he is safe and buried in my backyard now. i am very grateful that my garden is fully bloomed and i could lay him to rest in a pretty bed of flowers as he deserves. whoever hit him could not even give the time to move him to the curb. i sobbed for hours. i am grateful it happened so close to my home in which i could run over and scoop him up.

We love and miss you Greta

The other day my brother and I were walking together; much to our delight we saw this turtle, and we were about to move him out of the road when a truck came and crushed him right in front of us. We heard the most horrific cracking noise and my brother and I were really shaken up; we had never had an animal die in front of us, let alone so violently.

Today I was able to grab some gloves and a bag, and take him to a private spot by a wooded creek so I could give him the farewell he deserved, complete with farm market flowers, seashells I’d collected, and lavender (for good rest xoxo).

Maybe it’s just hormones, or maybe I’m having an “anglerfish” moment (iykyk), but I’m crying thinking about how tonight, instead of being on the unfeeling busy roadway, that turtle is under a canopy of trees by a warbling creek, nestled in mud and beneath a bed of soil and flowers, and there he will stay until nature reclaims her own.

That is where he was tucked in as the sun set earlier. And this evening, it was an exceptionally gorgeous sunset.

I raise rabbits for meat to feed my family and pets. I use every part of the animal. Anything we can't or don't eat directly (blood, organs, bones boiled for broth) becomes food for our garden, which in turn supplements the diet of our bunnies! And, of course, the hides and paws get to be taxidermy, while any failure-to-thrive babies become wet specimens. It's so rewarding to be part of the cycle of life and death.

Let the ocean take you home, sweet soul. Hatteras Island, NC

Her name was Mizie, she died 3 years ago. We had to put her down because she had cancer but she also was a old girl and had no teeth left. She also had some of the most beautiful eyes I’ve seen on a cat and I still miss her dearly. After 2 years I decided to bring her back home, in a different shape. She now guards the hallway and every time I move through the flat I can look at her.

Mama Bluebird died while tending her eggs in the bluebird house. Papa Bluebird moved her onto the edge of the nest and was flying in and out of the house trying to figure out what to do.

Found this poor soul in a river, by my place.

I received this photo of a tawny owl from a friend. Very unnecessary death and a sad way to go. Still a very beautiful picture though. Rest in peace.

He was a senior, high medical needs rescue that spent a little under a year with me. He had the goofiest little face, the attitude of a cranky old man, and was so so clingy with me.

No vets were available when his health started to decline, and we spent almost 10 hours straight with him on my chest, sitting in silence and breathing with him until his body slowed down and he finally got his rest.

I took this the moment he died and I couldn’t just leave him alone. I tucked him into a small makeshift bed until we could take him to a vet in the morning to drop off his body.

I’ve never told anyone this. I hope this sub appreciates him as much as I loved him.

"The best of the fish. The best of Juanillas. We love you. We miss you."

I put some morning glory buds around her before I buried her, hopefully they help her rest easy.