National Love Your Pet Day

I didn’t even know there existed a “National Love Your Pet Day” but apparently, it’s today!  So here I am, because who doesn’t love their pets?  You know I love the bunnies and other wildlife in my yard, but they’re not pets in the traditional sense.  Better said, they’re what I consider part of my extended animal family.  Well, those and the many dogs who live nearby and walk past my home with their owners.  I love to sneak in a little puppy love from time to time as they walk by.  It’s a nice change considering I have cats who do not walk on leashes, nor go outside.

Pets bring a life force of unconditional love into our homes.  The responsibility of being a pet owner can feel burdensome at times, but the goodness far outweighs any poop detail!

As a child, our family had many different pets over the years. My favorites were the black Labrador Retriever and alley cat who were best friends.  We also had various beta fish and gold fish (won at county fairs), two parakeets and even a hermit crab for a brief period of time.

When I had my own family, I knew that we needed a pet in our lives.  While we’ve never had a dog (yet), I do love dogs and maybe someday when the time is right, we’ll have a dog in our family.  But in the meantime, we’ve been a cat family.  Two rescues and a purebred so far.  Years ago our family went through the heartbreaking decision to let our 17 year old rescue who stayed with me throughout my cancer ordeal, never leaving my side, be free to travel over the Rainbow Bridge.  We still have our almost 6 year old rescue (whom my sons chose and she looks very much like our dearly departed kitty) and our American Bobtail who’s been with us for more than 10 years.  Both girls are housebound and aren’t outdoor kitties which is fine by me.

They are a huge part of our family.  Their antics and affection add a richness to our lives that has helped us through some tough times.  In fact, I’ve often written about our family phrase “fur therapy” (when you just need to hold one of the cats and feel that special unconditional pet love).  When my sons come home we hug and kiss hello and soon afterwards they usually scoop up a cat to hug as well.  The soothing petting of a cat and feeling that purr rumble is actually healing and proven scientifically.  Did you know that?

In addition, our family has been the home for an anole, a hamster named Hamtaro (Hammie for short) and some requisite gold fish.  All in all, I don’t think my children nor I would be able to be without a pet in our lives because they’re such a part of our lives.

Do you feel the same way?  Tell me all about your loving furbabies!

Shine On!

xo

Cats and Dogs

 

Tiffy ~ American Bobtail

Lately, I’ve been working like a dog, which is no surprise because I’m sure at times we all feel that way.  It’s the dog-days of summer so the heat affects us as well.  We’ve had bouts of raining cats and dogs too.  Are you following my animal analogies?

Dogs are people too, have you heard that phrase?  Dog is man’s best friend.  You call a dog and he comes (usually).  But call a cat?  Not such great odds that the cat will even hear you let alone think about moving out of his warm spot in the sunshine.  Have you ever attempted to corral a bunch of cats into one area?  If you have, then you know how anxious it can make you.  Just as you think they are all herded into one single area, one hops the fence, another squeezes through a crack, while the others walk around, tails high in the air, not a care in the world.  Grab the escapees and the ones who you were sure were just lazing around and grooming themselves, but have now decided to take off and explore on their own, regardless that you are calling their names.  For a moment, all is well.

Does this sound familiar to you?  Metaphorically of course, because unless you are a crazy cat lady, you don’t have so many cats in one area.  We have two ~ Tiffy is a little diva, a snuggle kitty, my constant companion, a chatterbox and the winner of the best fur therapy giver award.  It is to Tiffy whom we whisper our frustrations, snuggling into her fluffy, soft fur, burying our faces streamed with tears when nobody else is home.  The holder of secrets and yet she is a demanding and independent thinker who just lives by her own clock, her own mind and her own needs.  And yet, we adore her!  Our younger family member is Tigger who is still a little sprite of energy, even after being with us for four years.  She quite literally runs our household now, including running Tiffy who is not used to anything more than a sedentary lifestyle.  It’s been an adjustment for sure, for us all, but mostly for Tiffy who welcomed a friend, but on her terms.  Tigger brings vitality to our home.  Her shenanigans amuse us and her willingness to play with anything and everything keeps us on our toes.  Her nickname is the hooligan!

