Hey, bloggers and cat lovers! Vivian K. Perry here today with a quick guest blog for your viewing pleasure.
Most of you know how much I love to explore the outdoors at every opportunity. In the chill of January, though, I don’t stay out long. My little paws get oh-so-frozen, and before you can say “where’s Viv” I’m back meowing at the door for my staff to let me in.
As much as I adore a warm lap, a much-loved pastime for me during the winter is cuddling up with a cozy throw blanket.
I’m a pro when it comes to finding comfy spots.
But paws down, this fluffy white blanket is my favourite.
Where does the blanket end and I begin?
*All photos from our Instagram account. You’re invited to follow. 🙂
On my morning jaunt outside,
I believe I see Maisie again.
Just when I thought
I was over her,
from the corner of my eye
I see her step, sylphlike,
through the wind-riven grass
—a slim, graceful shadow.
My heart leaps.
The idea of her, home—
on Perry’s Point once more!
Joy flashes, like
the spangle of sun
upon the ocean around me.
A dream, a wish, short-lived.
As the chill of the first winter
without her closes in,
I will miss the cuddles,
the companionable silences,
the nose bumps,
our years of moments shared
ever since we were wombmates.
I won’t dwell on
what once was. Instead,
I will carry my sister with me
until we meet again.
Maisie, you may have left Perry’s Point but you will never leave our hearts! ♥♥♥
Vivian here, sitting in as guest host to share a worthy little list with you. I pounced on it during a nighttime prowl on the web and posted it here a few years ago. My sister Maisie and I were animal shelter adoptees, so this is a cause that is naturally near and dear to my kittycat heart.
happy and grateful for being adopted
Have a “purr”-usal and see why I think these are all terrific reasons to bring a lovely little cat like me or a friendly doggie into your heart and home right now. Here’s a bonus reason: with many of us facing a long winter staying home because of the pandemic, a new pet may be just the right antidote for boredom or loneliness.
TEN REASONS TO ADOPT A PET FROM A SHELTER
1. Every pet adopted from a shelter instead of purchased from a pet store or breeder improves the pet overpopulation problem.
2. Adopting a dog or cat from a no-kill shelter can free up space for older or special needs pets that may not find new homes before the end of their natural lives.
3. There are plenty of animals to choose from at most shelters. They come in every age, shape, size, coat color and breed mix, and you can find purebreds at shelters as well.
4. Compared to the cost of purchasing a pet, adopting one from an animal shelter is relatively inexpensive. And if you get a slightly older dog or cat, there’s a good chance he is already fully vaccinated and neutered.
5. Adopting an older pet allows you to skip over the time-consuming, often frustrating puppy or kitten stage of development and takes the guesswork out of what your pet will look like as an adult – size, the thickness and color of her coat, and her basic temperament, for example.
6. Most shelters and rescues do assessments on every pet taken in, to determine things like temperament, whether the pet has any aversion to other pets or people, whether he is housebroken, has had obedience training, etc.
7. Many shelters and rescues also offer lots of new owner support and materials about training, behavior problems, nutrition, grooming and general care.
8. If you have kids, adopting a shelter animal can open their eyes to the plight of homeless pets, teach compassion and responsibility, and show them how wonderful it feels to give a home to a pet that might otherwise live in a cage or be euthanized.
9. An older adoptive pet can be the perfect companion for an older person. Many middle-aged and senior dogs and cats require less physical exertion and attention than younger animals.
10. An adopted pet can enrich your life. The unconditional love and loyalty of a dog or cat can lift depression, ease loneliness, lower blood pressure, and give you a reason to get up in the morning. A kitty asleep in your lap feels warm and comforting. A dog that loves to walk or run outdoors can be just the incentive you need to start exercising regularly.
*list adapted from source: healthypets.mercola.com
So if this sharing prompts just one of you to adopt a pet, I have helped an animal in need. And if you share the list, you could too.
“Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life.” – James Cromwell
Vivian here, covering for Jennifer today while she rests her back from berry-picking this weekend. She loves this time of year when the partridgeberries are ripe, and when they grow on your own land, it is oh-so-convenient to pick them to your heart’s content.
