Piper Eppler

Born on November 2nd, 2003.

Adopted into my heart ️ and home on December 28th, 2003.

Passed away peacefully on July 1st, 2021.

Farewell, my sweet, stubborn, loving, faithful companion. You were a true joy-boy who wanted to be friends with every two-legged who crossed your path. You enriched every moment of my life immeasurably during the past 17-and-a-half years and you will be forever in my heart.

 

“Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honour as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would the world be like without dogs?”
~ Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

 

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Cynthia Rose and the skillful, empathetic staff of the Granville Island Veterinary Hospital who provided such tender, compassionate care to Piper and me during his final moments so that his passing was peaceful and without suffering.

After the despair of January...

…and before the snowfall of this past weekend,
my favourite harbingers of spring emerged,
uplifting and energizing my spirits:

 

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrops) emerge
through a dense covering of dried leaves

 

Snowdrops

by Louise Glück

 

Do you know what I was, how I lived? You know
what despair is; then
winter should have meaning for you.

I did not expect to survive,
earth suppressing me. I didn't expect
to waken again, to feel
in damp earth my body
able to respond again, remembering
after so long how to open again
in the cold light
of earliest spring--

afraid, yes, but among you again
crying yes risk joy

in the raw wind of the new world.

Lost Lagoon Reflections, Late December 2020

Winter palette

Still

Still

Female Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

 

Shy and cute

 
 
 

Male and female Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Female Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

 

Male American Wigeon (Mareca americana)

 

Male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

 

Male Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

 
 

Male and female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)

 
 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

 
 

Frequent flyer: Harbour Air

 
 

Still perched

 
Still still

Still still