From my front porch and other places at home 3

Today as I sit on my porch, I am very sad.
Our dear old dog, Ruffy took ill yesterday and
had to be put to sleep.
We have buried him in the back garden in a favourite
spot and beside our other old dog, who we lost several
years ago.
 
I am missing him so much, it feels so sad and strange
here today without him.
 

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Thinking of you Sandy, would you like to share a photo of him - I have several “burial plots” too, 4 cats, 1 rabbit and several fish - I planted Rosemary for Remebrance on the grave for my cat.
Sending hugs and light to you and Ruffy

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Oh, thankyou so much Tai ,for your hugs and light for Ruffy and me.
 
I shall put a photo up, when I feel a bit stronger -it is all too fresh,
at the moment.
Tomorrow I shall tend his grave and perhaps plant something too.
He is alongside our other old dog and we also have two cats-and
a fish-in our garden.
 
It is nice for them to be able to be where they so loved being:)

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Know what you mean, when you're ready - I like the idea of the cats being buried in the spots where they used to lie and soak up the sun, it feels natural and right to be close to them…..I put really pretty stones to mark the burial at first, then did the planting at a later date when I was ready…
Animals become true family members and are so loved, it's like they know what we are thinking sometimes
sending rainbows to you both…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I love the rainbows and so agree with you, Tai.
Animals become part of our family and are loved deeply.
 
It is strange yet lovely- that when we buried our cat Spooky,
I actually felt her presence and felt as if I could see her,
sitting beside her grave, not in it.
But then, she was pretty spooky -by name and nature!

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Sometimes my son and I think we feel the presence of our cats, sometimes it is very strong. I think we keep their spirits close to our heart and our dreamtime is sometimes spent with our animal friends and companions. One of our cats when she died looked radiant, young and very beautiful just after death and it was a wonderful feeling being able to tune into this, I felt such overwhelming gladness for her that the struggle was over, the final letting go and relaxation that she experienced.  That is such a wonderful experience that you had Sandy, there is so much evidence that we are not just a body, but a sort of casing for soul's light…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I love the way you have put that Tai ~
“a casing for soul's light” .
 
And I do think cats are perhaps more “tuned into us” than any
other animal.
Perhaps we do share our dreamtime with them -although with Spooky,'I was
not asleep and still see her sometimes, sitting there, grooming herself.
 But, as I said, she was a very special, black cat !
 
And of course there is a certain amount of folk-lore about black
cats- and witches? -I believe?

 
 
 

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Dreamtime, can be like a state of daytime meditation too….it's when you are in a receptive frame of mind. Black cats and witches - that's another story….. the one who visits me is black - maybe he thinks I'm a wise woman (:0)

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Dear Sandy, we pray for you and Ruffy sending Love and Light… My old dog Andi, which left in December 2000, keeps visiting with me in my dreams and he warns me before something is happening… I remember in 2001 when I got Bisu, during the night I had a dream with Andi trying to escape from a chain and it was so weird that I woke up… Bisu was making a foam around her mouth and shaking in her sleep, she was one month old… so I holded her till morning and she got better after… But I woke up because Andi came in my dream… They are gardian angels… in tis world and the other… Hugs…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Dearest Sandy, I'm so sorry for your loss. It will feel sad and strange for quite a while I'm sure. I don't know if my family and I will ever not miss our fiery little cat, Splat, who died in January. My son was just telling me yesterday how lonely he feels without him.

Love and hugs,

Nicole

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Thankyou too, dear Nicole -it sure does feel sad and strange today-
and I sitll keep expecting to see him.
I guess you are right, although the pain of parting eases, we never
really stop missing them -and feel lonely for them, as your son does.

Love ,
Sandy

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Do you have other pets, sandy? Our cat Chelsea has been a great comfort to us since our other cat died. We've been fussing over her and loving her up overtime.

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

No, not anymore, Nicole -
our cat Spooky died from old age last year-
and Ruffy was our last dog.

I feel very, very lost without any pets, having always had them,
and of course am tempted to get another dog or cat (or both!)
-but I won't, for now at least.

I just don't want to have to go through the pain of losing them again.

S :(

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Hi Sandy

I know exactly how you feel, we were the same.  My son keeps asking for another cat, but I say no at the present time.  Next door's cat visits and this is fine, I enjoy his company.  My neighbours have just had 2 kittens after they had to have their cat put to sleep, they thought someone had poisoned him.  They waited 3 months before they had the kittens….no doubt I will meet them soon, they've called them Mittens and Guiness - their last cat was Murphy!

