It is with the greatest sadness that I have to tell you that our "Queen Mom" the head of our monarch has crossed to the rainbow bridge.  Her name was really Francesca, but we all called her Frankie.

 

 

 

 

I was told Frankie and her sister Samantha "Sam" came to us from a local farm.  Frankie's sister Sam passed away in 2016.  But Frankie who was a sickly kitty, held on until she was a few days short of her 18th birthday!  

Top kitten picture, Frankie on top. 

Christmas cat picture, Frankie on left. 

I remember her already being here when I joined the family in 2010 Frankie was well established in her role.  She always welcomed the new animals to our house.  I remember when we had the mouse, Algernon.   Frankie was his body guard, she laid beside his cage all the time, guarding him.  At times I remember she laid on top of his cage. What an amazing mother to all of us. 

She was well educated too, I have caught her with the Lighthouse Digest magazine  and she had also studied Statics years ago..  

Frankie's most important job was being Katie's buddy!  

I scanned one of the pages from mom's scrapbooks.

 

Mom said.  "The sorrow is so great in losing one of her pets, but the love they give us for years is worth the sorry we have when we lose them.  The memories last a  lifetime!" After mom also said "We gave you a great life Frankie" 

Dad responded  "She gave us a good life"

So, Rest in Peace my good and faithful friend Frankie.  I always respected you, even if you were a cat. 

love 

Leonard

 I am not happy!

 My goodness. You can tell I'm getting old. I don't get to use the computer too much. I sleep most the day and night. My back legs don't work like when I was young, so when I get to a comfortable spot, I stay there as long as my bladder will let me.  

But, I had to get to the computer. You won't believe what my mom did this time.  I thought she said the "Inn was full".  Whatever that meant.  But last week she went to that cat thing she volunteers at once a month.  She calls it Fairchild Cat Clinic.  From what she says about it to dad, people bring feral cats in and they spay and neuter them that day. Mom always tells dad that she works the desk, when people bring in the cats and take them home. What that means, I have no clue.  She just always tells dad about ALL the cats and how this one or that one was so beautiful.  Really cats beautiful??  She really needs to get her eyes checked!  I can always smell that gross cat smell on her when she comes home. I'm so glad she showers before we all go to bed together at night. Our bed is full, Penny, Tootsie, me, mom and dad.  Mom and Dad should consider getting a king sized bed or at least get a bed for them so the three of us dogs can get a good night's sleep without them tossing and turning and mom snoring.  

 Anyway last week mom went to that cat place and she had the nerve to bring home a kitten! What on earth was that lady thinking! She said the little thing stole her heart. He has an eye infection, but she got meds from the vet to hopefully fix it.  But really mom, a kitten!!   Remember mom "The Inn is FULL"  FULL means no more room. Well, it was a tiny not even 2 pound kitten, but still. It may want to sleep on the bed and there is no room at that INN.  We dogs hardly have enough room on that bed. 

 So, it took mom and dad days to name the new cat thing.  Finally after a few days mom excitedly says, "I've got it"   No one is every ready when mom says, "I've got it". You just never know with her.  

The name she came up with is from a Beatles song and dad is a big Beatles fan.  

Are you ready?      "Sergeant Pepper" 

 

So folks meet little not even two pound Sgt. Pepper.  

The cats aren't very impressed with Sgt. Pepper, but I guess he is growing on the dogs.  This little kid just kind of flops himself down next to you, without asking, I should add, and he sleeps.   I'm not impressed, but I guess he is one of God's creatures and we should take him in.  But really now, THE INN IS FULL!!! No more. We have 5 cats and 5 dogs.. Isn't that more than Noah had on the ark?? 

Enjoy the pictures. Your friend,   Leonard  (me with the kitten)

Eve

Above Penny Below Tottsie

 

                        

                                                 Another with Eve

Don't tell mom, but this little thing does look so cute in this picture!   

  

                        You can see the little guy's

                         eye doesn't look exactly normal.

                         But I know my mom, and she'll 

                         take good care of it. 

 Hi folks!  My mom wrote this, I thought you might enjoy it!!  I love Peanut butter! 

 Your Friend, 

Leonard

Ode to the Peanut butter jar!

