He Owns Me

Watching you play outside today without your leash made my heart sing
Even though you knew you were still confined,
you appreciated being able to to roam that area free from that harness
I don't like the that thing either, it makes me feel like I own you and we both know it is YOU who owns ME.

Today was beautiful, the way you searched under leaves and climbed that tree
And the fact that you love the smell of flowers too makes me smile.
I could sit and watch you explore for hours
Being with you just makes me happy

Well, I have started taking Mikey out into our garden which is fenced in, it's a pretty big area and he can at least roam free in there without being tethered to me. Don't get me wrong, Mikey does ok on his leash and all but it just seems better for him to be able to check stuff out on his own. He is such a good boy, most of the time he just wants to roll around in the dirt, eat some bamboo and then he is ready to go in. He doesn't ask for much, though he could and he would get it. LOL

Model is Mikey sporting his new summer hair cut.

Crazy Over Me

Mama, I found someone
Like you said would come along
He's a sight, so unlike
Any man I've known
I was afraid to let him in
'Cause I'm not the trusting kind
But now I'm convinced
That he's heaven sent
And must be out of his mind

Mama, he's crazy
Crazy over me
And in my life is where he says
He always wants to be
I've never been so loved
He beats all I've ever seen
Mama, he's crazy
He's crazy over me

And, Mama, you've always said
Better look before you leap
Maybe so, but here I go
Lettin' my heart lead me
He thinks I hung the moon and stars
I think he's a livin' dream
Well, there are men
But ones like him
Are few and far between

Mama, he's crazy
Crazy over me
And in my life is where he says
He always wants to be
I've never been so loved
He beats all I've ever seen
Mama, he's crazy
He's crazy over me
Oh, Mama, he's crazy
He's crazy over me

THE JUDDS LYRICS

Some say love...

Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.

Some say love, it is a hunger
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower
and you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance,
It's the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong.

Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed
that with the sun's love
in the spring
becomes the rose

I have heard this song a gazillion times as a kid but you know, I don't think I ever got it until now. 

Sure I thought it was a pretty song and I even knew the words back then, but there was no way without living a little that I could ever understand the meaning within these lyrics.I understand now;

 as life has sent me on my journey and though I still have much living yet to do, 

I have been through enough that when I listened to this song today, it brought tears to my eyes. 

What a beautiful song this is, I am so glad I listened to it once again.

As for the photograph which is the reason I went and listened to the song in the first place...

This was our experiment with glitter and water on our flowers,

Haley and I thought it would be fun to see what it would look like. 

She is pleased with the result and so am I.  

And yes, this is the kinda stuff we do for fun now a days. LOL

Whatever

This is the look  that Mikey gets after he has tried to get his way by first meowing so loudly, then sucking up, rubbing his head on my legs. when these attempts fail, which I assure you doesn't happen too often, he then pouts. When this attempt also fails which again, I reassure you, happens very little....he then gets this little 'whatever" look on his face after a long sigh. He doesn't know how cute this face is. LOL

Model is Mikey....Whatever

.

Please Try to Never Grow Up

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give, all I have honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14 there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday
 and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around

 in your PJ's getting ready for school

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have
 is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up
Oh I don't wanna grow up, 
wish I'd never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up, 
wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, 
please try to never grow up

Model is Miss Haley

When I see it.... in stone.

This is Haley and she is sitting at the grave of a very dear friend name Petey. She is touching his collar that has been place around his grave marker. Petey was an Australian Shepard/Border collie, he was the best dog and he was killed in an accident on March 9, 2012.
 I got this shot the other day while we were outside, I was a good distance away from her, 

she didn't know I that I had taken it until later that evening.

I wasn't going to post it due to the fact that she is crying and it just seemed like a personal moment that she was having with her friend. Yesterday though, Haley asked me when I was going to post it and I explained to her why I hadn't yet and why I was apprehensive about doing so at all. She said "Mom, it's ok, I want you to post it, there is nothing wrong with everyone knowing how much I loved Petey".

My daughter is so beautiful .