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I am glad you understand Tai.
I am just too hurt at the moment -and I had so much love for
them - I just don't want a replacement.

I am SO grateful for all the loving, caring people who have been
so kind to me -both here and on Facebook.
I have been talking there with a friend of yours, Meho.
He said he misses you and I told him he should come over here
again more too.

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Hi Sandy

Yes, that's the feeling, maybe it passes, maybe not….
Perhaps he will come and play here soon (Meho), think he's on quite a few networks…
We're feeding “Vinegar” and his brother “Salt” this week, so Vinegar in particular is a regular visitor.

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

You are lucky Tai -to still have contact at least -
I would like that -but at the moment -it really hurts me to
see people walk past with their dogs!

Gorgeous cat- very much like my Spooky was!
Thanks for the photo :)

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

One of our cats was black, my brother called him after the actor Timothy Dalton, Timmy for short, he used to go for walks with us, did Spooky do that too…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Timmy -lol- I like that !
No Spooky was very spooky and weird -sometimes I think she used to
think she was a dog-
and at others like a real spook.
She used to hide in the garden and when someone would visit and walk down the steps- she would jump out at them and spook them!

I have even got a drawing I did of her, when one night, she
lept up on the wall and did a back-flip-
she certainly used to keep us entertained!

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Your “Spooky” sounds like she was such a character - would have like to see her in action….  I had a cat who used to “sing” when I played recorder or keyboards.  She used to jump on my knee or get as close as she could to my face and howl - her pupils went all black and dilated and her eyes widened, maybe she was trying to tell me something or she actually liked “singing” ….

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I know that feeling, sandy, I am so reluctant to get another cat… Hugs

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Thankyou so much, Asteri -I am feeling the warmth from the
light and love being sent to me.

That is very special, to hear of your old dog Andi -visiting and warning you-
and it is proof indeed that they become guardian angels :)
I am so glad you shared you story with us and that you have become
a member of our pod!

(((hugs)))

Sandy

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

This is a photo of Spooky, the last one I took of her.

I know I couldn't replace her personality !!

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Oh, what big eyes you have on this picture Spooky - I can just imagine her jumping out at people and spooking them! 

Our last cat used to enjoy running up and down stairs and chasing his tail, then sometimes growling 'cause he could never catch it…

this is one of Scooter's last pictures - he was such a joyful cat and loved his cuddles…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

she did have big eyes and a lovely lithe form. Thanks for sharing the picture, and Tai, what a great picture of your Scooter too,

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Yes- she did have big eyes, Nicole and Tai !
( All the better to spook you with!! )
She was getting old in that photo and although she
was always a tiny cat- she was even smaller in the last few years.

Scooter does look like a lovely pussy cat too :)

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Today -as yesterday, my back porch is my primary place of looking out!
For, now the season is slowly changing, that is where the early morning
sunshine is -and I love to follow the sun!

My back porch is so tiny, I usually sit on the steps and have a coffee,
and it is a nice change to view the back yard -although it is a constant
reminder of all the pruning I still have to do!!
But I have made a good start -everything had got really overgrown on
me -due to my injuries -so it is an absolute pleasure to count my
blessing, in knowing I CAN work in the garden again.

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I love to follow the sun too, when I was drumming outdoors yesterday in my garden I closed my eyes and let the sun “bathe” them - it's a good feeling to be able to do this after the cold winter months. 
 I too have much gardening to do, ended up preparing soil and sowing a few seeds yesterday.  The back patio area at the moment full with pots, compost, and watering cans.  The planters are having a refill of fresh compost - all the old dead stuff is being dealt with, and a little TLC and nurture is being given to pep things up a bit. 
Enjoyed a picnic on our lawn with friends on Sunday and sharing  each other's food - sort of symbolic…and I've eaten my lunches outside on the patio for the last few days, enjoying the sound of the birds and bees

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Sounds beautiful Tai -from your patio !

Strange to think of us, you are doing your post winter gardening tidy up,
as I do my pre-winter chores -for each season there are a variety of tasks
in our garden's!

I do not plant as much as I used to, as we had to change our style of
gardening, due to the water restrictions.
It was survival of the fittest, for a lot of my plants and of course
the natives are the best for that.
We now have limited sprinkling again, but I can no longer justify
using the water I was used to. I so loved being able to go out and
hose- it was very relaxing and unwinding-but now I would just feel
guilty!
We have become entoctrined to the way of limiting our use of water
and appreciate the precious comodity that it is.

