When our dog Winnie
crossed over that bridge
that we all dread when we
bring home a new puppy
or adopt a special dog,
~ the rainbow bridge ~
our then five year old
daughter cried off and on
about her loss for years.
Not every day, but when
she was super tired or
feeling lonely or if any other
strong emotion rose to
the surface, she mourned
for Winnie, all over again.
Beautiful days
At the time that Winnie passed
away, I also had an 18 month
old little boy and a gigantic
hole in my heart left from this
experience of saying good-bye
to my first baby, a 100-pound
Great Dane-Lab Mix who had
soothed a place in my soul that
craved mothering for five years
before our first human baby
came along.
The question of Can we get a
puppy? was therefore met with
this edict: When you are ten and
can help Mommy and Daddy take
care of a puppy, we will get one.
In the interim, my daughter became
increasingly enamored with the
canine species. Big dogs, little
dogs, pure bred, mixed breed,
she loved them all. At five she
even declared that some day she
would marry Scooby-Doo!
Boy those five years went fast.
Now we have a scrappy little
Toy Fox Terrier whose papers
dub her Gracie Marie, but whose
name I extended to Gracie Marie
Margaret Delilah. All seven pounds
of her have captured our hearts
and helped to fill the tear in the
fiber of our family that
was there after Winnie died.
E's love of dogs led to one of
her biggest collections: vintage dog
figurines. A Japan stamp on the
bottom of many of her dogs indicates that
they were made post World War II,
most likely in the late 40's and 50's.
They don't all have stamps verifying
their age, though. Often she just falls
in love with one and its pedigree is
really secondary to the beauty that it
holds in her eyes.
On Tuesday, July 26, I will be hosting
a linky party to show and tell some
of my collections and I hope you will
join in and give us a glimpse of yours.
I am fascinated by collections, their
history and how they got started, so
please, come back and share!
Dogs are our link to paradise.
To sit with a dog on a hillside on a
glorious afternoon is to be back in
Eden; where doing nothing was not
boring--it was peace.
~ Milan Kundera
Have a wonderful weekend!
xx
Suzanne
32 comments:
Whenever I think of the rainbow bridge I get all weepy, missing all my furry little friends that are now long gone. I hate to think of the day that my current pets, Murphy and Tucker, leave me behind.
Your daughter's canine collection looks wonderful. I can't wait to see what else you have to share with us. I think collections can provide a little glimpse into the personality of a person.
What a lovely collection and a sweet story...we have still not gotten another fur ball in our home..but the day is coming soon.
Hope your Summer is going well...will you be at the next TCC in Sept...sure hope so.
Hugs. xoxoxo
Such a sweet post, I'm that way about kitties. I've only been without one for just a few years, in my life. I'll be there for your collections party! xoxo Debra
First off, I love Milan Kundera.....and I love dogs. My 7 year old son was only 4 when our first "baby" died. To this day he sleeps with a picture of her next to his bed and prays for her every night. You took the plunge with another dog but we are still not so ready. As for collections, I used to have a bunch B.C. or Before Children. I'll have to see what I can come up with these days...
xoxo
kathleen
When we lost our Jess last year it left a huge hole in our hearts that I thought would never mend. I still cry when I think of her and miss her so. We have our Mitzie now. She is not a Jess, but she is no less endearing and we love her to bits. Everyonce in a while I think of how one day we will have to say goodbye to her as well, as we don't have our dogs with us for a lifetime do we, and my heart twinges again. In the meantime I enjoy all the memories we are building together. I would never be without a dog now. They are special creatures with huge hearts and so much unconditional love to share with us. xxoo
What a lovely background story to how your daughter's dog collection started. That's such a beautiful picture of her and Winnie, dressed up and happily playing together.
I'd love to join in your collection show-n-tell. I'm on holiday for some of that time so I'll try and schedule posts. I won't be able to comment on other's collections until I get back.
I've pinched your show-n-tell button for my sidebar.
xxx
As you may know we are one month in with our adopted dog. He has turned our house around in such a short time and filled our days with fun. We are getting more exercise and fresh air than we have for years. He has also touched our hearts with that waggy tail and appreciation of what really matters in life. Long may it last.
Nobody loves you like a dog.....:) Losing one is just so devastating....
My sister has a huge collection of those dog figurines! Has been collecting them for years.
we are dog lovers too. all of us. they just are so special.
AMEN to that last quote. "....where doing nothing was not boring---it was peace." Yes. Dogs, cats, HORSES, whatever walks and crawls, flies or hoot and whistles, it is all part of the EDEN we all crave. We need nature in our lives to remind us why we are even here. Oh dearest, what a touching post and YOUR PUP IS A TOY FOX TERRIER!!! See, my dream guy is a scrappy wire haired fox terrier and one day...ONE DAY...but if I leave him alone during the school months, I fear coming home to a wreck of a house! Hopefully, during retirement...
I COLLECT CROWNS! I wonder what is up with that!
I will be back to see the party! Have a splendid day in this now cooler weather we are having!! Anita
Pets become such preciouis parts of a family don't they? My girl is desperate for a dog, but with two cats in the house I have resisted the pressure so far. Reading your lovely post makes my heart weaken a little and reminds me how special dogs can be.
x
The story of you and Winnie is remarkably similar to my Murphy, my yellow Lab. We adopted him when he was five, the child of divorce, in need of a real family to love him. He and I bonded instantly, and he was my constant companion for 8 years. When he died in '97, my heart was broken and I couldn't imagine opening it to another dog. We were two years without a dog, but one morning I woke up and realized that it was TIME. Friends had been working on me during our dog-less years, telling us how perfect a greyhound would be for our family. That very morning, I made a call that has changed my life ... and we brought Emma home about a month later.
