#491 Did Hazel Send Them?

This morning, after break fast I looked out the window and saw the cat sprawled on the table. It wasn't until I got the camera that I saw the other cat. It was over near the hot tub. By the time I got around the house it had moved onto one of the chairs. I tried to take some photos through the window, but the white blinds are reflected on the inside of the window.















We thought that Hazel might have suggested they come by to remind us that she is still with us. That happens every time a cat crosses our path. Hazel was with us longer than any of the cats that graced our presence. The only thing I can say at this point is, "Thanks, Hazel. You are still in our hearts."

#491

#477 Day 15 A Sad Day

This day was a sad one for us. It was the day we had to instruct the vet to put Hazel out of her pain and misery. We had hoped she would hold on until our return. It was not to be. She was a good cat and we loved her dearly.

To cope with our sorrow we decided that we should go for a walk along the farm land and to a copse of woods about a mile to the West. Marie, the youngest daughter of our friends walked with us. It was very therapeutic for all of us. Maryann was able to find a stone to bring back to use as marker for Hazel's final resting place in our back yard.

Along the way back, a neighborhood cat greeted us. We would like to think that Hazel might have sent her to let us know it was OK. It wasn't until later that I learned about the Rainbow Bridge. Thanks, Karen, for sharing the poem.

#477

#447 Farewell to Hazel

One of the most difficult things we had to do while in Europe was to confirm the order to put Hazel to sleep. Fortunately we were able to accomplish this with pre-planning and access to the internet while at the home of our friends in Marsannay le Bois. We had hoped it wouldn't come to that until our return. Our vet has served us well for all of Hazel's 16+ years. She came to us as a kitten on a temporary basis. It was our good fortune that she became a permanent resident.

She helped Maryann heal in her many trials with cancer and hip replacement. We always looked upon her as a healing cat and an angel on earth. We were blessed to have shared the time with her that she was here.

Like all of us, our time is measured. We all have missions to perform. When the mission is completed we must move on for the next one. For Hazel, this was no exception.



At the Southwest corner of our yard is a lovely garden spot under a tree. It is here that we interred her remains. Yes, that is a Buddha statue overlooking her final resting place. The flowers are lovely there. It has always been a special place. We could think of no finer place to put her remains.


Here you can get a better view of the foliage and stones surrounding the Buddha garden. The neighbors to the South (left of the photo) are constantly improving their back yard which looks like a park. We really appreciate the view from our back yard.

This close-up shows a special stone Maryann found while on a walk by the fields in Marsannay. She wanted something special to mark Hazel's special place. This particular piece of stone spoke to her and she knew it was the one.



The folks at the vets office (Lansing Veterinary Hospital) did tell us that Hazel was not her usual self and was beginning to suffer at the end. Dr. Chambers and his staff have always been kind to the animals and to their human friends. We were glad that Hazel was with them at the end.

Maryann has decided that there will be no replacement for Hazel. But, then, how could she be replaced? Only time will tell.

As for stories about the trip to Europe, just wait and see. It will take some time to process all 1,743 photos. There are 960 on one flash card alone. So be patient friends. The stories will be coming soon to a blog near you.

And thanks for letting me share these moments about Hazel with you.

#447

#344 Merry Christmas

Last evening we had dinner with George and Gale. It was the first time we ventured off of our property since the snow came. They mentioned that a neighbor had done some rather fantastic ice sculpture. This morning, after breakfast we decided to go take a look at it. You can see the results below. Whoever did it, did a nice job.

Our usual Christmas morning ritual is to get a glass of pineapple juice and a cup of coffee or tea. We then sit by the tree and open our gifts. Even Hazel likes to get in on the act. She spent a good portion of her time sitting in Maryann's lap while gifts were being opened and examined.

We have gotten to that place in our lives where we decide what we would like to have and give those suggestions to our mate. Then it is up to that person to acquire some or all of them. It is also appropriate to add a surprise. One has to take note of comments dropped during the year and take action so it can be a true surprise.

We usually ask for clothing items. As you can see we did very well. The nice thing about this ritual is that everything is the right size and color. Some of the things from relatives were food baskets - fruits, chocolates, biscuits, etc. The one surprise gift that Maryann was not expecting is the DVD set of Ken Burn's documentary, The War. She had mentioned that since she had missed some of the episodes that had already aired, she would have to wait until they were run again.

We will have to learn how to use the GPS system the kids got us. They thought we would use one since we do travel quite a bit. Tomorrow is the time for a trial run.

We hope that your day has been as wonderful as possible and that you are able to celebrate it with your loved ones.

#344

#323 Christmas Decorations 2007

UPDATE
The day after Thanksgiving we decorate for Christmas. This year was no exception. It has taken this long to get things placed properly and ready for the camera. One of these photos may even make it to our annual Christmas card.

The most difficult part of the process is getting the trees from the basement. A couple of years ago we finally got smart and left the lights on the trees. It does make it a lot easier to decorate each year. Hale will appreciate this tip, I hope. (Caution should be used when visiting this link. There is material that might be frowned upon by some. It may not be suitable for children.).

I forgot to mention that we leave the trees put together. The large one will come apart in the middle. It is still a struggle. I haven't figured out an easy way to find the bulb that affects the rest of the string. We do take the decorations off.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, however you celebrate the season.

#323