Adjusting

Collies have been part of our home for almost twelve years and our house isn't the same without Lady and Winnie. Jim's mom, Dot, loved dachshunds, and Jim grew up with a series of them. Dot's grandchildren will always remember her for that. For the early years of her life, Jim's Leah called Dot "Trini Gramma" because of Katrina, Dot's wiener dog at that time. I mentioned to Jim that Kayden will also have a gramma and grampa with a dachshund, as Mistie is our only dog for now. I know that we both were thinking, sadly, that Kayden will never know our home with Lady and Winnie.

They took up most of the floor space lying in the living room, and brought in a good bit of the back yard when coming inside. Our kitchen floor bore the markings of their presence - twigs and leaves from the backyard that came in on their fur, muddy footprints if it rained, and drops of water trailing into the next room after they had a drink. I learned to clean the floor with the expectation that it would be improved, but not perfect, as it would be only a matter of minutes after putting the mop away before their leavings would start to re- accumulate. They left lots of fur on the floor and nose prints on the storm doors. Mowing the back yard always was preceded by de-dog-pooping, and they would bark at every dog being walked by the house until the walls rattled.

But now, there is no barking and the kitchen floor is clean although it hasn't been mopped in several days. I mowed the back yard for the first time at this house with no pre-cleaning. A few of Lady's nose prints remain on the front storm door. I couldn't think of wiping them away.