I didn't know, years ago...

...how hard, how painful, it is to lose a pet 

that has been with you for so many stages of my life...

since the end of graduate school, 6 of the 7 years in Ottawa, 7 years in NJ,

from having me single, dating, engaged, married.... and everything

in between... you just have to google my blog and Cleo to see how much

she has meant to me... 

I am probably going to share many pictures of Cleo eating. 

She mainly lays in the laundry room now, with trips to bathroom (next door)

and food (down the hall and to the left).  

I can assure you she still LOVES her wet cat treats, her milk and 

French Vanilla Ice Cream and still meows her requests quite

vehemently :)

But I know the end is nearing. She is so thin.

More sensitive to touch even, other than on her face and 

under her neck.

However, as my Husband pointed out...

Cleo is enjoying milk like it's an Olympic Sport she laps it up so quickly!

And then inspects the saucer carefully to make sure she did not miss one drop!

She is seriously into her treats... and it makes us laugh,

even though we know soon, she will be absent...

so it's hard and I cry but then I laugh and feel lighthearted.

From what I gather, this is all part of the process and I found my heart

filled with thanksgiving for Cleo and even for her dying because I know that

God is good, He loves all of His creation and somehow nothing good is ever lost.

How it all works out, with creation being renewed, a new heaven and earth...

My Husband brought us falafel which we enjoyed very much, at home...

***

I did various phone errands today 

(It was a heat advisory real feel up to 99F!) so I stayed home...

and I did dishes.  

I did not sleep the best (always happens if I am grieving, meaning

I woke about 5:30 AM or so) and with feeling sad, 

I just felt like eating vegan chocolate Popsicle and watching Perry Mason.

That I read my prayers, did my list of things to do, finished reading a book

and did not watch any Perry Mason till later afternoon, with said Popsicle,

for me was a what I am calling success. 

***

But the good thing is I know I will get through this grief.

I know God is merciful and good.

I know God is our Creator and He created Cleo and gave her to me

to care for and be blessed by.  

***

To be sure I answer Lisa's question, in case you did not see it in my comments on my last post,

I can't postpone my travel.  And I will be seeing a lot of family including ones that are

in the elderly category and one never knows when one's visit becomes one's

last visit, so as much as I wish I could change that, I really can't.
***
Lisa, I meant to add: when Mr Kibble (a cat for those who don't realize) was dying,
how could you tell that he was going? I don't know what to look for,
if Cleo gets to that stage soon.
I just gave her her medicine and she is now having more milk...
when I picked her up, I could feel even more bones than before.
She is slowly dwindling to fur, skin and bones.
I am glad she is loving her milk so much.
I think it must be soothing to her...

***

Well.  Thank you everyone who is praying for myself and for Cleo.

I can't tell you how grateful I am!

May God help us no matter what we are facing! 

Lord have mercy on us and shine Your face on us 

and save us!

Cleo and Suitcases

Invariably Cleo wants to be in whatever suitcase 

is open!

She is a Cat through and through... 

A dinner with 'out takes' and preparing for a storm

I had dear friends over for dinner last

Thursday night...

I kept looking at the table in puzzlement,

thinking to myself,

all the food is there, but what is missing?

Potato with fried onions and goat cheese,

another ginger lemon chicken...

Salad (brought by friends!), orange juice and honey glazed carrots,

my 'Theophany dishes'...

It was not until a few minutes that I realized

that I had wine in the fridge to put out

and I got my answer!

drinking glasses! I forgot them!

And napkins :)

Phew, that explained it all!

It was a lovely meal with such

good friends and gentle, worthy and real conversation. 

There, with glasses. :)

All better...

*

Well, Cleo and I are preparing for the snow storm we 

are said to be getting.

She's preparing by making daring and funny leaps 

onto furniture...

*

Actually she did the funniest thing last night, 

too bad I did not get a picture...

Mr. Husband and I were eating a lovely meal of 

the left over ginger lemon chicken, 

with some mashed potatoes (with butter and soup cream!)

and salad and there was Cleo on the

very top of the seat back of our chair by the kitchen island counter

standing as tall as she could looking down at our meal

with great interest, her eyes as wide as can be.

Mr. Husband, knowing her to be a sneaky thief of food,

and now seeing her so blatantly looking,

gently but quickly stomped his foot and she scurried away...

a bit behind my dining chair, still looking!!!

So funny.

*

Anyway, I am doing lots of wash

at present and am planning on baking bread soon,

making this week's smoothie, 

watching the weather (all window shades are open in my living/dining area!) 

and praying.

I am also planning on getting out our blessed Candle-mas candles that 

are for times of trouble, strife or storm.

I won't use them until the snow really hits...

*

Meanwhile, I also have to relight many of my lampadas,

but do have some candles faithfully burning meanwhile.

*

My only request for this storm is two fold:

1. no injuries or death of anyone

2. that power does not go out.

*

Please join me in prayer for this and for all those who are 

suffering today!

The Day after the Nativity Fast Tea...

Cleo as always, sitting a top of one of the white chairs!

*

PS: Happy Saint Nicholas Day to all who celebrate it today!

Mr. Husband are off early to church for Liturgy 

and the handing out of cookies!

{around the house} ~ changes, progress and a dying refrigerator

I can't tell you how happy

I am with this basket.

Mr. Husband is very kind and considerate,

so he seeks to be quiet

in the early morning when I am still sleeping

and needed a basket

to keep things in so he is not opening drawers 

early in the morning.

I found this one on my trip to Princeton a while

back and it works perfectly!

Our breakfast of choice, I admit it!

Our pantry is almost all done.

A good friend sent me these big labels!

I can't remember if I blogged this picture or not.

Cleo is waiting for dinner, sitting in my seat

as if she gets to eat it!

A friend came over recently and gave me lovely

ceramic measuring cups as a gift!

Our fridge has been dying for over a month

and we did not realize it.

Milk was not as cold as it was once

and then yesterday when we went to get a bit

of ice cream from freezer, it had turned to soup. :(

Turns out we even lost some of our meat,

it was totally thawed.

Mr. Husband did a great and gallant job of it all

and he found this fridge and I ordered it on the phone

last night, it comes Friday.

Still trying to decide on the extra 5 year protection plan.

We have 90 days to decide.

I am hoping it is magnetic, as many of this kind are not....

A few weeks back a friend gave me this ornament for our Christmas tree!

I can't wait for Christmas and to find a Christmas tree!

Preparing...and Cleo's love of plastic

Felt circles on bottom legs of coffee table...

I cleaned the area where our new arm chair

from IKEA is going...

Did I ever tell you that Cleo the Cat just loves

All Things Plastic?

Including it seems the handle of the hammer :)