Sister Mary Winifred

Blessings for Thanksgiving Day! Actually we are celebrating on Saturday because Mom has to go to Easton to work on Thursday and Friday, but celebrating later is OK because we kitties and doggies are thankful for every day. We celebrate life everyday no matter what the calendar says – but we do like to have Mom home with us! Mom might take our beagle Doll to work with her today because Doll is very old and Mom worries about leaving her home – sometimes the other dogs forget that Doll is not able to run and play with them and they knock her down. Cats, of course, are much more sensitive!

Here is a prayer for Thanksgiving Day:
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. [BCP, p. 246]

Everyone have a safe and happy day,
Gus

PS I hope you are NOT eating our friends – turkeys, ducks, chickens, pigs, lambs, sheep or any other animals. There are plenty of delicious foods without killing animals!
 Read More 

Well, at least the election is over – not that our candidate won (I voted for Opie at Rikki’s Refuge, but I don’t think he got many votes!). Some people are very happy, and some are very angry – and Mom says President-elect Trump has too many business connections that are complicated and convoluted, and that people did not consider that when voting. And those of us from interracial families aren’t feeling good either – I’m a gray cat, but I have friends and relatives of all different colors, even calico! You can’t just say “let’s be united now” when you’ve said other horrible, hateful things to and about people – it takes a long, long time to prove that you are really trustworthy. But enough about politics!

Mom has been painting our upstairs bathroom – so far it’s white and blue, but I think other colors are going to be added. And we have a new car! It’s a black Subaru. I haven’t ridden in it yet, but the beagles were barking and barking at it. At first they thought someone was coming to visit, but finally Mom convinced them that the new car is here to stay. The doggies usually like riding in the car – cats, not so much! Cats like to stay at home and mind their own business. Riding in the car almost always means a trip to the vet and we definitely don’t like that!

The last week has been sad and glad for us – just like most of life, I guess. For the sad part, our beagle Abby left for the Rainbow Bridge. Abby was very old and tired, but I bet she is running and playing now, probably with her good friend Artie. On the happy, glad side, our foster beagles, Sammy and Hallie, are much less afraid. Mom used to have to take Sammy out to the yard on a leash – now he just runs out and back in on his own. And Hallie has decided that she really loves Mom – she lets Mom pick her up and whisper in her ear! In a few weeks Hallie has to have surgery on her eye and also be spayed on the same day . . . so it is good that she trusts Mom to take care of her.

It’s time to feed our horse Jackie and the upstairs cats . . . and then Mom will want to clean or paint, so I’ll write more another time.

Stay safe,
Gus
 Read More 

Today’s good news is that our heater is all mended and back to work! Two men came on Friday to replace the broken part and almost all of the beagles – especially George – helped them by barking and shouting directions! I think all of that help made their work go more quickly so they were only here for about 20 minutes.

And now we come to the end of Daylight Saving Time. Mom thinks this is a ridiculous change to make twice a year, and apparently Bessie and the other doggies do too, because they started barking almost an hour early today. Mom says a country that can manage to legalize pot should be smart enough to get rid of Daylight Savings, but as you probably know, not many people listen to Mom. As a cat I don’t really care about pot or Daylight Savings, but I always listen to Mom! I don’t always do what she says, but I always listen.

Today is All Saints’ Sunday – I bet all of the saints are marching around heaven having a great celebration. Our kitty Ellie died this morning, so she must be marching with the other saints in heaven, glad that we on earth are remembering them. Ellie had kidney disease – it is sad for us that she is gone to the Rainbow Bridge, but I bet she is running and playing there, waiting for all of us to catch up with her. Rest in peace, little Ellie, and one day we’ll all rise in glory!

I’ll write again soon,
Gus

 Read More 

So here’s the update on our heater – the problem was NOT beagle fur or beagle dust, and it wasn’t cat fur either . . .actually Mom had cleaned the filters the right way – but the real problem was a mouse! A mouse chewed right through the wire for the temperature sensor! So now we’re waiting for the company to order the part and then come to replace it . . . good thing we are supposed to have a few days of warm weather.

Today is November 1st, All Saints’ Day. It is the day for singing one of Mom’s favorite hymns – here are the words written by William Walsham How:
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might:
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold.

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, alleluia!

Mom says, “Yes, Gus, there are millions of animals in the countless host of saints!” I’m already named for a saint – St. Augustine – and I’m hoping to be a saint too, of course, I’ll be St. Gus!

I’ll write again soon,
Gus
 Read More