Two-Hundred and Forty-One. How You Will Always Look To Me.

Two-Hundred and Forty. His Doghouse.

Thumper and his doghouse. There are so many stories of Thumper and his doghouse. From him never being happy with how you arrange his blankets and how he would pull them outside, to how he would always jump up on it and sit there. Thumper loved to sit on his doghouse. He had a view directly into my room for many years and he would always sit and watch me. I remember on those summer nights when the windows were open, Thumper would sit on his doghouse and I would poke my head out the window and talk to him. Then after our home remodel that room became the living room and he would still sit and watch us eat dinner and walk through the house. Up and down, up and down, until he couldn't any longer. Thumper always loved sitting on his doghouse. Later on in the years he spent more and more time in his house and I think what we will remember from those years is his constant barking...inside his doghouse.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Nine. What I Remember...

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Eight. Such a Sport.

Thumper was always a good sport with certain things. A couple of times I had made him different Halloween outfits to wear just for a short period of time. I remember one year putting a lot of work into a set of wings and a halo. Thumper was not fond of that get up, but wore it for a few minutes to amuse me. In this photo I got Thumper a pumpkin hat. We only got one photo of him with it on because that was about the longer he would have it for. I also remember sweaters. Thumper always wanted to be outside, even when there was a foot of snow on the ground. I had got him several different sweaters to keep him snug and warm and after about ten minutes there he would be naked and the sweater would be somewhere in the yard. He was a master at getting out of those things.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Seven. Dirty Mouth.

Thumper loved many things in his life and dirt was one of them. Being part beagle he had a nose for smells, and he used it. Thumper would always be snooting around and sniffing out new scents. He also liked to bury things. But Thumper dug and buried in a very special way: with his nose. He was a master at digging holes. Sometimes better than other dogs who used their paws. Burying things was one of his most notable traits. Corn cobs, bones, toads...you name it and Thumper buried it. He also loved to rub his snout on the ground. He would put his nose on the ground, pick up his front feet, and walk with his back feet. He would turn his head side to side allowing his direction to vary. Even at the very end he still rubbed his snout on the ground.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Six. Thumper's Slide.

Thumper and I grew up together. We had the age of innocence and the fun of a swing set with a slide. He would run up and down the slide with a jumping kick at the end. He was so happy being on his slide. I think a lot of it had to do with being at eye level with me when he was at the top. Many days he would sit at the top of the slide as I would swing next to him. And many more days he would simply sit at the top and just watch the world as it happened before him. He was such a happy boy when he was on his slide.



Thank you, Andrea, for making Thumper come to life again in this photo.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Five. Good-Bye, My Sweet Friend.

You were my boy, my friend, my dog, and I love you.
I will miss how you used to hop when you ran.
I will miss how you would sit and shake paws.
I will miss how you would bark as I would come and leave.
I will miss how you and I would have adventures on our walks.
I will miss how you knew I was near, even when you could not see or hear me.
I will miss how you would bury and dig with your nose.
I will miss how you would rub your snout on the ground.
I will miss all of these things, but most of all I will miss you.
Until we meet again; run free, chase toads, sniff until you can't sniff any more...and wait for me.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Four. Bucket Calf.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Three. All Ears.

Two-Hundred and Thirty-Two. To Touch the Moon.