I hope the Holidays find you in good health and good spirits, my friends!
Because we prefer to use all natural decorations, we typically don't decorate for Christmas until the week of Christmas Day.
The Holidays this year began on a sad note and I feel we needed something to cheer us up.
Our sweet Mabel passed away on November 11. She was diagnosed with aggressive cancer a month prior.
Mabel died in my arms on a Saturday morning.
I know she is with her friends in heaven now, but I would trade all that I have to spend one more day with her.
I dusted off an old faux tree we had in the basement and added just a few ornaments.
I placed it in a silver urn I found on Craigslist a few years back.
The Moravian star light fixture that hangs in the sunroom adds the perfect touch!
Our silver nutcracker collection is growing and this seemed the perfect place for them. That is, until Delores finds them!
...and she will, oh she will.
Our hearts are heavy. There is no way around it. However, if one truly believes in the Spirit of Christmas, then we know that Mabel lives on.
We choose to celebrate her life and the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. We choose to create new Holiday memories in spite of the aching in our hearts.
In a few weeks time, we will continue our tradition of finding the perfect tree, wreaths and garlands to grace our home.
This year, there will be one less stocking on the mantel, but one more angel in heaven.
With Love,
Andie
So sorry for your loss :-(
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend. That's the price of love, I guess.
Deletexoxo
That is just what Queen Elizabeth II said, Andie.
Delete"Grief is the price we pay for love."
Please take comfort in having given your Mabel good care, a wonderful home and a loving family. So many never get that far in this life. You did a great thing taking care of her as I know you must have.
Thank yiu for visting my blog during our celebration of Thanksgiving. It's always a treat to see you there.
Love your tree this year. It looks etherial –– even celestial.
I post this sonnet by Christina Rossetti to commemorate Mabel's passing.
ReplyDelete__________ REMEMBER __________
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more, day by day,
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
~ Christina Rossetti (1836-1894)
This was written to honor the memory of a tiny kitten who wandered into my garage seeking help. I did my best, but Fate was unkind, and so the story did not have a happy ending.
ReplyDelete______ A Sadly Ironic Casualty ______
Caught abandoned on suburban ground
Relying on pure instinct to survive
Using wits miraculously found
Sneaking in you wished to stay alive.
How you came to me I’ll never know.
Early in the evening I heard cries ––
Demanding, plaintive –– sounds of infant woe ––
Touching needs no decent man denies.
Often heard, but still unseen for days
Droppings on the floor a tiny inkling you’d
Eaten food put out for you to graze,
And then I saw you in the sandbox tinkling. You’d
Trusted me. I loved you more each day.
How could Fate let me crush your life away?
~ FreeThinke
The poor ittle thing had climbed inside a wheel well and fallen asleep atop one of the tires. I've moved on, beause i had to, but never gotten over it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete_______ TO A FAVORED FELINE ______
ReplyDeleteWho could resist those eyes, pussycat?
Trusting, demanding, eager, beseeching.
We do not know precisely why we find you irresistible.
After all, what do you really do to earn your daily portion?
Keep the mice at bay? Well, maybe, but that's not why
We love you. It's something about your aura of independence
Even though we know how vulnerable you really are.
We'd hate to see your self-esteem damaged.
If anyone hurt or betrayed you, it would certainly damage us.
You just know you are important ––
And we can't help but respond accordingly.
And besides, you have about you an aura of mystery,
And enchantment that makes you uniquely beautiful.
We can never be sure whether you were put on earth
for our benefit,
or the other way 'round,
can we?
~ FreeThinke
Andie, I wrote the following for AOW who lost two of her beloved cats to cancer within the past eight months. I'm sure she won't mnd my sharing it with you. Tiss been a bad year in many ways. You are the third friend of mine who has lost a cat to cancer in the past few months. One an old forend from college days who lives in the Washington Metro area had to have his beautful red tabby Penelope put to sleep just last month.She too developed an aggressive form of cancer and had to be put t sleep. A real tragedy, because Penny was only seven years old, and had had the best care imaginable since she was adopted as two-month-old kitten. Fate can be awfully mean at times.
ReplyDeleteTo Two Departed Too Soon
Hello, you two!
