Just Real Life

 The birds are chowing down at the feeders and in the yard lately. We haven't had snow here yet in mid-Michigan but it has been brisk and they are bulking up! I should have bought more seed!

I'm not seeing a lot of action at the Ditch lately (although someone in our neighborhood posted the most remarkable photo of a buck on the island in the pond). But I did note this most beautiful cardinal.

The cardinals are one of my favorite birds. We have them year round but they are less visible in the foliage. Once the leaves fall (and then snow!), they pop right out.

It's been an expensive month. I had to have a crown (and repeat visits before because the temporary crowns kept falling off!). Then new glasses. And I really am not sure I like them, though I'm getting used to them. They're a little bigger than I thought! (It's hard trying on glasses with a mask!)

I've also been going through what I call for lack of a better term "ear water boarding" for impacted ear wax. I'm hoping the third week will be the charm. I have realized how much I value my hearing. 

I brought out my Campbell Kid dolls. I'm sure there must be loose doll shoes hanging around in the basement but I wasn't about to go digging. No one but Rick and me will see them.

They used to have little hats which might be around here somewhere. They were often used on Stimpy because -- well, it's hard not to put a hat on a cat.

Even harder to keep it on.

 Yup. Just real life these days. And glad to have it.

July 19

If you've been to this blog regularly, you may have heard me mention Stimpy. Well, July 19 -- Saturday, marks the third anniversary since Stimpy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and went to the Heavyside Layer.


So, I need to post a bit about my angel boy.

Stimpy entered my life as a cat belonging to the drug dealer living down the street (according to his next door neighbor). One thing was for sure -- he didn't care for Stimpy well (Stimpy maintained a healthy fear of brooms and feet for most of his life). Still, this cat would walk down the block and when he saw a passerby, roll on his back, waiting to be pet.

He managed to determine which car in the parking area was mine, and always slept on top of it. No one else's.

Well, of course I started feeding him. (He was skinny.) And when it was rainy, let him into my no-cats-allowed apartment.

I put a cat-house on the porch so he'd be warm in the winter.

And, when he tangled with another critter and had a bad wound on his tail, took him to the vet, where they managed to shave it so he looked like a cat-poodle. Then I put meds on it till he healed. (I have no idea what the neighbor thought.)

Some relationships are just ordained!


When the neighbor moved, he was going to abandon Stimpy and I asked if I could have him. I'm sure he was relieved when I took Stimpy off his hands. (I never knew his original name; I just liked big, dumb, red Stimpy on "Ren and Stimpy."

Well, quickly, he became my boy --

The cross dressing boy.


The Christmas cat.


The pillow where I buried my head when my eyes were filled with tears and my heart heavy, first with a break-up, then with the loss of my dad.

And, Stimpy was directly responsible for my meeting Rick, because if I'd not been evicted from my apartment for an illegal cat, I'd never have gone to his duplex, looking for a new place to live.

Stimpy loved the lake and sprawling out on the chaise on the porch. He even loved riding in the car.

I would often take him on walks on his leash, after he lost his outdoor privileges in an unpleasant experience after devouring a cardinal. (After that, he was grounded.)

When I was up north with Stimpy and Gypsy (he was a grand mentor to his little orange buddy as well!), he started having some seizure-like attacks. We raced home and took him to MSU's vet clinic (wonderful people). But after two days of Herculean efforts, we had to say goodbye.

I miss him every day. My sweet angel boy. The cat who taught this person who said "I'll never have a cat, I'm a dog person and I don't have a pet lifestyle" to love his velvety fur, sweet purr beautiful green eyes and gentle disposition.

This is Stimpy's last phot -- two weeks or so before we said goodbye. Do you ever really say goodbye? I don't think I do.

My Life in Six Words

Dawn of My Thoughts by Dawn tagged me with this unique challenge – one that was harder for me to do than one might think.

The task: Write and illustrate a six-word memoir.

Now, I adored 25 and 30 page term papers and loathed having to be so concise as to write one in only five or six pages! Even now, I write copiously for our magazine and then gleefully cut dozens – sometimes hundreds – of lines of copy! So six words???

Here we go…

I love deeply. I live joyfully.

It says it all!

Here are a few of the things I love deeply – and because of them, I live joyfully!

My guys -- several years ago...

Mom and Dad --1950...

My family -- the Cousins with Rick and Me...

The Marmelade Gypsy (aka Mr. Gypsy Rose)...

The Late, Great Mr. Stimpy...

My amazing friends (and there are far more than just in this photo, old and new, online and off!)...

The Cottage...

Long walks up north at Otsego Lake...

Otsego Lake at Sunset (or anytime; photo by my cousin David!)...

Making art on the porch at the lake (or anywhere, for that matter)...

Mackinac Island...

Rick playing Guitar...

Holidays and decorating for them...
Entertaining -- anytime!...

Yarn and knitting...

Sheep (because without them, no yarn; no knitting!)

MSU's campus in spring...

Flowers -- anytime, anyplace, any arrangement!...

El Azteco's topopo salad...
Sushi (even better when it's in Japan!)...

Wine and my wine tasting pals...

Myrtle Beach...

And there's so much more, but you've been so gracious to stay with me!
I have to tag several folks – I know you are all busy, but I hope you’ll put this task into your blogging queue. It really does make you think – how do I put what I am in the fewest words possible?

So, I’m tagging:
Shelley (also check out her second digital art blog!)
Dr. Bird
Beth D
Rosemary
Jane F.

I won’t put a deadline on it, but do try! All you have to do next is write your memoir, tag a few folks and leave a comment on their tagged blogs, inviting them to post and illustrate their six-word memoir. Also, include in your post, a link to me!