Farewell Percy

Our dear Percy (Perseverance) left us early yesterday morning, December 17, 2019.  Ir was not unexpected but he was a great loss.  Not only because he was greatly loved, but because he was the last of the original Funny Farmers.  The house seems so quiet.  Even Marcus the Mouth is subdued.

Back around 2003 - 2006, the FFs arrived here, one by one, from a variety of sources.  They grew old and passed away, one by one.  Each one is missed, as is Percy!  I was greatly blessed to be able to have them in my life.  They were a handful and a lot of work, but they sure could make me laugh.  I hope they have given you some smiles and laughs over the years, too..

Marcus, Micah and Taylor started arriving about 2013.  That's a big age gap from the original FFs.  They are just as precious and loved.

I, too, have aged and sitting at the computer to type or to visit has become harder and harder because of back and neck pain, especially this year, 2019.  That's why there have been so few posts and visits from us.  I don't know what 2020 will hold, and I seem to have lost the "voice" of the FFs.  Oh, there might be an occasional post.  "Withdrawal" is tough! 

Buddy started blogging in early 2005 when he wasn't even 2 months old yet,.  I'm grateful for the few who have kept in touch despite our absence. 

We did post on Marcus's birthday and Taylor's Gotcha Day earlier this month because Ingrid sent us a lovely graphic for it.  Mom Ingrid, Pipo, Dalton, and Benji also sent a beautiful graphic for Marcus' Gotcha Day, which was December 11.  We are late posting it.  Thank you, Ingrid. 

Marcus BDay and Gotcha Taylor

It's time to do a little celebrating again, and as usual we are late posting on it.  Yesterday, Wednesday, November 6th was the big day.

Marcus celebrated his 6th birthday.

Taylor celebrated her 4th Gotcha Day with us.

Many thanks to Mom Ingrid, Pipo, Dalton, and Benji for the lovely graphic.  This is the largest it will post here, for some reason, but hopefully if you click on the graphic, it will enlarge in a new window.

We are thrilled Taylor is part of our family. She is such a quiet girl, although she did find her voice and started a screaming, howling riot when Jan took her and Micah for their rabies shot a month or two ago.  Sometimes we're not too sure about Marcus.  He hasn't slowed down or quieted down in the least.  They have totally opposite personalities.

This was a happy occasion, although overshadowed by sadness. You might not remember but Taylor spent the first five months of her life with Miss Teresa.  (Happy Marcus and Taylor Day)  Mr. Doug just happened to deliver Taylor here on Marcus' birthday.

Miss Teresa was family!  She and Mr. Doug were very close.  She died unexpectedly last Friday, November 1st.  She is very missed!

Marcus the Fiction Writer

Marcus:  ... and then he fell over backwards and had to dig through his backpack looking for an extra pair of underwear. 

Percy:  Jaaaaaaan, can you come here for a moment? 

Jan:  What do you want, Percy?

Percy:  The truth!  I don't believe a word Marcus is telling me about some imaginary incident last week when he supposedly scared some poor guy half to death. 

Jan:  Oh, I know the incident you mean.  It wasn't imaginary, but I'm sure Marcus' version of it is.

Percy:  So what's the real story?

Jan:  I was sitting beside the mill steps resting on our walk.  A young man, probably in his 20s, stopped and asked if he could pet Marcus.  Since Marcus was beaten by his owner between the age of 3 and 5 weeks, he has been skittish around strangers, especially males, and will growl if someone raises the voice or makes sudden movements.  He loves Mr. Doug and other men who are quiet around him.  This young man seemed okay, so I agreed.

     He knelt down.  Marcus went right over, checked him out and sat down.  You know what an attention-hog he is.  Everything was fine until the guy started to get up, lost his balance and threw up his right arm to keep from falling.  The moment that arm started to move, I knew Marcus would react, but before I could pull him toward me, he shot straight up in the air like someone had lit a firecracker under his butt.  His mouth opened wide and a thundering bark erupted. 

     The guy, pale and visibly shaken, found his voice.  "Don't worry, I've been bitten before."  

     "You were never in any danger of being bitten," I responded, "but you sure scared the dog!"

     The guy was facing me and Marcus was facing to the guy's left, but I can imagine how unnerving it had to be to be to watch a dog Marcus' size rising with him, right in front of his face, and those great jaws opening wide.  He probably feared he was a goner.  He walked away slowly.  I don't think he'll ever ask anyone if he can pet a strange dog again, which is a shame.  He seemed like a nice guy..

