Animals Galleries

RIP Butterscotch "Buddy" Carter June 1988 - August 2009 : Buddy lived to be 21 years old and experienced a full life. He started out as an energetic hunter on our ranch as a kitten. He lived outside most of the time and came in during the winter - the only time he wanted to be in there. He had a brother, Scrounge, and the two of them would disappear for days, only to come back skinny and starving and they'd gorge on cat food until the next cat adventure began. To this day, I have no idea where they went or what they did while they were there (they were both fixed, so no baby-making for them!), but whatever it was, it must have been damn fun because they put us through the anguish of wondering if we'd ever see them again all the time! As we both grew up together, we learned a lot from each other. I learned independence from him as he never wanted to be held down or cooped up, but he learned to compromise when I needed snuggles - he gave them freely. I learned patience by watching him raise Stella - she would take him down and he'd let her because he knew she had to find her big cat voice. He learned that a well-cooked steak was much better than any cat food on the market. I learned to sacrifice personal comfort so he could get a good night's sleep - trapping me in one position all night so his old bones could have the warmth of mine. He learned how to get anything he wanted by being cute and pawing in the air for it, so in, turn, I learned that you could get anything you want as long as you're cute about it:) Thanks Butterman - this one has taken me a long way in life! He moved with me during nearly all of my life stages, except for the far-away journeys in AK and San Diego - Mom loved him in my place in those times. When I met Les, they immediately bonded. While Les would lay in the couch coding, Buddy would walk onto his chest, turn around a few times, and lay on him to do quality control. And that's when he started his formal retirement. Since becoming a city cat, there were no more bluejays to jump in the air for, no more mice to bring to the front door, no more squirrels to disembowel, and no more trails of lizard carnage. He no longer had to prove his worth - he knew he was the man and could retire in peace. But he did enjoy a random sneak-out into the backyard every now and then, but would quickly run back in the house as soon as he knew he was out where the things could get him. His perch was on the front windowsill and from there he could enjoy the sights and sounds and sun of the outside. During his retirement, he survived Stella and Felis' kitten stages and was a proud papa to them. He taught them how to fight, play, love, and beg for the treasured wet food. He and Huggy tolerated each other, but I have picture proof that they loved each other. I came home early one day and found them both sharing Huggy's bed. The gig was up! He's been holding on for the past three years without complaint, but his body finally gave out this weekend. He broke his leg and it just wouldn't have been humane to put him through the risk of surgery or the pain of recovery. Les and I were able to hold, pet, and love him for a while and let him know he is loved and will be missed by all that every met him. They came and got him from us and will have him privately cremated. I'm going to dedicate the next home project - backyard garden - to him and spread his ashes outside where he would want to be...someplace where the wild things are - I think he'd love that very much. Buddy, wherever you are now, please know that you are loved beyond bounds and I missed terribly. Even though you lived very quietly until the end, there is a void in this house that is so incredibly loud. You are everywhere and I think we'll always feel you here. I love you, old man. Be well and wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge, okay? Goodbye, sweet boy.

RIP Butterscotch "Buddy" Carter June 1988 - August 2009

Buddy lived to be 21 years old and experienced a full life. He starte ...

Updated: Aug 03, 2009 10:42am PST

Felis The Thumbmaster :

Felis The Thumbmaster

Updated: Jun 21, 2009 7:59pm PST

Cats of Ages :

Cats of Ages

Updated: Dec 09, 2008 2:26pm PST

Handley's Goat Farm 12/08 :

Handley's Goat Farm 12/08

Updated: Dec 07, 2008 6:04pm PST

A week of TomTom : My buddy, Janine, went camping in the far north this past week and let Les and me kitten-sit for her little baby, TomTom. It was so much fun to have a kitten in the house again! Buddy really didn't care at all, but Stella had a tough time giving up her top spot as main cat for a few days. He ran this house with an iron paw and is a bitey little creature. But when he settles down, he's absolutely the most loving cat. This weekend, we took all the kids, including TomTom, to the mobile vet clinic VIP Pet Services for their annual shots. As usual, not a peep out of Buddy, Huggy, or Stella. TomTom, on the other hand, screamed bloody murder and wanted nothing to do with that! We have some photos in this gallery where he's biting the vet tech after it was all done. It was funny. He was lively and entertaining and when we had to give him back, I was sad. I can't wait to have seventeen kittens to play with when we buy our house! The last two pictures are of Stella finally back to normal and able to relax a day after the gray terrorist left!

A week of TomTom

My buddy, Janine, went camping in the far north this past week and let ...

Updated: Jul 07, 2008 5:13pm PST

Monkeys on the Loose! : These monkeys escaped from a life of adorning the very delicious MonkeyTini drink for a life of hangin' around in Les' bonsai ficus! They're much happier here than being draped over a martini glass.

Monkeys on the Loose!

These monkeys escaped from a life of adorning the very delicious Monke ...

Updated: Mar 20, 2008 9:46pm PST

Huggy gets a b-a-t-h :

Huggy gets a b-a-t-h

Updated: Feb 13, 2007 10:51pm PST

Thunder Hill Stables : This is the boarding facility in Hayward that Mom and Keith used to own, Oliver getting transported to Cabernet, more horses, and Sammy getting a massage.

Thunder Hill Stables

This is the boarding facility in Hayward that Mom and Keith used to ow ...

Updated: Jun 10, 2005 9:26am PST

Tio Diego : Diego was my very first love. He was my stallion and my best friend growing up. He lived to be 23 years old and I still think about him everyday:)

Tio Diego

Diego was my very first love. He was my stallion and my best friend g ...

Updated: May 10, 2005 10:41pm PST