Reinforcing the fence AGAIN!

Well, we had to reinforce the fence again because Huxley and Blitz were still able to get under it. We strung 2 cable wires through the fence and screwed them into the posts. I still think we might have to try something else. My thought was to run a 2"x4" along the ground and nail the fence into it. That way there would be no chance of them getting under the fence. That'll cost some money though for the lumber. We may just do a section at a time, getting the sections that are easiest for them to get under first.

I left work early today for a doctors appointment but I went by the house first to let the dogs out. They were glad to see me and to get outside. lol I was only home for about 10 minutes, then I had to head out to the doctors. Now I'm at Brakes Plus getting my Jeep repaired yet again. Thankfully we have the money to do it. I just hate leaving the girls so long today. David has the duty pager and won't be home until about 4pm. Hopefully they'll make it that long.

One of the dogs peed on the carpet in our bedroom last night. I cleaned it up and I'll have to get the rug cleaned again. I'm not sure which one of them did it but I'm thinking it was Blitz. She seemed like she was a bit under the weather yesterday. David will probably get home before I do so they'll be happy to see him.

Minnie and Paulie are still meowing a lot. I think they are still looking for Tabby or just miss her. I don't blame them. I miss her too. I was so used to seeing her sweet face poking out the kitty door into the hallway. Quite a few times, Huxley and Blitz, but especially Huxley would go nose to nose with her. The dogs would get so excited. Tabby just seemed bored. lol It 's hard for me to believe that I'll never hold Tabby again. I wish I would have been able to do more with her at the end, but she didn't like being touched or brushed much. I hate to admit it but I'd love to have another Tabby cat. I have pretty much always had a Tabby cat since the 1980's. Tabby Edward was the first. He was a goof ball. John got to keep him and he left him with a friend while he went TDY and the friend had Tabby Edward put to sleep - for no good reason! I'm still mad about that. He was a great cat. And of course we've had Tabby for the last 15+ years. But a kitten would be out of the question because I think the girls would eat a kitten. No kidding.

When Blitzie seemed poorly yesterday I worried that she might be sick. I'm kind of gun shy now that Tabby is gone. I can't imagine the cats or dogs getting sick. But they all are 7+ years old now. That's pretty young for my animals but it's not 'spring chicken' either.

I had to get up and go sit and my chair to sleep last night for a while because Huxley wouldn't move over to let me get into bed. What a bed hog. I think finally I was able to go back to bed and get Huxley to move.

Dang, it's getting cold here at the car shop. It's supposed to snow later today. I don't think the roads will be effected, but they say it will stick to the grass. Huxley and Blitz aren't big on going out in the snow like Skooter and Moped are. They are definitely indoor, spoiled, lazy girls. And I love them very much.

The Epitome of Laziness

Here is Blitz. She made a pillow out of my blankets and was being lazy. She's so precious.

Tribute to Tabby - Part 2

A few years ago, in October, we bought a second home outside of Woodland Park, in the Pike National Forest. We lived up there for about a year. Minnie, Tabby & Paulie lived there with us, along with Skooter, Olie and Genesis. We lived out in the forest and definitely had to make sure the cats didn't get out. We had a neighborhood fox and a not so friendly bear. There were postings that a mountain lion was in the area tool. We had to keep an eye on Skooter and the other dogs when they went out so they didn't end up a tasty little snack. I don't think the cats enjoyed living outside of Woodland Park in the forest. I think they knew they were just an hoursderve there.

The following summer David and I moved back to the house in the Springs. Tabby meowed the whole way down Ute Pass and across town (about an hour or so). They all were glad be home again. Tabby was doing great living here. Her weight was up to 13 pounds and she wore it well. LOL


Isn't she beautiful? She wasn't fat she was just fluffy. lol She thrived living here out East with us. Many nights we could hear her purring under the head of our bed. It was such a peaceful and content sound. I fell asleep to Tabby's purring many times.

Tabby was definitely a family pet. She loved both of us and would sit in our laps and purr until she fell asleep. Here she is with David.


It wasn't unusual to find Tabby in the sink, just laying there.

Or in the tub either.


She loved her brother, Paulie and her sister, Minnie. They weren't biologically siblings, but in their hearts they were. Minnie and Paulie grew up with Tabby in their lives. They didn't know life any other way.


I thought Tabby would live until her 20's. She was so happy and healthy. But I guess that wasn't meant to be. She started looking ill about 2 months ago. I thought she was just losing weight because she was getting older. Then she started peeing on the carpet. Then she lost a lot of weight. I had the vet come to see her and he did some blood work. He said he was pretty sure she had hyperthyroidism and would need to be on medication. A day or so later the lab work came back and confirmed that she did indeed have hyperthyroidism. Dr. G put her on some thyroid medicine and we waited a couple of weeks to see if it helped.

It didn't help.

I looked into her face one day and it was like she was pleading with me to stop the suffering she was going through. I know if was just me thinking that, but she certainly wasn't feeling good.

