Missing a Pup

This little pup will be missed dearly.

She was 14, a big part of my family's life, and we said goodbye to her last Monday.
Nikki, we love you. Even though we said you were a drama queen and called you a brat sometimes:)
Now I truly miss you being underfoot.

-read on for an extended version-

Nikki

You, little pup, will be terribly missed.

Sharing some cuddles with a sleepy dog before I went to camp last week.

My pup had to be put down on Monday, and it really surprised me how affected I was by this.

I consider myself a strong person--one that has much more to conquer and survive in life-- but a person that has survived and conquered deaths of close family and friends, intentionally making the choice survive and seek happiness.

Nikki (our 14 year old pup) had a stroke last Friday night and went from a ball chasing, attention loving dog, into a zoned out zombie-pup who lacked the function in her back left leg. It broke my heart to see her trying to move and falling, and bumping into things.

Seeing a person, or pet that I love compromised of the energy they normally posses breaks my heart.

I can think of all the clichés that exist and keep repeating them in my grieving mantra—she’s better off now, she’s not in pain, it’s a blessing that she deteriorated fast and didn’t have to be in pain for long, she lived 14 long years, we loved her… I hope she knew that.

I know the pain will settle and positive thoughts will rise to the surface sometime. My boyfriend soothes me quoting “this, too, shall pass” and telling me, “luckily, emotions wear off”. I feel relief right now in knowing that eventually I will feel more joy in Nikki’s life than sadness. But right now I feel sad.

I think the root of my sadness is in the fact that Nikki grew up with us. My mom brought her home as a surprise (to my sister, myself, and my dad!) when I was in grade 4. As a 10 year old having a little blond pup was, well… the [dog’s] pajamas’ (if you will.) We treated her like our own baby: cuddling with her, playing fetch with her, singing songs especially written for her.

Around the time her dog years took her into her 20’s, my sister and I entered our teenage-hood. The time in life that we were worried more about being ‘cool’ than being responsible dog owners. Naturally, my parents were wonderful and picked up the slack, but even though I slacking off on the nitty gritty of it…ohh I hope she knew I still cared.

As the years passed, and a dog aged, we grew up, moved out of the house—returning home to a squealing excited pup on our trips home from university. She brought so much joy into the visits, and I was not nearly responsible enough for her basic needs such as walks, grooming, picking up the poop (my parents did this as we grew up). I regret this.

I’ve reflected a bit this week, upon her death, that people (and pets) mean so much to us. I regret not having more intention through the process during the good and bad, the fun and inconvenient times and not just sloughing those off on others.

After the grieving passes, this realization will stay with me.

I will miss you, little dog.

Birthday Month

June is a big month in this fam.
4 birthdays in 2 weeks for 4 very special people.
but dude, if there's one thing we can do... it's celebrate.

For this family, celebrating is like bold-ing the font of life.
We bold the font, blow out the candles, hang the streamers, sing the song... and make the person feel special.

(me, momma,
erica) ...We missed you dad

Happy Birthday Mom!
06.06.11 Mexican Siesta Celebration

Mom, you are the nail this family hangs upon. We couldn't do what we do with out you. You're a pretty darn amazing teacher too, one day I hope to touch children's lives like you do.

(dad, erica)
02.06.11 Classic Family Dinner, Your Favourite.
Happy 57th!

Dad, you are the most calm, cool, collected, and loving man I know. You have taught me what respecting your partner, and showing love is all about. Plus you're just a big goof.

31.05.11 Afternoon Tea
Happy 77th Grandma!

Grandma, you are one sweet 77 year old. You are a true lady. I sure hope your spunk and vigor are genetic!

(S, Annie, me, Iz
Erica)

06.05.11 A Sunday Dinner With Fav Family Friends

Happy 22nd Erica!

You, my little sister, have just grown so much lately. I love to see you rock out the way you do... and I'm happy to be giggling and dancing with ya along the way.

***

We're pretty darn lucky to all live in the same town this summer and be able to spend time as a family... I'll celebrate that!

Cheers,

a morning in the life of me

We're talkin' about home 'round here, dudes.
...Oh, what? You haven't heard?

It's a pretty big deal, and some awesome bloggers have been posting about it.

And, in the true spirit of my first morning off this weekend, I wanted to do nothing but bask in the sun, photograph, and blog.

