R.I.P. Our Longfellow

 The poet Longfellow died on March 24 - the same day our Longfellow fell into decline. 

He passed to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. 

May you always find that sunny spot you so loved.

Scenes from Christmas Past

Where did it go?
Christmas?

 

Any ideas?

Harrumph!
What a messy table,
Just me and the cats hangin' out..
adding some class to this
Christmassy chaos.

Hmm - is somebody plotting something?

How about this innocent-looking fellow?
just the night before this....

Middle of the night crash heard,
I feared what it was,
and sure enough - it was.
Or rather, it wasn't -
anymore.

"Wasn't me", says Manitou, all cute and floofy.

"Wasn't me" says Rascal - holiday guest No.1

"Wasn't me either", says holiday guest No.2 Pantero (Reverend)

"Couldn't have been me - I don't even live here!"
Exclaims Kitty-never-seen-before-hope-he's-not-homeless-and-especially-hope-not-an-expectant-female!

Ghost - remnants,
Shape of Christmas Tree,
past.
(Mr. Poole "ain't talkin")

So what did Crazy Christmas Cat Lady do?
Must have a tree for Epiphany
It's only January 4th!
In response to suggestions to put Christmas away,
Since it came down anyway.
Oh yes, the tree rose again, sans glass balls,
Just an icy vision, mostly white and luminous,
nothing breakable.
We hang on to Christmas tightly,
despite disasters. :)

Longfellow approves of the restoration....
the brief prolongation of
holiday cheer....

...Until next year...
For auld lang syne...

Happy and Healthy New Year everyone!

Longfellow's Long Journey Back

The flower baskets have given way to festive wreaths around town, and I realize that an update is way past overdue.  The main subject is of course, our Longfellow. Whatever trauma he suffered due to his accident, the nature of which we will never know, has happily passed by, and he is his usual “odd” self. After several trips to the vet, the last one, which featured the evil man making an appearance in the house no less, caused our poor boy to say, “enough” and promptly went into a self-imposed exile in the  spare room upstairs. Food and litter had to be relocated just for him, as any attempt to bring him back downstairs was fruitless, and resulted in a quick escape back to his safe place. After close to a month of having our patient sequestered, with door open by the way, one of his last such escapes was surprisingly quick and effortless, and that is when we realized his recovery was almost complete – he was simply having a psychological issue that had to be overcome, in his own good time. Whatever had happened to him, it resulted in a torn leg, a torn belly, and the need to relearn how to use a litterbox – he had suffered a huge shock, but he was coming out of the dark at last – we had even been “prepared” for the worst – that’s how bad the situation had seemed. Now, he is eating, drinking and all the rest, just like normal. One day, he simply left the “recovery” room and didn’t go back. Although he is quite thin – he is close to 15+ years after all - our Longfellow has been restored to us.

One Month...and on...

The one-month date has come and gone, and Chesney is still gone/vanished. People around me try to console and say that he probably got picked up by someone who fell in love with him etc etc. I try not to dwell on the darker possibilities, but they are there, and always will be unless I find out for sure, and it doesn't look like I will. I wonder why fate would have sent me this gift, to console me for the sudden untimely loss of Timmy last fall, only to take Chesney the same way - suddenly? Cruel. A shadow has been cast over this spring and summer season.

But life goes on (*sigh* - I sometimes hate that silly, trite expression), and I have others than need my care and love. I also have an enormous garden, and lots to plant as I write, and some days it seems like a looming chore rather than a pleasure. But I love the cats and the plants too much to let any be ignored, so on I go.






This piece of salvage was intended for my various gardening pots and accessories, but as you can see, the fluffy ones, Manitou and Mr. Poole, think it really serves a much better purpose. In the third picture, Manitou seems to be thinking: "hmm, this place needs a paint job!" (Is anyone listening? IT DOES!!) Mr. Poole looks like he's thinking: "Hey, no one told me these were bunk-beds!"




Tristan reposes and recovers near the warmth of the brick border. He was recently diagnosed with an abscess on his back. Not the worst we have ever seen, but still nasty business: squeezing, draining etc...but he took it all very well indeed. Next to him is my latest purchase for the garden: a lovely garden wagon: it is very handy and attractive too!


Regular visitor, sometimes called "Mooch", Rascal relaxes on the cedar bench.




And last but not least, New solarium furniture! Here we see Angel and Longfellow obviously approving of the long-awaited purchase. The day the set arrived, Angel was the first to hop onto the the couch and sprawl at full length, so elegant her black against the vivid red. The old white wicker set had been with us since the house purchase in 1994, and was quite worn. It was not shabby chic anymore, just shabby!

Thank you to everyone who sent me their good thoughts for Chesney - I really, really appreciate it. Maybe we can keep it up for a little longer?

Reflections on the Holiday

Things bright and beautiful...

Exhausted from all the activity....Manitou does his famous Snoopy imitation...

Chaiyka searches for just the right magazine....

Some preferred to sunbathe....




There was boxing day, always lots of fun....

"Whadya get???!" Asks Manitou.

Above all, there was lots of lounging...


Snoozing...

And still more snoozing...

At home by the tree,

While the snow deepened outside...


.

Yes indeed, a good and restful time was had by all.
Welcome 2010, and best wishes to all who continue to touch and bless my life in various ways.