Go With God, Baxter

It's with sadness that I write this. Our sweet little Baxter kitty died this weekend. We don't know how or why, but we found him when we came in last night. He was well and energetic and a bouncy bundle of kitten. Perhaps he played with a wasp, as they sometimes get inside. He may have eaten one, who knows. We will never know. It was clear he didn't die alone. His arm fur was licked by his friends. They were probably trying to make him better and in doing so provided for him the last comfort he got in this world. He was with us for 7 short months, still getting to know things, constantly exploring and very slowly growing into his large ears. He ran sideways like a puppy and smiled when he slept. Loved to be a lap cat from the minute we met him.

He personified hope.

He came to us in the fall of last year when things were pretty bleak. He was the ray of light we so very much needed.
He ran towards us one night down the driveway as we walked in from the studio.
It was that same path we took last night to lay him to rest.
Under the same star-lit sky.
Hope feels different now. Kind of hard to find.
Too much uncertainty.

We're forever grateful we had this wonderful little tiger for the time we did, however brief. His passing a cruel reminder how hard it is to let go, especially with no notice.There are lessons to take from this, all relevant, but right now we are wrapping our thoughts around our Milo, Fripples and Oreo, and missing our little Baxter bear. We all lost a part of our little family and today we are sad.

Thanks for the love all our friends have sent.
Thanks for understanding how hard this is.

Thank you Saint Francis for taking our Baxter home to God.

Pat & Jon
Milo, Fripples and Oreo

The Adventures of Baxter.......

Baxter is our newest tiger. A beautiful loving feline who pounced into our hearts last fall. He lived for a short time in our studio until the window of time opened that we could integrate him with our three other tigers. He's made a fine transition to his new home and is the softest, funniest cat. It's so nice having a kitten in our midst. Their amazing sense of wonder and soft playful ways are like nothing else.
Peace itself, wrapped in fur.
A rambunctious play hard, sleep hard lifestyle is his agenda.

For the past day or so we've had high winds sweep across our property. Gusts exceeding 35 mph for certain. Our wind bells and chimes have been eliciting the sounds of spring as robins and cardinals find their way about. We love wind and this time of year we know it brings with it the change we've been anticipating!

Last night all four kitties were taking wind baths on the upper deck, doors open to their magical, safe, star-lit playground. Jon realized one was missing..........OMG........a missing child........I should have been more diligent!
Who was it, where were they and how long had they been gone? All these thoughts and more raced through my head.
It was Baxter!
He either was swept off his paws by the gusts of wind or decided to leap from the deck. We think the later. Either way, he happily greeted us by the back door, came in and rolled around on the floor. He wasn't out long! We think his curiostiy overtook his good sense and he leaped over the edge to explore further what was in the yard below. We've asked him to promise not to pull this again.
Cats have 9 lives.
48 year olds don't!

So as I craft my blog entry, this diminutive package of fur covered love sleeps sprawled out on the couch of the same color. The last beams of sunlight warming his face.
He's pure peace and we all found one another at a very good time. His pulsing paws are hopefully not planning his next escape!

Above is a photo of Baxter near the hand painted hanging bead curtain in our kitchen.

Sending love and furry hugs to all my blog readers this windy March day........Spring is around the corner!

Patricia

Solstice Greetings!

This 52nd week of the year greets us with single digit temperatures and blowing wind. The winds of change I have spoken about before. Today is Winter Solstice! The sun is the farthest from the equator. This becomes a time for contemplation. A time to think and sit quietly. I've been blocking out the media of late and feel much better. So many things beyond my control and news that doesn't make me feel good.
For me this is a time to go within. Not that the date on a calendar gives me permission to do so. The deep cold of winter and the howling winds set the stage for change, both externally and internally.
A window for quiet.
I've blogged many times this year about change.
In the early part of the year, the change was the anticipation of the coming months and the election. With that behind us, the change now comes from the shift in presidential leadership and the hope he brings.
A stirring of events that will shape things in so many new ways.

Here on Purple Hill, we too are going through change. New ways to work and market to keep our livelihoods viable in an ever changing marketplace are top on our list.
Next week, our little Baxter is getting fixed and joining our tiger family here in the Purple House.
I am the mom of 4 furry sons! Who ever thought I'd be so woefully outnumbered!
It's change!
You can like it, love it, fail to embrace it, but one thing you cannot do is stop it.

"Changes are not permanent, but change is"

So on this windy sunny Solstice I give thanks.
Thanks for the sun that lights the day.
Thanks for the moon that lights the night.
And thanks for change that gives me hope.

Abundant Blessings~
Patricia

Box featured is available on my etsy site:
Retro Nostalgia TattooDream Box
$65.00

•• Baxter ••

A few weeks ago, Jon and I were ending a long day in our studio - our usual routine prior to a getting ready for a show. Working till midnight and dragging ourselves up the star-lit driveway. There could certainly be worse commutes. On this particular evening, we were met by a small 'galloping' tiger. He came running towards us. He fell at our feet, rolled and did the 'cute thing' extraordinarily well. Within minutes we decided we could make a box house for him by the back door near the spa. Within a few more minutes, he had a name.
Baxter.
It fit him well! He spent the night in the box and met us the following morning. After verifying he had no real home, he had one now! He's been living in our studio ever since! He'll be there until we can afford taking him to the vet. The weather here has turned to winter and it's cold. We've had several freezing nights. He has 3 'brothers' waiting to meet him inside ....hopefully with open hearts and warm paws.

Sometimes you don't expect goodness like this to arrive so unexpectedly on your doorstep.
Sometimes you don't know how much you love a little kitty until they arrive and suck you into their simple world.
Sometimes, you look into an animals eyes and realize you have given them a home at the same time they have
made you feel safe just by smelling their head or enjoying the fact they love so unconditionally.
Sometimes you don't know what you need until it jumps right in front of you!

Each day he greets us with hugs and meows and is the most affectionate little cashmere-coated- pajama-clad
tiger............a 'stray' who needed us as much as we needed him.

This is Thanksgiving!

You never know when you meet someone what they are going through.
We're all going through something.

Abundant blessings~
Patricia