Luna : We are devastated!

Tis the season to be jolly but there’s not much joy at our house this year. We have lost our beloved brother Walden and our hearts are full of great sadness.
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1996-2007

He was almost 11 years old and he was a magnificent cat. One of his favorite things was to sit on our patio wall and survey the neighborhood. He was definitely the master of his domain.

He was also a mighty hunter and kept our yard free of nosey neighborhood cats, pesky mice and lizards. He would scare our Mom Susan with these “gifts” that he would proudly bring into the house and deposit in the bedroom.
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He loved nothing better than to hang out with us and our Moms.


Walden, or "Wal Dee", was a macho guy but he quietly tolerated the Moms penchant for dressing us up during the holidays.



He was especially fond of Harvey and would often curl up on a rug close to him after giving him a kiss on his ear.

He tolerated me. He would even play with me in the back yard sometimes. He would run and dash and then jump out at me from behind a bush. Other times I bugged him too much with my “puppy-ness” and he would hiss at me to let me know I had gone too far. Yet he always forgave me and let me share the couch with him.

Most of all, he loved our Mom Louise and his loss is very hard on her.


He was her "sweet baby boy kitty." He was the male kitty she always wanted. He was a very handsome chap with his white chest and paws. He was part Maine Coon and had fluffy, fuzzy fur. He also had a sweet, sweet disposition.


He and his sister (named Baby) were abandoned at 7 weeks old and miraculously, for them, made their way to her front door. She let them in and they made themselves right at home.
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And Walden could make himself comfy almost anywhere.
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He was street smart and brave. He survived a month on the streets after he ran away from Hope’s house. My Mom searched for him every single day and with the help of some friendly animal lovers, found him. He had traveled over two miles and was headed back towards our house. He slept on her chest for several nights after he came back home.
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Walden loved to put his head up against my Mom's neck and cuddle. She told me that on his last day, he climbed up on her chest and kissed her cheek. I know Walden loved my Mom a lot gave her lots of joy and many fond memories. She misses him very, very much and so do I. She says we were very lucky to have known him and that he’s in doggie and kitty heaven now. I’m happy to know that ... but there will be a big empty spot in all our hearts without him.
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It's almost Christmas at our house ...

We haven't been doing very much blogging lately but now that Christmas is almost here we thought we'd post a few pictures to show that we're getting ready for the big day at our house. Here's our mom getting started dragging out all the stuff they drag out at Christmas ... there's really ALOT!


Including the nativity set (we're still waiting for the Little Lord Jesus Asleep on the Hay ... that doesn't happen until Christmas Eve) ...

And ALL the stuff that goes on the Christmas tree ... here's mom toasting a "job well done!"

And THEN they got out the camera to take pictures to go on the Christmas card this year. Harvey got stuck with the antlers ...

I got off pretty easy with the blue tinsel this year ...

But now that the whole place is decorated, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care and all that stuff, I'm ready for my long winter's nap ...

Just leave my presents under the tree, OK???

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HAPPY ST. FRANCIS DAY!

by Luna Brooks Russell

So here's St. Francis ... if you want to learn more about him, click here ... but all I really need to know about him is that he was an animal lover and that's good enough for me. October 4th is his Feast Day but we celebrated early at All Saints Church ... last Sunday. And I got to go to church on a SUNDAY!

Not like when my mom takes me to church during the week because she has to and I have to lie still and be quiet and not bug anybody. Nope. THIS Sunday they have a special service outside just for US ... with a special outdoor altar and everything!

My mom Susan had to work in the big church like usual but she came over to pet me when we got there ... I'm a little embarrassed here because I guess I got my muddy paws on the white thing she wears to work in. Oh well ... I was sorry ... really. But I was just glad to see her!

I was glad to see the other dogs, too ... it was great not being the only dog on campus.

And there were cute kids, too ... this one wasn't even as big as some of the dogs that came! (Mom said he was a cutie patootie!)

Oh ... and there were some cats. Gotta give equal time, I know, but frankly I get enough of "leave the kitty ALONE!" at home to want to mess with them when I'm in the outside world. It's a pick your ditch kind of thing for me!

And THEN here came one of my best friends from the dog park ... Honey ... with her boy, Seth.

Even better, Seth's mom held Honey's leash and I got ...

... UNDIVIDED ATTENTION! (I don't know what St. Francis thought of Nirvana but this is my idea of it!)

But pretty soon it was time for the service to start so I settled down with my mom ...

And everybody stood up ...

... and SANG!!! (I liked that part ... especially "the birds and beasts", though I'd have added "dogs and cats" just make sure.. although that would have left out the hampsters and the hermit crabs..... so I guess they knew what they were doing !)

But I have to be honest, my attention kind of wandered ...

... and my attention was drawn to the fact that I wasn't the ONLY one not paying attention.

MOST of the people were paying attention, however, and Wilma did a great job ... look at 'em all ... kids, dogs, cats and grownups all doing church outside. Cool, huh? (I bet we're having more fun than all those dressed up people inside the big church!)

THEN we got to the part when they "sprinkled" us ... here's Wilma hurling around the holy water ... (the dogs liked this part better than the cats, I can tell you that!)

... and speaking of cats, here's Christina trying to bless a cat who was making hissing noises I've never even HEARD before (and I've been hissed by a cat or two in my time!) I hope she got hazardous duty pay for this one!

And then it was bread and wine part ... that's like the blessing for the people. "The holy food of new and unending life" they call it. "Strength for the journey."

Unfortunately for Honey, she didn't quite "get" the difference between holy bread and regular bread ... so she got tied up in the back for awhile. She was a good sport about it though ... and next year she'll know better!

