Thank You To Donna!

Baby Doll

For our Thankful Thursday post this week we want to give a shout out to Mom's friend Donna who adopted the feral cat Panther from SC and also took in Marg's Baby Doll.  Mom got to visit her recently and saw how well both cats are doing in their new home!

Panther checking Mom out with Annie below (another rescue)

If you don't recall the details about the sleek black cat Panther - he was almost put down twice at a shelter in SC and then they scanned him for a microchip.  A call was made to the woman who had placed him and his journey began.  Our pal Brian from Brian's Home took up the quest and one thing lead to another and Donna wanted Panther.  His story is here.

Panther watching Baby Doll get loved up.

Panther's turn to get some love.

It took months but Panther has blossomed.  He is still a bit shy at first with newcomers but will come out for Mom Donna to be loved up and petted.  He has the run of the house now and his best pal is Baby Doll!  Mom even got to pet Panther for a tiny bit.  It is amazing how well he has adjusted to his forever home.  Mom Donna says he looks at her with such love in his eyes that she just melts.  He is her loverboy. We know he is soo very grateful for her and his new family.

Baby Doll was being fostered at Marg's of Marg's Animals but she did not get along with other cats so had to have her own room.  Donna saw the post about Baby Doll on Facebook and said she would take her.  Baby Doll adjusted pretty quickly to her new home.  She prefers to stay on the upper level and still gets put out when the other cats invade her rooms.  She does, surprisingly, let Panther hang out with her. They both eat in the same room.

Baby Doll has her Mom time when Donna puts her make-up on in the bathroom  Baby Doll sits on the counter and lets Donna smush her face, talk to her  and love her to bits.  Funny how they all have their quirks.

Senior kitty Simmee

Donna has a magical way about her with problem cats.  They blossom under her care and love.  She has a big generous heart too. She also took in three senior kitties - Simmee, Grayson and Annie -  that were left at home when their owner went into a nursing home.  They had been living in the basement of his house.  Again, it took patience and lots of effort but they now are part of the household and interact with the other cats and people. 

Annie showing off with Grayson photobombing.

Donna also cares for a colony of feral cats that live in the fields behind her house.  Thank you Donna for all you do for your cats  and critters everywhere.  The world is a better place  with you in it!

Dona Nobis Pacem - 2014 BlogBlast 4 Peace

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without."

Buddha

For the BlogBlast 4 Peace, Mom wants to share with you what she and Pop did over the weekend - a traveling tour of relics of Buddha Masters was in Asheville for three days.  Here is the link for the Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour.  (All photos below from this web site except the on of the Buddha statue which is mine).

Minneapolis, MN - Table with the relics

Small and I mean tiny remnants of many Buddha Masters were on display - most were almost like tiny pearls that had been  found in their ashes.  These pieces are believed to embody the master's spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom and to have been deliberately  produced at his death to be recovered in the ashes.

Relics of the Buddha - offered by HH Dalai Lama

The relics are displayed on a huge table and the visitors walk slowly around the table to view and pray over the relics.  When I walked up to the table initially, I saw the Dalai Lama's photo (he donated many relics) and my eyes filled with tears - not sad but just extremely emotional, yet feeling incredible peace too.  I cried for the whole time I was there in the room. 

A blessing from Australia

After I viewed the relics I went for a blessing. The relics are in a container called a stupa, which was placed on my head while a prayer is said for  me and for all people in the world to be released from all suffering  and to find true happiness.  When the stupa was place on my bowed head as I knelt in front of the monk, I felt a warmth in my crown that spread down to my whole body.  It was wonderful.

Pet blessing in Portugal

The Dalai Lama wanted these relics to tour the world to give  everyone a chance to see and experience their blessings - and to connect with real peace and love.

Before we left, each person was given a bottle of blessed water to take home to drink..  If we never completely empty it, but add more water to it, it will remain blessed for as long as we do that.

One of my Buddha statues

It was a very moving experience to have been able to go to this.  If any of you have the opportunity to view the relics in your city - do go. It is a profound experience.  Wishing you all Peace.

