August 2016 – Gardens For Goldens

I absolutely love these boys. But then, so do all of the volunteers at Homeward Bound.

They are the quintessential Goldens – loveable, huggable, and Velcro.

I wrote about Max and Felix a couple of weeks ago. Their humans tragically perished together. It’s hard enough for us to suffer the loss of our dog companions. Imagine how confused and lost ten-year-old dogs feel to lose their humans.

Rumor had it that there was an adopter on the horizon. When that fell through, I forced my husband to bring our Jackson out to see if they might be a foster match (not so secretly hoping we would be foster failures). Jackson has been sorely missing his canine sister, Bella. At the very least, I hoped we could provide Max and Felix with a place to wait in comfort, while providing some companionship for Jackson.

Our boy gets along with everyone, so it was not surprising that there were no issues. But there were no sparks, either. No connection. If anything, Jackson was a little nervous around Max while hanging a little closer by Felix. Not quite willing to give it up, I reintroduced them and supplied photo proof that they could at least eventually settle down together.

My husband relented and agreed to foster them, but the concession came too late. Or maybe not. Had they been home with us, they would not have been seen by a young couple who came in that same morning looking for a dog. No particular dog. No particular gender. Young or old. Golden or mix. It didn’t matter. Just a good dog. They found not one – but two. Once they laid eyes on Max and Felix, it was a done deal.

And I wasn’t even around to get the photo! With thanks to my friend and fellow blogger, Rob of “Rob & Dog”, I present Max and Felix’s going home photos!

What good people to open their hearts and home to two very bonded brothers whose lives had been turned upside down.

My husband was probably correct in believing that Max and Felix would not be Jackson’s forever dogs. We know what a true connection looks like for him when we see it. It begins with a play bow and doesn’t end until both are exhausted.

We’ll find it. Eventually.

As for Max and Felix – tragedy brought them to us. But we send them home – together and forever – as promised, with all our love.

Happy (long) lives, boys. We are all going to miss you.

Wordless Wednesday: Damselfly

White

White is so cooling in a garden, especially on very hot summer days.

White offers a place for the eyes to rest – a break from all the hot yellows, oranges and reds of an August garden.

White dogs are just as cool in the garden –

or elsewhere.

The come in all shapes and sizes,

offering up their love,

affection,

or just a helping hand.

One white dog had an especially sweet “going home” this weekend – turning her seventh birthday into her first “gotcha day.”

Earned after years of birthing puppies, and currently recovering from double knee surgery,

Olivia has found her forever home.

White. A color without hue…

but plenty of heart.

Hanging On

Busy Bee

A Hope

“may my faith always be
at the end of the day

like a hummingbird…returning
to its favorite flower.”
― Sanober Khan, Turquoise Silence

Wisteria

Change Comes Bearing Gifts

As Ina and I surveyed the garden this week, we both remarked on its changed appearance. Where there was light, shadows now creep.

Where there was once deep earth, roots have taken over. Both are the result of competition from maturing trees that grace us with their shade – but have changed the face and planting pockets of what was once our sun-soaked garden.

Things get rearranged; plants are re-homed – not thrown away. It is part of the life of the garden and to be expected. A gardener adapts to whatever mother nature throws her way with a different – but no less a beautiful – outcome.

“If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.” ~Author Unknown