SAAAAGE! ♡
In a few days, it’s going to be September. Say wha? This is both NOT OKAY and also the best thing ever because fall is amazing and I love it. But we’ve still got time before September hits and I’m taking full advantage of it by sneaking in an update on what Sage has been doing in August slash summer. Woot!
August was a big month for Sage.
And by big, I mean Extra Regular.
Sage is the queen of all things mild. In some corner of my mind, I think I held out hope that we would have lots of adventures swimming, hiking, rollerblading, playing frisbee, and other wild summer shenanigans to share with you at this point in the summer. I imagined pictures of Sage jumping off a dock with reckless abandon, or racing like a maniac through the woods, or splashing through a little kiddie-dog pool in the backyard with a big dog-smile on her face.
But you guys, this is my dog. ↓
Sage’s August highlights were those of the Extra Regular variety.
For example: Visiting the vet. Learning how to play with toys (yes – this is a learned skill for our girl). Getting her nails trimmed. Destroying a few items in our home (which, being the extra regular dog she is, involved ripping the petals off of a few flowers and chewing on a pen – I know, BIG NEWS). Napping in the sun all day every day. Getting a new little gold nameplate for her Extra Regular collar. Trying and loving a new brand of treats.
Woweeee! Live it up, Sage. Live. It. Up.
*cue transition into serious*
With all the Extra Regular stuff, there was one truly big thing that happened in Sage’s world in August, and our world, too.
Earlier this week, we said goodbye to an old friend.
Sage and Bernie only knew each other for these last few months, but like all good dog siblings, they did some important things in their time together – napping, competing for food, and assisting their humans on pizza runs. Bonding at its deepest.
Bernie was with my family for 15 years, and he gave us so much love.
In the most bittersweetly perfect turn of events, we were all able to be there for his last day. And it was filled with only the best Bernie things: hearty hamburger meals, sweet hugs and kisses from way too many people (gah, big family problems), serenades on the kitchen floor, and sweet, happy, carefree moments in the sun.
When the time came, all nine of us packed into the tiniest room at the vet and wrapped him in his favorite blanket and cried together as we stroked his frail body and straightened up his little red bandana and told him how much we loved him.
It was raw and heart-breaking and intimate – the hardest kind of perfect that makes you cry all over again when you try to write about.
Our family won’t be the same with you, Bernie Boy. Thank you for 15 sweet years, baby.
The night we said goodbye to Bernie, I held Sage a little tighter and gave her a few extra treats when I put her to bed and tried not to think about the fact that someday, hopefully a wayyy long time from now, these golden days we are having together will have to come to an end with a goodbye of our own. My heart gets a sharp little pang just to… I can’t even. How do people do this? I honestly can’t even.
So I won’t.
I will just show you the happy, non-athletic, mild, golden days that we had together in August. Because there were many. ☀️
Oh, hey, remember the sketchy mail-in doggie DNA test that we did on Sage way back in April?
As luck would have it, our Beagle-looking dog has the genetic makeup of a Labrador Retriever and (wait for it) Bulldog. Don’t tell the DNA people, but I think there’s some Beagle and a little German Shepherd in there, too. And maybe a little bit of Cat.
Whatever she is, I love it.
If you’re into the whole fur bb thing, check out the story of how we got Sage and the Sage update from May.
What a sweet post Lindsay. Pets just warm your heart and become family from day one. I can’t imagine losing my cat. Bernie seem like such a sweet boy.
Beautiful photos of Sage.
Thank you Ana! XO
Aw 🙁 I am sorry to hear about Bernie. We have lost a couple furry family members that we adored and its a deep hurt! Appreciate you sharing! We cant have a pup right now and pictures of Sageee, and all her too-cool-to-exert-energy-ways, get me through!!! <3
Thank you Brittany! You are spot on about her too-cool-to-exert-energy ways 🙂
So sorry to hear about the passing of your pup, Bernie. That’s never easy and I even shed a couple tears reading about his last day. I can’t imagine losing my little girl, Eevee. Love the Sage posts and the Sage snaps! She looks like the sweetest little girl, i could just snuggle her! Maybe we will run into eachother at the dog park! 🙂
Thanks Rachel! Really appreciate it. And yes to the dog park! Hoping to get there more this fall 🙂
I am sorry to hear about Bernie! The pictures of Sage are so adorable! She looks like the sweetest girl 🙂
Thanks Mary! Appreciate that! 🙂
So sorry about Bernie. 🙁 I look at my baby Kaya and wonder how I’ll get through it when the time comes and then snap out of it because she’s only 7 so we still have a few more years to enjoy each other.
Love all the pictures of Sage! She looks like such a snuggle bug.
I know, right!? Me too – and Sage is only 2. Just so hard to think about!
Oh, I am so very sorry about Bernie. He looks like the sweetest little pup. It’s a good thing dogs make our hearts twice as big, because you need that extra room for the permanent hole they make when it is time for them to leave us.
And your Sage is just an introvert. 😉
Haha – exactly. 100% introvert!
I am so sorry to hear about Bernie! We had to let go of my sweet dog whom I grew up with when he was 18 years old, so I totally understand.