Why not about home?, you ask.
Well, that is a fine idea.
***

I work in a camp Monday- Thursday in a far far away land, 120km in the bush from the nearest town. When I am home on weekends, and my boyfriend is gone fighting forest fires *sigh*, I stay at my parents house
(especially when little sister is home too.)


...It's a magical place, where toast and OJ are enjoyed in the sunlight,


where morning sunlight pours into the rooms where I spent my years growing up,


where my pro little nail-do-er sister and I fit a morning session in over tea and giggles,


Where my mom's care for our home is evident: everything is placed, just so, and even the remote controls seem pretty.


where morning hair, and pajama'd feet get to reside in their sleepiness all morning long,


where photos are taken, and love is felt.



What is your home like: (physical or otherwise)? tell us about it, we'd love to hear.

Get the Picture: Home

Home.

[A photo share.]

Santorini, Greece

Note: In this post I’ve included ‘homes’ that I’ve photographed in different cultures. I’ve represented a physical manifestation of home, but I am very aware that home may not take a form like any of these. Feel free to represent home in any way that feels right to you!

Home…

How to write an inspiring introductory post about home? And why did I choose such a complex photo topic?

Naturally, my first reaction was to turn to Google. Here's what I found:

Quotes. Tons of 'em.

“home is where the heart is.”
“home is where you hang your hat.”
"home is not where you live, but where they understand you."

Definitions.

home |hōm|noun
place where something flourishes, is most typically found, or from which it originates.


I can dig these. But the truth is, I’m muddling my way through this wonderfully transient mid-20's lifestyle.

Kalambaka, Greece

In this stage, for some people, home seems to take on a brilliantly confusing collection of meanings:

a tangible home, a home that is far from tangible, children, no children, partner, single, living with your family, traveling, stuck as a starving student in an ugly apartment, living like a gypsy, or a myriad of other contexts...

…All dreamy, complicated/ joyous/ inconvenient situations that are, with no doubt, impacting of who we are becoming.

Pretty powerful, this home thing.

I suppose this is why I chose it as a theme for Get the Picture this month; It can take on such varied forms. So this is where I hand it over to you… In a post with photos, show us your version of home.

Safranbolu, Turkey

The nitty gritty:

1. This post will be open NOW until the 8th (next Wednesday)

2. At any time from now until the 7th, post about home on YOUR blog (include a link or button to Outside Voice)

3. Come back to Outside Voice, and use the linky tool to link up (it's easy! Promise! And don’t hesitate to comment or email with questions, I don’t mind answering and helping out!)

4. Be sure to read all the other wonderful posts about home… drool over their photos… and meet new bloggers, cuz dudes, that’s what this is all about.

Can’t wait to hear from you all! (see link-up tool below)

may 2011. I was here.

"Dear Monday,

Thanks for having the word 'mon' in you. That's French for 'mine', in case you weren't aware, Monday, but it makes me think of you more as 'my day', and frankly, that sounds like a much more promising start to the week."

-Unknown

Mine. My day, but as much as I love you, Monday, my favorite days seem to come in the form of weekends. The days when I not only get to go with the flow, but impact where the flow goes.

So, here I Was. May Days.


I have a theme party to attend this month: Royal Wedding. So of course, a headpiece with a birdcage veil is a must.

A little backstory: my boyfriend grew up in an area on the outskirts of town. Living in the country meant not always being able to have rides into town to hit up the basketball courts. Some of the community got together and created a pretty legit basketball court in the loft of a barn.
The ultimate clubhouse.

Happy End of May!

Friday Medley.

sweet image via.

It's raining, and it's pouring here. But that doesn't stop me from putting together a medley of simple joys for a Friday.
Hope you enjoy.

****

*I'm in love with Bon Iver.
And his brand new single.


do you have a favorite song lately?


*These hanging vases make me feel so summery.
I think I want to pull this project off this weekend.

more at Joy Ever After.



*My six year old self just fell in love.

book bed via


*Doesn't spring make you want to clean? Ok, not actually... but maybe just organize a couple things.

A simple idea I tried this week:

via

*We made blogging cool way before he did
...but I've still had fun perusing Jay-Z's blog this week.

Tell me you've checked it out...

****


Happy Weekend-ing, dudes. See you back here Monday.
xo.