Coming Clean . . .

I was going to do some laundry while working in my studio/laundry room today until I turned and saw this sweet girl sound asleep in front of the washer and dryer and didn't have the heart to wake her.  She likes to sleep in my computer chair and I already had to scoot her out of that.


So now I've decided to tackle the mess on my desk and what a mess it is.

See for yourself . . .

I figure if I share my dirty little secret with everyone it might shame me into doing something about it.  Hopefully, I'll have some "after" photos to share next time.

Or not.  : )


xo

A Day Well Spent . . .

I wanted to share some photos of the fundraiser that I participated in for our local animal shelter this past weekend.  It was a wonderful day.  Whenever I can photograph happy fur babies and hang out with the amazing people that volunteer their time for those fur babies still looking for their forever home, it's always a wonderful day!!  : )

A bunch of Hi Tor volunteers.  Beautiful, happy faces!!

I'll be at Hi Tor again tomorrow for a few hours to photograph another fundraiser.  There is always something going on at the shelter.  In all honesty, I couldn't even think about going to an animal shelter because of how sad it is to me.  About five years ago, I had read that they were in dire need of some supplies so I dropped some stuff off for them.  There were lots of people coming and going.  There were volunteers walking dogs and petting cats.  Everyone was happy.  The energy at Hi Tor is so positive and palpable.  I faced my fears and even took a class to become a volunteer dog walker.  It's still difficult to see animals that, in many instances, were dropped off just because they weren't wanted any more.  I do know that all of these beautiful babies are loved and well taken care of by the staff and volunteers while they're waiting for a new home.  I don't have a feeling of dread when I visit there and that is huge for me.  : )

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Any special plans??  I'd love to hear about them!!!  xo


~ Wendy


P.S.  All of the dogs (and cat) in these photos have wonderful homes and most of them were adopted from Hi Tor.  ALL of them are spoiled rotten!!!  : )

Where a Cat's Home Truly is His Castle . . .

A couple of weeks ago, I started to volunteer for our local animal shelter at one of their locations that is used to foster and take care of cats that are either too young for the shelter or that don't do well in a shelter setting.  They are living in the most wonderful house that was once the home of a plastic surgeon/philanthropist whose name was Dr. Martha MacGuffie. The house is known as MacGuffie's Castle and truly does look like a small castle.

Dr. MacGuffie traveled to Africa frequently to assist people that needed her services to give them a better quality of life.  She was also a tremendous animal lover and I'm sure she's looking down with a smile to see all of the good that is going on in her home now.

A stained glass window in the castle.

I took some photos of a few of the beautiful babies that are looking for their "furever" families.

This is Hope.  She is so very soft and sweet.  She also happens to be the Mama of our new kitten that we're adopting.  Someone threw this beautiful girl and her seven newborn kittens into a box and then into a dumpster.  By the grace of God, the box was discovered and they were all brought to the shelter and then to MacGuffie's Castle.  So far, two of her babies are adopted (our kitten and another one that will be going to a friend of mine.)  Hope and the remaining babies are looking for homes but will be safe at the castle and being well taken care of and loved by the volunteers in the mean time.  : )

This is our new baby, Finnegan.  We have to wait another couple of weeks before we can take him home.  He's only five weeks old and he and his siblings are still nursing.  Needless to say, we can't wait!!!!!!

Each of them are so sweet and beautiful with very distinct personalities and so very lucky to be in a safe and loving environment until they're in a permanent home.  There are so many other cats that I didn't get to take photos of but hope to do so soon.  I've been so upset with what is going in this world.  It's so nice to volunteer and feel like you're making a difference.  If sitting on the floor with seven kittens climbing all over you isn't enough to make you happy then I don't know what will!!  : )


Many blessings for a happy Thursday ~ Wendy

"Mommy, when is the rain gonna stop?" . . .

The other day, after three days of almost 100 degree heat and humidity, the weather finally broke but not before some much needed rain.  It got so dark at 4:00 in the afternoon that the street light came on.

And then the heavens opened up!!!  This is a view from my front window looking across at my neighbor's house.  That is his porch light on that you can just make out through the sheets of water.