Before long it was time to say goodbye to everybody and head home. (My mom was too busy GETTING me blessed to get a PICTURE of me getting blessed in case you're wondering. But I was and I'm sure I'm a better dog for it!) Here I am, saying "See ya at the dog park!" to Seth and Honey.

And then it was home-again, home-again, jiggity jig ... here I am passing the peace with Harve who decided to sit this year out ...

And then I hit the fountain for a nice drink of cool water before heading back to my usual napping spot for my Sunday afternoon nap.

So here's my favorite part of the whole day. My mom ... who was so worried that I sit still and behave and be a good dog and make a good impression ... she was so distracted getting leashes and cameras and pictures and stuff that she managed to wear two different shoes to church ...

DUH! But she was a good sport about. And next year she'll know better.

So Happy St. Francis Day, everybody! Hope if you're an animal you get a blessing and if you're a people you ARE a blessing and that everybody keeps in mind the great prayer attributed to St. Francis ... who didn't just hang out with animals ... he worked for peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

Luna & Harvey: Congrats to Rupert

We know our Moms think we're the greatest dogs on the planet, but their friend Catherine, who works on the tv show, The Dog Whisperer (which rejected Harvey.....long story), has a dog named Rupert who is a children's therapist. We hope you'll enjoy reading Rupert's amazing story.

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Rupert, who celebrated his 8th birthday at the end of September, works with his caretaker providing happy distractions for hospitalized and disabled men, women, and children as a part of Love On 4 Paws, an animal assisted therapy organization. The canine volunteers help to combat loneliness, promote self-confidence, and improve the quality of life for the sick, developmentally delayed, or otherwise handicapped.

Adopted from a Southern California animal rescue at 9 weeks old, Rupert first donned the green vest of the LO4P volunteers 4 years ago, after a co-worker suggested that with his mild temperament, he would make a top-notch therapy dog. The man was not wrong. Though he never saw graduation from obedience school, Rupert’s mellow disposition allowed him to breeze through the rigorous screening process that all therapy dogs must pass through in order to qualify for the job. He has been known to sleep through the rush and the din of a Code Blue in the Intensive Care Unit. He is a registered volunteer at 3 different city hospitals, and has worked with hundreds of ill or infirmed children. He is, in the words of his caretaker, “all business” when he’s on duty – loving and gentle, with the patience of a saint. For the older patients, he is a quiet companion and confidant, and with the younger patients, he is a living plaything; a dress-up dolly, a rocking horse, and a living, breathing teddy bear. At physical therapy, he catches the stuffed animals that the children throw to improve their hand eye coordination. And he weathers the constant love and attention like a pro.

Read the rest here.

What next???

We're just never sure what our moms are going to get up to next. Months ago on our mom Susan's birthday this box showed up on our porch ...

... and there it sat. We kind of got used to walking around it and gave up wondering what it was for. (Sometimes stuff sits around for awhile before they get around to doing anything with it, you know.) And then today, Susan got up and said "today's the day" and Louise said "tell me when it's over ...

... and TA DA ...

... we have a new fountain on our porch! Pretty cool, eh? As our Grandma in Minnesota might say, "Better late than never, ya sure, you betcha!"

Ya' just never know who's likely to be your best friend.....

They're an odd couple in every sense but a monkey and a pigeon have become inseparable at an animal sanctuary in China.
The 12-week-old macaque - who was abandoned by his mother - was close to death when it was rescued on Neilingding Island, in Goangdong Province.
After being taken to an animal hospital his health began to improve but he seemed spiritless - until he developed a friendship with a white pigeon.
The blossoming relationship helped to revive the macaque who has developed a new lease of life, say staff at the sanctuary. Now the unlikely duo are never far from each other's side, but they aren't the only ones to strike up an unusual friendship.

Earlier this year a pig adopted a tiger cub and raised him along with her piglets because his mother couldn't feed him. And in 2005 a baby dear named Mi-Lu befriended lurcher Geoffrey at the Knowsley Animal Park in Merseyside after she was rejected by her mother.

Our Uncle Billy's Birthday!

Today is our Uncle Billy's birthday.

Our mom Susan says that on September 5, 1955 he arrived into her 15 month old life and they've been hanging out ever since ... how cute is THIS???

He went from being her tag-along little brother, to the high school football coach, painting contractor, father of two, NRA, Republican, weekend cowboy, wine connoisseur, going-to-be-a-grandpa-in-the-spring, fabulous person he grew up to be.

That was then ....

This is now ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

UNCLE BILLY!

ONE HUNDRED AND TEN IN THE SHADE!

We just couldn't resist commenting on JUST HOW HOT IT IS!!!

"How hot IS it?" you ask ...

Exhibit A:
The Thermometer on Our Patio

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It is LITERALLY one-hundred-and-ten-in-the-shade ... and there is nothing to be done for it but to wait it out and thank God for the air conditioning!!!

We each kind of did our own thing today ... Luna caught up on current events by watching the Sunday morning shows.

(She thinks the Dems have a good chance of picking up the Virginia Senate seat now that John Warner is stepping down.)

Harve staked out a spot just under the air conditioning vent in the bedroom and hasn't moved all day.

Our mom Louise spent most of the day with the New York Times ... a big chunk of it in the Travel Section -- looking for someplace cooler we think!

And our mom Susan had one eye on the TV and one eye on the laptop ... although she did manage to polish the stuff on the mantle and put some new flowers out --

She said it makes her feel cooler when it's clean around here.

Whatever.

We don't care HOW clean it is ...

When's it's ONE HUNDRED AND TEN IN THE SHADE it's just TOO DARNED HOT!!!! (Even for the Dog Park!!!)