Spike 1998-2011 The BEST Cat in the World

I did the hardest thing I have ever done this morning. I said goodbye to the very best cat in the world. I love all my animals, but Spike was special and he knew it and so did everyone who knew him. The vet said I did all I could do and that yes, it was time to let go. I gave him an hour out in the yard, which he loved so much. It is all brown and shady, but he did not care, he perked up for a few minutes, it was the best I could do for the last morning of his life.

I have many stories of Spike, but I will tell you a few. Once I had a peeping tom and it was back when I only had Spike and Mr. B his brother (who passed six months ago). Spike was on the window sill and he was going crazy. Yowling and carrying on, I went and looked out and saw a man in a ski mask and called the police. Spikee my watch cat.

The first time I ever let him out in my yard he literally jumped up and clicked his back heels in joy. I will never forget that, the image is forever in my mind.

Spike liked to cuddle with me at night, he was my snuggle bunny and I will miss that more than I can say. He also liked to get up on my chest, right in my face and give me what I called kitty massages. I don't know what I will do with out him, I really don't.

Spike was a super smart, loving, friendly cat, he was my love and I will never forget him.

I do not believe in death, I think the spirit moves on and no one will ever convince me otherwise, but Spike is gone from me, from here and that is what I grieve. I am so grateful that I had him 1 year and 4 months past his expiration date (the day he had kidney failure) due to the subQ fluids I gave him and changing his food. To all of you out there with cats, please feed them mostly wet, grain free, preferably organic food with no by products, it could save their lives, this is something I did not know. I believe the reason my two cats died early was because I fed them all dry non organic food. Yes, the wet does cost a small fortune, but if I can do it anyone can. Don't say you were not educated about it, because now you are :-), there is much on the web about this just google it. I owe it to the memory of Spike to pass on this information.

I am closing with a prayer for grace, that I won't be sad forever.

Spike and I both thank you for your many prayers over the past two years.

Love and hugs. XOXO

Prayers for Spikee

Spike actually came out from under the bed this afternoon and sat on the sofa in the sun, I took this photo. I am thinking I may not have the chance to take many more. I do believe in miracles though and I have decided to do all I can this weekend to save his life. One day he seems better the next day not, so I am giving him another week maybe a little less or more and then I will be taking him to the vet and he will likely be put out of his misery. If he cannot have any joy in his life then I can't keep him alive just so I won't miss him. I won't let him suffer for months until he goes on his own by starving. I know what is going on is his kidneys and I know we have already done all we can do. By giving him fluids I have prolonged his life by 1 year and 4 months and I am so grateful for that. I have been thinking a lot about letting go and about getting old and dying. Finding a way to come to peace about it all. I am at peace what ever I need to do for Spike, we are taking it one day, one minute at a time. Today was a pretty good day. I appreciate all of your prayers and good thoughts, please continue :-). I will fight for my little guy, but I also want to know in my heart when to give up that fight and let him go. Love. XOXO

Book Love and an Early Animal Wednesday

Kj, sent the book she wrote to Lori, lovely Lori sent it to me. I loved it! It is a must read for all romantics. Soulful and beautifully written about a married woman with kids who falls in love with another woman and also gets cancer. It is sad, but has it's happy moments too. To me it is about listening to your heart and being true to yourself no matter what. I will be passing it on to Becky, who will pass it on as well...If you would like to buy Kj's book, go HERE.

This is Zoe, my new cat. She has become a real member of the family and she is a doll baby :-).

Thank you everyone for prayers and good thoughts for Spike, he seems a tiny bit better and at least is not getting worse. Keep saying those prayers.

And just a reminder, my 15% off Spring sale in my ETSY shop is over in 3 days! Just type chick in the coupon window at check out to get the 15% off all items. Happy Week!! XOXO

Hodge Podge and a Winner of the Give Away

Happy Birthday to me :-). These are my newest feather/bud vases, all small about 2" to 3", but I had to re clear gloss them, so they are going back to the kiln. poop.

The winner of my give away is (drum roll please) the wonderful and talented Lynn. I will pick out something specially for you dear heart.

In other totally unrelated news, I had a dream and in my dream an older very famous artist (no one real, this was a character made up in my dream by me) told me that I needed to blog less and do art more. I am taking this to heart. I have already slowed down my blogging, and posting but I will be slowing down even more, so if I don't visit as much please forgive me. What with working full time, my four animals and life in general there seems to be so little time to do what I love most, so blogging will have take a back seat.

