I am stunned by, and everlastingly grateful for, the response to Willie’s death. Someday I will be able to thank you adequately. Someday, just not yet today.
Today this is what I can do: Post photos of colorful things. My brain is working on another blog, about us and dogs and grief and love. Soon.
Here is Bloodroot, which is spreading all over the hill behind our house, thanks to ants, who eat an organ called an elaisome on the seeds, and then toss the seeds in the ant trash heap. It’s white flowers lighten up an otherwise drab hillside, and it’s spreading like crazy.
Scilla siberica also immigrates itself all over our gardens. But it’s impossible to have too much, so I keep transplanting the little bulbs to new places. I adore it almost as much as does a species of a small, native bee.
A fox or coyote left this bittersweet pile of pheasant feathers for us to marvel at in Walking Iron Park.
Here’s Pasque flower, in full bloom right now. One of my favorite harbingers of spring. I love the subtle lavender petals and bright yellow center. Look closely and you can also see the fuzzy leaves. The sweetest sign of spring ever.
We colored some eggs with our dear friends D & J. It’s an Easter ritual for us–good to keep those traditions going.
I hope that you are treasuring the color in your life right now.
More next week, and thank you again dear friends.
Minnesota Mary says
I’m so grateful to see that your mind can appreciate things that are fresh and young and beautiful. It’s a sign that, like spring, healing and new life are on the way for you. Wishing you blessings and love this spring as you find your way into a new world where Willie’s presence is less solid but still as loving and inspiring.
Alice R. says
Please don’t pressure yourself to post on any kind of schedule or on any painful topic. We all know what this is like. Please care for yourself as gently as you can.
I am so enjoying the colors right now! The temperature is perfect in the mornings especially, and I want to walk much farther than my pre-surgery knees can go. These mornings are both heaven and medicine for me.
j says
Thinking of you, and the universal yet unique process of grieving. How amazing that bonds that are so strong can form so readily not only between individuals, but even across species…
lin says
I’ve never seen a pasque flower, but I remember reading about them in the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace, the pasque flowers “looking up in damp surprise”.
California poppies are blooming right now, along roadsides and in my front yard. I love their pure color, like looking into the heart of a tiny sun.
On a lighter note, my husband and I were looking at Mr. B., who came to us as a wire-haired black dog. But his love of sunbathing has bleached his fur like a surfer dude, and he looks more brown than black, especially around his haunches.
Timaran says
An elderly Hawaiian gentleman I once knew had a saying he would say to me every time he saw me: “Make strong, girl. Make strong.”
Make strong, Trisha. And keep treasuring that color. God speed.
Gayle from PA says
Sending warm, healing thoughts.
Thanks for the photos – I’m going on a hike today with new women friends to see the bluebells.
Grainne Levine says
The first crocus is always a bright surprise. It is a tangible reminder of the circle of life. Thank you for sharing Willie with all of us.
Jodi Grzeczka says
Thank you, Trisha, for the gentle reminder to stop and look around, and to be grateful. I do try to do that, specifically because of the losses I’ve experienced in my own life. Your losing Willie brings back my memories of losing my MacRuff, while at the same time treasuring every second with my boy, Thunder, today and hopefully for a long time. Thank you for sharing, however little with us. If we can’t be siblings on this earth, one wonders what is left for us here. Hugs and prayers for strength and happiness.
Mary Beth Stevens says
Trisha, I am so grateful that there is color and renewal around, and that you are able to turn to it and take strength and comfort from it in these most fragile days of early grief. Your tribe is out here, holding you in our hearts.❤️
Barbara says
Never underestimate the healing restorative power of Nature. For me, a walk in the woods is like a tonic for the soul. The birdsong, the warm spring sun, the forsythia about to pop open – it’s all so uplifting. I think your beautiful wildflower photos are a sign of brighter and better days to come. Take care Trisha.
Pat says
How lovely to see signs of spring in your photos and words.
Down under it is Autumn and the city is awash with reds, oranges and yellows as the leaves turn – the sky is a vivid blue and the colours stand out so beautifully.
I am happy that the temperatures are cooler and Kona is happy the days are still warm enough for him to swim in his poodle pool (read baby bath!🛀).
What a perfect time of year.
Thinking of you and your Willie.
