Nov 12, 2013
Hard to believe it has been a year since we first brought Baxter home and into our lives. And now, we can’t imagine a day without him.
Even though it went by so quickly, a lot has changed in a year. First, Baxter has put on a little weight. He is still our long-legged beauty, but we are trying to watch the pounds so that he doesn’t lose his athletic shape. He does love to eat and with the changes in how we are feeding Lady Jane, he does sometimes manage to get an extra few mouthfuls of food. He is very good in that he never attempts to steal her food from her. But, once she has walked away (and Lady Jane never finishes her bowl), he will try one of two tactics. The first consists of sauntering ever-s0-casually in the direction of her bowl, as if to say, “I’m just taking a walk”, hoping that we don’t see and then he can have a bit of a feast before he is noticed. If we see him, all I have to say is no and he obediently backs off. The second is downright hilarious. He will choose this route if we are near her bowl, and he therefore knows that he will be noticed should he try his first method. In this case, he will simply take off at great speed, run by her bowl and, as he passes, dive in for one mouthful as he continues at breakneck speed around the corner. We call it drive-by eating.
Baxter has also learned our routine. He is a patient little guy and doesn’t often wake us up in the morning. However, if we sleep in a little longer than usual, I will usually feel a gentle pat on my face as if he is checking to see if I missed my alarm. He also snuggles up at night or burrows down in the covers if he wants to feel safe. I love to feel his fur against my legs and Baxter does enjoy being cuddled, snuggled, picked up and generally told that he is loved.
So, today we celebrate! One year of laughter and cuddles and fun! Crazy antics and friendship. Treats and belly rubs. And mostly, love. (Baxter will have a few extra mouthfuls tonight in honour of his Gotcha! Day!)
Nov 8, 2013
For this week’s theme we were encouraged to capture “the kitchen” as it was our pet’s “favourite place” because they know “delicious food will be served there”. Images of them eagerly waiting their meals were encouraged. So, here is a behind the scenes look at how dinner is served in the Posh Pets‘ household.
As most of our blog readers would know by now, we have two cats. Lady Jane is 16.5 years old and rules the roost. Baxter is a laid-back 3 year old who views Lady Jane as his entire world. Through this relationship, they have taught each other things. One of the pieces of knowledge that Lady Jane has imparted is that we do not drink in the kitchen. This is a tradition that began with Ripley who, in his later years, loved water. So, we ended up putting an extra bowl in the home office which brought him such joy! In fact, he would rarely drink out of the very full, very fresh water provided in a lovely bowl in the kitchen. After he passed, Lady Jane quickly took up Ripley’s legacy and pretty much only drinks from the water bowl in the office as well. She has since taught Baxter this behaviour, and we now have a water bowl in the kitchen that rarely gets used in favour of the one down the hall.
Unfortunately, Lady Jane was very recently diagnosed with renal failure. We are trying to make changes to her diet and she is reluctantly taking her medications. As a result, she has recently also decided that we rarely eat our breakfast, lunch and dinner in the kitchen. We now will consider them in the office. Given her condition and the fact that we need to ensure she gets enough calories (she has lost quite a bit of weight), we have acquiesced. So, here is Lady Jane patiently waiting for her supper to be delivered to her (not in the kitchen…see her water bowl there).
Because of Lady Jane’s condition and the fact that she is a very picky eater, she is getting fed multiple times a day. Baxter, on the other hand is still being fed only at breakfast and supper. He is being a very patient, somewhat obedient boy, and he never pushes her away while she is eating. He is, however, a little confused as to when he will actually get fed. So, now when I prepare any type of kitty food in the kitchen, he tries to figure out if it is his turn as well. Which means he needs a better look at what is happening on the kitchen counter. He knows he is not allowed on the kitchen counter, so he simply hops up on the piano just outside the kitchen wall and peers around to watch me rather intently. If he sees me preparing two bowls and things generally look good, he will hop down and eat his meal (which was always just outside the kitchen anyway).
So, there you have it! Our kitties waiting for their dinners…none of which actually happens inside the kitchen! So, we sort of completed this weeks assignment. 😉
This is the Beautiful Beasties blog circle, so there are lots more behind the scene’s antics to be had. Please start with this link to Petlense Photography’s Lina Tay and see what goes on in her house!
Nov 4, 2013
Everyone likes to receive nice mail. As in, printed material delivered by the post office. In this digital age, I think there is still something about holding print and paper in your hand.
So, I was very excited to finally receive the latest issue of Country Living. And I would be lying if I didn’t admit that part of the reason was because Posh Pets‘ very own Baxter was featured in it. Yep, he’s a published model now, earning his keep! So, go ahead, purchase a copy and look on page 66 – you can tell all your friends that you knew him first. (Thankfully, Baxter hasn’t let it go to his head – he still such a cuddly sweetheart.)
Sep 10, 2013
Wow! Lots of furry faces to photograph at the shelter this week! We photographed them all yesterday when it was nice and cool, before the heat wave hits today.
They are all available from Toronto Animal Services – North. Although some may not be quite in the adoption pool yet, feel free to call TAS directly if you would like to meet anyone from these pictures. The furry faces will also be featured on the Posh Pets Photography facebook page throughout the week.
Everyone have fun and stay cool – we’ll see you next week!
Sep 6, 2013
With Labour Day, this week was a short one! Which meant the shelter was super busy on Tuesday when I went in to meet the furry faces. Given how busy the staff were, I focussed on the gorgeous kitties and here are the results. Every one of them would make an awesome family pet – all friendly and cuddly, most wanting belly rubs.