So how are cats like people?  Well, dogs are what we people would like to be, what we would like to have as our comrades, those with whom we come into constant contact.  To me, a dog is mostly friendly, happy, without secrets.  A dog needs water, food, a bit of playtime with a ball and is simply happy to be here with you.  Canines notoriously make excellent pets because they are reliable and their mood shows directly in their posture, on their face and mostly, they are happy to see you.  They are without cares, do not hold grudges and you can easily read them by their stance.  In other words, they are what we would like the people in our lives to be.

Cats, who get a bad rap for being more independent, are more like people.  They rock their own tune in their head and don’t rely on being told what to do like dogs.  They have their own agenda and aren’t afraid to hiss when things don’t go their way.  They build trust slowly, but surely.  They have 9 lives and like to nestle in the most obscure places, like the linen closet.  Rarely do they come when called unless it suits them.  Most of the time, you can’t read their minds (unless I put out the tuna treat and then I know that I am number one in their book for awhile).

While we don’t have a dog in our home, we love them and would have one if we could.  But for now, it would upset the feline energy here at the moment.  Friends of ours just had a litter of black lab pups that are calling my name.  I can’t upset the household with a new puppy, but it sure would make for some crazy future posts!

Shine On!

xo

Affected By the Moon

I know of many people who are affected by the moon and its cycles, not to mention eclipses, astrological changes and the equinoxes.  As we begin to move from 3D to 5D, there’s an increase in energetic shifts and for some of us, we are sensitive to the changes.  Are you one of them as well?

I’ve seen it in my family members who are more confused recently.  I’ve seen it in horseback riding as my trusty Ty was out of sorts when I rode him this week.  I’ve seen it with our pets as they are more on edge and needier than usual.

In chatting with friends lately, it seems that the surge of instability and sensitivity of our moods has increased lately.  A quickening in anger and frustration along with tearful grieving seem to ebb and flow into normally calm people at a moment’s notice without warning.  Not to mention those who are on either end of the spectrum emotionally.  It’s like the energy in the world is fluctuating at such dramatic heights and dips that there’s a storm brewing and we need to seek shelter and balance in our lives.  With the recent full moon, the lack of love and understanding is causing much unrest and balance is desperately needed.

So if you’re feeling lost at sea lately, you’re not alone.  But how do you anchor yourself with balance and love to be the port to help others who are tossed in the turmoil?

Meditation helps.  Calm interaction with others is necessary.  Fear intensifies the messy storm so steer clear and send out your heartlights first before engaging with others who show even the subtlest signs of being affected negatively by the energetic storms brewing now.  Rest your body, mind and soul.  Nourish them all with higher vibrations and associate yourself with those who embrace love, understanding and kindness.  Hold closely your loving soul family members.  Reach out when you’re feeling low.  Take the necessary time when you’re feeling depleted so that you can recharge your heartlight.  If you’re suffering, reach out to someone who cares and allow them to help you.  But please, do not use your suffering to make them suffer along with you.  Allow them to lift you.  Don’t drag them into the negativity.

Pray.  Listen to spiritual music.  Eat heart healthy meals.  Drink plenty of water.  Stay away from negatively charged beverages/foods such as alcohol.  You don’t need to add to what may be negatively churning up in you to be affected even more by drinking or over-eating.

Exercise.  Commune with Nature.  Read something that makes you feel good.  Watch a feel good show. Spend some quality time alone gardening or writing in your journal.  Sing music that makes you smile and uplifts your mood.  Spend time with your family and pets.  There’s nothing better than a heartfelt hug to shift your mood.  There’s also what we call fur therapy (petting your sweet pets) and absorbing their peaceful energy into your heart.

Don’t be tempted to start a fight with someone else whom you’ve been meaning to give a piece of your mind.  It won’t fare well for either of you.  Stay clear from anxiety issues.

We are riding out the fluctuations of energy changes as they open up to a myriad of possibilities in the near future.  So relax into the experience.  Steer yourself into calm waters and do your best to enjoy the ride.

