Musings on a Small Life

When it looks like this out, and when it's a difficult day otherwise, you need something to add a bit of cheer to the day! That's my neighbours' second car; they're using my driveway while waiting for a second parking spot to open up. I snapped this on the way to the bus around 11 AM today. The main roads were fine, it was just our complex (which doesn't get plowed as often as it should) and the sidwalks (most were impassable). So when I was in the grocery store, I picked up these, below, to add a bit of brightness to another grey day. I don't think they'll last long, given that they got a blast of cold weather while waiting for a taxi home, but even so, they'll at least brighten the weekend. I hope you find something to brighten your own day.

I'm deeply saddened to write that Poppy, "Miss Pops," of New Zealand, has made her journey across the "Bridge." http://poppyq.blogspot.com/2023/07/poppyq.html I adored Poppy with all my heart, she has been one my long-time favourite cats out in blog land. It's been an honour and a joy to have shared her life via her blog, and I'm sending her mum love and Light for grace, strength, and peace. If we didn't live a world apart, I would sit and cry with her, maybe have a glass of wine, offer a hug. As I don't know how Poppy's mum would feel if I posted one of her own photos here, I offer this: Godspeed, Poppy. Comments are off.

I made the agonizing decision, after a sleepless night and torturous morning, to let Derry go this afternoon.  The bloodwork didn't show anything dire, though I personally feel he might had bladder cancer, not cystitis, as he did not have the typical symptoms of cystitis that he has exhibited in the past. Either that or he was just done, after his latest vet poking and prodding on Tuesday. He had 10 vet trips in 2022 and 7 or 8 in 2021, what with the IBD, the chronic eye problem, the Diabetes and now this. He just shut down after his Tuesday appointment, stopped eating and took to hiding. Not even Cerenia, Buprenorphine and Gabapentin, along with multiple doses of an appetite stimulant, got him eating again. Yesterday morning he refused even his treats, and he lived for his favourite treats. I know I could have extended the life of his body with multiple daily pharmaceuticals and frequent vet trips for sub-q fluids and Cerenia injections, but I also know in my heart that was not th...

Chumley passed 13 years ago tonight, from a blood clot. I wrote a tribute to him 18 months later (it took me that long to be emotionally ready to do so), and for anyone who hasn't actually read it and wants to, you'll find it on the page " In Memory of Chumley ." So I won't repeat myself here, will just leave you with a few pics of my handsome boy, whose life was cut short. To this day I wish I could have a do-over with him, because I knew nothing about cats at the time and made so many mistakes; nonetheless, he was ever the gentleman and ever forgiving. God bless, Chum-Bum; I love you.

Nicki's remains are home with me now; this morning I picked up his urn, the tummy fur I requested, and his paw prints. The paw prints are especially lovely, more than I expected, and maybe I'll post a snapshot at some point, but not today. Not when my emotions are so raw. *** Last night, in a quiet moment, I had asked the Universe/Spirit/God (whatever you choose to call that energy) for whatever I would need to be able to do this alone, to pick up his remains. *** I had to go back out to the emergency pet hospital, because that's where I had gone with him two weeks ago and where his remains were returned. It's far out in the west end, past our Walmart store and pretty close to one of the exits onto and off the 401 highway. I bused to Walmart and called a taxi from there, had the cab driver wait at the emerg clinic. Went in bawling, came back out bawling even harder. But. It turned out that the taxi driver was (is) a cat person, has had cats all ...

My vet called me from his home this morning to tell me that the blood test results were not good. Nicki had both pancreatitis and hepatitis, and likely bowel inflammation as well, due to the proximity of the organs. (He actually said he'd never seen such high liver values in a cat before.) He said if I opted for treatment Nicki would have required extensive and prolonged vet and home care, hospitalization, etc. Given Nicki's age and existing health issues (the asthma, being immune-compromised, and kidney stones), I didn't want to put his little body through that. I talked with Phil (vet) at length then, then called him back later to further discuss things, and I made the decision to let Nicki go now, rather than wait till early in the week. (I'd scheduled an appointment for Monday.) With the cerenia wearing off, and without more of that plus sub-q fluids, he would have felt sick and miserable, and I didn't want to take him to a vet just for that, only to have t...

