Einstein in the Flower Shop on the Corner

The sign in the window says, BEWARE OF DOG!   I’ve driven by this place for almost six years as I go back and forth to school everyday.  Sometimes there are balloons tied to the signboard outside. It’s on the corner at Brownsville Road-  PLANTS & FLOWERS by Lisa .

Today I pulled over to the curb, ignored the meter, got out and went inside. I was headed to Bridgeville to visit a friend. Einstein used to have two white tufts of hair that stuck out, hence his name.  The two women were really helpful to me and I asked if I might photograph him and they agreed.  I thought about the flower shop as I left and drove in traffic, finding my way to Bridgeville. I’d heard that photographing animals with a black fur coat is difficult and looking at the shots now (available light) I concur. But those eyes were really checking me out!  Einstein was friendly and wanted to communicate. Must be used to new customers off the street.

My grandmother worked in a flower shop in Lincoln, Illinois, and when I was small I would visit her there.  I remember the spools of ribbon, the sticky green tape, the wire stands and styrofoam base, that green squishy foam and of course the smell of the place but the thing that sticks with me the most was her can of spinach and a hard boiled egg she kept in the cooler for lunch.

Tommie (declared male at birth by our neighbor): A Sweet Girl Cat Remembered

The winter of pet loss. Tommie and Fred were of the same litter, brother and sister.  They both suffered from hyperthyroid condition and despite medication couldn’t quite make it to what would have been their 18th birthdays on March 7th.  Tommie would rub up against you and your hand and pet herself if you stopped petting her.  She was feisty and funny.  We will miss her.

 

Had to photograph the picture on the computer screen. Original on a hard drive that crashed.

Fred: A Faithful Feline Companion

Born March 6, 1993. Passed December 22, 2010.  He will be sorely missed.  Found a site to help cope with pet loss

Happier Days- Fred Smells the Flowers.

Eyeball Cake and the Happiest Birthday

Monday night Steve and I went to dinner at the Elbow Room (Pittsburgh) to celebrate his birthday.  I asked him which of his birthdays was his happiest birthday ever. “Last year!” he said.  We were out at Mark and Erika’s and the kids helped blow out the candles, eyeballs for the ophthalmologist. Laura had made the cake with the kids’ help decorating it.  James made him a shirt with his favorite cat Fred sniffing the flowers.  Mark gave him a book about Where They are Buried and Erika found some really nice summer shirts for him.  It was a fun party.  His best ever! The children really make life fun! Happy Birthday(2009) Steve.

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Feral Cat in Catnip- Study of Greens

Yesterday’s flowering pears prompted me to go out in the backyard this evening,  see how the Redbud tree is coming along.  Maybe continue with a theme. Lots of tiny buds but not quite open.  Ginny planted the tree in memory of my parents a couple of years ago.  The tree made it through all the snow and is flourishing.  And I look over in the raggedy herb garden and see the feral cat from next door, chewing on some catnip, a perennial that returned without tending. Took a shot but too far away to be interesting.  Edged over to the backporch steps and caught the green eyes looking right at me, catnip in front. Some of you may remember a post of the cat from the snowstorm(2-16-10).

Animal Rescue League of W PA link.

One of the ones we caught and had "fixed" at Animal Rescue League. Note left ear tip to mark this fact.

Feral Cat in the Snow

Feral Cat in the Snow
We call her Long Tail. Her 3 siblings had bunny tails, about 3" long stubs.

Braving the snowstorm to look for food. This is one we caught, had fixed and returned to wild.