Now And Then I Think About Getting Another

TATTOO !

I say another .  Did you know that for my 70th Birthday I got a tattoo of a Bluebird of Happiness .

Life was feeling pretty good but not as good as it does now !

A Sweet Little Bluebird On My Shoulder . 

And, the color has remained vibrant.

This is something I posted some years past and you might find it of interest . Let me tell you a little about the "Bluebird of Happiness".  It has a long and varied history that goes back at least to 1909 when a play was written by Maurice Maeterlinck called "The Bluebird". It was about two children who go on a magic journey looking for the Bluebird of Happiness. They don't find it, and when they return home they discover it's been in their back yard all along.

Another story is that in 1948 Art Mooney and his Orchestra had a best-selling record about the Bluebird of Happiness. The words were written by Edward Heyman and Harry Parr Davies.

Here are the lyrics - - -

(verse)
The beggar man and his mighty king are only
different in name,
For they are treated just the same by fate.
Today a smile and tomorrow tears,
We're never sure what's in store,
So learn your lesson before to late, so

(refrain)
Be like I, hold your head up high,
Till you find a bluebird of happiness.
You will find a greater peace of mind
Knowing there's a bluebird of happiness.
And when he sings to you,
Though you're deep in blue,
You will see a ray of light creep through,
And so remember this, life is no abyss
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

Life is sweet, tender and complete
When you find the bluebird of happiness.
You will find perfect peace of mind
When you find the bluebird of happiness.
Two hearts that beat as one,
"Neath a new found sun,
We are in a world that's just begun,
And you must sing his song, as you go along,
When you find the bluebird of happiness.

YES, I HAVE FOUND MY BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS .

So - - - maybe , since 10 years have past and I am now 80 years old , perhaps  a sweet little tattoo that shows these loving creatures that symbolize for me the unconditional love that I have received from all of my pets throughout my life would be a good choice ?  Nothing to fancy but with a little color !

A long time ago when I saw this image there was and continues to be something that draws me toward it .  It says so much to me ! Maybe - showing Heart Love !

Did you know that there is a National Recognition Day for almost everything ? ? ?

Be sure to check back soon to see and learn something crazeeeeeeeeeeeey !  

Enjoy Your Weekend .

Mary

Good News

The new eye drops for Ivy  ARE WORKING.    And, I am thrilled.    NO More watery messy eyes for my precious Kitty Kat.  I am not sure what the long range plan will be.   These have only been ordered for one week.   I'll talk with the Vet tomorrow.

It is Sunday evening and I just like this picture and I thought I would share it with you.    It certainly reminds me of my precious Lily , my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  I will always miss her.  She gave me so much love and joy.  And, of course I will always miss my last cat,  Puff as well as my Yorkshire Terrier,  Pixie.  The love from my pets has been so wonderful and so very good for me.  I'm a Lucky Gal to have had the pleasure of giving all of them a home filled with lots of love.

Until next time.  Hope you have a good night's rest.

Mary

It's Official

Miss Ivy has proclaimed this place as her Furever Home !  Probation is over and she doesn't think she could improve on the house rules and the proprietor !

Morning naps in the sunshiny living room on the window sill is such a great way to start the day following a yummy breakfast.  The house proprietor and staff have agreed to vote her in as a Permanent Resident .  See her jumping with joy ?

Ivy continues to surprise me with her impressive behavior progress and I think this is just the beginning.  Even though that differs from what I thought a couple weeks ago.  Her comfort level is continuing to improve and I think she has taken ownership of the entire house.  I never know where I will find her curled up with her head tucked in and looking like a big fur blob.  It is clear to me that she feels safe anywhere in the house and she likes to keep track of me if she is not sleeping so she can talk to me . Finally she is faithfully using her scratching pad which makes the proprietor happy .  Oh, remember this little lady is deaf.

And, WOW you should see her trying to chase her tail when she is at the top of her cat condo on the 12 inch square platform at 53 inches height.  When it starts to sway, I marvel that she shows no fear of falling off .  In the evening when she finishes playing with her tail and the toys hanging from the platform she frequently falls asleep and many nights that is where she will sleep !  Recently, she has decided that sitting or sleeping beside me is a good alternative to hanging out on other surfaces if the proprietor would sit still long enough.  So usually that luxury is reserved for evening time.

