Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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At the End of the Day

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Early evening at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Riley isn’t doing well at all. I thought we might lose him today. He’s hanging in there, however. He’s such a sweet, gentle boy. I hope he lives for years, but I find that I am preparing myself. I cried on the phone with my sister, cried while talking to the Vet Tech on the phone and then cried in front of the Vet. He’s home with us now and I’m praying he turns a corner.

Mom has been moved to a rehabilitation center. She’s been there before. And she’s not happy. More and more often lately, she says she wants to die.

Dad has become increasingly hard to handle. Without going into details, I will just say that he’s exhibiting some of the same behavior that made growing up very difficult for all of us.

My parents have become the children. I know so many of you have dealt with this and understand it completely.

Patience. Compassion. Understanding. Tolerance.  Each of them needed every day. Some days they are readily available and easily embraced. Others? Not so easy.

How about some photos to make you (and me) smile? Miss Scout, at the end of the day, waiting for me by the side door, exasperated because I’m taking pictures.

Comments

  1. Thinking of you and your family (parents and pups) today.

    I’ve cried many tears at my vet’s office as well and I very clearly remember the day when I became the ‘parent’ in my relationship with my mom. Wishing you much patience, compassion, understanding and tolerance. xo -amy

  3. I know how you feel Claudia, my pups Duffy and Penny, are 14 and everyday now I watch them to make sure they are not showing any different signs of aging.

    I posted some pictures today that make me smile everyday so stop over and have a look I hope they make you smile too.

    Thinking of Riley,
    Sue

  4. I will pray so much for dear Riley. Just love my dog and I know yours brings you oh so much love and joy. My parents too became children and it was a hard road to walk. I am near the end of that road now and I’m weary but God has seen me through every step of the way. Bless you!

  6. Claudia I can feel your sadness right through this post. Prayers on their way for Riley…Don’t give up.
    Blessings, Joanne

  8. You are so eloquent with your words on handling all the Ps, as we call them here. I know just what those days can be like. Please, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers this week with the pup. Sending you and your sis rainbows of love, Kate

  9. Boy, oh, boy, Claudia, no one told us life was easy. And it surely isn’t.
    My Heart and Love go out to you.
    Special doggie thoughts for Riley.
    Patience to you and yours.
    Love ‘n hugs,
    Gerry

  10. You do have a lot on your plate right now. I hope that both your mom and your dog begin to feel better soon. Hugs to you.

  11. Hi Claudia:
    So sorry to hear about Riley. The best we can do for them is make their days easier, and sometimes it’s the greatest gift of love we give them. I know hard decisions lie ahead and will pray for you as you face them.

    It’s so hard when parents are ill, too. Know that God will sustain you when you feel you’re too tired to move forward…and your friends are all here, too.

  14. Claudia,
    everything always happens at once. It’s always a test my friend. Love to the dogs and a hug to you. Ciao Rita mammabellarte

  15. Love the photographs with sunlight streaming! May our prayers and thoughts be a little bit of warm sunshine during some very difficult days. It is not easy, as many of us know.

  16. Claudia, I’m sorry to hear that you are having problems with your aging parents, as well as worrying about your sweet dog. My heart goes out to you.

  17. Oh, you are going through some hard things, Claudia…I’m sending loving thoughts your way, and prayers for comfort and peace~ XO

  18. I’m so sorry to hear that Riley is not doing well, on top of everything else going on in your life. It’s so hard to see our pups go through things like this. My heart really goes out to you and Don. I’d be in constant tears too. Thank goodness you’ve got little Scout for a wee bit of comic relief! I think she looks like she’s singing in some of those photos!
    So sorry to hear about both of your parents… it must be incredibly hard to deal with the things they are both going through. Please know that I am sending you thoughts of hope, strength, patience, and anything else that will lift your heavy heart, my friend. xox
    Hugs,
    Jill

  21. The light in the top photo is absolutely beautiful, so serene. Seems you could do with serentity in buckets at the moment, I’d send you some if I could… You are a strong woman, and have a strong man beside you, so instead I’ll send you a wish for finding comfort a little closer to home to sustain you through whatever comes along.

  22. Hi Claudia,
    You have had a lot going on in your life recently… I will say a prayer for Riley. I am so sorry for your worry and pain thinking you might lose him soon. I pray that he takes a turn for the better. No matter what happens, he has been so blessed to have you in his life. He has been loved…that is all any of us in life can hope for. Love is the best thing of all. Sorry to hear about your Mother and all that is going on with her, too. We are kind of dealing with some things in our lives, too. My husband just got back from a business/family trip to Florida. He went to help care for his older sister. She is much older than my husband and could have easily been his mother so to speak. She has advanced cancer. It is so hard to see those we love leave us…no matter whether it is a family member, friend, or pet. I am thinking of you and will keep you in my prayers. xoxo Kim

  23. Hi Claudia,
    so sorry Riley isn’t doing well, and your mom too…they are in my prayers. I scrolled down to see what I missed while on vacation and have to tell you…I vote to paint the piano! I know it will be hard because it’s a family heirloom but I like to think my ancestors would want me to be happy and go for it!
    hugs,
    paula:)

  26. Dearest Claudia,-
    I so hope your dear Riley, will be well again- and wishes all the best for your mom- –so very hard to watch dear ones feeling bad- and wanting to die.
    You are in my thoughts, and prayers.
    Your photoes are so wonderful- Scout sayes : “come on mom” :)
    Hugs, and love -Dorthe

  27. Claudia, I will be praying for dear Riley. I know the heartbreak of losing an old pet. I also understand wanting to keep them as long as you can. Prayers to you and your parents, too, at this difficult time. You have a lot on your plate. We are all lifting you up! Peace to you, Claudia. Twyla

  28. Claudia-my heart aches for you. I don’t even know words that can express it- sending you hugs that I wish were real and sending hugs to sweet Riley too. Hang in there my friend and keep posting so we can keep supporting you- I wish so much that these hard times would pass you by. xxxoooo.

