Tag Archives: Cats

Bloom where you are planted

Posted on by
8

At the Manor, there are 48 suites with two or one-bedrooms and bachelor suits. Most of the people who live here are immigrants from the Chez Republic, Bosnia, India, Ireland, Iran, Korea, Japan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Yugoslavia and other countries that I can’t think of.

I am one of them.

Bee Home

The Birdhouse took over by bees.

Now, we are citizens of Canada. We made The Manor our home.

“O Canada, our home and native land” is the first line of our National Anthem.

Rock Garden

Front entrance rock garden.

The residents here are lovely, approachable and pleasant. We enjoy chatting from the balcony, window or entranceway as I potter around the garden. I must admit the garden is an icebreaker for many, even from passersby.

Flowers from the Garden

Bloom where you are planted.

One of the tenants took up photography and had a field day taking macro shots of all the flowers in the garden. The end product was framed and gifted to our lovely manager of the building.

When I cut flowers from my hard-earned gardening, these go to the manager as well.

Our Doors

Our Doors.

From single to couple to third-generation residency, I’ve witnessed them. Most of these people love to have their family around living in the same roof. It’s good to see a couple having a child or two and be able to bring a surviving parent to add the responsibility of taking care of their children.

Of course, I get to play with the children when they were younger in the garden.

Lucy and Grace

The Blue Room

Kindness plays a big important role in living in this community. If you are unkind, who else will help you but your neighbour?

I must admit I find myself special because the manager allowed me to paint my suite when I had one of my episodes on mental breakdown. The activity kept my focus away from living in my head.

The end result was brilliant.

Pistachio green paint in the living room, kitchen and hallway. A hint of a rose colour for the bathroom.  Skyblue for my bedroom to calm me down.

Oh, these little things, I am grateful.

Morning Wake Up Call

Posted on by
10

April 2020 Full Moon

Note to me: Wake up early. Full Moon. April 16. 2020.

This is a rare day for me to get up early just to witness the full moon high up. Usually, the moon rises from the east and very low on the ground at night. With my balcony facing west, I get a good view.

Most days, I do nothing but watch the stillness of the morning. Breathing the fresh air, looking at the full moon waning as the dawn breaks, listening to the silence.

Plant your garden

The sight of the garden is enough for me to brighten my day all year round. The poem I posted here is a reminder to plant my own garden, decorate my soul.

Crow Nesting

Again, from my balcony, there is plenty to amuse myself, especially the birds. Crows. Starlings. Finches. Woodpeckers. Robins. Seagulls. Sparrows. Hummingbirds. We feed them. Currently, the crow is busy building a nest on the holly tree. Crows are the least of my favourite because the smaller birds disappeared since they started nesting. And that’s ok. It’s only during the spring.

I'm through with love

Life is short without coffee drinking from my precious cup. The cup’s original writing is, “Fortunately, there’s still sex.” I have to change that now.

Thinking of sex, one has to be mindful of sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS was the number one killer then, now it’s COVID, and you don’t even have to have sex!

So, the trending word now is CATS.

Our local SPCA is busy providing cats and dogs as companions for all those lonely people during this shelter in place.

Thank God, I have cats. I’m alone but not lonely.

Cats

And here they are, all over me, waking me up to feed them breakfast. The time is past 9 a.m.

Riding the line: Not today and not this week!

Gallery

Posted on by

There will be no Murphy’s Law this week. It’s done. It’s over. No commute, No hustling with riders. No morning breath. I booked the week off to decompress. I can shift my focus from the dead weights outside to domestic dead … Continue reading →

Filling the hole in our heart.

Gallery

Posted on by

This gallery contains 1 photo.

They say dogs love you, cats own you. Maybe so. Cats are just as loving as dogs. They are love, oozing with so much love to give and receive. With their love, we become captives. I had two cats, Maurice … Continue reading →

Three – a crowd or company?