With the beautiful weather these days the Catio is a very favorable place to hang out and enjoy the marvelous sights of this big fabulous world that found me !

If you have a cat, please give them a Big Loving Hug. If you are lucky they will give back tenfold of Love.   And, I will always love dogs, too  and the unlimited amount of Love they always share with their beloved owners.

*** Obviously, this is not a blog post to critique grammatically !  But it fun to write !

Mary

I've Been Thinking About Getting A Roommate

FIRST AN UPDATE ON MY FRIEND.  SHE TELEPHONED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND IS DOING WELL AND HER PSYCHE IS GOOD.  WILL BE MOVED TO REHAB HOSPITAL TODAY.  HOPEFULLY, HER GENERAL HEALTH WILL BE IMPROVED NOW THAT THE POISONOUS SUBSTANCE IS REMOVED.

You know too much thinking can get a gal in trouble !        Hopefully, not too much trouble !  Well, anyway, In a few days it will be two years since my loving Lily ventured to the Rainbow Bridge.

I have missed her so very much.

Dogs and Cats come into our lives leave paw prints and our lives are forever changed.

Some of my fur babies waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for me!

Lily and Puff.

For many months I have thought about the possibility of having another heart beat (not a two legged one, but four legged) in my home again to share my life.  A dog would be great but I don't think I can regularly take her for walks because of my chronic pain. So I started looking for cats.  Like any google search, you can and I usually do, spend many hours "researching".  The more I read the more I learn about what criteria would be best for my situation.  I have started down this avenue with an open mind and I have come up with thoughts for a direction that I never expected. Throughout the years I have had many Tabby Domestic  Cats, sometimes, Rescue.  And, they have been wonderful.  My last precious cat was Puff - in the photo above.

With all the research I have been doing abouts cats,  I have become interested in Siamese cats.  And, that has surprised me. 

I never have been much interested in Siamese cats, never been around them very much and they always seemed quite distant and their meow was rather annoying.  But, as I said, I am learning a lot.  I did not know that there are so many different characteristics to choose from in Siamese Cats. 

And, then I came upon  Blue Ivy.           She is a 6 1/2 year old Lynx Point Siamese and currently living in a foster home and is from Purebred Plus Rescue .

Let me quote some of her bio from the website.  She has stunning blue eyes and soft grey suede ears.  Her paws have black soled white boots. She has a plush tail that is white on the back and black racoon ringed on the front. Her fur coat ranges in color from smokey cream to milky tea and faint lilac.

Blue Ivy is looking for a home where she will be an only pet.  She likes a quiet environment and does not want to be left alone for excessive amounts of time. She has a sweet little chirp - not a annoying yowl and loves to be brushed. Very playful and loves cat nip!

In my search, I found other cats that I liked but it is a challenge matching their characteristics, health and personality to the type of home available.  It seems there were only a few that wanted to be a single pet in a home.  And poor Blue Ivy had her early years in a very chaotic home and when her parents brought home two human baby twins, Blue Ivy said "I have had enough - let me out of here! Give me peace and quiet!"

One of my other favorites was Muffy.  She is called a Snowshoe Siamese which I really like.  Her human mama had passed away.  And, she was in a foster home not far from where I live.  Sadly for me, she was adopted very quickly by someone else.

And, there was a while that I thought about a Main Coon, Persian, Ragdoll, Himalayan or Turkish Angora.   But, oh my , way to much fur and hours of brushing required.

I spent many hours looking at Rescue sites and local Human Societies but so many animals had very little background information or special needs and at this stage of my life journey, I did not feel that would be a good match.  The facility that Blue Ivy comes from houses all their rescue cats in foster homes.  They have a very thorough application process along with reference checking.

I have been approved to become the mama for Blue Ivy.  But, it will be a little while before I can pick her up because the distance is about three hours drive from my home and the weather has not been very conducive for me to travel that far.  Another storm with snow is in the imminent future. 

