The mouse toy is on the same pole as a Birbug dragonfly toy. When one isn’t amusing to Andy, I wrap it up on the end and unfurl the other. So…Andy notices the dragonfly when we were playing with the mouse, and he hops over to play with it.
He decided he really wanted to play with the mouse after all.
=(^+^)=
Sad day for my family. We just learned Marijean (far left in the photo) died on the 19th of November 2020. She would have turned 83 today, March 11th, her birthday. She was a quiet, pleasant, thoughtful person who had some hard times in her life. That makes me sad. She should have had the best of all possible lives for all she did for others.
The photo is one taken in front of the old family home. It’s only late in life one realizes how few group photos of the family exist. That’s me next to Marijean, with the neighbor’s pug (Ladybelle), my sister Kathy with my Grandmother McKenzie’s dog (Laddie), and our late brother Dick. Barely seen in front of Dick, Peanuts, my childhood dog.
Marijean was a great cook, a loving sister. She was creative, always drawing happy suns, flowers, and other things on the envelopes she used to mail letters to family and friends. Many times, she created greetings cards, too. It was a pleasure to get these bits of art from her in the mail!
Kathy and I will miss her very much. She was the oldest of our siblings.
I’m so sorry to hear about your sister’s death. Take care.
Thank you.
Your sister passed away in November and your just finding out about it now Doug? I’m sorry you lost her Doug but it sounds like you not only have many great memories but loved her very much and that’s what counts!
Exactly. It wasn’t unexpected – she was in a care center, which is a death sentence for communicable disease, especially in a state where they are stupid about wearing masks or getting shots or taking care not to expose others to disease or prevent one’s own exposure.
Oh no..did she pass because of Covid?
My Seattle sister and I haven'[t been told. My late sister had been in a care center in South Dakota, which makes us think that is a probablr cause
I’m sorry to not only hear of your sisters death Doug but also that you don’t even know why?
That’s how it is. At some point, knowing what she died of would close out some of the questions the family has about how she ended up in the care center so far from her home and other matters I won’t detail here. The matter’s been handled very poorly!
I hear the same scenario playing out in many care homes.
Yes. It is a national disgrace among many.
here in Canada the “for profit” long term homes have the worst record. They do not care for people.,they care about their pockets.The greatest number of deaths have been in those facilities!
I say get rid of the for profit care homes. The Government needs to subsidize these places! It sounds like both countries need legislation brought in to protect or elders……and we both know that ain’t going to come from the Conservatives (here) and your GOP!
If anything good can come out of this plague it’ll hopefully be better care for our elders!
Exactly!
We don’t know. The same nephew who didn’t tell us our sister had died may know, but we don’t.
Well that nephew should be more concerned about his elders!
That’s a fact.
Aww, what a cutie!
Andy plays that game – cuteness – all the time!
Absolutely adorable!
Thanks!
I am so very sorry about your loss, Doug!
Thank you, Dolly. Marijean was a beam of sunshine until dementia and depression took over toward the end. It was sad.
Very sad, Doug. I share your grief and pray for you.
Thank you, Dolly. That hard part – forgiving my nephew – is done. Now I can grieve.
You are more than welcome, Doug.
Billie Jean is also a song about a girl with that name by Michael Jackson.
I guessed that was you in the picture with the pug.
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for peace for you and Kathy.
Thank you. We will miss her a lot.
I am so sorry for the loss of your sister.
Thank you. A big part of the shock of learning she’d died was learning it 109 days after the fact. I know that ids one reason I still haven’t cried: I AM PISSED! I know grief will set in in time, and I will welcome it over this other emotion.
Andy is acting like a typical guy….cant make up his mind which toy is best. Unlike us women that know exactly what we want….for 5 minutes anywho!! mol
Shoko
It is sad when family leaves as its a little more of the family that is chipped away. It’s true too….there are not many pictures of the whole family. Remember back then the pictures had to be developed and it took a few days. Right inconvenient
My warm wishes to you my friend.
Jean.
Thank you, Jean. Typically, the father took the photos, so rarely appears in family photos.
Andy’s been kind of particular the past few days. It’s getting tedious since it means get out from under three heavy blankets – we are in the middle of a cold spell…. – and following the wee rascal till he stops in front of a clue: catnip? toy? kitty treats? kitty wet food? And so on.
I’m so sorry to learn of the loss of your sister Marijean, Doug. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Thank you, Leah. Marijean was a gentle person. I enjoyed her company and will miss here a lot.
Thank you, Leah. Marijean and I had a special bond because she was 10 years older than me and babysat me more times than she probably wanted to when I was a really little guy.
We are saddened by your loss, Doug. Hugs to you from all of us here, Doug. Marijean will join the memory garden along with all the others dear to you.
Old photos are beautiful things, a way to travel back in time and be with those whom we love, then, now and always.
Thank you, Lavinia. Marijean would have felt really pleased with her inclusion in a garden. I appreciate it, too.
I have several old photos framed and on my wall. I like looking at them.
I’m sorry for your loss, Doug. 😔
Thank you, John. I’m still trying to process the reality of it.
I’m so sorry.
So sad Doug? Yes when the two parents
……I continue: Yes when the two parents are gone the familial gatherings become rare .
Sorry for the loss of MariJean ? Condolences, Doug.
Thank you Michel. I enjoy seeing that your family maintains close contact. It reminds me of how mine was when we were all here and it warms my heart to read about how your “kids” help you and Janine with the garden and get together for family meals from time to time.
Sorry to hear about Marijean. My condolences. Glad you have the family pic for a memory.
Thank you, Peggy. That particular photo includes family and neighbor dogs. Pets are such a big part of growing up, and a big part of the funny (and sad) stories were share till time starts to take family members. Marijean had a cockatiel she named “Billy” that she really enjoyed for its antics. Billy surprised her at one point by laying eggs under a couch: “he” turned out to be a “she”! In our family, the only other person who had a bird for a pet was our Grandma McKenzie, who had a succession of budgies. Back to Billy. Once it turned out Billy was female, Marijean kept the name since (happily!) Billie can be a name for females as well.
Oh Doug, how sad. I think as we get older, we (sometimes) learn to appreciate our siblings more, especially since we have a shared past. I hope your sister was able to recall all the good things about your childhoods before she passed.
The dogs in that picture are a delight.
Me, too. She had a rough time toward the end.
My condolences.
thank you.
hugs to you… we love the photo… it is such a bittersweet moment to see our family all together…the happy times we had once… sigh…
Yes. The last time the whole family got together was our parents’ 60th Wedding Anniversary, 1998.