An Outpouring Of LOVE

November 25, 2022

The last few days has been a tremendous outpouring of love in remembrance of our sweet Bailey. Being a shop dog meant she had amassed quite a following over the years. Often folks would arrive from afar and the first words out of their mouth would be, “Where is Bailey?” I spent yesterday at the First & Spring shop in the morning alone collecting all her blankets and bowls and things. Thoroughly enjoying the quiet and loving the memories of her being in the space as a puppy all the way up to a senior. Many years ago a fabulous former WK’r Nancy gifted us with a painting of Bailey. It has hung in the shop office since as we both adore it so. Yesterday I brought it out to the front wrap stand for all to enjoy and pay homage to our girl. Then the creative juices started flowing. The happy piece our friend artist Denise Fiedler did of me with Bailey was added. For my birthday on Wednesday our friend Jeanne painted a gift for me of a Veuve bottle of La Grande Dame, which I often called Bailey in her later years, and made the vintage 2005, the year she was born. A quick look through some vintage letters spelled out her name. Then I sat at my desk and went through images from over the years we quite liked. I printed them out and used a pinking shears to cut them out. Then I created a bit of a collage. Next baskets were added for canned dog food we will be collecting this next month to donate to pooches in need in her honor. The whole thing was hugely cathartic. I very much want to share the news of her passing and the amazing life she led as shopkeeper extraordinaire with those who met or read about her over the years so the memory of her lives on.