Pillars of Strength - A Special Day for K

Our friends K and KB and R are going through a very tough time.    K has the evil c and KB is agonizing, just as we did when My Maggie had cancer.  KB was right there every step of the way for us and she supported us and we felt her love.  We are here for you, KB - you are not alone. We are with you every step of the way and you have our undying love!  Stay strong, K.  We love you!

Please visit their blog and leave words of encouragement and support. If you've never been to their blog, you're in for a real treat.  KB's photos are second to none. She is just amazing with her camera!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my friends!

Love,
Mitch and Sue

My Maggie is Home

The animal hospital gave us a call on Wednesday afternoon and told us that My Maggie's ashes were back.  My dad had a doctor's appointment in New Haven so he stopped there on his way home to pick them up.
My Maggie is home.

Maggie loved Nantucket - we all do.  It's the bestest spot on the entire face of this earth!
Mom bought her Nantucket basket purse in 1992 and she carried it only a handful of times.  It was made by an Islander and it wasn't cheap and she was so afraid that it would get squashed or damaged so all these years, it's been a conversation piece in our family room.  Not any longer.  Maggie is inside mom's Nantucket basket surrounded by beautiful cheerful flowers, especially blue hydrangeas.  We tucked a seashell inside the flowers that we found at Jetties Beach  along with a couple of other souvenirs that we've collected over the years.  Carol Usher made the WoolieDale with the carrot toy.  Mr Carrot was one of My Maggie's favorite toys when she was younger.   Every single day while we were on our vacation, My Maggie and I had ice cream so the needle felted ice cream cone is so fitting.       Carol's wonderful gift arrived on Thursday with her beautiful card and we were so touched.  Thank you so much, Carol.

Yesterday, the FedEx man knocked at our back door.  Look what he delivered~

It's a beautiful flower arrangement. It's from The Rainbow Bridge and it's from Maggie~

Thank you so very, very much, Miss Elaine and Miss Kate.  You guys are the best!

 Every time mom reads the note, she begins to weep because it's so special and she misses her little girl so much.

Until we're together again..........


"And if I go, while you are still here...
Know that I still live on,
Vibrating to a different measure,
Behind a thin veil that you cannot see through.
You will not see me, so you must have faith.
I will wait there for the time when we can soar together again, both aware of each other.
Until then, live your life to the fullest.
And when you need me, just whisper my name in your heart,
...I will be there."

We love you, Maggie, and we miss you so very, very much!

Mom, dad and Mitch

A Very Special Book and a Work of Art

The mailman arrived at my house again.   Am I the luckiest boy in the whole wide world, or what?!

 It's a very special book and it's from Bart and Ruby. 

 Can we please read this together, mom?

 Bart and Ruby sent a note with my special book.   The note said that they wanted to share some thoughts about where my beautiful sissy is. 

 It's a wonderful book.

 And mom and I just love it.

Dad says that he's going to read it too so maybe dad and I can read it together.

Thank you so much, Bart and Ruby.  What a most thoughtful and generous gift.

The mailman also brought this fabulous work of art that was made by Reilly and Denny's mom.

Mom can't wait to frame it and hang it.  It is just so incredibly lovely and so very, very thoughtful.  Thank you so much, Bree.  It's just stunning!

We sure do have the most generous and loving friends.  Thank you.

Love ya lots,
Mitch

True Colors - Eucalyptus

I'm playing True Colors with Reilly and Denny. This week's color is eucalyptus.

The leaves on this wall hanging are eucalyptus.  My mom made this in 1988 - years before I was even born.

 The Australian twist~
A eucalyptus wreath!

 And another twist~

Australian stamps! 

Thank you for the beautiful card you sent us, Noah, Willow, Tess and Lucy.   You guys are so sweet!

See you all next week.

Love ya lots,

Mitch

More Pressies

Mom and dad were worried about me on Sunday because I was distant and I spend a lot of time upstairs by myself.  Mom didn't know if I was grieving for My Maggie or if I was hot. We did have a fire going in our fireplace all afternoon for the Superbowl.

Yesterday morning mom gave me a hAirecut!

 And after groomies, I got to go to the bank with her and the nice lady teller gave me 2 cookies so I'm feeling a lot better.

When we got home from the bank, a box was on our back porch.  It was from our friends, Aunt Lydia and her Aireboy Dave.

 Mom let me open my package all by myself because I'm not a paper eater.  My Maggie loved to eat kleenex and paper towels and she didn't care if they were clean or used, but not me.

 I have a new warthog and I think I'll name him Dave. I think that's the perfect name, don't you?

 Aunt Lydia sent me homemade duck ball treats! She makes the BEST cookies!

 They sure are yummy and BIG!  Thank you so much, Aunt Lydia!

 She also sent the most gorgeous Ann Curran card called Guardian Angels.   It's just beautiful and it made my mom cry. 

 She also sent a glass stone with My Maggie's name on it.   Mom can slip into her pocket or keep it in her purse.  The design is an open heart so the love flows both ways.  It's just beautiful and mom loves it.  She'll keep it with her always.  

