Celebrating August with Good Friends (Created by Ann at Zoolatry!)

 

Hi furiends!!!!! It's Levi and Roary and we are proud to be helping to celebrate the month of August with Ann and June over at the Zoolatry blog!!! It's so much fun seeing old friends and making new friends!!! Isn't this photo that Ann made just the BEST???

Notice the football players in the background?

You can read the most PAWTASTIC  story Ann made up about this darling photo over at her blog!!! (click above on HER BLOG  above to read it!!) WE LOVE IT! THANK YOU ANN! IT'S AMAZING!!

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2024

 

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:

Deb Barnes founded Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day (RBRD) in 2015 as a special day for pet guardians to honor the memory of those beloved pets in their life they have loved and lost, but never forgotten – whether fur, fin, feathers, scales or something else. It’s held every year on August 28, in honor of the day Deb had to say goodbye to her  precious Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, the meow author of Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond.  

My "Baby Bobo"

The first to make his way over the Bridge was my precious Angel Bobo. I had found Bobo late in 1989 during a blizzard in Ohio. He was approximately 6 months old at the time. I was blessed to have him in my life for 18 years. Bobo was truly MY cat. He hated other cats, wasn't a fan of dogs (except for one Sheltie who lived near us in Ohio, that Sheltie was named Kelly and they used to eat grass together when Bobo would go outside on his leash.).

 Bobo was the first kitty I had ever share my life. We had a bond that I thought would never ever be as intense as it was, until:

My Cody

 

My Cody, My Codester, my precious love bug, my cuddle bug, my shadow, my heart, my soul. My "Velcro kitty". When Cody was adopted July of 2007 (two weeks after my Bobo passed), I never, ever thought that I would have a bond like that again. My Cody, the day I adopted him he crawled up my chest at Petco and wouldn't let go. From that day on until his tragic, unexpected death in 2020, he DID NOT LET GO. My chicken loving, catnip loving, Sheltie-loving cuddle bug only wanted to be loved from the moment we laid eyes on each other.

Cody was the reason that this blog began. He was my "co-pilot", my sidekick. Our blog started October of 2009 and to honor his memory, while the name of the blog has changed, the link never, ever will.

Cody gave me more happiness, love and yes, heartbreak than I could ever imagine. My precious boy, I miss you beyond words.

I used to love when Cody played with certain toys from kittenhood on, he would do a somersault while he played. It was the cutest ever. Cody was a "people cat". Anyone who entered our home, in his mind, was his friend.

He spent every single night on the armrest of the couch next to me while I watched TV. To this day, that armrest remains empty. 

When he wasn't sitting with, or following me, or playing with his brother, Cody loved nothing more than to spend time in his cherished cat tree.

I will be forever grateful for Cody's cat tree as well as his custom-made urn, where Cody is at rest. He gets to spend eternity in his favorite spot in the world, his cat tree.

My Dakota, My First Sheltie

Believe it or not, when Dakota joined our family in October of 2007, while I loved him, it took us a few years for us to truly form the deep bond that we had.

Daddy was the one who used to take Dakota to the Vet and to grooming, so he bonded with him earlier than I did. While I was CRAZY about Dakota, our bond deep bond began probably when he was about two years old. From that time on, Dakota and I were deeply bonded. So much so that he had an uncanny sense of understanding my emotions, coming to me to give me kisses when I would cry. He was my cooking buddy; he would watch me like a hawk from the babygate whenever I would cook, and I would tell him everything I was doing.

Dakota was stoic, funny, barky, quirky, handsome, loving, loyal and all I could have hoped for from my first Sheltie. Dakota was the fulfillment of a lifetime dream of being a mom to a Sheltie. I couldn't have asked for a better dog.

He adored his Daddy and his Mama, popcorn, apples, chicken, hamburgers and his beloved red, white and blue ball. 

He didn't like other dogs, wasn't a fan of that many people, but he was fiercely loyal to his Daddy, Mama and to his brother, Cody. Dakota loved with everything he had, even in his last moments. I am grateful for each and every moment I had with this special boy and miss him terribly.

