Surprise! Thanks so much to Renee for the Sponsorship of Our Sweet Rose...what an honor to be cared for by such a dedicated animal lover.

~~~~~~~~~~OUR ROSE~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~Click on photos to see her personality~~~

******The Sweetest Companion Ever******

Mini Dachshund...when I say mini....legs two inches long, max!

We were there when Rosie was born, her sweet mother, "Dixie" living next door, delivered three darling tiny "wiener girls!"
She was the only red one. When eyes opened, they all romped along the chain link fence north of my lawn, waiting to be adopted.

The little red one would reach her teeny nose through the fence and chomp petals off my rose bushes. Determined NOT to notice how cute she was, I would scold, "leave my flowers alone, you little rose snatcher!" and "Go away you little rose thief!"

At my age, the last thing I wanted to do was get attached to a pup, let alone adopt one! Everyone who came to look wanted the tiny red one - but had to wait for the weening.

She would not stop snatching at my roses and at my heart. We fell in love and she was soon at our house, taking over us, the beds and everything; but, is the sweetest little soul that we had ever known! She is, "Our Rose."

She was up for anything, as long as she could be with us - never left your side - if possible, she preferred you come outside with her, even to tinkle. And YOU also could not tinkle alone...if you dared to shut the bathroom door, a little nose, accompanied by a slight whimper, was stuck under the crack at the door bottom until you came out.

Camping and boating was a dream - what a traveler! Even to the grocery store, she would rather wait for you in the car, than be left at home.

Not a barker, one little yap indicated "out", "in", "help" and "give it to me!".

It broke our hearts to see her heart fail and have to leave us. The echos of "toenails on tile" are ever with me.

~~~~~If You Were Only Still Here!~~~~~

If only you were still here, I would always know which bed pillow is the softest, because you would be cuddled on it.

If you were only here, every idle toy would be scattered throughout the rooms, instead of resting lonely in your basket.

I wouldn't have to dry my own toes when stepping out of the shower. Although you ran from the fear of a bath for yourself, you always returned to the crime scene to help dry anyone else's wet feet with a tiny happy tongue.

The neighborhood kids could still come by to see you flip your food bowl with that tiny nose and push every morsel underneath to hide for future consumption; they would be laughing at you stacking a stuffed toy on top, so no straggling piece of kibble could be seen.

Your Dixie Mom would still be stopping over to scan the premises with her eager nose, ferreting out your hidden treats; and you would be scampering after her, remembering where the caches are and trying to distract her from their hiding places. How little it took to entertain us all!

If you were still here, diving under the covers, we wouldn't need any blanket on our feet in the camper bed.
You were a "foot worshiper" from the days of puppy hood .....we could count on a "full foot hug" no matter where or when we sat down to rest. A full foot hug involved actual cuddling a person's foot with both your tiny front legs and paws, plus covering the foot/feet with your sweet face. Even visitors were given foot hugs, especially if wearing sandals.

The "more desirable barefooted" victims always had a difficult time removing their feet from your embracing grip; and, Dad always got an unexpected jolt when you delivered the "cold nose" or "quick lick" amid the foot snuggling!

If you were still here, I wouldn't have to retrieve the used softener sheets from the clothes dryer, which fall on the laundry room floor.
They would already be pounced upon and whisked from under my feet, to promptly be tucked away in your basket of toys.

There, secretly hidden, they would later be retrieved for a scamper down the hall to "The Sounds of Toenails On Tile" as the dance number accompanying your, "Look what I've Stolen" Parade!

If you were only here, every empty quilt pad and doggy bed, under every desk and chair, would still be filled with love.

Love you, my Sweet Rosie.

~~The Sound of Toe Nails on Tile~~

I have done all I can do,
To get the sound out of my mind;
But I can't forget, if I wanted to,
"Rosie" trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through
Wherever my path was inclined--
"Rosie" said, 'I am coming with you!'
And she trotted along, behind.

Now I must go by some other round--
Which I may never find--
Somewhere that doesn't carry the sound
Of "Rosie" trotting behind.

~~Adapted by ~Shirleen Farley 2014

----------------******-----------------

~~~~~~~A Loan From God~~~~~~~~

God promised at the birth of time,
A special friend to give;
"Her time on earth is short", He said,
"So love her while she lives."

"It may be six or seven years,
Or twelve or only three,
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her for me?"

"A wagging tail and cold wet nose,
And silken velvet ears,
A heart as big as all outdoors,
To love you through the years."

"Her puppy ways will gladden you,
And antics bring a smile;
A guardian and friend she'll be-
And loyal all the while."

"She'll bring her charms to grace your life,
And though her stay be brief,
When she's gone, sweet memories
Will be solace for your grief."

"I cannot promise she will stay,
Since all from earth return;
But lessons only dogs can teach,
I want you each to learn."

"Whatever love you give to her,
Returns in triple measure.
Following her lead will bring,
A life so full of pleasure."

"Enjoy each day as it comes,
Allow your heart to guide;
Be as loyal-steadfast in love,
As the dog, there by your side."

"Now will you give her all your love,
Nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to call,
To take her back again?"

I pondered what the Lord had asked
And searched my frightened heart.
Promises, I thought I'd keep;
But could I bear to part?

I fancy each of us would say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done,
For all the joy this dog shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run."

"We'll shelter her with tenderness,
We'll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay."

"But shall the angels call for her,
Much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author Unknown
Revised & verses added, Shirleen Farley 2014

Thanks to
PRECIOUS MEMORIES FOR THE LOAN OF THE ABOVE POEM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
High up in the courts of heaven today
a little dog angel waits;
with the other angels she will not play,
and she sits alone at the gates.
"For I know my mommy will come" says she,
"and when she comes, she will call for me."

The other angels pass her by
As they hurry toward the throne;
And she watches them with a wistful eye,
as she sits at the gates alone.
"But I know if I just wait patiently
that someday my mommy will call for me."

And her mommy down on earth below,
as she sits in her easy chair,
forgets sometimes, and whispers low
to the dog who is not there.
And the little dog angel cocks her ears
and dreams that her mommy 's voice she hears.

And when, at last, her mommy waits
outside in the dark and cold,
for the hand of death to open the door
that leads to those courts of gold,
she will hear a sound through the gathering dark,
a sweet little dog angel's bark.