It was a very good day!!!!

I want to share my yesterday with you. DH and I haven't been out of the house for a week. We have been mourning and grieving the loss of one of our adorable pets. Roscoe was a good buddy, a loyal friend, and while the overwhelming grief, emptiness, and sadness is hard, life goes on. We first went to a nursery not far from us and I bought eupatorium (Badseed, I will be able to share a division with you in autumn as I want it to get a good start first before dividing it). Then we went to Darius's house. We had pre-arranged by email bc she wouldn't be home, to trade plants. She left plants for me on her porch. I took them and left her plants. She invited us to stroll through her gardens and they are so beautiful. She has lots of island beds and they were so nice to visit. We also met her beautiful cat who didn't know we were pet lovers and made a fast dash for a cat door. Too bad I'm not a thief - :-) - I could have taken one of everything. Her gardens are lovely. Then we went to another garden center in Asheville for fish food for the water garden and purchased yet another plant for dd and dsil. Can't remember the name of it but it's in the citronella family. A scented geranium I believe. Anyway, it's fragrant and is supposed to repel mosquitoes which they have a problem with. We drove home and weren't here long and the fed ex truck came up the driveway. DH has been expecting a package and I went out to get it and talked awhile with the driver as she has been making deliveries here for awhile so we usually visit if she has time. I walked into the house with the package and happened to read the box and it was from White Flower Farms addressed to someone else. I ran out to catch her, thankfully, I did, and she gave me the right box. I told her that if truth be told, I would prefer the box she had given me by mistake - LOL. So anyway, it was a great garden day and the two things I've learned in gardening - time and patience - are also teaching me to get through Roscoe's loss. It was the first day that neither of us cried for Roscoe. The healing has begun. It was a very good day.

Vic, I am truly sorry about Roscoe. I knew he was ailing. You know he is not suffering now. I know how pets are just like children and the pain of losing them is awful. And my silly little friend is thinking of me! LOL I love you too. :) Now Darius on the other hand, I think I am worried about her. She left you in her gardens unattended??? Giggle. I am sure you left a note if you borrowed anything. :) Your being honest and returning the box does not surprise me at all. You are such a sweetie! When we had to have one of our huskies put to sleep last year. We buried her and planted some pink forget me nots on her grave. I told the girls they meant we would never forget her. :) They loved the little pink flowers. I will have to get more to replace them as they died out. But, they were nice there while they lasted, to remind us of the friend we lost. Smile Vic, as you are loved.

Oh Michele...thank you for such kind words..I love you too! What a neat idea for Roscoe's grave. DH is making a marker that will include St. Francis and I wanted to plant something. How appropriate to pick forget-me-nots. I was sooooo tempted at Darius's house. I wish I would have taken the digital camera with me. And the trellis's she has made are beautiful. Hey, the only thing that kept the halo on instead of the horns when fed ex came was bc I knew if I kept the white flower farm box sooner or later she would be back with ours and I would have to "fess up" LOL

I'm so sorry about Roscoe, I caught the end of the thread in the prayer forum, and knew you were having a rough time. I'm glad things are getting easier for you. Wish you'd been able to take pictures at Darius's house, it sounds lovely!

vic My dear friend - One day at a time!! I will be in touch again soon!!

Vic My deepest sympathy on your loss of Roscoe. I pray your heart will heal and the gd memories will sustain you. A flower memorial is good. I haave a garden planted on the graves of my seven who have gone in the last three years.Lilies and daffodills and pansies and hostas etc and as I weed them out I talk to my babies that I still miss so much. I am so glad you enjoyed your day Shirley

Thank you dear friends for your kind words...It means so much! I love you all..

I know I am among friends when I read things like this! I buried Ginger, my pound puppy Lhasa Poo, under my bedroom window, because she never liked to be very far from me. When I am in that area, I always talk to her just as I did when she was alive. It still hurts, almost two years later. She was truly a member of my family, and no one expected to see me without her. I don't cry every day, but I do think of her every day.

