Thank you so much for all the love, warmth and compassion you're flooding us with. The grief is just ours, not Jagger's. Leaving his earthly body was certainly a relief for him.

Earlier this year we didn't think he would make it through another summer, but he must have felt the change coming - us moving to our farm, because he worked up a 3rd, or should I say a 4th wind.

Jagger hated car rides all his life, no matter how much we bribed him:-)

Noah was driving the dogs from the old place to the farm and he said that Jagger was fine the entire ride. Once he lifted him out of the truck, Jagger started walking the entire fenced off part of the property, which is some 5 acres in total. He would do so almost every single day since, including yesterday, when he made one last big round and checked on everything.

Watching him walk was painful for us (and surely painful for him), as his hind legs were very stiff and in recent days his front legs really started giving him problems as well. But he kept walking, checking the ...

Two more gifts from my kitchen... Elderberry syrup and Chive Flower Vinegar. I use 100% Organic plant material and raw, local honey.

Elderberries grow wild where I live and I grow the chives. If you don't have wild elderberries, you can source dried berries from many health food stores or online.

To make the syrup, simmer 2 cups elderberries in 7 cups of filtered water for 45 minutes along with cinnamon stick, cloves and ginger root. Let cool, strain and add 1 cup local, raw honey when cooked down but still warm.

Chives are so easy to grow and the beautiful pink flowers which are prolific in the spring are merely infused in organic white vinegar. The longer you wait, the more flavorful your end product.

Cheers