Wild Rose Stamper

My poor little girl

This is the reason I've been such a bad blogger lately!  (Isn't she adorable?)

My poor baby had a health scare the night of February the 17th and had to stay in the emergency animal hospital for a couple of nights.  She's feeling much better now after her vacation, as we're calling it, since that's about what it cost.  And apparently, once she was rehydrated and eating again, she quite enjoyed her stay!  The vet staff loved her and said she was very sweet and friendly and stayed at the front of her cage so she could see all the activity around her.  I think after all the excitement, she was pretty bored when she got home.

Now I'm recovering from all the "excitement" (yeah, more like a nightmare!) and will be back soon with a card.  I've got one made, just have to photograph it and get up a post.  Of course for me, that's easier said than done! 

Also, I'd like to say a warm welcome to my new subscribers.  I think you'll notice right away that I only post every one to two weeks, but I hope that won't keep you from coming back.  I work within the limitations of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and have to "do what I can, with what I have, where I am."  (A paraphrase of my favorite quote by Theodore Roosevelt.)

Thanks for visiting and see you again soon!

 

In Memory of Kokanee, my sweet boy forever

I've been meaning to write this post for over two months, but I just couldn't bring myself to start it.  I was just too heartbroken.  On October 31, 2009 at 9:30 pm, I lost my sweet cat, Kokanee, unexpectedly to heart failure.  He was my best friend and my little boy and losing him was like having my heart ripped out of my chest and stomped on.  In June, Kokanee had an episode of shortness of breath.  He had an x-ray which showed his heart a normal size and slight inflammation in part of his lung, which the vet said looked like a classic presentation of feline asthma/allergies.  So needless to say, it was a shock that on October 30 Kokanee was acting normal and happy, and October 31 he went downhill so fast that he couldn't be saved.  I still cry every day because I miss him so much.

I try not to think about Kokanee's tragic end, but rather focus on his happy life, because he was a happy kitty and had the best personality.  He was laid back and outgoing, funny, a sweetheart, and loved to be the center of attention.  All he wanted was to love and be loved.  He loved every person or animal he ever met, and thought that all guests were here to see him, and took his responsibility of entertaining them seriously.  He had a large presence that was more than just his large size (he loved to eat!).  Kokanee was so full of life and love, which is why it's so hard to accept that he's gone.  I miss his loud, snorty purr and his soprano, sing-song "me-ah-haha?"  He made me laugh all the time with his silly games and naughty antics.  With me being home sick every day, he was my constant companion and even on my worst days when I would wake up feeling as sick as when I went to bed, I would think, at least I can see Kokanee today. 

I can't wait to see him again in heaven.  Yes, I believe animals go to heaven and I think the Bible supports that belief.  In the garden of Eden, before Adam sinned, there was no death, and that included the animals.  Thus, it follows that they have immortal souls.  Plus, they are innocent and can't sin because they don't have free will like humans do.  Romans 8:19-23 says:

¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹that^[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  ²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Someday, Kokanee will be liberated from his "bondage to decay" and be renewed with the body he should have had, just like the animals in the Garden of Eden, a body that will never get sick or die.  I can't wait for that day, when Jesus returns, because I have placed my faith in Him and have received forgiveness from my sins!  Until then, I will miss Kokanee every day; I'll miss his sweet, expressive face (an expressiveness that I could never quite capture on camera), his warm, comforting body, and his happy, loving attitude, especially his love for me.

 

Kokanee loved to get in boxes, but not as much as he loved chewing on the box flaps.

I'm so glad I stopped to take this photo as it shows his eyes without that "kitty laser eyes" glare from the flash.

 

Kokanee would sit on top of this pile of boxes to get attention and try to get as tall as possible.  He would crane his neck around the doorway to ask for treats.  He knew that treat time was at 10 pm and would show up in the doorway of my room right on the dot!

Thanks for reading my post about Kokanee.  I know there are many of you out there who have lost dear furry friends and furbabies.  If you are struggling with a loss of a pet, I encourage you to read one of the books listed below that have helped me.  I don't know what I would have done without them.  Also, seek out a support group, in real life or online.  I read and re-read the comforting words of people who have responded to my grief when I reached out for help.  And of course, I can't get through anything in life without the support of my Lord Jesus who helps me to bear my burdens and gives me hope for the future.  Thank you, Kokanee, for loving me, and thank you, Lord, for lending him to me for a little while.

