3.29.2013

To everything there is a season ...

Hello, Blogosphere!  

It has been some time since we have posted ... and this has been due to a few different factors, but basically it comes down to a combination of being really busy, a little bit (maybe more than a little) lazy, and just generally uninspired.  So much so that I haven't even touched my camera in about two months.  I think I was getting frustrated, feeling that I wasn't making much progress, and just sort of quit trying.  I hope that will change, because taking pictures is something I really enjoy doing, and the good news is that even though I know I have a long way to go, I do at least have a handful of pictures of each of my companion animals that I truly treasure, and that I feel capture the essence of who they are as much as any still image ever could.  I am going out of town for the weekend to visit family and friends, and am taking my camera, so hopefully I'll feel inspired to pick it up, and maybe get a few good shots.  

Even though I haven't been blogging myself, though, I have been keeping up, at least sporadically, with most of your blogs, and just like "real life" there have been many times I have celebrated your joys and victories right along with you, and even raised a glass of wine to toast those of you who won't be toasting with anything but sparkling cider for awhile ... say about nine months ... while also shedding some tears, when news of the passing of a few of the Blogosphere's brightest stars reached me.   

In any case, as the saying goes, to everything there is a season, and as I had alluded to a few months back, I am beginning to feel like my blogging days, or at least this particular blog, might be coming to a close.  It may be that I'll stop blogging altogether, or maybe I'll just reinvent things a little.  I still haven't really decided, but I will let you know when I do.

Meanwhile, I'd like to reassure those who have emailed me to ask how things are going/how we are, that we are all fine.  A few highlights: 

Tucker turned ten years old in February.  About three weeks ago, he came in limping from a romp in the yard, and had it not been after hours I probably would have taken him to the vet right then, but as it was I decided to just wait and see, and by the next morning, although he was doing so gingerly, he was bearing weight, so I decided to wait a little longer.  By the following evening, he seemed to be completely fine, and has remained so.  He's still the best dog ever, in case anyone was wondering.  

Olivia will be turning nine years old in April.  She is still the reigning queen of Chez Tucker, and even though by rights since I pay the bills, I should wear the crown, I let her have it.  After all, she wears it so well.  

Tanner will be seven years old in early May, and is still fourteen muscular pounds of the handsomest, sweetest, most lovable man-cat I have ever had the pleasure to know.  As most of you know, he had a bit of a scare back in December where he had a partial urinary blockage, but he's had two checkups since then, and all seems to be well.    

Phoebe celebrated her 5th Gotcha Day in late February. For her present, she made me promise to sneak her in to a late night showing of Oz the Great and Powerful. I have not yet done so. 

Finn turned three years old in January. For a cat who I thought would have a very slim chance of making it to the six month mark with as initially sick as he was and as determined to risk his own neck pulling stupid stunts, he's not only survived, but has transformed into a stunningly beautiful adult cat.  His temperament is, as it has been from kitten-hood, mercurial ... he can go from saccharine sweet to super brat in a nanosecond, but I sure do love him.  

Murray the Betta fish was recently upgraded from a 2.5 gallon to a 5 gallon tank, and when that upgrade occurred he also got two very temporary tank-mates in the form of two African Dwarf frogs.  I got the frogs because I was told they were non-aggressive and would live in harmony with a single Betta.  This turned out to not be exactly true.  On the second day of cohabitation, one of the frogs (their names were Maude and Muriel, but I'm not sure which one was which, frankly) latched on to Murray's tail.  He was not pleased.  After a week of careful observation, I decided the best thing to do was to remove the frogs, and they are now living elsewhere.  I kind of hated to give them up, but I didn't have any more room at the office for another tank, and I didn't really want to bring them home.  If you don't know what African Dwarf frogs are, Google them and see if you can find some video on YouTube.  You wouldn't (at least I didn't) think frogs would be that cute, but these little frogs (they are about half an inch or so in length) were cute as the dickens, and when they'd get hungry, they would come to the front of the tank and just sort of hang there vertically with their little webbed feet dangling down and this look on their little froggy faces that essentially meant "hey, lady, how about tossing in some of those frozen blood worms right quick?"  In any event, they're living their froggy lives elsewhere, and Murray is now the king of his own tank again, and is much happier.  

And that, my friends, is all for now. Have a wonderful weekend!



12 comments:

Noodles said...

I think we all hit a wall sometimes in our blogging. Taking a break is a smart thing to do when this happens as it gives one a new perspective and perhaps new adventures to write about. It sounds like you just need to refocus and maybe revamp your blog to something altogether new. In any case, I am glad you, Tucker, etc. are doing well. Happy Easter - Happy Spring.
Love Noodles

Quinn and Angel brandi said...

Thanks for the beautiful update. I have been blogging for slightly more that 6 years (or is it 7?) and I know I don't blog as much as I used to. Sometimes I don't blog for days (or even weeks). It hits us all. Sometimes life interrupts. Or we just don't have anything to say. Or we just feel lazy.
But we have become family on these blogs, and families stay in touch. So maybe you don't hear from someone for a while. It is absolutely a joy to get an update on a happy event, or send good thoughts on a sad event.
So that means you have the right, for whatever reason, to take a break from blogging.
Just send a smoke signal every once in a while? We gladly share the ups and downs of life with our family!
Happy Easter and Happy Spring,
Carol from Catitude

Unknown said...

Life gets in the way and things happen. Main thing is good to see you and glad all is OK.
Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
PS Happy Easter and make it a good one!

GizmoGeodog said...

A break may be just what you need, and if it isn't then you'll surely go on to a next project that will bring you back joy...I wish you well

Old Kitty said...

Terrific Tucker is ten year old!! Awwww happy birthday!! And glad his foot is healing ok!! Also a happy birthday to Queen Olivia and amazing Finn! And yay for gorgeous Phoebe's gotcha day in Feb!! And hope handsome Tanner has a lovely birthday to come in May!

Awww it's a shame your fish didn't get on with these adorable frogs! LOL!! The froggies sound ever so cute!

Hope this easter and spring rejuvenates your other creative passions! Take care
x

houndstooth said...

It's good to hear that everyone at your house is doing well! I hope that you enjoy your family trip and come back feeling rejuvenated. Sometimes a break or change of thinking can really get the creative juices flowing.

The Island Cats said...

We are so happy to hear from you...and glad everything and everybuddy is doing well.

Karen Jo said...

Thanks for the update. I hope you get some great photos during your weekend. I am glad that you are all doing so well.

Brenda said...

Appreciate the update! And I totally know how you feel. At times I am so enthusiastic about blogging, and then weeks - practically months - go by and I don't feel inspired to write or post photos of anything. Busy, lazy, not feeling like spending more time sitting in front of the computer... I don't know. Probably a combination of all of those things. But then suddenly the mood will strike me again. So whatever happens, it's okay. We do appreciate the occasional updates though! :-)

PomskyHQ said...

We all need to decompress and recharge. Here's to bigger and better things!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Hello, Tucker and family - we miss you all. We want to thank you so very much for your kind words of comfort and friendship after our very sudden loss of Thunder. We are all still very sad, but the support and love from all of our friends from all over the world is helping to heal our broken hearts. We are sure that Thunder Dunder is now in a very happy place and also very thankful to have so many wonderful friends.

Woos - Phantom, Ciara, Lightning, and Mom Kathie

World of Animals, Inc said...

Thanks for sharing this incredible update with us. Just sometimes you need a little time to yourself and recharge the batteries. We are glad you and everyone are doing well. Have an excellent rest of your day.
World of Animals