Sarah Cutler, VMD says
I was traveling around the country last week so I missed the last post. I finally am sitting at my desk catching up with life, and just now I saw that Willie has passed. I’m so very sorry. Learning about him has taught me so much. Reading his life story and your relationship with him was so moving to me. I am grateful to be even a tiny part of his death, albeit in the digital form. Grief is love that is swirling around looking for the recipient of that love. You will find other places to put that love for sure. It is painful to hold on to grief and I find also painful to let go of grief. My heart is with you and I will think of you on this glorious spring day in New York.
Robin Rosner says
take good care and as a friend of mine told me when I was grieving…just do what you need to do. Sending hugs.
Helena James says
Ah–thank you. Some of my favorite spring flowers…I have tried several times to get bloodroot started here in WesternWashington…must just be missing the ants!
Pamela says
Tricia and Family, I’m so sorry to read about Willie’s passing. Willie lived such a beautiful, enriched and dignified life with you, all dogs should be so lucky. May you feel Willie’s love all around you. Rest In Peace, Willie, thank you for being such a wonderful teacher to so many of us. Sending warm thoughts your way.
Mark says
I am one of hundreds who are still weeping with you, and for my own dear Copper, Buddy and Patches.
You hooked me onto WPR many years ago when I was in Janesville on business (I live in WA state) and happened to hear Calling All Pets. That was my 1st Driveway Moment and it lasted 20 minutes even though it was January & minus 20F. Since then I’ve become a firm supporter of the Ideas Network and WPR member even though I have to listen over the internet. It is YOUR fault.
18 months ago we found out that Patches (the goofy, loving half of our bonded pair of rescue bassets) had Transitional Cell Carcinoma in her urethra. I contacted your business manager and Lisa connected me with Dogs Best Friend Training to help us help Pebbles (the PTSD half) through Patches’ decline and eventual death. OUR FAMILY CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. You and your dogs will never know how much you have meant to so many people and their furry family members. Hang in their. Love and Thanks…
Gayla says
I’d like to echo what Alice said in her first paragraph. You’re a gift to us Trisha! We’re not another obligation on your plate of things to do…
Margret Abbott says
The flowers were beautiful. Don’t be in a hurry to write the new blog post we’re not going anywhere. Give yourself as much time as you need. Take care.
Monika, Sam & Elsa says
The renewal of spring gives us hope, especially at times of loss. Know we are still thinking of you and sending oodles of poodles thoughts of comfort.
P.S. Your squill is beautiful-love those blue flowers and Pasque Flower is a big favorite here in the Rocky Mountain region.
Frances says
On Sunday the dogs and I walked down by the river Lune, on a glorious day filled with bird song and flowers and green hills and the laughter of children splashing in the cold water. We sat on the grass, the dogs sprawled across my lap, and I gathered in the peace and the warmth and thought of you, and wished it was possible to wrap you in the comfort of that time.
May the world be kind to you in your grieving.
Margo Harris says
Such lovely photos, and they brighten my day as your photos and writing always do, Trisha.
I treasure the colour of my new (-ish) horse Stella’s red-gold fur, peeking out from her coffee ice cream coloured fuzzy winter super-fur… she already had her winter coat when I got her, so it’s fun to see what her summer colour will be. I think she will be a gorgeous strawberry blond!
I have been thinking of you, Trisha, and this sad time for you, Jim, and Maggie. You touch so many lives, and Willie did too. It’s really amazing and wonderful. I sure hope you know how much we all treasure YOU.
P.S. Frances’s comment is like a poem…
lak says
I have not been on-line in a week or so, the news about your Willie boy comes as a surprise and shock. Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of this lovely dog.
Laurie says
It is such a blessing to see the colorful beauty in God’s creation as we grieve, Patricia. I truly believe it helps heal the broken heart and eases the weight of our burden of sadness. May God continue to bless you on your journey, and know that we are thinking of you and praying for you.
Jann Becker says
My mind was trying to assemble a flower out of the orange, brown and white…till you told us it was a deceased pheasant! Interesting how we see what we think we are supposed to.
Dooley’s back in training to stop his scampering around cars in the driveway; by the time a driver finds the place the last thing they need is a small dog running in front of the car! So we again have clickers and treats on the kitchen counters; this time around, my husband’s getting into it more–it’s fun watching them both.
Nancy Young says
All of my dogs that have passed have reassured me that they love me, but that they feel healthy and are experiencing a lightness of being.
They share that they are surrounded by other dogs they formerly loved, but are going to be busy doing what dogs love- have adventures with their friends. They will check in to make sure I am all right for a while.
And, they will be waiting for me when the time comes for us to be together again.
I look forward to being with them again.
