A pet truly makes a house feel like a home. After the loss of our pup Jack, that sentiment has been especially real for our family. Thank you for your kind comments and messages about Jack — they mean so much. Many of you have asked how Lily is doing, so today I’m sharing an update on her and a recent outing we enjoyed together at a local garden nursery.
Lily had never known a day without Jack at her side, so we expected she would feel his absence deeply. This transition has been hard on all of us, and early on we decided to focus on giving Lily extra love, attention, and gentle support so we could get through it together.
Below I’ll share how she’s doing, details from our visit to Christianson’s garden nursery, and a few other small steps we’re taking to help Lily adjust to life as an only dog.
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 extra meaningful and frequent adventures for her so she has new, happy experiences to focus on.
From puppyhood Lily has loved exploring with all her senses. She adores walks where she can sniff everything, so a trip to a plant nursery is perfect for her — full of new smells, sights, and textures to investigate.
We let her pause and take it all in — plant therapy can be surprisingly soothing. Gardening and time spent in nature have helped me through difficult times as well; I wrote about that in my book Dwelling, where I describe how restorative plants and natural surroundings can be.
Lily loved being at Christianson’s — we did too. This is actually the same place where my daughter Courtney had her wedding, so the nursery holds special memories for our family. It’s a beautiful setting with so much to explore.
The hydrangeas were spectacular and made for a calm, uplifting backdrop for our stroll.
It was especially sweet to watch Lily notice the animals around the nursery — she didn’t bark, just paused to observe and then moved on to sniff another plant or bloom. That quiet curiosity felt like a gentle step forward for her.
After the nursery we took Lily to the mobile grooming truck for a haircut — another first she faced without Jack. He used to worry when it was his turn to go in, so these small milestones are bittersweet reminders of how much has changed.
Lily isn’t as fond of photos as Jack was; she often turns away from the camera. Still, she’s so charming I try to capture her when I can. Every dog has a unique personality, and we’re learning to appreciate Lily’s quiet, gentle leadership when she’s with other pups.
Having Lily in our home is a blessing, and we’re very grateful for her companionship.
Overall, we haven’t seen major behavioral changes, but it’s clear Lily misses Jack. She’s staying closer to us around the house and is less likely to hang out alone in another room. Lily has always been independent, so this shift is noticeable and reminds us she’s grieving too.
We’re offering extra hugs, affection, and small comforts to make her environment feel cozy and less lonely. It’s difficult to replace the energy Jack brought to our home, but we’re doing our best to fill the days with love and new routines for Lily.
One simple idea was to get her a new bed. Lily used to curl up next to Jack in matching beds at night, and during the day she often squeezes into one of my small round baskets even when it’s a tight fit. We thought a comfortable basket bed just for her might give her a sense of her own cozy spot.
We ordered a new basket-style bed in a larger size and are waiting for it to arrive. When it comes, we’ll see where Lily likes it best and share how she responds. These small gestures are part of how we’re trying to make her feel secure and loved.
We miss Jack deeply, but we’re pouring our love into Lily and she’s returning it in the sweetest ways. With patience, attention, and comforting routines, we hope she continues to adjust and find joy in new experiences.
Thank you for your kindness and support. Your messages have been a true comfort to our family during this time.