As soon as I saw the word for the day, I couldn't stop thinking about Nutmeg. When Jim or I would drop something, we often (as many do) just said "oops" before picking it up. Nutmeg learned as a puppy that "oops" was a GREAT word especially if it was said while we were in the kitchen, at the dining table, or eating a snack. She learned if she moved fast enough (which was not part of her or any Bernese Mountain Dog disposition), she usually got to keep the prized people food. I'd been trying all day to create some kind of image about food dropping, or something she liked photographed on the floor. In the end, nothing really worked. She was so much on my mind all day that in a way, 365 was once again a gift. Tonight I went down to the beach where she's buried and just sat there and thought about her. In the end, this is the image -- a tribute to Nutmeg and her love of "oops." The photo looks very dark here, but I think if viewed large you can see that the sand and beach lies behind her grave.
For newer followers or visitors who don't know what I'm talking about or who Nutmeg was: http://365project.org/taffy/365/2013-06-22
Oh Taffy, I am sure it was a hard day for you thinking of Nutmeg. The spot where she is looks great because it allows you to "visit" her and remember your good moments.
@mzzhope@darylo@archaeofrog@anazad511@joanf@janine3
Thanks Hope, Daryl, Katie, Ana, Joan, and Janine! I appreciate all your comments and understanding. When you're back up, Janine, we'll have a toast to Nutmeg on the beach. Or, from Nutmeg's perspective, maybe we should have a bit of peanut butter!
This is a lovely shot and I have just caught up on Nutmeg from your other posts. She had a grand life with you and Jim and it is nice that you can remember her with such fondness.
This is a very moving story - you have a beautiful spot for her and this is a lovely image.
We also have 'helpers' who are familiar with the word 'oops'.
Oh Taffy...I love this story!! Tugs at the heart but makes me smile too. I will always think of Nutmeg whenever I hear or say "oops" Such a sweet tribute to her and I love her resting spot...especially with the light on it. I know it will be hard for you to leave...which I think you are going to do soon. She was well loved and had a good life.
Beautiful and moving, absolutely beautiful place for her to final restplace and such beautiful light, shining in a darkness and lighting the way. Loved your story, I can just picture her trying to hurry for the snack.
@rachelwithey Thank you so much Rachel - it is a good spot to be with her @38dcmoder Thanks Dawn @jyokota Thanks Junko - I know you miss her too! @pflaume Thank you so much, Lisa @steampowered Thanks Paul, for going back and viewing to learn about Nutmeg. It's like she is a little more remembered with each view and comment. @jankoos Ah, the universal language for our helpers! @twr thank you timothy @kareenking Thanks for your kind comments Kareen @eyesmile Gena, I'm so glad you liked the tribute to her. Thank you so much. @sangwann Thank you Dione, for your kind thoughts. @susale I'm glad you can imagine her -- she was a very funny dog @busylady THank you so much Judith. @cameraholic thank you Lena @yaorenliu Thanks Yao. I appreciate it. @jo13 Thank you Jo, it is a beautiful area and that's a big reason we chose it for her @brav Thanks Richard @timandelke I'm glad you were moved, Elke! Nutmeg was very special. @estherhelen Thanks Esther @stimuloog Thanks Marloes! It was fun 'helping' her write her entries. In hindsight, I'm glad I did that as I think it made her more a part of 365. @zambianlass Thanks so much ZL! @cathrinemitch Thank you Catherine. @olivetreeann Thanks Ann. I appreciate your words a lot. @paintdipper Thank you Junan! @jenrobcarr Thank you Jennifer. I do miss her a lot. @jodimuli In my life, I've only NOT had a dog for 2 years, so this will be very different for me. But for now, I can't see getting another one. We'll see in the future... @tthompsonca Thank you. We were glad we made it to the island with her this summer. We knew she was unlikely to make it back to Chicago, but in many ways, this was home to her.
This is such a beautiful tribute to Nutmeg -- and what an amazing gravesite for your beloved pet. I love the "oops" story too -- may those happy memories always make you smile.
