Eventful last few weeks.........

First of all I'm sorry that I've been so remiss in posting to either of blogs. My husband was gone for almost a month caring for his aging mom. There are so many everyday things he assists me with because of my DJD, yep, I didn't mean to but I took it for granted. My will is self sufficient, but my body is not. I am so glad that he (my very best friend and love) is back home.

After he got home our missing 15 yr old cat came home after being gone on and off for weeks. When he did show up he wouldn't let me touch him. He was very attached to my husband. Pumpkin is his name and I will post a picture of him for you before he became ill. Anyway, Wednesday of last week, he came home out of nowhere a bag of bones and limping. Couldn't keep water down. I remembered this from last year when he had pneumonia but rallied after fluids and antibiotics. This time was different and we knew it. He had come home to say goodbye. Our beloved friend who was more like a dog than a cat. A man's cat who liked to be stroked 'rough' and patted 'hard', who had endured many moves and other cat's that we had adopted and who up until Spring still chased his own tail.

My husband never was a cat person he thought that he hated cats. He grew up in Patterson, NJ in the fifties and sixties. Have you heard the term 'alley cat'? Well, they're mean, feral. They yowl and attack. Those were the only ones that he had ever been exposed to. His was a dog family. And he a dog person.

Pumpkin, our beautiful dilute orange tabby adopted us back in 1994 around Halloween time. He just showed up one day and never left. Super friendly, the world's loudest and most fervent purr. He was already grown then, so 15 is just a guess. Our family immediately fell in love with this boy kitty, who grew to be a grand old man. Everywhere we went outside Pumpkin would follow. He loved when Malcolm would putter in his workshop or I would garden or we would walk at night, he'd be there with us. He would yowl loudly when he had something 'special' for us....a gecko, a bird, a vole, rabbit or mole. He was an avid hunter and hated being indoors unless it was in the teens outside.

We decided to not be selfish. We had already been given the gift of one more year. He let my husband pick him up and pet him and bring him in the house. Again, taking no food or water and just being under the roll top desk. We called our vet who said come right away. Our family was treated so kindly by Quartz Hill Veterinary Clinic. Our boy with dignity and compassion. We cried like babies for an hour or more and then more when we got home. and indeed the tears are coming as I write this.

Pummy's suffering is over. The guilt of not being able to 'catch' him and nurse him back to health one more time before Malcolm came home is something I am going to wrestle with for awhile. I was starting to feel a bit better and more forgiving of myself when a 'sympathy' card with a packet of forget me nots and our Pumpkin's paw print on a poem came in the mail. It was signed by all on duty that day at the vets. How thoughtful of them. It hurt all over again. Rest in peace dear friend. You will ALWAYS be in our hearts, you grand, grand old man!

My little girl cat, Fancy, is adjusting. He taught her how to go outside and play. I don't know what her life was like before I rescued her from the pound, but she was afraid of everything, the wind, footsteps you name it. 3 years later and under Pummy's tutelage, she has become a braver girl who goes out a night to catch crickets and moths. She also gave him a second lease on life and a run for his money. He was VERY resistant to her and took better than a year to really accept her. In the end they were family and true friends.

She was so sad for awhile that she chewed her front legs bloody and had to be put in an Elizabethan collar. This occurred during the weeks that he would not come near. On the day he came home, he let her kiss him just for a few seconds. She is more at peace now and has stopped 'looking' for him.

Here she is after her yearly haircut. Thank God I found a groomer who didn't make her look like a freak with a lion's mane or clown collar and a froo froo tail. UCK!

Fancy helps me pick out swirly goodness to place on the walls and in my shop. She is shop steward now. We get along well, we both have good taste. Here she is pre haircut and giving her approval on some convex glass and brass ornate framed prints.

I want to say a huge thank you to my friend Cathy who has given me an honor by giving me a place among 5 other fantastic and fun blog writers. All women. Thank you Cathy from the bottom of my heart you made me very happy by giving me an award 5 blogs I have to read everyday.

Cathy is an enthusiastic and gifted blogger. I will now get technical (hah) and link to her blog.
Here goes: http://cateslinens.blogspot.com . Cathy is the prima Apronista, a gold prospector along with her hubby Jack and as I learned today a great conservationist! I send you love and admiration. Truly blessed to be this lady's friend.

As far as my shop goes, I am on vacation until the 7th. Stop by the shop anyway because there's a 25% off sale going on through midnight July 4th. I'll be shipping as soon as 'vacation' is over, and am available via convo at my etsy shop, The Desert Rose.

Til Soon,
HighDesertRose