Dakota and Cody adored each other. Many who wrote me notes of comfort when they passed, a mere 9 days apart, felt that the two of them planned on leaving together.  I'm not surprised. When Cody passed first, Dakota was lost. He kept looking for Cody everywhere, it was the most heartbreaking thing to witness. Dakota had already been diagnosed with cancer (Hemangiosarcoma), and when Cody left us, it was as if Dakota lost his will to live. He wanted to be with his Daddy and Mama but missed his brother terribly.

The photo below was the last photo of the boys taken together; it was taken extremely close to when they passed. I am grateful that I have it. Cody and Dakota brought his Daddy and Mama more joy and silly, loving moments than we ever could have imagined.

This is the sweatshirt that was on the floor of the closet

where Cody ultimately passed.

He chose to lay next to it.

This sweatshirt had been missing for years.

Until Cody passed away on it.

"Coincidence? I think not."

To each and every one of you who have lost beloved babies,

please remember:

"We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun"--John Lennon

Thank you, my precious pets, for your unconditional love, for the happy times and memories that will live with me forever. Thank you, my beloved Cody, for this blog and all that I experienced because you were the first to make it possible. Love forever to all of you, always, your Mama.

I didn't intend for this post to be quite this long, and I thank you for taking the time to read it. I also would like to thank Deb Barnes for creating this wonderful event. I send my love to each and every one of you and look forward to reading your stories and seeing your photos of those "who came before." May we all derive some comfort from these posts.

National Dog Day and Long Overdue Playdate Photos!

 Hi everyone! Today is National Dog Day and Levi and I would like to take this time to wish all of our doggy friends a super happy day!!! (We wish the kitties a happy day too since every day is THEIR day lol)

Back at the end of June I had the pleasure of meeting a long time blogging friend in person, as well as her darling dog Penny!!!!! The lovely woman I met is Dawn King and I will link to her blog below!

Levi, and Dawn's beautiful Sheltie, Penny, had a play date back at the end of June. Both were hesitant at first (cause that's how Shelties roll), but soon adorable Penny and her mischievous ways got Levi to have some fun! Nearly all of the playdate photos were taken by Dawn who is a MUCH better photographer than I am!

The two photos on the bottom right of the collage above are not from that day.
The bottom collage has more playdate photos

(on the bottom right photo Levi is on the left, Penny is on the right)

Dawn did a MUCH more thorough (and adorable) blog post about this fun get-together on her blog and you can read that here! (There are more photos there as well!)

Enjoy!!

Cat Book Feature: The Little Book Of Extraordinary Cats (Compiled by Anita Kelsey)

 "The Little Book of Extraordinary Cats" (Compiled by Anita Kelsey), pays homage to Anita's cat Zara, who passed at the age of 15. She had a rare form of cancer, a leg amputation and other medical issues that popped up. Zara was dearly loved. All 15 stories in this book represent the 15 wonderful years of Zara's life.

"Discover the captivating world of fabulous felines in The Little Book Of Extraordinary Cats. Join Anita Kelsey on a journey through fifteen remarkable tales celebrating the courage, resilience and affection of our beloved feline companions,

 from pioneering space traveller Félicette to therapy cat London Meow.  The book features colour photos of all cats.

 Whether you’re a cat lover or seeking heart-warming stories of human-animal connections, this book is a must-read.

 The collection in this book was put together by UK behaviourist Anita Kelsey, who runs a vet-referred behaviour practice for cats. This is Anita’s third book - her other books are Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer published by John Blake and Let’s talk About Cats which was self published."

 MY THOUGHTS:

While I enjoyed this book, many of the stories and the cats featured I was quite familiar with. Run-of-the-mill cat lovers might not be, but seasoned cat parents (as many of you are), might have heard of many of these extraordinary cats from the news, Animal Planet, etc. While I enjoyed the book, I would have preferred reading at least a few stories submitted by random people or even Anita herself. 

My favorite stories in this book are:

Dusty: The One Who Stole From Neighbors (Chapter 2)

Casper: The One Who Loved Buses (Chapter 4)

Stubbs: The One Who Became Honorary Mayor (Chapter 7)

Oliver: The One Who Enchanted a Whole Town (Chapter 9)

While those were my favorites, there are eleven other stories as well as many, many honorable mentions of other cats which I am confident most cat lovers would greatly enjoy.

.