The lyrics below are from the Song "Over You" by Miranda Lambert. We were watching the video to this song when we got the news that Petey had been killed. Every time the song comes on the radio now, I see her taken back to that night when she lost her friend. Haley and Petey were close, they spent a lot of time together. For those who do not know, Petey belonged to our friends Rick and Raeanne, they live on the same property as us, about a hundred feet away is all. Petey was part of our family too and he is missed more than words could ever express.

Weather man said it’s gonna snow
By now I should be used to the cold
Mid-February shouldn’t be so scary
It was only December
I still remember the presents, the tree, you and me
 

But you went away
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be OK
But I’m not going to ever get over you
 

Living alone here in this place
I think of you, and I’m not afraid
Your favorite records make me feel better
Cause you sing along
With every song
I know you didn’t mean to give them to me

But you went away
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be OK
But I’m not going to ever get over you

It really sinks in, you know, when I see it in stone

Cause you went away,
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be OK
But I’m not going to ever get over you 

Stud Muffin

He is such a stud....I'm thinking he may know it too. :)

Model is Mikey

The Little Girl She is Today

Until the day when the phone begins to ring and all of her friends call and occupy her time....

I will enjoy being her first friend and the one she always wants to play with.

Until her days are filled with trips to the mall, concerts to see and dances at school....

I will look forward to each remaining day that we get to spend, just the two of us, in the garden, coloring in books and watching Disney movies over and over again.

Until that guy walks through our door and sweeps her off her feet and every single second after her mind is filled with him....

I will love being the center of her universe and hold my status with honor.

Until the very day that she becomes that 'all grown up girl' I know she will be....

I will cherish every single second that I have with the 'little girl'.....she is today.

Model is Haley, my little girl.

Beautifully Innocent

Looking at this photograph, I am not sure if I want to smile or cry.
LOL
She is growing up so fast and I don't like it.


Model is Miss Haley

THE ANIMALS' SAVIOR

I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter . . . 

the cast-offs of human society.

I saw in their eyes love and hope,

 fear and dread, sadness and betrayal.  

And I was angry.

"God,", I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"

God was silent for a moment, and then He spoke softly.

 "I have done something,", He replied. "I created You."

Jim Willis, Author

Lend Me A Kitten - Fine Art Photography

Lend Me A Kitten - Fine Art Photography

Many thanks to Brian Auer and  Fine Art Photoblog.

She Belongs to Him

When I was pregnant with Haley, so many people told me that I would really need to keep a close eye on Mikey once she was born due to how close Mikey I were. As many of you already know, Mikey rescued me under very special circumstances, the loss of my newborn son, two years prior to having Haley. Due to the unique relationship, people thought Mikey would be jealous of Haley. I wasn’t worried.

My whole pregnancy, Mikey would sleep next to my belly every night and he was just fascinated by any movement she would make from in there, it was really cute.
When we brought Haley home from the hospital, she was
 4 ½  pounds, itty bitty, but healthy. Mikey was so curious about her as soon as I walked through the door so I put her on a blanket on the floor and let him check her out. As soon as he got one whiff of that sweet baby smell he began to purr. He sniffed her from head to toe and then he curled up next to her for a nap.

As much as I trust Mikey, I tried to really play things safe and when she went down for naps and went to bed at night I would make sure her bedroom door was shut, we had a video monitor so it was all good. Well…a couple of times the door got left open and when I would look closer on the monitor I would see Mikey in her crib, he was being good but wanted to be next to her. I was assuming it was her body heat that he wanted. So I would go in there get him out of her crib and shut her door. I think it must have been the third time or so that the door got left open and this time I was downstairs and noticed  it open, I knew Mikey would be in there. I looked in saw that Haley was sound asleep but I didn’t see Mikey in her crib and was a bit surprised by that.
Another quick glance around Haley’s Room and there he was…sound asleep under her crib. He never jumped in her crib again, he would always nap under it during their nap time. I never shut her door again.

