, Elsa, who loved our dogs, too.

Then Father Time and Mother Nature caught up with our Penny.  When she passed, Erik grieved as much as we did.

Erik was delighted when baby Wendy came to live with us.

Erik loved holidays and family events.  Here he is opening his present from friends in Texas.

Erik was always happy to nap with the grand kids.  Here he is with grandson, David.

Catherine was Erik's trainer.  She also put together the pups' raw diet menus. 

Kisses!

This picture was fun.  Catherine was on her way to the office to work long hours during tax season.  Erik had had enough of it and was trying to keep Catherine from leaving the house.

Bath time!  Erik looked so handsome in his red bathrobe.

This past winter we have had more snow than usual.  Erik had to go up and check the heated goldfish pond in that deep snow. 

And, finally, one of the last images of Erik with his beautiful white muzzle.  Until the last couple of days when his cancer took over, Erik was still happy to eat his food, wagged his tail, and enjoyed being near us being petted and loved.  We said goodbye to him on March 26, 2025.

We'll miss you, goodest boy.  

 Thank you for the love and joy you gave us.

We will see you again.

Love you, 

Mom