Meet Sadie!

Meet Sadie!  Our newest addition.  She is a 3 month old Shepherd/black Lab mix that we got from our local shelter.  She is such a doll.  Although Chevy isn't impressed with her puppy antics.  lol  

We had a meet and greet with Sadie and her siblings and picked her.  Then there was an agonizing wait to find out if we would be approved.  During that week, I struggled with whether this was the right decision for Chevy, first and foremost, us and her.  But the minute she was in my arms and

we drove home.  I knew it was the right decision.  Everything just came together after that.  

During the waiting process, I was trying to think of names for our little girl.  Then one day, with no thoughts about the dog or names, out of the blue the name Sadie came to me.  I tossed and turned it around for a while.  It wasn't until I looked up the meaning and I laughed out loud that I knew it was for her.  Sadie means "princess."  It was the perfect name.  ♥

Sadie is smart, independent, sassy and a little crazy.  lol  She must of ran around and around the yard for most of the day the first day we brought her home.  All that pent up puppy energy of being locked up exploded when we let her in the yard.  And it is those crazy puppy zoomies that get her in trouble with Chevy.  She keeps jumping in his face.  We have been working on putting a stop to that.  In fact, she does the same thing with me, especially if my face is at her level.  When Sadie does that, Chevy steps in between us and stops her.  Very cool!

It's strange, she has only been here 3 days and it feels like she's been here all along.  Sadie was definitely meant to be here.  So many blessings in this little one and with Chevy.  I didn't think my heart could ever burst again with love, but with these two there is no stopping it.  ♥

    

And life carries on...

 

The end of an era.  Boxer and Princess Leia.  I found these Azaleas  while looking for roses for their graves.  The red one is for Boxer and the lavender double petal is for Leia.  They were perfect and will bloom in mid-spring, close to the time they died.  Sharing in the beauty of their lives forever.  

Rest in peace my loves.  

A little about Leia

 

My baby girl Princess Leia

I was sitting in the back of a van on an October day.  The breeder was holding two female Seal Point Siamese that were 3 months old.  I'd just lost my cat, Claw nine days before and we'd driven halfway down state to decide between these two kittens and which one I wanted.

As the breeder talked, she kept trying to push the one in her left hand towards me.  The kitten was lighter in color and was a bit more spunky.  I paid no attention as my focus was on the skittish one in her right hand.  This kitten was darker in color and was obviously more scared than the other one.  The breeder tried again to sell me the lighter kitten, but my mind was made up.  The breeder was hesitant, but finally agreed.  I received the kitten's purebred lineage papers and my first traditional Seal Point Siamese.  We headed home. 

All that attitude!

As we were driving home, trying to think of a name and Mark says, "Princess Leia."  I laughed, because it fit.  It was perfect.  She was our little Princess.  And yes, Star Wars is my favorite movie!

My love for Siamese goes back to early childhood.  The neighbors that lived in back of us, had two Siamese.  They were quite old cats when I met them.  Their names were Ping and Pong.  Which I always thought were such cool names for the breed.  I was fascinated with them.  I don't remember what kind of interaction I had with them, but I was in love.  

 The Disney classic, "Lady and the Tramp," was another that shaped my interest in the breed. The two Siamese cats that got Lady into all kinds of trouble.  "We are Siamese if you please.  We are Siamese if you don't please," the cats sang.  I was still in love, even though the cats got Lady kick out of the house.  Which was a first for me, because I always rooted for the dog, but these cats had me spellbound.  lol

Claw, my first "Siamese"

And then there was Claw, the cat I had just lost to cancer 9 days earlier.  I had suspected for a while that she was at least part Siamese. Even though she looked like a grey tabby, she had large ears, a long, skinny tail, a sleek body, along with that infamous Siamese screech.  It was Claw and those childhood dreams that lead me to search for a traditional looking Siamese.  Dark face, paws and tail with a lighter body.  And when I left that day with Princess Leia, I stopped grieving for Claw.  It was like they were twins in the same body.  I never lost Claw, I gained Leia with Claw right there. In fact, I used their names interchangeably throughout Leia's life.

Princess Leia was a very quirky cat.  She was skittish, but not afraid.  She was tiny and quick.  She was dainty but bold. She really was a mixed bag.  She had no problem getting around six dogs.  Fiona was especially fascinated with Leia. She didn't chase Leia, but she made it known she could. Leia outmaneuvered her with no problem. 

One time Leia was sniffing Brut's back leg while he lay chewing on a bone.  I held my breath!  Brut and food made him aggressive.  Leia finally left him with no incident.  She could be very brave at times.  

Leia was a hidey cat.  If anyone came over she was gone.  No one but us has ever seen her.  She also ran from us.  She hated being picked up and held.  In typical cat form, it had to be her decision.

Best buds

One of my favorite times with her was when she would lay on my chest.  We would take little naps and she would crawl on me for a little siesta.  She did do something that was weird when I would pet her, Leia would rub her fangs on the back of my hand.  Never knew why.  As she got older and we lost the dogs, she became more insistent with this behavior. Someone I mentioned this to recently, thought it might be a nursing/nurturing behavior.  All I know is that she did it all the time and it was a creepy feeling for me.  