When Haley goes to bed at night Mikey always goes with her, he stays in there until she goes to sleep and he still doesn’t sleep on her bed with her, only if she isn’t in the bed and then it’s fair game. LOL You can always find him at bedtime sleeping next to Haley’s bed.  Once she is asleep…you can find him next to me, in my bed, our bed.

You know, Mikey and I went through so much before Haley arrived…Mikey didn’t understand all that made my heart hurt back then, he was a baby and his job was just to fix it and he did. When Haley came into the world two years later, it was pure Joy and Mikey thought so too because he knew what sorrow looked like .…he saw it on my face and how it felt next to him at night for a very long time. This Joy thing was different and he knew Haley brought that into our home…he loves Haley, she helped him save Mom.

Models are Mikey and Haley

If He Was my Own

If He Was my Own… I don’t think I could love him anymore than I do already.

This is the amazing Sheriff and he belongs to my friend Sandy.

The Baby

This is Alex and he is my baby, he is the youngest of my kitty crew.

My Alex is always trying to work his way to the top of the hierarchy around here but always seems to fall a bit short. LOL

If any of you have multiple cats then you may know how it goes with the pecking order when it comes to cats. Since Roo passed on it has been an all out fight for his position of number two under Mikey. I think Alex figured since he is a male that he would automatically claim that spot but my female Belle (his aunt) set him straight with a quickness. LOL

I would like to say he is at number three but to be there he would have to get passed Daisy and well…that won’t happen anytime soon either, she can still take him.

So Alex tries to focus his power over the only one he can and that would be Sissy but then I step in because Sissy is at the bottom of this whole Hierarchy thing and well…I’m her mom and I just protect her. :)

So I think Alex is a bit frustrated with his position and all but he is still sweet as sugar, I just adore him.

For those who do not know, I rescued Alex at 3 weeks of age…his mom was a Feral cat that I trapped to be spayed and released. She ended up being a sweet baby as well and so instead of being released back into her environment, she found herself a home with my friend Julie and she goes by the name of Bella now. She is also the sister of my cat Belle.

Confused yet? LOL

All of the kittens from the litter Alex was in were placed in loving homes.

Ms. Belle

When she first arrived at my house almost 5 years ago.

He is the Moment

He brings so much to my hectic world
Everyday with the busy schedules and all of the activities
He is the calm in the storm
He is the moment when I sit down to rest
Just a look, a glance in his direction brings such a peace to my existence
He gives me that balance I so need everyday
He brings me his all
He brings me his everything
And I need him.

Model is Mikey

Left

This is the face of someone who has been left behind….
The owners moved away leaving this cat and another to just fend for themselves.
I took this photograph the day my best friend Sandy moved into her new house. The landlord said the cats were left behind by previous tenants. Most people in this situation would probably get rid of the cats considering Sandy already has five cats of her own but no….
You see, I have this most amazing best friend, she never even gives it a second thought…she just carries on about her life with 7 cats now….I just love Sandy so much.
As you can see here this sweet cat has an eye condition, the other cat does as well just not as bad as this one. When we first arrived at the house, both cats were scared out of their wits, this one more than the other and who could blame them, I can’t imagine what it must feel like to just be left behind this way.
The other cat came around quickly but this one has been more cautious. Every time we would feed her she would run at first and then when we walked away she would go devour her food.
The last time I was at Sandy’s house which was a couple of weeks ago, I was just delighted to see that Sandy had managed to gain this girls trust, she allows Sandy to pet her now and she let me pet her too and I was so excited about this.
I gave Sandy some medicine for the eyes of both cats and once they settle in more with the changes in their lives we will get them in for check ups. They seem pretty healthy other than the eyes. They both eat really well. Sandy hasn’t named them yet but she will and it will be a cool name like the other names she has come up with for her other cats that can be seen in my gallery…Sheriff, Charlie, Annie, Hyper and Snow Ball.
These cats got lucky…they were found by Sandy but not all cats get this lucky. The fact that these cats were left behind like this is just ridiculous to me. I understand there can be circumstances but for me there is just no circumstance that is so severe that a person cannot pick up a phone and call one of the thousands of resources there are available for this type of situation.
You all know that I am not a judgmental kind of girl but this right here….to me…is just irresponsible and unacceptable behavior from any human being.
It’s cruel and I am so glad I am not the kind of person who could do this to an animal.
For anyone who is in a situation like this where they are facing moving and cannot take their animals with them, I encourage you to to contact Petfinder this organization would be a first stop in helping you find the help that you would need for your furry friends. I have personally used Petfinder countless times when trying to find homes for feral cats that were in need of a home because of special circumstances that left them unable to return to the wild. I was able to able to place every animal I have listed on that site, it is also a portal of information for those in need.

