Lorrie has helped me write every step down in order so I will remember what to do. Ugh. I’ll get used to it.
Reader quilts first
Years ago I asked readers to make a dog block and donate it to my raffle quilt for the Humane Society. A reader wrote recently and said she had made a dachshund block – here are the quilts I made. I felt I should explain since this photo got used for a test this afternoon.
That quilt is up pretty high – I’m afraid of heights so how did it get up there???
Time to pick the pumpkins!
Last week was a sad one for me – I had to put my oldest cat down. Dianne was 17-1/2 years old and had become so thin and frail I didn’t think it was fair to keep her hanging on the brink of death. I tried everything I could think of to feed her but she was just too old to eat and thrive. I cried as I held her in my arms and felt her body go limp as she drew her last breath.
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Poor old girl!
Thats a start – more tomorrow!
I received my book!! I love it!! Thank you girls for being so creative ♥️
my daughter made me write down the three passwords I use most – and put it by the keyboard – I had them in an address book…… since they I have not had to change any passwords – big smile.
Welcome back! So sorry for the loss of your dear cat. I have had an eventful month myself. I haven’t forgotten about meeting up with you. Hopefully soon. We have a cold in our house right now on top of everything else. I will text you soon to try and coordinate a date and time. Probably closer to the end of the month or beginning of October.
So sorry for your loss!! Rest In Peace, sweet pussycat!!
So very sorry to read about Dianne. She was a beauty! It’s so hard to lose a beloved pet. She’s not feeling any pain now 💔.
My deepest sympathy in the lose of your sweet kitty.
You did the right thing. I’ve had to do the same for two of my fur babies
The greatest kindness we can give is letting our pets die with dignity. Dianne was a beautiful tuxedo. I know it is hard🥲 Great readers quilts today. Thanks, Mary.
Sorry to hear about Dianne! It’s always hard. Your pumpkins are very cool!
It’s so hard to make that decision, but remember that she had 17 years of your loving care. On a brighter note, your pumpkins are beautiful!
So sorry for your loss.
Fur babies are very important members of our families.
Sorry about your fur baby Dianne. She was a beautiful cat. Thanks for readers quilt, wonderful quilts.
Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley Va
Hi Jeanie! Nice to see you.
Your readers are busy away sewing Mary so thanks for sharing all their nice quilts. I am so sorry for your loss of a sweet kitty and it always breaks my heart to hear people holding them as they say goodbye but I know it’s the right thing to do, I cry right along with people when they tell me.
Someday I want to put in a pumpkin patch.
Hi Mary, sorry about your cat, she reminded me of my darling diabetic tuxedo lsobel, a tear was shed for them both. Luna and Stella left for 2 months in Taiwan today(plus parents!),so quiet times for me ahead, although my 2 sisters arrive next week and we are going to visit my brother doing locum work in the south island. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
My kitty LuluBelle, who actually goes by Kitty (so original) is only 12 or so, but is in poor condition; she doesn’t eat much, she’s lost 2.5 pounds in a short amount if time, leaves blood in the litter box, vomits with frequency, has signs of senility, her vision and hearing are diminished, and she’s on gabapentin for anxiety and pain. I see in her eyes, what? Anxiety, a lack of connection or pain masked by drugs? I just don’t know, but I feel like it’s time. I called the vet and blubbered through my request for an appointment for Thursday at 11:30. So for two more days I’ll hold my kitty and enjoy her warmth and devotion, while I cry.
So I know your pain, Mary, I really do.
So sorry Carol. Enjoy your time together and know that you are doing what is best for her even though it hurts so bad. A big hug to you.
Oh Carol, so sad you are losing your precious kitty. You gave her a good life and know your comfort holding her is keeping her anxiety down.
Carol – I shed so many tears as I laid over top of her on the exam table but I knew I had done the right thing. Then she and I rode through the countryside and looked at the crops. When I got home, I dug the hole myself and buried her in a spot I can see from the laundry room. My mind still thinks she’s around here. You will do the same – you know she’s ready to go – the waiting will be very hard but love her like crazy and then hold her while she leaves. I’ll be thinking of you on Thirsday
I’m so very sorry, Carol. I know the pain and the anxiety caused by making the decision to help her cross the Rainbow Bridge. I am sending massive hugs to you. Kitty knows how much you love and cherish her…that love will go with her and she will never forget it. Our fur babies are our children and it hurts so much to say goodbye but it is the right thing for her.
