SCHOOL! ELIZA'S FIRST DAY AT APPLE HOUSE COOPERATIVE

Eliza's first day of preschool was this past Wednesday and our whole family was thrilled about the occasion. We've been talking about school for the last month or so and counting down the days on a calendar. Never really knowing what Eliza does and doesn't comprehend it was hard to tell if she really understood what going to school meant to her. She did, however, know that mommy was "too big" to go to school (I am hoping she meant "too old", which I can live with!) and that dogs didn't go to her school either. She also knew that our neighbor, Mya was going to be there and her teacher's name was Mrs. Barkey (actually Bartely). Nonetheless, our first day of school was an exciting one. The theme for the classes (Apple Seeds, Apple Dumplings and Apple Jacks) was Super Heroes. I really wanted her first day to be special and to tie in the Super Hero Theme so I scoured Target and Meijer (at the last minute, of course) and found nothing. So, off to Hobby Lobby to find a Superman logo and some red rhinestones and then to dig out the ironing board and iron to put it all together. I wanted to keep it simple and cute. I think I did both.

Eliza is now a Seed and is on her way to an amazing school year and career. We want her to fall in love with school, make new friends, bond with her teachers and be proud of her accomplishments. Sounds a lot harder than making a Super Hero outfit for the first day of school. Wish us luck!!!

The raw materials

Super Girl and Super Daddy

Super Happy Momma

Is that not the cutest backpack ever?  Thanks, Oma!

A barrette that I wore at her age.  A good luck charm!

Checking out the crazy table with her new classmates.

Be...SUPER!

Her first attempt at painting.  There was zero white space once she was done. 

End of her first day.  A success!

MISSING DAISY

The Earth has the Sun, the Moon the Stars. Constants among the chaos. You, Daisy, were my constant. For nearly 17 years you brought me joy in times of sorrow, peace in times of chaos, comfort in times of loss. You helped make old homes new, strange houses homes and always enjoyed the ride. You traveled with me to the ocean, the far reaches of northern Michigan to nearly every corner of Indiana and to the Bluegrass of Kentucky. You taught me lessons in patience and how to be a compassionate caregiver and to not leave books on the floor. From beginnings and endings and beginnings again you were there. 


To say I cherish our years together is an understatement. To say I am beyond sad is a fact. 

I miss you as much as the Earth would miss the Sun, the moon would miss the stars. Always. 

OPEN SPACES

Me and Daisy, Lake Waveland, Summer 2009

Many, many years ago not long after Daisy came into my life someone told me that Daisy was ME.  Similar in many, many ways once this was pointed out to me it was easy to see and accept.  From that point on Daisy and I had a very special, almost kindred relationship.  Over these many years, many losses and many life changes she was my constant.  That was nearly 17 years ago. That was nearly half my life ago.  Yesterday I lost my constant.  I lost a part of me that is gone forever.  I lost my true companion who in so many, many ways was a mirror who reflected the sassy, sweet, naughty, quiet, observer part of me.  Me with freckles, her with spots, our mutual love of food and books (which she considered food), our shared weight struggles and our feistiness...we were a great team.  I've been the girl with dogs for 20 years. Once upon a time I was the girl with two dalmatians.  Seven years ago I lost my first dalmatian and Daisy's buddy, Enjoue.  I then became the girl with the dalmatian.  Daisy was ME.  Now who am I?  

Eliza and Daisy, Christmas in Louisville 2011

I know I am the mom of a little girl who adored Daisy (especially after losing our other best buddy, Joey, on June 1st) and who doesn't understand loss at this age.  Part of caring for Daisy required daily food runs, trips to Starbucks, giving her seven different medicines twice a day, and helping her in many ways others must have thought time-consuming and inconvenient.   Watching us take care of our elderly dogs with love, patience, kindness, care and compassion I hope has taught Eliza some amazing skills she will some day use to make this place a better world for everyone.  

Outer Banks, NC April 2009

Because Daisy required extra care these last several years and because I loved her so much and took her almost everywhere with me my life was pretty full of commitment, responsibility and care-giving.  With her gone there are so many open spaces in my life.  So many, many quiet and open spaces in my heart where a feisty little white dog with black spots once resided and made who me who I am.  

Ice cream!

The details: 
I find it ironic that Daisy would, in the end, suffer from food issues as eating was a passion of hers.  This past spring she became picky and often randomly vomited.  After a visit with our amazing vet we determined she had a case of nausea that was most likely brought on by the various drugs she was on for several years for congestive heart failure and other minor ailments.  After adjusting her meds, introducing a nausea drug and an appetite stimulant she was back on track.  After Joey's passing in June she developed a vicious cycle of tummy troubles but the nausea medicine (and daily trips to McDonald's, Arby's, and Chick-Fil-A) always did the trick.  But with recent weight loss and muscle deterioration, the intermittent nausea, fatigue and almost total loss of appetite the struggles to keep her interested in eating was a battle.  This last cycle started on Thursday and the usual remedies weren't working as before.  On Monday, August 12th, through teary eyes and a unbelievable sadness in our hearts we said goodbye to Daisy Mae.