Laura says
As others have said, don’t pressure yourself to stick to a schedule, unless it helps, sometimes itdoes. To me, Spring reminds me of grief; some days are good, and some days just slap you in the face, and sometimes, the slap comes right in the middle of a good day. We’re here for you in whatever you need. One last thing I want to say to you that I wish someone had said to me while I was grieving, just feel what you need to feel. What ever the feeling is, it’s ok to have it. We had a lovely weekend. Two days of warm, sunny weather and a nice Easter dinner with my mother, sister and niece. Incidentally, we were talking about my childhood dog, Laddie. I commented that he was a great dog, but we spoiled him and made him so fat. Thinking iI was disparaging him, my mother lept to his defence. I wasn’t calling him a bad dog, just pointing out that we made him into a fat pup. The subsequent banter between me and my mother made my sister laugh until she cried. She’s still talking about it. I was glad she was so happy, and am so glad she’s home. She’s my identical twin, and my best friend, and has been in Dallas for the past 3 years. She’s home for good now and I feel like my heart is complete again. I loved reading about all the pretty blooming things around your farm, and I hope today is a good day. I’m sending more hugs, and Seamus is sending tail wags and snuggles.
Sally says
You told us about Willie’s death the day after I helped my own girl out of pain, and I was in my own cave of mourning and didn’t respond. But all caves of mourning are one cave of mourning, aren’t they? We huddle around the fire of memory that sometimes warms and sometimes burns, and we raise our bowed heads in our own time and eventually smile a little because we have gotten strong enough to bear the pain of loss. Light to you and all of Willie’s family.
Trisha says
Sometimes warms and sometimes burns. . . ? Beautiful.
Ayn says
I am finally ready to write after buckets of tears for you and Willie and the rising memories of my own companions gone now. I wish I could write something helpful and inspiring for you as you have so often done for myself and others. The plainest truth is that it just sucks to loose our companions after such a short time. What I mostly want to say is thank you. Thank you for sharing Wille and your trials with him with us. We are lucky to have gotten to known him a little bit and only from a distance. Wishing you peace and comfort and lots of present moments to soothe.
Cris Welisch says
I had to put down our sweet little lab, Lucy, on Monday. It’s such a strange feeling, she is truly gone. My brain is playing tricks with me on that one. I feel like I’ve been hit with a stun-gun. Hard to think, but certainly am noticing the beauty in nature right now. Thinking of you and just want to tell you it’s ok to be just taking care of yourself right now. We appreciate you and your blog. We can be patient. Hugs 🤗
Jaycee says
I am sending you so many positive thoughts for strength, peace, and comfort. I just lost a 12 year old dog in February and am now facing losing a second at 14 to Lymphoma. It’s so hard to close such beautiful chapters of life. Know my heart aches with yours. Thank you for sharing your journey and your light.
Mireille says
Oh Trisha, I haven’t been here for a while and only now I read about Willy’s death. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss and I wish you and the rest of the family lot’s of strength. From your book I know about your journey together and how interwoven you where.
I just don’t Know what else to say..
Vicky in Boise says
Thank you for sharing Aldo Leopold’s favorite, the plaque flower. It’s a symbol of the renewal of the prairies, those subtly beautiful landscapes. May their beauty bring you solace and comfort.
Vicky in Boise says
Pasque flower! Autocorrect—blah!!
mariene says
These posts are most healing and I wish to express sincere gratitude to everyone
who so thoughtfully shared their feelings. I felt comforted by your expressions as I continue to
grieve my latest dearest- Kingsley.
KB says
Sending you lots and lots of love. Willie and you will be my inspiration for a very long time. I’ve been away from the internet but somehow I “knew”. Tears are in my eyes and my heart hurts. The bond that you have/had with Willie will live forever. And Willie will inspire all of us with reactive puppies for eons to come.
petsfolio says
It is a very appreciable thing that you post these kinds of photos in this blog
Maureen Finn says
Dear Patricia,
Dear Patricia,
Although your blog is one I always enjoy immensely, and refer to often, I’m s somewhat sporadic reader of it (even though I’m subscribed) . When I saw your post about the Shedd Aquarium, and the line “since Willie died,” stopped me in my tracks. So I went back and read the ones I’d missed and cried with you.
Thank you for sharing your bright beautiful boy with all of us over the years, and the many lessons he taught you, he, of course, taught all of us. The physical loss is keen, but the heart is full. Godspeed, sweet Willie.
Anna Hassan says
Love the connection with colour