But what does October mean to me? Sure, I like roaming around the bushes on the point, helping to gather berries—although Jennifer says all I basically do is get in the way with my head bunts and demand to be petted—and I enjoy the fact that when I go outside I don’t have to sit in the shade to keep cool anymore.
But what I dearly love to do in our garden is roll around in my happy place: a mysterious patch of something that grows among the grass, moss and lichen in one particular spot. It seems to have the same heady effect on me as catnip!
Check out Maisie and me below, enjoying our special spot. She blends in better than I do! This pic was taken a few years back. We can’t help but think of my sister fondly whenever I go out there.
I still miss Maisie,
but when the sun is shining,
the wind is light, and my peeps
are out and about with me,
I’m in a state of bliss.
October bliss!
“In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October.” ~ Alexander Smith
Hello, my peeps! Apparently it’s my 13th birthday today, so I guess I have cause to celebrate.
Me when I was a baby
Me today
I was feeling down and lonely because this birthday marks my first trip around the sun without my sweet sister Maisie. The good news though, is that I had a special visitor!
Archie
No no no—not that dog, Archie, who came here with his family this week. I’m glad he’s gone home.
I had a very unexpected visitor to Perry’s Point this weekend: a seal!
We usually see seals around here during the winter or spring, not in August. I wonder did he get lost? I hope not. In any case, his arrival caused a bit of a stir and had everyone running for their phones and cameras, including our neighbour Wayne. Here are a couple he captured with his camera.
Isn’t he pretty?
Not as pretty as me, of course.
I wish one and all a lovely Sunday and hope you’ll celebrate with me! ♥ ♥ ♥
Vivian K. Perry here with a video of me playing fetch, made by my staff. We started playing this game one night when I was feeling down about the recent loss of my sister Maisie.
Please don’t be alarmed by my cries — that’s what I always do when I play with my favourite ball. The game ends when I keep the ball. Fun fact: this is the same sound I make whenever I bring home a vole or shrew. Enjoy!
Hey, everyone! Vivian K. Perry here, totally oblivious to this thing called a pandemic.
I’m been using Maisie as a comfy, cushy pillow lately. My sister would never have let me take such liberties before, but then, she hasn’t been herself these past few weeks.
Our vet at Gander Veterinary Clinic says Maisie has an overactive thyroid, so she’s now on medicine for that. Jennifer applies it twice a day by rubbing it on the inside of her ear flap.
Unfortunately, her hyperthyroidism is not typical. Maisie has become anorectic, and without the appetite stimulant medication, she simply won’t eat.
Of course, I was the first one to notice something was wrong. I could never be oblivious to that! I’ve been doing my part by cuddling with her and keeping her warm.
I’m trying not to worry but it’s hard.
Please keep little Maisie in your thoughts, my friends. ❤
That’s right, peeps! My sister Maisie and I celebrated our 12th birthday on Friday.
Mom is busy with book stuff, so I thought I’d take over the blog today and share a few pics of us to commemorate the event.
Lazy Maisie Sunday
I love my scratching post
Our perpetual kitten
I love this scratching post too!
Enjoying Mom’s lap
That time when Mom forgot to put our dishes back after cleaning the floor.
That time I didn’t give my sister sufficient purchase.
Looking a little peeved here. Maybe because Mom is taking too many pics.
Thanks for visiting us and have a purr-fect week! Head bumps and sandpaper kisses, ♥Vivian♥
Vivian K. Perry here, sharing a pic of me sneaking a catnap during a busy afternoon at the office.
I’m pleased to report that my sutures were taken out on Tuesday—thank you, Nurse Marilyn—the dreaded Elizabethan collar/cone has been tossed, and life has mostly returned to normal.
My sister Maisie and I don’t get to go outdoors nearly as much now; that’s the only downside.
But I have bounced back from my vicious attack last month, and I’m more than grateful to resume my usual workaday routine.
Hello, my peeps! Apparently it’s my 13th birthday today, so I guess I have cause to celebrate.
Hi, everyone!
Jennifer's Journal 