One year Anniversary

October 4th, 2017

Our biggest baby boy passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by all of us.

I can't believe that a year had gone by, there's still much I miss of Buddy. I miss his big furry belly, his unique meow, his purr, his belly fluff when he runs around and so much more. He was the baby of our lives, the light of our lives until old age became of him.

So to honor Buddy in the best way possible, we brought Copper and Coal into our lives and they give us a lot of joy and laugher throughout the day. But they can never replace Buddy, but they can enjoy the same thing Buddy loves the most. 

The most important thing to Buddy was his porch access to the outside world, believe it or not we didn't always have an enclosed porch. We still had an open porch that was getting old and showing it's age, so when my dad decided that we needed a new porch. We built it for the sole purpose for Buddy, and now Copper and Coal can enjoy the same thing although we will have to replace one side of the screen due to their claws. 

I'm going to share some pictures from Buddy's younger years, we brought him into our lives at some point in 2001. Maybe May? He was born in April and we got him fairly soon after checking out the Humane society Shelter, I would say between 10-14 weeks?

YEAR 2001- 2002

 

S

See that hairtie? There's a story about Buddy and hairties  

 

See that Vampire? There's a Buddy Tail about that.

See how eager this boy wanted to go outside on his porch?? 

Year 2002 - ????

Let me explore!! But there's a little story about Buddy Vs. the Pool, but that will be for another post sometimes later.

I can't believe that spot he's looking at that we called the JUNGLE was not a JUNGLE. Like everything tripled in size from when this picture was taken. 

Buddy not only got big and bigger, but we added a small platform for that corner in the next few years after this photo, until last year we added another expansion because he was a BIG cat. 

So remember that Funny Photo at the beginning? When we got photos developed, we discover that we couldn't tell which way was up or down. What do you think? Up/Down??
***Note I did edit this photo to get rid of the flash spots on Buddy's eyes, but then I decided to keep the original flash spots. 

Four months & Kitten Bowl

While the pain is diminished of losing Buddy, he is still very missed in our household. Both Copper and Coal have helped take away that pain. There are still time when I'm in bed I wish I could cuddled up with Buddy's blanket but that blanket is with him. We still have other blankets that he often slept on and we still have his pillow blanket and the blanket that was on his heated pad.

Most of all I miss hearing him and watching his waddle walk. The backyard I'm sure knows that Buddy is no longer here, but we the humans are still here. I hope that they'll learn quickly about Copper and Coal when the time comes for them to explore the backyard.

I keep a journal that I write to Buddy, not everyday but just when I want to talk to him. I think I need to start sharing some more photos of Buddy on here, to kind of share his life with you guys that follow this blog. He's a special boy to our heart.

The boys are so curious about everything outside, so we are letting them on the porch more and more when we have some decent days.

Copper and Coal will be 7 months on the 11th and 14th, I'm thinking about choosing between the 12th and 13th as their joined birthday,. If you were also wondering if I hadn't share the news of whose bigger . . . here's the weight in January 17th.

Copper: 7.9lbs and Coal: 7.0lbs 

In other news about Buddy's Backyard, 

We have gotten a few ducks visitors (which is common during some cold tempts) Two may be our Donald and Daisy. Our Turkeys are slowly returning more often since our big snowfall we had. 

Hop-along our miracle squirrel is nice and healthy, getting all the seeds and nuts we can give her/him. The Blue Jays were very happy when we tossed out quite a few nuts and our Crows are still making their initial visit to Buddy's Backyard. 

The birds are eating a ton of seeds that I'm constantly filling most of the feeders.

Whose ready for Kitten Bowl???

We'll be tuning in and watching all the kittens and learn about some special kitten journey since hurricane Harvey and Irma. 

Buddy's Ornaments

Christmas decorations are light this year due to life things and having two curious kittens. 

Check out the Instagram post on Buddy's Ornament. https://instagram.com/p/BdGwT2bFMEM/

With Buddy he showed curiosity when we put up the tree and started decorating, the one thing he did when he was younger was hide and nap under the tree behind all of our White Kmart Christmas bears. 

Over the years Buddy always had this spot by the bathroom, where he would often lay just because and one year I had won a Christmas carpet. Buddy loves it! I think maybe because it was red or it was just on the floor. 

The little carpet mat was penguins, so each year we would bring it out and replace the brown/tan mat with the Christmas for a few weeks. He claims it as his own, we have it out where the sun shine through our kitchen to little hallway and Buddy would lay to get some sun. 

I think it was the first or second year that we had Buddy, we were decorating the tree and I was putting ornaments on the bottom of the tree. He came over to check things out and he found this little lamb that I had just hung.

He swatted off the lamb and took it in his mouth and walked away from it, playing with it. From then on we knew that he claimed that ornament as his own. So Buddy had his own ornament, as the years went by I think he forgotten about that little lamb unless we show him with a direct interest in it. 

To this day we'll still call that Lamb his . . . 

