A Rainy Weekend with Lilly

Hello my dear friends.  It's Lilly here writing today.  My Mom is busy taking care of the grandchildren so she suggested that I write this blog post.

I woke up to drizzly, gray weather today so I've had to stay indoors.  I missed walking around the pool and looking for geckos.  But, as you can see in this photo, I found my Mom's lily bouquet and chewed on the leaves.  I know, it's a no no so she put the vase up on the fireplace; away from me and the grandchildren.

My parents took an overnight trip this past week to eastern San Diego county.  My Mom loves the drive there since it's very scenic and such a natural setting.  (They actually spent the night at the Pala Resort).  I missed them but I enjoyed my alone time, too.

Can you believe that my Mom still irons?  She irons every Tuesday and has for years and years.  Who in the world irons sheets and pillowcases in this day and age?  She insists on ironing and it really puzzles me. . .

I'm not a lover of sweet things (I prefer fish and savories), but Mom made a country style apple pie.  It's her own recipe using her standard pie crust recipe along with sliced apples, a few wild frozen blueberries, with a tad bit of butter and some brown sugar and maple syrup.  It smelled heavenly.

As you probably know, I'm a lover of birds - all kinds of birds.  Look what I spied this week near the pool.  Two beautiful little doves.  I sometimes hear them cooing.  Such delicate little birds.

This is the first time I'd have such a close look at these birds.  After they flew away, we had two Canadian geese land in the pool.  Oh my, was my Dad upset as they make a huge mess.  They are so majestic though and flew away.

Earlier in the week my parents went to the beach to have lunch.  It was a lovely, spring day and they enjoyed it very much.  The day before, there had been a shark sighting at the same beach.  Scary stuff! (My Mom "stole" the photo above from my Sister who is an excellent photographer)

Well guys, here I am, relaxing in my recliner chair.  I'm a bit upset since the grandchildren have come over and taken over all my favorite spots to nap.  But, I will survive.

I hope each of you have a wonderful weekend wherever you may be.  It's always good to hear from you and I send you and my furry friends a big MEOW.

Hugs from,

Lilly  

Life's Sadness

Hello everyone.  All is well here at Lilly My Cat.  If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know that I like to share positive things with you.  But, sometimes, real life creeps in and it can jolt you for a bit.  That's what happened this past week.

It was so sad to hear of the Umpqua School Shooting  in Oregon.  My heart goes out to all the families and loved ones affected.  I'm aware of what a community goes through when this happens.  It happened to my little town of Moses Lake back in 1996 when Barry Loukitis killed two students and his teacher at Frontier Middle School. I remember this day very well.  I was waiting for my children to arrive home from school when I heard all kinds of sirens going off. My dad had given me a police scanner back them and I knew something was going on.  When my children arrived home safe and sound, they informed me of what they had heard.

We knew one of the boys* that was killed; he and his family were members of our church.  Our pastor had a lot to deal with during this time.  It was a community of about 12,000 people so most everyone had some kind of connection when this tragedy took place.

Fast forward a few years to this past week. After doing some routine errands we wanted to escape the heat.   It was a very warm day and my husband and I decided to go to lunch at the beach.  We parked in the parking lot and purchased our parking ticket.   When we arrived at the restaurant, it was at least 13 degrees cooler.  We enjoyed our favorite meal watching the waves of the ocean and the surfers perfecting their craft.  After lunch we were going to walk on the pier but the sun was shining it's brightest and we had to walk back to the car to extend our parking.

Between the parking lot and the ocean, there is small green grassy area.  After extending our parking, we found that our beach chairs and umbrella were in the trunk so we set them up on the grass.  It was quiet and we were enjoying the view of the ocean, shaded by the trees.  There were a line of cars parked behind us and one of them was running with the driver inside.  I didn't pay much attention since I had pulled out my needlepoint and was busy stitching.

After a few minutes, my husband commented on the driver since her head was down.  I said "maybe she's bent over texting since the sun is shining".  You could hear the car engine accelerate.  A few more minutes passed and my husband said "I think she's having seizures since she's jerking".  We walked over to the car and I knocked on the passenger window - no response.  My husband walked over to the driver's side window and knocked - no response.

At this point, we called 911.  I was a bit hesitant since I never interfere with people and their personal space but obviously, this was different.  Within three or four minutes, the sheriff arrived in the parking lot.  He went over to the passenger door and luckily it was unlocked.  He then opened the driver's door and immediately knew what was happening.  The driver was had overdosed on heroin!

I was scared - I don't know why.  When my husband had looked in the window, he could see what he thought were bruises on the driver's leg.  Turned out they weren't bruises; they were track lines from injecting heroin.  The ambulance arrived within another minute and the sheriff cut the seat belt to free the driver.  They put the driver on the ground and immediately started oxygen and I think they gave the driver some type of shots too.  The driver regained consciousness within a few minutes.  They took the driver away in the ambulance.

