Pages

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Thank you so much.

MY GOODNESS, you have all been so kind, thoughtful and sweet in your comments. I just had to pop back in here to  thank you so much for your good wishes. Life is a wee bit of a roller-coaster ride these days. There is no denying that this change is making me very emotional and I am always on the verge of collapsing into a puddle. When I read your comments I was overwhelmed with appreciation for you all. I am hearing from some that seldom leave comments and it is so good to know you are doing well. I was reading them over and felt a paw on my leg as I sat at the computer. It would normally be Annie, who always wants to sit on my lap as I read or type, but this time it was Audrey. I said to her, "Audrey, people are going to miss you so we must keep blogging about the life and times of the audacious one." She seemed quite pleased with herself and gave me a look that said, "I never once doubted them." I love her tenacity. Apparently, she has some posts already finished and is looking forward to continuing the 'cat tip for the day'. It just may keep her out of trouble...or not.

Today is the first day in a week that we were not needed on the property. After reading your comments, I wanted to answer a few questions while I have the chance



Yesterday, I hung some feeders around in hopes that birds and squirrels will know that they are welcome over the winter.

I know that some of you are wondering about the ferals that I have fed over the last three years. I have teamed up with a wonderful lady who wants to help and we will keep them fed on a regular basis. She has a heart for the ferals like I do and lives close to where the feeding station is located. I am looking for a third kind person to team up with us for the winter months. Because I will be back and forth during the week to see family and for appointments (like lunch with friends :)), I will be feeding them when I am there. She will fill in for the rest of the week. I have to tell you that she is a prayer answered. This has worn so heavy on my mind and I feel such relief knowing that someone will help. Please keep these poor cats in your thoughts. They are as wild as the night and will run when approached but they do need help with food especially over the winter.

Someone asked about my cat-sitting business and how to get started. If anyone is interested in starting a cat-sitting service feel free to email me and I will answer any questions you may have about starting your business. debsteckly@catlover.com.                                            



                                        

Again...emotional wreck here. The thought of not being able to photograph kitty-clients after this month brought me to tears. Some of these cats I have known for so many years. I held each one for as long as they'd let me and memorized the feel of their fur, the softness of their ears. Their eyes I will never forget. I don't remember ever crying over having to leave a job. Ever! This one is the toughest. OK - enough of that.

"Happy Thanksgiving"  to all my Canadian friends."

I'll be back with photos of the construction soon.

hugs, Deb

33 comments:

  1. Wishing you all the very best in your new journey. ~ Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  2. You will miss all your furfriends (and they will miss you), but you have a new road to take and there is nothing that says you can't go back to your furfriends in the future if you hear them calling you! A new adventure .. enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your client kitties are such sweeties.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Since our sweet 17 year old Satchel passed two weeks ago I find I look forward more than ever to your blog and the fuzzy faces there.
    It will be good to know that I can check in with Audrey and Annie from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aaaaww... Deb if i know you (and i don't ..really...only from blogging) I'll bet you'll land on your feet and find a niche for yourself with some more felines... change is inevitable so theres nothing for it but to embrace it. Change is coming my way with hubby retiring and us looking to move to a forever home...... Somehow it will all work out for the best....for you and for me....... So glad to hear you will continue blogging.........we would miss you waaaaay too much. Hugs! deb

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Deb,

    That is wonderful that you have someone to help the feral cats. I have been wondering what was going to happen to them. And knowing how much you cared about them, I hoped for your sake, too, that someone else had come along. So relieved for all concerned.

    I can't even begin to imagine how it must feel to you to say Good Bye to your sweet client kitties. Bless you for all you have given into their lives.

    Walking along side of you in new times.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

    Love,
    Lily, WA, USA

    ReplyDelete
  7. I guess I didn't realize you would be so far away from where you live now and wouldn't be able to feed the ferals all the time. I am so thankful someone has stepped forward to help with that. Blessings on all of you. Audrey has us all figured out doesn't she!!
    hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so happy you've decided to continue to blog...I am so looking forward to peeking in on your New Adventure! When Scott and I packed up and moved to Vegas it was such a freeing experience--new vistas, friends, job. It will be different for you (than our experience) but I think that moving physically advances us emotionally as well.
    I would have been in tears to, to say farewell to so many lovely kitties. Totally understandable!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am ready....to continue the journey!
    Have a great weekend!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Phew! I'm glad I will still get to read your posts. What would I do without audacious Audrey shenanigans to keep me amused :)
    Love the photo of the red pump.
    Your kitty charges are so sweet. I am especially smitten with Jenny. What a sweetie.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I never tire of cat stories and photos. So many feral cats and so little we can do to help. We are feeding the crew that the former owners fed with table scraps and already wondering if someone will take over when we are ready to move to our new property. We do what we can for these cats--and always think that if someone had rescued them while younger they could have become loving companions.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I, too, didn't realize you'd be too far away to care for the ferals. We thank God someone will carry on your work with them. Is there any group that cares for feral colonies that you can make aware of your group's existence?
    We are going to very much miss all of your kitty clients. We can only imagine how you must feel!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm looking into that Kari but I really doubt it. I know there are groups in other areas but have never heard of any here. Don't worry about them, though. I'll make sure they get fed. This group is so 'fluid' and I have no idea how many actually use this spot for feeding. I'm hoping to have three (including myself) feeders for the winter months.

