Merry Christmas

I am sorry that this turned out all blurry.  My hand must have shaken as I took the picture.  I finally got my Christmas decorating, such as it is, done today.  I put up this little tree and decorated it with the Christmas cards I received from members of the Cat Blogosphere, got out Herman's stocking and put a couple of things in it and put a Christmas wreath on the front door.  This is the first time I have done any Christmas decorating since my Mother died.  I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas full of love.

Beau

This is Brutus on the left and Gentleman Beau on the right sharing a bed and acting like brothers.  I didn't originally intend to write another limerick for Beau.  I had already written one for him years ago that you can find here.  I did my pick a random blog thing and came up with Jersey Fresh.  I decided to write a limerick for Emily first, then Brutus, then Marigold.  I spent an evening reading the blog and went to bed, thinking about Emily.  As often happens, when I woke up the next morning, I had a limerick in my head, but it wasn't about Emily; it was about Beau.  Not being one to waste an inspiration, I decided to go with it.

Beau lived and blogged happily with his Mom Cathy for many years.  Not too long ago, Cathy got an infection that just wouldn't heal.  She had other health issues as well and she eventually died, leaving Beau all alone.  Arrangements were made to have Beau move to New Jersey to live with a neighbor of Rose and the Royals. At first things seemed to be working out, but Beau had issues that weren't being resolved.  For one thing, the neighbor lived right next door to a large dog and that seemed to be upsetting Beau quite a bit.  Eventually, it was decided that Beau would move in with the Royals.  He was was given a room without other cats at first and was rather shy about the whole thing.  It didn't take him too long to decide that he was in a safe place and he started to come out and let Rose pet him.  Having been an only cat his whole life, he didn't take to the Royals nearly as quickly, but now he and Brutus have become very friendly.  I am thinking that it won't be much longer before they all get along famously.

                                                    Beau came to the Royals sad and afraid,
                                                    But for him cunning plans were laid
                                                                To treat him with care
                                                                So he would come out where
                                                    Welcome to the family he could be made.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  My mother used these china quail each Thanksgiving as decorations on the table, so they always make me think of Thanksgiving.  May you all have lots and lots to be thankful for.

Farewell, Emma

Here's Emma with her nip banana.  I chose this picture for her farewell post because this is the way I want to remember her.  I want to thank all of you for your purrs for Emma.  I really appreciate them.  I buried her in the flower garden near the bird feeder.  If you want to read Emma's story, it is just a few posts down with her happy limerick.  If you want to read about her death, it is over on Herman's Hideaway.  A few of you may wonder why I didn't rush Emma off to the emergency vet when I found her in the litter box, too weak to get out.  The nearest emergency vet is a 45 minute drive from here.  I did consider it, but the stress of moving her would have probably meant that she would have run off to the Rainbow Bridge on the way.  Even if she had survived the trip, there would have been nothing that they could have done for her.  She exhibited all the symptoms of Feline Leukemia that Herman did, but they were much worse.  I thought it best to just let her go here at home in her room where she felt most comfortable.  I will miss her terribly and I think that Herman will miss her, too.  I let Herman see her and smell her and touch her before I buried her, but I don't know if he understands why she didn't respond to him.  I hope so.

                                                 Goodbye, Emma, my sweet little one.
                                                 It's all too soon that you are gone.
                                                           You fly away free,
                                                           But for Herman and me
                                                 It's a sad time here all alone.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Today is Blog Blast for Peace, started by Mimi Lennox.  On this day we all put up our peace globes and dare to dream that one day the world will be at peace.  To me it looks like we are making some progress, but we still have a long way to go. We all need to do all we can to give peace a home in our lives and our world.  We need to be a bit more forgiving of our neighbors and friends and all those around us.  If we all have peace in our hearts, then world peace will follow.  Peace be with you today and every day.

Happy Halloween

I hope you all have a Happy Halloween with lots of treats and no tricks, unless you like them.

Keiko

Here is Keiko on the living room table. She is the only one allowed up here. It could be because she has the honor of being the first kitty to be adopted into the Kitty Quartet or it could be that she is so sneaky and determined that the Mom has given up on trying to keep her off the table.  If I read and did my addition right, Keiko is four years old.  She is full of energy and loves to be up high.  She was delighted when her family moved into a house with stairs.  She likes to climb up the stairs on the wrong side, that is, outside of the bannister rails.  This makes her Mom nervous, but she hasn't fallen yet.  Keiko also likes to hang out on top of the refrigerator and on any shelf she can find room enough for her. She likes her nip quite a bit.  For some reason, when she was adopted, she didn't know about playing with toys.  Her Mom and Dad have slowly taught her the fun of toys and Keiko is learning.  Keiko is very fond of milk and her Mom or Dad will often dip their finger in their milk and let Keiko lick their finger.  The only thing that Keiko doesn't like about her life as part of the Kitty Quartet is that her brother Kenji likes to chase her and try to wrestle with her.  Keiko doesn't want to kitty wrestle and wishes that Kenji would limit his wrestling to his brother Ryker.

                                                   Keiko likes to sit on the table.
                                                   She grins because she's the only cat able
                                                          To sit there with no fear
                                                          Because Mom makes it clear,
                                                   "I don't want kitties on my table!"