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#AtoZChallenge: Kittens
Tikey at the point of adoption 😉 Photo © Diane Weidenbenner There is something irresistable about kittens. Those small bundles of fur and purr are God’s gift and blessing to us. Even people who don’t like cats usually admit that kittens are adorable. Kittens are small and cuddly. Their claws, while sharp, are usually tiny and therefore not painful and rarely penetrate skin or clothing. I love it when kittens yawn. Their faces scrunch up, they close their eyes and they show every single tooth in their head. And, their little pink tongues look like flower petals that have curled. They are used to getting everything they want or need…
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A to Z Challenge: “Z”iggy, the hedgehog
On April 16, I attended an Earth Day celebration where I work, sponsored by White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. It’s my all-time favorite event and there is something for everyone. I met a new friend at this year’s event, while I was helping to staff the baked goods area. His name is Ziggy. He is a pet hedgehog. He is ADORABLE! I’ve seen a sign, advertising pet hedgehogs at a local pet shop in town. I couldn’t imagine having one, until now. Ziggy’s “parents” were a lovely couple who brought him to Earth Day. He enjoyed being held and also, literally, hung out of a backpack as the two walked…
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A to Z Challenge: “R”elaxation
My husband looks longingly at our cats and our dog, when they sleep. He says, “Wouldn’t it be great to be that relaxed?!” It’s like they abandon all striving and let their kittie/puppy dream states take over. Once in awhile you’ll see them twitch or whimper – I think one of them is having a bad dream but he or she could just as easily be chasing the bird/squirrel of their choice. I recently had a knee replacement and this meant that I had to sleep on my back, with my leg elevated on a pillow, above my heart. Talk about uncomfortable! It’s hard enough to get to sleep after…
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A to Z Challenge: “K”itties gone bad
Being an animal lover, I couldn’t help posting some older photos of some of the cats that we’ve had (and still have), doing amazing things. So, thank you for indulging me with this lighter post that is mostly photos. Hope you enjoy them as much as I had captioning them!
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“R”est
Photo by Diane Weidenbenner. My husband looks longingly at our cats and our dog, when they sleep. He says, “Wouldn’t it be great to be that relaxed?!” It’s like they abandon all striving and let their kittie/puppy dream states take over. Once in awhile you’ll see them twitch or whimper – I think one of them is having a bad dream but he or she could just as easily be chasing the bird/squirrel of their choice. I recently had a knee replacement and this meant that I had to sleep on my back, with my leg elevated on a pillow, above my heart. Talk about uncomfortable! It’s hard enough to…
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Living with cats: Is your cat on Instagram?
Tikey is one handsome cat! Who could he be connecting with on Instagram? Skype? I read this article, “Is Your Cat on Instagram,” and for a minute I thought, “I hope not!” If he or she is, I’m not aware of what they are posting. Then, this idea took me to Twitter, Facebook and of all things, Skyping. After all, my laptop does have a camera and mic. It would be quite easy for my cats to participate in any of these social media outlets. And, I would never know! How do I ensure that my cats and dogs are safe on the Internet? That they are not being phished…
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Blogging A to Z: G-enes or “Who’s your daddy…?”
Genes are a miraculous thing. I know for example that I received my green eyes and red hair from my dad’s side of the family. And, I’ve got my love of learning and my bad temper from my mom’s genetic pool. There are probably a lot more gene combinations in my make-up that I don’t even realize. Hershey, our 5-year-old puppy. Take our adopted dog, Hershey, for example. He’s a beautiful black and brown color with a touch of gray on his chest, tummy and chin (which you’d see if his tongue wasn’t in the way). He’s 70 pounds of pure muscle with a German Shepherd tail and what I…
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Blogging A to Z: C-ats and Dogs
Update to knee replacement surgery – I cannot sleep with any pets in our bed the night before surgery, through six weeks after surgery, according to the “class.” Of course I will follow the instructions prior to surgery because I want a successful outcome. And, if at all possible, I’ll try to adhere to the rule afterwards. Ollie is the “vocal” kitty in our household. He is 11 years old this May so as a senior citizen, he’s allowed! As it stands now, Hershey, our 70-lb. dog, sleeps in the living room because he has eaten four or more comforters. Apparently he wakes up and gets bored while we sleep.…
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St. Francis
I’ve always loved animals. When I was young, we had turtles, a Welsh Corgi and my parents raised and showed English Springer Spaniels. Today, my husband and I have one dog, Hershey (although he prefers to think of himself as a person), and four cats (three are rescues). I shared this love of animals with a good friend of mine, Becky, who passed away last year from lymphoma. She was with me when I spied Hershey as a puppy and was supportive of Joe and me adopting him. Did you know that St. Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1182-1126, felt he could communicate with animals and that he was…
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Blogging from A to Z: Hershey, an apology
Hershey, age 2 months, during his formative years. Note: Hershey is our 2-year-old Australian cattle dog/labrador retriever mix dog. Joe and I are first-time dog owners and we thought it was necessary in our puppy’s development for him to learn the importance of an earnest apology. Here, printed in its entirety, is his letter to Dish Network. Yes, he dictated it to me and I typed it, otherwise the company would not have been able to read his paw-writing. He insisted on us using a younger photo of him although he now weighs in at 51 pure-muscle pounds. Dear spare parts coordinator: My name is Hershey and I am 2…
