Do you ever get overwhelmed because there’s just too much and it’s all too good? That’s what happened to me this morning when I started to try and give you a photo-overview of what we’ve done and seen this month. Connecting with family and friends again has been wonderful. I looked at all the pictures I’ve taken and went “where do I start?” I can’t do it. There’s just too much! And it’s all too good! ♥
For one tiny example, I took this photo from our table at Spyglass Restaurant in Shell Beach the other night. We watched the sun drop into the sea, drinking wine with best friends at a table next to the ocean just like in one of my favorite movies, Shirley Valentine (“Shirley the brave, Shirley the marvelous”). I looked up at a tiny speck of a jet streaming overhead and didn’t feel a bit jealous of the view they must have had. We could smell our view, and feel its ocean breeze. ♥
Afterwards we walked down to the beach for a look back toward the shore . . . and watched the half-moon rise. It was a quiet night with the water lapping on the sand, and coastal lights reflecting off the waves; it felt like we were a million miles from anything.
And this was yesterday . . . from a restaurant in Pismo Beach, California, called Ventana Grill. This was the view from our table at lunch with my girlfriend Brenda. (If you come, try the ceviche; the sauce was limey, spicy, and delicious!)
While we were sitting there, with my camera all neatly tucked into my purse (instead of out and ready for anything), a whole flock of pelicans came winging right at us, straight towards our window, so close we could see their feathers. At the last moment they veered off to the left, and flew by the long row of windows that front the ocean. We were mesmerized. What camera? Brenda and I spent the rest of lunch waiting for it to happen again so I could show you. This was the best we could do:
Pelicans are huge seabirds, with long necks and big bills; pterodactyl-like from prehistoric times. But too small in the picture. Gorgeous in person though, you’ll have to come here and see them yourself (unless you have some of your own! But then, come here anyway! You’ll love it!). Hint: Keep the camera ON the table.
I have to show you Brenda’s Purse (she wouldn’t let me take a picture of her, so I can’t show you her darling hair! When she went to the bathroom, I was left with only one thing, and it was a good one, the purse):
That’s Brenda’s dog “Jack” on her purse; this was a gift for Brenda, made with an actual photo of her dog by Brenda’s friend, Karen. Isn’t it adorable? Look at the lining! And around Jack’s neck is a little silver dog charm! I checked out the process for putting photos on fabric and found this great youtube demo — in case you’re thinking what I’m thinking! You could put your kitty on your apron! Or anything! You could make a pocket out of a puppy!
That purse (and Jack) are perfect for Brenda who is madly in love with animals and volunteers in shelters and even wrote a cookbook for dogs. ♥ We talk about our animals in the exact same way we talk about our friends. She and her husband just came home from a stint volunteering at an animal shelter in Utah called Best Friends. She said coming home from this place made her happier than she’d ever felt, made me want to drive directly there. Because I really have to stop everything when I get home and find me a new kitty.
See this guy? Don’t you just want to pet that nose? Let me tell you, it’s like a bunny nose, soft and it wiggles in the most perfect way. I don’t have him anymore. I haven’t been able to write about him, because it was just too hard. I still look outside every morning thinking, “what if he comes back today?” I would LOVE that SOOO much! But he’s been gone for two years, and I don’t guess he’s coming back. His name was Mr. MoMo — Just Moe for those of us who knew him well, or Mo-meeto, or Moesome, or Mobie. ♥
He was a huge boy; at one time he was 24 lbs. See how he compared to Girl? Then my vet put him on a diet, which he wasn’t crazy about. A couple of years ago, we left him home with Girl Kitty and their kitty babysitter (who lived in the house while we were away; slept with them both every night) . . . and suddenly Moe was gone, missing without a trace, never to be seen again.
He wasn’t sick, he was only eight, thick and furry and sweet. There are a variety of unsavory reasons that this could have happened (we have lots of larger meaner critters that live around here), but I don’t like to think about them. I like to think that he was SO beautiful, he was just irresistible to some thieving (but in all other ways charming and honorable) child who took him home and loves him to pieces every night.
Anyway, I’ve had time to come to terms with it. I think we should get a new kitten when we get back to the island, a fun little person for the winter, a new baby in our household to spice up life, to walk sideways and make us laugh, to give Girl Kitty someone to boss around and teach her adult kitty wisdom to. ♥ Anyone in Massachussets looking for a home for a black and white baby kitten? Let me know! ♥
In four days we hop back on the train and trundle back across America, once again tucked into our room with a view; then onto the ferry boat for the longest 45 minute ride of my life — because on the other side Girl Kitty will be waiting. ♥ And even when she ignores us for punishment because we were gone so long, I won’t care, as long as I can get my hands on her!
This weekend is Judy’s Remnants of the Past Vintage Show where I’ll be signing books on Sunday. There will be lots of photo ops at this event — it’s all gorgeous vintage things, all happy girlfriends shopping, plus the weather’s supposed to be wonderful! We’ll miss you if you can’t make it, but don’t worry too much, my camera will be out of my purse and on the table; I’ll take pictures for you! If you’re coming, I’ll see you there! ♥ xoxo
Hello Susan!
We received a wonderful yorkie named Daisy this past Spring from a shelter.
And she is one big bundle of love! We cannot imagine our lives without her now.
Good luck in your quest for a new kitty to love!
If I wasn’t still such a traveler, I would have a dog in a minute. I can barely leave the kitty, a dog would be even worse I’m afraid!
Receiving Daisy has changed our lives… for the better. But we don’t go out as much, and we are now looking for b & b’s that allow pets. We really just enjoy staying home and spending time with Daisy. I’ve never owned a dog, and believe me, I was really missing out; I know that now.
She is our bundle of joy, and of unconditional love. My husband and I race to the door the moment we get home. And tonight she will be watching our beloved Philadelphia Phillies in a big WIN against those nasty St. Louis Cardinals.
Daisy will bring the Phillies Good Luck, I just feel it!
LOL!
We haven’t had trouble finding B & B’s or even motels that allow our schnauzers. Most have rules, but those rules protect us, too…My BF, Sandy Richmond in Boston (who is a cat person) tells me that our schnauzers remind her of perpetual 2-year-olds but we know she loves them anyway. I tease her that if she ever moves back to Minnesota, one day the doorbell will ring and she will open the door, no one will be there but a cute little schnauzer puppy in a basket with a bow on its neck! 🙂
How could she resist that?
Patricia…I just got my first dog 18 months ago. His name is Buddy and he, too, has changed my life for the WAY better. I have four kids so I expected to like Buddy and watch each of my kids fall in love. Boy, was I mistaken! 🙂 He’s the BEST dog ever and I daily count him among my blessings. How could I have missed out on this love and companionship for so long? Anyway, congrats on Daisy. So happy for you! ~Beth
Happy for you and for Buddy!