Oh dear Aimee..you are always among friends around me. Bless your heart. I put together a collage of pictures in a frame for DH with Roscoes pictures in it and in the center I put the St. Francis Blessing and then I said - Roscoe, you touched our hearts and changed our lives forever. He was such a special furball. I miss him so very much. Thank you for your kind and loving words, you are such a special person.

Vic my heart goes out to you and I know it will take time. I still have that void in my heart, but you have friends here that will help you through it. I am so glad that you got to enjoy yourselves and lean on each other.

Have you though about a memorial garden? I just finished planting Bittles this Sunday, I know it doesn't look all that great now but when it starts to bloom it will be as beautiful as she was in life http://davesgarden.com/showthread/242406.html

Thank you for your lovely post Windsurfer. And your memorial garden is beautiful. I haven't been to the pets forum since I asked for prayers for my grand dog last fall. I'm too much like Margaret in that when I go there, I cry so hard. I admit it, I'm a wimp when it comes to pets. Roscoe is buried in a beautiful little grotto on the other side of our creek. It is surrounded by dogwoods and the only thing I've planted there so far is iris and cleome. It is very secluded and only gets morning sun. My father was cremated and his ashes are buried there as well. We have a stone statue of an angel holding a bouquet of flowers at my fathers grave and we also have a stone bench with butterflies on it back there as well. DH is going to build Roscoe a marker and we also have a little statue of St. Francis that he will incorporate into it. We have a larger one of St. Francis at the water garden. We still have 4 pets and they are all very special to me but losing Roscoe is so hard. I can't tell you how loyal and what a good buddy he was. A dear and wonderful friend that was always there. We had so many good times. So as I start bawling again...I thank you so much for your friendship and your lovely note. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved Bittles...Hugs..

I am so glad that your life is moving forward now, and a lovely walk in a garden of Eden will help mend a lot of things! Not to mention that you will be planting some plants from a beloved friend in your garden soon!!

"eyes"

Vic I do know just how you feel and I am a big sap when it comes to my babies(animals) I wrote a poem that you might find some comfort in. http://davesgarden.com/showthread/213573.html, it was written March 25,02.
If you will scroll down to the 25 post. There is no shame in loving an animal and thinking of it as a member of your family. I know you have lost your best friend as well as one of your babies and only time can heal your wound.
Wishing you much peace and joy.
Kit

Oh Kit...what a beautiful poem and what a sad story. Almost a repeat of what we went through with Roscoe. He did wag his tail and offer us his paw. We told him he was going to God's front yard and would be with lots of other pets and St. Francis and we were looking forward to the day that we could be together again. We received a lovely card from our vet(s) today. They added a personal note to the card too but sent the following poem along with it. Also, we have 3 cats and are cat lovers as well as dog lovers. Poor little Woodstock (our little dog) is having a hard time...Eyes, thank you so much for your kind words..

My Gift to Jesus
By Jane L. Seam

I wish someone had given little Jesus a dog
as loyal and loving as mine
to sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
and adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood, His own faithful dog
would have followed Him all through the day
while He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
and knelt in the garden to pray

It is sad to remember that Christ went away
to face death alone and apart,
with no tender dog following close behind
to comfort its Master's heart

And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn
how happy He would have been
as His dog kissed His hand
and barked its delight
for the One that died for all men

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,
the old pal so dear to me,
and I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
kowing they are in eternity

DH was reading this to me, I was bawling my eyes out before he got to the end of it and he couldn't even finish it as he was crying too. But you know what, it's ok, crying is good for the soul.

Vic We both cry a lot for Bittles and talk to her as well, it does help. I still find myself calling her and expecting her to come running. I know that your baby is up there playing with mine, she wasn't afraid of dogs. I am a animal lover from the bottom of my heart and I love and trust them more than I do people. You take all the time you need to and don't let anyone tell you when you should stop, you'll know when it is time.
God be with you in your time of need.

vic Im really sorry to hear all this!=[ I will pray that you can all heal with time! I have a small pet cemetary here in my big garden also! (((((((((((((VIC)))))))))))))

Thank you Dori and I sure do hope you are feeling better. God Bless YOU!!!

oooooooooo vic,,,[[[[[[[[nana]]]]]]]]]]

Thank you dear Nana