Shine On!

xo

 

 

 

Loyal Felines

We have two loyal felines whom we adore!  Snuggled in a sweater as she likes to be babied, is Tiffy who’s an American Bobtail.  Her breed is known to be ‘dog like’ and she enjoys being carried around.  She will bring her toys to you.  She loves to be with us and talks all the time.  She has the fluffiest, softest coat and our home is a testament to her fine white fur.

Laying on my lap is Tigger who’s a rescue kitty, found under a well-known hotel nearby as a tiny kitten.  We got her a few years ago.  Although nobody could ever replace our beloved Chessie who looked similar, Tigger has brought her own brand of joy into our lives with her antics.  Tigger doesn’t meow very well, although as she’s gotten older she’s learned how to make small noises.  She lets Tiffy tell it all!

Tiffy:  Let’s just say I’m a diva, being a pure breed.  I’m ten years old now, but I did love to annoy my older sister Chessie when she was alive.   Oh my!  Now I know how Chessie felt when I first arrived at the house because when I was a little squirt, I was always trying to get Chessie to play with me.  I miss those days.  I had some lonely time when Chessie passed away until they brought home a tiny kitten named Tigger.  What a surprise that was!  That kitten was trouble from the first day, but I’ve grown to love her too.  We do have our ups and downs though since I’m older and set in my ways, but Tigger has kept me young.  She has trouble meowing, so I’m the talker for us both.  I remind Mom when our food bowls need refilling and when I think we should be given a few treats.  I refuse to stop complaining until she gives in.  I’ve gotten her well trained! LOL  I love to curl up in Mom’s big sweater like a baby.  Nestled in her lap and cocooned in her sweater makes me happy…until Tigger tries to move in on my snuggle time with Mommy.  Then I get aggravated, but I let her have her turn too.  I even groom my Mommy sometimes when I’m grooming myself.  The space between her eyebrows needs it most I think! ha ha

Both Tigger and I know that we are a special part of the family.  We have an important job to do and we do it well.  They call it fur therapy here.  That’s a code word for do your thing kitties and we do a great job of it.  We know when someone needs a little extra love and we give it freely.  We instinctively cuddle with them when they are sad.  We know just the right way to get into their laps and snuggle with them until they are happier.  Sometimes they even whisper secrets to us.  When they need extra healing we purr while we cuddle with them.  The loving vibrations help to heal them.  It’s a well-known cat fact.  You knew that already, right?

We love our humans and enjoy spending time with them.  When they leave the house and come back, we’re usually there waiting at the door to welcome them home.  Well, unless we’re catnapping which we occasionally do!  You know we need our beauty sleep.  How else would we look this good all the time?

We have excellent hearing so we can hear when the outside door opens and we run to the door to greet them.  At night, we like to hang out with them, sometimes even getting lap time as they watch tv.  Of course, when it’s dinner time, we like to investigate to see what they’re eating.  Our favorite is fresh pieces of chicken which they sneak us sometimes.  Of course, Mom knows, but we happily indulge when the time is right!

We like to sleep with Mom most nights, but we’ve been known to snuggle with the kids as well.  We’re really good watch cats and sometimes we stand guard as well all night if we hear strange noises outside.  We don’t miss a trick, believe me.  We see everything.  We even see things that our humans don’t see.

We are loyal subjects to our family.  We love them unconditionally and with our whole selves.  Sometimes our thinking is way ahead of you humans!

Here’s a little post on Chessie.

Shine On!

xo

 

Fur Therapy for Melancholy

I confess, I’ve been melancholy.  I know it may be hard for some of you to believe, but it’s true.  And when those moments hit me, I shy away from everyone.  I guess it’s because I don’t feel I have a right to be melancholy because I do have such a blessed life.  I am here.  I have survived much, including breast cancer.  I have love, shelter and food.  I have a beautiful life with a loving family.  It’s not that there’s anything significant missing.  It just comes to me at times, this sadness.  The overall feeling that I’m…simply…sad.