Beth, my daughter bought a dog from a breeder in February, after pleading for years for us to get one. She is 23 and will probably be moving out to be on her own soon, so I figured “if it doesnn’t work out, at least we won’t have to deal with it for long”. Well, we all fell in love with Oreo, her yorkie/poodle mix. We fought over who would take him out for walks. I decided rather than have my heart break when she eventually moves out with Oreo, I decided to take take the plunge and find my own little furbaby to love! I scoured Petfinder.com for months, and come May, lo and behold there is a little Yorkie named Yippee (by the shelter) who needed a home and love. She was found wandering the streets 🙁 When my husband and I arrived to see her, she immediately rolled over for belly tickles! We laughed so hard we cried… and she came home and changed our lives. We named her Daisy Grace (Grace for the serenely beautiful Grace Kelly). We like to think good thoughts of Yippee’s previous owner, and that maybe Yippee just “wandered off” (maybe like Susan’s Mr. MoMo).
And dog ownership has its health rewards as well! My husband has lost 7 lbs from walking Daisy. But, for some reason, I have not!
And yes we have been very fortunate: there are many B & B’s in the PA/NJ area that will gladly accept pet-guests!
Men make weight-loss look so easy! Congratulations on Daisy Grace!!!
Susan, you should definitely get Girl Kitty a playmate. There is nothing like a new kitten in the house! Black and whites are my favorite. I lost my sweet boy, Chopin, in 2008. He was 15 and in poor health when he left us. But he was my heart, and I can’t wait to see him again someday. Meanwhile, I crossed paths with an orange marmalade and had to bring her home. Her name is Miss Kitty, and she is a charmer. I’ve never known a cat who was so chatty!
By the way, a few treats upon arrival should help shorten the vacation snit from Girl Kitty. ☺
I used to have an orange cat, love them so much. We will remember those treats!
I have had kitties ALL my life and couldn’t be without their furry love. But 3 yrs ago, during a cold October rain, a really small (a handful-sized) orange kitty came to our porch, actually screaming meows…SO loud. (He was in a life-and-death situation, only 4-5 wks old the vet said later.) We put food outside and he gobbled it, and then when we opened the door, he came in to stay forever. Orange kitties are the cuddliest ever, who knew? He can’t get enough love…Pumpkin (of course, it was October after all) is the sweetest guy ever. (And we do have 3 other sweet kitties and a black lab, Daisy, to love.) I feel like Dr. Doolittle now!
Aaaaahhhh, Susan, you definitely are living the good life. :^)
What wonderful mealtime views! You must struggle with houses in two of the most beautiful spots in the country! And I have lived your camera struggle. By the time quit cooing, find it in my purse, get it out of the case, turn it on and point – I miss the shoot! Your video is priceless, though 🙂
I am so sad you lost your kitty. We have had two kitties in our family. My first baby was Alice, a black kitten abandoned in a busy parking lot – so tiny I had to feed him by soaking bread in milk and having him suck on it. I cannot say much more without crying 🙁 A few years later we added Candy, a calico that my husband and two year old saw pictured in the humane society’s ad in our local paper. Candy was quite the rascal. My middle child developed allergies and we have never been able to have more kitties. We had some dropped off cats at our church that were blonde; not orange or marmalade – these kitties were blondes! I wanted one so bad (her name was going to be Della, after Della Street), but couldn’t bring her into the house with the kids and the hives and the sneezing. Good luck in your kitten search. The new kitty will never be a replacement; just another family member to love!
They do get to your heart. No doubt about it.
We have a gorgeous white a Bailey’s Irish Cream colored blue-eyed boy kitty who is now 16 years old! He was our daughter’s college cat and came to our house 13 years ago so we could find him a new home, and of course, we did – ours! We have a mobile vet now (so great!) who came to clean Bailey’s teeth this week. I can’t tell yet if his teeth sparkle because he won’t smile at me – he’s still forgiving me for being manhandled by a strange woman and kidnapped to the mobile unit where there was a dog. (I’m trying to convince him it was only a nightmare.) We can tell the season is changing because today he is curled up in his little bed in front of the fireplace, where he hasn’t been since last winter. Now that the kids are grown, he is our baby.
You have the whole studio laughing out loud because of the convincing! 🙂 He sounds very loved!
Susan, I should be ‘way too embarrassed by this to tell you (and all of the readers) but if all in the studio want a good laugh, I’ll share a story…Shortly after obtaining one of our schnauzers, who came from Canada with the name Fanny, my husband and I went into our local jewelry store to get my wedding ring repaired. Out from behind the counter waddled an English bulldog puppy, who promptly came over and stood on its wobbly little back legs, sniffing at my pant leg. What do you suppose innocently came out of my mouth (to my husband’s horror)? “Oh, aren’t you cute! Do you smell Fanny on my pants?” … 🙂 (Okay, stop laughing! My window is open and I can hear your laughter back here in Minnesota!!!) 🙂
You win the award today Pat…Kids say the darndest things! 🙂
Well, you met my shy Norwegian husband, Norm, at the Crafts Connection book signing. He was whispering to me “Do you know what you just said?” and when I realized how it sounded, I was so embarrassed, I wanted to crawl out of the store…oh well, it is funny now, but wasn’t then… 🙂 (Another example of how wise it is to engage one’s brain before engaging one’s mouth…?)
You are perfectly innocent Pat, that’s the best part!
I can’t stop laughing. My grey abyisinian sp? is looking in my face and patting my shoulder as if to say, it will be alright!
Oh my goodness, Pat! So funny. I’ll bet we could have the mist hysterical blog if we all shared our stories like that. What’s most funny is how innocent you were thru it all.
My first words when I opened your blog today Susan were Wow, Wow, Wow – – what a beautiful place you live, no wonder you love it so much there! All that wonderful scenery everywhere, mountains, ocean, beaches, flowers, birds. And Brenda’s purse is adorable, what a great idea her friend had! I really would love to try to make one, and I’m so grateful to you for putting that youtube demo on here for us. I don’t have kitties but I have 2 little tiny Maltese dogs and they’d look so cute on a purse! Plus, I could make one for my daughter maybe for Christmas. Oh that’s so sad about Mr. MoMo, it’s so heartbreaking to lose them I know. But I’m happy for you that you’ll be getting a new little baby when you get home. I know the excitement of that, too! Have fun at the show this weekend! xxxoo Sharon
Thank you Sharon … Yes, Maltese would be darling on a purse, or anything else!
Is is possible to purchase Brenda’s dog treat cookbook somewhere? I looked briefly at the shelter website and did not see it. I have three shelter pets, two big retriever lab mixes, Zeb & Zoe and an orange tabby kitty named Lily. I would love to make treats for them that include ingredients I can pronounce. I think life is incomplete without pets, for both me and my husband they really are like our children. Do I sound crazy or what?