Who Says Animals Go to Heaven?  by Niki Behrikis Shanahan

Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates  by Gary Kurz

Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet  by Moira K. Anderson

I haven't read the following, but plan to:

Will I see Fido in Heaven  by Mary Buddemeyer-Porter

There is Eternal Life for Animals  by Niki Behrikis Shanahan

Angel Kitty

Wow, lots of you must have been crossing your fingers for me last week for the Flourishes contest!  I won and got to pick a stamp set of my choice.  You'll be seeing this gorgeous Strawberries set on card soon.  :)

Sadly, this is a sympathy card for my cousin, who had to have her kitty, Timone, put down a couple weeks ago.  He was a special kitty and would come running when she called his name.  Once she caught him on top of the fridge whacking dog treats onto the floor for the dog to eat!  I'm so sorry for your loss, Steff.

I had a difficult time getting a dark black impression because the stamp was so solid, so I used my Warm gray and black Copic markers to enhance the shadows and add depth.  I used BG10 on the wings and added some clear glitter, then used the gold glitter pen on the halo, with a little clear glitter on the sparkle spot.

Steff likes the Americana style, so I kept the card simple and used mainly red and black.  A little stitching, sponging, and distressing give a vintage look.

Thanks for visiting!

Materials:
Stamp: PSX
Paper: Ridinghood Red, Kraft, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest, K & Co.
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, More Mustard
Accessories: Copics, button, twill tape, sewing machine, crochet thread, Nestabilities, Spica gold glitter pen, Sakura clear glitter gel pen, distressing tool

Spring Banner

Happy Spring!  I'm back from taking a little break last week, mostly because I'd been too sick to make anything to share.  I did realize, however, that I had this banner that I'd never posted.  Wouldn't you know, before I get a chance to get a decent picture, the cat tips over a vase of flowers all over the "g" and the "n".  AHHH!  Bad kitty!  I turn my back for one second and he's got his face in the vase trying to drink the water.  It wasn't damaged too badly and I'll just replace the g when I feel up to it.  So ignore any water damage you see.  The last picture, I had taken before the water damage, but didn't like the brown carpet background, so I decided to retake the photos on a white sheet.  Guess I should have left well enough alone!

***Interesting note: The Giga Marvy scalloped rectangle punch fits almost perfectly over the scallop rectangle stamp in the Label Classics set!  Sure beats cutting it out by hand.

Thanks for visiting!  Hopefully, next week I'll be back with an Easter card to share.  :)

Materials

Stamps: retired alpha set from SU, retired Labels set
Paper: assorted K&Co, Basic Grey, Making Memories, and Anna Griffin papers, cream card stock
Ink: clear embossing ink
Accessories: silver glitter embossing powder, buttons, paper flowers from Oriental Trading Co, liquid pearls, ribbon roses, pink satin ribbon and lace from stash, Marvy scalloped rectangle punch, sewing machine

Sweet Hedgehog and friend

I had so much fun with the square layout last week that I decided to stick with it.  As you can see, this is a very simple layout, dressed up with several embellishments.  The designer paper is one of my favorite ever, Lily Kate, by Basic Grey, from the 6x6 pad.

What do you think of my embellishing?  I tried to get a little more foofy and shabby chic.

Funny little cat story: My cats like to drink out of a little Dixie cup on the bathroom sink.  Kokanee, the large black and white cat, was drinking out of a freshly filled cup.  GXIR, had been sitting on the other side of the sink, decides SHE wants a drink, proceeds to walk around the sink, slinks UNDER Kokanee, and comes around the side of him to push him out of the way.  He,  being the easy going cat that he is, backs off and sits to wait for her to finish.  It just made me laugh, seeing the littler cat walk under her brother and get her own way.  Of course, she ALWAYS gets her own way, because she's the baby.   Here's my baby waiting for her treats.  Who could resist that little face?

 

Thanks for visiting!

Copic Markers: E00, G21, R20, E31, R27, YR20

Materials:
Stamps: Penny Black clear sets
Paper: Mellow Moss, Pink Pirouette, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest, Lily Kate by Basic Grey
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black
Accessories: White Taffeta ribbon, Fleurettes, Button Bouquet, Cuttlebug corner die, pearl head pin, Nestabilities square classic dies, Copic Markers

Excuses, excuses!

Here's my excuse as to why I haven't posted in a week:

Isn't she cute!!  Her name is Sierra.  She was my aunt's cat, but we're going to keep her to help my aunt reduce her pet population to a more manageable size.  lol!  So far, Sierra is quite happy in her own room, where our two cats can't bother her.  So happy, in fact, that she really doesn't care to come out at all, even when our kitties are shut in a room!  I think she's so excited to have a room all to herself, one that she doesn't have to share with five other cats and four dogs as she did before. 

Sierra's very snuggly and can't seem to get enough lovin'.  I think she'll fit in here just fine!