This Christmas was filled with a mixture of emotions – joy at being together just us & the dogs for the first time in our new home (we have moved out of Edinburgh along the coast to Cockenzie), sadness that our beloved Max was not here to spend it with us, & joy at welcoming two new family members into our home & hearts…
foster dog Buddy, now in his forever home
Shortly after Max passed, our foster dog at the time, Buddy, went to his forever home, leaving Molly the only dog in the house for the first time. This was quickly remedied when we accepted two new SGS foster dogs, Sandy & Dennis: litter-mates who were to be rehomed together.
brothers Sandy (brindle) & Dennis (white & brindle)
The boys were charming, & Molly really took to them, & they to her (she had been off her food & very clingy since losing Max) – they brought out a playful side to Molly that I’d rarely seen before! The 3 of them were like long lost friends who were just meant to be together. So, Sandy & Dennis didn’t stay fosters for very long – Martin & I decided to adopt them both!
Molly with her boys
‘The Boys’ as they are affectionately known, have brought fun & laughter into our house again, where there were only tears & pain. They will never fill the vast hole that Max has left in our lives (nothing ever will), but we have space in our hearts for them too, & I’m sure Max would approve of our rescuing more greyhounds (though he would no doubt be objecting to all the fun they & Molly are having without him!!).
So on the bookcase, besides all our rows of Xmas cards, sits a green box containing Max’s ashes, to be scattered at a later date, someplace where he loved to walk & run, but close by for now, till we’re ready to part with them. There is also a frame my friend Sheena gave me, containing my favourite picture of Max, a print of Elle J Wilson‘s painting Forever in my Thoughts given to me by my friend Evelyn, & a soft sculpture of a running hare, made by my good friend Annette from a beautiful Jane Walker fabric.
& around my neck, next to my own heart, hangs the clay memory heart made by my Canadian friend, Pey, which is inscribed on one side with Max & on the other with run free.
Max is most definitely still with us in spirit, & he will live on through my artwork, & in every single hound I help rescue.
over the rainbow
Hoping you have had a Merry Christmas, & wishing you & your furry families all the best in the New Year ahead! I’m looking forward to sharing Molly, Sandy & Dennis’s adventures with you on the blog…
reindogs Sandy, Dennis & Molly
