All She Left Me Was a Pot of Gold

We interrupt these Memorial Posts to bring you a funeral. Mabel's hike and funeral was SO special yesterday. All of our Friday night pack was there. We haven't all been able to hike together like this in a few years...and it was just wonderful to see everyone together! We were so blessed to be part of this pack!

About the title above: I still don't believe I've had a real Mabel visitation. But I have had one very strange dream. In it, I was in a large building with all the people and dogs that were at Mabel's funeral. And in walked Mabel. I got so excited that I woke up in my dream and she was gone. And I said, "Awwww... all she left me was a pot of gold." I woke up for real, saying that phrase out loud.  I shouted out to her, "Little girl, if you left me a pot of gold, you better get back here and tell me where it is!"

But upon relaying the dream to the Rottrover, she pointed out that Mabel Lou left me the Creekerati. And as I started thinking about that, I realized that every single person and dog in my immediate circle of friends (save for my Bestie and Bart), I met because of Mabel.

Friends that come over when your fence has fallen down, when your pool is full of duck poop. Ones you can call in the middle of the night when your dog has been in a fight with a raccoon or ones who race to meet you at the vet when your dog is dying. People that cook you a meal or give you a hug or share their dogs with you. And canine friends that give kisses and cuddles when they know your heart is hurting.... She really did leave me a pot of gold and I am rich beyond belief, thanks to my girl.

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The day Mabel passed, one of the first things I did was email Mr. Chewy to stop this month's shipment of review product. It was too late...they had been shipped. 

 Here we have Chloe, Otto, Sue, Atilla, and Hank.

So, Mabel's friends will be doing her review this month. I've never seen dogs go SO crazy for treats! The leftovers went home with the Rottrover and I gave some to Bart and Ruby who could not do such a strenuous hike, and they loved them too!

And Barticus is always on the fringes... Sue has SUCH crush on him! Please note, 'Tilla's dad dressed up for the funeral...LOL! I've never seen him so spiffy... as a pool man, his clothes are often full of chlorine holes. I was most honored!

I made Memorial Beads for all in attendance.

 

At first I was really upset that they didn't come out all pink like I wanted, but after just sitting with them for a while, I started to see our sky and river and the amazing sunsets we have. And I guess, they look the way Mabel Lou wanted them to look. All the friends got to pick theirs. 

I forgot to take individual shots of the most special beads I've ever made! OY! So these are some of the worst bead pics EVER... but in some ways, they mean the most!

		From L-R, Top-Bottom: Atilla's Dad, Hank n Sue's Mom, Chloe's Dad, The Rottrover, Bart's Mom. I'll show you my own later...

After we shot the Chewy pics, we went down to the main swimming hole and dropped a little of Mabel there.  (Her hidey hole and the waterfalls are dry, so I kept a bit of her for next spring!) Then, we crossed the river and hiked up stream in search of more water, dropping scoops of her in some of her favorite swimming spots. What was most hilarious (or creepy, depending on your take), was that all of the dogs either walked right through the spots she was placed or some of them drank the water as she was settling in! We were all laughing, because now, humans and dogs alike each have a little bit of Mabel Lou to carry on all our journeys.

Bart's Mom put this together...The bit you hear her humming at the beginning is Mabel's "Creek Song" that I sang to her every day when we were headed to the creek.  Hope you enjoy.