It doesn’t happen often.  Most times, I can hide it away until it dissipates ~ my family, none the wiser.  But one family member always knows and for her, I’m truly grateful.  She lifts me up and comforts me without a word (but with plenty of purrs!)  For me, sometimes, there simply nothing like the love from a treasured pet to warm your heart and to soothe a hurting soul.  It is to her (and to her ‘sister’ Chessie who passed away last year.)  I don’t think I could live in a home without a pet.  There’s simply nothing like the love from an animal to warm your soul.

I’ve told you how she insists on being picked up and held like a baby.  She makes me stop, sit and be at peace almost every morning.  As the photo above shows, we spend many mornings on the couch for a few precious minutes looking into each other’s eyes.  I pet her, she purrs her healing rumble into my soul and I feel like all is right in my world ~ the Presents of Presence.

Perhaps you feel like I’m being over-dramatic ~ that it’s silly to be so attached to an animal?  But have you ever felt that complete and utter engaging love with another soul?  When I hold her and her eyes shut, her purring warbles in my chest and our breathing matches, I am reminded of how to find confidence and trust in those I love and in whom love me.  That complete surrender into a trusting place where there is no fear, no worry, nothing but peaceful abandon.  There is only this sweet moment.

It is then, that my daily lesson is re-energized into my soul.  It is then, that I understand what love is.  It is then that I crave to go out in the world and Send Out Love.  Our precious morning moments do that for me.  We comfort each other, each in our own way.  As I nuzzle her in a bear hug before I put her down, my eyes close and I silently utter a thank you to the Universe for this precious life.

I’ve watched her work her magic with my sons and husband as well.  Meowing her demands to be held, they comply.  The tenderness that I witness between them increases the love factor in our home.  Unconditional pet love brightens our home base.  We call it fur therapy here.  When you just need a little love from a pet, a snuggle, some soft purring reverberating in your chest to heal your sadness.  And Tiffy, in all her utter catness, simply obliges.  Funny how she just knows that hurting soul needs a bit of extra love.  She calmly allows all the petting, holding and hugging needed without fuss.  She surrenders to giving her all by simply being herself.

What a precious lesson to emulate!

Shine On!

xo

Caturday Ritual

I don’t know who coined the phrase Caturday, but I like it!  It makes me think of my dear little girl with whom I share a special morning ritual.  Every morning, I am given the gift of presence by the American Bobtail above who insists on it.  How you may ask?  After I get my coffee and she her wet food, we relax in a few moments of silence, each taking in the morning’s peacefulness as we savor the taste of our favorite morning sustenance.

Then she comes over to tell me that it’s time.  She meows quite plaintively until I put down my coffee and pay attention to her.  I pick her up, cradle her in my lap, nestled in a blanket.  She insists that she is held baby-like, face up   Once in position, she stops meowing and snuggles down in the blanket on my lap.  Her eyes close with an audible sigh and the purring begins.

Smiling down on her blissful face, I begin to pet her and in turn, her purring reverberates into my body.  It is a sensitive moment of tenderness between two souls.  A bit of fur therapy for me as I stroke her chin, feeling the soft fur under my hand.  This ritual stops my mind from it’s constant chatter as I concentrate on the moment, the peace, the presence that this moment brings to us both before the flurry of the day begins in our house.

As a cancer survivor (or not), it’s important to find these small pockets of presence in our day, to relax, to reconnect with ourselves and to just be peaceful.  There’s something to be said about the healing properties of a purring cat that I personally find quite soothing.  Lucky for me, even when I feel rushed in the mornings, Tiffy does not allow our ritual to be forgotten and therefore she gives me what I need ~ peace, love and understanding ~ for myself and for others.

Do you have a special way of connecting with the Presents of Presence?

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  I think this one works for Michelle’s Pet Challenge as well!  Make sure you pop over to see her over at Hope the Happy Hugger!