They are out of print — if you have my Christmas cookbook, I do have homemade dog bones in there!
Oh! Thank you, I will look that recipe up. I’m sorry that you lost your cat.
I still remember every pet I’ve ever had, they are engraved on my heart.
I hope you find a new kitten-friend soon. Thank you for all that you share
with us. Your blog is so inspiring and takes all my stress away, and I get
to see places that I might never get to see! And I feel like a friend is
describing them to me. I’ve wanted to tell you that before without
sounding like some crazed fan. I hope the rest of your trip is a blast!
I’ve always experienced it that way from the very beginning, I get letters, and I feel like I’m talking to people I’ve known forever! Thank you Trish!
What a lucky woman you are dear Susan! Living near two magnificent oceans! There is something about the ocean that calms the soul and stirs in me the wonder and beauty of the earth. Love the sunset pictures! Girl Kitty is waiting for your return , even though she will ignore you for a while. xoxo♥
I hope that Mr MoMo is being loved by some darling child too!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
what SWEET pictures! Gotta love kitties. I have one; and I’d love another, but my girl (Mona) is any ‘only child’ for sure. She’s 20 years old now – she used to be a big girl (about 18 pounds or so), but now she’s about 7 pounds ‘soaking wet’ if she’d even let me get her wet! Every day with her is a gift, I say. XOXO Jody
I know what you mean!
Fantastic photos of the sea . So sad about Mr MoMo . All our pets have a special place in our hearts.
Susan- What beautiful photos you took! That sunset is stunning- but so are the cats! I got all sad inside hearing about Mr. Momo- we know exactly what that feels like. We had one of the ‘special’ cats years ago (you know, the kind that seem almost more human than kitty at times) He was a Maine coon kitty and his name was Mr. Perkins, but after awhile he was known as Poozer. Poozer was simply an amazing cat. I won’t bore you with the stories, he was just super special. It broke my heart when he went missing.
I so hope you and Joe do end up with a new baby! Girl Kitty will probably appreciate the company, too. Safe travels.
I love COW kitties! And great pictures. Thanks!
Our little furry friends impact are lives in so many ways. I lost my sweet boy, Brady in August and I still cannot see his picture or talk about him without tearing up. I have a big lump right now – he unconditionally loved me and was in any room I was in – how could I NOT miss that tender love as it was always there.
Get that second kitten – “just what are we waiting for, another birthday?”
Your pictures are so beautiful – lucky you always getting by the window. Judy C
So sorry about loss of Brady. Sending love . . .
Hi Susan
I am so sorry about your sweet kitty. How sad to not even know where he is. But the pictures are fabulous. Loved your friend Brenda’s purse too. How adorable was that. I bet you can’t wait to get home but at the same time, just having the time of your life. Enjoy your day today Susan
thanks for sharing so much with us. Its fun
deezie
So sorry about your kitty. We just had to put our 14 year old female cat to sleep in August and that was the hardest thing. So I under stand your loss. We still have another kitty, Daisy and a dog, Annie, but I still miss my Nikki. I was hoping you would post some on the Costa Mesa Street fair you went to since I came from there. I was curious what that was all about.
It wasn’t a street fair, as it turns out, it was the swap meet they have every week, and although it was festive, it wasn’t antiques or old stuff, so we left and went to old town Orange and had lunch at a wonderful Italian restaurant!
Ah.. we lived not far from the Fair Grounds. Orange is much better. Thanks
I should have said, Orange is much better for Antiques.
You were in “my” downtown! I don’t live officially in Orange anymore but just a mile away. Still I love the downtown of Orange. Were you trying out the new Italian place on the corner in the Plaza? We’ve not tried it as yet but will one day before too long.
RUN there. It’s SO good! If it’s the same one, it’s on Glasell St. Going into the square it’s on the left — Joe is saying it’s on the west side of the street (How do they know this stuff??)
Ooh! Orange has some great antique shops! Isn’t their circle beautiful? There’s a cafe just down from the circle that has an old timey fountain counter!
It was all darling…that was our second time!
Thanks for sharing such gorgeous photos of your latest adventure! And so sorry, too, for the loss of your big boy MoMo. I have a friend who lost his kitty, Joni Mitchell, a few years back. She was missing for something like three yrs, but through the grapevine, he was able to find her. I don’t remember the exact details, but she had been found hurt and taken in by someone across town & cared for, until they reconnected. We have three pooses that we spoil & adore. They truly are furry angels, and they each have 2 or 3 nicknames too, depending on the day 🙂 Good luck in your search for a new kitten. You’re right, Girl Kitty can teach the new recruit a lot!
These pictures are wonderful! Thank you for sharing your friends bag with us, so adorable! I like that idea, and would like to try to use it on an apron! I am sorry you lost your kitty, anyone who has gone throught that knows it to be painful and sad…a new kitten for the fall/winter sounds so fun! I hope you find a special little one to pamper and spoil. I am a great fan of James Herriot books, have had them all and read them all, some more than once or twice. I bet you would love the James Herriot book- “stories about cats”, and also there is a childrens book-“Moses the Kitten”. They are just so very special,warm, and caring, I just love his stories, and his employee, Tristan, makes the books so fun to, along with Helen the wife who shared their country life in the Yorkshire Dales….what a wonderful life! Have a great weekend Susan, we are going leaf peeping and exploring in the Adirondacks.
Sounds wonderful Deborah, and thanks for the Book ideas!
Well…my first thought was “OMG – Shirley Valentine!!!” I’ve watched that movie so much I’m on my second copy. Susan, we are officially girlfriends…movies, cats, England, gardens…I’m telling you this is crazy. I so enjoy “talking” with you each day. I’m ready for a new little one in my cottage but I may wait until Spring and get her as a birthday present for myself. Be sure and keep us informed!!
If your birthday is in the spring, you can add that to our list!
Shirley Valentine is one of my favourite movies, too. Have you seen Enchanted April? Sigh.
Oh yes, and read it too, which I thought was just the tiniest bit better, if you can imagine that!
I’ve just been away, and am sitting here, reading Susan’s old posts.
I think you and I must be twins— Shirley Valentine and Enchanted April are my 2 FAVORITE movies of all time.
Isn’t it great, the way Susan Branch can bring like-minded people together!
We found each other, thank you for the internet!
Such beautiful pictures, Susan! I agree with the other posters…you are so fortunate to live in two such beautiful places. I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying your friends and family, and of course, the beautiful coastline of CA.
We have always adopted our dogs from shelters, and can’t imagine life without 2 “Kanine Kids” sharing our lives. After our 2 geriatric dogs passed in 2009, we adopted 2, 1 year- old terrier mixes from a shelter. Again, I can’t imagine life without our much loved fur babies. Pets bring so much joy to a home!