  29. I am so sorry that Riley is so sick! That is the worst part of having our fur kids. It NEVER gets easier to go through this. HUGS.
    My dad was o.k. until; the last week of his life. He was in the hospital and just faded away in his mind. Went back to when we were kids. Really hard to see. Mom is 82 now and still in good shape. She has a great view on life and it’s ups and downs. Probably does better then me when problems come up. I worry about everything.
    I pray that things start settling down for you and life gets easier.

  30. Hi Claudia…

    I’m so sorry to hear Riley’s not doing well… I understand how heartbreaking that is… I’m sending a hug. :-)

    Love the new soft white…. I’m thinking about doing that too.. I think it’s easier on the eyes, dont’ you?

    Sorry your plate is so full right now….

    xoxoxo
    Spencer

  32. Hi Sweet Friend,

    Yes, we have so much in common right now. You are all in my prayers. We just found out yesterday that one of our chow mix dogs (princess) has inoperable breast cancer and she will need to be put down soon. You and I are just running parallel to each other, aren’t we? I pray for your strength and patience, as you will need endless amounts.

    Love ya’
    Meri

  33. Thinking about you and your parents. It’s a tough time. And then Riley on top of it. Why does it all seem to happen at once? Scouts got the right idea, just bark! Hoping for the best for everyone. Ann

  34. These are so beautiful of Miss Scout! I remember what I was saying on the phone about checking your blog. I was checking on my sidebar to see if you’d recently posted. So I might get an inkling if something had further happened or not. It wasn’t your blog, it was my sidebar looking for when you last posted. I haven’t read blogs yet today. Losing my mind I guess…
    Brenda

  35. So sorry to hear about your furry love’s suffering….those who’ve never had beloved pets can’t understand that bond we feel. I tell hubby it’s different then the times our kids are ill or when we need to leave for a short time….we can explain to them what’s going on, yet with our pets, we can’t communicate the facts. Only our love.

    My mama is struggling with her cancer, yet in the meantime she’s had to place her mama (turning 94 tomorrow)into permanant memory care at the rehab hospital. As you say, it’s hard to watch parents and grandparents become the children.

    My heart is with you.

  36. OH CLAUDIA, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. I HOPE YOUR MOM AND DAD GET BETTER, IT IS SO HARD………AND YOUR LOVE RILEY, I HOPE HE FEELS MUCH BETTER, AND IS ABLE TO GET AROUND WITHOUT HURTING. PRAYERS GOES OUT TO YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD DAY MY FRIEND, MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOUR FAMILY.
    RIZZI

  37. Prayers for all of you Claudia. Just hang in there is all I can really say! Life has its hurdles and there isn’t much we can do about it except put up with them. Anyways, whatever happens, you and Don have each other. At least you’re not alone and that is a blessing! It’s not easy to be alone. It’s so much easier when you have someone.

  39. …And you took time out to leave me a word. Thanks so much. My parents are gone. My hubby’s dad too. His mom is ninety and seems in better shape than we are! But I have other friends who struggle helping their parents too. In a way it is much tougher than caring for kids. I wish you well, and your pup too!

  41. Thinking about you and Riley. It’s the hardest thing in the world to lose a pet. My Angel Jenny is gone two years now from cancer at age 13. My German Shepherd is 9 and my two goldens are 8 and 9. But I need to have dogs so . . . I have them. My father also went into a nursing home about three months ago with end stage Parkinsons, so know that you are not alone. Sending good and healing thoughts. Love, Linda

  42. I’m just so sorry that life is not as happy there right now as it should be. Hugs to Riley and your mama and know that many people are out here rooting for you and your loved ones.

    Di

  43. Claudia, I forgot to say how very endearing is Miss Scout! As for your beloved Riley, dogs sometimes surprise us and last longer than they might were they not as much loved as Riley is. I also forgot to comment on your photo of the tree. I could look at it forever and never get tired. It’s such a relaxing nature pic. You are such a fantastic photographer. Hang in there, dear Claudia. Things will follow their natural course but you’re a strong woman and you will see it all through. The sun will shine again for you and Don! Wishing you all the best from the bottom of my heart. On another note, have you ever thought of putting some of your photos up on Etsy?

  44. Claudia,

    Thought I’d check-in today to see how you’re doing. So sorry to hear of your sadness. I understand. It’s difficult to see our parents grow old and to watch them decline. It’s also painful to see our dear pets go through the aging process. I noticed my little dog missing some teeth the other day and felt so guilty that I hadn’t noticed sooner. He just had his teeth cleaned today. Just want you to know that I can understand your grief. Life really is a process of continually letting go. It’s a mixture of happy and sad moments. Glad to hear that your surgery went well. Hope your mom and Riley feel better and have happier days soon.

    ~Sandy

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