Here We Go Again!

You're not going to believe this!!!

For 13 years, we Lilypadders rolled with at least four (4) cats.  Sometimes more.

We began with Jobie and Rosie, essentially.  They were the Chick's cats before we met.  We added Ernie and Scottie to that mix pretty quickly.  Many years passed before we added Miss Emmie, but once she showed up in the yard with her irresistible seafoam green peepers,  there were five.

Five.  That was a lot.  Sometimes, it felt like a zoo, but other times, we hardly noticed unless it was time for them to strap on their feedbags, as it were.

Then Miss Zoe popped in (She really deserves Her own sentence, yes?)

Ernie packed up for Sparkle Pond about 5 years ago, leaving us with four cats again.  Then Jobie left and we were down to three, but not for long before Lilly came.  Then Toby.

Next, Blueberry came to stay.  (Same as above-- Rabbits need Their Own Sentences!!)

Then a couple of months ago Rosie moved on to Sparkle Pond and last week, Scottie.

We have a lot of turnover!

And, then, there were three.  Plus two Rabbits.

The Chick hates odd numbers.  But we quickly adjusted to just the three.  Things were Calm.  Things seemed a lot less like a zoo and a lot more like, well....a house with a few Animals.

But then, Sunday morning, the Chick said to me, "So, I have to tell you.  I looked at (our friend) Eileen's website for Orphan Angels and I think there's a cat there who needs us."  As it turned out, she had looked at the Orphan Angels' site a few weeks ago before Scottie got so ill, and then forgot all about it when he started doing so poorly.  The rest of us in the Lilypad didn't know that the Chick had already chosen our next cat.
  
(A side note:  that last sentence was foreshadowing...)

But on Sunday morning, she remembered.  And she couldn't stop thinking about this cat.

She texted Friend Eileen who agreed to meet us at noon on Sunday at Orphan Angels, which is her Awesomely Amazing free range Cat Store.  There are two Giant Rabbits there as well, but since it's mostly cats, we call it a cat store.  Anyhow, it is a wonderful place.  We were both excited and nervous to meet this new cat, whose current name was "Ditto."

We already had a new name picked in honor of Scottie (as his real name was F. Scott Fitzgerald, we chose a name from The Great Gatsby) and also in honor of Rosie (we had Rosie, now Lilly, and the new name was also a flower-related name).

Daisy.

Though she was very shy, Daisy was immediately responsive to attention (who isn't, right?).  The second we walked into the room, she looked right at the Chick.  When I began to pet her, she purred and ran to her food dish to eat.  Both good signs.  We packed her up and brought her home.

And that was that.

INTRODUCING.... DAISY!!!!

She is settling in nicely.  

More to come on Daisy later in the week.  We'll see how she feels about Flip Friday.....

Miss Zoe: Killer Bunny!

These days, the Lilypad is a place of contrasts.

What I mean is this: We just lost one of our best friends, Miss Rosie, so we are in the process of grieving.

But at the same time, a lot of excitement is happening with the Chick's Yogadance, my art and writing, and the usual Fun Things that happen here every day. It can get a little confusing, the mood swings from feeling good to feeling not so good to feeling good again.

I know this is normal. It can be hard to move on and feel good about enjoying life when you are also feeling sad. You wonder, "How can I be happy without this thing in my life that/who I loved so much?"

The Chick emailed me at work yesterday. She was having a hard time feeling like writing, let alone writing something of any substance. She was feeling sad. So, I suggested posting something silly or something healing or some pictures of something that were somehow helpful. That's what she did.

I'm going to take my own advice today. I'm going to post something that makes me laugh.

It will either make you laugh or it will scare you. I'm not sure which. I thought I'd say that to prepare you.

If you've seen this, it might scare you:


OK, so now are you ready to run away?

Presenting, Miss Zoe: KILLER BUNNY!!!!

What? It's just a harmless little bunny!!!

RABBIT TEETH!!!! (detail)

NOW, you'd better run!!!!

Just don't run too far. Rabbit movies will be here on Friday.

Miss Rosie is Still the Boss of Me

Rosie and me.

It was a strange weekend.

For the last month and half, we've been pretty focused on Rosie-- does she need a snack? Is she coughing? Should we get her up and make her walk around a little? Does she need something?

