Arf!

Remembering Celestial Sammy

Sammy appeared in the yard in early 2011.

Originally called New Guy or Guy, The Hubby forgot when at the the low cost spay/neuter clinic, and substituted his granddad's name.

Sammy became sickly, so we helped him fly off over The Rainbow Bridge.

That was June 12, 2014.

Am thankful for Sammy, though with us for a short time compared to others, as he responded to our love with his unique 'arf'-sounding meow, and allowed stroking.

We feel honored that he chose us, and we mourn him.

Sammy's urn sits next to Paddy and Sweetie, as they were 'O' Cats together.

💔😿❤️

Let's Hop!

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend the following non-fiction books:

Simon Winchester, Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883, narrated by the author

Ben Montgomery, Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail, narrated by Patrick Lawlor

Jim DeFede, The Day the World Came to Town-9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, narrated by Ray Porter

The titles are self-explanatory, and each audiobook is a treasure-trove of facts, nuance, stories, and the power of humans to triumph over adversity.

📚

Tuxedo Appreciation Day

January 29th is Tuxedo Appreciation Day!

Sponsored by Stunning Keisha 

💗Happy 16th Gotachaversary, CK!💗

Sammy, tuxedo feral cat
Artified by Prisma
Click on the image above the enjoy an online jigsaw puzzle!

Let's Hop!

Click on the badge above to visit Athena Cat Goddess!

Angel Sammy: 6/12/14

Today is the anniversary of Angel Sammy earning his wings and flying off to The Rainbow Bridge.

Sammy was a master at being comfortable, shown here as he hid under the shady leaves of a hosta plant to escape the hot weather.

Appears like he's wearing a Carmen Miranda-type hat, no?

Using Lunapic, I jazzed the image up a bit, in an effort to disguise the neighbor's paint peels.

Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle!

We miss you, Angel Sammy.

💔😿💔

Let's Hop!

Click on the badge above to visit Athena Cat Goddess's Blog!

Angel Sammy

Six years ago, on June 12, 2014, I helped Sammy leave his earthly body to run freely into the light.

I hadn't expected it; we were at the veterinarian's for a dental appointment.

The vet said that Sammy was very sick, his mouth was very messed up, and no amount of dental work or antibiotics was going to pull him back 100% into the world of the living.

I cried, sobbed, and rained tears down upon Sammy's fur.

He looked at me, and said, "Let me go now".

You can hear Sammy's meow, which sorta sounded like 'Arf!' to me!

As I type this, I look at the heart-shaped urn that holds Sammy's cremains.

Even though he was an outside-only cat, and feral until he was feeling too unwell to want to run away, his presence and purrsonality made a huge impact on me.

Hope you are resting in peace, Angel Sammy, and that you know that I will always love you.

💔💕💔

Jigsaw Puzzle

108Angel Sammy

A Sammy Retrospective

Five years ago today, I helped Angel Sammy to The Rainbow Bridge.  It was a shock, since I'd trapped this friendly feral for a dental exam at the vet's office.  The vet said he was too sick, and his mouth was a mess.  Back then, I didn't have the gumption to push back at the vet, because I didn't know then that I could pill a feral, or that there were compounding meds to rub into an ear.

But, Sammy was ready to go.  He gave me a look, that said, "I'm tired.  Please let me go."  I cried, and cried, and sobbed, and so did the veterinarian.  Sammy was my first euthanization too, and I didn't have time to prepare...if there is such a thing.

Sammy had a wonderful meow, that was more like a bark..."ARF!", and I miss it.  Hard to believe this much time has elapsed.  His cremains are in a white urn, that sits on my dresser.  The top photo was the first one I'd taken of him ever, on April 17, 2010, so he was a part of The 'O' Cats for over four years.  As time went on, he became used to me, and I was able to pet him.  Hope you are resting in peace, Angel Sammy.  I love you.

💔😿💔

March of 2012

'Way back in 2012, we had a plethora of backyard cats!

These photos were taken on the same day.

Paddy O'Malley, just days before his TNR

Sammy, at his healthiest, but we didn't know that yet.

The neighbor's cat, whom I called "Frankie", as in Frank Sinatra.
The neighbor never neutered this boy, and one day she had moved away and we didn't see Frankie again.

Hobo, our old friend
Our first feral; all others can thank him!

Sweetie, enjoying the car's sunroof from the wrong side.

I Miss Sammy

6/12/14: Sammy's Gone

Angel Sammy left for The Rainbow Bridge four years ago today, and I miss him still.  He wasn't well, and I tried hard to keep him with us, but he'd had enough and was ready to leave.  The veterinarian said that his mouth was 'a mess' when I finally trapped Sammy, and carried him in for a dental procedure.  She felt the kindest thing was to let him go, and as I looking into his eyes, he told me that it was his time.  The veterinarian cried along with me, as Sammy drifted off to Heaven.  However, I still have that twinge of guilt, because maybe we could have administered medicine, by mixing it with his food perhaps.  At that time, neither of us had any experience with pilling or medicating cats, since Chuck wasn't diagnosed with his heart and kidney problems yet.  And Sammy was feral, or the complete opposite of a house-cat.  So, Sammy, I love you and miss you, and hope you can feel my affection for you. 

💔💓Sammy 💓💔