I'm trying to make the most of any even slightly Summery days, and there have not been many around here up to now. So the other day, very early in the freshness of the morning I walked along the canal with Mavis.
She's still not used to being a lone dog, when you used to have a sister to sniff things out that you might have missed and let you know, it must be quite lonely to plod along on your own.
But the early morning fresh air and the light were invigorating, and we did meet a few other dogs on our travels.
Mavis still keeps stopping to look behind, no doubt looking for the Pug that was always ten yards behind us. She checks numerous times on each walk.
Blue skies and moving boats, there's always something to see along the canal.
This boat was just mooring up as we approached.
If Mavis stops, I stop ... so I might as well take another photo.
A few more steps and we stopped again.
I love the old bridges along our canal, I didn't know how much I loved them until we hired a boat for a week and passed under lots of them. Virtually all were slightly different and all made of beautiful old stone, some with flights of old, worn stone steps up to the road beside them.
The half-managed wildflower garden near the steps that we use to get back to the road. It always looks beautiful.
We got Suky's ashes back a week after her death and they are now in the old tin bath by my front door. I removed the few herbs that were left in there and spent a while transplanting plants from the back garden and then added last years mini Christmas tree for a bit of height. There are also some of Bella's Forget-Me-Nots taken from under the apple tree in the back garden.
This way Suky can come with us when we move house ... and we can say hello to her every time we pass.
Sue xx
Oh that brought me to tears this morning-what a beautiful thing to do with Suzy’s ashes. The planter looks wonderful. Catriona
ReplyDeleteIt's looking even better today, the Primulas are all opening up and are more colourful, they obviously enjoyed being transplanted.
DeleteI love England’s network of waterways and canals - a tangible link to our industrial heritage when we made things. Give me a peaceful waterway over a motorway thundering with HGVs anytime. On one of our favourite local walks we pass the remains of an old lock on a now redundant canal that was built to carry barges between the river Wey which feeds into the Thames and the fast flowing river Arun. It’s hard to imagine how busy this area once was and indeed had been since Roman times as an important trading post. Now it is peaceful countryside owned by Sussex Wildlife Trust and currently grazed by the most beautiful herd of Red Sussex cattle. Your tin bath looks great and a wonderful resting place for dear Suky’s ashes. I have a tin bath but have never been very successful at growing things in it. I’ve tried herbs, salads and tulips but none of them have been happy for long. What is your secret Sue, I would love to know how you do it? Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteThat all sounds just lovely, living near any water is brilliant isn't it. We are very lucky here on our canal ... there are no locks, so it makes for a nice relaxing few days if you hire a narrow boat for a holiday.
DeleteMy herbs didn't do that well in the tin bath either, these plants however seem to be loving it, but I guess time will tell. :-)
Sue, do you think you would ever get another dog to keep Mavis and Ginger company? I know it's early days yet. By the way I love your planter, good idea in case you ever move.
ReplyDeleteNo, we are not adding to the pets for the foreseeable future. Ginger is now over 14 and Mavis over 13, once we lose them we have 'almost' decided to be animal-free for at least a year to do some of the travelling we have been unable to do for a while. Then we will decide if it's time to adopt some more little friends. But you never know what is around the corner do you!!
DeleteAw, how sad that your Mavis keeps looking for Suki but lovely idea to have her ashes in a pot so you could take them if you moved.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when she's looking for sure, Ginger is also out of sorts but he is showing it in other ways.
DeletePoor, darling Mavis. I hope this is not too insensitive but was there any opportunity for her to sniff and say a doggy goodbye to Suky after she passed? I have heard opinions that can help. I am pleased to hear how you have cared for Suky’s ashes - Ollie is in a favourite part of “his” garden but I regret doing that just in case we ever had to move.
ReplyDeleteYour canal photos are quite gorgeous; I would not want to be without “my” mini-mountains but I do miss the canal-side environment.
Sadly there wasn't, we had to rush Suky to the out-of-hours vet as an emergency and it made more sense to leave Mavis at home with Ginger. It's a good job we did really as there was another doggy emergency rushed in just after we got there, it would have been far too traumatic for Mavis to witness.
DeleteIt does help if they see their dead family members for sure and we always do it when possible. Sadly Mavis has now had two of her sisters 'vanish' with no explanation she can understand.
I do miss the glorious views of our former home, but living so close to the canal and a river slightly makes up for it.
How lovely to have Suky's ashes in a planter that can move with you. I put some of my mother's ashes in a pot with a camellia - the camellia struggled and died! It's a bit of a standing joke between us siblings that Mum killed off the plant (sorry Mum, I'm sure it was probably the wrong soil or growing conditions really!).
ReplyDeleteWhen I buried Bella's ashes in the caravan garden the gorgeous plant I bought to put above them died almost instantly. So I made sure to put a layer of compost between Suky's ashes and the roots of the plants in the tin bath. Fingers crossed they seem to be thriving already, with new flowers appearing almost straight away.
DeleteA lovely idea with the planter ❤️ My old Archie's ashes went under a new rose bush and that is truly the most prolific and beautiful rose bush in our garden. However, if we move it must come with us........and of course it might not do so well after that......
ReplyDeleteLovely Canal photos x
Alison in Wales x
It's nice to be able to keep them close isn't it. Hopefully your rose will survive if you do move house.
DeleteLovely idea for Suky's ashes.
ReplyDeleteIt's like it was meant to be as it was only the other week that I noticed that some of the herbs had vanished and the others were doing really badly. It's nice to have the tin bath looking good again and Suky close by.
DeleteThe planter is gorgeous and a perfect spot for Suky's ashes♥ Bless little Mavis who so loved her friend and it would be extremely hard for her at the moment:( Wonderful photos of such a beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteMavis had Suky close by for all her time with us. In fact thinking about it Suky was the constant companion for so many of our pets that came and went in their own time. Mavis is understandably very clingy, if she's not with us then she's with Ginger. They've taken to sleeping together each night, Mavis in the dog bed and Ginger on the carpet close by so he can keep an eye on her.
DeleteThat's so touching that Mavis still looks back to see if Suky is following. I like the idea of placing Suky's ashes in the planter and being able to take the planter if you move again.
ReplyDeleteIt's over a week later now and she's still doing it, it brings a lump to my throat every time.
DeleteWhat a lovely walk alongside the canal. How sad that Mavis is still looking for Suky when you walk along it though. It will take a while for her to realize she has gone. Great idea to put Suky's ashes in your planter. We buried Ghengis and then the little box of Theo's ashes in the bottom triangle, with a Tuscany Superb Rose over Theo.
ReplyDeleteAww, that's sounds just perfect, sad but perfect. ❤️
DeleteA lovely walk you shared. Touching that Mavis is waiting for her companion to catch up.
ReplyDeleteI think she will be doing it for a long time. Suky was always the dawdler even as a youngster.
DeleteDear Mavis. Heartbreaking for you all.
ReplyDeleteA lovely idea to plant up over Suky's ashes. SHe's always there in the leaves and flowers, always with you. xx
That's just what I thought. ❤️
DeleteIt must have felt like a very poignant walk, Sue. Especially with Mavis continuing to look for her friend.
ReplyDeleteI really feel your loss, it's always heart breaking to lose a furry family member.
You've captured some beautiful photographs. Xx
It really was, my heart was breaking for her. We do live in a lovely town. 🙂
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