It was hard for us to let her rest. We wanted to squeeze out every possible moment with her that we could. We wanted to do all we could for her and meet her every need, but we also didn't want to miss any time with her.

Each day with her felt precious.

And now, with her gone, I find myself looking in her sleeping spots and simply missing her. Her sweet gray fur suit was in my sight everyday for the last 15 years.

It's just hard to let that go.

But, we're doing our best. We are doing so much better with Rosie.

Ernie was unexpected. Completely.

Jobie was not unexpected, but when he went to Sparkle Pond after so many months of sickness and discomfort, we were lost. When he was gone, it was like our day had no structure left. Each and every day had become about taking care of him. Each day was comprised of the struggle to feed him and to make him as comfortable as we possibly could.

With Rosie, it was as though she gave us a gift. No long, agonizing decline. She was very efficient. And no vet. She made the decision to leave this earth on her own terms.

We are so thankful for that.

On the morning of her death, Rosie meowed at me. I hadn't heard her use her voice in many weeks.

On the morning of her death, Rosie came out to the kitchen for breakfast and tried to climb up on her little red stool. She'd not done that in many weeks, either.

You've seen this before, but it's sooooo cute!!!

All these things were gifts. And if there's anything I want to remember about Rosie, it is this: That She Was a Gift.

That each day with her, each day on this earth, each day we meow and try to get on our stool, these are gifts.

My tribute to Rosie is to live. To live as fully as I can, doing the things I enjoy, and to love the things around me that are a part of my life, both in the Lilypad and out.

This is a reminder to you to LIVE YOUR LIFE.

Or, Rosie's going to kick your butt.

And, she's serious.

It may look like a yawn, but.. LOOK OUT!!!

(Not a) Flip Friday

Last night, our Beloved Rosie the Cat packed up and moved to Sparkle Pond.

We are excited for her in her travels. We know she has already met up with Jobie, who was her best friend for so many years, and who she has been missing for the past couple of years since he went to Sparkle Pond.

She's also met up with Ernie cat, but as she wasn't that fond of him here in the Lilypad, chances are, that reunion will just be more of a head nod and an "Oh, it's you."

We both had a feeling about Rosie yesterday. For days, she seemed to be doing so much better, and then suddenly, her breathing was difficult and she just seemed different, like something had shifted.

She died very peacefully, though, tucked up in her favorite blanket hideaway upstairs. We were there with her, petting her and talking to her. It was perfect. She just slipped away.

We should all be that lucky.

Rest in peace Sweet Rosie Cat.
We'll miss you so much.
We were so fortunate to know you and to be a part of your life.
We love you!

Animals So Cute You Could Just Vomit

As I was thinking through what to write about for today (I actually did have a few ideas that Zoe didn't care for), I began to scroll through the pictures in my iPhoto, and it suddenly and with great urgency became quite clear to me what I had to write about today:

ANIMALS SO CUTE YOU COULD JUST VOMIT!!!

There are so many cute Animal pictures on my computer, it seems a shame not to share them. Or re-share them. That's a little like re-gifting, I guess.

First, we have some butt shots (look away, please, if you are easily offended):

NOT FAT!!! Fluffy!

A Derriere! Hmmm...a little rude, but wait

Oops, wrong one!

There we go. A little modesty, Rabbit! Please!!

OK, never mind. That's just cute.

The Business End of Miss Lilly

OK, please don't ask what Miss Emmie's
butt is doing in this picture.
It's... complicated.

Now, some full on head shots:

Rosie the Cat is bored and annoyed with you. Please walk away slowly.

But, Toby wants to PLAY!!!!

Scottie hams it up.

Again, please don't ask about Miss Emmie.
Complicated, remember?

Wait! How'd they get in there? HALF!!!

Let's hone in on LIPS for a moment:

I mean, WOW!!!!

And, now, FEET:

SO many feet and hands!
Can you count them all?

Finally, things just so cute, you'd better get the bucket. NOW!!!!




Oh, and one more thing: A Rabbit to cleanse your palette:

"After all those CATS,
you need to cleanse your palette.
Believe you me!"

Well, there you have it!

