La Vue de Chez Nous

Last weekend my dad was in the hospital again. With a terminally ill loved one there is always the chance it might be time to say goodbye. I knew of a family driving to Utah Monday and quickly threw a bag together and was off again. My dad, to the happy surprise of doctors and family, responded incredibly well to a drug that is part of a study has been a part of for the past year or so. After several days at the hospital he was ready to return home, and I flew back knowing he was well, and taken care of.

The night before I left Geoff and Tennie went outside to check on Tennie's bunnies and to Tennie's great horror they were both dead from the long day of heat. Tennie has been so diligent these past two summers in keeping them cool with frozen water bottles and spray bottles, but this particular day must of been too much. They didn't share a cage and it was so peculiar they both died together. Tennie was devastated, and felt their loss so profoundly. I missed the touching funeral Tennie organized with a little song and prayer, a tribute, each person said something they remembered about them, everyone wrote a note to put in their box, Mormor read a quote that there would be animals in heaven, and then they placed the bunnies box into a grave she and Geoff had dug and cleared of debris. Everyone took turns shoveling some dirt over the box, Tennie sprinkled rose petals over the mound, and poured the bunnies remaining water bottle water over the petals. It was very ceremonial, and cute little Tennie is still feeling the pain deep in her heart.

While I was gone we had a visit from our friends from Boston, the Shumways. To say I was disappointed to miss them is a huge understatement! Lucky Geoff and the girls got to spend the whole day soaking up their delightful presence.



Yesterday we spent a few hours at the river, trying to squeeze out the last warm days of summer vacation. Tuesday we rev up for a new school year!