Gallery

Posted on by

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Ideally, it is normal for a couple to have a child as a symbol of their love for each other. Now they become three and complete. Can I apply the same principle with my cats, Maurice and Lucy? They supposedly … Continue reading →

Sense of Wonder

Gallery

Posted on by

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Do you know that we are just like cats that get scared easily, fearful? So be careful. All we need is love. Yesterday, I attended a conference in renewing my sense of wonder by bringing together theological, psychological and spiritual awareness … Continue reading →

Think Happy Thoughts

Posted on by
28

Today, someone sent me this note: “Think happy thoughts and good things will happen.”

It came at a time when the world around me is crumbling down. I am fine but not the people who I care about. I wish I can share the value of thinking positively that nothing is over until the fat lady sings.

It does take a lot of imagination to think happy thoughts. In order for me to see it vividly in my mind, there are several wallpaper on my computer to ignite and to tickle my funny brain.

cat-tounge1

Source: SoundingSoul Photography – Maria Vanesa Acuto

I can still remember the lady who took this photo. She has a very warm heart in doing volunteer work for SPCA.

hummingbird1

The color of the hummingbird is effervescent and glitters as I hurriedly took a shot of it before it flew away.

laugh

And I am throwing this in to make everyone smile.

“Vivid is limited only by your imagination.”

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Vivid.”

Felines are taking over.

Gallery

Posted on by

This gallery contains 3 photos.

Felines are taking over. Today New York, tomorrow the world. Move over Humans of New York. I must confess that I look at felines more than anything else on the internet. For me, it’s the best way to decompress after … Continue reading →

Let the sleeping cats lie

Posted on by
16

sleeping in

“Sometimes you just want to quit. You know you shouldn’t but nothing seems better than crawling back into bed and hiding under the covers. (I am there right now, actually, with my iPad.)”

It’s Family Day in Vancouver, BC, Canada. “Cat”ching up with the kitties.

Cat got your tongue?

Posted on by
5
Source: SoundingSoul Photography - Maria Vanesa Acuto

Source: SoundingSoul Photography – Maria Vanesa Acuto

Gabrielle is the one with the tongue out; Aphrodite her sister on the right. They are both 3 months old and are up for adoption.

Photo credit to SoundingSoul Photography – Maria Vanesa Acuto volunteers as a photographer for BCSPCA

Love is not blind

Posted on by
23

NatGeo Perfect Pair

A Perfect Pair
This is me and Dillon, my blind cat. He and I have a symbiotic relationship. I rescued him, and he rescues me every day. He is determined, courageous, intelligent, and humorous. He constantly inspires me, personally and creatively. He gives me perspective. We love each other, and we make each other’s lives better. What more could you ask for from a cat? Photograph by Hannah Harvey.

Editor’s Note:
Hannah, I admire you for rescuing Dillon, your blind cat. I hope you inspire others to look beyond the surface of the cute and young when doing the good deed of rescuing, it is hard to do. Of course the focus of this photograph is the dramatic eyes or lack of. Thank you, Robin Schwartz

From: National Geographic’s Assignment “The Animals We Love.”

There were 28 winning contributors out of over 16,000 photos and this is one of winning photos.

 

A cat must have three different names

Video

26

THE NAMING OF CATS ~ T.S. Eliot

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn’t just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there’s the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey –
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter –
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that’s peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there’s still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover –
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

via: Brain Pickings by 

Priceless Treasures

Posted on by
23

Look into my eyes.  You are falling deeply in love with me.  Look into my eyes.
valentine lookI am perfect to fall in love with.  We are meant for each other, forever!  You are mine!  You cannot resist me for you are just totally in love with my soft fuzzy adorable body.  Feel me, touch me and love me.  You will do as I say.
valentine kyle

The Grade 1 and 2 students at VSB made their own “Splat” with black paint and chalk pastels.  Using toothpicks they gently dragged the wet paint away from Splat’s body to create his fuzzy fur.  Heart shaped doilies were added for a finish touch with “artist’s” name written on it.

