Pet Lovers

[Sammycat1]

Wednesday report: Thank you for so many wonderful wishes for our anniversary! DH said to me last night, "you make me look a saint -- I'm not." I told him too bad: if the shoe fits....

Of course our prayers continue for so many of you struggling with grief, illness and fear. The Schmoo Family is your soft place to fall, always, and we're glad you find some level of peace and comfort either just reading along or posting.

I'll be calling on you this fall when I have a total knee replacement. I've had osteoarthritis in that knee for many years, and it went to bone on bone in 2012. Having it then was unthinkable -- I had a Schmoo fighting for his life to care for. But now, as DH says, it's Schmoo's Mommy's turn.

Whenever I didn't feel well, he'd be glued to my side. It could be a head cold or back pain or nausea -- didn't matter: Doctor Schmoo was in. His bed with the propped up bolsters was right next to me, and there were times when I thought that the doctor wasn't in...

... but lo and behold, someone's head would pop up and peer over the bolsters at me, as in the photo below. He has the slightly disapproving look of a physician who feels his patient needs serious supervision.

A friend said, "Schmoo won't be there this time with your knee surgery." And I said, you're wrong. He's in my heart and he watches over me every day from a different bolster now -- so I know his phenomenal resilience and love are right by my side:

[Shop Till you Drop]

Hi Sammy, i agree 100% percent, the Precious One is with you every single day, every moment, just a different view. I know you will feel so much better after having your knee done. My Mom has had both of hers replaced and after a little bit of healing, she felt so very much better. Number one thing to have ready before you come home is a chair riser on your potty . You will get a list of all the to-do's, butt that one is a must!

Have a Blessed Day Friends ((Hugs)) and Continued Prayers being lifted for our Beauty (BJ)

[IConlyQVC]

Thank you for such a warm welcome into the clan of Schmoo Tissyanne and beastielove. What a kindhearted and tender place this honestly is. It is apparent from the compassion and support each of you give to one another - that is awesome. Sammycat articulated it purrrfectly - that ""the Schmoo Family is your soft place to fall..."" And you all can now count on me too! (((Hugs to all)))

[Sammycat1]

Thursday report: We had one day in the 70s this week, then went back to colder climes. But tomorrow it will climb again, and it will be one of those days that if not for the pollen, you'd love to open the windows and smell spring.

Schmoo didn't care about the frailties of humans and allergies -- he demanded those windows open in all climates, at least for a short while. He made us do this in the winter (yes, the heat was still on) and in the raging heat of summer (yes, the A/C was on). The ability to sniff sniffs was paramount.

As it is in the photo below. It's August and he's drinking deeply of the scintillating eau de front yard ... in fact, he's so drunk he's actually bonking himself to sleep with his birdbath and shrubs in the background and the soft warmth of the sun toasting his fur. Note the head nodding downward in an irresistible slumber that is calling him:

[beastielove]

Sammycat... What a beautiful picture of Schmoo. You can see his love for you pouring out of his amazing eyes.

IC... I don't recall if you ever mentioned if you have any furbabies. If so, what do you have and what are their names (or it's name if you only have one furbaby)? I currently have five kitties and I recused all of them at different times over the years.

They are Tabitha,Samantha, Olivia (my latest rescue...saved her life in November...long story),Henry and Jack.

Sending continued special prayers to all of the precious furbabies and homeless animals who are in need.

Wishing Sammycat,DH and the Pawsome Clan a very pleasant day.

-----------------------------------------------------

All of my children have paws =^..^=

[IConlyQVC]

Beastielove - Yes...I do have furbabies and they are my world! I have a 2 yr old Bengal cat and his name is Koda. He really keeps my on my toes. I look forward to coming home after work because he is always waiting in the window for me to arrive and calls out in enthusiastic meows as I come into the house - we have built a genuine loving bond even though he prefers not to be a lap cat. I also have a senior (13 yr old) min pin and her name is Libby. Libby is my loyal snuggler and she holds a special place in my heart reserved only for her. In January of this year, I had to say a tearful farewell to my other min pin - Faun. She crossed the rainbow bridge after being with me for almost 17 wonderful years. I really miss her! If it were up to me I would always have room for one more furbaby. Your five furbabies are blessed.

Sammycat - I was touched by your recent picture of Schmoo. The images of his gentle presence is so uplifting. He seems so serene, enjoying the sun and the amazing treasures beyond the window.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. (((Hugs)))

[Sammycat1]

Friday report: IConlyQVC, thanks for telling us about Koda the Bengal kitty (they are magnificent) and your senior min pin Libby -- and sorry for the loss of Faun. She had a wonderful run of 17 years, cherished by you...but it's never enough, is it?

Next Sunday (April 19) we'll observe the 2nd anniversary of the loss of Schmoo -- something I can't believe even as I type it. In many ways I wish I could have started writing his book earlier, but I wasn't in an emotional place to do it. Even now, some parts are difficult and the sorrow wells up again.

Still, the process takes me back to a time when I had my toughest critic and editor by my side. He had several methods of assessing my work. Sometimes, he'd place a paw on my hand as I typed -- a gentle method of editing. Other times, parts of his body would slump from his desktop bed over the mouse with my hand on it; clearly then my critic believed the work needed some serious adjustments.

And other times, when he knew that what I typed needed a total gut job, he'd place his body over part or all of the keyboard, as in the photo below. Sometimes when a master of critique speaks with his own special language, a writer has to start all over again:

[Tissyanne]

Happy Saturday, and Sunday to all. When we took the newspaper years back my son's first kitty Jennifer loved to "read" with us. Haha. She was a sweet girl, and she taught us a lot about how to run a household. My son was only 4 years old, and she taught him how to turn on the bathroom faucet "on demand." She knew on grocery buying day that there was a can of tuna for her in those sacks. She slept curled up right at my husband's feet, and she knew there was a couple of presents for her under the tree. Sweet memories.

[Tissyanne]

Welcome Koda and Libby!! We are glad to have both of you on board.

[Sammycat1]

Saturday report: Today it was a beautiful, sunny day, so we drove to what we called Schmoo's "ancestral temporary stomping grounds," also known as the shelter from which we adopted him 9 years ago this coming Tuesday. We wanted to take a picture of his pavers.

Our SPCA is going through a capital campaign to renovate -- and you could donate to any portion of the project or to permanent brick pavers in memory of your pet that line the walkway into the shelter. When Schmoo died, we chose both the paver and to donate to the new cat condo rooms in the shelter. The Kitty Sitter also chose a paver.

We hope that long after we've turned to dust and are reunited with our beloved Schmoo, that many other hopeful people will walk right by these pavers and do what we did 9 years ago: adopt the furry love of our lives.

Photo #1 is the Kitty Sitter's paver. Photo #2, with its signature "always and always" comes from the two luckiest pet parents in the world: