In Memorium

This post is a special edition dedicated to a a very special four-legged member of our family.

Francis had a few extra days of holiday to use up before the end of March and so he took off last Mon, Tues and Wed. I think the Universe played a huge impact in the dates as they turned out. You see his original dates were denied (the prior Thurs, Friday and Monday) and so he had to change them.He had planned on doing lots of work at the barn which to some degree he did.

However, on Tuesday night we let Bonhomme, our 12 yr old Mini Schnauzer out for the night as per usual, and when he came back in a few minutes later something was drastically wrong with him. We waited a few hours to see if he would improve, but called for a vet in the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately, the vet I spoke with ( not our usual vet as they weren't on call), gave me the willies over the phone and seemed most unsympathetic to our plight. So I decided it was in all our best interest to wait until morning to see our regular vet. And so we did..... What I thought might have been something he aspirated or choked on while outside, turned out to be very severe congestive heart failure. Our poor little man was in severe distress and did not respond to the treatment and so we decide it was kindest  to put him to sleep. We made arrangements for the vet to come to the house mid afternoon to do the task. A family member came over and did Reiki for Bonhomme until that time. He died gently lying on his favourite spot - the sheepskin on his ottoman that we bought just so the dogs could see out the living room window-with his family around him. I am thankful that Francis was home with all of us during this time.. yes the barn work ground to an abrupt halt but we were able to be together when Bonhomme needed us and we were there with him all day ... sharing his suffering as his little heart was broken that day so were ours.

Bonhomme has been involved in the whole restoration project since we started and therefore, I feel he deserves a special entry just for him. Just last weekend while I was at work, he and Phoebe were up in the barn, curled up on blankies on the tack room chairs while Francis worked. Two weeks ago when Francis wanted to show me what he had done while I was at work, the dogs came with us. No sooner were we in the barn than dearest Bonhomme ( BoBo for short) went into Raphi's stall and started whining. I do believe that he had thought our summer evening routine was starting- the one that has us all going to the barn to bring the horses in for the night. He couldn't seem to understand why Raphi was not there.Trouble is, I haven't brought the horses home yet.....I think he was likely thinking.." Great, I get special snacks again" and " Why aren't you putting the food out? ". You see, Bonhomme shares Raphi's feed bowl every night. Raphi would generously allow the dogs to eat the dribbles of food that fell from his mouth onto the floor, and even allow them to dart in to get their own mouthful. He ventured out on our daily rides that would entail going through woods and ditches full of mud ( in which he actually got stuck last fall), wading in ponds and running through the hay to check out all the ground hog holes. Even on the hottest days, he wanted to come....and I mean +33 Celcius and humid. I knew he had a heart murmur but he so wanted to part of the action. He loved the horses. When the round pen and dressage ring were built he was the first in there saying, "Okay Mum,not sure what this is for but I like it.... I'm ready..... what are we going to do?" He was always present when we rode but knew how to stay out from under the horses' feet- he was my quiet adoring audience or alternately trying to participate. Last fall, when Marina's friend Claudia, came from Germany; he was there at her side while she gave us lessons- almost think he was trying to learn how to coach us and take notes lol!


So dearest Bonhomme, this is for you.... I trust you will still visit us, come and frolic at the barn and join us on our hacks through the fields... we miss you greatly.

💖

This is how we will remember you.............💔