Shhhhh.......

Hello Friends (furry and otherwise *grin*)!
I saw this pic on a site called For the Love of Animals and I just about melted.
Is this not the best?
I want to snuggle up right along with him.
I knew you'd love this one.
Just wanted to share cuz I knew you'd melt right along with me.

It finally found it's place...........

It has taken awhile for me to get to this

because it has been really hard for me~

I decided....

I owe it to my friend......
In the afternoon of February 2nd I noticed that my dear little White Kitty was having a very hard time breathing. Most importantly he wasn't eating....not even Fancy Feast...not a good sign. I also noticed a few other things and I knew I had to get him to the vet in the morning.

He was laying down next to my chair in my computer room. I didn't sleep at all that night constantly going in and checking on him, laying down by him and telling him it would all be alright.

It's wasn't alright.

I got him to the vet 45 minutes before they opened to be sure I could get in first. After "the tests" I was told that he had fluid around his lungs and that it was only going to get worse for him. The vet advised the "humanitarian thing" to do for a cat his age, 17 and I was completely unprepared to make such a hard decision. I have never had to decide to put one of my animals to sleep before and I can honestly say that it was one of the MOST difficult things I have ever done. I knew the vet was right. But I wasn't ready. How could I let go of one of the BEST things I have ever had in my life. I was there for Kitty when he needed me after someone had shot him in the tummy with an arrow. I can still remember what the vet said to me that day..."He must really trust you...looks like you got yourself a cat!

He was right.

In turn that cat was there for me all the time. He had been with me thru think and thin and everywhere in between. It seemed his sole purpose in life was to just be there for me, comfort me and just love me.

I made the decision to relieve his suffering. I still struggle with it but I have been told I did the right thing.

I suppose I am just being selfish....I miss my friend.

Russ had found this heart shape stone on a job site a few years ago and I had never found a place for it to go...

until now.

It finally found a place~ next to my friend ~among my flowers.

PUH-LEEZE!! WHERE IS YOUR PRIDE???

Okay now IS THIS NOT PATHETIC??? This is what I turned around and saw laying on the dining room floor while I was trying to get dinner ready! This is Kitty....(I know pretty original huh?) He could literally eat all day long, and won't leave me alone until he gets some food in his bowl! He is particurally relentless when I am in the kitchen where his food is stored and I have to constatntly keep shoo-ing him off. Well on this particular day after a long day at the shop I just wanted to put together something quick for dinner and be done with the day. He would NOT leave me alone and I shushed him out of the kitchen only to turn around and see him playing dead in the dining room...totally wasted away to nothing...!!!! I mean he even waited while I went to go get the camera to take the picture!!! I mean really.....he is such a phony but I love him like crazy! He has been with me for about 14 years after I took him in when someone had shot him with an arrow in his tummy. As you can see the tummy is doing just fine!! Just so you know, no kitty was harmed during the photo shoot....as soon as we were done, he got some din din! Spoiled little cat!

It'll just take a minute...I promise!

Meet Jake and Bandit! They are my adopted sheep that live with dear friends Lisa and David Shelton who have Homethrown Pottery in Trinity NC. (if you haven't been there...it's worth the trip!!) Anyway, while visiting I mentioned my "plan" to Lisa about these two darlings! I told her all I want to do is get them to cooperate with me and let me put a big evergreen wreath around their necks with a big red gingham bow and let me take their picture so I can use it on my Olde Tyme Christmas Open House invites! Sounds easy enough right?? In this picture they look so willing and excited about helping me out. I tell them how it will make them famous and it will look good on their resume and frankly give their career the boost it needs. Pretty much all they have going on right now spending their days meandering the pasture, eating and being nosey as to what Lisa and David are up to. I hope I have convinced them after my pep talk. We'll see how it goes...........................................