Because of dog, I have been active in Therapy Dogs, Reading Assistance Dogs, greyhound rescue, and now our non-profit that raises money for canine cancer research. We look forward to a time when detection and treatment of canine cancer will be improved, and these wonderful creatures can live more of their short lives enriching OUR lives.
I'm going to a big flea market tomorrow. I know I will see dog figurines while I'm there, and I will smile and think of you.
Such a sweet post about your doggies - real & not :)
Dogs become such a great part of our lives. I couldn't imagine being without one again.
*** Dear S~ That was so lovely & enduring... as an "over-the-top", die-hard DOG LOVER (& lover of ALL animals to boot!), this touched me greatly. And to see your precious lil' girl starting off the same as I in THIS respect, anyway!), well, "THAT'S A GOOD THING"!!!
Did I tell you we got ANOTHER GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER (hunting dawg)??? Yes, BELLE (8 years old, but STILL a baby, of course) has a new sista' (8 months old now). WE think that BELLE-GIRL thinks the lil' one is a crazy, too-energetic, young "whipper-snapper", & allllll the energy rather makes the Belle-girl just a little "wary" at times... Their interaction is so cute, and "MARNIE" is quite a beauuutiful Shorthair!
Please tell your darling daughter I think it's WONDERFUL that she LOVES n' APPRECIATES the VERY SPECIAL BOND between girl and dog... how LOVELY TO SEE!!!
Warmest,
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
TO BE BACK IN EDEN.
thanks for this. it will stick with me today. it is just what i feel when bella luna is on my lap or wagging.
not a lot of wagging these days. some trouble in the garden. this morning bella required the baby carrier which she wants to live in. she licks my arm in appreciation. licking is rare these days too. i am trying to let go, knowing she may not stay with us as long as we'd hoped.
i will definitely party with you. count me in.
michele
If you are a dog person, there is nothing quite like the joy they bring and the sorrow they leave behind when they are gone! Our daughter mourned the loss of our German Shepherd for years too. I love your daughter's collection, and I'm sure each one has a special meaning!
Kat :)
Just posted your party button on my sidebar. I hope to be there. Loved your post. Dogs are special beings. I love how they never hold a grudge.
Best,
Susan
LOVE love the picture with the glasses on! If only I could get Bella to wear some.
Sounds like a wonderful party! Happy weekend:)
xo
Wow. I've seen tons of collections and I bet that one rivals most - but what an awesome story to accompany it!
I can't wait for the big collection post!
I SO love your daughter's collection! I even buy broken dog figurines because I think they need a good home LOL! This will be a fun party!
Oh that quote is SO true - to be gifted with a furry friend to share your time is a treasure indeed.
Ours is called Luke and he really is the gentlest giant.
Would you like to see him? Pop on over to this post:
http://www.giftsofserendipity.com/2011/06/sunday-special-two-seconds-of-luck.html
xx Felicity
Can we still be friends if I tell you the truth . . . that I am not an animal person (but enjoy friends that are)?
What a creative and fun link party this will be. I love collecting and it will be fun to see others, too. And the button is adorable.
Fondly,
Glenda
that's a good one. you have so many. as i unpack i'm finding more. like glass baskets. who knew i had a bunch of unnecessary glass handled baskets;)
kind of cracked up when you showed the made in japan stamp. i just love you:)
My Toni dog was with me from the age of 2 until I was 17. Putting her to sleep was the hardest thing to do at that time. I still think of her and have her picture in my bedroom.
My first husband and I got a wire haired fox terrier that we named Scooter! He was a love! We divorced when Scooter was 9 months old; my ex kept Scooter for a year and then he came to me for a year and a half. When I came to Kuwait, I put him on an airplane from New Orleans to Dallas to live with a friend who had just lost her cocker spaniel. Putting Scooter on that airplane broke my heart! We thought she would care for him for a couple of years until I came back, but I've been here in Kuwait ever since. Scooter had a beautiful life with her for 12 year and died several years ago at the age of 15. Our furbabies certainly take a little place in our heart that can never be filled again. Your daughter's collection is sweet! Hope you have a great day. Tammy
Stories so similiar...our daughters begged for years too...but our sweet "Sophie" has now been gone for years ....to be replaced by a horse named "Fred".
and yes we had a collection of dogs...still have some of them...but now we have an ever growing collection of horse figurines pictures & vintage tack!....
Thanks for sharing this story ... how I remember the reality of our two daughters great need to love a pet. One has a dog now in her own home & one a horse.
I will try to get my act together and link up with you!
What a sweet story, Suzanne. And marrying Scooby-Doo - how precious is that.
Thanks so much for visiting Pollywog Creek. I've spent a little time browsing through some of your lovely pages. I'm sure I'll be back.
Blessings!
What a grand story!
And yes, dogs are most certainly our link to paradise. I just wish you had gotten to meet mine when you were down here.
I'll look forward to the party, Suzanne!
XOXO,
Anne
Such a sweet story about the start of that collection. Now I miss my dog too. We had him 14 years. He left us last April to cross that bridge.
What an awesome link party. thank you so much.
i was always a cat person, but then we got a dog for security when we lived in a really bad part of town. She was part sheppard, part chow... and "bless her heart", she was as timid and submissive as can be! that dog made me a dog lover. we had her for 14 years. it still hurts just to write that. she died during a november, and we only waited until the following spring to adopt another. and then another.
those two...
xo
Gracie is one lucky dog! xoxo Amy
Love the pic of Gracie with the glasses, we did that same thing to our dog Bo when he was alive. That made me smile Suzanne. Yes, big hole in our hearts when he passed. You can tell just how special your daughter's collection is, lots of love behind it! xoxo ~Lili
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