    ReplyDelete
  14. That Jenny looks like she came right out of the wonderful stage show CATS! All the kitties are so sweet - know they will miss you as much if not more than you will miss seeing them.

    Again dear friend, your new life will be wonderful as you ensure your family land remains just that, your family's precious inheritance. There will always be kitties no matter where you go - and lucky are they who have yet to become your friends!

    Happy Thanksgiving.
    Take care - Mary x

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have some big changes happening. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago I saw the pictures of the logs being dismantled, now the carriage house is done! Moving right along! How far is the old house from the new?

    Transition and change is hard. We are thinking of a very large move which would be very disruptive. I hope you keep blogging so I can hear how the transition goes for you all. I also hope you restart the cat sitting work, it seems to really feed your soul. Either way, I'm gonna still follow your blog no matter what you do! Blessings to you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!
    Three cheers....Hip~Hip~Hoorah!
    Oh! And, one special one for Lady 'A'.

    Yes! Happy Thanksgiving to one and
    all over there in Canada...! Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  17. so glad you can still feed the feral cats I had been wondering about them, I am sure all your kitty clients will miss you terribly I cant imagine anyone else caring so much, I seldom comment but I look forward to your blog everyday, Marlene from scotland

    ReplyDelete
  18. Change is so hard when what we're used to doing we do because we love it, and moving on in our lives as life changes is a whole new kettle of fish ( or litter of kittens ? ). I really do know this from life's experiences , especially lately. Life moves on and we adjust , and I know you've already thought this. I do hope you continue blogging about the cats in your life, and YOUR life. Just a selfish request , but sincerely selfish. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Evolution is inevitable ... and this sounds so exciting. Scary, thrilling, and wonderful. Wishing you the best in this newest chapter.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I check your blog every day, but seldom comment. I would miss you if you were to stop blogging! I have my own equivalent to your Audrey....his name is Earl Grey!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yes, please continue your blog. I love reading other Ontario blogs. I am oh so curious about your new home, too. Perhaps you can do cat-sitting in your rural area where you end up. As a cat owner in a rural area, I have needed neighbours to come check in on our two when we have gone on holidays, so surely there will be people close to where your new house is going to be who would need your services? Looking forward to future posts! -Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Deb,

    .... One thing that I know for sure about myself; I will take chocolate from strangers. :)....

    were the words that make me smile and feel very much interested into you and your blog.
    I found you only recently and since than, I visit you every day. I love your warm-hearted writing, all the cats, your family and will very much miss you, if you will really stop blogging.But it is possible that I misunderstood you and you will go on enyouing us all?
    Whatever, I say THANKS from the bottom of my heart and whish you a good and happy time while changing your live!!!

    Best wishes and greetings
    Bärbel
    from Germany

    ReplyDelete
  23. How bittersweet the journey must be for you! Still, we simply could not do without you very well....blessings for the change and remember...it's all good! Love the kitties!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. A big change in your life.
    We bet it will be hard to not see your kitty clients anymore.
    We do wish you well. Sounds like an adventure :)
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yours is the best every blog. Totally my fave! I wish you well in your new endeavors. Happy TDay to you and yours.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Have you thought about writing an ebook about how to start and run a cat-sitting business? I am sure there would be many people interested in having such a book. It is really easy to self-publish both traditional and ebooks these days. I know I would be a customer. And you could add your lovely photographs. That would be the icing on the cake.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have long enjoyed visiting and lurking. I am happy for your new transition, but I understand how change is both happy and bittersweet. I do hope you will continue sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Happy Thanksgiving, Deb. I was just in your neck of the woods this week (well, probably not, but in Ontario -- London/Stratford!). I love your beautiful country and it was clear Thanksgiving was all over the place!

    I give thanks for your wonderful blog, your feral friend and your plans to continue. Enjoy the day.

    ReplyDelete
  29. So glad you found someone to help feed the ferals. That's how I started with all my kitties here...ferals in the neighborhood...the pregnant moms starved for food would come once they figured I'd feed them and although I never got to pet or touch them, they somehow trusted me with their litters. Velvet brought two litters here before I tricked her into a crate and had her spayed. She's inside the house now to sleep and eat but I still havent been allowed to touch her.

    Love your client shots...they are sweeties! I'd cry, too....cats are better than humans to work for! ha.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Your kitty clients were blessed to have you care for them, and that blessing will always stay with them. You have such a kind and giving heart for taking care of the ferals.

    Tell Audrey to keep writing those blog posts! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I came across your blog because I always look for anything cat related to give me a little joy throughout my day. I have two cats and I love reading about your cat-sitting and various other things. I never post until now. Please continue.

    Alice

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy Thanksgiving! Glad you have help with the ferals...I did not know about them at all! I have a few ferals myself, and other than the hubby, I am the only caregiver. They've gotten very friendly too, so they are more outside pets now than anything, and I count myself lucky. Poor Hunter! Getting beat up by another cat...what was that all about? Audrey, you little devil you!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I would love to have a job I'd enjoy so much as you do yours. I cry over the job, but only when going to it...

    ReplyDelete