April Begins

I want to say a sincere thank you to each of you who commented on my last post. It has felt as if we had a memorial service for Leo and the people who knew him best shared their feelings and memories. It means a lot to me and Ken, who has been reading along too.
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After several inches of snow on Friday, the sun broke out this weekend. On Sunday Ken and I went to the ocean, our first trip to Popham Beach this year. The wind was brisk. The sun was warm. There was not a cloud in the sky ~

We walked the beach and watched the waves roll in ~

The wind was so strong it blew spray off the waves ~

We wondered if anyone ever lived on the small, barren islands ~

It doesn't look or feel like Spring yet. Last year we had a real Spring, and I am holding out hope for this year, just not this week. More snow is in the forecast....

Leo Was A Good Cat

Today, in the early morning hours, Leo passed away, exactly two and a half years after he adopted us when he showed up on our porch and made it clear he wasn't leaving. He chose well because there were no young children or dogs, but there were warm laps, sunny windows, and two adults to dote on him and meet his every need. He enjoyed being outside, and one of his favorite things to do was to drink from the watering can ~

When inside, Leo liked to sit in spots where the sun shone in and he liked to look out the windows ~

Leo was in his retirement years, so there was lots of napping, eating, and grooming. He loved his wet food, and he was meticulous about his appearance ~

This week I knew he was in his last days because he chose to stay in his corner of the garage, near his water and food and litter box. For the most part he stayed on the padded milk crate and slept, occasionally getting a drink of water or tiny taste of food. We made regular trips to the garage to hold him, pet him, and tell him we loved him. When he showed up on our porch in October 2008 we didn't know we needed a cat; Leo knew and worked his way into our lives and hearts. He brought immeasurable joy and unconditional companionship. Leo was well loved and will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. We will miss you, Leo Leo. Godspeed.

Leo On The Green

Leo has once again changed his preferences for where he would like to nap. The padded boxes in the corner of the living room and in the garage near his food dish no longer meet his approval. Neither do the chairs, the corner of the carpet, or either of our laps. Instead, he would rather spend his time in the garage perched on an old quilted mover's pad atop an overturned crate. As for in the house, he circles the island in the kitchen and has had a hard time finding a place to settle in. So, at his request, he has been spending increasing amounts of time in the garage between partaking of his meals of wet food in the morning and at 5:00 each evening. Then this week we noticed that he likes the space under a small table in the kitchen ~

More and more often that seems to be his "go to" place when he is in the house. This evening Ken suggested that if we padded the area with the fleece blanket that my daughter's dog uses when she visits that maybe Leo would settle down there. Don't worry, Mazulah, when you visit the blanket will still be yours to use ~

It is our job to figure out what makes Leo comfortable in the autumn of his life, which is keeping us on our toes!

Leo's Latest Lair

This morning I had errands to run before the next round of storms arrives. Leo had eaten and curled up in his latest box, a remnant of Christmas that we have padded with a small afghan. He was sound asleep when I left so I let him be. He was in the exact same spot when I got home. It seems his restlessness has eased ~

Two hours later he roused, wandered the house a bit, and then made his way back to his box ~

He is eating well and going about his normal daily business with little more than an occasional hairball. We marvel at how his moods change. We'd love to know what he's thinking, although we're pretty sure he hates all this snow that is keeping him in the house. It looks like we will have snow all day tomorrow.

Time Out

Last weekend Leo was very unhappy, meowing and pacing and not wanting anything to do with Ken or me. At one point he was so loud that we couldn't hear each other talk. He didn't want to settle down in any of his regular spots; he took up residence in the corner behind the television. Leo put himself in time out ~

I could see him when I got down on my hands and knees ~

He was out of reach and stayed that way for hours ~

I could understand how he felt. Sometimes we just need to be left alone. I needed a time out on Tuesday, so I took myself "out" for the day. I had errands to run, nine separate stops I needed to make. I wasn't trying to get away from anyone because there wasn't anyone at home, but I needed to be someplace else, away from my normal routine. I interacted briefly with lots of people I don't know, and I crossed everything off my to-do list. The best part of the day? Sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window at Barnes and Noble, eating soup and watching the sun set. Sometimes it helps to get away.

On The Twelfth Day Of January

Outside, there is a wall of snow ~

And windchimes that will not be silenced despite the weather ~

Inside, shamrocks bloom on the windowsill ~

A cat sleeps in his new favorite napping place ~

A rainbow of new turtlenecks are folded ~

And a desk defies organization in spite of the owner's repeated efforts ~

Such is the state of life at 512 on this day in January.

Blame It On Leo

Ken was planning to bring the tree into the house on Saturday, but Leo needed a place to take a nap ~

This morning I was going to put lights on the tree but Leo staked out the Christmas box ~

So I finished a lap quilt with the squares left from the materials for two quilts for a friend's sons ~

One with splashes of red ~

And one with lots of green ~

And I reviewed the lessons from the Buddha Chick course, trying to decide if I want to take the "graduate" course that starts in January ~

Leo is to blame for all of today's productivity.

Box Of Christmas

Ken and I had no ornaments for our first Christmas tree in 1975. We borrowed a set of lights and placed a few shiny nic-nacs among the boughs; I remember a silver label from a bottle of Brut aftershave. The next year we bought a few ornaments, and our collection has been growing ever since. As we had children, we started a box of ornaments for each child: baby's-first-Christmas ornaments, gifts from family and friends, decorations they made themselves and the ones made by siblings. On the outside of the box is a list for each year, each ornament, and where it came from. This week I carefully repacked my oldest son's box of ornaments so I can ship them to California. I took them all out of the box ~

I carefully layered bubble wrap in the box and tissue paper around each treasure ~

I found a box for shipping that just holds the ornament box and packing material to keep it safe. It's still waiting to be mailed because my car is still in the shop ~

Leo was none too happy that I took the box away from him, so he found someplace else to nap ~

Tomorrow a box of Christmas will be on its way from Maine to California.