It's Cold Out!!!

We're starting to get the cold! Plus the snow . . .

It's time for another "A Day in Buddy's Life"

Buddy would still take full advantage of staying outside on his porch, he has a thicker coat than Copper and Coal. Right now Copper is the only one that is interested in the porch, but I think once Spring comes and we start introducing Coal to the porch world. But who knows maybe Copper will get him to go out with him.

I still wish Buddy was here of course, Buddy would make us begged him to come in the house from the porch. Sometimes he would come in on his own or when we finally tell him that it's time to come in. He would scurry in when he did get too cold, other times he would take his time leaving us standing barefoot or jacketless waiting for him to come in.

We would still the breakfast routine out on the porch, some dairy and some daddy and me time before dad heads to the back to feed the backyard. 

When we got snow the first day, it was light flurries hardly covering the grass. Buddy would tempt to walk outside. He always love to check his outside, even when there's is snow on the steps but he need to smell that winter cold air. He would stick his nose up at the snow because that mean the end of walking outside. 

Snow equals wet feet. 

I think he spends a lot of his time watching the birds borrows in our huge branches that grows baby breaths and there's another type of tree mixed with it. They love to chat and I think they also gather in there to keep warm. I can't tell you how many ends up in there during the day. 

Other times Buddy would try to sleep but we would tell him no because it's too cold out and he can get sick. He did during the last two brutal winters, he would sneeze on most times, there been a few times where he get the chills but that's when we knew he was not feeling well. 

I would like to do more of A Day in Buddy's Life more often, the holidays this year is extremely busy and BIG!! I have tons of upcoming family gatherings and such. So please bare with me as I'm continuously being absent. 

XOXO 

BUDDY

Two months passed . . .

I'm a few days late on this post . . .

Buddy been gone for two whole months, it's still hard to believe that he's not here. Sometimes I wake up and kind of expect him to be somewhere in the house. Maybe what I'm sensing is him watching over us and taking a peek at the two kittens we NOW have in our house.

I am keeping a journal and writing letters to Buddy, I don't write it in every day. But I will write in it from time to time when a memory comes across or a photo sparks a memory. But I'll write to him anytime because to me that one way of keeping his memory alive along with the photos and videos.

SPEAKING of a PHOTO . . . The drawing of Buddy is finally Framed! and it couldn't have turned out any better. Even my parents were in awe in the photo. I knew that picking that frame and had a little help from michaels on Matte colors although I pick one of the matte colors. It's perfect.

Here's the link to the Instagram post of Buddy's picture on the wall. https://instagram.com/p/BcaEi5PlNuj/

I'm terrible at taking pictures lately, but many of you have seen Copper. Coal is our newest addition and he's an all black kitten. Coal is exactly the same age as Copper, I didn't expect that we would find someone that is born within two days of Copper.

It took awhile to find kitten number two after hitting a few road block, but now we have a second kitten. I think secretly we will still keep our eyes out for Buddy in recarnation, I don't know what we would do if we did ended up with a third kitten. But I think our hearts and Buddy will guide us to the right decisions.

Copper is a little bully to Coal, but I think Coal is starting to grow in wanting to smack Copper in the face when he had enough.

Coal is a very lovey dovey kitten, he does like to play but is always wondering where Copper is 90% of the time. But we're working on it. Coal loves attention, he still hadn't gotten used to being a on bed yet even though I place him on the bed with me.

I know it will take time and patience, so be patient with me on sharing pictures. I am busy with other things in life and the holidays are coming up!

With Love,
Kat

A Special Drawing

So while I was doing some cleaning getting all prepared to bring in the spirit of Christmas into the house. Don't worry we won't start decorating until after Thanksgiving.

Anyways I came across a few mementos of Buddy, one is a drawing that a local artist did while I had attend a Cat Show a few years back. Anyone who wanted a drawing of their pets should bring in a photo and he'll draw them. I pick this picture because this was his face when he get photographed and was sniffing the air. '

Plus we were outside when I took this photo, it was unusually warm for that time of year but we took Buddy out on his walk. I told the artist to not make Buddy any fatter than he already is and the artist laugh and said he won't make him any fatter than Buddy already was. When I picked up the drawing, I couldn't believe how much of Buddy he got. Like it's Buddy in a character cartoon drawing!

I had always intended to get it frame right away but the size of the drawing was unusually funky which made it harder to find a frame. Plus I kept forgetting the size! So When I came across it again and Michaels happens to have an 70% off Custom Framing, I took this opportunity to take the drawing in and have it framed.

The actual photo .... And yes he does have some white chest fur!! I'm surprise that the camera picked it up so well. We would always see it from time to time. 

Buddy as a Cartoon! 

I went into Michaels and got the drawing Framed. I can't wait to see the results of it all comes together. It won't be ready for two weeks but I can't wait to see the final product of this drawing. The next step is to figure out where we will hang it.

One month passed . . .