With lots and lots of love and fur balls, Happy Valentines, Love from a colony of  Splats.
valentine Gr 1 and 2Working for the school board, the children are the treasure in my line of work.  One cannot help but fall in love with them especially when they come to show and tell what they learnt at school to our offices.  They are priceless.

Walk With Me

Posted on by
25

Cats tails

Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead.
Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Just walk beside me and be my friend.

~  Albert Camus

Image by:  The Blessing of Animal Companions
Quote from:  ME and the Boss

 

Window Gazers

Posted on by
36

Looking onto the window is one of my favorite pastimes when I am out for a walk; I am a window gazer not as a peeping tom but curious who will look out.  There are many windows of different shapes and sizes, with blinds or drapes, plain or with iron grills.  I often wonder if looking at a window, I can see a different world and a whole meaning will come without searching for it.

A hand on a window points me to a direction that life is very short and there’s no time for fussing and fighting.  It even considers me a friend.
window 1

A store window Victoria’s Secret does not leave so much to my imagination. It is rather revealing, there’s no secret here at all.
window 3

A walk along the neighborhood, there is one particular window that I find appealing even with the blind down.  It has a figurine of a blue cat.
window 9

One day, the blue cat disappeared, and a  strange-looking figurine took its place.  As it turned out when I went closer to the window, it’s a hairless cat and very much alive.
window 11

This window is fascinating for it changes continuously.  I am beginning to think that the tenant is looking at me looking at the window.  I’ve seen a person inside once before.

On a different day, the blue cat has a company, another beautiful cat with short fur and a long whisker.  What happened to that hairless one?  Maybe the bald cat is not allowed to catch the sunshine, or else it might get more wrinkles for lack of protection.
window 8

For most days, only the blue cat is on the window.  I am beginning to miss not seeing the cats.  Mind you, more cats are gazing out in the neighborhood to entertain me than people looking out of the window. When I look at humans looking out of the windows, most of them are elderly.

The cats did finally showed up one day, all three of them.
window 5

Sometimes, I ponder on the existence of the cats as a companion for humans.  I am not looking for any answers except for this one.  I wonder how much this doggy in the window at the pet store?
window 2

Good Day.

Posted on by
17

It is a good day for I am about to introduce a new addition in our community.  Everyone say hello to Spiky.  She is a baby hedgehog.

z spiky

Please do not be jealous, Binky.  I am very much aware that it was you who found this spikeball.  Of course, you are still the centre of attraction.  I promised Grandma that I will help her find the other foster parent to another spikeball in the cyberspace.  Maybe they can exchange how to take care of Spiky so that she won’t eat your food.

What do you think, Binky?  Oh?  You want me to introduce you as well?  Okay, everyone, meet Binky the hero of Spiky.

z binky

Happy now?

Related link:  Spiky: Furry Friend

Lets eliminate Monday

Posted on by
8

If we eliminate Monday, then what day can we make fun of?

November 3,  at 2 a.m. on Sunday,most Canadians will “fall back” and turn their clocks an hour back to end daylight saving time and revert to standard time.

But don’t let the time change dampen your mood

monday-is-gone

Source: annycook.blogspot.com

Caution – Foreshadow

Posted on by
29
Caution ~ a yellow tape wrapped around one part of the park greeted me.  This is not the first time I’ve seen it.  It comes on and off.  
 
This is a little bit disturbing for me because I work around here.  Every day, I pass by the park to get to work. 
What is happening here?  Does this  mean, KEEP OUT for: 
 
Sleepers on the park 
moving in
 
Someone who wants to move in 
scavenger
 
Scavengers 
slug
 
Slug 
dog (2)
 
