Another Caturday, another visit from Hattie Perkins, who comes by her name honestly, according to reader JEC: “You’ve probably asked yourself ‘How did Mrs. Hattie Perkins get her name?’ Yes, she’s purrrrring… and yes, that’s my hat…”
Weekend Open Thread
That’s an “I’m fabulous” face if ever I’ve seen one!
Such a gorgeous kitty!
I’ve been crazy busy for months so have been reading and rarely commenting. You guys make for great sanity breaks!
But I wanted to post today to ask you all to PLEASE send good thoughts for Melody, our beloved greyhound. She’d been limping for a couple weeks a at first we thought it was arthritis, but Wednesday she was diagnosed with bone cancer, osteosarcoma. It may have spread to her lungs already, too. We’re seeing the veterinary oncologist Tuesday to find out if there’s ANYTHING we can do besides keep her comfortable and as pain-free as possible.
Our vet told us the usual treatment is amputation, but they would have to remove her whole leg and shoulder, and I don’t think either my husband or I can bear to put her through that unless it offers her substantial time — and this cancer is pretty aggressive. So we’ve started her on pain meds and are living life according to what she wants to do.
My husband is utterly heartbroken. He’s had a lot of dogs throughout his life, but none as special as her. I’m pretty upset, too, but he is just torn up from feeling so helpless. She adores him so much, and when she looks in his eyes and says, “Daddy, please make me all better!” it really is hard for him to deal with. But she is not going to stay for one minute if she’s no longer happy. We owe that to her.
Thanks for letting me vent a bit. This is really rough for everyone who loves Melody, and that’s every person she’s ever met, I think! I know there won’t be any miracle cures, but please send her lots of love to help her through this terrible time.
❤️😪🙏🏼❤️
Aw Laura, so sorry to hear that. Sending lots of good thought to you, Melody and your poor hubby. hearts hugs hearts hugs!
I just went through what you are going through, with my beloved Nefertiti. The hardest part is watching them suffer without being able to explain why or being able to make it go away. You are doing the absolutely right thing in just making her life as happy as possible while you can, and then making it stop when it needs to stop.
My heart goes out to all of you. It’s a very hard thing, even if you know what is right. Give a big hug and kiss to Melody from all of us.
I’m so sorry about your losing Nefertiti, Squiddy. It’s really not fair that our special family members have such short lives, is it? Even before being robbed of some good years. Melody just turned 6! She’s too young to have this happen already!
There is nothing worse than that feeling of helplessness for a pet or family member, diagnosed with a terminal disease. Melody sounds like she’s getting all the love and care she can and there’s always the hope that the cancer hasn’t spread too far. The cutetropolis family will keep Melody, you and your husband in our thoughts and hopes for any good news from the vet.
So sorry to hear about Melody. Our beloved pets never stay as long as we want them to. Lots of hugs to everyone.
So very sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to you and your husband. I know you are doing the best you can for your sweet Melody.
Oh Laura, my heart just breaks for you, your husband and Miss Melody. I will keep all of you in my prayers and hope for the best possible outcome. Whatever happens, that little girl will always know she’s loved and cherished. 💕
Oh, no! Poor melody. Hugs to you all.
😢💔
Awful for everybody. I’m so sorry.
I empathize with you and your husband, I’ve been through it last year with my sweet cat Penny, once the cancer spread to her lungs and she started hiding all the time I knew it was time to let go.
All I can say is hang in there and be strong for Melody and your husband.
I’m so sorry about your kitty, Gigi. They often tell us when it’s time to go, don’t they? My cat Emily certainly did. Our pets may not speak out loud with words, but they speak to us nevertheless.
Sending you all my best wishes for comfort and strength. Like others here, I’ve been there. I am confident you and your husband will make the best choice for Melody once you have more information and can weigh everything in the balance. That won’t make it easy, I know. Sending good juju from me, and Bibi sends puppy kisses to all.
I’m so sorry Laura. (and Squiddy). There are many injustices in this world. This one, that our dear pets have much shorter lives than us, is particularly heart wrenching.
I know you and your husband will make good decisions for your precious girl.
The depth of your sorrow is an indication of the depth of your love.
I’ve read wise people saying, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” It’s a terrible price, but the love they give us is like nothing else, isn’t it?
Exactly. 😢
So very true. I still cry for Ricky, often; but I wouldn’t have forgone his love for anything.