Somewhere in MA, there is a lucky kitty waiting for you and, he or she, is about to become a beloved member of your household! 🙂
Marilyn (in Dallas)
Thankyou for the lovely pictures! My heart goes out to you, as losing our furry friends is like losing a member of the family. It does take time to heal. My Maggie is a Maine Coon and she is just the sweetest little flower, we just love her and I try not to think of what it will be like without her. We adopted her from the shelter about 6 yrs ago, and she was about 2 yrs old. I keep her indoors only because I would just die if she disappeared. If you get a new kitty, make sure they micro chip him or her so if she gets lost and is turned in to a shelter, they will have your information. Have a safe trip home, the weather is just beautiful here, 80’s this weekend. I’m heading for Florida tomorrow and now I wish I would be home in Massachusetts the next few days! Glad you are having so much fun!
So much to take in when I receive your post via my e-mail. I click on it and open full so I can see all the photos and all your artwork. I will need to post my seaside pictures from this past weeks trip soon. Probably over the weekend. I took a very long ferry ride out to Ocracoke Island with my friend. So glad yours will not be so long when you want to get home. We have an old man cat. My middle daughter picked him up out of the road when she was running cross county in high school when he was just a kitten. She hid him in her room for a few days because we had recently said no more pets. She has grown up and along with her sisters left home and has 4 boys of her own now. I am not sure how old Hendricks is but he only loves the hubs. He spits and paws at all the grands and most anyone else the visits. I also own a Scottie that was given to me for Christmas by my daughters and husband, but she thinks she is also hubs pet. He has some aura that beacons children and animals. I picked out a Scottie because they were suppose to bond to one person. It is true, she bonded to hubs during the day, he has an office at home, while I went out to work each morning. I still love them both. My oldest daughter’s cat was wide like your pretty man cat was. She also was told to put her lady cat on a diet. She was quite a sad cat for a while. I have read All Creatures Great and Small, I think I owned the series at one time. I think since you reminded me I may need to read them again. Have you read the children’s book by James Harriet about a cat? We own that one and it is also very sweet. Enjoy the vintage show, wish I could be there!
I am so sorry about Mr. MoMo. It’s so hard to when we get so attached to these sweet little creatures that come into our lives. I adore my cats so much, they bring me so much joy. Even my husband who had never had cats and thought he hated cats loves our cats and they love him. I love how they wait for me to wake up in the morning for a little ear rubbing time. And if I am the tiniest bit sad (even from just watching a TV commercial that tugs at your heart), no matter where they are the two of them will show up and comfort me. How do they know that even better than my husband sitting right there? And of then I have to tell them I’m fine it is just a phone commercial…luckily they don’t judge. The mysteries of cats. Love them. I hope you fine a sweet new fuzzy addition to your home soon!
Wonderful photos.
I dont know what I would do with out my Harley kitty or my dog Miggy , I am retired and they keep me company whilst Papa is at work. Hope you find a nice little kitty to give a forever home to. Have a wonderful day !
We love kitties at our house too. We have “Prince Pippin” who graciously “allows” us to live with him. Having a kitty is good for your well-being – it’s a proven fact~
Glad you are having such a wonderful vacay- safe travels back, XOXO
Jacqui
They are so good to allow us to stay!
hello susan, what lovely pictures of the kitties, we have 3 babies here at home, black cats that are the loves of our lives, Tabby Cat who is now 5 years old, just had a birthday, Midnight who turns 4 years old this december, and last baby Tabitha who just turned 1 this past august. we adopted her from our vet after we had lost our Inky cat, who passed away awhile back from FIP. it just about broke our hearts and we really needed a little girl to keep the guys under control. somehow, some way I truly believe Inky led me right to Tabitha, and by the afternoon that day Tabitha came home with us and has been a joy and a love ever since. she gets into all the mischief she can, she especially loves yarn balls and i call her my lil black spider gone beserk after she has tangled one of those yarn balls around the house, how she gets it into some of the places she does i will never know, but when she is finished it does look like a spider gone beserk. Tabitha has brought back all the joy to our household, it just didn’t seem right not having a little girl around to boss the boys, now our little family is complete again. and yes they are all spoiled, with lots of love but thats the best way to spoil them don’t you think?? 🙂
I DO think; love Inky, Tabitha and Midnight. Beautiful names for all.
thank you Susan. of course the babies are now in the middle of a group nap, and on the quilts i brought out for the cooler nights, gotta love them. 🙂
Oh, yeah! God was definately in a happy mood the day he created kitties! My 15-year old tiger cat Misty is extremely vocal, especially when I’m on the phone! She hates being ignored. Sometimes it sounds like she’s saying “Ha Whooaaah” (her version of hello) and sometimes it’s more like “Raoul”! We tell her ” Rauol has left the building! He’ll be back when you’re quiet!” Yes, you do need another kitty. The more the merrier! I just love all your blogs! It’s like “cool, another message from my friend Susan”!
Love the kitty conversation! Hello Raoul!
Oh, how I loved this post, as I have been dreaming of rough kitty kisses and it has been way too long. Our family kitties passed about 8 years ago within months of each other. Muffy was an orphan,( Mum hit by a car), and we rescued her as she clung on a bush in the pouring rain! Her little eyes hadn’t opened yet, and our vet thought she would never make the night. But she did! And we fed her with a dropper and she thrived with lipstick marks on her orange and black head and so much love from all of us. Then, Cuddles Kitty came into hearts. She was a Maine Coon, quite shy as she had been terribly abused by children. We had to be interviewed by the kitty rescue, and we passed! We had 15 years of kitty bliss and our loss was just too much for me to even talk about. I so love my Best Boy, but I do believe he would enjoy a kitty too. He is quite the loving and gentlemanly Labbie! Thank you, once more, Susan for your thought provoking posts. I am going to start my search too! xxoo
Good girl, let’s do it together, two kittens are out there with our names all over them … soon to be lipstick marks!
Being forever Polyanna and one of the world’s biggest optimists, wouldn’t it be something if in posting this blog with the pictures of Boy Kitty, that someone recognized him and returned him to you!??? 🙂
Oh Pat, I kind of dream of it, miracles happen, especially with cats!
Well, you do every once in a while hear of a kitty (or dog) that had gone missing, showing up a couple of years later…maybe that will happen…
What beautiful views of the Pacific! How fortunate you are to be able to enjoy the water on BOTH sides of the United States!
I hope you are able to find another black and white kitty. Our black cat has just a touch of white on his throat. He is 19 1/2 years old! We never gave thought to him being around this long.:-) I just bought a bag of dry food for him today, so he is guaranteed to be around awhile longer.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of “Twitter from the Twain.” xoxo
I had cats that lived that long; isn’t that great Nellie!
Sigh…I’d give you my black cat in a heartbeat, but I really like you too much to do that to you. He’s horrible and pees everywhere! Yikes!
Oh Susan I love all the pictures…just makes me want to be there..lolwell how about virtually or in my dreams? Ha…. Oh how sweet..getting a new kitty! I can’t wait to see him when you get him!
