Wednesday, October 23, 2013

My brother, the cat whisperer ...


My one and only sibling, Kerry, just loves to come visit our fur babies at least once a week.  He, like me, was raised to have the utmost respect for all animals and our whole entire family have always been aminal lovers. Our dad, for example, was raised around all sorts of critters growing up as a kid. Our nana used to take in every single solitary stray you could possibly imagine. I remember as a child so years ago, walking into the vets office with she and her sick blue and white colored parakeet, Peppy, in toe. 

Me with my nana Cora and one of her minature poodles, Suzie, when I was three years old.


My brother Kerry posing for pics with our calico cat, Haley



When we had to have our beloved Maggie put down at the age of 14, it was my brother who spent the entire day with me (as my hubby and I were separated at the time) until it was time to go to the vets later on that evening, and, it was also Kerry who stood in the middle of the vets office while we held each other crying. And, for that, I am eternally grateful ...

 Kerry playing UNO with Maggie, who appears to be helping him cheat!

 Me 'n' my bro!


As with so many other families, we have definately had our share of ups and downs through the years, but I love him dearly and wouldn't trade him for the whole world! One of the most proudest parts of it all for me is the fact that he absolutely adores our cats ... and they him.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Stray Cat ~ by Franic Witham


 
Oh, what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you, homeless to my gate?
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter, warmth and food.
For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny.
While he, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house, The Law.
He scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed.
He ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke the heart the day he died.
So if you really think, oh cat,
I'd willingly relive all that
Because you come, forlorn and thin
Well...don't just stand there...come on in!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Something new for Samhain this year!


Greetings all! Those of you who have been following my blogs for some time now, know that every year I add a new decoration or two for the holiday/sabbat season. This year, I found three new Heartwood Creek Jim Shore cat figurines ~ two for Samhain/Halloween and one for all year round ...

 


The angel holding the cat really resonated with me and I just could not resist buying it! And, along with these new items, I also decided to decorate the cat's room as well with a cool lighted black cat pumpkin which I had picked up last year at the Hay Creek Festival ...



Here's wishing everyone a great week!!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

The Best Vet in the world!



For as long as I can remember, my parents have always put their trust in our family veterinarian, Dr. Sherbyn Ostrich. VMD. He started an animal clinic back in the 70's called, Cacoosing Animal Hospital. He was doing so well that he hired Dr. Carl Veltri who graduated from the very prestigious Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. During this time, Dr. Ostrich was elected as President of the American Veterinary Medical Association and also President of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Association. Aware that he would be gone for three years and would have little time to work at the hospital, he decided to sell his practice to the VCA Animal Hospital, a decision he had expressed to me that he would later regret!

No longer able to take our cats to Dr. Ostrich, we eventually ended up taking our cats to the "new" VCA Hospital in the same location simply because Dr. Veltri was still a part of them. A couple of months ago, we noticed a lump in the middle of Midnight's tail. Concerned, we took him to VCA. The vet, one of many new vets that come and go there, diagnosed his lump as a cyst and told us that we should "keep an eye on it" to make sure there was no change in size, color, etc. I would have preferred to have him seen by Dr. Veltri, but you are never guaranteed he will be working at the hospital when you have to make an appointment.


We decided to get a second opinion after we saw a recent article in our local newspaper which featured Berks County Vets, one of them being Dr. Ostrich who had very recently started another animal clinic called, "Eagle's Peak Animal Clinic. "Ah ha!" I said to my husband, "we found him again!" So we immediately took him to see Dr. Ostrich this past week and upon due examination, he informed us that Midnight had a blocked gland and that is what was causing his cyst. He sterilized the lump and then cauterized it really good as to not cause an infection, and for only HALF of the fee which VCA would have charged us, we walked out with him knowing that he was in the best of hands!

 


The next day, I called VCA to find out if Mr. Earl Gray's ashes had come back yet (since they had already sent me the bill a day later after telling me it would take about 2 weeks to get them back and then failed to call me when they did ... after all, they had already gotten their money), I immediately had all of our cats medical records transferred from VCA to Eagle's Peak Animal Clinic. Nuff said.