The peanut butter jar came into our house from a local grocery store.  When it entered our house, the label was desecrated by a thick sharpie marker with the word “DOGS”

 

What does this mean and why?  You see, when I need to give our dog Eve her daily medicine, I simply shake the medicine bottle and five dogs run into the kitchen.

 

A spoonful of peanut butter makes the medicine go down.  Honestly, I stick the pill in only a half spoonful of peanut butter.  I gently slide it off the spoon into Eve’s mouth.  With her tongue enjoying the taste and texture of the peanut butter, the job is done. 

Since Eve got peanut butter, four dogs glare at me, eyes saying “Where is mine?”. So, the handout line begins. Same spoon, same jar.  Can you say “Double dipping” more than twice.

The multiple dipping is why the jar is marked DOGS.  Dogs love peanut butter and I love to watch them enjoy it and just lick and lick and lick. 

All good things come an end.  So once the jar has given all it can give – we know there is left over peanut butter hanging around the sides of the jar.   

Now the advantage of a dog’s long tongue becomes an advantage.  First I give the jar to my dog, Leonard (yes, he is the special dog, my husband says he’s the chosen one).  Anyway, his tongue can only reach part way down the jar walls. 

When Leonard gives up, Eve, who has been watching him closely will take the abandoned jar and use her longer tongue to finish the job. During this entire cleaning process, the top of the jar does get misshaped.  But it ends up clean in the end.

So folks, this is the fate of a peanut butter jar that comes into our household for the DOGS.

 Wow, it has been a long time since I posted.  So much has happened, it's been crazy around here!  

Katie and Erik brought their two cats up when they came up for Christmas (that was in December) and the cats finally went  home today.  They way overstayed their welcome! Mom says they were staying almost a month, well it was almost a month, my goodness.  

They brought the cats up because it was Christmas and then in two weeks after that they were gonna have their wedding reception (postponed from last year).  After the reception they were going on a week long cruise.  After that dad was gonna take them back home to Virginia on January 15th. Well, things didn't work out the way they were planned.  They FINALLY left today, January 22nd.  What a LONG time they stayed.  

Let me show you a picture of how beautiful Katie and Erik looked for their wedding reception.  Aren't they so beautiful together??

 

 

 After the wedding they didn't go on a cruise, they cancelled it because of COVID, but they decided to go to Asheville North Carolina for a few days.  During that time they did leave the cats here.  Here are pictures of the cats for you to enjoy.

 

Perkins sleeping on daddy's pants!

 

 

Daisy lived in Katie's room most the time she was here.  Mom took over Katie's room and it looks worse then when Katie lived at home.  Mom has crafts and books and keeps saying she is gonna organize it, but I'm waiting!   

So, dad was gonna take these cats home last weekend, then the snow decided it was gonna show up, so mom suggested the cats stay another week. My goodness, how long can I deal with these cats??  Finally this morning dad took them back home to Virginia.  Good riddance and don't come back now here!!!

I must admit you to, my new friend Tootsie doesn't like the cats either and she hasn't yet learned that mom doesn't tolerate us chasing them.   Tootsie has gotten in trouble several time when it comes to the cats.  She'll learn soon, I think!  

Until next time, Tootsie and I will take a nap!  Sweet Dreams!  

         

            Love Your friend,      

                Leonard 

 

 Cool Fall Greetings My Friends!

Goodness mom has been so busy with things at the Historical Society and with Katie.  At the society she is helping with the big craft show they have called the Belsnickel and she is helping with the Holiday Tour they have.  Add on to that Katie and Erik are finally gonna have their wedding reception in January.  Mom said something about Santa Paws coming in there too!  So she's been coming and going and I haven't gotten time to get computer time!  She's out for awhile now, so I thought I'd jump on the computer. 

Tootsie is doing fine and fitting in with the pack as you can see.  She's pretty cool.  She doesn't like cats, so that's really cool in my book!  But she hasn't heard to leave them alone when mom is home.  Mom yells at her.  I keep telling her when mom is away we can chase them and mom'll never know. I have to keep reminding her. 

