Stealing sunshine in the cold wake of a Spring afternoon
It's SPRING! Well, technically that is. You sure wouldn't know that April has arrived. We had flurries yesterday. Snow is not in my list of favourite things this time of the year. Clover's neither. The prolonged winter weather has gotten to all of us. We should be basking in the warm glow of the sun wearing cardigans around the neighbourhood, instead we all adorn down-filled fleecy coats and boots most days. I'm longing for flowers, vegetable gardens and days on the patio lounging with my beast.
Apart from the crazy unseasonable temperatures, we've been renovating again. This time due to an unfortunate horribly graphic death of a living room floor and kitchen cabinets by dishwasher drowning. The positive side is that we are fast tracking some other upgrades we were putting off. Clover is still my foredog and security guard for any tradesmen that passes through and attempts an escape un-slobbered.
Cabinet damage
Floor damage
All the soft comforts of home don't compare to that warm furnace spot on the barren floor.
We had a lovely Easter too. Its a big deal over here on both personal and religious grounds. My parents always hosted this holiday, and I have carried on the tradition. Clover was our resident rabbit for the annual egg hunt.
I found this warm fuzzy bed at Homesense over the weekend. I knew Clover was about to turn two years old and any excuse really is a chance to spoil our beloved four-legged friend. I think she likes it!
I also picked up a filtered water dispenser. I'm always refilling bowls and cleaning up spills because both the cat and dog drag their dishes around the room until they've secured the perfect location.
Time to catch my breath, for the last couple of months have been like jumping hurdles through a blizzard of emotion and activity. I can't believe the end of another year has come and gone. Just a week after my previous post, I lost a cat of 18½ years. She was a big part of my life. We shared my first apartment, made it through college, university, finding a career (or three!), working long hours and crazy shifts, moving in with new animals and a husband, then becoming a mom. She was my cuddler, slept in baskets, loved yogurt. She amazingly endured countless medical exams, pilling and injections with excellent compliance. Pepper struggled with her immune system since she was a kitten, and in elder years, her kidneys began to fail. With every minute of her last twenty-four hours spent next to me, she slept peacefully in my arms as I softly whispered how much I loved her. I still long for her presence, but I am so thankful she was my cat and constant friend.
William and Pepper on our last morning together.
My sweet friends sent cards and Halo's mum brought beautiful flowers in her memory.
November quickly drew to a close. I enthusiastically began preparing for Christmas. I love holidays. I'm inspired by all the decorating, baking treats and comfort foods, listening to inspiring hymns, best of all is entertaining our loved ones. Those festive activities bring out the kid in me. Our house can often resemble a department store display. I have several themed trees and 6000 lights. Yes, I give Lampoon's Christmas Vacation a good run! This year we visited Toronto's Black Creek Pioneer Village Lamplight event and had the best victorian experience ever. William adored watching a live fiddle performance for the first time. I watched my dear cousin dance in The National Ballet of Canada's production of "Nutcracker". We hosted several dinner parties and Clover loved every second of the excitement. Needless to say, we managed to enjoy a lot of chaos.
Santa and his helpers haven't forgotten about our sweet girl. She was spoiled with a lovely basket of puppy toys, treats and a new coat. Her very favourite presents were the reindeer antlers. They keep her busy! She wore her Christmas collar and enjoyed a plaid sweater from Grammie too. In fact, for the first few days, Clover didn't seem to want to take it off. She'd snuggle it like a blanket or run away when we tried to unfasten the velcro. Silly dog, but it made my mum beam with pride!
Grammie ventured into the canine department of a pet store for the first time in decades to pick out a gift for her grand-dog
I walked up to the school yard one cold spring day. I had our little Clover in my arms, maybe 10-12 weeks old. Another mom approached us with the warmest smile. She enthusiastically said "a Vizsla!" Well much to my surprise, YES! I was immediately relieved to escape the explaination one more time that our puppy was not a dachshund. In a neighbourhood with hundreds of other canine companions, we both bonded over our beloved red dogs. That's all it took. We spent the last nineteen months getting to know each other, sharing stories, laughing at the craziness and validating the sanity in our Vizsla lives.
When I met Halo, he's everything you would expect; tail-wiggly, gentle, affectionate... thieving. He has a habit of counter-surfing to steal recyclables. I know first hand, it's tough to outsmart a V. If they want something, they'll devise a way to get it! I recently lost a debit card out of my pocket for Clover's chew toy.
Halo
Clover
In early October, Halo was diagnosed with hepatic (liver) cancer, leaving him anemic and anorexic. His illness came with great speed, very unexpectedly. In just a couple of weeks, his physical condition was critical.
I was heartstruck as we discussed Halo's prognosis and multiple visits to the hospital. I tried to give my best advice when it was requested and listen as much as possible. I've had a great deal of personal experience with pet loss. Nine of my own to be exact. Not all owners grieve openly. When they do, it's amazing, because they are sharing a raw part of their soul.
Halo, surrounded by love, said goodbye yesterday. It's a moment that will sear their hearts forever. His talented mom created a video online, demonstrating worldwide, the enchanted life of their four-legged boy and the family that adores him.
Thank you Sarah, for giving me permission to post your precious photos and video. I'm honoured. Sleep well sweet Halo
There’s a special place for grownups
A special place for kids
Me? I’ll be on the other side
The side called Rainbow Bridge.
Across the dark green meadow
A’top the hills I’ll run
Where the colours from the rainbow
Glitter from the sun
Anonymous edition of Part two of the famous poem Rainbow Bridge
Update
I commissioned a local creative mom (who just happens to have an Etsy store) to create these pendants for the boys. I also handmade a shadow box of lake rocks and a photo of Halo with the poem above. I didn't want to reveal this on the original post because I hadn't delivered it to the family but here is a look at the jewelry.