I wonder if you ever knew
How much we‘d miss you
If you moved away?
You’re no longer within reach,
You’ve taught us all you had to teach,
I guess, but between us there’s no breach,
And so no need to say
“We love you, and we always will. ––
We’re grateful that you joined us here to fill
Happy days and times we went downhill
With antics that brought smiles each time you’d play.”
No, you don’t need us now,
Though we shall always feel a need to show
How much we miss observing how you’d grow,
Develop, subtly changing every day.
But when the time for growing ends at last,
And we start living mostly in the past,
And wish to cling forever and hold fast
It’s then we must let go and move away.
Perhaps we’ll meet again someday, I hope.
Even though there is no cord or rope
Binding us, I feel no urge to mope,
Because the love we’ve shared will never fray.
~ FreeThinke
Perfect, my friend. Holding tight to that imaginary rope.
Deletexo
You are very much loved by many, Andie. I hope the Beauty –- and the Promise –– of Christmas brings much joy to you and your family, despite Mabel's loss. She will always be with you, because she became a vital part of who you are.
DeleteYou have helped me to see that fine works of art do not necessarily belong in museums or the private collections of millionaires. It is possible to make one's entire life a work of art.
You have proved that more than anyone else I know, even though I have tried to do the same, myself, since long before we met.
Do you think we might be related? };^)>
I know we are related, my dear friend. In so many ways.
Deletexo
Losing our darlings Cameo and Mysti still makes my heart ache.
DeleteI'm ever grateful that FT wrote the above poem for us!
I see in our kitten Minxy, who came to share space with us a month after Mysti passed, has so many of Cameo's and Mysti's traits. In fact, Minxy is the best of both!
The four-legged members of our families are such important parts of our families!
Please accept my condolences. Your Mabel had such a beautiful face. I think she will still be with you at Christmas and always in your hearts.
ReplyDeleteI am so sad for you, this post brings tears to my eyes. Only too well, I know this feeling, saying good bye to a sweet cat, as she closes her eyes, while resting in your arms. Memories are the best, hold on tight...
ReplyDeleteAndie, dear, Mabel will always be with you ... with every beat of your heart.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the loss of your Mabel.
ReplyDeleteWas it oral cancer that stole her from you?
DeleteYes, my friend. It was.
DeleteI thought it might have been oral cancer. It proceeds with such rapidity!
DeleteWe lost both our Cameo and our Mysti to that particular kind of cancer within six months this year. Cameo on Easter Sunday evening and Mysti on Columbus Day Holiday.
My heart aches and aches.
BUT
Now we have Minxy to keep our Amber company. So...no Christmas tree for us this year. I'm getting too old to keep up with what a kitten would do to a Christmas tree.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL A BIT EARLY
ReplyDeleteWe WISH you a MERRY CHRISTMAS
We WISH you a MERRY CHRISTMAS
We WISH you a MERRY CHRISTMAS
And a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Good tidings we bring
From Our Newborn King;
We wish you a M erry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
We all want some figgy pudding,
We all want some figgy pudding,
We all want some figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer
Good tidings we bring
From Our Newborn King
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Good tidings we bring
From Our Newborn King
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
We all like our figgy pudding,
We all like our figgy pudding,
We all like our figgy pudding,
With all its good cheer.
Good tidings we bring
From Our Newborn King
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
We WISH you a MERRY CHRISTMAS
We WISH you a MERRY CHRISTMAS
We WISH you a MERRY CHRISTMAS
And a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
And as Tiny Tim would say, "God bess us, every one!
Just found your blog and I am so sorry to read about your furbaby. Heavy hearts, yes. I lost my Dad 3 weeks ago and my sweet Molly kitty in September. On a happier note, I love all your photos, love your decorating style. It's a treat to see your home and photos. I will be back to see your natural Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your pain. (((HUG)))
DeleteThey are waiting for you. I am sure of it.
xo
We are not alone. The brother of a very dear friend in Nevada has been sidetracked by this. He's in his late sixties, and it's causing no end of trouble, as you can imagine. I've heard of others s well –– mostly friends of friends.
ReplyDeleteRoyalRuby
ReplyDeleteHave some questions prepared for your interviewer. You will often times be asked if there are any questions.satta king
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