We had a weird incident happen last night.  Clara, you gotta know Clara.  Clara is not quite, she actually barks too much, she is a very hipper dog.  She barks at everything!   She has a favorite spot on the sofa.  When Eve decided to sit there, she barks at Eve, telling her to move, but Eve doesn't listen to anyone.  Eve is her one entity.  I am not sure what to think of Eve, she loves the cat, Valentina.  What is up with that?? Did you see the picture mom posted on facebook with Eve and Valentina?? Something is really weird with those two!  it's just not a normal thing! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, back to Clara.  Clara was unhappy last night.  Eve was on what she thought was her spot on the sofa.  Mom told her to lay down somewhere else.  Finally she went to her second favorite spot to lay. On the dog be on the floor.  But she was very upset it was being used by Addi.  Addi was in a cat bed, but the cat bed was sitting on top of the dog bed. (which is something Eve usually does, but that's a story for another time)   

So as you can see, Clara is pretty upset about the whole situation. How can she relax with a cat so close? Addi could have cared less that Clara wanted the dog bed all to herself.  Finally after sitting there awhile. I thought, if that was me Clara I'd just growl at the cat and scare her into moving.  But Clara, although she barks alot (and I mean alot) is the biggest chicken around.  Penny can growl at her and terrify Clara.  Which Penny does (but again that a story for another time)   

Soon I looked around and found this. Oh Clara, you let the cat boss you around. Shame on you!  Mom seems to think it was adorable, but I was sad that Clara didn't take charge of the situation.  I have to talk to that girl!  I guess she thought if you can't beat them, join them!

        Enjoy Fall my friends!  Sorry if there are typos, I seem to be all paws today! 

        Love,

        Leonard  

 Where does the time go?? It's been a crazy busy summer here on Sycamore Road.  This weekend has been really crazy and I'm not so sure what I think about it.  Here is the story my friends.  On Saturday night the one neighbor Connie found a little dog on her front porch.  Connie and her husband don't live just off the road, they live a long driveway off the road. But they found a little dog on there front porch.  Knowing all the neighborhood dogs, mom didn't recognize the little thing and neither did the other dog lover in the neighborhood. So they posted found a dog on facebook and next door neighbor.  My mom told the neighbor Connie if they didn't find the owner on Sunday Mom would take this dog to the vet to check for a chip on Monday morning.  No one called about the dog or replied to any posts.  So mom and dad went to Connie's house and picked up the little dog on Sunday afternoon. That's always so interesting when mom and dad bring home a new animal.  We all have to check it out.  It has the same coloring as I do, well like I did when I was a young dog.  (I'm gray where I used to be brown).  But this little gal is very chubby, she must eat alot of pizzas or something!  Mom slept on the sofa on Sunday night and the little thing slept right next to her all night. I slept on the sofa too, someone had to keep their eye on the new dog, who knows, she could have been out to steal all our toys or something. You never know!   (she was good and didn't do anything like that, she just slept with my mom on the sofa).  

Dad called the dog fudge (which is what Connie and her granddaughter were calling it)  mom said she wasn't a big fan of the name fudge, she thought the dog looked more like a chubby tootsie roll, so she started calling the dog "Tootsie".   Monday morning mom took "Tootsie" to the vet and they scanned her for a chip.  No chip was found.  So mom brought her home.  

Mom put signs up in the local post offices and sent flyers to the local vets, but at this point we haven't had anyone claim "Tootsie". It's only been a day.  The kid is getting pretty comfortable here.  Last night we all went to bed, Tootsie was sleeping on the sofa and I heard Tootsie come upstairs during the night and she jumped on the bed.  She woke mom, but just snuggled beside mom and we all went back to sleep.  I heard mom tell dad that when mom woke up this morning she was suprised to find a Holli, (the cat) laying next her mom and Tootsie was snuggled tight to mom's leg.    

We shall see if Tootsie's owners contact us.  Mom says if no one claims her,  we'll probably keep her. I think she won over mom and dad the first time they saw her.  (Just like I did so many years ago).  

 Stay tuned for the next post to see if Tootsie becomes part of our family or not. 

your friend, 

Leonard                                                                             

"Tootsie"

I'm on the left, Tootsie's on the right!