Blue Ivy, I'll be coming soon!

I am so happy to be able to have Blue Ivy and I am grateful that some small changes in my financial situation will permit me to have and properly care for her.

JUST A LITTLE ANNOYANCE!  I had to rewrite most of this post because of  (yes that annoying SAVE button).  For me, it is never easy to redo a post.  It just doesn't seem to be as satisfying as the original. 

I hope your week is going well and your weather is tolerable.  

Mary

My Special Relationship With My Precious Dog

           

LILITHANN - Lily was not my first dog but probably will be my last dog. Prior to her birth in November, 2005 I was of the thought that I would not be able to have another dog because I believe it is very important for us humans to seriously navigate the many questions that must be answered before consenting to the responsibilities that are inherent with having a dog or any pet.  

Considering my "sunset" station in this journey of my life, my number one concern was that the dog could live longer than me and that was a horrible thought because I would not be able to insure that a loving and responsible home would be in her future. Financial issues were also a concern but certainly not at the top of my list.

So anyway, I didn't make any active plans to get another dog. I still had my precious Calico Tabby cat, Puff who grew up with my previous wonderful Yorkshire Terrier dog, Pixie.  And the cat was fabulous comfort for me and provided lots of love for eighteen years. 

Lily and Puff

And then, as life has a way of shaping our journeys, I started reading about Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. The breed was new to me and I liked everything I read about them. But, they were expensive! So, I just filed my new information in the back of my mind and proceeded with my simple stable and quiet life.

But then, quite some time later I was at the grocery store one day and saw a darling little puppy in a lady's shopping cart. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the first time I had seen one other than the many pictures I had looked at. The lady and I chatted and yes she confirmed that it was a Cavalier! And, her comments were glowing about her experience with the breed.

Again I tucked all the new information away until one day I decided to look at the Internet to see what might be available. The standard weight of these "jewels" can be as much as 25 pounds which is more than what is best for me considering my low back injury/surgery. And, then I found that there were breeders that were providing some Cavaliers that were on the lower end of the weight scale.

AND, I think it was in February 2006, that my girl friend (who passed away 2 years ago) and I were driving to Sacramento International Airport to pick up a baby girl puppy. On our way home, my girlfriend insisted on holding her. There was no way she was going to let her stay in the crate. The puppy snuggled in her neck and nibbled on her ear lobe. It was so exciting and she was so very tiny. Yes, she is the "jewel" in the middle of the next photo. The one with her little tail in the air! You can see she is the littlest in the photo. Just the right size!

Sadly, TODAY is ONE YEAR since my Lily left for the Rainbow Bridge.

My heart is so heavy as it is every single day. I miss her more than my words can say. For various reasons we had a certain bond that is indescribable. My grief/loss is as great as it was the day she left.

It was a few days ago that I just happened to see the poem written in 1922 by Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936).  I would like to share it with you.

"The Power Of A Dog"  by  Rudyard Kipling

THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way

From men and women to fill our day;

And when we are certain of sorrow in store,

Why do we always arrange for more?

Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware      

Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy

Love unflinching that cannot lie—

Perfect passion and worship fed

By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.      

Nevertheless it is hardly fair

To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits

Are closing in asthma, or tumor, or fits,

And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs      

To lethal chambers or loaded guns,

Then you will find—it’s your own affair—

But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,

With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).      

When the spirit that answered your every mood

Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,

You will discover how much you care,

And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,      

When it comes to burying Christian clay.

Our loves are not given, but only lent,

At compound interest of cent per cent.

Though it is not always the case, I believe,

That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:      

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,

A short-time loan is as bad as a long—

So why in—Heaven (before we are there)

Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

The poem is "pretty heavy" but also some "food for thought".

But there is no way I would have wanted to do anything differently. I think the love
from our dogs/pets, even though it has a time limit, can help soothe the sorrows of
today just by us having had the love.

Please hug the ones you love and never forget your four legged "jewels".

Wishing you Well.

Mary

Look At These Two Cuties

I WANT THEM!  But, I know that I can't have them. I miss my doggy Lily so much!