The Power of Purr

This is my baby Tiffy in our favorite position, on the couch, wrapped in blankies, face up like a baby, snuggled next to my heart, her purr reverberating into my soul.  She just knows and verbally meows at me until I take her in my arms and sit down.  We snuggle, I regain my bearings and enjoy the presents of being present for a bit.  It’s amazing what a little bit of fur therapy (our family word for holding the cat and petting her soft fur) can do ~ it can calm you, center you, wipe away tears and help you to feel the love.  There is power in purring, I truly believe this as our other cat Chessie who passed away in March most definitely helped me through breast cancer by staying by my side at all times and purring by my side so that her powerful purr reverberated into my body and soul.  I know I sound like a crazy cat lady, but I do believe in the power of purr.  Sometimes it’s the smallest things that Make a Difference in our lives. ♥

So, today, here’s a bit of virtual fur therapy for you!  May you know you are loved.

Shine On!

xo

This post is also doubling as Michelle’s Pet Challenge…join us by clicking here!

Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge

Ellie ~ a perfect little angel!

Meet Ellie, my friend’s pup with whom I enjoyed a playful romp in her yard the other day.  What fun we had just running around the yard playing tag!  I felt like I was 5 years old again, laughing and smiling when I needed it most.  It’s such a gift to enjoy the moment of now, to frolic in the leaves of fall and to find our inner child and let her go for a few minutes!  How freeing it is to find joy to store up for when you need it most.  Yesterday we had sad news so today I will remember how happy this moment was and use it to heal my soul and dislodge some of my sadness.

Thanks little Ellie for the puppy therapy yesterday!  The giggles heal the sadness in my soul.

Shine On!

xo

Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge ~ Click Here!

Happiness is a Warm Puppy

― Charles M. Schulz

For Michelle’s Wednesday Pet Photo Challenge, I had to show you my friend SAngel ~ this photo just makes me happy on so many levels.  Perhaps it is the bliss of the puppy held lovingly, perhaps it is the love between 2 sweet souls, perhaps it is simply the happiness that comes in loving and holding a warm puppy.

Whatever it is, please enjoy some fur-therapy!

Shine On!

xo

http://hopethehappyhugger.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/michelles-weekly-pet-challenge-round-up-for-week-round-up-and-start-of-new-week/

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Tiffy and Jack

Tiffany aka Tiffy is our 5 year old American Bobtail kitten ~ whoops, cat ~ although I still think of her as a kitten.  Probably because she was Chessie’s sister and to diferentiate the girls, I called Chessie who passed at almost 17 yrs old in March our cat, and Tiffy the kitten.  At 5 she is still as spry as ever and gets into trouble at times.  To me she is just a joy and my best pal and shadow.  We hang together often at the house now that my ‘first born’ Chessie has passed away.  I still miss my Chessie and Tiffy can’t take her place, but it’s comforting to have Tiffy’s soft furry warm self nearby!

Jack is a goldfish as you can see above.  He was a feeder goldfish that the kids won at a fair.  He had 2 brothers ~ Manny and Moe, but last year, they died, one after the other.  But Jack’s still swimming!  If memory serves correctly he is now over 2 years old which I think in fish years is 20! 🙂

Every morning, Tiffy hops up to hang with her favorite aquatic pal while I make some coffee.  In fact, she and Jack bond and remind me in not so subtle ways that it’s their breakfast time too!  Tiffy meows loudly while Jack swims to the surface, opening and closing his mouth, hoping to catch my eye as he does the morning breakfast wiggle.  FEED ME!!!

So, I happily oblige after giggling at their antics!  It’s their sure-fire way to start my day off right!  I open the drawer, take out the fish food and as I take a pinch to sprinkle over the top of Jack’s bowl, Tiffy makes sure that she gets her little snout into the container and licks a little bit of the flakes too!

By that time, Mommy’s coffee is ready and we are all happy!  As I walk to the refrigerator for a bit of cream, I pass by Tiffy’s bowl and feed her too!

Finally, I can sit and relax and enjoy the dawn of a new day!

Do you have pets that make your morning brighter?

Shine On!

xo

Thanks Michelle for the new weekly challenge!  http://hopethehappyhugger.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/michelles-weekly-pet-challenge-1/