A pet truly makes a house feel like a home. We’ve felt that even more deeply since the loss of our beloved pup Jack. Thank you to everyone who left kind comments and sent messages; your support has meant so much. Many of you have asked how Lily is doing, so today I’m sharing an update on her and recounting a recent outing to a nearby garden nursery we enjoyed together.
Lily had never known life without Jack at her side, so we expected she would grieve his absence. Losing a close companion is hard for animals as well as people, and we decided early on to give Lily extra affection, attention, and special experiences to help her through this transition. We wanted to walk through this with her.
Below I’ll share how she’s been doing, describe our visit to Christianson’s garden nursery, and list a few things we’re doing at home to make this time easier for her.
One of the first things we started was planning special outings just for Lily. We’ve always taken our dogs along when possible, but now we’re intentionally creating more frequent, meaningful excursions tailored to what she enjoys.
From a young age Lily has been very engaged with her senses. She loves walks where she can stop and sniff everything. A plant nursery is a perfect place for her curiosity — full of new scents, textures, and sights.
We encouraged her to take her time and “stop to smell the roses.” Spending time with plants can be soothing — something I’ve found helpful in difficult times myself.
I wrote about the calming effect of nature in my book Dwelling, and I truly believe being around plants and fresh air is restorative for both people and pets.
Lily adored the nursery — so did we. This location is especially meaningful to our family; it’s where my daughter Courtney had her wedding. The nursery is visually beautiful and offers a wonderful variety of aromas and textures for a curious pup.
The hydrangeas were breathtaking and Lily seemed captivated by all the color and life around her.
It was sweet to watch her observe the other animals calmly — she didn’t bark, just gave a quiet hello before returning to explore every plant and blossom with her nose.
After our outing she had her first solo grooming appointment in the mobile grooming truck — another milestone without Jack. It’s been emotional remembering how worried she used to be when it was his turn; so much has changed for her, and for us.
Lily isn’t a big fan of posing for photos the way Jack was, but I still try to capture her when I can. She often looks away from the camera or turns her head, which is part of her charm. Every dog has a unique personality, and we’re savoring all the qualities that make Lily special: she’s gentle, delightful, and quietly confident when she’s around other pups.
Having her in our lives is a comfort and a blessing, and we’re grateful for every day with her.
Overall we haven’t seen major changes in Lily’s behavior, but she clearly misses Jack. She’s become more inclined to stay close to us indoors. Lily has always been independent, but now, as an only pup, she prefers being where we are instead of lingering alone in another room.
We’re offering extra cuddles, reassurance, and small adjustments to her routine to make her surroundings feel cozy and secure. It’s not easy to replace the lively presence Jack had in our home, but we’re trying thoughtful ways to comfort her.
One idea was to give Lily a new bed. She and Jack used to sleep side by side in matching beds, and it’s been hard to see her without a companion nearby. During the day she often curls into one of my soft round baskets, even though it’s a bit too small — she loves them anyway. We decided a comfortable basket bed just for her might help her feel settled.
We ordered a cozy bed in a larger size and a color we thought she’d like, and now we’re waiting for it to arrive. When it does, we’ll see where she prefers it and whether it brings her additional comfort.
Small acts of care — extra playtime, walks to interesting places, new cozy spots to nap — are how we’re trying to fill Lily’s days with warmth and security. We miss Jack every day, but we’re giving Lily as much love as we can and she’s responding with affection in return. That gives us hope that she’ll be okay.
Thank you for being here and for your kindness to our family. Your thoughtful messages and support have touched us deeply.