Inspiration Avenue

For over 50 years my mother was my angel on earth and now she is the angel in my heart.  I often talk to her in my mind and every time we get through a rough time or something especially good happens, my family says ... "Mopsy (my mother's nick name) is watching over us".  We all feel like she is still with us, watching our every move, giving the love she always gave ... she is our blessing.

 My mother is not just our angel ... her whole life was angelic.  She was a nurse, a lover of nature and of life.  She was talented in so many ways and she used her talents to make others happy.  Every year my parents put out their own Christmas card.  My father would get the idea (most often related to current events) and my mother would illustrate it.  She became know for "Mopsy's Angel" who starred in many of her cards. 

In these, many of you were around when we landed a man on the moon.  And, as for the earth being screwed ... that was in the 1980's.  They saw into the future in a way we all wished would never happened.

Each card had special meaning and everyone we knew looked forward to what they would come up with next.  Christmas is a time when I remember how much of an angel I was blessed with in my mother ... and in my father, not so angelic, but still wonderful in every way.  If you still have your parents you are blessed, if not, like me, live and love with your memories ...

I have one more angel to share with you.  This one was not planned, but last Thursday our little Maggie passed away and has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be with her brother Micky.  It was a sad day for us, but we have loved every day of the twenty years she spent in our home and now she will live on in our hearts.

Cat Thursday

I know this is supposed to be Authors and their Cats week, but I had a special post that I wanted to put up today.  Tomorrow, October 12, is Maggie's 20th Birthday.  She is the best little cat ever.  When she was young and healthy she weighed all of 6 pounds.  Now, because of various effects of old age, she only weighs in at 4 pounds.  She is not sick, or tired, just old.  She still has energy, plays with Izzi's toys which are much bigger than her, fusses and spats at Diva ... you know how girls are.  Every day with Maggie is a blessing.  We have no idea how long she will be with us, but for now she is the queen. 

This is Maggie with her brother Mickey in 1992.  They were inseparable as kittens and somewhat as they got older.  Maggie has always had an issue about "her space" even with Mickey.  But, most of the time they were best buds.

At this age we would never have guessed that Mickey would end up being twice Maggie's size.  When he was well, he was 12 pounds.  Sadly he passed away at age 13 of liver cancer ... one never knows.   Their parents were faral.  A family in our old neighborhood had let the mother in on their screened porch to have her babies so they would be safe.  There were 11 kittens and Maggie was the runt ... says something for being a runt, right :)  They had named Mickey "Peace" because he was so sweet ... he never changed.  He loved everybody, especially Maggie.

He insisted on taking care of her even though she barely tolerated it.  She would return the favor though and Mickey loved it.

She tolerates "Da Boyz" and they are very gentle with her ...

For the most part Maggie is a loner ... The love of her life is my husband.  She follows him around the house and is in his face as soon as he sits down somewhere.  They have a bond ... a very special bond :)  Maggie evokes "Old Age" privileges often.  She gets treats whenever she asks for them and she will boldly try to eat from your plate if she sees something she likes (we don't let her, but that doesn't stop her from trying).  Her coat is dry and mats easily so I have to comb her almost every day.  That said, she is a happy kitty, she sleeps most of the day in her little heated bed and prowls at night as cats are known to do.  Every day with Maggie is a gift ... Happy Birthday, Little Girl!

Cat Thursday

Stretchy, Stretchy ...

Rubby, Rubby ...

Ahhh ... Now, where's my Breakfast ?

This is Maggie, I don't use her often because she is shy and doesn't like anyone in her space (camera's included).  We respect her preference because Maggie is 19 years old (20 in October) and has earned the right to be picky.  She is a love ...



Cat Thursday

     This picture needs a caption ... any idea's?