It's so hard to believe that Buddy passed away a month ago. We still miss him everyday as well everything about him.

I know many people say this, "our cat is one of a kind" and it's true. Buddy was one of a kind to us, we saw him grow up as well my parents watched me grow up. He was there for a lot of things for us, he also needed us to care for him.

Bringing Copper into our household gave us a different atmosphere, he's this very playful kitten with a lot of curiosity plus I think he's half a dog. He keeps us on our toes!

Copper won't replace Buddy and neither will kitten #2, but they will help us mend our broken hearts and open our heart to loving them just as much as we did with Buddy.

Sadly it's getting colder out for Copper to be on the porch, he almost doesn't want too because he doesn't have enough "coat" on him to keep warm from the cold. Buddy would stay out on the porch for as long as he can until either (A) we bring him in or (B) he comes in willingly. Usually it's A that gets Buddy to come into the house, then he would either go to Daddy for belly rubs and warm snuggles or he'll go on his heated pad.

If you been following Instagram, I had posted a picture of a Frame that I'm going to use for Buddy. But I was so stuck on which photo to pick until I decided why just pick one photo? Why not 12 photos? One for each month of the year, that way we see different moments of Buddy.

I've had two of my gals tell me that I should do a Buddy Calendar, I hadn't really thought of that because I was thinking about doing an Buddy's Backyard Calendar featuring all the wildlife. But I may consider doing a Buddy Calendar.

For now enjoy watching my Instagram account because I've been doing #BuddyMemories at least every couple of days or every other day, depending on what I am doing.

Here's a fun video of Buddy playing with real Catnip from outside, it's that right time of season in the video to what's the weather is like now with all the leaves falling.

A day like today

A Day in Buddy's Life

Today was one of those days where Buddy would demand to be outside . . . this is his typical weather. When I got done with work at 4pm, I took a glance at the temperature and knew that this day is a typical going on a walk day. 

I was going to carry him to his spot(s) around the house, but the herd of turkeys were here. I can still carry him to his spot(s) tomorrow before it rains.

MEOW . . . . MEOW

Looking at the backdoor leading to outside, Daddy out there.

Sniff the back porch . . . the devils leave a stink.

Which way to go? Left or Right?

I take RIGHT . . . might do a little business around the corner of the house.

Mom is following me and taking pictures. Making a loop around the house and passed the steps because I'm not ready to go inside.

I walk across this hard gravel . . . taking one step at a time, sometimes I follow the dirt path. I sit in my favorite spot in the tall grass. MMM maybe I'll eat some grass and make mom mad. There's a breeze and I close my eyes and sniff the air. 

I might take a nap . . . by choice I'll walk to the steps because I'm ready to go back inside for breakfast. But first my neck scratches and my harness is off. 

The humans feed me my dairy and provide water. I'm satisfied and is ready for my long day of napping.

In other news . . . I told Buddy that we will be bringing in our first kitten out of two tomorrow to his house. We're kind of on a hold to adopt a pet from the shelter due to a quarantine among the cats, but a friend of ours had a litter of kitten and had one that she hadn't found a home yet. So we're going to be taking him and then we'll look for a sibling/playmate once the quarantine is lifted at the shelter.

Once we as a family figure out a name that we can all agree on, I'll share it on Instagram.

Stay TUNED!!!

In loving memory . . .

This is the hardest post I had ever had to write . . .

Buddy our furbaby/our dearly beloved family member passed away Wednesday morning October 4th, 2017 in his home, we as a family have been dealing with his illness for two weeks. We were trying everything to make him better, but basically what had happen he stopped eating and drinking. We managed to get him to eat and drink after trying different medications, but still he passed away.

You can't know how heartbroken we are of this, but we're glad that it was at home and not at the expense of the vet out of his surrounding. I cried pretty much all morning along with my parents, both my mom and I had to work, but going to work was tough.

We wrapped him in his favorite blankets and walked him around the house one last time, we took him to the vet to be cremated. We knew Buddy's time would come, but we just weren't ready and no one ever is. I love him to death and miss him dearly, I have an empty void in my heart because of him.

Buddy will never be replaceable, he was our world for 16 and a half years. Now without him, we feel lost and alone. The house feel cold and empty without him, although the weather is getting colder but without him it's even colder.

My family and I are looking at adopting two kittens sooner rather than later. I always worry that it's too soon to be looking, but I believe it's part of the healing process. Buddy wouldn't want us to be coming to an empty house.

I'll keep this blog open under his name, he's the reason why I started this blog. I will use Instagram to post pictures of Buddy through the years. If I can find a way to post any of the videos I have of him, I'll share those too.

He will never be forgotten. He won't ever be replaced, he is in our hearts.

Speaking of being close to and in our hearts, one of my great friends who also adore Buddy gifted me this amazing gift. I wear it all the time, except for at night when I sleep. But this is my new routine in the morning is putting this necklace on. 

Buddy 

04/01/2001 ~ 10/04/2017