     When I stopped shaking, I had to laugh at Marcus' unexpected response.  I asked him, "Why did you do that?"  He just looked at me and innocently asked, "Do what?" 

Percy:  I knew Marcus' version was untrue.  He should be a fiction writer!

Marcus:  Well, you have to admit that living with me is never boring.

Percy:  Living with you is never quiet either. 

Micah's Belated Gotcha Birthday

Taylor:  Oh, Micah, we're so sorry you were overlooked on your special day Tuesday.

Marcus:  Yes, we are.  It's that Jan.  She keeps the special day calendar in a file drawer and forgets to mention such occasions when she sees them.

Percy:  I think that's because she forgets.  You know, she forgets what she read on the calendar, she forgets what day it is, she even manages to forget where she left the calendar.

Taylor:  Do you suppose we could find her a job where forgetting things would be an asset?  That way she could earn some money at something at which she excels.

Percy:  We are very grateful to Pipo. Dalton & Benji and Mom Ingrid.  They sent us this lovely graphic Tuesday.  In fact, for quite some time, these sweet bloggers have been making occasion graphics for many blogs!  (You can visit them at Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs )

Marcus:  They really gave Jan a scare when she opened their email and found she'd forgotten another important day.  We wanted to do a post immediately but Jan is not only forgetful, she's falling apart and we have to keep our eyes open in case she starts losing parts here and there.

Micah:  Well, I know Jan still can't sit at the computer very long and all our computer time is limited, so I'm just going to say thank you all for caring.  And for remembering.  It was a terrifying day when I was dumped and had to spend a night in the crumbling mill building by myself.  The next morning Jan brought me home where I was safe, so I forgive her for being forgetful.

Taylor:  Hey, Percy, I found a spring on the carpet.  Do you suppose this fell off of Jan? 

Percy:  I don't know.  Perhaps it belongs on her foot.

Marcus:  What?

Percy:  Maybe this is the missing spring in her step. 

Marcus:  Oh, right.  Let's try to screw it back in her foot after she goes to sleep tonight.

Marcus Meets Aggressive Shopping Cart

Percy:  Well, I see you have retained your passion for beating up shopping carts.  And Jan.

Marcus:  I have never beaten up Jan!

Percy:  Save your breath.  I witnessed it through the window with my own eyes this time. Plus you stomped her foot injury for the umpteenth time.

Marcus:  I had nothing to do with that foot accident.

Percy:  The original one, no.  She knocked a 19 ounce can of liquid off an overhead shelf and it bounced on her foot.  But for the past 5 1/2 weeks you have been keeping it from fully healing.

Marcus:  Wow!  I didn't realize.  Do you think I should order her a new foot from Amazon?

Percy:  I think you should let her walk on her own feet.  And what possessed you to attack the shopping cart Jan brought home yesterday with a couple of heavy items?  You didn't bother it last night when you two set out on a walk.

Marcus:  But this morning it got aggressive and growled at me. I couldn't let it get away with that.

Percy:  I didn't hear any growling.  Just a lot of screaming when you suddenly dived at a cart wheel and yanked the cart backward.  As Jan was jerked forward, you body slammed her in the shins, stomped her injured foot and tripped her with your body.

Marcus:  But she couldn't have been hurt.  She managed to stop her fall before her head hit the ground.    

Percy: Marcus, there are more ways to injure a human than splitting her head open.

Marcus:  There are?  You think that's why she was yelling at me?  I didn't think it was fair.  She wouldn't let me rush in for a second attack and she didn't take me for a walk either.

Percy:  She needed to rest so she could totter back with the cart before you tried to kill her again. 

Marcus:  Well, none of this would have happened if she had picked a non-aggressive cart to borrow.  A shopping cart must be submissive and not growl.

Percy:  Of course.  Why didn't I think of that?  It's not your fault.


Some of you might remember our original shopping cart post - and video! - from 2014. Nothing has changed. Marcus still loves to show a shopping cart who is boss, no matter what. You can view that post and video here.  Be glad Jan didn't try to film Marcus spinning/throwing the cart - and Jan - in rapid circles.  You would be dizzy too!