Dog 
cat
 
Cat 
ducks
 
Wild Ducks 
Geese During the Big One Drill
 
Wild Geese 
What could it be?  
 Aha!  A day in the park of fun 
sports day
  

And s-t-r-e-t-c-h: yoga

yoga in the park

Empty Nest

Posted on by
30
If you built it, they will come.  And they did. 
I built a sanctuary for birds, two birdhouses. Eventually, they did come. 
Finches were the first family that came to nest. I watched the Finches built their nest in the bigger birdhouse and saw the young ones took their first flight.  That was such a delight to see.  Then they returned and nested again. A total of eight birds came to life and it was thrilling to be a part of it. 
The following year, the chickadees discovered the blue house.  A new generation were born in this house. 
Last year the bees took over. I have no heart to shoo them away.  They needed a place to stay and besides they can pollinate the flowers.  They were mason bees. 
The chickadees came back to nest but it was too late because the bees are not moving out any sooner.  Needless to say, I was “bird less” for a year. 
This year, I waited for the bees to come back.  They were no show.  So I decided to clean the nest. 
Much to my surprise, I heard the sound chickadee-dee-dee; the best known sound that gives the bird its name.  
Between Me, Maurice and Lucy, we imprisoned ourselves inside my sanctuary. The balcony is off limits. 
Feeding time

Feeding time

The feeding process is in full gear for at least three weeks. From sunrise to sunset the parents are in and out of the birdhouse to feed their offspring.  I can only imagine that there are at least four tiny birds inside the birdhouse. 
I have already seen some of the heads poked out from the hole and the parents are now feeding them from the hole and no longer going inside the house.  It must be a fairly cramp lifestyle inside when the offspring have grown their feathers and big feet. 
Mom and Pop Chickadee

Mom and Pop Chickadee

By this time, the parents are starting to look haggard.  All they do is feed the bird.  Such love and drive to provide food for their young is amazing.  And I thought, how much we could learn from them.

Last night, I noticed both parents were perched on the bamboo line and were sounding off a different call.  I am unsure what it means but I have the feeling that they are calling their offspring out. 
Lucy and Maurice watching the parents

Lucy and Maurice watching the parents

Even Maurice and Lucy were looking at them, intently in a calm manner.  The cats were listening to the chattering of the birds.  I wonder if animals understand each other.

 I focused all my attention to the Chickadees since the departure of Nymeria.
 Today I came home, all is quiet.  Not a single chirp. 
I went outside and called the birds.  Chickadee-dee-dee.  Nothing. 
It’s so strange to hear no chirping sound and the ruckus of the young ones when it’s feeding time.
 What is stranger, Maurice and Lucy did not even come out to the balcony with me.  They must have known the birdhouse is now empty. 
A feeling of emptiness came over me.  An empty nest syndrome.
Related articles

A Cat Prayer

Posted on by
44
An epiphany:  I think we are ruled by cats based on the cat incident.  

a-cat's-prayer

Maurice, Lucy… do you know how lucky you are?  I am your slave and at your beckon call.  My life revolves around you and the apartment has been rearranged so many times just to cater to your whims.  I sure hope you are grateful and thankful for what you have. 
You do know what happened during the past few days, didn’t you?  
maurice and lucy
 
Huh…What are you talking about, human?

Related articles

I am Life

Posted on by
27
Have you been told to get a life?  And how do you respond to that? 
It’s an asinine statement!  How do you get a life?  My response is: 
 
I AM LIFE. 
I breathe life and I exhale life.  What I breathe out is food for the plants.
I take care of two unwanted cats and looked for the owners of cats I found.
I provided bird houses for Finches and Chickadees to raise their family.
I grew vegetables for others’ nourishment.
I planted flowering plants for birds, bees, butterflies and other winged insects. 
I AM LIFE. 
I cared for children with AIDs
I volunteered at the hospice.
I thought students with learning disabilities to read.
I raised funds for non-profit organizations.
I fostered children. 
I AM LIFE. 
I make an honest living.
I help people who are in dire need.
I support the education system.
I became a Big Sister.
I bowled for Big Brothers. 
I AM LIFE. 
I help strangers that sustained an injury.
I cleaned up old folks apartments.
I entertained the lonely dwellers in our building.
I urge people to grow anything on their balcony.
I saved life of a hummingbird, lady bug, baby turtles. 
And, then some…. 
Now, ask me again to get a life.
With all due respect, let me ask you, what kind of life do you live?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Home

