The Best of the Best....

Be Brave ~ Be A Friend

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce...
from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

John Lennon: October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980

With a special "Thank you," to Dr Arthur Janov.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Happy 89th, Pete....

Row, Row, Row Your Boat....

[click on image to enlarge]

...gently through your dream.

Contact the Artist

Farewell, Dear Friend

Sherry C. Cermak
(December 2, 1948 - July 20, 2008)

What a sorrow filled day to hear of your passing and your beloved family's loss. So often I looked forward to your new posts at What Did You Eat? and to the funny and sweet comments you left here
[this morning I tagged wherever you visited].

And now, dear Sher, please know you'll always have a place in my heart. Say hello to your precious beauties. I can see Upsie and Sunshine curled in your lap--purring.

I'm crying. I'll miss you and I'm sorry we never got to meet in person.

Recipe For A Friend....

Sher, here's a special treat which has just you in mind. In fact, I ate it for for you since you couldn't be here.

I know you have a fondness....er....ah....weakness for meatballs, and you've been needing a little extra iron in your diet -- spinach seems to be a favored ingredient with that qualification.

Let's start with a salad, which is always nice.

[click on all images to enlarge]
A plate comes in handy. Alas, it's empty.

I spy something round. Could it be...?

It's a small plate, so it's not really a giant meatball. This means you can have 3 or 4, if you like.

The base is ground turkey, and has all the routine goodies: diced Vidalia onion, fresh crushed garlic, an egg or two, a splash of cream, some fresh breadcrumbs, fresh chopped oregano from the garden, salt and pepper, scads of coarsely chopped Italian parsley, a heaping spoonful or two of grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and your choice of lots and lots of spinach. I was crunched for time, the store's "fresh" looked anything but, so I used the frozen, chopped leaf spinach, which I then defrosted in the microwave, then squeezed out the liquid. [I suppose you could drink it, or save it for soup.]

You know the rest of this, I'm sure. Brown them in EVOO, remove to plate [not fully cooked yet so resist the temptation to taste. Use the drippings to make the sauce of your dreams, mine has buckets of chopped garlic and mushrooms [optional] lightly sauteed, crushed tomatoes [fresh or canned], salt and pepper, cover and letter simmer for about 1 hour stirring frequently.

Return the meatballs to finish cooking for the last twenty minutes covered at a gently bubbling simmer. Start pasta now, and when you put it in the water, stir in coarsely chopped, fresh basil -- about two handfuls or MORE -- into your sauce to wilt and finish off this simple treasure of tomatoes, garlic and basil. Does it get any better?

More cheese on top when you serve, and now....you get to taste.

Healthy eating, my friend. Feel better sooner than soon.

PS: I miss Upsie and Taboo, don't you?

A Silence Fell.

[click on image to enlarge]


Upsie
Rejoins The Universe At The Speed Of Light

* * *

Antonia's gift
Upsie, I bow to her. As
Sher's, you light my path.

* * *
For pictures, thanks to Sher, of course,
and to Catboy's Realm.


For more wonderful kitties, be sure to stop in at

Friday's Ark

&

Weekend Cat Blogging
with
Amar & Luna.

I Love This Precious Cat...

[click images to see them in their full glory at What Did You Eat?]

I stopped long enough to pick up my blogger email and saw there was a notification of a new comment on one of my older posts. It was from Sher.

She wrote:

Upsie will pass over the bridge soon. She will meet up with Taboo and Sushi.

I replied with a brief personal note, part of which I quote [Sher, I hope you don't mind]:

...and I'm crying. Oh god, there is never enough time to be with those we love and who love us, is there? As I go about my day, I shall keep you and her in my heart. Thanks for letting me know.

God speed, Upsie -- say hello to EVERYONE, with some extra loving scritches to all our little beasties! Then give 'em your special brand of a chewing out for leaving too soon, always too soon. And especially enjoy your heavenly feasts. Gentle nuzzy kisses and smooches for your pretty face.

Friends of Friday Ark and Weekend Cat Blogging, be sure to stop by to offer your support and special brand of catblogging kindness ~ to keep Sher and her family in your hearts as they face this difficult part of the journey with their beloved pussycat, and to ask the divine Upsie to say "HI" to your favorite friends waiting for you by the bridge.


After Sundance, I personally hope she meets up with Sushi first. He was always sweet to girl kitties. Taboo will want to wrassle with her as a little test, but I bet Miss 'Boo will think twice if she ever sees this little move Upsie put on Sundance a year of moons and stars ago.

Meet The Puss...

[click on image to enlarge]

Meet grandson Pablo, rescued as a baby from the streets of Atlanta, now happily ensconced in his Decatur townhouse, where he lives with his mom and pop and his beloved Siamese sister Luna [whose favorite trick is to hide from me and my camera].

And it's better late than never to introduce him to Weekend Cat Blogging, hosted by Sher and the divineUpsie at What Did You Eat, and many new friends at Friday Ark, the finest sunset cruise on the planet for kitties to start their party weekend.

Too bad I don't live closer to make photographing him a regular habit. But he's a little shy and easily overwhelmed by too much hustle and bustle of the maddening crowd. ;-)

Everybody, meow a tenderly gentle "Hello" to Pablo! Ooh, too loud. Again, but softer, like a whispering sigh or a hickory wind.

"Hello."

I Once Was Lost In Internet Space...

But now I'm back from having found myself in some fresh hell of domain name servers and their ilk.

Lesson: I won't do whatever it was I did again anytime soon.

Welcome home, kemosabes.

Sunshine and showers...

(click on image to enlarge)

...both beloved by flowers
sent with love to
beautiful little Taboo,
from her Mom's friend.