Millie is Home

 

Because Millie meant so much to me, I chose a private cremation for her body, and asked for her ashes to be returned.

 

The folks at Lap of Love took care of everything and were wonderful to work with. Everything was handled with sensitivity, love and respect. I received a personal note from the at home vet, a certificate of cremation, information about grief, a printed copy of the story of the Rainbow Bridge (which, even though I already knew, brought me to tears when I read it). The addition of a packet of flower seeds was a lovely touch.

I put Millie's box on this table in my living room and spread the rose petals from the roses I had bought myself for Valentine's Day around it. I can't tell you how comforting it is to have her remains close by. I touch the box every day.

Millie Has Gone to the Rainbow Bridge

 

Millie and I have had over fifteen wonderful years together. We have made so many friends, and had many wonderful adventures. 

Thank you.

The Vet Visit

 

Hi guys. Mom brought me to the v-e-t on Saturday. I'm now 15-1/2 years old, so the vet did the "Senior Wellness Test" which means they stole some of my blood to see how my insides are working. I've lost a lot of weight - now I weigh a bit more than ten pounds. My heart is murmuring, and I have a swollen teat. I spend a lot of time napping and getting scritches from Mom.

Let's face it, I'm a senior cat, and although I'm not running toward the Rainbow Bridge, I'm kinda waltzing in that direction. How long it will take me to get there is anybody's guess. 

We'll hear the results of the blood tests in a few days, and then Mom and I will have more information, but nothing is going to change the fact that I ain't getting any younger.

Hey, don't feel sorry for me. I've had a heck of a great life. I should have died when I was 12 weeks old and got hitted by a car. But I got saved by Malcolm, and then I pretty much won the lottery when Mom adopted me. It's been quite a story and I'm not done yet. Hug, rub against, purr for and get scritches from those who love you. Nothing lasts forever, and love really is all we need.

Fifteen!

 

um, Mom, I was napping.

Oh! Well. I am fifteen. WHO would have thought I would live such a life when I got hit by a car and almost went to the bridge when I was just a few weeks old. I really got lucky. I won the proverbial jackpot. I got Mom, a good home and a great job.

I still work. I still perform the QA work on Mom's quilts, making sure they are soft and full of love and hugs. It's still my job to cover them with my furs and my special Millie scent, to make sure the love Mom puts into them stays there, no matter how far they travel to their homes (right Megan?)
 

I snoopervise when Mom "werks." It's pretty boring though, so I take little catnaps. I still catch the mice that try to sneak in the house. I still check out the neighborhood every day when Mom lets me out on the porch. I still make sure to get my treats at the right time each night. I make sure to get my scritches on the regular too.

And believe it or not, I get on Mom's lap. Yeah, I know it took a long time to train her to sit just right so I would feel comfortable there, but I finally got it to work. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes things just.. well. You know.

So yeah, I'm Fifteen! I'm still perfect in every way. And I still love Mom. I mean, I've always loved Mom, but now that I am an Older Kitty, I just don't care what other kits and kats might think. I'm good.

Really.

I am Fourteen!

It's me, Millie. Today is my birthday. Actually, nobody knows what my real birthday is, so my Mom guessed, and picked April 5. It's probably close to the real thing, but nobody knows, so today it is.

Funny thing about the first few months of my life. As a feral kitty, my life expectancy was one year. I almost didn't even get that far. I was barely three months old when I almost went to the Bridge, but I got really lucky.

When I was four months old, I came to New Hampster to live with Mom, and I have been here ever since. Today I celebrate my fourteenth birthday. I am now a senior kitty, living the good life. I have a terrific Mom, not one but TWO kitty condos, FOUR cat hammicks and lots of good places to nap. I have a water fountain, and a great selection of foods, and I get treats nice and regular. I even have a front porch where I can sit whenever I want when the weather is warmish.

Happy Birthday to me, and to all the kits and cats I have known, and all the human friends my Mom and I have made over the years, thanks very much.

My Annual Exam

I know why I have to do this every year, but what I don't know is why Mom feels the need to post about it.

I don't like being in this crate and I certainly don't like getting poked and prodded but I can tell you that Dr Scott thinks I am perfect.

Which is hardly a surprise.

My 13th Gotcha-versary!

Thirteen years ago today, Mom's life changed. She didn't KNOW her life had changed. She just thought she was adopting a cat, but if she HADN'T adopted me, nobody would know about her. I got her to blogging, and later, making quilts, and then blogging about quilts.