😢
It’s what we all pay for being alive.
Stephen Colbert expresses it in a way I never thought of before “what punishments of god are not gifts”:
I love this man – he’s so funny yet so deeply thoughtful and damned smart.
I wish I could give you, hubster, and Melody a heartfelt hug. This is sad news indeed.
You will do the right things for her, I know, and keep her as comfortable as possible.
Like so many here, we went through this last yesr for Dmitri Purrshkavich. Cancer sucks. Our thoughts are with u all. New kitten Nikolai Devinovich sends Smiling Purrs to fur-friend Melody.
Oh, I am so, so sorry you and your precious pooch are having to go through this awful turn of event. Know that many hearts here are breaking along with yours.
I’m so sorry for you and your husband Laura. I was thinking of you all on my run this morning and Gah, what a sad, awful time. I remember it all to well, most recently with Pie, aka ‘ol flappy lips’. Hang in there and calm and peace to you.
Busy day for me today so that I can go to Stitch&Bitch tomorrow guilt free. But right now I’m having the coffee and lounge-in-bed hour with cats. One on my legs, one squeezed between legs and knitting basket and the third keeping watch at the window.
To do? Lesson plans and new recipe testing for S&B. I am the default desert bringer. Everyone seems to have food issues these days so I’m bringing vegan, no-bake, brownie and carrot cake balls from the Minimalist Baker’s blog. All the recipes I’ve made from her site have been delicious so I have high hopes for these. Although, I’m considering making a regular, good-ol’fashioned cream cheese frosting for the carrot cake balls. They can also be rolled in coconut flakes so, maybe I’ll do half and half.
Sending good thoughts to all, especially everyone affected by the hurricane. Hope you are all well!
Edit: Oh! PS: Mrs. Hattie Perkins looks like quite the character! 🙂 Such a cutie-pie.
Carrot Cake Balls!! With cream cheese icing!! Rolled in coconut!!?? Ker thunk…🤯
I love, love, love the name Hattie Perkins, even more knowing its origin story. What an elegant lady!
Hattie Perkins is a beauty and loving the backstory on how she got named. Trying to survive the heatwave we’ve been having so probably not doing too much today. On the to do list: haircut, grocery shopping, dog supply shopping and maybe walking one of the indoor malls to stay cool. New foster is definitely keeping me entertained. Funniest antic so far – going in circles chasing his tail on the sofa and then in mid-circle, falling off said sofa. Good thing I have doggy beds on the floor for cushioning. Have a good weekend everyone.
Good morning everyone! Sitting here with my cocoa and listening to my @&#$&*@ neighbor’s #&@^#% motorcycle. I swear he just rides around in circles through the complex. &##*$&@!
Anyway.
CATURDAY DRUM SOLO!
Miss Hattie Perkins is a marvelous name! Not just elegant (to match her beauty, of course), but so descriptive!
Hattie Perkins looks justifiably smug. 🙂
Not back up to snuff, but thought I’d touch base.
Duckie has gone to live with one of the ladies that bought him for me. She says I have visitation rights. Duckie seems to be making up to her bright yellow female budgie who is only six months older. Maybe yellow baby duckies?
Unfortunately the chest congestion and the cough are clearing up, which means that Duckie was the cause. I am banned from having furred or feathered pets, and finned or scaled ones are under discussion. Even hairless cats or dogs are forbidden.
I have lost more than twenty of the thirty five plus prednisone pounds I put on earlier this year. I weighed myself this morning and was given that news as a very pleasant surprise.
Miss Hattie Perkins, you are a love of a cuddlekin. I’m mentally scratching you under your chin.
Allein, are you sure you don’t live near me? That motorcycle dude sounds like the one across the back from me.
Laura, you, your husband and Melody are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cooler weather has arrived, so here’s hoping I’m feeling better soon.
PS quick laugh. Hubby made jam this week and put the last jar outside to cool, as counter space was nonexistent. I heard a scuffle on the deck yesterday, and found three grey squirrels licking the sides of the cooled off jar and fighting to get the lid off.
Sorry about little Duckie, but I’m glad you’re feeling better and that he has a birdie friend.
Between the bike and someone else’s loud car engine (don’t know if something is wrong with it or he just thinks he’s that cool) and all the idiots who need to share whatever’s playing on their car stereo with everyone in a three mile radius…sometimes I really wish I could move.