I have something I want to share with you…my Tom is always humming, whistling or singing as he works around the house! This morning I was playing the Gene Autry song on my iPad…pretty soon that song was all I heard around here all morning! lol!
Blessings,
xoxo Gert
I would love someone to hang around here and sing Gene Autry to me!!! Cute Gert, I love Tom already!
Oh yes, when I hear those tunes each day I thank my God for him…I know you would love him! Especially when he’s singing Gene Autry songs..smile.. Did you know he came to Sioux City & sang “Sioux City Sue” ? Tom saw him then! smile….
How fun!
good afternoon , sorry to read about the loss of your kitty, we have 3 black cats in our home, and they are a lively bunch safe to say. we have Tabby Cat who turned 5 this past august, then there is Midnight who will be 4 this december 6th, and finally Tabitha who just turned 1. we adopted Tabitha from our vet, we had just lost our girl, Inky, to FIP and we really needed a little girl to boss those boys around. somehow Inky led me to Tabitha, i firmly believe Inky led me to Tabitha. she was in the vets office awaiting the people to come pick her up, and i was there to get flea treatments for the boys. saw Tabitha and fell in love with her, she was so sweet and so playful and curious. so i asked about her, found out she was up for adoption but the people were going to pick her up by that afternoon, so i asked if that if the people didn’t come and get her by 4pm could i have her, and was told yes if igot there before 4. well i waited all day, must have called the vet’s office several times asking if Tabitha had been picked up yet and was told no she is still here, so when 3:55pm rolled around i was down at the vets office and told the assistant i was there to collect the little black kitty, and was overjoyed to get her. i had already named her Tabitha and when i got home i had a surprise for my husband, a new little girl for the house. she has been a joy ever since and gets into all the mischief she can, swats at her 2 big brothers, and is really into yarn balls. she swats those around and i cannot believe the places she gets that yarn into and around, looks like a spider went beserk in the house..literally. but she is the joy of the house and we love them all dearly, they very spoiled, with love as that is the best way to spoil them..don’t you agree??? right now they are terrorizing the house and racing around the living room after each other and who is after who is entirely up for question, they’re just having a good time and i’m enjoying it. 🙂
Lucky you, lucky us, I need a kitty!!!
!!!! shirley valentine!!!! watch it at LEAST once a month..that and The shop Around The Corner. =) Thanks for sharing all your lovely thought and photos! Can’t tell you how much I love this blog!! And YOU <3
Love you back Deb!!!
Good Afternoon Sweet Sue…Oh How I Loved Your Pelican Video! & That View…& Brenda & Her Purse with Jack(Woof!)…so Cute…what a Brilliant Idea to Put Pics of Our Animal~Family onto Aprons…& Tee Shirts Etc Etc…. Endless Ideas! …(Excellent Gifts for The Holidays!)…Two years in a Row…I was one of Santa’s Elves…& Every Friday was Bring Your Pet to Visit Santa & Have Your Picture Taken…well I Ended Up Being The Elf who took The Photos…♥… with Each Pet & His Owner…I would actually get The Kitty or Puppy to Smile…(I’m not Kidding)… 🙂 Ho-Ho-Ho!…( a Very Funtastical Job!) Taylor Loves “Bragging” That Her Grand~Ma actually worked for Santa!…ahhhhhhhhhhhh! ♥ anyway…I L♥ve Mr. MoMo…thanks for sharing his story with us..(My Kitty was Pooky…He was an Orange Kitty oh How I Loved Him…he actually passed away on Thanksgiving day a few Years back…a Very Sad Weekend that was) I still miss him…& I Think Girl~Kitty will Be so Happy when You & Joe come HOME….& when you get Your New Baby Kitty… Girl~Kitty will Be so Happy to have a New Playmate….Her Holidays will Be Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrfectly~Merry & Bright! Yay! 🙂 so I am Wishing You & Joe a Fabulously~Fun Weekend at Judy’s Remnants of the Past Vintage Show…I’ll be there in Spirit….then in 4 Days…Back on The Magical Train…All Aboard…Home Again Home Again…Jiggity~Jig…Clickity~Clackity…( My Bags are Packed!) L♥ve & Kitty~Kisses & a Little Autumn Pixie~Dust Sweet Sue! xoxo Poof! ♫♥
I never read anything you write without smiling Angie! xoxo
♫♥ 🙂 ♫♥
Oh definitely – two are always better than one! We just lost our sweet 15 year old sheltie and she was the senior girl in our sheltie trio…now we are a two sheltie family and give them the extra attention…but we mourn our missing 3rd…so try 3 – the more the merrier….what would a home be without our fur babies?
Wishing you safe journey.
Home would be half a home without them. That’s all there is to it!
I just told my daughter last week I needed a Halloween Kitty this year. I wish they made non-pooping ones…..! Our son gave us Old Possum”s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot for Christmas a few years ago. You would love it. We have had so many cats on our farm over the years, people just drop them off… but my favorite ones are the free ones outside Walmart…. Have fun this weekend! Wish I could come..
Oh, Susan! I know just exactly how you feel about Mr. MoMo. There’s rarely a day that goes by that I don’t miss my Josie and it breaks my heart to think about her. I’m sure you’ll find a new little baby to bring you that overwhelming joy that you speak about at the beginning of this great blog! Thanks for sharing and keep drawing those precious black and white kitties….for those of us who miss OUR black and white kitties. It DOES bring me joy to see your illustrations! xoxo….kp
Pets ask for so little, and give us so much!! We just lost our big (20 lbs!), mushy orange tabby cat last week to cancer. The kids had named him Hobbes after their favorite comic strip, Calvin & Hobbes. I think our other kitty Holly is so lost without him! He was such a love-bug, and is missed so much. When the time is right, I know we will get another one. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures!!
So sorry Maureen.
Hi Susan,
We used to live in Ventura (now San Diego). We spent so much time on the “Gold Coast”…married nearly 41 yrs. ago in Pacific Grove!! We LOVE that part of the state so much. If it wasn’t for work, that’s where we’d live!!!
Had a sweet manx for many years….one day we just disappeared..never to be seen or heard from again. We have coyotes in our canyons…..not good.
LOVE your web page! I’m originally from Framingham, Mass!
Thank you Priscilla!
I’m sorry for the sad news…the animals we invite into our lives become such a part of our families. We have a farm, and kitties are dropped off in the black of night on a regular basis. Some are friendly, some shy, some stay but a short time, then move on, and many live out their lives here. We keep the barn warm & cozy for them, spoil them with treats, and sure enough, one or two find their way inside. One such beauty, Mr. Myrtle, has been gone several weeks now…agreeing with you, I hope he’s curled up at the foot of someone’s bed enjoying a life of luxury. Thanks for sharing your story.
