Percy's Rest Memorial Bench Seat

Our memorial to Percy. He loved his garden and wandering round it. The pain is still immense. It is always hard when a beloved pet passes, but even harder when it is due to such tragic circumstances and before their time. So many ‘if only’ thoughts that can’t be changed. It is so hard. When we sit on this bench we will think of our darling boy and the love he brought into our lives and the lessons of resilience and bravery he taught us. Or tried to teach us! I want him back so much! I miss our daily routine, his cuddles with me, and the way he ‘looked’ up at me even though he had absolutely no sight at all. I miss him following me to different rooms and snuggling in his various beds when I was working in those rooms. I miss his welcome home bark and excited greeting. I miss his enthusiasm for his meals and the way he opened his mouth for his Lions Mane and CBD oil drops. I just miss everything about him. I hope he knows how much we loved and still love him and how sorry we are. We miss you buddy so very very much.

The mornings are the hardest when I first wake and during the night when I wake.  It is like I have been kicked or thumped in the stomach.  The thoughts of why, how, if only, and everything else run through my mind, and the visions which are the worst.  I have never been one to be able to visualize things very well , but now, well my mind seems to be very good at such recall.  I am still having tears every day, the grief, is so terrible. 

The 17th June, should have been such a lovely day and a wonderful memory of us all enjoying some time out together  as a family as my son, daughter in law, grand daughter and mother in law were down here...we had enjoyed a lunch out together.  But the day ended in such a terrible tragic way that I just don't seem to be able to get out of my mind. The 'if only's' play havoc on one's mind. I just want that day back to replay with a different ending, the ending it should have had, joy and comfort of a lovely day spent together with Percy snuggled on our laps, like he did every evening, not one that ended in such a terrible terrible way and having to bury our beloved Percy, gone before his time.  The tears keep falling.

Percy

Sadly our beloved Percy died tragically on 17th June 2022 and we are totally overwhelmed with grief. He was such an amazing dog and we loved and treasured him so much. He had such strength of character and was the bravest dog I have ever known. He sadly went blind overnight in March 2018 just after his fifth birthday from something called SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome) but he never let this affect him, and he still ran round the garden chasing squirrels and jumped on and off the settee. He then had some seizures in the September/October of that same year which we successfully treated with CBD Oil. The following year in January 2019 he developed another autoimmune disease affecting his spine called meningeal myelitis and had to undergo an aggressive course of chemotherapy and steroids. He responded very well to this and by January 2020 he was still doing well and enjoying playing with his toys. Unfortunately due to all the C nonsense he then didn't receive as good treatment due to us not being allowed to talk the vet in person, and they prolonged it too long and by June 2020 we said no more as he had deteriorated. He picked up really well and improved once coming down to the island. Unfortunately in August 2021 he had to go back on steroids and this helped, but of course long term steroids has damaging affects and his teeth rotted (this didn't stop him eating though, but he could no longer play ball or chew bones) and he developed a heart murmur. However despite these issues he was still a very happy dog, just not so active anymore. He enjoyed his wanderings around our garden, having mastered the ramp down the steps on his own (finding his way through the use of mats). He learnt to open his mouth for his Lion's Mane drops in the morning and his CBD oil in the evening. He was the rhythm of my life, from the time I woke up, to the time he went out for his final wander around the garden before going to bed. He used to sit on my lap in the mornings while I read the bible and sleep with me in the afternoons when I needed a rest due to pain issues. He followed me throughout the house and had little beds in every room, and I would take him up to the sewing studio with me. He also enjoyed sleeping in his bed in my husband's office. He loved to climb onto the backs of our legs if we were building furniture! We feel totally and utterly bereft and inconsolable, and I am finding it so hard to cope with his loss and the manner of it.

The bravest and strongest dog with a heart full of love, he is missed so much. Our lives feel so empty without him. Percy 10th March 2013 - 17th June 2022 Philippians 4:8 describes Percy so well "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

Happy Eight Birthday Percy

Happy Eighth Birthday to our Chihuahua Warrior Percy.

These photos are all from 2013, the year he was born after he arrived to live with us.

That tongue!

Aw snoozing in his 'Daddy's arms'

Ready to play.

Getting bigger, those ears!

