OCTOBER 9, 2023

Thank you for the gift of you ~

You ~

You are the carers, the rescuers, the feeders, the mini-vets, the petters, the playmates, the money-pits, 

the home givers, the photographers, the artists, the writers, 

the ones who worry, the ones who cry, the ones who give them so much love yet while knowing 

there will never be enough time with them for all the love you have to give them.

You ~ will hurt and grieve when they are gone.  And yes ~ they will hurt and grieve when you go.

You ~ we often do not see you, but you are there.  

We often do not hear your voice, as you choose to speak for the ones who do not have voices.  

Yet you manage to share with us thoughts and feelings, joy, laughter, happy times and sad times.  You share with us, through them, beauty and creativity and we try to be there to share with you. 

You ~ we thank you for all you have given for so long.  

For all you have given to so many of them.  For all you have given to us.  

You ~ thank you for the gift of you.

Many friends have posted today in honor of Pattie.

Here are links for visiting, and also to a GoFundMe raising funds for Lucky Cat Rescue.

THE CAT BLOGOSPHERE

GO FUND ME

CAT CHAT

CAT ON MY HEAD

EASTSIDE CATS

15 and MEOWING

JANUARY 1, 2023 ~ THE NEW YEAR

We wake to sun streaming in through our windows.  A glorious sunrise over the Inner Harbor and the Bay and ocean beyond that casts a shadowing glow over the holiday decorations still hanging there.  Sun that casts light on June and she, too, glows.  A beautiful new day, to welcome a new year.  It is a wonderful world.

So I share with you my most favorite song, a song loved for more years than I can remember ~ "What A Wonderful World"

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom, For me and you

And I think to myself ~ What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself ~ What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces, of people going by

I see friends shaking hands, saying "how do you do?"

They're really saying "I love you"

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow

They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know

And I think to myself ~ What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself

What a wonderful world

Oh yeah

~ ~ ~

May you find wonder in each day of your new year.

_________________________________________________________________

"What A Wonderful World" is a jazz song written by Bob Thiele (writing as George Douglas) and George David Weiss.  It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967 as a single, which topped the pop charts in the United Kingdom.  Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.  The publishing for this song is controlled by Memory Lane Music Group, Carlin Music Corp., and BMG Rights Management.  Lyrics (c) BMG Rights Management, CONCORD Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs

RETROSPECTIVE ~ DECEMBER 31, 2022

 

A retrospective of Zoolatry 2022.

Our headers change month to month, and sometimes within the month,

mostly because we so enjoy playing with photo art.

Favorite posts from each month.

Below ~ our year round footer, and holiday season footer.

My thanks to one and all who take time from busy lives and busy days to visit here, to add a comment ~ it means a great deal to me, and I am glad to have you in my life.  

Blogging has been more than photos, art and words out there on a page in the internet ~ through this blog I have found real friendships, often harder to do when one is in those golden years.  I've had the privilege and joy to meet many of you in person.  

Others we have shared long phone conversations, getting to know one another.  And then there is the sharing of our stories by email.  Though we may never be able to meet, to share a warm hug, it matters not that much, because a bond has been formed and it is a good one for me and I hope for you as well. 

I feel blessed by you for you have made my life better, fuller, more complete. 

Let's raise a paw to 2023 with the hope that it will be better for one and all.

Happy New Year! 

REFLECTIONS on SADNESS

This image was meant to be our Caturday art picture for tomorrow, but somehow it seems to fit my mood and feelings today.  

And now I also plan to skip posting tomorrow anyway ~

In many ways it has been a difficult week.  It may seem a bit silly to some, but I personally was quite saddened with the death of Queen Elizabeth II and watched all the pomp and pageantry of the ceremonies for her.  Ever since my grandmother had brought me miniature Buckingham Palace Royal Guard replica toys as a seven-year old, all things royal have fascinated me over the years.

But so many other things, much closer to home and heart happened this week.

I began designing Forever Memory images for pets who had crossed their Rainbow Bridge perhaps ten years ago, or more.  Many from early days were lost due to computer crashes, no cloud or other back up systems.  Since 2015 though all have been carefully saved and number well over a thousand. Mostly cats and dogs, but there is the occasional bunny, bird, hamster or guinea pig among them.  And there have been our human friends as well ~ the ones who actually do the blogs, faces sometimes hidden, sometimes not known at all, other times known very well.  Speaking to us through their pets, and from their hearts.  People we rarely meet, but connect with.

And sometimes, with great sorrow, I am asked to make an image in their memory when their time arrives to cross the human bridge.

These images are not easy and are most difficult when they are known to me and then the heartache of loss becomes more real and personal. Yet whether I am familiar or not with person or pet, every image takes a bit of my own heart away as the loss touches me in a way I cannot fully describe. Many were lost to us this week, without pomp and pageantry.

And for others this week, including myself, memories of past loss came to the forefront. With all came sorrow.

Our Rainbow Friends

remembers the pets lost to us during August.

Carole from Katie Isabella

is grieving the loss of her son, Erich to cancer.

Ellen from 15 and Meowing

is mourning the loss of her sister, Vanessa to cancer.

Sharon from Friends FurEver

lost her dear husband, Bill to cancer, five years ago this week.

This coming Sunday,

it will be ten years ago, that my husband, Vic

passed away following his long battle with cancer.

It was not my intent to focus on cancer, it just happened that way.  

But it is a pervasive evil in so many forms, attacking indiscriminately.

And many fight against it even as I write. 

This week, yes, it has been close to home and heart.

Please be kind and generous to those whose hearts are hurting.

Thank you.

We step away now for a few days, returning on September 19.