Borrowed Time

Sadness in the Kate household. I am heartbroken. Numb.

I'm mourning the loss of the sweetest, cutest little thing that has ever come into my life. I know there will never be another like her.

After the death of the family dog, a loveable Cocker Spaniel named Tucker who lived to the ripe old age of 17, we decided to adopt a small dog. One that could keep us company, travel with us in our new empty nest way of life. We tried for the longest time to adopt a dog from a shelter or animal rescue. Infuriatingly unbelievable walls and doors of ignorance stood in our way.

I was frustrated and shocked that we were turned down time after time.

One day, I heard of a local groomer/breeder who had a beautiful little Havanese puppy available for adoption. It was an answer to prayer.

My Backyard - Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, RI

Alternate title:    HANGING WITH A SLOTH

Do not adjust your screen...you read it right. We're going to be chatting about spending time with a sloth at one of the country's oldest wildlife parks - Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Once upon a time there were 3 little children. They begged and pleaded with their tired, worn-down grandparents to bring them to the zoo. "Puh-leeeeease?" they wailed over and over, day after day. Grandma and Papa heaved a heavy sigh in unison and knew they could not say no to those persistent little rascals.

The sun rose bright on the chosen day. And 3 excited smiling tots ran out the front door and piled into the family's station wagon for the quick ride to the see the wild animals that live in Providence.

Just a Thought ... About Odd Thoughts ... And Cats

Okay. So I'm cleaning out the cat's litter box. Not my favorite chore. But now with our houseguest-cat in residence, the box is filling faster than usual.

Now, I know what you're thinking and you're right. I should have been keeping my mind on the difficult, important job at hand. But for some reason, I found my mind wandering. (Which happens more frequently as I've inched toward my golden years.)

Does this ever happen to you? You're hard at work at the task at hand and all of a sudden your thoughts are off in the stratosphere somewhere.

Back to me. And the cats. And the stinky, overloaded litter box.