Image is there, but here is a link of just the image: [link]

That helps a little.

We're at Mayapple to bury Toke, because city laws prohibit it at our house.

Oh yeah, Mayapple is what we call Tim's parent's house. Lots of woods. It's where all the pets except Chloe are buried.

Oh no, Steph, I'm so sorry! If there is a Rainbow Bridge, I hope Muppet is there to greet Toke and go complain to the management about better kibble and scratches.

I'm sorry about Toke, Steph. Not a good way to start the morning.

Oh no, Steph!

May have just started controversy, but hoping I did it in the most low key least likely for backlash way. The dancing I do Friday's sends out a weekly email about what is being taught each Friday. I don't often go. But I saw this week (which is aimed at beginners--every first Friday) the line dance is "pick a bale". And I was like "really? A bunch of gay almost all white folks dancing to that?? Is that really the image we want to give anyone but especially newbies?" I emailed the person who is teaching (who got pulled in last minute the other teacher is sick) and asked if she'd consider a different line dance. Here's hoping she says "oh, yeah, that's a good idea" and not "well it's not a racist LINE DANCE" and makes me want to hit her.

Aw, Toke! I'm sorry, Steph. Sometimes animals just decide to go in their own way and we never know.

Muppet and Toke at almost the same time, let's believe in head butts and shared purrs.

I don't know about the Rainbow Bridge, but I do believe in animal souls. After a beloved dog of mine died (horribly) when I was a teenager, I was inconsolable. Until I was lying there on my bed sobbing and I felt his presence, clear as if his fuzzy little self was right beside me. He didn't want me to be sad and he was okay, and suddenly I was okay too. I was still sad he was gone, but I knew he was okay. I can't explain it better than that. But if humans have souls that live on somehow, so do animals, because I met one.

So, digging your pet's grave blows. Especially in southern Ohio, because it's mostly clay. And so many roots! And since Tim has RA, I did most of the digging, but I wanted to.

We buried her with one of the bolts of fleece that she laid on on the couch, a tiny piece of plastic bag, because she LOVED to chew and lick plastic bags, and dogwood petals, because they're still blooming.

Oh my kitty. She was my favorite. I loved her so much.

Aw, that sounds like a sweet and fitting memorial.

I agree, digging graves is no fun, and digging in clay in general is so hard, and the two combined really suck.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Steph. It's just so hard.