Hi everyone. Please scroll down...I just wanted to post some photos of some of the things that I have written about. In particular I am really glad that I got some fur to be able to place in a locket that I wear everyday. Not long after Ginger died my Mother died (somewhat unexpectedly even though she was not young). I was there when my Mother died and the nurse gave me my Mother's ring. It seemed logical to me to wear it on the chain instead of wear it on a finger. (Maybe because losing Ginger and my Mother so closely together seemed somehow linked). So this is what it all looks like and often I just take ahold of this and hold it in my hand. It's my tangible evidence of the love I have be blessed with in my life.

I have also written alot about my "suncatcher" Ginger spent alot of time in our back yard. I liked this when I got it to honor Ginger because I was very upset then and it looked like "tears" to me. Now because of the beautiful mirrors I love how the light bounces all around the yard, reminding me of my Ginger who also moved around the yard like a beautiful "light". The suncatcher has become a very happy symbol for Ginger (even though I originally thought of it as "crying").

Lastly, I painted this when I first lost Ginger and I could barely see through my tears. I always meant to go back and improve on it but I guess it is like a diary in a way and represents how I felt so I am going to leave it. It represents my back yard and Ginger is in the "sky" with a ball.

I just wanted to put these things up and ask you if you are doing anything to help your healing. You of course don't have to post photos, I just wondered if you can pass along ideas to others who are now walking in your shoes. The loss of our animals is so difficult, but I find some of these type ritual things have helped me in my healing journey. Let me know what you think and if you have done anything similar (or different!) thanks for listening!
Love,
Patti

Two things: First, that painting should be in a gallery. It is very beautifully done.

Second, I think your ways of remembering your lost loved ones are touching and wonderful.

I have a momento box on my night table - with hair clippings, collars and their brushes... I don't carry a physical momento because I truly believe that now I then they are floating just over my shoulders, watching me and rubbing up against my cheeks.

Patti-What a beautiful thing you have done! I wish I had gotten fur from my baby but I was in such grief and pain that it never dawned on me to get some until much later. I've been thinking about doing something but just havn't yet but when I do I will put it on here.


Wanda

Patti, your painting is absolutely beautiful! I just love the things you have done to pay triute and remembrance to Ginger! I love your locket and having your mom's ring with is so just so very special, keeping them both close to your heart!

Love,
Karen

Patti -

I just sent you an e-mail - I should've come here first!! What an absolutely beautiful painting!! Really lovely. And your suncatcher is so pretty - I can imagine how pretty it makes your yard sparkling on it and how it reminds you of your Ginger. I've thought about doing a locket to wear myself because I found several of Friday's claws while I cleaned last week and kept every one of them. They would break off as she scratched the furniture or carpet - I let her scratch anywhere - I didn't care. And I would like to keep at least one with me in a locket, but I don't have a locket yet. That's a very wonderful idea to keep your mother's ring with it since you lost them both so closely together. The only thing I'm doing right now is keeping a large white candle burning in Friday's memory - an electric one at night. So each morning I light it, and when I snuff it out at night the electric one on my desk is turned on. And I also go to her grave each day and sit a moment or 2 and talk to her after caring for Cookie in the garage before going back inside. I usually end up in tears, but I have to visit my big kitty.

~~Andrea~~

I finally went and looked at the child car seat that was left here that my Fuzzball liked to lay in and lo and behold there was some of his fur on it! So, now I have some of his fur that is going to be put into a locket as soon as I can get one and I will wear it always close to my heart! I do have a pet lite candle, that I've had sinse he left me, that I light often. I have been wanting to get an electric candle or a battery operated one but haven't been able to find them in any stores around here. They tell me they won't have them until Christmas! I also have a photo album with his pictures in it and I did that when I memorialized him. ( He was cremated and I have his ashes).

Wanda

Hi, I love the way things in your life symbalise your ginger, me, well i have a photo of scooby my beloved friend in my locket, i didnt think of his fur when i was holding him when he had his needle... i wish i did now but i have his ashes in a box in my glass cabinet.
i hope all the things that symbalize ginger help you heal and remember. i would post a pic of scooby but i dont know how

I put together a scrapbook that has Sonnet's collar, a toy, lots of pictures (on CD as well) and her obedience class certificates, a blue ribbon she won at her beginning class, her Canine Good Citizen Award she also earned, her bandanas and awards she earned when we went to dog camp and lastly a picture of Sonnet adn I together. I call the book "A Tribute to Sonnet". It really helped me to put it all together. It felt like we were doing something together. I miss her so much but I know she's free from her pain and will always be with me...always.
Sonnet's mom

Hey Patti,

Gosh, Everything you've done is SO beautiful. I love the painting. I don't think it needs any "improving" at all. And the suncatcher is so pretty too. I'd like to get one of those. Your mom's ring and the locket are a wonderful idea.

I put all of Hannah and Babe's photos in two albums. I have most of the pictures on my computer too. You know I did a couple of website memorials for Hannah. The sites are:
http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/personalr...on.asp?ID=41360
and
http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/personalc...le.asp?ID=40307

I haven't done one for Babe yet.

I have an 8x10 with some of Hannah's silky silver hair in it too. I saved a lot of Babe's little feathers, but I haven't done anything special with them yet.

I have done some more things I have done, but I guess those are the main ones. I am not finished yet. Just waiting until I can go back and read all the things I have written about them and all of the LS members' helpful responses.

Again, beautiful, beautiful painting. I wish I could paint!
Marcia

aww there wondeful.
My baby victor only left me on firday and ive just got loads of his pic in frames
and i kept one of his first ever toy we got him and his first christmas present we got him and his first collar, i miss him so much and my heart fells so empty and alone il love him always! Jaymie x