This one brought tears to my eyes! Oh, how I miss my big black kitty Sedona and my fluffy tabby Cosmo and my red fluffy lovey Little Red although he was really BIG red and all the others I have had through the years! I love cats! I have Twinkle my tortoise and Bella my siamese but still I miss the others and have to just let the tears go. Your blog made me think of them. I am so sorry about Mr. MoMo. My heart goes out to you.
Hugs,
Lisa xoxoxox
When we were in England, we went to this one “castle” — like in Upstairs Downstairs, and they had beautiful pet graveyards, one for the castle owners and one for the castle workers; all with bluestone or slate carved headstones, with sweet names like Posey, Goose, and June Bug. Scores of headstones in this perfect little garden for the many generations of beloved pets that lived in this house. I have a photo of it on the island, I’ll have to remember to post one day. I have a little kitty graveyard too, with only three there. We found an old piece of marble in our barn and broke it up for markers, plus I found a cement figure of a kitty that is in the middle of the three.
I’m so sorry about you losing Mr. MoMo…..oh my goodness; our pets have such strongholds on our hearts. We just recently lost our family kitty that we’ve had 18 years. My youngest daughter was in the 5th grade when we got her as a kitten and now she is a senior in vet school….that’s a long time for a kitty, but we miss her oh so much. We had paw prints made of her and I can barely look at it yet….so I understand the need for time to pass before you can even speak of these wonderful parts of our lives….our pets. I think it’s AWESOME that you’re thinking of a new kitty when you return to the island…..maybe he can be named ‘blogster’!
I’m so tickled that you ordered up some pretty weather for the weekend…..it’s going to be VERY chilly and damp in Colorado…..
Thank you again for sharing your heart and making us all feel just a little bit closer to YOU.
XO
Joann
See you soon Joann!
I am so sorry to hear you lost Mr. MoMo. I remember you writing about him before. Pets are family and it’s tough to loose them. I so appreciated the pelican treat. I love living on the east coast now, but sure miss some things in CA, pelicans being one of them. Thanks for the update on your CA home. You WILL have your English garden there. You and Joe have a great track record about things that are meaningful for you both. So happy for you that you’ve been able to visit with family and friends and especially love hearing about/seeing your dad. You remind me of him (now why would I think that?). Welcome home to you and Joe, soon.
I remind me of him too 🙂 Thank you Carmel!
We have two pound puppies 13+ years old. We got them the same day at the Animal Shelter because we couldn’t make up our minds. Then it was one for $75 or two for $80. They are our precious girls and we hate to see them age. A few weeks ago I had a serious surgery and afterward had to sleep in the downstairs bedroom for a couple of weeks. These dog stayed right by my bed the whole time and had to be coaxed to eat or go out. My nurse dogs!! I visit a lady in a nursing home and her husband, being very lonely at home, got a kitten to cuddle up with. Named her Anna Nichole. I love it!
I’m so sorry that Momo vanished without a trace but believe someone is loving him and giving him a good life. My cat Ollie was a stray and couldn’t find his way home. We tried but he has been with us two years this month and we love him so much. Jasmine however does not share that sentiment. Ollie tries to engage her but she just hisses at him. Your pictures of the sea make me want to go straight to the ocean and hear the waves. Brenda’s purse, adorable and such a thoughtful gift. Our pets enrich our lives so much and I believe a new kitty is just what you need to keep you laughing all winter. Hope Girl kitty thinks it’s a good idea, lol!
For my friend Sandy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=087q7XXUFJQ xoxo
Oh, I loved this ! So relaxing …even Rusty went to sleep with the sounds of the playing on my iPad! lol
It’s a nice noise isn’t it Gert!
Yes it is…I always loved to hear it, as I use to fall asleep at the lake…same wonderful sounds close by!
Susan,
So excited that us gals are making a trip to see ya! We are coming with books for signing, snacks, and a couple of 5 year old little gals that can hardly wait to meet you. My daughter is making you a watercolor picture as I write this…. 🙂
It is so fun to see your pictures in the blog of SLO and surrounding areas, we are getting so excited, not sure how we will sleep tonight.
Oh boy! See you Sunday!
PS …we are so sorry about your kitty….we live in Coyote County….need I say more
No you do not, the word that strikes fear in the country folk!
We have had several kitties become treasured family members over the years, each with a unique personality. Bozo, midnight black, huge, and full of mischief; Pansy, a petite grey tabby, with delicate manners; Smokey Sam, a large grey tabby, who loved to lurk under furniture and pounce when anyone walked by, hanging on with both front paws wrapped around our ankles while he got dragged along; O.J. (Orange Julius), an orange tabby who could shatter crystal with his demanding meows . . . Each one left “kitty footprints” on our hearts. Miss Kitty will forgive quickly when you get home. Good luck with finding the next furry addition to your family!
Dragging Smokey Sam, so funny!
What wonderful views and happy memories you’re making!
I once had a B&W girl kitty named Timmie. She loved to hunt. And she loved to snuggle. I hope you find the purrfect B&W kitty.
Jody
Kitty names alone are priceless!
I know what you mean, missing your cat. We’ve been without a cat for about 9 months, but seldom without 1 or 2 cats over the last 40 years. So I think we need to adopt another sometime soon.
Probably time! So hard to go without once you know that little fur body!
Your kitty was adorable. And I agree … I’m sure some little kid took him home and now plays with him everyday.
Girl Kitty is adorable too!
She is!
Your pictures make me miss California… we lived in Monterey for 3 years long ago.
I love the “Jack” purse– or “pocket book” as we called it growing up in southern VA. I’m assuming Jack is a Jack Russel– Love it!
So sorry about your handsome boy kitty. I think he’s been taken in by a loving family– he just didn’t know where you went so he set out to try and find you …. Now you have room for a new baby kitty who really needs a home 🙂
I’m looking forward to the little furball pictures you will be posting.
I am soooo sorry about Mr. MoMo!! 🙁 I know just how you feel! We had 10 cats, but the three oldest ones died in the last 7 months, so now we’re down to 7. Some people think that’s a lot, but each one has such a distinct personality, and we love them all sooooo much!!
You will have so much fun picking out a new kitten when you get back to The Island!
Oh! “Shirley Valentine” is one of my favorite movies, too! You are my favorite movie/book friend! lol
P.S. I wanted to tell you my kitties’ names: Sophie, Ophelia, Teddy, Chelsea, Chloe, Tosca and Lily. 😀
LOVE it! I’m the worse kitty-namer. I try to dress it up, but really, I name them all Girl Kitty and Man Cat. Moe is just a derivative of Man. I’ve had two sets I’ve named that! The Girl Kitty I have now is really Girl Kitty II. I try to be more interesting, but I can never choose one — one day it’s Lucy and the next day its Olivia. Then I can’t remember which and I give up. Next kitty I’m going to make a contest out of it, and let YOU name it!!!
