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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Pumpkins and Spiders

Sweet potato fries and chipotle catsup. Margaritas. Those are good things. Watching the doctor put a big needle in John's knee and draw off 3 vials of fluid. That is hard to watch. So the treat above was a small reward. Now he is resting. Somewhat.

My favorite winter squash, drying in the sun. He had to get those harvested since the temperatures turned frosty last night.

My mood is decidedly autumnal today. Saying good-bye to so many beautiful things growing in the garden that will leave us soon with the first killing frost.

There is so much that is beautiful in the world.

Good-bye little tree frog. I won't be seeing you guys again for many months.

Good-bye Fairy Roses. I'll miss your sweet, uplifting vision of summer. Your clusters on my table top.

Good-bye, yellow hollyhocks. I'll miss your sunny faces outlined against a cold, blue sky.

I'll miss the blue salvia, offering her sustenance to honeybees and other winged things.

And the echinacae. That elegant form, that medicinal gift of nature.

Farewell, rag tag sunflowers. You have fed the birds and given us much beauty to enjoy.

And this boy. I sat outside in the sunshine with him for an hour today. On Monday we will say good-bye to our dear Hermanito when an angel of mercy comes to our house with an injection that will deliver him to his final rest. It is a heavy day here. And filled with so much love for our friend who has given us so much comfort and companionship for so many years. This good-bye is the hardest of all.

Please take a moment and swing over to Allegra's site and leave a comment on her latest blog entry. She is donating $1 to KIVA for every comment; it will only take you a moment. Bless you for helping others, for caring, and thank you, Allegra. If we each do a little bit we can effect enormous change.

41 comments:

Maija said...

I am so sorry about your darling boy!!

Rella said...

Sweet good bye to your precious boy.......love to you on the hardest of all partings. xo Rella

Carmen said...

I'm so sorry about your sweet kitty. (((hugs)))

Beautiful pictures.

Love and blessings,

Carmen

Kelly Kilmer said...

{{hugs}}

I know how hard it is.

LK said...

Oh, I am so sorry about your kitty-boy. xo

Anonymous said...

I am so, so sorry for your little guy. You are both brave and compassionate pet owners to take him so softly.

I feel the same way about my garden: I can't bear to say good bye to it yet.

misty said...

i am so sorry, i know how much it hurts and will keep hurting for a long time, these creatures are such a huge part of our lives and are always there for us... it's the hardest thing to say goodbye to them.

i had a dream about you last night, you met my family and i met yours, it was sweet. when i woke i told kevin and he told me about his dream, it was about our first cat together, she was there in his dream, dressed up like the easter bunny...(she was silly like that) it's been six years since she left us... i think of her with much love. thinking of you. xo

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your parting with sweet Hermanito. And sad to hear about John's knee! Ouchie. I'm sending you comforting thoughts of cozy days coming up in your studio.... When one door closes another one opens.

Chris said...

oh,my.

it's so difficult.
sending a big hug.

Anna Bartlett said...

Geez, I'm allergic to cats, and I've teared up just thinking of you losing yours. I'm just so sorry.

Jonna said...

from one who has been through letting go of many 4 legged family members (and another in the very near future) I know how hard it sometimes is to let them go. My thoughts will be with you in the coming week. A quote I've always loved "They are not lost who live in our hearts forever". He will always be with you.

Stephanie Lee said...

It seems as though your little man (Hermanito) has brought much joy and light in to your already love-filled light. What a blessing.
I send you hugs through this transition...I'm one to ache very deeply for my passed companions so I can only imagine the process it has been/will be.
OXOXOX!!!

Stephanie Lee said...

I meant "love-filled LIFE".
oxox

Savannah said...

Oh, Judy... I'm sorry that John is having knee trouble. And I am SO supremely sorry about Hermanito. My cats (and dog) are my children... I can't imagine... My heart will be with the three of you on Monday. xoxo, Shari

Kelly Snelling said...

oh. oh. i'm so sorry. so,so sad sorry. well. now i'm gonna cry for a while and think of you with love in a heavy heart.

Ro Bruhn said...

I feel for you Judy. We went through the same thing last month with our eighteen year old darling. We still expect to see her waiting for her dinner when we arrive home, but she's happy now.

Carol Soules said...

So very sorry Judy. I went thru a similar thing a few months back with my beautiful 4 year young Maine Coon. My heart goes out to you.
Blessings,
Carol in Mass.