What's so cute in YOUR life that you could just vomit?

(Disclaimer: the Chick here...HELLO!?!?! I no longer have those braces and my white hairs are covered and well...I do NOT hang out with that SHEEP!)

(Pay no attention to that disclaimer. She SOOOO hangs out with that sheep.)

Ring Around Miss Rosie

Zoe and I had about three other things to write about today.

Then, life took a different turn, and since I'm somewhat single-minded about this subject and since I am thankful for the outcome, we thought we'd share that instead.

Do you recall last week, when we mentioned that Miss Emmie and Miss Rosie seemed to have colds? Just like little kids, they were coughing and sneezing and had little runny noses. (I even found myself at one point with a tissue pressed to Miss Emmie's nose yelling, "Blow!" like I used to do to my niece when she was little. You know-- in that awkward stage before kids learn to blow out, but their nose is so obviously running!)

Miss Emmie got better. They both seemed to get better. But then, Miss Rosie seemed to not be getting better. She went up and down, like she couldn't decide.

Rosie is 18 years old. According to a cat age calculator, this makes Rosie about the equivalent of a 90 year old human. She has been exhibiting subtle changes in her activity level and in her eating over the last couple of years. But frankly, we thought she was just "slowing down."

Our sweet Jobie, who left for Sparkle Pond two years ago this month was Rosie's best friend. We thought she missed him and was maybe getting ready to make her own trip to Sparkle Pond.

We were trying to be OK with that. We even talked to her about it.

Back and forth we went about taking her to the vet. She hates going to the vet. As a kitten, she used to foam at the mouth and growl like a crazy possessed thing when taken to the doctor. We didn't want to stress her with a trip for what we thought was "normal aging."

But then, yesterday, the Chick called me at work and explained to me some of Rosie's new symptoms. None of them seemed to match up with anything specific. We had thought maybe she had heart problems, but that wasn't quite right. If she had a respiratory infection, that would have other symptoms, too, and should have gotten all the cats sick.

Anyhow, we ended up taking her to the vet last night. They understood our low stress wish and only took blood for two tests: one to check her kidneys, and one to check her thyroid. Right away, they told us her heart sounded perfect and her lungs sounded clear. (Whew!) About an hour after we got home, they called to say her kidneys are also perfect!! (WHEW!!)

We are still waiting on the thyroid test, but it could be that whatever is wrong with Miss Rosie is easily fixed by some medication. She could have years left!!

Now, of course, we now why she was giving us that look when we would talk about Sparkle Pond!! She was like, "Hello??? I'm RIGHT HERE!!!"

Poor Rosie. Humans aren't very smart, as Zoe can attest to.

Anyhow, we'll keep you posted. But for now, it looks like Rosie's not interested in Sparkle Pond at all.

"She might be interested in kicking your butts, though."

Thanks, Zoe. We'll keep that in mind.

Back to the Dreams

This is the last post Zoe and I will ever do in 2009.

We'll try to make it good.

This particular dream that I'll tell you about today is extra timely due to the circumstances currently happening in the Pad.

You see, over the last few weeks, our little Rosie the Cat (pictured below on her Red Stool) has been feeling a bit under the weather. A little bit of a sniffly nose. A tiny bit of a cough.

Sweet, Gray Rosie

And in the week, this has passed onto our sweet Miss Emmie (a.k.a. "The Lamb") as well. Same thing-- sniffly nose, sneezing, a bit of a cough.

Apparently, they somehow caught a cold.

(Both of them are feeling much better at this point, by the way. And The Chick has assured me that Zoe will not catch the cold. Interspecies blah blah blah. No worries.)

The point of telling you about the cat cold is to say that "the Whites" (being comprised of the White Cats, Miss Emmie, and Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald) normally sleep in the basement.

"The Whites"

"Why do they have to sleep in the basement?" you may ask. "How is that fair, when the rest of the Animals, including a certain RABBIT have the run of the house all night long?" (Actually, I'm sure you wouldn't dis the Rabbit in such a way, so maybe that went a little far. Sorry. I take it back.) But you may still ask why the Whites sleep in the basement, mightn't you?

And I might say this: Because when they sleep upstairs, THEY KEEP EVERYONE AWAKE!!!

