Beau

I have been trying to write this post for a day or so and am finally feeling like I have the strength to put thoughts into words and onto the keyboard.

We lost our dear Beau on Monday night.  I was away as you know and Ken was walking Beau down our street for Beau's evening constitutional.  Beau was always a little eccentric, shall we say, and one thing he hated in his neighborhood was trucks of any kind -- big or small.  He would bark, he would lunge, and sometimes it took all my strength to hold back his 17 pounds from his effort to get at a truck's moving wheels.  I warned him time after time.  This time, he lost the battle.  The leash either broke or slipped from my husband's hands.  It was over in an instant.  I flew home the next morning. 

Everything has just been awful here at home.  The house is empty and quiet and sad. (We also lost our old Violette cat two weeks ago).   Beau was a great little barker and he guarded his street with a vengeance.  I was home a lot and Beau was always within my sight or at my side.  Almost everything I did was linked to him in some way. 

We have had so many wonderful e-mails, Facebook comments, phone calls, cards and gifts that it has astounded me.  I am so touched and so grateful.

Not a day goes by that Ken and I don't cry over our little guy.  I know it will get better, but for now the pain is visceral.

One of our blogging friends, Barbara at The Clark Homestead, said this:  "What a little warrior, now he will be in Valhalla with the other brave souls."  That says it all.

Violetlady
xo

Where Did The Week Go?

I have been trying to be so industrious about writing on my blog every few days.  I am sorry this week was a total loss.  I just seemed to be so much busier than usual with home and office (I am a Realtor). 

My husband was away all week driving down to Georgia and sailing his boat back up here (do you "sail" a trawler?) with his boat partners and friends.  They never got as far as here because everyone had different schedules and had to get home.  They left the boat at a marina in North Carolina and will make another trip down there to bring it home to Lewes.   Ken had to get home in order to watch our pets while I go to Massachusetts to visit my daughter and grandchildren for a week.   I was supposed to leave today, but I had a client who wanted to see houses and possibly write a contract (yay!), so I rescheduled my flight for tomorrow.  I always get stressed about leaving to go anywhere:  is the house clean or at least fairly neat, is there enough dog and cat food, what am I packing, etc., etc., etc.  Is everyone the same way before a trip?  Why can't I just GO?

I will be trying to catch up on blogs while I am away.  I will try to take lots of pictures while I am away.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Violetlady
xo

Alice In Wonderland

I saw "Alice In Wonderland" this afternoon after having lunch with a good friend.  The weather here is absolutely beautiful today - almost too nice to spend in a movie theater - but we went later in the afternoon.  The movie was excellent.  This wasn't the 3D version, but I thought it was plenty scary!

I was very sad Friday and Saturday after Violette died, but I am feeling a little better today.  I bought some flowers to plant on her grave.  The house seems so empty without her, even with a dog and two other cats.  She was with us for almost seventeen years and was a true member of the family.  The past year has been difficult with her aging issues, but as one Facebook friend commented, she awaits me in heaven.  I like that thought.

I am reprinting one of my favorite poems from Alice Through The Looking Glass which I shared on my other blog, Cabin Dreams, on which I haven't posted for a very, very long time.  (I  can't decide what to put on this blog and what to put on the other blog, so I concentrate on this one.)  When you read this poem, you have to read it aloud to get the full, wonderful effect.

The Jabberwocky

By Lewis Carroll

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought--

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffing through the tugey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jaberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did grye and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrab.

Violetlady
xo

Violette

R.I.P.   Our dear, sweet Violette.   1993-2010

Sweet Violets - A Walk Around The Neighborhood

As you can tell by my blog title, violets are my favorite flower.  I seldom find white violets, though. While I was walking Beau around the neighborhood today I found a lovely nest of them next to someone's mailbox.  I picked only a few since Beau was impatient to get going and when you have an impatient poodle on the end of the leash, he's the boss.

The blossoms even have a sweet scent.  You have to have a good smeller though, since the scent of violets is so faint and delicate.

Always,

Violetlady
xo

Chocolate For Me

One of my favorite places to visit (when I get the chance) is the Harbor Candy Shop in Ogunquit, Maine.  It is a charming old fashioned candy shop with homemade candy.  I haven't been there for a few years now, but I started thinking about one of their specialities. They are called Nut Wreaths or "Mendiants" as they are called in France and Belgium.  They are delicate dark chocolate wreaths, decorated with nuts, dried fruits and candied violets.  According to the shop, the colors represent the four Roman Catholic mendicant orders (Dominicans in white, Franciscans in grey, Carmelites in Brown and Augustinians in deep purple).

I decided to treat myself this Easter to a box of these nut wreaths to be shipped directly to me.   The package came festively wrapped in a red box with lavender velvet ribbon.  Luckily, my husband does not like dark chocolate, so I have tucked these away in a drawer as a special treat for me alone!

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it from here in coastal Delaware.

Violetlady
xo

Show and Tell Friday -- Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail

I am joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for her Show and Tell Friday.  Stop over and see some pretty things.

Here are some of my little vintage rabbits who hopped in just in time for Easter.  Two are authentic Limoges boxes as is the carrot.

Violetlady xo