Many people have lost loved ones very close to them and this time of year can be particularly painful for those left behind. We know – we miss our brother Dennis. He died far too young. We think of the friends we lost in the line of duty – flying their airplanes and doing what they love, but dying far too soon. I miss my Grammie and my sweet Uncle Jack who I adored as a child because I knew he loved me. He would show it by asking every single detail of my life. When I came home from overseas, he would ask about my work, my travels, my boyfriend. I would tell him and I never felt like he was nosy. His interest in me made me feel special. He would have loved my blog by the way.

I think of my friend Frank, who just passed away last August. He was found in his home, on the floor of his bathroom after he suffered a massive heart attack. We were a photography team and he had serving heart that inspired me to serve more and work harder. His photos fill my hard drive and I miss his presence every Sunday.

As much as we know it’s a part of life, it doesn’t mean it hurts less. So I try to shield the kids from the pain as much as I can while at the same time, letting them live through the experience. It’s a balance and the husband and I deal with our pain while attempting to stay strong for the kids.

But then the cat got sick and the kids are feeling the full pain of caring for a dying loved one. We know the kitty is old but somehow his sickness seemed sudden. We took him to the kitty hospital two weeks ago and there he stayed for three days. We didn’t think he would come home. He laid in one place for two days, his fur matted with his vomit. It was a horrible sight. The kids asked about him every day. I could see them struggling with his diagnosis of a cancerous tumor.

He’s home now and I force feed him his medicine twice a day. We keep a good eye on his food intake, his bowel movements and eye him as he slowly makes his way around the house. Every movement is watched carefully. The first thing I do when I wake is look for him. I don’t want him to crawl into a space and not ever find him again. And we never let him outside.

I admit, it’s been a great source of worry and distraction for me. Life has to continue on and Christmas had to come, in spite of our 24 hour vigil. I’m not going to state the obvious so right now, we’re just grateful for the little time our kitty has with us. And we’ll take care of him as best as we can.

And today – we’re making the trek home. I hope it’s as uneventful and fast as the way here.

The single fun event of the trip was this parrot perched on the back of the passenger seat of this passing car.

It was such an unexpected and whimsical sight. He sat on the seat like he was out for a Sunday ride. He didn’t even move during the big G turns.

I asked the husband to speed up and stay with the car. The kids were getting a kick out of him.

I hope the driver wasn’t too nervous about our high speed chase!

I was hoping to get a reaction out of the cat but he stayed aloof on my lap. Apparently he’s too cool for such highjinks.

We’re on our way home from my parents’ house today. Maybe I’ll see him again!

This is one of my favorite all time photos of the cat. He just looks so content and somewhat stately. I love that my wallpaper was in the photo so when I found out about Hello Canvas and realized what a wonderful product they had, I wanted to order more.

I needed a piece of art to go above my headboard. My bedroom is mostly black and white so I thought the cat would be a great addition. It would be a really personal touch.

So I put the cat to canvas and it’s beautiful – and huge. His head is about three feet across.

I measured, I did.

But for some reason, my sense of proportion was waaaay off.

As cute as he is, I don’t k now if I can wake up every morning thinking that he’s going to eat me.

I think that a canvas this big would be really great with different content, one that doesn’t make one feel like they are being stalked for food.

I think that a smaller canvas would have looked great. It’s just that it’s so big…

The husband saw my post last weekend and he called very excitedly and said, “I know the perfect place for this!” I cringed a little bit, hoping it wasn’t anywhere in the house, much less the bedroom.

But he does have the perfect place. And when it’s up in its place of honor, I’ll take a photo and show you.

So Hello Canvas, you do beautiful work. I’ll place another order soon. This one will be for a very, very, very small horse.

Actually, I wouldn’t know what the life of a real photographer is like. I only know what it is like to be me as I attempt a “photo shoot.”

I loved these beautiful tulips from my garden. I posted what I thought the best of the shots this morning. Then a curious someone tries to eat them.

Yum, tulips.

These beautiful daffodils were at the base of my neighbor’s mailbox.

Then someone wanted to know how they smelled. And they smelled good enough to relieve oneself on. I got the shot before that happened by the way.

Sniff…these smell good enough to…never mind.

The cat stayed in one place long enough for me to get a shot of some great sunflare.

Hey! What cha doing? What cha doing? Huh? Huh?

As my boss said to me the other day, “Le sigh.”

So I’m really reaching today…but it’s Monday so it’s appropo.

Please week, be good to me.

And to you too dear bloggers!

There are times when I literally cannot get anything done. I’ll start a project and someone will yell, “Puna!” or “Mom!” or worse, someone will send an email. I’m starting not to like email.

And when I settle down to answer that email, someone will want to sit on my lap to see what I’m doing.

Excuse me but I’m off to get a cat off my lap so I can shower…

Photo courtesy of the husband using a weird camera setting. It’s SOOC Saturday on Sunday.

He’s pretty fancy for a pound kitty. I’m getting rather tired of all the dog and cat hair. I’m going to shave him this summer (as soon as it gets warmer.) He’ll look like he did when we found him in the shelter. It will give the vacuum and my poor aching back a little break.

In spite of how pretty he is, the cat is a boy. He’s a pretty boy. I took some photos of him to enter into the Pioneer Woman’s photo contest for cats a while ago and I never got around to entering them.

So he had to wear a tie for nothing.

I made him glow a little with the Pioneer’s Woman’s Lovely and Etheral action (further humiliation for a guy) and then I lifted the midtones with MCP Actions Magic Midtone Lifter action. That particular action by the way is does a better job than using curves. I don’t know why, you’ll have to ask the wonderful Jodi at MCP Actions.

Here he is SOOC. He’s about to eat me for lunch I think. He doesn’t look like a happy boy.

The kitty wants to know what you are doing on this gray rainy day. The weather could be nice where you are so perhaps you are having more fun than we are here on the Mid-Atlantic.

The photo is SOOC, because I’m too lazy to edit. Click over to SOOC Saturday won’t you please?

One of my favorite Christmas stories ever is a true one. Please forgive me because I’m going by memory. I’m not googling it.

During World War I, the world was at war and the Allie and German troops were conducting trench warfare somewhere in France. On Christmas Day, they put down their arms and celebrated Christmas together. Some people would rather emaphasize the fact that they then went back to warring with each other after that. But I like to take away the fact that there will always be difference, and disputes and well – war.

But on that one day, there was peace. And the peace was bigger than man, country and war. And it came from a place that is not of this earth. Now that’s the true story of Christmas.

We’re on our way home from my parents’ house. I hope that cat and dog are as peaceful with us and each as they were on our way up here.

I may post again when I get home today. For some reason I’m feeling chatty.