Together forever  ♥

Wherever Princess Leia was, Boxer wasn't too far behind.  These two were quite bonded.  Almost always cuddling together.  Chasing and playing together.  Not to mention surviving the 24 Paws of Love dogs.  Boxer, the bully and Leia the submissive one.  They made a good couple.  

Princess Leia was a strange and unique cat.  She filled my Siamese dreams in all fashions of the breed.  She lived 19 years, 6 months and 22 days with us and I couldn't have asked more.  ♥

Boxer~ May 23, 2005-March 26, 2026

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I share with you that Boxer was put down on March 26.  He fought the good fight against a cancer he didn't deserve, yet beat the odds against it.  He was given 3 months to live, with a rare (for cats) and aggressive cancer.  He lived almost three years since that diagnosis.  Unbelievable.  If there was one thing that boy was, it was being strong willed.  He was such a force of nature.  And an angry one at that.  He was difficult to love being so stubborn, pushy, demanding and obnoxious, but somehow he found a way into my heart.  He was 100% cat...and then some.  And I loved and hated him for that.  Definitely one of a kind.  I'm so grateful that he came into my life for those 20, almost 21 years that he was here.  

Forever in my heart... Boxer-boo    

Blaze- 5 year anniversary

She was our littlest 24 Paw.

She was an avid hunter and full of spitfire.

She had an hyper anxious electricity about her.

We have always been grateful that her previous owners brought her back to us.

She had quite the fascination with Boxer and Leia.

She was loved.

She was Blaze.

And she more than fit her name.

and then some.

Can't believe it has been five years that she has been gone.

Love you Sweet Pea.  ♥

 

Princess Leia~ August 10, 2006-March 4, 2026

 

This past Wednesday I had to make the hardest decision I've ever made.  I had to let go my little Princess Leia.  We got her when she was 3 months old and she lived for 19 years and 5 months.  She had kidney disease for the last 7 years of her life and we managed it with special food and supplements.  The last month she was not doing well and she went into renal failure.  She was the longest living animal I have ever owned, besides Boxer, who's a year older.  I really struggled with making THE decision, but knew in my heart I could not let her go on this way.  And we did the only kind thing we could do for her, by letting her go.  I know she is at peace now and free from her ill-ridden body.  

Run free, baby girl.  I love you ♥

Zappa's 3 year anniversary

 

The first thing I remember about Zappa after he was born, was the mouth he had on him.  OMD!  He had no problem belting it out even as a wee little thing.  lol  He was always running that mouth for whatever he wanted.  The second thing was that he was a momma's boy.  He loved his Momma Dog Silver.  He could always be seen hanging close to her mouth or in her front legs as a newborn.  He remained tight with Silver her entire life.  I have several pics of just the two of them together. 

The third thing I remember about Zappa is when he had stolen the toilet paper roll and when I called him from the lieu, he actually brought it back!  I still giggle over that one.  

The fourth thing I remember was how many times he outsmarted Brut when it came to their challenges.  Zappa knew how to get Brut in trouble, even if he had instigated the situation. It took me a while to catch on to his game.  

There are several other memories and moments with Zappa, but the time period that sticks out the most for me was after losing Blaze, Chance and Fiona in less than 60 days.  How suddenly he was all alone and it was just him and I.  I often wondered why it was that Zappa was the lone survivor.  We had kind of a rough relationship and didn't really know each other.  He was Mark's dog and Brut was mine.  It was a struggle after the loss of the dogs and being alone with Zappa.  That first day after Fiona died, I shared my turkey sandwich with Zappa and it was the beginning of a peace offering.  Together we slowly began the healing process and grieved together.  That one-on-one time with Zappa became precious in so many ways.  I couldn't be more grateful for his strength and endurance to carry on through even after the losses he had.  I got to know him in a way I couldn't with the other dogs around and it was a blessing.  

Zappa was always a mystery to me.  Fiona and him were the only dogs out of the six who had never been abused or neglected.  And with my childhood abuse it was hard to relate to him.  He was on a higher plane, spiritually, and I was sort of intimidated by him.  So, in these last moments of his life, we were actually able to bond and find each other.  Like I said, it was a blessing.  That time gave me a chance to call him friend, which was the best gift of all.  And I've never forgotten.  ♥

Zappa-Dappa-Do.  

Love you forever buddy.  

Dodging the bullet...for now

Had a scare with Boxer this past week.  He wasn't doing well and I had to make THE decision.  The next day I woke up and there he was acting fine and lively.  It turned out he had been constipated and pooped that night and was fine.  Talk about freaking me out!  Constipation is one of the symptoms of anal gland cancer because of the tumor partially blocking the passage way.  This is what my life with Boxer's cancer consist of, monitoring whether he poops or not.  At some point the tumor will get big enough to block the opening  and he will not be able to go.  The scare he gave me this week means we are closer to that point and will try to make THE decision before that happens.  

Boxer is a fighter.  He is the most strong-willed animal I've ever had.  Even compared to Brut.  I have no idea what kind of cat he is, but I know his father was a wild tomcat.  And believe me it shows.  This boy is all out determined to live for as long as possible.  And I am willing to help him until he tells me different.