Always enjoy reading your posts and seeing the pictures. So sorry to hear you had to put your sweet Dianne down. Big hugs.
So sorry Mary. It brings tears to my eyes because I know that feeling of finality when they take their last breath. Been there too many times but putting them to sleep is the last nice thing you can do for an elderly cat that has no quality of life anymore. In my opinion, it’s too bad we can’t do the same for loved ones that languish in nursing homes for years with no memory or quality of life left.
Big hug to you.
Yes – I’m betting many in care centers long for someone to release them, too.
Oh I’m so sorry Mary about Dianne. She was a pretty kitty. Always hard to say goodbye to a sweet girl.
Hugs to you.
So sorry you had to put Diane down. That’s such a hard decision, but you know you did what was best for your precious cat.
What a beautiful girl. It is so hard to let go of our fur kids. She knew that you loved her.
So sad to hear about Dianne. We’ve had to go through similar sad times ourselves with our cats and dogs over the years. I don’t think there’s anything worse than the sadness of losing a pet. After our last dog died, we decided no more dogs because we just couldn’t go through that again. But, then, a year later we got our Sonny from the shelter. He’s now 9 and I’m already starting to worry. Still, the joy of having animals is far greater than the sadness of their loss.
And having met Sonny I know how lucky you are to have him and vice versa. I always say if you’re truly a dog person, you absolutely can’t live without one.
I was sorry to read about Dianne, she was a pretty cat and truly loved. The readers quilts are nice to see, they inspire me.
Mary, so sad about your loss of Dianne but you will see her again and now she is comfortable again and with our Lord. She will come visit you to make sure you are ok. You will see her from the corner of your eye or feel her about your feet. God bless!
It’s true – several times I think she’s been close by. Yes, what a homecoming it will be for me and all my furry friends who went before me.
So sorry that you had to put your cat to sleep – so hard! Glad you could hold her and be with her.
Love the dog quilts, how fun!!
Rest easy Mary knowing that you gave Dianne a better life than many cats have. She will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge one day.
So sorry for your loss of Dianne-they are family members💗
I’m so sorry for your loss of Dianne. It’s the hardest thing we have to do. My dog is 14 and dread the day this happens. I like you will not let her suffer. Makes me wonder if I’ll ever get another dog.
Yes, you will get another dog, Sandy.
So sorry that you lost your Dianne. So hard to loose our precious animals. They are such an important part of our lives. Hugs to you Mary.
Mary, so sorry for losing Dianne. I’m sure she had a great life on the farm.
The quilts are great and the pumpkins are colorful. Love the stackers. We have many volunteers in the garden this year. My husband brought in white and orange pumpkins, acorn squash, and loads of tomatoes. All volunteers.
The 90 degree weather finally broke and we got some rain. Only 80’s this week.
So glad you’re help with technology, it can be so frustrating.
Hi Mary, so sorry te hear about Dianne, but you know that you did the right thing. It’ll take a while to get used to: for ages after my last cat died, I would think I saw her out of the corner of my eye, or wake up in the middle of the night in a panic because I had forgotten to buy cat food! As Queen Elizabeth once said, grief is the price we pay for love. It is true, but it is worth it.
Oh Mary, I’m so sorry to hear about Dianne. She was a beautiful cat. The quilts today are beautiful.
Mary – I shed a few tears knowing what heartbreak you’re going through. Even though we know when it’s time to put our little baby to sleep we still wish we could turn back the clock and our baby was healthy again. You can be comforted knowing that Diane is young again with no pain and romping in the grass with all your other pets. Whew! I didn’t mean to ramble on.
Reader quilts are beautiful and love your pumpkins!
Diane was a beautiful girl, so sorry for your loss. I just lost my Dave who was the sweetest little boy. My Maury worries me because he is almost 18 but seems healthy and content. He has a huge appetite and is sweet and gentle. Every morning when the dogs and I go to the barn Maury goes with us but lately he stops and gets up on his hind legs so I think he’s asking for a ride. The minute I pick him up he starts to purr and enjoys the trip.