Mom thinks living with a tame feral cat is interesting. I won't come when she calls me, and she never knows where she will find me. There are all kinds of places in the house where I can nap, and while I have my favorites, there are some I use maybe once in two or three years. Rarely do I nap in such an obvious place as the couch (and the only reason I was there was because Mom was sitting next to me.)

So where am I now? Let's see. You are all accustomed to seeing the couch as in the top photo, but there is a table with a lamp in the corner that you rarely ever see.

The table isn't as deep as the couch, so it sits forward from the wall.

 See me?

Mom stuck a basket back there when we moved in, almost five years ago, partly because she didn't know where else to put it.

Clearly I have found the right spot. And I don't mean the basket in the corner.     

Millie on the Porch

It's really nice out. Finally! Mom has opened the front door and the window to the porch, so I am taking advantage of the lovely day by taking a baff in the sun.

It is very important to survey the world around me.

I am now 13 years old, a senior kitty. I have a good life, and am enjoying it with Mom.

Spring Is Coming

Every day Mom lets me go out on the front porch, even though the temperature is close to freezing. I get to stay out there for five minutes, and that's enough for me to scope out my territory and see what's going on.

However, when the weather is really nice, like when it's sunny and the temps are in the 40's F, Mom will let me out on the porch for a bit longer than that.  You can see me out there enjoying the weather.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christymas all you kits and kats and woofies and little sticky people and all my other favorite peeps like Megan and Julie and Mary and Mr Karate and Rubylocks and Little Miss.  Mom and I hope you all have a happy and safe Christmas Season.

Happy Holidays

I want to wish everybuddy a Happy Holiday season! Here I am cuddled up next to Mom (she is under the quilt.)

We are both fine. The house is all decorated for Christy-mas and Mom has done all her shopping. I am keeping the house mouse-free except Mom doesn't like when I try to eat them. 

Oh well!

A Millie and the Mouse Story

It's been kinda quiet here at chez Millie during the day. Most of October was grey and rainy. Today it's sunny, so I've decided to nap in my kitty condo in the studio.

 Mom wanted me pose, but seriously?

I have a great story to tell you, but there aren't any pictures. Remember I said Mom hired some "pest" guys to keep the mice out of the house? Well it kinda works, but some still manage to get inside under the kitchen sink. Mom set up a trap and we have caught a couple, but the other night Mom was watching TV and I was napping nearby when we heard the trap go off.

Now I am no dummy. (I mean, I'm a CAT!) I went running to the cabinet, and got the door open. There was lots of rattling, and it turned out the mouse had got a foot caught. I pulled it out, trap and all and ran into the other room. Mom followed. I put the mouse down, and he got away. I merely went over and picked him up again. Mom got a little bit worked up. I tried to tell her everything was OK, but the mouse got loose and ran behind the desk.

Mom got really pissed and she yelled at me! Can you imagine? She told me it was bad enough she could hear some mice under the kitchen sink, but now she had one running loose in the house and she was ANGRY! She went on and on and I just let it go in one ear and out the other because, Hell-Oh! I'm a CAT!

She went to bed, but not before reminding me to Do Your Job! (Dunno where she got THAT from.)

Well.

The next morning she got up and got my food dish and refilled it, and as she walked toward the Office where my food tray lives, she looked over and saw the little mouse I had deaded overnight.

I have to give it to her. She looked right at me and apologized!

Yup!

She said she was sorry for yelling at me and she would never doubt me again.

I just looked at her.

However, I have been a good share of treats every day.

Heh.

I Work At Home

Mom just added the binding on this big quilt. She put in on this red chair and went to do something else, but I knew this quilt needed some of my furs.

What better way to do that than to take a bath?

In other news, Mom decided to get me some help in keeping mice outside our house. She hired an ex-term-inator to come over and make sure the mices and mousies stay away. Some dude came over and left some bait traps all over inside the house, left a couple of spiffy traps outside and then sprayed some stuff outside. Mom says I should not be insulted but the ex-term-inators can get to the mices and mousies in places neither of us can reach.

I'm good with that.  Now it's time for me to take a nap on this nice comfy quilt.

It Was HOT, HOT, HOT!

It was really, really, really HOT yesterday.

Mom was very surprised to find me hanging out on the front porch instead of napping in the air-colditioned house.

What can I say? Warm air, nifty smells, bird and chipmunk TV? Why would I want to be anywhere else?