The sheriff spoke with us and told us he could not arrest the driver for possession of heroin since the 911 call was in regard to the driver being unresponsive.  The sheriff did find the heroin "kit" in the car.  After awhile, the towing company arrived and towed away the car.  The sheriff was extremely kind to us and did his job well. 

Here's what surprised me that day.  When I hear or read of drugs these day, I immediately think of pills.  Not hard line heroin.  The area we were in that day is a very safe, family oriented place.  The driver looked like any ordinary person, driving a late model car.  But, obviously, this was not the case.  Why would someone want to do this to themselves?  I spent about an hour googling heroin addiction and how the veins in the arms collapse hence the need to inject in their legs.  How they have to wear long sleeves and pants, to cover their track lines.  And, how they are never sure what strength of heroin they are injecting into their bodies.  Sad, very sad indeed.

I'm hoping that this person will realize they could have died.  If the car engine had stopped, with the windows rolled up on this very warm day, I think it would have been the end. Or, if we would not have called 911 that day, would the driver have woke up from this overdose?  Maybe, this person will change their life but of course, we will never know.  I hope she gets the help she needs. 

It was a wake up call for me.  I always am positive with life and only see the good. After this experience, I feel that our world is really broken in places.  And, I don't know what I can do to fix it.


with my best wishes,

Pat

  

 

*There is a second part to this sad story.  The boy who was killed had a cousin.  The cousin killed his mother and sister later that year in our same little town of Moses Lake. . . 

Walking Tour & Lilly's Story.....

Hi everyone.  This is a two part post today.  We'll go on a mini tour around my neighborhood and end with a story about Lilly (my cat).

It's a lovely day so why don't we go for a walk?  So, without further ado, let's gets started.....

 Stepping out the front door...

 I see one of the many hillsides in my neighborhood.....

A pink flowering bush on the hillside....

Turning the corner, I see a unique pine tree.....

And a majestic palm tree.....

Walking up the hillside, I see the rain ditches which fill quickly when it rains....

I discover a patch of prickly pear cacti....

Going down the hill I see the landscaping on the hills.....

And, I stop to look at this lovely rose in all it's beauty...

I pass by our little park......

And I look up at the majestic palms against the beautiful sky....

And, I see the lovely backdrop of our mountains.....

And, I'm back at home again....

I hope you have enjoyed this mini tour.....

Now, I will tell you about Lilly.  She had so many kind comments and questions asked about her, I thought I would tell you a little bit about her life.

People have written and asked if she is as friendly, and sweet as she looks and I have to say yes, yes, yes!  Lilly is a rescue kitty.  My poor little Pumpkin had passed away from diabetes in 2005.  A year and a half later, in 2007, we found Lilly.  I found Lilly on  Petco's Petfinder.  I used to search this site to sooth my broken heart after losing my dear Pumpkin.  When It was time to get another cat, I found Lilly on this site.  She originally was rescued from an animal hoarder.  Lilly was two years old and staying with a foster Mom.  It was a beautiful, warm winter day (in the high 60's) and we drove to a city north of Seattle.  It was a little bit of a drive for us.  I went inside the home where Lilly was staying.   The lady told me, "I had a cat that was a lap cat but she was adopted and I don't think Lilly will be a lap cat".....Little Lilly was hiding underneath a sofa and there was about 8 cats in that room.  She was listed as "medium" size but as soon as I saw her, I knew that she was a "large" cat.  Immediately, I thought of her getting diabetes.

.

I went out to the car and called my husband inside to look at her.  He said, "we've come this far, let's just get her".  I was hesitant but agreed.  We paid the adoption fee and took Lilly home.  She was a bit shy the first few days but after that, the rest is history.

She really is like a person.  She comes when her name is called, she loves to cuddle, either watching TV with my husband or sitting on my lap when I'm knitting or crocheting.  And, she loves to eat....so much so that she has an automatic feeder where her food is measured out each feeding.  She's the center of our home.  We are truly blessed by sharing our home with this lovely little creature.

Thank you again for taking the time to stop by and visit.  Feel free to leave a comment or sign up to follow my blog.   I always enjoy hearing from you.

Enjoy your weekend!

Pat
P.S.  This weekend I'm at the Handmade Harbour link party!

Lilly My Cat

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the adventures of Lilly My Cat! My name is Lilly and I am a two year old Maine Coon mix kitty. I will be writing this blog, along with my Mom. Here's some info that might be helpful:

Cats of Characters

Lilly - Me, a Maine Coon Cat
Mom - My Mom who adopted me on 2/17/07
Dad - My new Dad
Heidi - My older Sister
Tony - My brother-in-law
Andrew - My brother

CHAPTER I
(5/16/07)
Lilly writes: Mom and Dad came home late last night from attending my brother Andrew's graduation from college. They were gone for six days but I got to stay home since our nice neighbors take care of me when my parents are away. I was so lonesome for Mom that after she came home, all I did was meow. I guess I was lonesome and maybe a little scared. Thank goodness they are back now. Mom gives me a lot of love and she is my constant companion.

