Weekly Musings of the 16th

 

Another week has flown by, before we know it we will be saying good-bye to the year.  It is the 289th day of the year today, just wow to that.  

This week was our week to do some more carpet cleaning which became a result of our little kitty's illness.  It was a quiet week of getting use to a life without a cat.  I was trying to think of why it was so hard, after all when Minoux past we didn't get another cat (and were sure we would not get another either but Tigger had different plans) and although we missed her it wasn't as hard as Tigger.  Then, it was time to do a head slap when I realized that when Minoux past we were still working full time, planning our retirements and the big move down to Simcoe so our days were full.  We only really felt our loss when she was not there to sit on our laps in the evening or sleep with us in bed.  Tigger was different since we were retired we three were together most days with only an hour here or there each day that we were not with her.  We are feeling the lack of kitty in the house greater this time.  We both look for her when walking in the door as she use to walk down the hall to meet us.  There were so many parts of the day that were for feeding and spending time with her that are not there now.  The funny part is seeing either myself or hubby skirting something that isn't there anymore like the litterbox.  Our feet are use to walking around the cat condo, food dishes and litterbox that are no longer there that it just looks funny that weaving around.  

One morning walk had this beautiful pink and purple sky which gave me a smile to start the day.  

Another big smile this week was my one of my favourite authors came out with her new book and it was back to Sinful Louisiana to catch up with old friends.  

 

I really admire this author because we are up to book 31 in her Miss Fortune series and still the stories are fresh and not gotten the same story with different names.  I found that in a few series of cozy mysteries.  Once the author got to about book 15 or so the stories got pretty boring being the same thing happening in each one with just the names changing.  These books have had totally different cases and things going on and I actually am not sure where the story is going in much of the book.  Sure there are some standard things like Gertie is always going to Gertie (you gotta read these to know the chaos that this means and often with glitter) 

So, I had some good laughs and great fun reading the latest of Fortune's adventures.  This series is the only cozy mystery bunch that I still read after finding the new bible fiction that just has taken over my pile of TBR books.  

So, quiet week missing our girl but still good and we are doing okay with that.  

Weekly Musings of the 9th - RIP Tigger

 

Good Morning family and friends.  Most of you know that Tigger crossed the rainbow bridge on Monday but I still wanted to share the week of it all as well and I couldn't resist putting up her baby picture.  This was the face that stole our hearts in 2013 when she had been abandoned by her mother at barely 3 weeks old. 

Anyway, Sunday morning all the Tigger's symptoms came back including throwing up and not being able to poop again.  The blockage was either back or had not truly gone through.  We cleaned up through drips from one end and sickness in the other.  We could both see that she was suffering and first thing in the morning (Monday) we called our vet once more but this time to ask for an end of life appointment.  

They were so sorry to hear things had not mended and we had an appointment for noon.  Of course, right after Tigger came out and although she had not climbed up on the rocker, hubby's chair, couch nor footstool, she, that morning sat on each and every one of them, jumping with seemly ease.  We, of course, started to doubt our decision but then I watched her as she lay sleeping on the footstool and saw her spasms of pain.  She was hiding it very well but I could see it.  

The appointment was hard. 

This was Tigger's last picture before she took a turn for the worse.  It was a help that the attendant said to us - you really did all that you could and this is the right decision.  With tears we said good bye to our beautiful girl who was both the most different cat that either of us ever had and by mutual decision she is also the very last cat we shall ever have.  Neither of our hearts can take another end of life decision, it is just too hard to say good bye to a pet that has so entered one's heart.  

When we came home to our empty home we began to clear up all toys, tissue paper and all of Tigger's things - except that little toy she is holding while sleeping.  I couldn't let that one go.  We donated all extra food and unused items to our regular pet store and told them of Tigger's passing and thanked them for all their service through the years that we had both Bear and Tigger.  

Now that all things that reminded us of her were taken care of as neither of us could look at the stuff without feeling sad all over again, the sad day was done although both of us still looked for her when we were doing something that usually brought her out of wherever she was to watch us.  

Tuesday we had decided we had to start washing the carpets in both our rooms.  Under both our beds was where she would go when she was feeling sick and although we cleaned up whatever mess she did, it was time for both carpets to have a thorough cleaning.  My room was first as there was quite a few drips under my bed and although I did wipe them up... well, you get the idea.  In between hubby finishing off the cleaning plus windows in my room I went out and got the groceries including our turkey for this weekend's Thanksgiving.  By the end of this day we were both pretty bushed - LOL.  

Wednesday was hubby's room where Tigger slept most nights under his bed and where her litter box was.  Washing the carpet didn't take very long and both rooms looked much brighter.  We still kept looking for her at those times and both of us had to remind ourselves that she truly was gone.  It is amazing how much of one's day is to do with the routine and care of one's pets.  So many things that were done no longer were needed and it felt weird.  Although considering we had done these things for 13 years it meant that they were firm habit in both of our days.

Thursday was our usual monthly trip for gas and hubby's smokes at the reserve.  Where gas was $1.89L in most places it was $1.52 at the reserve and as always worth the drive there.  

Today I am making up my annual batch of cranberry sauce which I got from another friend/blogger.  Making it in the slow cooker is the best and I thank her again for the recipe.

I also got myself some flowers this week and placed it where I use to not be able to because of Tigger.  I avoided cut flowers and plants just because Tigger would climb anywhere to get at anything green and growing whether it was okay for her or not.  We would not get any or keep any plants as there was only one place in the whole apartment that she could not get to and it was too small to use often.  

Today hubby has his semi-annual dental appointment and I am going to look at some shoes as mine are wearing out.  Next week we plan on cleaning the rest of the carpets in the apartment.  It never ceases to surprise me at how much fur one pulls out when cleaning the carpet even though one vacuums all the time. 

Oh, and I did get another puzzle done this week too ;) 

It was a fun one. 

And so I wish everyone a lovely weekend and happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

 

Weekly Musings of the 2nd

 

And now we have left hubby's birthday month and have slid into my birthday month.  I love October for many reasons like The Norfolk County Fair, Waterford's Pumpkinfest, Thanksgiving, My birthday and of course All Hallows Eve.  This month is just filled with Autumn fun.

But first Tigger news, she is slowly getting better, this morning she was more herself than the past two weeks.  She is going regular and acting more like the boss.  We gave the vet one last trip (the one I wrote about in the last blog) and that was the most traumatic one of all but hubby and I both agreed that it was the last one as the only next choice would be surgery and honestly neither of us want to put an old cat through that.  How do you explain to them why they wake up in pain and with all the things that happen during surgery and that it might be okay or maybe not.  No, we take care, yup, we bought the prescription food that is pretty expensive but is helping and took away the dry food but that is it.  If she goes downhill we will make that end of life call and have the vet service that comes to one's home do so.  So far she is doing okay.

This was taken last night when she pulled her little beaver toy close to her for sleeping.  That was first time in awhile too.  

Hubby came down with an autumn cold so he stayed home most of the week and rested which helped a lot and he was feeling better as the week went on.  Me?  I did the usual and of course back to books I have been reading.

The last book in the 16 book series of ordinary women in the bible was called Daughter of Light and a good read.

It began a bit slower than some of the other books but this series is written by all different authors which it really helpful if one is looking for new authors in this kind of books, biblical fiction which has become my most favourite kind of books to read.  

And so a very quiet week this week but a much needed quiet week especially for our Tigger.