If you are interested in meeting one of these beautiful felines, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North directly.
Aug 16, 2013
This week’s visit to Toronto Animal Services included photographing a whole clowder of kitties (and a couple of cute doggies)! I have missed photographing the felines because of the on-going youth camp taking place at the shelter – they take up the usual bubble area where I set up the Posh Pets‘ camera. But, there is a little outside enclosure where quite a number of them were enjoying the summer weather.
If you are interested in bringing one of these gorgeous furry faces into your home and life, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North!
Aug 9, 2013
So…we had a visitor in our house this week. Although neither my husband or I knew it, Baxter had it all figured out. He was fussing about, looking intently at the window. And then he simply got on the ledge to take a better look. I looked with him. Nothing. Baxter gave me this look of, listen, I am not the crazy one here. So, I looked again.
Well, right at the top of our window, behind the blinds was a tiny ladybug. How Baxter heard or saw her, I just don’t know, but he stood there looking up until we caught on. My husband carefully caught her and set her free outside and Baxter was satisfied.
And yes, through it all I took a few images. My kitty silhouette for this week’s Project 52 theme.
Next in the blog circle is Blue Amrich Studio in Massachusetts. Please check out her work and the rest of the talented pet photographers around the world!
Jul 6, 2013
Had a lovely time this week at Toronto Animal Services – North with the adoptables! Lots of smiles and lovely furry faces. If you see someone that you would like to meet, contact TAS – North directly and arrange a meet-and-greet. I will also be highlighting them on the Posh Pets Facebook page.
Please help them out and share their beautiful images so that they can find their forever homes!
Jun 26, 2013
Quickly, here are this week’s group of furry faces! Each of these is available for adoption from Toronto Animal Services – North. You can arrange for a face-to-face meeting by contacting TAS directly. You can also have a virtual ‘meet-and-greet’ them via the Posh Pets Photography Facebook page each day.
And, don’t forget…’Feline Fiesta’ is on until July 4, 2013! That is a $25 adoption fee for every kitty in the shelter (plus the $15 license fee if you live in the City of Toronto). So many lovely guys and girls looking for forever homes!
Jun 21, 2013
Well, here we are back at Project 52 again! This week’s theme was ‘body parts’ – all the fun little details that make up our furry friends.
I have chosen this photograph of Baxter’s awesome paws. I’ve always loved those little paws…even when he uses them to wake me up by pushing against my nose in the morning! The pads are black and his legs are oh-so-long, so Baxter can just about reach anything he wants to. He uses them constantly to explore and play and communicate. But, when they are at rest, they are just the cutest little paws!
What’s the favourite body part of your pet?
Next in the blog circle is Pet Photographer, Stacey Gammon, serving Bergen County, New Jersey. Please go see her and all of the other pet photographers images for this week!
May 26, 2013
Today marks a sad anniversary – it was exactly one year ago that we said good-bye to our Ripley. It was a bright, sunny spring morning, much like this one. But for Dean and I, it was the end of an era.
It seems like yesterday that the three of us made that last car ride together. In fact, we still tear up when we think about him, as the pain is yet just below the surface. But, in reality, a whole year has passed and I realize that so much has changed since then.
For one thing, there is no doubt that the sharp pain has eased for all of us. We no longer come through the front door expecting to have Ripley greet us, nor do I wake up in the night looking for the feel of his soft weight against my legs. Lady Jane, too, finally stopped grieving for her brother and began to be her old self again. And, as I always secretly knew, we were in time, ready for the biggest change of all. We welcomed 2 year old Baxter into our home and into our hearts. (One the unexpected results was that, as a result of the new playmate and the increased physical activity, Lady Jane has lost some weight. She now runs and just a few weeks ago, managed to jump on the dresser in our bedroom – a place she has not been up on in over 10 years. Talk about a change!)
Initially, my biggest fear was that I would forget about Ripley – his little habits and the stories we shared. I wanted so desperately to emblazon his memory in my mind. Consequently, right after his death, we took a notebook and through our tears, wrote down all of the things that had made him special. Every memory we could come up with, even the small, silly ones. And, as Dean and I would remember additional stories, we would continue to write. It helped in the healing process and allowed us to slowly let go, knowing Ripley’s life story was safe. However, we soon realized that we should do this for all of our kitties, keeping records as we go. So Lady Jane, and now Baxter, have their own special memory books. And we take photographs…so many photographs.
But, for all of the progress we have made, the truth is, I don’t think there will ever come a day when I don’t think about our Orange Boy. He was our very first pet together, and because he came into our lives just 3 months after Dean and I were married, Ripley had been there practically from the beginning. We loved him so much, and he, us. He will always be a part of our story.
Ripley, for all of our brave faces, how we still miss you! But, this I promise you: you will never be forgotten. Afterall, you never forget your first.
May 20, 2013
This week was a big group of furry faces! As our usual location is currently under construction, we took to the front lawn of the shelter to get our posh adoption photograph. So nice to see lovely green grass and have a moment to be outside!
Some of these furry faces have already found their forever homes – most notably Cheyenne who is 18 years old! We wish her and her friends the warmest congratulations and a life filled with love and belly rubs. However, if you see one here that you would like to meet, please contact Toronto Animal Services – North directly. I also encourage you to “like” and follow the Posh Pets’ Photography Facebook page…there are always tons of updates there!
Until next week…!
