Jasper

Do you recall your first pet? Was it a dog, cat, frog, goldfish, tadpoles, or hamster? When I think back, our parent’s home had one or more of these pets during our childhood. There was a time when Mom really wasn’t appreciative when I brought home a snake. That’s another story to share later… However my very first pet and one of my fondest was a dachshund, Jasper.

Jasper was a full size dachshund. He was completely black accept for his brown eyebrows and paws. Through my toddler eyes, he was big and solid. I loved him! Jasper would let me roll all over him, tug his ears and tail, all the while laying patiently as I played with him. A child’s dream dog.

Yes, Jasper was a great family dog. However, he was the greatest escape artist. When Mom would let him out in the evening, Jasper always was able escape from the fenced in backyard. I can remember being put in the car and Mom driving through the neighborhood streets to find him. Sometimes, we would be lucky and find him. Other times, he would be gone for two to three days and then return home. There was a joke between my parents that Jasper had a girlfriend. This escapade went on for a few years until the last great escape when Jasper never returned home. I was heart broken. But, as I stated before we had other pets growing up including a beagle/springer spaniel mix named Spot, (we’ll save the stories of Spot for another time). Jasper will always have a special place in my heart.

Why the story? I found this adorable sign at #biglots of a black dachshund dressed in plaid for Christmas. This find immediately sent my thoughts to Jasper. So of course I had to purchase it! Then I found these adorable dachshund ornaments. Yep, purchased them, brought my treasures home and began to design a Dachshund Christmas Wreath honoring my first pet, Jasper. I’m loving it!