Please, don’t leave your animals behind when you move…please.

If I knew...

Sometimes, someone unexpectedly walks into your life and just makes it better.
Sometimes, you can’t explain how or why, you just know it’s better.

And when that someone stays not long enough, you feel as if your heart will never mend.
But even with the pain of losing them, you still know that it was better…
Your world is a better place and you are a better person because they were a part of it .

If I knew then, what I know now of the pain I would endure in losing you….

I would do it all over again, in a minute.

_{Model is Roo who was put to rest on November 28, 2011.}

_{Still missing you my friend…still missing you.}

Mikey's Box

I swear my house looks like a box store because we have so many boxes…and why do we have so many boxes? Because Mikey LOVES them.
I know most cats really like boxes, my other cats like them too but only for a minute and then they are off doing something else but not Mikey. Mikey has a true passion for the box, any size too. It can be a shoe box and he will try to ft his big – o – booty in it. Thing is, he stays in the box whether he fits or not, he will be all hanging over the sides and he goes to sleep that way. Amazing! It just cannot be comfortable. LOL
Model is Mikey…in a Box.
Should of named him Jack. LOL

She Belongs to Him

When I was pregnant with Haley, so many people told me that I would really need to keep a close eye on Mikey once she was born due to how close Mikey I were. As many of you already know, Mikey rescued me under very special circumstances, the loss of my newborn son, two years prior to having Haley. Due to the unique relationship, people thought Mikey would be jealous of Haley. I wasn’t worried.
My whole pregnancy, Mikey would sleep next to my belly every night and he was just fascinated by any movement she would make from in there, it was really cute.
When we brought Haley home from the hospital, she was
4 ½ pounds, itty bitty, but healthy. Mikey was so curious about her as soon as I walked through the door so I put her on a blanket on the floor and let him check her out. As soon as he got one whiff of that sweet baby smell he began to purr. He sniffed her from head to toe and then he curled up next to her for a nap.
As much as I trust Mikey, I tried to really play things safe and when she went down for naps and went to bed at night I would make sure her bedroom door was shut, we had a video monitor so it was all good. Well…a couple of times the door got left open and when I would look closer on the monitor I would see Mikey in her crib, he was being good but wanted to be next to her. I was assuming it was her body heat that he wanted. So I would go in there get him out of her crib and shut her door. I think it must have been the third time or so that the door got left open and this time I was downstairs and noticed it open, I knew Mikey would be in there. I looked in saw that Haley was sound asleep but I didn’t see Mikey in her crib and was a bit surprised by that.
Another quick glance around Haley’s Room and there he was…sound asleep under her crib. He never jumped in her crib again, he would always nap under it during their nap time. I never shut her door again.
When Haley goes to bed at night Mikey always goes with her, he stays in there until she goes to sleep and he still doesn’t sleep on her bed with her, only if she isn’t in the bed and then it’s fair game. LOL You can always find him at bedtime sleeping next to Haley’s bed. Once she is asleep…you can find him next to me, in my bed, our bed.
You know, Mikey and I went through so much before Haley arrived…Mikey didn’t understand all that made my heart hurt back then, he was a baby and his job was just to fix it and he did. When Haley came into the world two years later, it was pure Joy and Mikey thought so too because he knew what sorrow looked like .…he saw it on my face and how it felt next to him at night for a very long time. This Joy thing was different and he knew Haley brought that into our home…he loves Haley, she helped him save Mom.

Models are Mikey and Haley