 And she also sent a hand blown glass Airedale that mom immediately hung in the window over our kitchen sink.  It's just fabulous and so very special.  You are such a thoughtful and considerate friend, Aunt Lydia. Thank you so very much! 

 She also sent English pecan toffee, which mom won't share with me.  She told me that I can have the duck balls and she'll share the candy with dad. 

Thank you so very much, Aunt Lydia and Dave.   You are so kind and your thoughtfulness touches us deeply.   The two of you are such wonderful friends.

Love ya lots,
Mitch

Tasty Tripe

I got my very first taste of tripe last Thursday.  We chose to go with the sheepie tripe first. Can you see my eyes and my smile?  This is good stuff!

 Mom was a little bit worried about popping off the top of the can and being overwhelmed by the aroma - some of you did sorta comment that this stuff is potent.
Mom says that the best way she can describe it being at the Durham Fair in the cattle barn and one of the cows takes a nice big dump and you just happen to be right behind him. 

I just happen to think this is a fabulous treat and I just can't get enough of it!

 It was good to the last lick and I sure wish My Maggie would have been right beside me enjoying it just as much as I did.

Thank you so much again, Miss Elaine. What a treat this was!  I can't wait to taste the deer tripe and the cow tripe and mom can't wait to see if they smell worse or better!

So until next time.........

Love ya lots,
Mitch

The Celebration of Life Pawty

Last night was our annual Celebration of Life pawty.  It's only been one week since My Maggie crossed.

What do you mean I'm not invited?  Why not?
I have only been alone in my house a handful of times.  It has only been when My Maggie had a doctor's appointment or just a couple of days ago when they food shopped for this pawty.  I spent 7 hours all by myself and mom said that I was the perfect boy!

 Mom had a very special "necklace" to wear.    It's My Maggie's special fancy beaded healing stone collar that Sunshade and Miss Elaine gave her.

 Dad's heart transplant buddy, Patsy, recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary with her donor's heart.  Congratulations, Patsy!

 Miss Lauren has been working on a secret project that was revealed to dad last night. 

 This is the Northford Timber Framer's history board.  It represents many years of barn raisings.   Our history board is a board with no pictures. 

Thanks to Lauren, we now have a beautiful NTF picture book to go along with our NTF history board. 
 I can tell you that dad has already looked at it many times.  It brings back so many fabulous memories.  You did an outstanding job, Lauren. Thank you, thank you!

 Our friend Ron was there playing his guitar.

 And so were Pete and Denny.  They sang a song that they dedicated to mom and dad - Stevie Nicks' Leather and Lace. It was just beautiful and so very special.  Thanks, guys <3

 There was lots of yummy food that I missed but not the ice cream! Thanks to cousin Mike, I have two of these in my freezer.

 Dad's always-thoughtful friend, Rebecca, gave him little heart ornies and mom decorated a small tree for Valentine's day. 

 And our friend Brender from Maine brought down a gorgeous heart cyclamen plant to put smiles on our faces. 

It was a very special pawty - as it always is.  Mom and dad are so blessed to have the most wonderful friends on the face of this earth and that includes all of you who send us cards and emails and leave facebook comments and write wonderful heartfelt tributes to My Maggie. 
Thank you all so very, very much! We can't even begin to tell you how much you have all helped us though this very tough time. 

Later this afternoon we will all be relaxing in front of our fireplace and watching the Superbowl!  My dad's favorite team just happens to be playing!

So until next time.........

Love ya lots,
Mitch

Pressies for Just Me

On Monday, two pressies came in the mail and they were addressed to Maggie and Mitch.   I don't think My Maggie would mind if I opened our pressies and enjoyed them, do you?
The first pressie was from Miss Becky Bluebonnet.
She had a contest awhile back and My Maggie and I were winners.
Becky sent our mom some allyssum flower seeds and she will plant those outside in the spring and we will think about you when they bloom, Becky.  Becky also sent the most adorable Scottie card and a Scottie key chain and a peppermint tea bag to help keep mom awake and best of all she sent a fancy lollipup!  Hey, I don't have to share!
Thank you so much, Becky!

 The second pressie was from our friend, Dilly. 
Dilly sent us a New Year's card and Dilly makes her own cards. Isn't it so cool!
Dilly also sent treats!  Thank you so very, very much, Dilly.  You are a very thoughtful friend.

 I guess I get to eat the whole bag all by myself, huh.   I honestly wish you were here to share them with me, Maggie.  There are more than enough treats in this package for both of us.

Mom got out the treat machine yesterday.  My Maggie knew how to work it but I was lazy and never learned how.  I always figured what for when My Maggie was kind enough to help me out and give me free treats.
What's the secret to this treat machine, Baby?  Help a hungry guy out, wouldya!

 I'm still waiting...................

Mom says we'll be working on this project every day until I learn how to treat myself!

So until next time...........

Love ya lots,
Mitch