I made a decision on a weekend to have her put down. I loved her so much and just couldn't bear to watch her become so ill. She wouldn't take her medicine anymore and was throwing up more often. I called Dr. G on the morning of April 7th and left a message for him. I told him that the medicine wasn't having a noticeable effect and that Tabby seemed to be losing control of some of her bodily functions. It was time to let kitty go as Dr. G would say. Dr. G called me back within an hour or so and we discussed what the current situation was. He made an appointment to come out that day after I got home from work.

I spent a little time with Tabby telling her how much I love her and that it was time for her to stop suffering. I loved her enough to let her go. Dr. G came by at noon. I went into the cat's room and got Tabby. She didn't fight at all. I sat on the couch with Dr. G by my side. I held Tabby as he gave her the first injection, the one that would put her in lala land. It took effect quite quickly. She was purring the whole time. I just cradled her in my arms and loved her. I rubbed my hand along her head and neck. She seemed to really enjoy it. I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about this. I could feel her heart beating very fast, but she still purred. After a couple of minutes of me holding her and telling her how much I loved her, the medicine did it's job and she was zonked out. I had never enjoyed holding her as much as I did in those few minutes. Dr. G explained everything before doing it so I would know what was going on and what to expect. She continued to purr and I continued to pet her. Then Dr. G gave her an anesthtic that would stop her breathing and heart beat. She passed away within seconds. I could feel her heart stop beating. It was such a lonely moment. I hugged her and held her for a few minutes. I didn't want to give her up.

Then I was ready to say goodbye to Tabby for the final time. I handed her oh so gently into the arms of Dr. G. He was very sweet, kind and careful with her. He was going to have her cremated for us. I decided not to get her remains back. He held her in both hands, very gently. I was amazed at how small she had become. And very respectfully he walked her out to his mobile vet clinic. It was he last time I got to see her.

I cried a lot when she was gone. I even took the day off from work on Tuesday because I felt such overwhelming grief. I never realized just how much of a habit it was to see her. She was always peeking her head out that kitty door and giving me a tiny meow. I miss that and hearing her purring under the bed.

I take comfort in the fact that she is no longer suffering. It doesn't lessen my grief though. We had Tabby for almost 16 years. She gave us a wonderful life and we were blessed to have her in our family. I don't think I will ever stop missing her.

"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown..."

I look forward to the day when I will meet all of my pets at the Rainbow Bridge.

The Dog Blog Pays Tribute to Tabby

Tabby was born in July of 1993. Her mom was literally an alley cat. She lived out back of our house in the alley. And she was pregnant. When she disappeared for a few days we knew the blessed event had taken place. It wasn't long before she was bringing the babies over to our back deck for a handout (which we happily obliged). The kittens were not human friendly though since they were born in a run down shack in an alley. Of course, some of them were braver than others and would even let us pat them.

I don't really know what it was about Tabby that made us pick her out of the crowd. Maybe it was just her sweet little face. But at the point when we decided that Mama cat and babies had to go to the Humane Society, we also decided to "keep" Tabby. We weren't actually allowed to have a pet in our rented home so we just kept her outside. For the first 5 years of her life she was strictly an outdoor cat, living in the shack across the alley that she was born in. She was always such a tender soul.

I'd like to tell some remarkable stories about Tabby but quite honestly she lived, for the most part, an uneventful life. She was always healthy, friendly and loving.

When she was five years old we decided to let her in the house, even though we weren't supposed to do that. She loved being an indoor kitty. She still went outside to do her business, but once she discovered the luxuries of living indoors, she was content to stay inside most of the day. Her life had been hard those first five years.

Tabby has moved around with us many times. Oh, I just remembered something that happened to Tabby. One day she was iin te backyard and a big, ole Magpie bird was buzzing Tabby's head. She was terrified, poor girl. That insane bird was picking on my cat and my cat didn't appreciate it much. Tabby was probably six when that happened. She stayed in the house more and more after that bird attack. When she did go out, she would slink across the yard and run to the shack. It was sort of funny at the time that a bird was terrorizing my cat.

Anyway, back to Tabby moving around with us. When we left the West side of town and moved into the middle of town, Tabby came along. She didn't care much for the cat carrier but she mad the trip across town. At this point she pretty much was a house cat but she still went outside to check things out. I remember, just like it was yesterday, seeing her running, with her belly so low to the ground that she looked like she was stalking something; but in actuality she was making a bee line for the back shed so she could hide underneath it from the birds. She was our only pet at that time.

Then we all packed up and moved even further east across town taking Tabby in tow. Because the neighborhood had foxes prowling around we decided that Tabby would become a full fledged indoor cat. She didn't seem to mind the change.

Well, I'm getting sleepy and so I'm going to head to bed. I'll continue the tribute to Tabby tomorrow. I'll add some pictures then too. I don't have the smarts to do it right now. lol Goodnight!