I’d let the squirrels have it…
Squirrels are sneaky little dudes, aren’t they?
And Duckie, I’m so sorry you had to regime avian Duckie. I’m glad you have an “open adoption.” That’s what we have with our cocker spaniel, Sebastian; a lovely young woman rehomed him with us when she had to work too many hours to take proper care of him. She’s come over to see him several times, and even went on a therapy visit once to see him “at work.” We all enjoy it. I know you’re going to enjoy visiting Duckie, too. It really helps with the pain of separation.
Dearest Laura and hubby… so wishing that there was a miracle cure. As you can tell by the comments, we’ve been through that terribly painful time as well so our hearts are with you on so many levels. I would like to say that knowing you are doing the right thing helps but it didn’t for me when I went through this with my feline girl. Somehow we just have to bear the pain. Hugs.
Duckie – glad you are keeping in touch even though you are not feeling well yet. I sure hope you can get to share the birdie without any adverse effects.
Allein… I will see your motorcycle and raise you a car being tuned AND a chainsaw. ☹️☹️
The chainsaw has been going for days. 😵
Ugh.
I’ll raise you a tile saw. Our neighbor directly behind our house spent a YEAR AND A HALF installing a tile floor evenings and weekends, the howling saw on his back patio about 30-ish feet/10 meters from our back door. Ugh indeed! He is FINALLY done, not a moment too soon for my sanity!
But I do have to admire him for doing it and sticking with it until it was done. That’s not an easy do-it-yourself job. I just wish he could have put a Cone of Silence over his saw!
Now I’ve finally heard something that makes me think there’s an advantage to living in a co-op. Construction work can only be done Monday through Friday from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. If I was in your situation I might have ended up in the Big House on a Murder Rap!
Fortunately, the saw didn’t run constantly. And he took lots of days off, for which I was hugely grateful. He seldom worked more than an hour in the evening, and only part of the days on weekends. I think he was trying to be as considerate as he could under the circumstances. So it wasn’t constant torture, or trust me, I would have joined you in the Big House!
Duckie I had a small aquarium. I loved it but so much work. Lately I have looked up desktop aquariums. Though I have no free horizontal space until next year.
There are some fantastic 5-10 gallon Beta Fish setups with lights and filters. Beta Fish do learn to recognize you.
And Google Ecospheres. Closed system with teeny tiny shrimps inside. No care needed! They are busy all the time and fun to watch. I have the oval shaped 7.5” one with 8 shrimpies inside. And ignore the info about them suffering inside the sphere. They are very happy in there. They ship through Amazon in a foam lined box. Mine arrived healthy and busy. They build a sphere just for you in about a week. Then they notify shipment so you can be home.
Oh boy Duckie! I must have missed that you were having a reaction to Duckie II. I’m so sorry. I’m glad you have visitation rights. 🙂 I second Faye’s idea of a beta fish. Have you seen these? Also a whole eco-system. I might get one of these for my nephew next year. https://backtotheroots.com/products/watergarden
Thank you SO MUCH , everyone, for your kindness and good thoughts and prayers and sympathy. It really means a lot. Mike’s attracted the nicest, most caring (and wittiest!) group of people anywhere on the whole interwebs!
Easy day for Millie and I. No cooking. No laundry. Just a bit of a walk later and porch sitting.
I have been going to physical therapy for back pain from spinal stenosis. I am glad to report that my pain has decreased even with my less than diligent take home exercises. So I have become more enthusiastic.
My enthusiasm has spilled over into two proactive attempts to improve my health, both mental and physical.
1. I have asked the 12 year old that I live with to help me with short walks when she gets home from school. She’s a teenage brat to her mom but she and I can work together for 20 minutes per day I think.
2. I recontacted a friend from the Library! I retired seven years ago with 32 years worth of pain, sickness and hurt feelings. But she was not involved with that. I’m happy to report that we have brunch scheduled for the 15th.
And! After finishing my 7 month big mixed media project I had no new pictures in my mind. That is not a good feeling. So I’m happy to report that I have a new drawing brewing in my mind.
Long post but a happy one. 🤓
Oh! Hattie Perkins! Hattie Purrkins? Gorgeous. Great name!
Hello, all. My sympathies to Laura and her husband for what they are going through with Melody. It sounds heartbreaking.
