And then there were 2

Once upon a time, a little girl was out in her yard cutting flowers and a cat appeared. The cat was a tabby with beautiful markings, but no collar, and she seemed a little confused.

She thought the little girl was her own, so she lay down on the ground near where the little girl was trimming back the peony bushes, and she stayed there all day.

Inside the house was a great big black dog,

but the cat didn't know that or she didn't care, because she seemed to just want to stay with the girl.

Even when the girl went into the house, the cat stayed. The girl would go outside and the cat would return, nuzzling into the little girl's arms.

The girl's mom was reluctant to like the cat, since she already had a big dog and 2 kids to care for, but then it started to rain.

The mom and girl hardened their hearts and went inside, leaving the cat outside where it belonged. That lasted for about 2 minutes. And then cat was part of their family for 4 years.

And soon joined by another cat, known as Dmitry.

And Melanie served her family well for her 4 years there- she stayed an inside cat for 3 years and got all chubby and comfy, but the lure of the outdoors was still strong. And so were the bunnies.

This spring, she presented  her family with 4 dead mice, 1 dead bird and 8 decapitated bunnies. And the mom cleaned up after her killing spree. Ewww.

And then, it was time for the first cat, now named Melanie, to move on.

And then there were 2.

And life goes on. Yes, I'm sad. Yes, the kids are sad, but we had 4 good years with her. And we all still hold hope that she'll wander back to our home someday, but we like to tell ourselves that she's found a new family with a little girl and boy who need a cat. We are optimists.

Bye Melanie - hope you are somewhere safe.

Attack of the SHOULDs

So, I see it's been some time since my last post. You would think that after I was laid off my job at the end of May, that I might have had a little more time to post to my blog, and you would be right. However, I think I've been avoiding it, just as I avoid cutting the grass or doing the dishes (I'm avoiding the lawn mower as I write this post). This shouldn't feel like a chore, right? Not that anyone is holding me accountable to post, that's all me.

That's me in the guilty chair.

All me.

Like how I feel that I should my household under control by now (I don't) or have found a job by now (I haven't) or slimmed down and gotten healthier (not yet). Seems to me that my life is full of SHOULDs right now. My 40th birthday is in 23 days and I feel like I SHOULD have it all figured out by now (I don't).

What I need to do is give myself a break - it's not like I'll become a superhero in 23 days, capable of turning myself into a swirling ball of energy and tying up all my loose ends and finishing all my unfinished projects so I could start my 40th year fresh and in control (though, that would be awesome). I have limitations and need to set my goals and expectations back to the human setting (not superhero setting).

I'm also not likely to win the lottery (I don't play), so I don't think my financial woes will be resolved in 23 days, either. I may find a job in the next 23 days, but if I don't, I'm not a failure, I just need to be persistent, stay positive, and keep trying.

I created this digital art journal page to remind myself of what I SHOULD be doing:

And since it's the first cool day, non-rainy in my neck of the woods, I have to go cut that grass!