Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Hazel, was pretty special (she was the best dog EVER). She would happily lounge in her favorite chair but was ready for a walk in the forest anytime, she was a friend to everyone she met, people, cats, horses, goats…EVERYONE.  She was gentle, quiet (except for her snoring), intelligent, patient and loving. The first time I saw her she was just over 8 years ago when she was 8 weeks old, she crawled in my lap and I was sold, she came home with us that day, she was pretty much like our first baby.

We suddenly and very unexpectedly lost our dear Hazel this morning. Just yesterday my mom and I took a walk with her in the forest, she ended the day snuggled by the fire next to my husband, then she went to sleep…and she never woke up. We’ve known for years she had a heart murmur and we were aware her life would probably be shorter but we never expected to lose her this soon. She will be dearly missed.

The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.

A psalm of thanks

Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise. Thank him and praise his name. (‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭4‬ NCV)

“Come, little leaves,”
Said the wind one day,
“Come over the meadows
With me, and play;
Put on your dresses
Of red and gold;
Summer is gone,
And the days grow cold.”

Soon as the leaves
Heard the wind’s loud call,
Down they came fluttering,
One and all;
Over the meadows
They danced and flew,
Singing the soft
Little songs they knew.

“Come Little Leaves” was written by the American poet George Cooper

“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” -John Muir

I can’t believe it’s already 10 days into Novemeber! We’ve been making sure to take advantage of the beautiful, sunny, crisp autumn days when we have them. I’m thankful to live near the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, it’s nice to have close by now that the days are so much shorter. It has a short paved loop trail that is fun for the kids, you can also take a longer walk out in the prairie. We love visiting, seeing how the prairie changes throughout the seasons, this time of year it looks golden after the dry summer.