Hear That? That's Me. Helicopter Mom.

Since Kizzie came into my life my husband has called me Helicopter Mom. 

I tend to worry about every little thing. Like she'll slip out of her collar (this has happened). Or she will slip out of her harness (this has happened).  

Or she will fall in the water.

(This has happened.)

Helicopter Mom was taken to a whole new level when highly energetic, always active, always on the go Koko came into my life. I turned into the Queen of Helicopter Moms - the ruler of Helicopter Mom-dom.

I worry that he will fall in the water. Oh wait. He just jumps in.

I worry that he will run away. He does love to run, that boy. 

(He's on leash here.)

But he has run off leash twice. And those incidences scarred me for life. 

I am scared to death that he will escape - it's the adventuresome terrier in him.

I have a hard time trusting anyone else with them because I'm super vigilant. My husband has just kind of turned the leashes over to me and thank goodness ~ after 6 trips in a year ~ I completely and utterly trust our beloved dog sitter. You have no idea what a huge step that is for me.

So when I expressed to Yukari the other day (who knows all about my Helicopter Mom problem) that I worry about the shelter animals when they're adopted out ~~ are they going to safe homes? Are they going to get the care and the love they deserve? She smiled and replied, "Not only are you a Helicopter Mom to Koko and Kizzie but you are a Helicopter Mom to shelter animals, too!"

I'm hopeless.

I have found some really fun ways to help shelter animals. A number of businesses will donate to shelters ~ usually food/meals or sometimes monetary donations.  Here are a few I've found and enjoy:

These awesome rings came from The Animal Rescue Site  

Every purchase funds food and care for rescued animals. Y

This ring is here

This one is really fun because the paw portion of the ring spins!  

It's not only bling, but entertainment as well!

Unfortunately I don't remember where I got this bracelet but 

I know that the site also supports shelters.

It says, "The Road of Life is Sweeter When Traveled With a Dog" 

I got this fun tee from I Heart Dogs

(But, of course I care about cats, too!)

Every purchase feeds shelter dogs.

I have bought sweatshirts for me and things for my dogs from

 In the Company of Dogs

Chateau Le Paws supports No Kill Shelters across the country ~ 

enjoy wine for a good cause!

My little business cmh design LLC donates a portion of every sale 

to The Aurora Animal Shelter,

Best Friends Sanctuary, The Dumb Friends League and

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital 

(but that's another story for another day.)

And because I like to support local artists and I love his work

I commissioned Sean Brown to make these custom pieces that 

can either be worn as pins or with adapters as necklaces.

This is Kizzie

This is Koko

Of course I love cats, too ~ an eyeglass case I bought in 

Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.  It reminded me so much of

my beloved A-choo I had to buy it.

I won't even start on all my Hello Kitty things...

So yeah, I'm the Queen of Helicopter Moms. The rest of you can relax. I've got this.

Two Little Monkeys

Returning home from the shelter I am always so incredibly happy to see my two little monkeys. They greet me with wagging tails and their little puppy dog dances .

Seeing shelter animals and the longing yet hopeful look in their eyes would be more than I can bear if I didn't know that good things do happen to shelter animals. I mean my two little guys - both adopted at age 6 - once looked out from behind the shelter glass with that same look. And their life turned out alright. 

They like to wait for their Dad to come home and have their special spots.

Their Dad likes to cook and Koko (on the left) has always liked being his "sous chef." This morning Kizzie (on the right) took an interest so we called her "sous chef in training." Koko is hoping this means a promotion for him. They were getting a lesson in handling raw meat.

Koko is all boy. He loves cold weather and snow.

Koko is all boy. He smells worms and bugs and rabbit poo on walks. And he chews with his mouth open. (Which - to be honest - is pretty hilarious.)

Koko is all boy. He likes to bug his little sister. Endlessly. 

Koko is all boy. He makes messes and doesn't clean them up.

Kizzie is kind of a princess ~ all girl. She likes to choose the most comfortable spot in the house. And then claim it for her own. For all time.

Kizzie is all girl ~ a real fashionista!

Kizzie is all girl ~ she eats like a lady.

Kizzie is all girl ~ neat and tidy keeping her toys in order.

But in the end ~ they are both adorable, both beautiful, both loving, both funny and sweet beyond words. I could not be more grateful to The Universe putting them in my life...

All boy. He just can't help himself.

Y

The End of an Era

A-choo's passing a week ago was the end of an era...  All the animals my husband and I have adopted together in the first 20 years of our marriage are gone.  Ames, the cat, died 7 years ago at the age of 15.  Simba the dog passed last September at the age of 16. And now A-choo has left us, 21.5 years later...

She went out as she lived - independent and on her own terms. She died in the middle of the night while we were sleeping.

I can't say we were surprised to wake and find her gone, but of course we mourned her.  Living to the ripe old age of 21.5 she was a big part of our life together. We adopted her from the Denver Dumb Friends League in 1992 when she was 10 months old. 

Suffice it to say, she was a charmer from the beginning. Why "A-choo" you may ask. When we first met her in one of the little visitation rooms at the shelter she was all over us - sweet and loving and cuddly as could be. But she sneezed. A lot. It was kind of cute. So we dubbed her A-choo. And she came home to join her big "brother" Ames. 

As I said - she was independent. So once secure that she was in her forever home (who knew it would be 21.5 years forever) the desire to cuddle lessened and she took on her role as aloof A-choo. We loved her all the more for her distinct personality and catittude! When we hugged her and she squirmed to get away we told her she need 2 minutes of "forced affection." She always let us do it.

She liked popcorn and would give you those eyes when she wanted some. (Only the puffy part so she wouldn't choke, though.)

She took catittude to new levels. 

She was silly

and she liked a good party.

And a good box.

She was beautiful. Not in an ordinary cat kind of way. She was really beautiful.

I will remember her as playful and silly and funny and mischievous. 

But mostly I will remember her as thoughtful, wise and special.

She was so special...

Rest in peace, 'Choosey. You will be in our hearts forever.