MinPinMoments

Aspen celebrated with a new toy – and cookies!

Whenever I see the letter “T” in nature, it always makes me think of my first dog, Twinkie. This particular letter is not too difficult to find, especially if you’re actively looking for it. But when it practically jumps off the sidewalk, road, or path in front of me, I can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign from Twinkie – her way of saying, “Hi, Mom, I’m here with you.”

Other letters – like A, M, and Q – are not so easy to find in nature. But a couple of weeks ago I found all three – within twenty-four hours!

Coincidence? Maybe. But I prefer to think of them as signs from my girls. And if you’re wondering how Quest’s sign is related to nature, you’re right. That one isn’t. But how about this next one?

On June 17th I saw this book – The Feather Quest – in the Little Free Library at Bass River State Park. So I was surrounded by nature and the book is about birds, so essentially nature.

A couple of days ago I was happy to find another “A” on my neighborhood walk.

I’m going to keep watching for signs. Why? Because it brings me joy to see certain letters (A, M, Q & T!) pop up unexpectedly as I continue to walk the same routes that I shared with my girls for so many years.

My three girls are celebrating their half-birthday together for the first time since 2021. Today they turn 16.5! May they run free and eat as many pupcakes as they want!

Earlier this month, I set Malibu free. Her dementia had progressed, and she also had symptoms of what her doctor suspected was chronic pancreatitis. On June 4th, Malibu told me it was time to join her sisters at the Rainbow Bridge, and I honored her wishes. Malibu being the last of the litter made it especially heartbreaking for me. And while it brings me peace to know that the girls are together, the pain of losing Malibu is unbearable at times. Over time my grief will lessen, but right now I’m trying to navigate this difficult path.

Losing a beloved pet is truly one of the hardest things a person can endure. My cherished memories of Malibu, her sisters, and my first dog, Twinkie, provide comfort and have saved me from spiraling into a depression. I know it’s a common saying, but it’s true – my dogs would want me to find joy and happiness again. So I will try to do that for them and myself.

Here’s a video from the end of May. Malibu was having a good afternoon. I’m so grateful to have captured our special time together doing one of her favorite things – playing games.

Hug your dogs and spend some extra time with them today.

It’s that time of the year again. Turtles are traveling through our backyard on their way to who knows where. I wonder if they notice a difference, the one I’ve noticed. How much quieter our yard has become over the past two years. Quest and Aspen created a huge commotion whenever they spotted a turtle in their yard. Quest, usually the first to see it, would shriek her head off. This caused her sisters to race over to find out what was going on. While Quest continued to alert the neighborhood, Aspen used her paw to try to bring the turtle closer. To her disappointment and Quest’s, her paws were never long enough. After scoping out the scene, Malibu always walked away, clearly not impressed by turtles. Today, I spotted a turtle and brought Malibu to say “Hello.” She gave it a brief sniff and then turned away from it. At 16, Malibu is still not impressed by turtles.

After days of dreary weather, Malibu and I enjoyed a warm, sunny day at Bass River State Park. It was deserted – just the way we like it!