My window box flowers were very happy . . .

but Megan wasn't!!  "Mommy.  No rain! Yucky!"

Brady looking out the front window.

Sparky looking out the front window.

Mr. Bigglesworth looking out the front window.

And, just as the day was getting ready to end, the sun came out . . .

and Megan was happy again!!!

The End.   : )


Many blessings for a happy and sunny Monday ~ Wendy

this moment . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 Mr. Bigglesworth trying to stay cool in the midst of a heat wave!!


Many blessings for a happy and peaceful and COOL weekend ~ Wendy

Do You Think He's Ready to Come In?? On a Wordless Wednesday . . .

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.



If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Inspired by SouleMama .


Many blessings for a peaceful and happy weekend (can you believe already!! ) .


~Wendy

Introducing the Newest Member of Our Family . . .

This is Mr. Bigglesworth. We adopted him from our local animal shelter. He is a year and a half old and was brought to the shelter by someone who kept him as a pet in his dorm room but was unable to keep him when college ended. He was at Hi -Tor (the name of the shelter) for three months before we adopted him.

I first fell in love with Biggles (he came with his name so we shortened it instead of changing it) when I took my cat Rollie to be neutered by the mobile spay and neuter clinic that had come to Hi -Tor. They go by the name of TARA and are an incredibly wonderful and loving group of people who travel around to help control the pet population. When I had gone into the office to write a check for their services and to make a donation there were several cages in there due to the over abundance of cats and kittens that are surrendered this time of the year. I had seen Biggles on Hi - Tor's Facebook page and couldn't wait to see him in person. He was laid back and took everything in as he watched people coming and going. When I bent over to write the check, Mr. Bigglesworth reached his paw thru his cage and touched my butt. LOL!!! Of course, I instantly fell in love with him and wanted to take him home then and there!!

Biggles meeting Rollie for the first time. They're still working on getting along but I know they'll be best of friends in no time.

It wasn't until a month later that I was able to see Biggles again. I kept track of him thru Facebook and saw that he hadn't yet been adopted. It was also during that time that my cat Rosie had passed away. We went back to Hi - Tor to make a donation of towels and pillow cases that they were in need of and there was Biggles still in his cage. I asked one of the shelter volunteers about him and she told me his background story. She also told me that they were starting to worry about him because he was going stir crazy being in the cage a lot. They took him outside on a leash to walk around but he was starting to lose his spunk. Needless to say, my heart hurt for him. My husband told me that he wasn't ready to have another cat again. The rest of the day all I could do was think about Biggles and literally cried when I thought about this beautiful creature being in a cage.

The next morning, my husband woke up and told me he was going to take my son and his friend to drive some golf balls at our local golf course. They were back in less than an hour. Unbeknownst to me, they went back up to the shelter and adopted Biggles and surprised me with him.

He is so loved and is living the high life here with us!! He has a fresh side to him but we're working on that. We call it his "cattitude." : ) He has found his forever home and is being spoiled rotten. Oh, how I wish every animal looking for a home could have a happy ending!! Please adopt a shelter animal and save a life!!


Many blessings ~ Wendy

Goodbye My Rosie Girl . . .

My beautiful cat, Rosie, passed away yesterday. She had been sick for a while but was doing well up until a couple of days ago. She passed away while we weren't at home. I think that was how she wanted it to be. Rosie was my shadow. Everywhere I went, she followed me. She slept with me every night and followed me into the basement to watch me do laundry. She loved me unconditionally. I rescued her twelve years ago as a six week old kitten whose mom had been killed by a car. She was the last kitten in the litter to be adopted. She was meant to be mine. I wanted to share this. I'm sure most people have read this before but it's so beautiful that I wanted to post it here. Until we meet again, my Rosie Girl . . .


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...


Many blessings ~ Wendy

A Lazy, Rainy Monday . . .

A perfect day for sleeping late . . .


















Lounging around in bed . . .












And just plain ol' doing nothing at all.


It must be nice, huh?!!?






Here's wishing you a happy "lazy, rainy Monday."


My favorite kind of weather!! : )




Many blessings ~ Wendy