BEST FRIENDS FOREVER ~ ERNIE & CHARLIE

We adopted Charlie in January as an adult kitty from the Cat's in Need Rescue in our community. He's between two and three years old. We brought him home and instead of running to hide until he got used to his new surroundings, he just jumped up on the bed and sprawled out as if he had always been here.

We had hoped he and our eleven year old kitty Buddy would become friends, but, that didn't happen. Charlie tormented Buddy terribly.

We brought Ernie home June 1st. He was one of a litter of feral kittens found in a neighborhood near us. He's a poly-dactyl kitty. He has six toes on each of his front paws and five on each of his back. They are also known as Hemingway Cats because Ernest Hemingway introduced them to this country and to this day, even though he has long passed, the descendants of his original polydactyl casts live and are cared for on the property he lived on in Florida.

He and Charlie have become best buds. They play, romp and wrestle and when things get a little too feisty, Tink steps in to referee.
When playtime is over, Charlie and Ernie cuddle up together and Charlie even grooms him. The baby loves it.

And Buddy? Well, he's just as happy as can be now that Charlie isn't pestering him anymore. He enjoys watching them play.

I'm so happy they all get along so well. What a blessing!

Father's Day

Today is Daddy's first Father's Day in heaven. I have been thinking about what I could write on this special day....

I decided to write about one of my favorite memories of him.... Daddy dressing up like Santa Claus. He did it for many years and we really believed it was the real Santa. Mom would wake us up after midnight on Christmas Eve to tell us Santa was coming. Outside the door we'd hear a big "ho, ho, ho!" and Mom would open the door and there he would be with his bag of gifts. (we didn't have a fireplace) We'd sit on his knee and just be in awe of him. I remember the year I realized Santa was really Daddy. I felt a little disapointed then, but, as I matured, it just made me love him more knowing he went to all that trouble for us to have a magical Christmas and make us feel so special.

Thank you, Daddy. Happy Father's Day.... I miss you so much.

June 14th Flag Day ~ Daddy's birthday

Today is Flag day. Did you know there is a special day every year set aside to honor our flag?

Daddy was born on flag day. That's the reason I can remember it. For his birthday celebrations we'd decorate red white and blue. Today, Daddy would have been 91 years old. Just above is a photo taken on his 88th birthday.

It's hard to believe it's been a month and a half since Daddy passed on to heaven.

Last night Tinkerbelle started barking like crazy. Later we found something left on our front porch. Tinky heard the visitor. They had left a package beautifully wrapped up in red, white and blue. It was from a very dear friend named Julie. The card was so sweet. Here is part of what she wrote....."special prayers to our father in heaven today as your daddy spends his first birthday with Jesus. May he comfort you and encourage your heart like only He can." Brings tears to my eyes.

Inside the package was a case to hold the Veteran's Memorial Flag that was draped across Daddy's casket. It is now proudly displayed in our dining room with a photo of him, his wrist watch, and a little figurine I made for him on his 80th birthday.

Flag Day has always been a special day, but, it's even more precious now.

Jesus, please give Daddy a birthday hug and kiss for me.