@kerristephens@havrotb@wendyhgill Thanks so much Kerri, Barbara and Wendy, for stopping to view and comment, and to have a good thing to say about Nutmeg. Very much appreciated.
@amandal Thanks Amanda. I appreciate your comments and understanding. It was a treat, in a way, to be thinking about the funny things she would do if she heard oops. It's been 7 weeks, but at least I am starting to feel like I'm remembering her as she was in her whole life, not just that last year when she couldn't get up on her own.
How did I miss this? Taffy this is a wonderful memorial to Nutmeg - such a lovely place for her to be buried where you can visit and think of her. You words touched me and made me smile and get a bit choked too. It is hard but I am pleased you are now able to remember the fabulous times you had with Nutmeg and think of her with a laugh and a smile!!
@colie@amrita21@moreyoulessme@pamknowler
Colie, Amrita, Jerri, and Pam, Thank you so much for visiting this photo in particular and commenting. I really appreciate it. I think because we are leaving in less than two weeks, she's been even more on my mind. We're leaving her here (obviously!) and we've never lived in our Chicago house without her. So, we're getting her 'spot' all spiffed up and completed and the solar light will keep it lit at night. I'm glad to have this photo of it.
@bardejov Thank you so much for your comment. That is exactly what I was hoping people would see. It's a beautiful spot just below a swing where we can sit and watch the sunset. She used to love to dig in the sand there and hang out. It felt like the right spot and our goal now is just to be sure it's protected from the elements. Hence the rocks and the solar light. It's beautiful to sit there at night -- very peaceful.
Thanks Hope, Daryl, Katie, Ana, Joan, and Janine! I appreciate all your comments and understanding. When you're back up, Janine, we'll have a toast to Nutmeg on the beach. Or, from Nutmeg's perspective, maybe we should have a bit of peanut butter!
We also have 'helpers' who are familiar with the word 'oops'.
@38dcmoder Thanks Dawn
@jyokota Thanks Junko - I know you miss her too!
@pflaume Thank you so much, Lisa
@steampowered Thanks Paul, for going back and viewing to learn about Nutmeg. It's like she is a little more remembered with each view and comment.
@jankoos Ah, the universal language for our helpers!
@twr thank you timothy
@kareenking Thanks for your kind comments Kareen
@eyesmile Gena, I'm so glad you liked the tribute to her. Thank you so much.
@sangwann Thank you Dione, for your kind thoughts.
@susale I'm glad you can imagine her -- she was a very funny dog
@busylady THank you so much Judith.
@cameraholic thank you Lena
@yaorenliu Thanks Yao. I appreciate it.
@jo13 Thank you Jo, it is a beautiful area and that's a big reason we chose it for her
@brav Thanks Richard
@timandelke I'm glad you were moved, Elke! Nutmeg was very special.
@estherhelen Thanks Esther
@stimuloog Thanks Marloes! It was fun 'helping' her write her entries. In hindsight, I'm glad I did that as I think it made her more a part of 365.
@zambianlass Thanks so much ZL!
@cathrinemitch Thank you Catherine.
@olivetreeann Thanks Ann. I appreciate your words a lot.
@paintdipper Thank you Junan!
@jenrobcarr Thank you Jennifer. I do miss her a lot.
@jodimuli In my life, I've only NOT had a dog for 2 years, so this will be very different for me. But for now, I can't see getting another one. We'll see in the future...
@tthompsonca Thank you. We were glad we made it to the island with her this summer. We knew she was unlikely to make it back to Chicago, but in many ways, this was home to her.
Lovely memories!
Colie, Amrita, Jerri, and Pam, Thank you so much for visiting this photo in particular and commenting. I really appreciate it. I think because we are leaving in less than two weeks, she's been even more on my mind. We're leaving her here (obviously!) and we've never lived in our Chicago house without her. So, we're getting her 'spot' all spiffed up and completed and the solar light will keep it lit at night. I'm glad to have this photo of it.