A couple weeks ago I weakened and took a look at the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue Western Region Website. In my opinion they sound like a top rate program. The dogs are fostered in loving homes until their social  and medical issues (if any) are treated and stabilized. Most of the dogs are older and have medical issues as special needs dogs. Some of the stories of their history are heartbreaking. The requirements for adoption are very extensive. They will not ship dogs and you must live within driving distance of the dog so you can visit the dog at their foster home and be assessed for compatibility and issues associated with adopting their dogs. A dog may cost anywhere from $150 to $650. As you may know, that is so much less than buying from a breeder.

When I looked at the website I was super surprised to see a dog that I adored and she lived close enough to my address.

This is Miss Daisy. What a charmer. She is less than a year old and deemed healthy by a Veterinarian. Her history is unremarkable and her owner (a senior lady) found that she no longer could care for her.

My heart weakened and I submitted an application not knowing if I could afford to have another "love bug" ! But, I said to myself, "I'll put it in God's hands". Needless to say there were many many applications. And, she was adopted by a family with children and two other Cavaliers. In matching a dog to a new owner, the welfare of the dog is top priority. By the picture of her with her forever family, it looks like she will be very happy in her forever home.

And then, much to my surprise, shortly thereafter, another dog showed up on the website that met the criteria.

And, this is Mr. Henry. What a handsome fellow - he is.

Again, under a  year old and healthy. I think it is quite unusual to see these two puppies appear on the website at this time. Most of the dogs are older and have medical issues and expenses.

I did not apply. At this time it is not meant to be for me to have a dog.

Henry, also was adopted by a family with children and cavaliers.

The truth is that I really should not consider another dog because I have always followed my criteria which is:

 #1 --- Live long enough to take care of them which could be more than 10 years. That means I would be 87 years.

 #2 --- Have enough money to provide proper and complete veterinarian care.

 #3 --- Be able to provide enough exercise and outdoor activity to keep the dog interested in life and healthy.

When I brought Lily into my life I had to think long and hard about the decision. Even at that time I had the same concerns. At first I thought there was no way I could have another dog. However, it worked out beautifully. And, I feel very thankful. I think gratitude will have to be my focus and not sadness!

It's a beautiful sunny day here in California and I hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are.

Mary

Trick Or Treat Time

With the rainy weekend we are having, maybe these "super doggies" costumes will give a little protections from the elements !!!

Keep your fur-babies safe. And, protect them from running out the front door if these spooky creatures come to your door ! 

Mary

Bright Dispositions In The Home

I am sending A Lot of Sunlit Dispositions to you for this "Sunlit Sunday". Oh, the wonderfulness of a fireplace, be it wood or gas. It doesn't matter. Isn't this photo from google of these precious kitties great?  Just looking at it makes me feel so happy, calm, warm and cozy. And dare I say, makes me want another kitty cat some day.

My last Puttee Cat "Puff" traveled to the Rainbow Bridge in May 2008. She lived a comfortable life for nineteen years and during that time with two different doggies who loved her. Yes, the one thing I really miss is hearing her soothing purr. I recall many years ago (1988) when I got my first baby puppy my mind kept quietly saying why is she not purring? Funny how that works!

Puff was a very lovely and loving cat. She was very good natured and adjusted quickly with two doggies, Pixie (Yorkshire Terrier) and Lily during her lifetime. This photo was taken perhaps around Christmas 2006. By that time Lily had joined us and Puff and she were fast friends. They generally slept near each other if not snuggled together.

I tried to scan and print some old photographs without success of the two of them as well as photographs of my Yorkie, Pixie.

And here we have Lily in front of the fireplace. In time past Puff would be with Lily snuggling together on the bed getting warm. So tender and sweet.

Last, but not least, a picture of baby Lily with her siblings at about six weeks old. And, look at that tail! I call it her happy tail because it is almost always swishing back and forth.

I am joining Karen for "Sunlit Sunday" at My Little Home and Garden today.                        Please join us.
There is a lot of furry LOVE on this post today. 

Don't forget to hug your pets. They are our angels.

Mary