Posted on by
25
These cats, Maurice and Lucy, are rescued and I gave them a home. 
Maurice and Lucy waiting for me to join them in bed

Maurice and Lucy waiting for me to join them in bed

The balcony is a dining room for the hummingbirds.
Feeder for the hummers in my balcony

Feeder for the hummers in my balcony

 I don’t have a heart to clear the garden because the spider just weaved it’s home 
Spider's home in my garden

Spider’s home in my garden

 As for me this song, will say all about what I think of home

Nirvana – State of Bliss

Posted on by
24
Should I have been born as a Buddhist or a Hindu, I will make sure that I reach Nirvana in this life, a state of bliss, therefore, no reincarnation.  Reincarnation is kind of boring in my opinion.  One life is enough. 
And more importantly, I would like other spirits to have a chance to be born and experience life. 
I think Einstein was a cat in his previous life.  And here’s a proof. 
DP Feb 8, 2013 humour_reincarnation
 This is in response to Daily Prompt: Reincarnation.  Come, join us and share your thoughts.

Tell me and I will tell you mine.

Posted on by
17
A week from now, Wednesday, February 13, 2013, is the beginning of abstaining from what we like most for 40 days and 40 nights. 
When I ask the kids what they will give up, they normally choose chocolate, candy, pop, television, Facebook (right!), etc. 
On a higher scale, Patricia from Called by Joy provided this list to give us other ideas. 
Give up worry – trust Divine Providence
Give up discouragement – be full of hope
Give up bitterness – turn to forgiveness
Give up complaining – focus on gratitude
Give up pessimism – become an optimist
Give up harsh judgments – think kind thoughts
Give up hatred – return good for evil
Give up negativism – be positive
Give up anger – be more patient
Give up pettiness – become mature
Give up gloom – enjoy the beauty that is all around you
Give up jealousy – pray for trust
Give up gossiping – control your tongue
Give up sin – turn to virtue
Give up giving up – hang in there 
Let’s pretend for the sake of this prompt, more importantly,  for the sake of Daily Peace, what will you give up?  Tell me and I will you mine.
Hang in There

Hang in There

This is in response to Daily Prompt: Open ending.  Come and join us, it’s fun.

More than what a genie can provide

Posted on by
18
When I injured my back due to work related activity, enter Workers Compensation Board (WCB).  
Having an exposure to WCB, I learned that this body has to work in an ergonomically correct environment in order to suite my needs.  The chair, the height of the desk, lighting, keyboard, etc. has to be measured.  It’s all fine and dandy; this body can find no comfort.  The constant pain reminds me that I am still alive and I am grateful for that.
Can the genie grant me new body?  I think not.  Therefore, a perfect space for reading and writing is a mere illusion.
However, I find the joy of writing in so many ways as long as I carry with me a small notebook.  I am a constant note taker.  There’s a box of notebooks or journals I’ve written on daily activities about the injury.  Oh well. 
Here’s a thought.  When I moved to Room 306, for reading and writing-table, all I had was a cardboard box, a 3×4 piece of wood and a chair.  I love this make shift table.  The kids used this as their drawing table.  One drawing is still on the table, the face of Calvin; hair all sticking up and the silly grin on his face.  This piece of wood still exist. 
As for the box, it’s gone.  I have to throw it out because of a silly squirrel.  
One sultry day, I left the balcony open.  I came home that the box was all chewed up because the squirrel is a climber and got into Room 306.  UGH.  My favourite table is now chewed into bits and pieces. 
Fast forward, no more squirrels and this is how my best place to write looks like.  With classical music in the background and the drapes wide open so that I could see the hummingbird, it’s heavenly.  More than what a genie can give.  Perfect.
Source: Nephews FaceBook

 This is in response to Daily Prompt: Writing Room.  Come and join us, it’s fun.