Signs Of Autumn

The signs of autumn are clear. November skies continue to amaze me. I cannot remember a year when there has been so much color beyond the trees ~

Ken has spent three days mulching oak leaves on our property ~

And Leo has moved from his post at the top of the stairs to his favorite corner of the living room carpet ~

Yes, autumn is well underway in central Maine.

My Buddy Leo

Last week-end Ken noticed what felt like a cyst on Leo's chest. We watched it for a few days. It got smaller and then larger again. I called the vet on Thursday and made an appointment for Friday. We feared the worst, that it was a tumor.
The vet did a thorough exam and said she was having a hard time hearing his heartbeat. She recommended x-rays to see if she could tell what was going on.

It turned out to be a good news/bad news scenario. The good news was there was no tumor in his chest and his lungs were clear. The bad news was that that information didn't answer any of the questions about the cyst or his heart. She recommended a test of the fluid in the cyst, blood work, and a thyroid test.

Last evening I talked at length with the vet on the phone. Again, there was good news and bad news. No sign of cancer. The cyst may be an indication of something deeper or it could be a reaction to an injury and will heal in time. There is no problem with his thyroid, but that means that he probably has the beginnings of heart disease. The lab work did show the start of kidney disease, which means we will be starting him on special food that is very low in protein. Poor Leo ~ he loves his protein-filled wet food and little tastes of meat as special treats.

There are good signs: he's not having trouble breathing and none of his habits have changed. Our best estimate is that he's about 14 years old, so all things considered he's doing okay.

It is silly to be so attached to little guy. I asked him last week who I would talk to if he wasn't around. He looked at me as if to say, "What's for dinner?" So we will take it one day at a time and do what we can to keep him as healthy as possible.

First Post-Wedding Post

We are home. It was a wonderful week-end. The wedding was everything that everyone hoped it would be. Several of us captured special moments with candid photos. Two photographers documented the entire wedding day. So there will be many photos to share here and on FaceBook. In the meantime, Leo was glad to see us last evening. The suitcase has been unpacked, and I think he would like us to stay home...at least for awhile.

Flat Rate Priority

Leo is packed and ready. Where do you think he'd like to go?

The Two Of Us

Ken and I worked outside all week-end. We were expecting thunder showers, which never materialized, so we kept working while the weather was good. Ken positioned two railroad ties in front of the wooden stairs to the deck to provide a solid place to step as part of the mulch landing. I dug holes among the rocks and tree roots on the hill beside the steps after I decided to plant wherever I could find clay soil willing to yield for an astilbe or hosta. Then we started spreading super fine mulch, which is wood & leaves run through the shredder twice to make it better for plants and easier to compost. We are making progress ~

We will spread more mulch among plants in the flower beds and on the hillside, although we may need to make a special path for Leo, who still refuses to walk down the new steps ~

Sunday evening we made a point to stop working early enough that we could enjoy grilled steak and potatoes outside on the porch ~

We ended each day tired but happy with what we had accomplished. Ken and I talked about how fortunate we are to be able to do this work ourselves. After his bout with pneumonia last summer we don't take our health for granted. We know we're lucky, and we're grateful every day for that.

Last Day In May

The weather on this Memorial Day Monday was perfect - dry, breezy, warm, and sunny. It was ideal for drying clothes on the line ~

cleaning all the vehicles, inside and out ~

putting screens in the windows ~

and taking a nap under the steps ~

This is the year that Ken and I figure out how to do holidays with just the two of us. So far, so good.

Once Upon A Mattress

Now positioned across the room from the sewing machine, highlighted in my last post, is the daybed ~

which is significant because we now have an official guest room. And because I moved it by myself!

This daybed is a twin size, until it's paired with the trundle from underneath when it becomes a king-sized bed. [The trundle is still downstairs because that I cannot manage by myself.]

For the last three years this was the only piece of furniture in a small room at the foot of the stairs, convenient for guests but not private as a pass-through room with no door.

My youngest will still use this blue bedroom when he's home to visit, and it will also host others who come to stay.

We have reached another stage in the transformation of the house to accommodate visits of grown children.

Next up: Futon needed for sitting room downstairs to provide still more sleeping space.

Note that Leo likes this room, too, and especially enjoys curling up on the fluffy area rug.

Welcome Mazulah!

For months my daughter talked about getting a dog. Then she spent weeks looking for a canine the right age, the right size, and with the right temperament, which is a tall order in Maine. States in the Northeast have strict laws about spaying and neutering animals so, while there are lots of cats available, it's hard to find a young "rescue" dog that will be happy in a small house and able to live with cats. Then last month she found the perfect pet online. She made the application and was accepted as an adoptive owner for an adorable puppy from Mississippi. Once the dog had all her shots and was cleared by a vet for transport, she traveled north with twenty other dogs who had owners waiting with open arms. On Sunday we all met Mazulah, who is just as cute and gentle as she can be. Leo approached cautiously and never got close enough for Mazulah to know he was in the same room ~

How could anyone resist this face?

Welcome to the family Mazulah! We are glad you're here.

Last Monday In March

March is going out like a lion with wind whipping through the trees and rain hitting every side of the house ~

Leo had the right idea this morning. He positioned himself in the only chair he's allowed to use, on his own, in the living room ~

He quickly fell asleep and has been there all afternoon ~

Feed Me, Please!

These photos are for my daughter, who is in the middle of a loooong week that will end with a night on call. They are a bit dark because the sun was streaming into the kitchen, but you'll get the idea.

Is that breakfast? May I have some please?!

Here, let me help.

Is it ready yet? May I have some pretty please?!