Release date: 2^nd June 2024 via Amazon worldwide

Format; Kindle / paperback and hardback

Publisher: Self published – KiZa publishing

Social media links:

Insta https://www.instagram.com/cat_behaviourist/

X - https://twitter.com/catbehaviourist

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/catbehaviourist/

Linked in - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-kelsey-cat-behaviourist-27320016/

FTC Disclosure: I received no compensation for featuring this book. I received a copy of the book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

 

Our Sweet Dakota Left Us Four Years Ago Today

 My first ever Sheltie, Dakota, my sweet boy passed on July 9, 2020 (9 days after Cody), after having been diagnosed with Hemagiosarcoma (a tumor on his heart) a mere month before. He was 13 (as was Cody).

It is an awful disease that has taken many beloved dogs of friends and family members. We were blessed to have Dakota with us for a month after he was diagnosed, many I know weren't that lucky. 

To think I thought Dakota was crazy when he was young! Little did I know what would be in store for me with Levi.

Dakota was sweet, stoic at the Vet, he HATED other dogs, was devoted to his "pack" at home, but wasn't much of a fan of humans that he didn't know. He never would have enjoyed going to daycare or boarding like Levi does.

He was a great brother to Cody. They truly loved each other.

He hated taking walks, wasn't thrilled with the car (he would sit on the floor). Didn't like to sleep in his bed, he preferred sleeping on the floor. If I stirred eggs he would bark. If I used spray butter he would bark. He was the quirkiest dog ever!

He LOVED his precious Greenies, popcorn, red peppers (not hot ones!), apples, carrots and the doggy meatloaf/meatballs/hamburgers I would make for him.

He also ADORED HIS DADDY!

Dakota was extremely bonded with Lenny when he was young, as time went on, he and I became extremely close. He had a sixth sense of knowing just when I needed extra loving.

He was the first dog I had as an adult and was the fulfillment of a childhood dream of having a Sheltie. He was special in so many ways.

He loved running and playing fetch when he was young.

He adored his red, white and blue Dollar store ball that we have safely tucked away in a trunk. That dog had sooo many toys and that disgusting worn out plush ball was his absolute favorite. 

The 13 years he was with us went by in the blink of an eye. I am grateful for the many collages I have on the living room wall of both Cody and Dakota, this way I can still see them both every day.

Dakota you were such a good and special boy. Daddy and I think of you, love you and miss you every single day. 

About a minute after Dakota left us, I noticed a yellow butterfly that flew right into our patio doors, I am certain that was our sweet Dakota letting us know he would always be there.

 I had always loved the name "Dakota" and when I was selecting a name for him I had looked up the meaning. In American Indian the name "Dakota" meant "trusted friend." He completely lived up to his name and more. 

Thank you, Dakota, for sharing your life and love with Daddy, Cody and I. You were the PERFECT first Sheltie.

Much Love Always,

Mom

Dog/Pet Book Feature: Peace, Love, Paws; A Memoir By Elizabeth Parker

 

I have had the pleasure of reading a number of books by Elizabeth Parker. Sadly, ALL of those books were featured on Dakota's blog which no longer exists. You can find information about the MANY books Elizabeth has written by clicking here.

In honor of the fourth anniversary of our beloved Dakota's passing, (July 9th, 2020), when Elizabeth approached me about reading Peace, Love, Paws: A Memoir, I thought featuring it by the anniversary  of his crossing the bridge would be a wonderful way to honor him.

From Elizabeth Parker:

"Grieving a pet is just like grieving a person, except there's no ceremony celebrating their life. That doesn't mean you can't celebrate their life on your own or with loved ones.
Pets are a part of the family. And sometimes the pain of loss is overbearing. You have been their caregiver and they have been a loyal companion. Chances are you had a daily routine involving your pet, and now that routine has disappeared. At times, it's heartbreaking. But there will be a point when you can look back and smile, grateful that you had experienced the precious moments with your pet.
Peace, Love, Paws chronicles my time with Lola. My furry soulmate who taught me so much about life and how to keep enough love in my heart for other pups who need a home."

While Peace, Love, Paws: A Memoir is a book written exclusively about dogs, it is a book that ALL pet lovers can relate to.

When an individual brings a pet into their family whether through adoption/rescue or yes, even acquiring their pet from a breeder, they are signing on to hopefully many, many years of  creating happy memories. Sadly, with good also comes bad. Life happens. When one loves they also are setting themselves up for great hurt which is sadly what we all experience when we lose a pet. Sometimes the loss happens after many, many years together, sometimes, as unfair as it is to experience, the loss can happen in months, or just a short number of years.

