On Saturday I was grumpy with Bill. Our weekend was not turning out as planned and as usual in feelings of stress and tension it feels good to hit the dirt to work them out. Out in the farthest reaches of the back 40 there was an area in front of two white pines we used to use as a brush pile. The brush has long been cleared but the ground was still a mess with two hilly areas where grass was growing again and unlevel spaces where weeds were taking over. It has been on my project list since spring. Early in May I had transplanted some forsythia shoots at the edge and now I attacked the grass, weeds and leftover twigs and branches and then in a fit of fury leveled the ground and covered it with pine needles and grass cliipings mixed as a mulch. Now instead of an eyesore I had to pass every time I went out back, it was a nice little grove of sorts that once the forsythia grows in will be lovely.
Then came Sunday and Baby Dear , our 11 year old corgi,was acting out of sorts, very quiet and subdued. At 8 o’clock Erin realized she hadn’t come in from outside yet so she went to get her and she would not climb the porch stairs. Erin carried her in and the girls laid with her on the floor while we had a family movie night. Then Erin carried her to where she likes to sleep and Faith and I gave her a pill that is like doggie advil. Baby Dear has had problems with her back before and has lately been having some other issues as well so I went to bed envisioning a day of vet visits and horrible conversations involving what we could and could not do for her. I awoke Monday to Bill standing over me telling me she had died during the night. That would so suit her personality, always thinking of us, and leaving in the most quiet and unobtrusive fashion. She brought such joy to this household, and they say you no matter how many pets you have there is always one who is your “soul-mate” pet, and she was mine. The hole in my heart is gaping and painful.
We gathered the kids together and got her wrapped up and they brought out her bowls (she LOVED her food!) and her favorite toys, and we gave her a resting place under the two pines in the little grove I had cleared on Saturday.
That is some kind of gardening providence, how much easier that horrible situation was made by having the perfect place for her, near us in the garden, yet somewhere that will remain undisturbed and be shaded and restful.
We could never have given back to her what she gave to us, the love , the happiness, the comfort. She was a princess of dogs, and truly my Baby Dear. I will miss her in a way words can not describe.
My heart aches for you in the loss of Baby Dear (and what a wonderful name for her). When I read your post I thought about something I read by Elisabeth Elliott. She wrote about the loss of her dog, McDuff “He expected no special treatment. He did not pity himself. He took for granted that he would be able to go on about his accustomed terrier business and when he found that it was somehow not working well, he made his own adjustments as unobtrusively as he could. It was still the supreme object of his life to see that I was happy. I think he lay under the bush in the rain not in order to wallow in solitary self-pity, but in order that I might not see him in trouble. He liked to please me. He delighted to do my will.” And she goes on to say that he was “a gift of grace. He was, I am sure, “assigned” to me.”
It is amazing, isn’t it, how these things work together – that you had just cleared the grove, the perfect spot for Baby Dear to rest?
I love her words, they are very eloquent and sum up how I felt about Baby Dear wonderfully. Thank you for sharing them, and thenk you for your beautiful blog as well
I am just so sad after reading your post. I lost my Akita not long ago and still feel the pain. A tear came to my eye reading about Baby Dear. You gave her a wonderful life and final tribute.
I am so sorry to hear about your Akita as well. I wish dogs had longer lifespans, they bring us such joy. Vsisted your blog today as well, nice info on the ants.I have heard horror stories from people who have had them destroy walls etc.Nature is a funny thing. What is beneficial in one environment is destructive in another, just let it not be mine!!!lol