Many thanks to Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs for this lovely graphic for Percy Turns Fifteen.

Percy Turns Fifteen

It is so hard to believe dear Percy turns 15 years old today.  He was so tiny when Merci rescued him.  I thought he was a bird.  He chirped for a time, so he was temporarily named Birdie.  If he had not persevered until I believed Merci was correct and that chirping in the bush was actually a kitten, he would never have been rescued.  Perseverance was the perfect name for him.  Percy for short.

Happy birthday, from all of us.  You are still the same sweet, persevering cat we've always known to you be.

We were quite worried about you when you kept falling off the air conditioning unit, landing on the floor below, and determinedly going right back to lay there until you fell off again.  It was such a relief when you finally realized there is now an old desk by a front window where you can enjoy watching people and traffic without getting hurt.  We love you and hope you will have a good day lounging on your desk window perch. 


****************

Our last post was in January and it was a sad one.  I was sick with the flu and a high temperature the day Cyndi left for the bridge and for the last months have been having back and health problems.  I have no energy.  But Percy is the last of the original Funny Farmers and he deserves a celebration post.

Some sweet bloggers sent cards for Cyndi and have never been acknowledged.  We would like to do so now.

                                                          By Ann of Zoolatry.

                                               By Pipo, Dalton & mom Ingrid.

                                           By Alasandra, the Cats and the Dogs (atcad).

Thank you, ladies, for the lovely cards in memory of our dear Cyndi.  We apologize for being so long in sharing them. 

Farewell Cyndi

Cyndi, my beautiful calico matriarch, left us this morning.  It was not unexpected, yet it was still a shock.  She did know when I was near, and she loved to cuddle.  . 

It is a bitterly cold day.  At least to me.  Perhaps because on top of other health problems I have been going through these past months, I now have a respiratory illness and a fever.  I am in layers with a winter coat and freezing.  It's been quiet here today except for Percy occasionally crying. 

Just 5 days ago, I learned Barkley had passed away.  (Farewell Barkley)  He would have been a Funny Farmer if we hadn't already had the city limit of dogs (3).  Merci left us the end of June and Rusty in September.  Percy is now the only original furry sibling and he will turn 15 in July. 

Our numbers are dwindling.  I knew the day would come when they would most likely start passing away closer together.  It's one thing to think "someday", another to arrive there.  But I wouldn't trade my time with any of them for anything.  Each one has been special.

Mr. Doug dropped by to pick up something of his today and very kindly took Cyndi's body to bury next to Merci.  As with Buddy, Cyndi was returned to where I first saw her.  She was such a tiny kitten with a huge wad of long, fine fur, living in Mr. Doug's engine hiding from his self-appointed " hunting" dog that wanted to make her the next meal. 

Sorry, but today there is no pretense of fun with this post.  I am sick and sad and hurting. 

I hope you all have a great week.  I'm going to continue our break and have no idea when or even if we will return. 

Jan
with Percy, Micah, Marcus & Taylor

Farewell Barkley

Cyndi:  Farewell, Barkley.  Most of you guys won't remember remember him.  He was before your time.

Percy:  I remember meeting Barkley.  He was a pup trapped inside a local mill being torn down.  The building was inside a locked gate, but the foreman at the time helped Jan rescue him.  She brought him home and the local Humane Society helped with his vet bill.

Cyndi:  And then Jan found him a home.  He had a large fenced area to run and other dogs to play with. 

Percy:  Jan used to visit him occasionally, but after her old car died, she had no way to go by.  Mr. Doug would often see him, so she was aware of how he was doing.

Cyndi:  Mr. Doug called today to tell her Barkley died this morning.

Percy:  He did have a good life.  I'm sad for his loss and also because at that time the Funny Farm was in it's heyday.  You and I, Cyndi, are the only funny farmers left from that era.

Cyndi:  Do you remember how jealous angel Sam was when Jan brought Barkley home?  He was so afraid she would keep him.  Sam always had to be the center of attention.

Percy:  I understand Barkley was a good dog.  He once lived here for a few days, so it's only right he should have a memorial post.

Cyndi:  I know so many believe in the Rainbow Bridge.  We don't, but if we did, wouldn't it be ironic if Sam was the one to meet Barkley and show him around?  


Jan:  Sorry, we're still on hiatus.  I have been unable to do much of anything for a while and need more time to get back on my feet.