It's 8 years now that Annie left me, seems so long ago now. Pics are from January 2007.   I can't say with truth that she was my "heart" cat, as really I've had only two soulmates in my life, both horses. But Annie was what we now would call my emotional support companion. She always knew when I was low or sick and needed comfort, and she brought much joy and happiness into my life. Maybe in a way that does make her my "heart" cat, after all. There have been many times in the 8 years that I've wished she still were here, to offer her brand of "therapy," to be my silly Annie Bananie, my "wild thing." She certainly did make my heart sing.   Summer 2007,  I think. My memories have faded over the years, but my love has not. I'm thinking of her today with a full and grateful heart, glad she was in my life for those years, sorry that all our animal companions leave us so soon. Hold them close while you ca...

I'm writing that post title tongue in cheek, but really, it is "paradise" to be reasonably healthy, have a home, decent job (at least for the moment!), food, clothing, etc. Sunrise sky early last Saturday morning. Things still are chaotic at the office, though most of the staff in our department have moved to their new offices or cubicles. I have not, I'm the only one having to move her stuff three times for this reorganization (out of my current cubicle last week for partial painting, back into my cubicle on Monday to set up to work, then to my new cubicle on the 29th). Below (old cubicle): I'm living out of boxes and working scrunched at the end of the desk, because the cubicle is moved away from the wall for the painters and we don't have any power bars long enough for me to set the computer up where it should be. I'm not getting a lot done this week! The biggest plus to this shift in space is that our sub-unit finally is cluste...

February 16, 2017 marks six years since I lost Annie. I'm not weeping and wailing and gnashing my teeth, but I still miss my wild child. ❤ So here are a few of my favourite snapshots over the years, in no particular order. You've seen them before, of course.                   Give your fur "kids" an extra snuggle today, because our time with them is very, very short. Peace . Comments are off.

It will be 10 years tonight that Chumley died unexpectedly. I'm not going to dwell on it, but I won't let the date pass without acknowledging that I still love him, still think of him daily. When I'm frustrated with Nicki's and Derry's never-ending neediness, I think of Chumley. Everything I do for them is in honour of him, because I knew so little about cats when he was with me and didn't understand how depressed I was and how that affected my behaviour. I can't give Chum a do-over, but I can make sure I take the best care possible of my boys, because of him, for him. My darling Chum, I will love you forever. Wait for me.

Five years today. There's really nothing to say, my angel, except that I love you dearly and still miss you deeply. We'll "see" each other again one day. Peace . *Comments are off*

I didn't remember until I saw my personal calendar. Not because I don't still think of her every day (I always say goodnight to both Annie and Chumley when I go to bed), more because I didn't celebrate "gotcha days" until I started the Fuzzy Tales blog and discovered that so many do, at least via cyber space. Snapshot was taken August 23, 2008 I like looking at her older (i.e. younger) snapshots. After her hyper-thyroid diagnosis in September 2009, and the start of her meds, she never was the same. (Nicki's presence didn't help, either.) *** As for other things, I'm having someone from my furnace company come out Friday morning to give me two quotes: One will be for a humidifer that attaches to the furnace, because the house is desperately dry in the winter. The woman on the phone told me they're about $475 installed. (I've seen the units for about $230 or so online, but I'd have to pay for installation and I wonder if doing...

I went for a lunch time walk today, mostly because I need to burn enough calories to eat supper.  :-p It's heat-stroke hot out there and of course my hat is at home. I admit to feeling woozy now, with a slight headache, even though I was gone for only 40 minutes. However, I got some snapshots, so that made up for it. Heading across campus to the waterfront.   The perfect day to be out on the water, if sailing is your thing.     There were two more on the water doing this...a version of punting?   Ms. Duck was keeping cool.   This goose was busy grooming and ignored me as I crouched down and took several pics.   This dog did not want to get out of the water! Smart!   Love the colour of the lilies. These are all growing in front of a classroom building and I couldn't resist a few snapshots.     On a sad note, Ivy from Cats of Wildcat Woods , has crossed to the "Rainbow Bridge." Image...