Abby and Annabelle

Same spot.

Afternoon sun.

Looking opposite directions but nearly

the same position.

So very similar to one another,

yet so vastly different.

My two very special
manx girls.

***

We're joining PepiSmartDog for 

this week's

THANKFUL THURSDAY.

Please stop in and read their

exciting adventures about saving

and releasing a Curlew Bird & 

also see the new photos from 

the next Pirates of the Carribean

which is filming down under!

For Annabelle and Abby

It's hard to believe that Annabelle has been living with me six months. Time moves like a roaring river and can slow to a crawl of a babbling stream. But move it does. Annabelle's journey to me is so intertwined with Abby's journey that I cannot separate the two. My shattered heart needed to be able to share the deep love I have for Abby with another, another manx. Abby knew I needed that, and I will always believe she was the one who prompted me to go looking on that particular day at the cats in PetSmart. I had not ever done before, why that day? My belief is there are no coincident and it was meant for me to find "Fritzie". I still laugh when I think that she was called Fritzie. I have no idea why she was named with such an odd name for a beautiful cat. I don't know why she was owner surrendered. She is such a sweetheart. But whatever the back story was it isn't important now because her future is assured. She has been a soothing balm to my sad frozen heart. Watching youth blossom in front of me and getting to know and love her has been a magic elixir to a soul that is badly wounded and needing to pieced back into place. I now know that it will never be quite the same as the loss of my beloved Abby was life transforming for me. You can't undo the damages caused by grief you can only patch them and go forward. Patched and mended as well as they can be you rally and go on, never leaving behind the scars that you bear. For me, the right answer was bringing another into my patched up broken down heart and finding that there is more love to give and receive, and there is another life I have helped to save. I adore this tiny little girl. She brings smiles and joy and love. Lots of love. I am grateful to her and to the girl who came before who will always be the love of life. 

_____

there are all

 kinds of love

in this world

but never

the same

love twice.

~f scott fitzgerald

_____

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday.

 

I feel very thankful for so many things. But one thing I lack (among many others I am sure) is much of an artistic ability. The only way I can express myself is through the lens of a camera. I get much of my inspiration from my subject matter, which is each of the cats. For many years Abby was my muse. She was very comfortable with the camera around. What I lacked in terms of my own ability and in quality of the camera I used to capture her image.

Abby taught me.

***

If I could only go back again and do it all over, I would take all the money I spent on all the different cameras and purchase one really good one. I finally broke down and got a entry level Nikon DSLR in 2012. It has served me well since I purchased it. I enjoy it and will always have it, but now I am ready to move on to a better version. 

***

You see, I found peace through what my camera can see. I found it in a tiny little calico cat whose eyes are little saucers. When I see her my heart sings again. My muse has returned to me. A reluctant one to start with as she had I'm positive; never seen a big black box that made a click click clicking noise before. 

I always thought I had time. Time to do all the things I have always done in the past. But time ran out for me August 12,2013  and I realized I didn't capture all the things I wanted (needed) to capture of Abby on film. I cannot tell you how difficult that was is for me. To know I could never take another image of Abby again broke my desire to pick up a camera. 

...until Annabelle.

***

Abby wanted me to pick up that camera again and do what I love. So, I did. She also made me realize that I had not been very good at cataloging my files. So a massive project unfolded for me which is nearly complete. She made me so much more aware of how fragile we all are and how much I took for granted things not changing. So, I approach it all differently, including my photography. When I look back over 2013 and I see how lax I became over photographing Abby in particular; it makes me very wistful because I should have done more. But, I didn't, and now that is something I cannot undo. So going forward I have been made more conscious of capturing things with my camera that I would have let go in the past and 'oh thought I'll do it later'. Well, there was no later. There is only now.

***

I highly recommend that everyone make sure you have some extra way to back up your digital photo files. There are so many online free storage websites. It is one of the simplest ways to keep your files from being lost to you. I use several different types of back ups, because I am well, uber afraid terrified of losing those precious imagines. No one needs to do the 5 step process I do. I am just being seriously cautious. But I do urge everyone to find a way that works best for them.

***

Find your passion and enjoy it and be thankful.

I always strive to get better. It is my joy to interpret and capture on film something beautiful.

Ready for that close up Miss Annabelle? 

***

We're also joining in on this week's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop from PepiSmartDog.

EZ Sunday

Can you see my little tongue sticking out? Yep it hangs out of my mouth when I sleep.
I'm good on this EZ stuff!

Mom said I reminded her of when she held Abby's head in her hand.

Yes, she did.
****
Today is another special day. It's Grandpa's purrday. It's a good one. Grandpa turns 85 today. We are all so glad Grandpa is still celebrating with us. He has his challenges which he always rises to. Grandpa is a very good Grandpa and we all love him deeply. So join us in our quiet celebration of Grandpa's 85th celebration day!!

One Year Ago Today

December 20,2012

December 20,2012

December 20,2012
There were packages under the tree and packages to wrap. Not to much this year. 356 days ago I would never have envisioned this is where I would be today. I would never have believed that Abby would be gone 130 days today. I miss her physical presence so much. But, I know her Spirit is very strong with me and always will be. I still miss holding you Abby. I always will. To the Moon baby girl.

December 20, 2013

December 20, 2013
Welcome to your forever and ever home Annabelle, and thank you Abby for leading the way. Annabelle will truly help heal that ache in my heart Abby and I know you know that.