"The heart loves in many ways :people, places, creatures of all kinds. The soul knows when it meets its mate. That kind of meeting is never forgotten or taken for granted."

When author Elizabeth Parker adopted her "heart dog" Lola, while she experienced more love with Lola than she could ever have hoped for, it all ended much too soon. This book shares her two years spent with Lola. It also conveys "who Lola was, what she could have been, and all she could have done."

QUOTES THAT RESONATED WITH ME:

"They never truly leave us. The memories are tattooed in our minds and our hearts."

"You don't realize just how much your dog is smiling until they are no longer smiling."

"Grief is not a one size fits all emotion. It's more than ok to grieve a pet in whatever way you see fit., and there's no time limit. However you deem appropriate to mourn them, is what you must do. What works for one person might not work for another."

"Time doesn't wait for us. If you have a pet, love it with all of your heart. Where there are paws, there is always peace and love."

Peace, Love, Paws: A Memoir by Elizabeth Parker is a worthwhile read for all who have ever given their heart and soul to their pet. To get your paws on a copy, see below:

TO PURCHASE VISIT:

www.elizabeth-parker.com

FTC Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for featuring this book. I received a copy to read and feature on the blog.

Happy Independence Day!

 Have a happy and safe 4th!!!!

Cat Book: Purrseverance (Inspiring Stories of Cat Resilience and Hope) Compiled by Sierra M. Koester

 

Since my beloved Cody passed on June 30th, 2020 as many of you know, my time blogging has been greatly limited. When Cody left, any desire to blog that I had left (to be frank, it was waning before he passed and his passing, as well as precious Dakota's nine days later, pretty much sealed the deal).

Eventually I returned, albeit sporadically. I also vowed to no longer do ANY book reviews. Why? Because many of them were just too painful for me to read. (Being candid, they STILL are.)

Back in April or May I was contacted by Sierra Koester, the writer who compiled the above book "Purrseverance" (Inspiring Stories of Cat Resilience and Hope). For those of you who may not be familiar with Sierra, she is "an award-winning freelance writer and professional blogger. Sierra is a Professional Member of the Cat Writer's Association and the Content Manager at The Cat Blogosphere, a place for all pets and pet bloggers. She also writes Fur Everywhere, an educational and entertaining blog about cats."

I'm not going to lie. I sat on this book for the LONGEST time because while it is now 4 years since Cody is gone, the pain is still raw. After enough guilt passed for not opening the book, I decided to finally read it.

I am glad that I did.

It was Sierra's own cat Jewel that was the inspiration behind this compilation. Jewel came to live with Sierra at the ripe old age of 14 after having lived a challenging life. Sierra penned, "it wasn't until I met Jewel that I understood just how remarkably resilient our feline friends can be. Jewel's persistence and resiliency served as the inspiration for this anthology that features other cats who have overcome life's struggles".

A few of my favorite stories in this book are:

My Name is Not Scooter-written by Lorianne Miller about her tripod kitty Evan. Lorianne writes the blog fourleggedfurballs.blogspot.com

Lazarus Cat-written by Sierra M. Koester about  her precious cat Lita

Wren: "A Caged Kitty Can't Purr" written by Julia Williams. This one resonated with me because when I first adopted Cody, he didn't have the fur color that I preferred. I also remember following Julia on social media when she first adopted Wren and was trying to come up with a name for her. 

Brian is Home-written by Terry Frum (who in the Cat Blogosphere is so well known he technically needs no introduction.) Terry doesn't just "talk the talk" he "walks the walk", rescuing a multitude of cats and tending to ferals for YEARS. Terry's beloved Brian, an endearing, wise, gentle and loving tabby boy won my heart many years ago when I first began blogging. Terry and his wife are two of the most dedicated pet parents I've ever known. Not just for their own pets, but Terry has been there for myself and countless others when we just needed an ear to offer support or anything else they may need.  Brian, had many of the same qualities as Terry. He believed "if you're kind, then everyone gets along and we can overcome adversity together." You can find Terry's blog Brian's Home at brianshomeblog.com and you can also find Terry on the Cat Blogopshere: blog.catblogosphere.com.

Carmine Fulfills His Purpose-written by Sierra M. Koester about her beloved kitty Carmine.

