Category: Dogs

Letting Go Should Be Easy

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Jernee’s last days

I will miss this sweet face. She means the entire world to me.

Jernee has a vet visit for Friday, September 12, 2025, at 0900. The first thing we will discuss is end-of-life options, and I’m preparing myself for that date to be her last with me.

Letting go should be easy, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that it is not. However, I won’t prolong the inevitable.

These next few weeks are going to try my patience due to Jernee’s decline, but I am going to do everything in my power to make sure she has the best last days on God’s green earth.

I may not have the mental wherewithal to respond to comments, but I will leave them on, and I thank you for any warm wishes, peaceful thoughts, and words of wisdom in advance.

Peace and blessings.

It’s 10,000° Outside!

trE

The things we do for our pets

A short walk with The Little Monster today.

Honey Bunnies, I’m not one for the heat! I cannot stand it! I’d rather be relaxing in the air-conditioned spaces I frequent (i.e., my living room or bedroom), instead of taking Jernee Timid out for a walk when it’s Devil Weather!

This is NOT my calling. However, I do love my baby, and I’d do anything for her, but I’m going to need her to pick up the pace when it’s hotter than the corns on the Devil’s toes outside.

How are y’all surviving the heat this year?! Stay hydrated. Stay cool. Stay indoors as much as you can.

I am truly looking forward to the cool down headed our way!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

the unmother

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AI-Generated Image: A young, Black woman holding her puppy up in the air while smiling. She is wearing a dark pink top, has curly hair, and in the background, a faint image of a yellow house is visible. The dog is a tan color with a black snout and sweet eyes.

to be a fur baby’s mom
takes everything the body
doesn’t willingly give

you sacrifice bits of yourself
you never thought you
would–you live a different
life than what you’ve
ever known,

and the four-legged
creature who looks to
you as his world only
sees love and loyalty.

some will say your
mothering isn’t real.
others will tell you,
“it’s just a dog,” but
what they will never know

is the unfailing, unconditional
love that merges the two
of you together . . .
glue that cannot be
undone.

and it’s the most
indescribable beauty of God–
possessed and shared
with us.

I wrote this poem a few days ago for the crush’s daughter, who is now a fur baby mom. At the tender age of 19 years old, she has a companion who will love her like no other living and breathing being ever will. I am so happy for and proud of her!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Photos From Memorial Day Weekend

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I lived. I loved. I ate delicious food. I am better for having done so.

800°. Southpark, Charlotte, NC. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
On the table: Yellowed beauty. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
What we ate: My friend had a double pepperoni wood-fired grill pizza. I had their specialty wood-fired grill wings with honey bourbon sauce & house wood-fired grill Brussels sprouts. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A friend who is a gem (and like my kid sister), Diamond. We both worked for the contracted company of our bigger, more established company. And now that the contracted company will no longer be a thing, we are linked to each other’s lives in a way I am not with any other co-worker I have ever had. We’ve been through A LOT, and we’re still standing, still smiling, and still here for each other. The lunch spot was her suggestion. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
She is yet another person who understands my silliness. At 23 years old, Diamond must’ve been here before. I am grateful for her presence in my life. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A peaceful resting spot. Jernee sleeps whenever she can and wherever she wants. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
The movie theater. Sinners was the feature. Although it was a good movie, the hype about it was TEN TIMES BETTER. This was before six more people entered this theater. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
And again. The seat with the napkins on it is where I sat for the film. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
After the movie, in my car, preparing to go to the store. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Cast-iron skillet homemade macaroni and cheese. Yes, it was delicious! Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday dinner: cast-iron skillet mac-n-cheese, thinly sliced BBQ steak, & oven-baked cabbage with tomatoes & onions. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Manifestation Monday: On Memorial Day, a small part of my day included watching/listening to an audiobook, How to Talk to the Universe. The link was sent to me by one of my long-time friends, Raina. Monday, May 26, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I needed this break from working. I ended my time with the contracted company on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thursday and Friday were spent attending doctors’ appointments, visiting my cousin in the hospital, and enjoying every moment I could.

I am ready to take on whatever is headed my way, and I welcome it all with open arms.

I hope this week will be more than kind to all of you. Peace and blessings!

a permanent safe space for the codependent

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the dog follows me
everywhere I turn.
there’s one entrance,
one exit. she thinks
her safe space is
on the brink of
busting through the
walls to leave her
behind.

I have nowhere to go
that will not include
her unless it’s her
spirit I plan to carry
when she’s long
gone.

perhaps that is
tomorrow, maybe
four months from
now, or it could be
a year later, but her
safe space is still
safely planted until
SHE is not.

I am kind of sticking to these daily blurbs of poetic thoughts via Substack notes. More than likely, I’ll keep sharing them here.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

hot flashes and spring

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humidity is hovering
in the still dark air,
and I’m hot-flashing
out of nowhere,
yearning for a cool down.

summer is peeking
through the soon-to-be intensely
hotter weeks, trying to
make an earlier
appearance, and
I just want to walk
without sweat
congregating between my legs.

it’s going to be
another year of
panting like the dog,
as the dog days
arrive before they’re
due.

I drummed up this piece yesterday morning via notes on Substack. These little creative snippets come to me every day, and I am grateful for them. They’re getting me through the go-through.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.