Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Cooler weather and snuggling warmth

The weather has changed. From Summer to Fall in the whisk of the wind. Friday night at the football game, watching Keokuk win, it was brutally hot. By Sunday night, when there was a "hot" game of Scrabble going on out on the patio and both grills were fired up and cooking food, it was chilly enough for jackets. The warmth from the grills was quite appreciated! As was the warmth of family and friends gathered together. The last cookout of the year? I doubt it! But, the first one where we all refused to go inside, no matter how cold we got!


The cooler weather has brought appreciation for other things, too. Like, all of these warm, wonderful animals residing in our house right now! There is nothing quite like pulling a blanket onto my lap and having Buddy bound right up, and under the covers, to help keep me warm. Back when I was going through Chemo, and Buddy had just come to live with us (after being rescued from an abusive home), Buddy and I spent an awful lot of time snuggled together under a blanket. Now, well, the minute Buddy sees me sit down and have a blanket in my hands, he is at my side, waiting to get on my lap, under the blanket, and spend some quality time snuggling with me.


Back then, Buddy's only competition for Snuggling time was Taltos. Taltos is an awesome snuggler, but he's a Lone Snuggler. Taltos will get beside me, as close as he can get, and purr and snuggle and keep me warm. But, Taltos will not snuggle if there is another animal in the vicinity. Occasionally, he will snuggle if Buddy is under the covers, but not if any other animal is around. Taltos does NOT like to share his snuggle time!


Chester isn't really a Snuggler. I don't think that Chester ever had the chance to become a snuggler. He had a pretty rough life before he came to live with us. Chester rarely gets right beside one of us and just snuggles. He will lay on the floor near us. He will, sometimes, get on the bed with one of the boys when they are sleeping. And, he has been up on the bed with me after a surgery. But not just to snuggle. Chester gives his "snuggling" in other ways. The way you can tell how thankful he is for everything he has. The way he wags his tail and "talks" to us. (Yes! Chester talks! Especially if you happen to be somewhere that he wants to be when it's his bed time!) Chester snuggles your heart, if not your body, and that is a wonderful kind of snuggling, too!


JoJo, well, that little cat is still too much of a spirited kitten to do too much snuggling. When she does snuggle, she will get on my chest or shoulder and snuggle up to my face. If she gets into bed with us, she has to sleep on top of whomever she is sleeping with. She's not very big, but she is getting pretty good at snuggling, even as young as she is. I have great hopes for her future snuggling abilities!


Amis and Stella are still quite new here at the Animal House. They are settling in very well. No major cat fights. No one is spending their time hiding behind the dryer or under a bed. We are all sharing and playing and doing fine. Stella is pretty good at snuggling, but her favorite time to snuggle is all night long....... with your feet! Stella prefers to sleep at the foot of the bed and keep your feet warm. Ain't nothin' wrong with that one at all!!!!!! Go Stella!


Amis is a huge bundle of fluffy fur! She is gorgeous and is the shyest of the cats. She prefers to snuggle when things are quiet. She won't sit with me to snuggle if any other animal is in the area at all, but when she does snuggle, wow! All of the warm fur and a purring cat keeps you warm inside and out!



So, the weather has changed. It's cooler out. The leaves on the trees will soon be changing colors and then falling to the ground. Jackets and jeans will become the clothing of the season. But here, inside the Animal House, things are just starting to get warmed up. We may go through a staggering amount of cat litter in the next 3 months and wear out a vacuum keeping up with pet fur, but we will be warm.... both inside and out.... from snuggling with our pets!

2 comments:

  1. So just when we start having summer everyone else is having fall? It could hit 90 on Sunday...NOT looking forward to that! And oh what I'd give to have animals to snuggle with!
    Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers!
    Isaiah 43:1-3a But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel...

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  2. Always a comfort being reminded that the Holy Spirit Himself is praying for you!
    Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

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