Let me tell you just how much integrity Dr. Ostrich has. A few months before he opened Eagle's Peak, he had decided to go back to the place where he started his practice in the first place, before it was sold to VCA Hospital. It wasn't very long before he left and I immediately thought to myself, "I'll bet he didn't like what was going on there." And, after speaking with him this week, I found out that I was right! In my opinion, VCA Hospitals are the greediest of the greedy, the most heartless of the veterinary businesses there are. They would rather see you put your beloved pet down then work with you on paying their extremely high and very insane vet bills! There is absolutely no question in my mind what-so-ever that they are ALL about the money, NOT  the well-being of the animals they treat! Personally, VCA Hospitals make me sick and I will never go back to them ever again. Period!


So, what makes him so good? Well, other than the fact that Dr. Ostrich has managed to save my parents dogs and our kitties in the past, while other vets were "resting on their laurels," Dr. Ostrich continued to educate himself throughout the years which only served to add to his long-time experience and knowledge of animals. I am extremely grateful to have found him after all these many years and I will continue to put my complete faith in him to take of our fur babies.

Re-vamped

Greetings everyone! I have been a bit busy around the house as of late. I am re-decorating the cat's room which used to be our guest bedroom. I have added a few new things and used some old as well ...



I hung up a few new photos I took of the cats ...

(clockwise)  Midnight, Haley, Mr. Earl Gray and Tabitha
 
 
 

Pink Cat oil lamp I made out of a wine bottle
 

My Handmade Cat Wreath on door
 
Cat stool with stenciled cats
 

Black Cat Two-Tealight Candle Holder
 
 
 
Well, so far that is everything for the cat's room. Of course, I will probably be adding some little things here and there should I find something I like while out and about. But so far, no complaints from the cats!!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Shine On Blogger Award!



Greetings, my friends! The cats and I are very honored to have been nominated for the Shine On Blogger Award from Marietta at her fantastic blog, "Witchy Words!" Many Thanks, Marietta! Witchy Words is a delightfully wonderful blog with an assortment of really great posts, and, if you are like me and love to read about witches and cats, you simply must check it out!

Now, on to the seven things I must share about me. Hmmm, well, I really had to think hard about these because there probably isn't very much that you do not know about me already, so... here goes!

1) Not only do I collect mermaids of all kinds in a all forms, but I also have begun a sweet little collection of Jim Shore artwork i.e. cat and holiday figurines, etc.

2)  One of my passions other than cats is studying the history of various religions. Not only do I find it fascinating, but it also serves in helping me perform my role as a Pagan and Interfaith Clergy.  :)

3)  I come from a long line of animal lovers. My grandmother on my father's side used to take in any and every single stray animal you could imagine and had family pets from cats and dogs to birds ... and she loved them all dearly.

4)  I am not very much of a cook, (not that I can't cook because I can) but I would much rather clean up the dishes! LOL!

5)  I have only one sibling ~ a brother named Kerry who is almost three years younger than I.

6)  I guess you might also say that I come from a rather musical family as well. I used to sing in a band who performed all around the Berks and Lancaster county, PA areas, my brother has been playing the trumpet since the age of ten and has performed in several orchestras for local musical theatre, and my cousin is an EXCELLENT singer with an absolutely gorgeous falsetto voice.

7)  I have never lived anywhere outside of the Berks County, PA area. I have lived and worked in Reading, PA my whole life. It is where my family, friends and my jobs have always been.  ;)


Now for the 15 nominees to pass this award on to ...

Foxy's World
The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee
Sandy Sandy's Weblog

 
I would also like to thank each and everyone of you who have so thoughtfully and caringly sent their love and condolences to my hubby and I regarding our beloved Mr. Earl Gray. Words can not express how very much we appreciate all of your kindness!
 
Blessed Be!
 
Kim and Brett