For all of us who have lost a fur-one

To my dearest friend.

I stood by your bed last night; I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying you found it hard to sleep.
I spoke to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."
I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today; your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today; you tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you; I smiled and said, "it's me."
You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.
The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to me.

By
"Missing You"
Colleen Fitzsimmons ©
In memory of Shadow

Ok, Sean is just weird

He loves to sleep all stretched out. I have never had a cat who slept this way.

The juvenile delinquents

Remember that term? You were the worst of the worst when I was growing up and were ready for the "big house" if you had been labeled a juvenile delinquent.
Well, I think I have two living with me - maybe three.
This morning Riley decided I had slept enough at 5:45 AM and proceeded to knock all the loose books off the top of one of the bookcases in my bedroom. All the while watching me to see if his actions were working.
Then when he was done I heard a noise that didn't sound right and found Sean playing with a plastic wedge that was supposed to keep one of the pieces of furniture from wobbling. I still don't know which one he stole it from. I know I will find out one of these days when an end table or dresser starts wobbling again.
Then Bella hit the big time. I had dropped her off at the groomer this morning so she could have some play time and then a nice groom.
They called me a couple of hours later that she was ready to be picked up.
When I arrived everyone was laughing and calling her "Bad Bella".
It seems she had somehow locked the groomer out of the grooming room and she and another dog were happily running around the room while everyone was locked out. Because of the security system they have in place it took them a little while to get back in because there is a system of three keys that need to be used or at least that is how it was explained to me. So Bella and friend had some time to be delinquent.

Bella trying to look innocent.

Problem solved

Scrunchie = my ears are out of my food

My brother's butt

Yes, it makes a good pillow. No, it doesn't smell bad.

Charlie

My cousin Cynthia recently had to say Good-bye to Charlie, the dog she and her husband Alan had had for 10 years. Charlie was a rescue who came to them at the age of 4 and was a wonderful and happy dog. But Charlie's health started failing recently and a few days after Christmas he went over the Rainbow Bridge. This is the tribute Cynthia wrote for him.

A Boy and His Dog

By all conventional measures, the boy is considered a middle-aged man and his dog, elderly. But when they were together, both were transported to a much earlier time in their lives. Alan’s dog Charlie always managed to overcome his arthritis and his 14 years to play chase, tug of war, or wrestle, whenever the opportunity was available. Charlie was truly kept young at heart by Alan’s daily playfulness. I suspect the smile you often saw on Charlie’s face was a mixture of both happiness and appreciation. I enjoyed witnessing their playful antics. Especially when they played chase in the house. A stuffed toy, or woobie as we fondly call them, was the object of desire. The one who had it was chased by the other until it was gotten. It was either Charlie chasing Alan, or the other way around.  I swear, when Charlie had the woobie, it appeared as if he was teasing Alan!  The most unfair moment in this game was when Alan would take the chase into the kitchen and inevitably open the refrigerator door to block Charlie from getting to him. Charlie knew this was unfair and let Alan know it by his incessant barking. Eventually, Charlie would prevail as victor and proudly trot with woobie in mouth to his bed for a well earned rest.

Rain or shine, Alan tried to make each and every day a good one for Charlie.  And, at the close of each day, once Charlie was given his last little treat, usually a small piece of cookie Alan was eating, Charlie would put his head down on his bed and fall asleep with a snore and a smile from ear to ear.

May you be forever smiling, Charlie.

Snow on Four Peaks

2015 and snow on the mountains