Mom writes: It was so nice to get home and find Lilly. I know she missed me terribly. I feel bad leaving her when I travel but she gets good care from the neighbors. I think Lilly remembers her traumatic beginnings of life. Lilly was rescued from an animal hoarder who had 94 animals! This was in the fall of 2006. She was lucky in that she was adoptable. She was put in a foster home until she had weaned her four kittens. She then was transferred to another foster home in hopes of being adopted. She was there for two weeks until she was adopted by my husband and I. She never has to worry anymore as she has a forever home now.

Chapter II
Lilly writes: I now live in a large home where I can wonder upstairs or downstairs. For the first couple of months, Mom and Dad had me stay downstairs. It was fine since there were big bright windows where I could look out and a huge bed where I could recline to take my naps. I don't recall ever having a big open space to jump and play in. I remember when Mom came to see me in the foster home. It was a well kept and clean home but it wasn't big and I could't run and play. Mom came and looked at me and didn't know what to think of me. I then hid under a table.

Mom writes: It was beautiful sunny day on Feburary 17, 2007 when I went to see Lilly. I asked my husband to come with me as it was about 50 miles from our home. He hesitated but agreed to finally join me. I went in first to see Lilly. She had been described on petfinder.com as a "medium" size kitty, two years old. I was shocked to see her - she was a rather large kitty! She was young, long haired and had a beautiful little face but she was overweight! I called my husband in to look at her and he said "we've traveled this far, just go ahead and get her"! So, thus began my adventures with Lilly My Cat.

Chapter III
Lilly writes: I remember getting in the kennel and being placed in the back of the car for the ride to my new home. It was a warm, sunny day and I didn't say a word. I was so good being cramped in that little kennel. When I got to my new home, I made straight away for the corner of the bathroom, where it was dark, quiet and peaceful. I was scared! I didn't know these people and this was the third home that I had been in in the last couple of months.

Mom writes: Lilly was so sweet. I had wanted a lap kitty since losing my precious Pumpkin (a Norwegian Forest Cat) to feline diabetes 16 months before. Pumpkin was three when she was adopted by us and lived with us for five years until developing diabetes. I mourned so long for her - she was my constant companion. Lilly hid behind the toilet for four days - I felt so bad for her that I put her cat bed in there so she could be comfortable. She let me pet her and she never hissed or scratched me.

Lilly writes: I could sense that Mom was a good person who needed a cat to love her. She spoke so gently to me and would rub my head or tummy. I wanted to socialize with her but I was still scared a little bit. This new home was quiet, with no other pets and no children. But, still, I wasn't sure of my new surroundings. Mom came and brushed me one afternoon and I think at that point, I knew that she was so happy to have me.

Mom writes: Little by little, Lilly started to trust me. I wanted to hug her and let her know that she was special. On about the fourth day, she ventured out of the bathroom into the family room. I felt she needed a bath - I know - cats are suppose to hate water but not Lilly. She let me bath her without any problem! She was so cute getting out of that tub.

Chapter IV
Lilly writes: I found out later that Mom had mourned over Pumpkin for so long. Pumpkin was originally my brother, Andrew's cat. But when Andrew left for school and Dad left for work, Pumpkin was left with Mom. They developed a bond that is still there, even though Pumpkin has left. I wanted to let Mom know, that I, too, would be her soul mate. She is so good to me. She put me on a schedule and also a diet (more on that later) and I love having my routine.

Mom writes: Lilly is a lap kitty! She loves to be held and kissed and brushed. She follows me around and sometimes meows constantly until I pick her up and put her on my lap. I never thought I would ever find a kitty like my Pumpkin. Pumpkin was my best friend (besides my husband). She was always there for me and always ready to listen to me. It was so traumatic when she had to be put to sleep. I am so thankful that I found Lilly.

Chapter V
Lilly writes: You are probably wondering how I got the name of Lilly? Well, the first foster mom called me Laida - which I think is a weird name for a cat. The second foster mom changed this to Laila. When Mom and Dad came and got me, Mom told Dad that she didn't like the name Laila. She had gone to school with a Laila and she was not pretty! So, she came up with the name of Lilly. She thought it sounded elegant and a bit French.

Mom writes: A few months before, our good friends had given us a "kitty gift basket". I opened it before getting Lilly and found all kinds of goodies for my new cat. Inside was a beautiful pink, rhinestone cat collar. I put the collar on Lilly and then realized that I should get her a name tag in case she ever got lost. (Lilly is an indoors only kitty). I needed to decide on her name so I could buy her name tag. Lilly seemed to fit. She now answers to her name. (I know, people will say that cats do not answer to their names like dogs, but Lilly does!!)