DP: Clean Slate – Simplicity

Posted on by
25
“Daily Post: Clean Slate – Explore the room you’re in as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Pretend you know nothing. What do you see? Who is the person who lives there?” 
The place is the tiniest room in a three storey older tenement.  It’s a bachelor suite measuring around 500 square feet or less, big enough for a simple life.
Room 306 is the back part of the third floor of Royal Manor.  She just loves that name and she started feeling regal already.  Seeing the bright living room with balcony, plenty of natural light is very conducive to a healthy living for the new tenant requires natural light in order to survive the long winter ahead.
A balcony, she feels so blessedly rich.  She can picture what plants to grow, eventually.  No animals allowed is the agreement she signed for.  That is just fine by her since she doesn’t want any responsibilities.  All she wants is to take care of herself and live a life of solitude.
The tenant is a minimalist.  All she brought with her is an old bed and three dressers for her clothes.  She loves dressing up.  No sofa, no chairs, no table for she threw in the towel.  A clean slate, a new beginning.
Ah, she can now breathe.  No more stuff that suffocates her life.
Over the years, the room is gradually filling up and it has maintained its simplicity in life.  A sofa, plants, folding dinning table, a cat.  Plenty of light and life. She now loves living the life what God has intended for her. 
Living room

Living room

Take Two – All Things Bright and Beautiful

Posted on by
14

“DP Prompt: Take Two – Run outside. Take a picture of the first thing you see. Run inside. Take a picture of the second thing you see. Write about the connection between these two random objects, people, or scenes.”

Hummingbird on my balcony
First Verse of Poem
Harmless Maurice

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Poem by: Cecil Frances Alexander

 Related Articles:
All Things Bright and Beautiful Poem post by cristines
Hummingbird blogspot by mara gamiel
As a matter of cat by Ella on WordPress
 

DP: Helpless – Lost Generation

Posted on by
11
 “Helplessness: that dull, sick feeling of not being the one at the reins. When did you last feel like that –- and what did you do about it?”
It’s now day three that I am under the weather.
I am so sick and tired of being sick with coughing, sneezing and dull achy feeling.  Living alone does not help.  I feel so alone in this world.  I want my mommy.
The weather is uncooperative.  It has been raining for a week now, cold miserable winter day.  I am so bored all cooped up at home.  It’s so depressing looking at the weather.  I want the Sun.
Be patient.  This too shall pass.  It’s hard to be patient being sick with colds.  I know I’m not the only one suffering with this blooming cold.  I caught this from commuting, from work, from who knows.  No point of blaming.  I just have to have a lot of patience.  Where can I buy patience?
What am I going to do about?  I will cook more chicken noodle soup, cuddle up with my cats and a dose of hope from the Lost Generation.
 

WPC: 2012 Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind

Posted on by
8
Pick the best pictures from your 2012 and have those pictures tell everyone about your year 
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind.  
These are what matters to me in 2012.  From life to death.  New Year should always start with new beginnings, a new life.  But year 2012 stared with someone dear to me being called back Home.  Not just dear friends but dear companions, the Cats in my life.  Angels I call them now.  From sorrow to joy, with the birth of my nephew’s son, this is a delightful surprise.   Baby James is a new life and a beautiful beginning for the year 2013 not just for me but for everyone in my family.  
Shalom Aleichem.  To Life! 

Bye for now mon amie, Jancis Grace
Surprise – a new life, Nephew’s baby in Momi’s tummy
Missing you Mother
Cat Angels – Caramel and Rex
Megan, my little sister, I’ve lost in touch
Just Listen – JGB’s note posted on her table
Cat Angels – Adi and Sophie
An Angel welcoming me at Joni’s home in Chilliwack as I enter
Tupper School Poster September is back to school month
Birthday celebration with childhood friend
Cat Angel – Ruby Roo
Our own Baby Jesus, Baby James. A new beginning for 2013