July 1, 2022

🎂SAWYER’S 5TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION🎁

Feline & Friendship Friday Birthday

Today we are having a big celebration to mark Sawyer’s firth birthday. Last year at this time, he was on his walkabout and unable to celebrate until he was home safe three weeks later.

I made this collage with Sawyer’s first photo from when he joined the family. It’s in the upper left corner. The others were selected as they represent Sawyer on the dates closest to his birthday as well as one of his first photos after he returned home last year. It’s in the lower left corner. The upper right is the last photo before he went missing.

Probably the happiest birthday Sawyer had was in 2019 when he caught a mouse!

Sawyer's 5th birthday: Collage of seven photos of grey tabby cat as well as birthday graphics.

When Sawyer first started having seizures, they were extremely bad and uncontrollable. We made several trips to the emergency vet in the middle of the night, and we almost lost him at least once. We honestly feared he would not live to see this birthday. Then, of course, when he took off last year, we never expected to see him again. That he was spotted and we got him home was a true miracle.

So today is special. Happy birthday little guy. You mean the world to us, Noelle and all your friends around the world.

Cooper Murphy, of course, made a cake. It looks almost exactly like baby Sawyer.

Sawyer's 5th birthday: grey tabby cat in a decorated box birthday cake.

We’ve also got lots of noms and drinks, so please help yourselves and stay as long as you like.

Sawyer's 5th birthday: collage of various foods

Sawyer's 5th birthday: collage of various drinks

There also are toys to play with and to take home.

Sawyer's 5th birthday: felt fish toys and crocheted mouse toys

Sawyer will be joining both the Feline Friday and Friendship Friday blog hops at Comedy Plus and Create With Joy respectively.

What’s Coming Up

Astrid was supposed to share photos of her anniversary gifts and Kizmet of her birthday gift today, but they will do that sometime next week. Sawyer has a gift waiting from Noelle, and he’ll share that next week as well. Friendly Fill-Ins will be included with our Caturday Art tomorrow. And, of course, we’ll have our usual Sunday Selfies post.

Thanks for joining us today and helping us celebrate.

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.