Candace said...

Judy, My true condolences and good kind thoughts to you and John and your Hermanito. Goodbye, good boy.
Peace and kindness.

femminismo said...

Judy - So sorry to hear about Hermanito. A kiss for your aching heart.
And sorry John had knee problems. My Mister is having knee surgery next month. I will remember the sweet potato fries and chipotle catsup cure. Don't you love the McMenamins' for having those things?

Anonymous said...

sweet boy- what a loving pet owner you are. I am sending you some Ca. love, and hugs, and prayers.

Toni said...

Holy Ouch! followed by healing thoughts for John. Thank goodness we have Autumn to lead us, however reluctantly, into winter. As for me, the CHILL that finally arrived here over the weekend had me doing run-run-leaps all over the patio! (altho' it will be back to high 90's by Wednesday, sigh).

A sweet and heartwrenched farewell to Hermanito, who I dreamed about last Thursday, romping with my own Zoe.

kat said...

i am so very sorry to hear that your sweet kitty will be moving on to his next journey. my heart breaks for you and your husband.

Anonymous said...

I was amazed when our cat died (of a heart attack in my husband's arms) at how devastated I was. Pets have a way of touching our souls, especially cats. Yours looks so lovely.
Hermanito's been lucky to have you. John is lucky to have you - and so are we!

Unknown said...

My heart goes out to all of you as you say goodbye to your much loved friend! Sending hugs your way.

Elizabeth said...

What a beautiful cat.
I do sympathise with you.
Our lovely Gomez was with us for 18 years before we had to do the right thing by her.
So sad.

Tara's Art Camp said...

Warm thoughts and hugs today as you send your loved one on. My kitty will soon have to follow. Sweet pets bring us so much love, we can learn a lot from them.
Peace and blessings,
Tara

Tracie Lyn Huskamp said...

OH JUDY... I am SO SORRY! Much Peace and Light today and the difficult days to come!

XO!

Anonymous said...

My heartfelt sympathies--even in photos, Hermanito's special nature shone through.

Kim Rae Nugent said...

Judy & John,
My heartfelt sympathy to the both of you. It is a brave and kind way to say goodbye.
Hugs Kim

Heather, paperfollies.typepad.com said...

thinking of you and wishing you sweet, sweet memories of your Hermanito. xoxoxo

Linda Womack said...

Oh Judy, I am so, so sorry about Hermanito! The waiting is the worst part. My heart goes out you and John. Saying goodbye is never easy...

Supria Karmakar said...

Judy, I am sorry to hear about your kitty...we had to do the same to our little on two years back and I am saddened to know that his brother, from the same litter is probably on that path too ...he is slowing down and sleeping lots...we will miss our lovely four legged friends so....
I love your work and blog...thanks for sharing..I hope to see you again at the 3rd Annual Encaustic Conference next June, if you are going?
Supria

Joanie Hoffman said...

Thank you for the beautiful pictures (starting with the margaritas!, the boy at the end is the most beautiful.
Best,
Joanie

Carol Sloan said...

I am so sorry about your baby kitty. This summer my kitty boy (of about 14 years) fell silent during an afternoon nap under swaying daylilies...this is one time that Time truly is the great healer.

Jeannie said...

My heart goes out to you. I have had to make that decision and I will be facing it again in the future. Even though you know it is the right thing to do, your heart still feels like it is being squeezed. You are in my thoughts.

katie said...

oh judy, i just read your post - my heart is filled with love for hermanito, for you and john. he will be deeply missed i know...
i carry you with me always, deeply in my heart.xoxo

Unknown said...

Oh my. My heart hurts for you. I am so sorry to hear. They take up such space in our hearts and lives...sending warm thoughts your way.

xo,
~Amy

Meri said...

I know the pain you are feeling. I had to say goodbye to my precious Peaches in August. I still turn and catch site of his orange tabby majesty out of the corner of my eye. He died with his eyes open, convincing me that he wanted to see where he was going. I hope my cuddling and crooning helped ease his transition. Like you, I had to honor him by posting his picture on my blog.

Diane said...

Such beautiful pictures, and such sorrow for your kitty~ He looked like a beautiful boy.

julie king said...

oh my heart goes out to you. i know it is hard to say goodbye. i fear we will be facing a similar situation soon with our 16 year old min schnauzer presley. so sad.

voodoo vixen said...

Sorry for your sad loss, he will always have a place in your heart.