Sometimes we can learn so much from our pets and sometimes they truly touch us. This past week as I was cleaning, I decided to pack some of Paddie's things up and take them upstairs to the craft room. My goal is to make a shadowbox honoring her and the love she brought us. I found a beautiful box and began packing.
It must have been the tinkle of the tags on her collar because the boys ran to the table where I was working. Both stuck their noses in the box and sniffed and sniffed. Eventually, Seamus left. But Teddy wouldn't. He just stayed and stayed and sniffed and sniffed.
I wondered if we were sharing a common moment. One box of Nana Betty's sewing accessories has a small plastic bag in it with some things she was saving: buttons, fabric, a few notions. But when I open that bag, I can smell the scent of her home and it immediately comforts me and reminds me of all the love she showered on us. I always close that bag right away, as if to preserve the sweetest of fragrances--which it is to me.
Teddy sniffed and sniffed but he is also my fragile child. He is the dog that lives insecure, fearful, and can be aggressive because of it. Paddie had kept him in line. If he was really out of whack, she would push him against the wall and hold him gently there until he calmed down. It got to the point in our world, that she would just have to stand up and the boys knew they better cool it NOW! Seamus had gone back to playing but Ted stood guard over the box. "That's enough boy," I gently tried to divert him but he wouldn't waiver. I ended up closing the box and set it on the steps, closed the door, and returned to cleaning.
Teddy didn't resume wrestling with his brother. Instead he paced and paced in front of the door that leads to the staircase as if awaiting her. Inevitably, I had to take the box up the stairs because I am certain he could still smell her.
I have been told by some people that their dogs did not miss their dog friends after they had passed. Strangely, to know that both Seamus and Ted had not forgotten Paddie and that Teddy was so affected helped me greatly with my own grief. We are bonding in different ways now, not better or worse, but a different routine is being smoothed out and our lives continue. ..
The other night we had thunder storms. Of course, every rumble brought barks from the Ted-meister. So I put the leash of shame on him, put the end of hte leash on my husband's lap and --voila!--Ted fell asleep under my husband's legs. All would be fine except then Seamus came into the picture...and sat in front of me whinning. He isn't afraid of thunder storms at all, generally he sleeps through them, but he is afraid he is missing out on something that Teddy has...
So I slipped a leash of shame on him too and he layed down on the opposite side of the ottoman and fell asleep too. And you dont' think they are like two kids? SHEESH!
Little boy Seamus...
And Mr. Ted. All of the dogs are sporting Easter ties that I made them from some leftover fabric, they seem to like them (or maybe they just like the fuss we make).
NO time to rest for me, although Paddie and Teddy make me long for it!!! Don't they look cute together (rare picture for Paddie to let the boys get this close).
Seamus is good too, still doing his therapy work. He just went back to doggie daycare and is getting a bit uppity there--he is going through the bad boy adolescent phase--not with humans, just with other dogs which they tell me is normal...
Tomorrow is the last day for hospice training and I have to start cutting back on watching Miles because my back is getting worse. He is over 17 lbs at this point!
Miss you Dad! Love, Your boy, Teddy
Paddie in the front, she was digging for a snowball. awww, she is so cute :) 
This boy has been barky since the day we brought him home. 
Oh how my dogs make me smile! Every year we take Helena to see Santa and we haven't this year because of snow storms and our Santa's schedule. Hopefully we can arrange to do that after school one day. I was getting concerned that we wouldn't get our annual picture.
This is our dog Teddy. He looks like a big fluffernutter but he is our insecure middle child who barks an incessant amount and is dog aggressive. When we got our youngest dog Seamus, we were concerned how Teddy would behave towards him. We didn't know about Seamus' therapy magic (he was born with a special loving gift) but we marvelled at what good friends they became and how patient Teddy was with this little puppy who jumped on him and tried to nibble his ears.
A truly candid shot that looks like one of those family shots you get the photographer!
Snugglers :)
One could play hide and seek inside, but Seamus tends to stand and stare at people that hide which ruins the game a bit... 
Of course there is always torturing the dogs! Teddy doesn't mind it so much though...
Stay warm today!
