My beautiful, sweet, darling girl. I had to say goodbye to you far sooner than I ever imagined I would and I can’t believe a year has already gone by since I last held you in my arms, desperately willing for a miracle so I would not have to let you go.

Try as I might, I still find it so very hard to reconcile your sudden loss, and for that I apologize, because sometimes blocking it all out makes it easier. But I don’t want you to think I don’t care or that you weren’t important. The times we shared were ever so precious and you were such a good girl. Not a mean bone in your pleasantly plump body and your wishes and needs were truly so simple.

Breakfast, dinner, a snack, and lying next to my side, whether on the couch at night when I was watching TV or at my side when I went to bed – that’s all you ever needed to be happy and content. Toys, bugs, lizards, and cat condos – you wanted none of that. And on those rare occasions when you would chase the red dot from the laser pen with the other cats, even you seemed surprised that you were doing it!

I love you and miss you so, so much. I pray you are at peace with Mr. Jazz and all the other cats and dogs that have been part of my heart and home in years past. You remain a part of me – I think of you everyday and I thank you for being a part of my life.

xoxox

Mom

A final note – if any of you were complementing the purchase of Purr Prints of the Heart, it would mean the world to me if perhaps you would consider doing it between now and the end of June. Harley might not be with me any longer, but that does not mean she can’t be the harbinger for helping shelter cats that are here who need our love, help, and donations. Harley was a shelter cat and on behalf of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, in tribute to her, 10% of the proceeds will be going to Advocates 4 Animals for any sales made in June. Harley was the calendar cat cover girl for in 2013 for Advocates 4 Animals and Purr Prints truly is a lovely story that any cat lover will appreciate. There is also a special chapter at the end of the book in memoriam to Harley.

Thank you – for more information on the book and purchasing options, please click here.

Now if you’ll all excuse me, I really must go. This was not easy for me, but in respect to my sweet girl, I would like to share a few pictures in her memory…

Harley used to like to look at life from the inside looking out. She was not the bravest cat in the world and always liked to watch the others from afar!

Harley loved napping on this homemade bed that my dear friend, Liz Wyman, made for her.

When Dan took this image of Harley in 2013, I never imagined she would be gone a year later. I had saved the photo, never sharing it until now, as I had originally thought I would used it for a Valentine post because it has such a romantic, vintage look to it.

Harley didn’t like to play much, but she did have her goofy moments!

Harley shares some couch time with Zoey and Mia back in 2010.

A reflective moment looking out her favorite window. This photo is so vivid, I can almost feel her hair.

Harley and Jazz – more so than any of the other cats, they had been through everything together!

An incredibly special picture – the whole gang – Rolz, Peanut, Zoey, Kizmet, Mia, Jazmine, Zee, and Harley peeking from behind me.

Sharing some time with Harley and Kizmet. Kizmet, more so than any other the other cats, really mourned the loss of his buddy Harley. Me too, Kizmet, me too…

This was me last Friday, firmly planted on the couch with Mia and Zoey on my legs to begin my Orange is the New Black viewing marathon. Some people actually watched all 13 episodes in one day. I am a bit more reserved – it will take me about 7 days…

Having binge watched nearly all of the new episodes of Season 3 of the NetFlix megahit, Orange is the New Black, that was released a mere 6 days ago, it dawned on me just how quickly time has gone by. We live in an age where we can literally watch an entire season of a show in one day if we want to. Remember the olden days, that cumbersome era in time, about two years ago, when we’d have to wait an entire week to watch a show before we could watch the next episode? Torture… just how did we survive back then? Read more

I was given the opportunity to share a guest post about Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond as written in the voice of my dearly departed cat, Mr. Jazz, on the Kitties in the City blog site. Kitties in the City is a beautiful and informative blog that was created by the talented, award-winning author and pet expert, Stacey Ritz, who is also my dear friend and the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 feline welfare organization based in Greene County, OH. Advocates 4 Animals (A4A) is one of my favorite rescues and Stacey gave me the option of having the post go up in late May or early June. Being that June is Adopt a Shelter/Rescue Cat Month and it also marks the one year anniversary month of the unexpected passing of my beloved rescue cat, Harley, (June 24), I knew I had to pick the June date. Read more

Click image to be taken to BlogPaws registration page.

Yes – there’s the informative seminars from intermediate to advanced levels on just about any topic you can imagine to strengthen and improve your blogging presence and skills; there’s the sponsors and networking opportunities with some of the biggest names in the pet industry; and there’s the incredibly talented and motivational keynote speakers that will leave you feeling empowered and invigorated. There’s all that at a BlogPaws Conference – but there’s so much more – the intrinsic value of going to a BlogPaws Conference that you just can’t put a price tag on. Read more

One of my all-time favorite pictures that captures the loving bond between mother and child – Mama Zoey snuggling with her baby Rolz when he was about 4 weeks old.

I will be off-line most of the weekend celebrating Mother’s Day with my mom as well as my mother-in-law, so I wanted to make sure to wish all of you a Happy Mother’s Day in advance in case I miss you!

It’s kind of a bittersweet day because not everyone has a mom to celebrate with, or a mom that they have a perfect relationship with, so I kind of take it in stride and just celebrate it in the broadest sense possible because the act of mothering can imply so many things to so many of us. Read more