Winter garden

We recently picked the last blue daisies from Sassy's garden and helped the garden "go to rest" for winter. This included digging up the dahlia bulbs for storage (a new concept for me - so hopefully they will make it through winter), amending the soil in that part of the garden, and putting mulch over the whole thing to finalize for winter. So what remains are two lovely lavender bushes, the ceramic duck and a ceramic pink flower, all in the heart-shaped garden with Sassy's memorial stone.

I thought I would be sad at the changing of the season (and a part of me is eternally sad at the loss of Sassy), yet there was something comforting about tidying up her garden and letting it rest for winter. It reminds me of the end of her life here with us -- she was so tired and ill; intermingled with the raw grief of parting ways, there was a warm comfort in knowing she could rest now free of disease and suffering.

I've read a lot on the Lymphoma Loss group recently of individuals who have recently lost their beloved furry baby. Reading these posts reminds me of how painful it is to say goodbye. It also renews my love and my remembering of Sassy through thought, writing and of course, her garden. Our time together was too short yet there is definitely a timelessness of our love.