ROTFL that’s hilarious!!! 😀
Did you ever read MRS. MIKE? All her dogs were named “Juno”!
Haven’t read it, but I get it, once you love your Juno, it’s just easier and makes sense!
Such a big responsibility to name our animals (& children!)! Our family couldn’t decide on a name for our puppy. He was a shelter puppy, given to a grandma of our neighbor’s who decided he just wasn’t for her, one look, we had to rescue him – I think it was the eyes & the terrier combo (front 1/2 terrier, back half ?????). My husband named him DOG, pronounced deeOgee. His name was 1/2 the fun, we think it gave him a little bit of a nose in the air attitude, because he had such a special name and all the kids (& adults) got such a kick out of it! We were lucky to get him, 16 1/2 years lucky! Maybe you can name your next kitty, CAT, ceeAtee! 🙂
That sounds like me!
Oh Susan, your comments about Moe brought me to tears. I lost my Simba in 2008. He was my everything cat and was there when my husband left for deployments and was gone all the time doing Army stuff. I used to feed him pinches of tuna for treats and one day he wouldn’t eat it. I thought it was something wrong in his mouth so I took him to the vet, nope, he was in kidney failure. The vet didn’t come out and say that however, and I took him home to watch him deteriorate before my eyes. I was a horrible MESS! Simba however seemed fine! My husband had just left on a two year UN-accompanied tour to Germany, I was dealing with serious health issues due to surgery and complications and I was staying with my Mom. Need I say more? LOL! I had to get my Mom to take him to the vet, I as in such a state, my Mom wouldn’t let me go. To be honest, I was having a serious melt down. I had NO idea I grown that attached to him, but I had. I cried for a long, long time and my Mom asked me if i was ever going to stop crying and I told her I didn’t know. I still don’t have any kitties and for now that is okay too, with all the traveling I do as well. I dont’ tell too many people about how I did or didn’t do when Simba went to Kitty Heaven. The couple I did tell, told me it was just a cat. Nope, he wasn’t just a cat! Thanks SO much for sharing about Moe with us. I am not alone! What a concept! LOL!!
No, I’m convinced we are the normal ones! Thank you for the story Terri!
Terri, I feel sort of sorry for people who say “it was just a cat” or “it was just a dog”. They obviously are clueless! You have to feel sorry for someone who hasn’t had a chance to love and be loved by a cat or dog, who doesn’t know what it is like to have that little 4-legged friend who is there 24/7 dependent on you but also giving far more than they receive, who doesn’t know what it is like to have a living “foot-warmer”, to look into those eyes and see what is referred to as a “soul”…
The feeling of loss never seems to go away…how CAN it be that is is “just a cat?!” I think, Terri, you’re in a good place here on the “blog” to get a lot of loving support and sympathy. Seems we all can relate. I LOVE that about this group of girlfriends.
Oh, and my son and his wife have a big bushy orange cat named Simba! He’s really a doll! He was the cutest kitten EVER!
Susan…your blog posts give me wings – when I read your posts I get an incredible “lift” and just feel good ( you are very funny!)
Maybe it’s because we are cat people…or creative people…or walk in the woods people…whatever it is…I am grateful for this technology that connects us all. I have been reading your books for years and now…here you are!!
I’m sorry about Mr. MoMo. I know that hurt. Our orange ( super flexible pretzel cat) Simba went out one morning…and when I went to go find him…the air felt different..I just knew he was gone. But we moved on and now have our dynamic duo from Strays in Need……Fatty and Yellow Kitty. Bliss.
Yes, the air felt different to me too! Thanks for being here Tamsen!
If it were me I’d choose to think someone must’ve grabbed up Moe too … he is a handsome boy. I just found a little wounded grey/white kitten in my office parking garage a couple of weeks ago and she’s now terrorizing all the others in our house.
I’m in Costa Mesa – what street fair?
And thanks for the heads up – we’re headed up to Pismo tomorrow, so I’ve put not only that restaurant on my list but also the ROTP show! Maybe I’ll see you there 🙂
Good! The “Street Fair” wasn’t a street fair after all, it was the regular weekend flea market, so we left and went to Old Town Orange because we were looking for antiques!
Ah yes…things belong in two’s and every home needs, at the bare minimum, a couple of cats; cats make a house a home.
Some weeks ago, Jake, a Border Collie, came to Thistle Cove Farm. Jake was a traveling man and, each night, would dig under our two fence fence and ramble. Some mornings he’d bring back his young friend, Jasper, who lived a couple of miles away. We kept fixing the fence, even put fence posts in front of the low spots but Jake, smart enough to play chess AND win!, would find a way. Then, Dave’s home health nurse came by and spotted Jake. “I want Jake and will give him a good home!”, she cried. So, Dave said Jake could go live with Gerry; I said I’m not really crazy about the idea, Dave said we already had 4 dogs, I said and that matters why?…you get the drift, Susan.
So, about 10 days ago, we hear from Gerry that Jake has disappeared! Worry mode kicks in and 3 days ago…Jake is HOME, back at Thistle Cove Farm! He’s my boy now; he traveled more than 12 miles and it took him ten days but he made it…Jake is HOME! Happy Dance, Happy Dance….Happy, Happy, Happy Dance!!!
Ah, life is goooood! No matter what else is going on in our lives, life is goooood!
You are the chosen one! Lucky you!!!
Hi, Susan ~
What is it about black and white kitties? The best cat we ever had was a beautiful black and white gentleman we inherited from my aunt. His name was Purreau and he was the best cat we ever had. We still have his picture on the table between our chairs in the den, so he is with us whenever we sit down to watch t.v.! (Our current cat sleeps in one of our laps while we watch, of course, and we love her very much.)
I’m addicted — they also look very nice with the furniture! 🙂
Your cat is beautiful, love the large almost circles on his back. I sure hope that someone has him and is taking care of him. Maybe he went where he didn’t have to be on a diet. I love their noses also and always want to pet them. When I go for my morning walk I sometimes have cats run out from their yards for me to pet them. I always tell myself that they can sense how much I love cats.
I think they can!
Susan, take heart. We took on a female stray cat, a brindle tabby. She was very happy to be with us. We moved three hours away to the Oregon Coast and took her with us. she was happy with us there for a year…..and then one day she was just gone!! We have foxes, cougars, coyotes, you name it. She was gone THREE years and showed up again…..very skinny and bedraggled. Don’t ya just wish they could talk and tell you where they’ve been?? I do think someone picked her up…she was very friendly. But 3 years? You might end up with three cats!
Love that story! Hope it happens to me, all except the skinny and bedraggled part!
What beautiful pictures of the Pacific side of our beautiful oceans! Isn’t Pismo Beach awesome? What a wonderful trip you and Joe are having! Hope the show was great today, can’t believe you leave in just a very few days, back on the twain to tweet!