Sympathies to Duckie, too! Discovering an allergy to a pet is frustrating, and it hits a little close to home for me, since I adopted Ani after my niece discovered she was allergic to rabbits.
I think I have been adopted by a new cat, but it’s still early to be sure. But for the moment I would like to present for your consideration one Teddy Bear, one of the many cats who frequent my neighborhood.
Teddy has always been friendly with me, but even though I’ve been feeding him he didn’t always show up every day. I think he has an extended family of
suckershumans that he visits.But three days ago, he just walked in my house, climbed onto the bed, and took a nap — for about 20 hours. This continued for about three days, with just quick trips outside for bathroom breaks. Teddy is very affectionate and welcomes chin and tummy rubs. He seems in reasonably good health, except that his eyes water.
Ani and he get along fairly well, which is to say that she only swatted him once and he didn’t swat back. But they sleep in different rooms and I have been dividing my time between them.
Aw, that belly is just asking to be snorgled.
I hope Teddy Bear continues to find the sleeping arrangements satisfactory. Judging by that picture he seems to have sized you up as very promising staff. He’s a good-looking boy!
Oops. Mike I think you have a cat now! Cutie for sure. Belly exposure is a sign of trust.
Congrats to Timmy’s new dad! He’s obviously a good judge of character. Not to mention suckerness. 😁
Congratulations, Mike! You have been adopted by Teddy Bear, who looks like a Most Excellent Cat. All the best to you and Ani!
Mike, whatever happened to the other cat (was he grey???) that was hanging out around you, coming in and out, a while back? I thought sure he’d eventually end up inside with you.
That was Shorty, a black/white tuxedo cat, and he’s still here and friendly with me, but not feeling as attached to me as he once was. Shorty prefers the house of my next-door neighbor, and if she is away for an extended period he will suddenly become much chummier with me.
Ha! Cats are such natural manipulators.
Glad to hear he’s thriving, even if he’s switched allegiances.
Yeah, he’s doing great. And in fairness to him (because he might be reading this and I wouldn’t want him to take offense) he will still walk up to me and say hello from time to time.
That’s an impressive ‘honk-shu’ Teddy–congratulations Mike!
Teddy is a handsome boy indeed, Mike! I love his light orange coloring. And the little rolled tongue is adorable! So he can sleep right through the camera clicking in his face? I’m impressed!
At this point, I’m convinced that Teddy could sleep through a hurricane and an earthquake happening simultaneously. He likes to sleep.
Ol’ Teddy ‘Rip Van Winkle’ for short. Or, perhaps, he’s a teenage boy.
Um, Mr.Mike? I think ya got yerself a kitty. 😉 Enjoy!
Laura, my heart breaks for you and your husband. Doesn’t matter how many times you go through it; it never gets easier.
Mike, I think Teddy tried out all the neighbors and found you most to his liking.
We spent most of the day at the Washington State Fair and I. am. exhausted! My employer covers the cost of parking, entry for the employee, spouse and kids, $10 of food/person, and 1 ride/person (and they employ upwards of 10,000 people in the area, so that’s a HUGE expense for them). My hubby also knows the owner of the fudge stand, so we got a free slice of fudge in addition to all the other perks. I figure we saved at least $75 today. Not only that, but we got out of there before the rip roaring thunderstorm that’s currently happening (and wreaking havoc on our electricity- it’s briefly gone out twice now). The other good news is that Lahara is lounging on my lap and barely opening one eye when she hears the thunder. She’s either losing hearing or getting mellow in her old age.
Wow, that’s nice! My employer used to do a family day thing at Great Adventure (Six Flags), and I think you got the ticket and a voucher for lunch, though in recent years it’s been at one of those day camp places that you can rent out for events and they brought in catering (BBQ stuff, I think). This year they said they didn’t get as much interest so they changed it to a BBQ thing during the work day (but no families, since it’s at work). I never went in the past, since I don’t have kids and none of my friends ever went, either. And this year I’ll be on vacation…they haven’t given us details yet so I’ll see if it’s worth coming in for (if it’s anything like our summer BBQ the answer is no).
Well, technically they’re a “not-for-profit,” company (huge medical group) so my theory is that they do stuff like this so they won’t make too much money. They do a food truck picnic lunch for all the employees in the summer, too. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful. Free is my favorite price. 😉