Prayer of Lovingkindness

May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to
the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free.
 - Metta Prayer

--

Snowball's 8th Gotcha Day - Nov. 2

Thank you for stopping by my Gotcha Day - it has been a hectic weekend with Halloween, Callie's Gotcha Day and then mine.  Glad Mom did not forget me like she has in the past.  So many of us - so many days to remember.  I know she means well.

I have enjoyed living with the beans and other whitesters, (except Al).  (To read more about how I got gotted click here.)  I love boxes and nap in them whenever I can.  I am a portly guy but have lost weight and do not have anymore UTI's.  That's a relief cuz I almost didn't make it one time!

My best buddy in the whole world (besides Pop) is Norm even tho I do swat and wrassle with him from time to time.  We are always together and enjoy each others company.  

I hope you enjoyed these tidbits about me.  Now time to party - just a simple fare of tuna pizza and for dessert, nip.  Hope you enjoy our spread.  Thanks for your friendship and support.

Our computer connection is iffy due to the snow and wind we are getting  - Mom is trying her best to return visit everyone but she gets cut off before she can leave a comment sometimes.  She will get there.  One more thing - don't forget Nov 4 is Blog Blast 4 Peace!.   Please join us!

Nov 1 - Callie's First Gotcha Day

It is my first Gotcha Day and I doubt I have ever had one before.  Mom found me in the parking lot at night when she got off work.  I knew a good Mom when I saw her and ran up to her meowing like crazy.  She couldn't resist even tho she knew Pop would blow his stack at another cat.  But I won him over too. and here I am a year later.

I love it here and have settled right in.  I love kibbles but they don't feed dry foo so I have to beg for some.  I like to sit on the eating counter overlooking the sink and stare - usually it works and I get kibbles in my bowl.

If that doesn't work, then I run ahead of the beans to the room they are going and sit next to the bowl in there with a pitiful expression on my cute face.  That's gets them every time.  Mom calls me her begging Buddha Cat - I always sit next to an empty bowl.

I look good and feel good now - I was thin and had all kinds of worms initially - yuck.  Probably from living outside.  Mom did track down my original owner and she gave me up cuz she had an older cat who picked on me all the time.  The lady who took me must have left me behind when she moved out west cuz Mom found me months later in the same area but no one knew how to contact her.

I avoid other cats and stay to myself but love Mom and Pop.  The others don't bother me but I guess I am just  scared cuz I got picked on in my old home. I am not a lap cat but love to sit next to the beans and will go ask to be petted if I feel like I want some lovin'.  I even sleep on the bed with them - way down on the foot so I don't bother Pop.   I guess three is the charm for me - I love my forever home.

Please help yourself to our nip apps - raw nip, nip treats and a nip 'nana for each of you! Have fun and thanks for coming to my party.  Don't forget that Snowball is having his party on Sunday!  A lot of partying here!

P.S. we are supposed to get snow on Sat.  so if your comments don't get posted, our power went off.  We hope that doesn't happen cuz I want to enjoy my first party!

Happy Halloween!

Lily goes punk!

Happy Halloween to one and all.!  Mom only posted one post for this week even tho this is her favorite holiday.  Just too much going on along with two Gotcha Days coming up on Nov 1 and 2!  Busy busy busy!

Without further ado, we would like to announce the 2014 Halloween costumes - Lily and Sweetpea.

Sweetpea doing her impression of a lazy chef.

And for the skittish whitesters who will NOT let Mom put a costume on the we have some tongue in cheek costumes with Two Spot and Smidge modeling.

Two Spot as quarterback (hehehe)

Smidge going as an Identity Thief

  We posted this before on previous Halloween's but this is a house that Mom drives by on her way to work - they go all out from Halloween until St Pat's, changing the color of the lights and theme with each month!

We thank you for stopping by and hope you will come back for both Gotcha Days - Callie's on Nov 1 for her first  one with us and Snowball's on Nov 2.  Have a fun, spooky All Hallow's Eve!

P.S. We have a winner for the goodie bag given away for the commenter who guessed first who Al was named after on his Gotcha day post - Caren and Cody! (Mom will get your address)