Our rainfall can be erratic and has changed much,over the years- we
used to be able to reply on our summer storms, but now, still,
to much of our country is gripped in drought.

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

the earth is changing so much and we are slowly adjusting the changes.  Here the summers for the last few years have been very wet, so it's not often the water butts become empty.  I think the plants have a lot of adjusting to do too, sending their roots deeper into the earth to “tap” into the water table as our water supply becomes more and more precious …..

Sending gratitude to water to this our most precious “home”

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Yes, the earth, our very planet, is our most precious home
of all.
If only everyone could see it that way ! They would show the same
respect for the environment as they do to their homes.

They wouldn't trash them ( well, I know there are a few exceptions)-
so why do they trash and show no respect for our home in the universe?

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

When I arrived home yesterday -I was so delighted to find the
most beautiful bouquet of flowers, delivered inter-flora -from my
daughters, for Mother's Day.

As they live far away -they couldn't be with me, but to receive
my wonderful flowers and have the lasting joy from them,
made it all worth while :)

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Hi Sandy, good to see you and such beautiful flowers, Happy Mothers Day for yesterday.  In England we celebrated on the 22nd March, which was a double celebration as it was my mum's birthday on the 20th. 

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

hello and thankyou Tai.
It is strange that it is not a universal date -but lovely for your Mum-
a double celebration indeed !

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I didn't even know 'till I saw it on Gaia, I thought it was a universal day!   I wonder why we celebrate on different days..

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I don't know the answer to that Tai -like you -it wasn't till I saw it
up here that I knew there WERE different days!

Of course, there would be many Countries that don't even have
a Mother's Day -it would have to be native to Western Culture.
Seeing how it is exploited to the max- just as every other celebration is!
Perhaps that is one good place for everyone to reduce expenses and live
not only more simply, but more realistically.
It is in our own power to make these changes and teach the next generation
that expensive gifts and cards are NOT the way to share our hearts,
to give of ourselves -that these are massive marketing ploys-

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

I agree with you about the marketing ploy, it is good to show love all the time, like having birthdays all year - get togethers are good and letting our families and friends know that they are appreciated is good too.  Don't think my son has “bought” into the mass media thing, which is good, he understands that giving a hug and showing appreciation is a good way to show his love…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Well, it sounds like you have been doing a great job of raising you're
son, Tai!
That is the key, isn't it -to teach our children well, and sadly there are
too many parents that have never had the experience themselves, to pass on.

There is nothing nicer or more special than getting together with one's
family -and for people like me, with my family away -we truly appreciate
those times.
I say to everyone, who do have the family close by,to love and appreciate
them everyday -as they just don;t know how lucky they are!

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

If anyone reading this hasn't phoned their mum/dad/sister/brother/friend in a while do it today or visit and give your time and love and a big hug - my son said “ooohhh that was good” when I gave him a hug this morning…it gives a wonderful warm glow and opens our hearts to give and to receive…

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Tai and sandy, there's an interesting article explaining why Mother's Day is celebrated on different dates around the world… Mother's Day


Love,


Nicole

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Thanks Nicole, will go and check out the Mother's Day link - Why does Mother's Day get celebrated on different dates around the world ……

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Well, that was a very interesting link and explanation of
Mother's Day -thankyou Nicole !
So it appears there are amost two versions of the day-
with the American version differing from the day that obviously
originated in England and Europe-

Well, without being disrespectful and without any intent -
it is said that the American's will claim anything as there own!
And same of Australia -and Kiwi's ( New Zealander's) who come over
here and are successful ( especially in the music industry) -are
immediately claimed as Australian's -lol !

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

lol so true sandy!

hugs,

Nicole

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

Glad you agreed with me -Nicole -in a nice way of course!

Well -nobody has claimed me -as yet- lol -as today I find it
a little difficult to sit on my front porch-
due to the rain blowing that way!
Oh, well, it is nice and snug at my computer and I can share the
warmth of my internet friends.

While -the earth will soak up the rains that we have been waiting for,
and the garden will grow a little more- as of course will the lawns!!

Re: From my front porch and other places at home 3

our grass is growing so fast! we have had a lot of rain, and sun both.

Hugs,

Nicole