And last but not least, please pray for my little Spike, he is hardly eating and hiding under the bed, he is the cat with the kidney problems, the one I give subQ fluids to. I have been giving him fluids daily and he seemed to get better, but now seems to be getting worse. I know in the sea of misery that is Japan and the world this seems small, but he is the love of my life and it would mean the world to me if you could just send up a small prayer or good thought for him. Thank you.

And don't forget 15% off all items in my ETSY shop for one more week, just type in chick when the coupon window pops up at check out.

Happy Saint Paddy's! XOXO

News About Town

This is a photo of the wonderful flowers that my beautiful and talented friend Becky brought to me yesterday as an early birthday gift. She also brought other goodies and took me to lunch. We had a lovely day hiking, eating and looking in shops. One sad thing is that a dream died yesterday. There is a gallery here that I have always wanted to show in and one that I came very close to showing in, but then the world turned upside down and the owner had some personal issues come up and I feel that is why it did not come to fruition, though I will never know for sure exactly why it never came to be. Anyway I have never given up, but yesterday I discovered that the gallery owner has moved into a tiny space and has dropped his artists except for two. I know this has everything to do with what is going on in the world. I have to let this dream die now.

In another way it helps me to trust in my gut as this is the very same gallery I was offered a job in as director and due to my lack of enthusiasm and desire for the job, it was given to another. I would now be out of a job had I got it, so even though many thought I was a bit nuts at the time, I am happy I was honest with the gallery owner. It all worked out just the way it should. SO I have to trust that there is a bigger, better place out there for my art.

Also I have decided as a special love offering for my bloggy friends I am offering an extra 5% off all things in my ETSY shop, for a total of 15% off. Just type in chick in the coupon window at check out. And don't forget to enter my giveaway by leaving a comment on the post below.

Happy Sunday!! XOXO

An Almost Spring Give Away and Sale

I am not giving away this vase, I just like it :-), but I am giving away something ceramic and I like it to be a surprise. I feel like with Spring coming I want to have a sale and make room for the new stuff that I am making, so from now until march 23rd I will be giving 10% off all items in my ETSY shop. All you have to do is type in Spring in the coupon code window at check out. To win the surprise give away just leave a comment on this post. I will draw a winner next Thursday March 17Th which just happens to be my birthday :-). Happy Wednesday! XOXO

New Vases

These are the porcelain vases I showed you a while back, all fired and ready to go to my ETSY site. These are small to tiny. If you should want one or need a price, just email me. I will start putting them on my ETSY site in the next few days. Happy Monday! XOXO

For the Love of Words

I have been thinking about words a lot because of my new art project and I made a list of some of my favorites, I love them because of the way they roll off my tongue and some for how they make me feel. I would love it if you gave me a list of some of yours too!
Stunning
Ecstasy
askew
bliss
adventure
wonder
abound
smitten
glitter
quirky
eccentric
joy
dream
goat
jazz
cloudbursts
fluffy
button
tinker
yes
whimsy
rocket
bemused
poet
grace
dazzle
sparkle
kiss
wander
I almost forgot, Bohemian!
I am going to stop now, because I could go on a long, long time. Happy Sunday!!! xoxo

Adventures in Hiking

You may remember I told you all I had to find a new hiking/running spot and I have. The above photos are of my views as I hike, thought you might enjoy. I snuck in a photo of my hiking buddy, Zeus and also a photo of my reward for an hour and a half hike, hot chocolate with chili.

Today, I am beginning a huge art project and I won't say what it is yet, but I will show you as it goes. I am so excited I can't sleep for thinking about it. I will give a hint, it is porcelain sculpture and it involves words. And Mim you inspired it. Happy Saturday! XOXO

P.S. I took these photos with my new Canon point and shoot!

Animal Wednesday (Zoe's Great Adventure)

I just got back from dropping Zoe off at the vet's, she is getting spayed today. She has turned out to be a very sweet little girl. Not real friends with the boys yet, but that may change after today.

Spike does not care a fig about her, but Max is in love and is very upset that she is gone today. It is so cute to see him swoon over her :-). I am not sure Zeus even knows she is alive as he has loss of hearing and can not see too well either!

In other news, I will stop whining and get on with it. It seems I will be getting a camera for my upcoming birthday :-). Thanks mom. I will be shopping for it today. Thank you all for your kind words and kJ thank you for your words on my account :-). Happy Animal Wednesday! XOXO