Sage is such a blessing in your life though and will continue to be for many years! 🙂
Thank you Chelsea! I sure hope so!
Your beautiful tribute brought tears to my eyes. I also get those sharp pangs in my heart when I think about my little love Elle leaving me one day (she’s 11). Surely God had some bigger plan when he put these little creatures on this earth for such a short period of time? They bring so much love and happiness and joy and laughter to our lives – basically all the good stuff. Maybe to teach us the true meaning of unconditional love.
Rest in peace, Bernie! May doggie heaven fill your days with too many belly rubs and lots of doggie cookies. Lots of love to you and Bjork as you mourn the loss of Bernie.
p.s. Sage has the most beautiful, soulful eyes <3
Thank you Pragati! Such a sweet comment!
I was crying reading your post and looking at the melancholic pictures … so sad:(
Always hard to say goodbye 🙁
Lindsay! I am so sorry for your loss. Bernie looks like he had the best life any dog could ever imagine. I was completely tearing up when I read your newsletter and I am still drying my eyes writing this. You deeply touched me with this post. So sad 🙁
Thank you Lynn! He was the sweetest little guy!
You are blessed with the most beautiful and sweet dog – Sage even makes me question my identity as a cat person! 😉 She has such a funny expression in the picture with you giving her a kiss though 🙂
So sorry to hear about Bernie, my condolences to you and your families :'( sending big virtual hugs your way <3
YES! Sage is making you a dog person!
Hi Lindsay i cried and still am for your Bernie and my solar she has been gone 20 years and i still miss her so perhaps sage would like another need little dogie friend bless thank you love the recipes and updates on sage
Aw, so sorry to hear about your Solar!
She is perfect.
But bulldog and lab?! I can see the lab in the face and fur but that doesn’t explain her coloring or her lack of bulldog stature/face structure/wrinkles.
Right? The only thing that feels “bulldog” about her is her lazy-laying-around-the-house temperament. …Do bulldogs do that?
I’m so sorry for your loss. I love your blog and have loved the Sage updates. She looks like such a loving sweet girl. My sympathies on Bernie.
Thanks Diane! I love taking pictures of her so it’s fun to have a place to share. 🙂
Adorable 🙂 I love that Sage is content in her non-athletic self. I think she and my cat might be soul mates 🙂
She IS part cat. I just know it.
I cried over Bernie’s last day and I don’t think it is just pregnant lady emotions.
Animals are such a positive influence in our lives, I see this day in and day out. It sure looks like Bernie was well loved and had a great life 🙂
Sage is so sweet!
Aw, thanks Lauren! XO
Lovely pictures! She is such a sweetie! Do you use a certain filter or flash with your pictures? I love the crispness you are able to achieve but the lighting looks so soft and dreamy.
Thanks!
Thanks Aryn! I used the 50mm 1.4 lens for these photos and also used VSCO presets in Lightroom! My favorite preset is called Ektar.
Great post and wonderful pictures! And thank so much for making my cry at work. 🙂
Aw, you’re so sweet! Thanks Leslie.
So sorry about Bernie. It was good that you could be there. My childhood dog, Macy, was 15 when she passed, too, and it’s tough.
I love Sage, whatever she is. 🙂 We did the doggie DNA test on our pup a couple years ago, and it said she should grow to be about 35 pounds. She’s holding steady at 14 lbs. Haha!
Oh my gosh, hilarious! Those DNA tests… you never know. 😉
Love to your family for Bernie. I’m glad he was able to be a part of your family for so long!
I look at these photos and remember that you were afraid you weren’t really dog people. Teehee.
HA – yeah. I think we definitely are.
Oh dear – so very sorry for y’alls loss! My older dog is 10 and ugh…I couldn’t imagine going through this. She is a lot like sage – though most times she thinks she’s human – she refuses to play fetch and she refuses to drink from communal dog bowls and she refuses to sit on the floor in the vet’s office…and like Sage, she is a beaut!
Sage refuses communal bowls too! Geez.
I am holding back tears reading this thinking about when I had to say goodbye to my dog. I’m so glad you had Sage there to comfort you.
Me too! Thanks Meg.
Sage is just so precious. I am so sorry for the loss of Bernie. I lost my boy a few years ago and he was 10 at the time. I still cry for him. I still have his sister, and we’ve since introduced a new pup into our life.
Thank you Chrystal! So sweet that you have his sister! 🙂
I didn’t know that other people said goodbye to their friends like I did. 17 years ago I invited my dearest friends over to raise a glass to the sweetest little character I knew: my dog Xander. He was suffering too much and I knew I would need their support after. We walked over to the vet and crowded into a tiny New York City examination room for the last pet. I wish we could allow human beings the same out. My poor father had to endure every horrible day until the end. Xander got to eat steak and potatoes every night his last week alive while enduring seizures that lasted 20 minutes or more during the day. I know I made the right decision. I am proud of you all for being stand up humans.
It helps to have a Sage.
What a sweet comment. Thank you for sharing!
Sorry to hear about Bernie, that’s very sad. My heart goes out for you.
Thanks Puja! XO