AND MANY, MANY MORE!

It is Sierra's hope that the stories in this book inspire you the way they inspired her (AND ME!!!). Sierra reminds us that "sometimes even seemingly hopeless situations can turn around. Our feline friends have so much to wisdom to offer. The next time you are facing a difficult challenge, she hopes you'll choose to follow these cats' example to "NEVER GIVE UP!"

TO PURCHASE :

BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/purrseverance&b=p_fr-ve-bl

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Purrseverance-Inspiring-Stories-Resilience-Hope/dp/B0CVRXJ6K1/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707969034&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/purrseverance-sierra-koester/1144891890?ean=9798350932331

In Full Disclosure: I received no compensation for this book feature. I received a copy of Purrseverance in exchange for my featuring it on my blog.

Remembering My Cody

 My precious Cody, (Codester, Codalicious, Jelly Belly), my precious boy. You left us four years ago today. A life ended much too soon.

 I miss your quirky mouth and oh so handsome face. I miss holding you, cuddling you

While life may have changed since you left us precious Cody, one thing is constant. My love for you is as deep (even deeper), than it ever was. I will never, ever stop loving you and I will never, ever stop missing you.

You can rest assured that you still have my heart, and you always will.

Love, Mom

Belated Happy Father's Day, International Box Day, Juneteenth and Our Youngest Granddaughter's 4th Birthday!

 What a day of celebrations!!! 

It appears for the past two years I missed acknowledging our Dad and all of you special Dads out there (as well as father figures) on Father's Day (which was last Sunday). I have good reason (at least for this year!!) We were at the zoo celebrating anniversaries, father's day and a special birthday! Soooo...HAPPY BELATED FATHER'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU!! Here are some great photos of Levi and Roary and their pawesome Dad!

Today we also celebrate International Box Day with some previously seen photos of Roary, (sorry I haven't photographed him in a box in a while!)

graphic made by Ann at Zoolatry

Even Levi enjoys "boxes", while not traditional cardboard boxes, he LOVES standing on top of the "boxes" at Canine College! (Sorry about the blurry photo but it was taken when I was watching Levi on camera!)

Today we also commemorate freedom and equality for African Americans by celebrating "Juneteenth." May those who celebrate have a meaningful celebration!

Last and DEFINITELY not least, today we celebrate our youngest granddaughter who is turning FOUR!!! She is one of the sweetest and funniest little girls you will ever meet! So much to celebrate on June 19th!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Roary!!!

Roary is upset because the way I did the artwork by his face
 it looks like he is wearing lipstick!!

 Happy Birthday to our Little "Professor!!"

Roary is one of the sweetest cats you could ever hope to meet! He greets EVERYONE who enters our home (he is particularly fond of our next door neighbor Mary, who also has a kitty). When she comes over Roary walks up to her and meows every time!

Roary loves nothing more than having a good nap. His favorite places to nap are the cat tree and a bin that I have on a shelf in our second bedroom. Lately he enjoys napping on top of Levi's crate if I have the window open.

Unfortunately, since he is on a restricted diet due to the bladder stones he had last year, he can't have any sort of a treat or any human food. He probably is better off NOT having them!

Roary puts up with a lot from our high maintenance Sheltie, Levi, but he also is GREAT at knowing EXACTLY what to do to send Levi over the edge! (Staring at him from the other side of the baby gate is ALWAYS a good option!)

Another favorite thing of Roary's is when Levi is boarding at Canine College. Then, he will just sprawl out, relax and enjoy the silence (I have to say we often enjoy it too!)

Roary is good with our granddaughters as long as they aren't too rough with him, and if they don't chase him, but he always is happy to see them leave.

Roary wakes me up every morning without fail. He will come into bed and gently touch my face and give me a soft meow, I look forward to it every single morning!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR "ROARY BOY!!"

You mean the world to us, even more than you know!

You bring us calm when we are on edge from Mr. Attention Hog Levi!

In honor of your birthday, Dad and I are taking Levi to the V-E-T for a nice big shot !!! You get to have some peace and quiet AND a good laugh about your brother having a shot (hopefully in the butt!)

Looking forward to cuddling with you later!

Much love,

Mom, Dad and Levi

Honor Our Heroes This Memorial Day Weekend

 

 

Mother's Day 2024