Sorry abt Mr. Momo, I too hope he is in a loving home. Our animals are so precious to us, and I do pray we see them again! Gwinny our grey aby is sitting here next to the mouse, mostly she wants me to get out of HER chair! I so remember all our past loving pets, each one as precious as the next.
xoxo
Oh my goodness! Going home AND getting a new kitten seems like almost too much excitement to bear. We welcome new animals into our home like new babies. Shouldn’t be too difficult to find a baby kitten. Our local shelter is absolutely overflowing with kitties at the moment. Best of luck!
That will make for many a wonderful blog, won’t it?! Looking forward to it.
Hello Susan,
You mentioned the movie “Shirley Valentine”, being a favorite of yours, did you ever see “Saving Grace” or “Little Voice” with Brenda Blethyn? Both of those are so good, what is it about British movies, I adore them! Actually alot of foreign movies should be seen, even the subtitled ones! Also, one movie which my husband and I have watched more than a few times is “A Good Year”, excellent one with Russell Crowe, playing a very good romantic lead. I know you will be happy to be home from your traveling and maybe once you settle in, with a new “kitty peep” you can watch a movie you haven’t seen or haven’t watched for a while.
Cheers and Hugs, Susan aka Cocoa
Ok, I have to add some kitty stories too. We had a tortie cat and the same thing happened a couple of months ago. She went out and never came back and we do have coyotes in our neighborhood. You just couldn’t get her to come in at night! It’s just hard isn’t it? She and her brother came to us a month before my son left for Afghanistan (he’s back and fine) she kept us laughing while he was gone. We still have her brother who is mostly black but white under the chin. He’s named Howie Long because he has Raiders colors!! I was wanting to get another but keep him/her inside but I’m not sure that I could get him/her to stay in with Howie going out all of the time. Does anyone have advice?
Anyway, if Mr. Momo doesn’t come to you reincarnated in another body he will be there to meet you in heaven.
Nancy, we have 7 cats, had 10 six months ago. One of them went in and out and that didn’t bother the inside-only cats at all. If you NEVER let them out, they don’t really mind not going out. Once you start letting them out, tho’, they’ll always want to go out.
You shouldn’t have any problems getting a new kitty and keeping it in. 🙂
Thank you Mary, I’m going to try. I’ll let you know.
Nancy
O.K. Susan. You made me cry. I have 2 kitties. One is a 28lb. Orange Marmalade named Tigger. If I had know how big he was going to be I would have named him Garfield or even Morris. My other kitty is a dainty little (3lb.) Calico named Nani. She was my granddaughter’s kitty until she had cancer and had to give her away. (Elizabeth had pancreatic cancer at age 3, and died at 6yrs. old) Anyway, that Christmas Elizabeth thought it would be a great idea to put her Nani Kitty in a box with a big bow on it to give to me! How could I say no? That was 4 years ago. My daughter still loves to hold that cat when she visits me. Needless to say, my bed is crowded. Thank goodness my dog Sugar (a Maltese) is too old to jump on the bed anymore. There just isn’t any more room!
I’ve had many surgeries these past years…….spent alot of time in bed……so happy to have the warm company of my kitties. Cats and quilts do go together!
I know you won’t have any trouble getting another kitten. I hope the purrrrrrrfect one finds you and your precious girl kitty!
Susan do not give up on Mr. MoMo returning home again someday….I just saw a news story about a cat that travelled 1600 miles from Colorado I believe and ended up in New York and was missing for 5 years. I don’t know if you have a chip in your missing kitty; this particular cat did have one and that is how they found his family. I truly believe that the Lord gives us his creatures to love and respect and treat them with kindness and in return we get the bonus of an unconditional love. We have 3 kitties a Mainecoon (Gray) named Smokee Joe; a Ragdoll (Black/White) named Mystee Mae, and a Calico named Jinxee Bear alias Itty Bitty Old Girl Kitty; and a Yellow Bellied turtle named Tuckee; and a Newt named Newton; all were results of my daughter collecting them during her “college years” and somehow we ended up with them and love all of them dearly. I was always the “Ellie May” in our neighborhood taking in every stray and it was passed on to my daughter. We lost our 16 year old beloved beagle Goldee Meg last year and there isn’t a day that we don’t miss her….losing them is the hardest part of having pets; but, it is a small price to pay for all the joy and humor they bring to our lives. Good Luck with finding a new kitty and your Girl Kitty will be so happy to see you (maybe give her a new toy as a peace offering)……Have a safe trip back home.
Moe didn’t have a chip, but when we drove Girl across country, that was the first thing we did, put a chip on her before we left. In case she tried to escape. But she was wonderful the whole way and stuck with us! Thank you Deborah!
Love your kitty story……may you find your perfect new little kitten! LOVE the vintage show blog….wish, wish, wish I could’ve been there!
For all of you English telly lovers out there, you must rent “The Darling Buds of May” – you will not be sorry! My husband I fell in love with this series (early Catherine Zeta-Jones), but our favorite character of all was “pop” Larson. To him, his normal, everyday farm life and his entire family, was simply “PERFIK”.
Watch it in the fall, with a fire in the fireplace, and a little kitty or doggie to cuddle up with!
We actually went through “Darling Buds of May Withdrawl” when we completed the series!
Poor you…
Our sweet kitty of 15 years disappeared never to be seen again about 4 years ago. We didn’t know she’d gotten out one night and by the next morning my “Aggie” (for Agatha Christie) was gone. Many many tears and much guilt later, my sweet man of 3 years called every shelter in Southern California (that’s where we were living when she went missing) to see if “just maybe” they remembered her. No luck, but it made me love him all the more!
Best wishes for a new kitty to love in your life!
Hi Susan, I have been such an ardent supporter and follower of you and your books for many years. I lived in Boston years ago and visited Martha’s Vineyard where I bought a signed copy of your Christmas from the Heart of the Home book. Who knew that it would become my Christmas tradition to read it (again, and again, and again!) as soon as December arrives?… Anyway, I loved your friend Brenda’s purse and have just spent hours looking for a similar pattern to no avail. Do you think Brenda’s friend would share the pattern?
Would any of these work for you? I would find out, but it might take longer than you’d want!
They leave a hole in our hearts, don’t they? The story of your beautiful cat reminds me of Princes Gracie Allen, a really wonderful calico who was born under our house to a wild mother. Our grandson, Liam, (who has a speech disability and a tender heart) gentled her with persistent love. She was/is a great cat, but sadly she’s gone and, like you, I do hope that someone loved her so much that she found a new home and didn’t fall prey to the natural predators out here in the countryside. Last year, I was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks after lung surgery. One morning when my husband left on his daily trek to be with me, she went out the door and never came back. Liam has asked and asked about her. I just tell him that maybe she found a nice place to live.
Ohhh such a loss. . . 🙁