It's true. They used to sleep upstairs, and for many years, we simply never slept. At least, not through the night. We slept in fits and spurts only, and we adjusted to that. Eventually, we figured out that we could make the Whites a Lair in the basement, and since that revelation they have scored their own bedroom.

Pre-revelation, however, on a morning after a a night of not-sleep, when I was completely delirious and in and out of that weird dream state, I had a dream.

This the dream I want to discuss today.

In this dream-- which I had after a night of being kept awake by the melodious singing of our Dear Scottie Cat-- in this dream, I concocted the best idea I have EVER HAD!!! At least that's how it felt at the time. You know what I mean, right?

My idea? I'll tell you.

My idea was that I would write a letter to Scottie the Cat, and in this letter I would ask him to simply refrain from meowing until a decent hour of the morning, like, say, 7 AM.

I wouldn't ask for much, I thought. It will be a simple letter. One he will read quickly and understand thoroughly.

It was PERFECT!!!

Of course later on, when I woke up, I realized that Scottie, well, he can't exactly read.

Sigh.

Well, it seemed like a good idea.

"Can we PLEASE stop talking about cats??
I'm bored!!"

Have you ever gotten the BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD from a dream???

If so, let's hear it!!

A Second Dreamless Wednesday

"Dreamless?? Again?? What the...???"

Last Wednesday, even though I was smack in the middle of telling about my top ten favorite dreams, I decided to take a break and talk about something else. I can't even remember what it was. Hmmm.... guess I'll have to look.

This week, the plan was to get back to the dreamscape, but, you know, it's practically Christmas Eve, so it seems like I should offer up something a little better.

Something a little more in the holiday spirit, if you will.

Even if you won't.

So, on this Wednesday, I offer a different kind of dream. A Holiday kind of dream. A dream that is a noun and not a verb.

Now, maybe this isn't your Dream. I imagine that everyone has a different Dream to offer up. It's what makes us unique and important in that individual way.

But this is my Dream. Well, part of it.

Animals. Dressed up.

My gift to you, this holiday season.

Dream A Fifth Dream

CUTE!!

It is already Wednesday. I will make it through this crazy Chickless week!! I WILL!!

This isn't easy.

I realized partway through the day on Tuesday that I am just never ever alone. When I am at work, I am surrounded by people from the moment I get there until the moment I go home. When I am at home, the Chick is always there. She entertains me! Constantly!

My life is about constant entertainment.

I mean, look! How entertaining is this??

It seems like having some alone time would be exciting-- even thrilling for me. And in many respects, that is true. But you see, I have this idea in my head: I have time ALONE! I should be writing! I should be painting! I should be buckling down and working!! And then, I end up being distracted and walking around looking at the sleeping cats and bunny who are all ignoring me.

But then, I guess, there is also a lot of merit to the idea of balance, yes?

OK, you're right. (Did you even know you were in this conversation? Well, you are.)

Thanks for your help. (See-- you are even helpful!)

On to the dream, then.

"Please! I would like to get to my nap...SOMEDAY!!"

This week's dream involves that state you get to right before you fall asleep. That sort of awake- sort of asleep place where anything can happen.

It also involves...well.. you'll see.

When I was little, we had chickens in our yard. They lived in the cutest yellow chicken coop. I loved those chickens!!!! My sister always tells me that I loved the chickens so much because I didn't have to clean up after them (which apparently became her job-- who knew?). I just got to go out to the coop and pet them and collect their warm, brown eggs.

I thought the chickens were positively dreamy!

Good times.

So the dream was about them. Actually, I wouldn't call it so much of a dream as a vision. Like the Cat in the Coffee Aisle, this dream consisted mainly of a visiony flashy sort of thing.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I saw a vision of the chickens. Beautiful chickens!

Out loud (in real life) I said "OH! THE CHICKENS!"

The Chick, who was sitting next to me reading, woke me up. "What about the chickens?" she asked.

But it was no use. There was no explanation. It was nothing about the chickens. It was simply, "Oh, the chickens!" They were just there. That was all.

"Nothing...." I answered and went back to sleep.

THE END.

Tune in next week, when the dream is about...

Well, I can't actually tell you. It would spoil everything!!