I know they can’t live forever, but it is so terribly hard when they leave us. Of course, we never forget them or the love they give.
Aww – Maury needs a ride to the barn every day at his age!
Sad day for sure – she was very blessed!! The pumpkins look awesome Mary!! Must mean fall is right around the corner….Happy Fall Ya’all
Hi Mary,
I’m so sorry about Diane. She was a beautiful girl. I had to put my 17-year old cat, Angel, down on the 2nd. I, too, cried as she drew her last breath on my lap. She had a lung tumor that collapsed the lung and she couldn’t breathe. I don’t think I’ve ever cried harder. I kept repeating to myself that this was the very last gift of love I could give her and that I would see her again, but man does it hurt!
Mary, so very sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss, Mary. I’m about to do the same thing. I’ve put it off for a few weeks cause I thought Mr. Cuddles had stabilized, but he’s so bony it will only get worse. I’ve gone both ways. I have gone to extraordinary measures to prolong a cats life, and I have taken the needed steps at the first signs of liver failure. It’s hard either way. I will soon be down to 2 cats. My mama kitty will have just one of her 6 offspring left. I’ve no idea how old she is since she was a pregnant stray, but her remaining kitties are only 14. Some died years ago. You just can never know how long a pet will live.
Mary——So sorry for the loss of your beloved kitty, Diane. We had to say goodbye to our elderly cat, Teddy, 3 weeks ago. That’s one of the hardest things ever. My husband and I cried sad tears. He was such a good kitty, and handsome too. Wish I could cuddle that soft fur one more time. They leave many happy memories of the good years.
Oh, Mary, I’m so sorry you had to say good-bye to Dianne and then release her from troubles last week. She was a beautiful girl, looks very a sweet kitty and was definitely a very photogenic model. We all hate making that decision and going through with it, even though we do it when we know in our brains and in our hearts it’s the best thing we can do for them, even as it breaks our hearts. I stay with them to the end, too because that feels like that’s the time they need and want us the most.
Seventeen and a half is a long life for a cat and a reflection of the good care and happy life you gave Dianne. And I know that only makes it harder to let them go when they’ve been in our lives so long, and hearing that doesn’t make it any easier.
“Grief is the price we pay for love, ” is something being said now for Queen Elizabeth’s recent passing and that’s so true.
Our vets call this choice “the gift of veterinary medicine”. How awful it must be for veterinarians who take care of our animals, and their own, all their lives and then end them. I also wish we could have that option for ourselves.
Thank you for taking such good care of so many critters!
My heart aches for you. It’s just not fair that our pets can’t live exactly as long as we do. She was a beauty, for sure. Love all the pumpkins. Speaks volumes of FALL!
So sorry about your cat. That’s so hard but we don’t want them to keep suffering.
My heart goes out to you in the loss of your dear Diane. I always thought I wasn’t an animal person and then our son talked us into one cat, then a second, from the shelter. Tyger absorbed more tears than a towel could hold and Einstein kept us in laughs for nearly 14 and 15 years. The readers who commented about still seeing them scoot around the corner are right and even that quick memory is a comfort and brings a “remember when…” story. Blessings to you and all you care for.
Your garden is lovely with the pumpkins. The soybeans are turning here and the yellow patches look like rays of sun on the fields. The corn is beginning to dry and you can almost hear it rustle in a breeze. Autumn is on its way.
We lost 2 dogs 4 months apart. One of the worst times of my life. I understand the pain and am thinking of you .
Oh my gosh! 4 months apart – must have been devastating! I’m so sorry!
I just cried thinking of you, Mary, with Diane at the end of her life. I wanted to be there holding you while you held Diane.
Some lovely quilts are shared. We, all the blog people, are very lucky to see such wonderful quilts on your blog, Mary. Thank you!
So sorry Mary. I have been there with 4 dogs and won’t be long for my 5th furry dashhound to leave me.
It’s so incredibly difficult to say the final good bye to our sweet pets. You did the kind thing for Diane.
Praying for you as you grieve.
Bonnie, in Oregon