Trying to clean out Pirate's mouth.

He still likes to do this and does so with Stanley's mouth, most days after dinner!

I think he fancies himself a bit of a dentist.

Look at him fly!

I do miss these days when he was sighted and could run free without any fear and hesitation.

So alert.

Loving his ball!

To think he has now been blind almost half his life now is pretty incredible. He went blind literally overnight back in April 2018, just after his fifth birthday.

Then just a year later he couldn't walk developing yet another auto-immune disease, this time in his spine.

But he is a true warrior, and is doing so well today.  True he is not as fit and active as he was, and far less confident, but he seems pretty happy and is always excited when I take him out for his walks with Stanley.  

I'm not sure when we will be walking today though as it is currently pouring with rain, and he is definitely a 'fair weather walker'.  Haha!  He is currently lying in front of the fire absorbing all the heat.

We are really proud of his fighting spirit, his love that he freely gives us, and of his companionship. 

 

 

Monday 1st March!

I almost forgot to take my '1st of the Month' photo today, partly as I have felt a bit 'off' today.  I had to have blood tests this morning, the nurse came to my house which was good, but because I fasted, and she had problem with drawing blood, I almost passed out during the second attempt (second arm!).  In the end she had to have another attempt in the first arm, and we had success...but for some reason it left me feeling really quite ill.  I am usually fine having blood tests, and normally there is no problem with drawing out the blood, so must have been a bit dehydrated I guess.  Anyway, I did still take the dogs out for their walk, but I came home exhausted and have rested/slept on and off all day.

It has been another lovely sunny day, but quite cold, with a real bitter wind.

Dainty little daffodils in my herb planter.

I forgot to post photos of the socks I made in February.

I especially love this pair, knitted with Waikiwi wool, they remind me of waves.

Another pair made with Waikiwi wool.

This pair I knitted with Regia 'Pairfect' yarn which was supposed to be 'knot-less' and I got part the way down the ribbing on the first sock, and yes, there was a knot/join, so I wasn't very happy.  I ordered two of these balls of yarn way back in January, one ball still hadn't even been dispatched yesterday, despite when I ordered them, it said they would be delivered in a few days, so I cancelled the order.  I think I have been spoiled with my lovely NZ wool, it is so much nicer to knit with.  I am so sad I haven't been able to stock up on it.  If I had realised I wouldn't be going back for at least two years, I would have bought a lot more while I was over there in 2019.  

Percy sunning himself.

Standing on the foot stool!  He doesn't quite have the courage to get down from it.  Once up on it, he seems to lose his confidence in getting down.  It is hard when you are blind to judge downwards distances. 

 

One Year Anniversary

A year ago yesterday (4th February 2020) I moved to the Isle of Wight.  I can't believe I have now been here a whole year.  I didn't expect to still be living here on my own a year on, but on a whole it has been quite the adventure despite all the other 'stuff' going on in the world.  

It wasn't the best weather yesterday, but today I celebrated the year anniversary by taking my camera out with me on my walk with the dogs.  My camera has been very much left at home of late.  I just took my small pocket camera, but I was able to get a few shots of the lovely day it was.

Sunshine, shadows and sea

Cliffs against the blue sky.

Pretty snowdrops

There were so many clumps in the woods, it was so pretty.

Daffodils starting to flower along the road edge.

Back home for lunch on the deck, again just wearing a t shirt! 

Some gardening after lunch, clearing out the dead wood etc... lovely to see theis Hebe flowering.

A bee on another flower, collecting pollen.

Primrose

I've moved my bird feeder again, as it is still hardly being used, so it was nice to see a Blue Tit on it yesterday.

Percy on the footstool, he climbs on it, to get on my lap when I am sitting on the chair looking out to sea. He is a funny fellow.

 

So that was November!

We have been having some lovely sunrises.

A ladybird in the garden keeping me company while I cut up the vine branches.

Sunday was a beautiful day so I took the dogs to Brook Bay for a walk along the beach.

It was really lovely.

Amazing to see the difference in Percy  compared to when we took him here in July.  

So much happier, healthier and fitter, it is wonderful to see.

It was surprisingly busy though, seems others had the same idea to get out and enjoy the good weather.

A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.