Prostate Cancer

I was thinking as I walked back from a meeting down the hill. Two coworkers asked me how my husband was doing ? His Prostate Cancer has spread into his bones and is causing him terrible pain.They both said how sad they felt for me. I felt myself fill up with tears and got up to walk back to my office. I realized I am sad too. I am so weary of his pain and suffering. How does one man take so much? This end stage Cancer is a powerful enemy. Wild winds whirled redwood leaves all around me. I struggled up a deer path and a beautiful deer gazed back at me. I made soft sweet talk and she silently slipped away deep into the shadows. I continued trudging up this very steep Oak-lined path and a ray of sunshine lit up a squirrel perched on a log enjoying Spring. I realize that I haved nothing to feel sad about today. Surrounded by God's creatures, I am just a tiny sparkle of light among bigger, brighter stars . I have no fear or worry when I realize God has a plan for each and every one of us. We are loved.

Son Shine

A cat without catnip is like a day without sunshine. MaaMaa says Easter is the time to see the Son Shine and thank Jesus for the blessing of eternal life. Have a joyous Easter from all of us at Sparklewood. Purrs, Tankene

Sisters

MaaMaa is blessed to have two terrific sisters; one of her sisters has Brain Cancer and is laying in a three person room, in the middle bed, in pain. Today she told MaaMaa, "Just go" after a three minute visit.
This is a sister with a kind heart and beautiful soul. She is the "good" sister who never got in trouble while MaaMaa was out being a rascal. This sister who dressed just like MaaMaa's twin because they were only 17 months apart.Who has a younger brother, Pat and sister Cindy.Great nieces and nephews. A fine sister who lived across the street for thirty-five years and spent almost every Sat. night at MaaMaa's drinking wine, laughing and gossiping. A sister with two beautiful grownup children, a devoted daughter-in-law and two wonderful little boy grandchildren.Her parents are 84 and 80 and still alive. She also has a Labradoodle named Daisy and many good friends. Now in her 58th year, she is suffering so much she is pushing away the ones who love her.
Oh dear, what can I do? says MaaMaa. When someone you love is so ill what do you do?
MaaMaa comes home, pours a glass of wine and sits on her chair. I come over and say," MaaMaa-" and she picks me up and hugs me. She tells Papa, " I think my sister has had enough suffering" Papa has his own troubles but understands and says let us pray.
" Please Dear Lord, end her suffering and have all her angels surround her with love. Be in the arms of Jesus. His love will envelop her like a warm blanket and all her pain will be gone. Please pray a little extra tonight and think of my sweet sister, Kit. Purrs, Tankene

White Trout

 A nightime story told to Blake on Sept. 21, 2010 by Nona.

      Not long ago lived ol' Wood and his wee wife in a place called Sparklewood.Ol' Wood felt low down likening his troubles to the darkness of the bog. An ancient fairy voice whispered to wee wife and she gathered her white shawl, gnarled walking stick and her spirit cat, Tankene. Off they traveled, twilight coming on, searching for the cure for ol' Wood. Little did they know but ten fairies were gathered together at the round mound for a celebration. Ten fiddlers and singers were tuning and humming and strumming. Wee wife was on the trail to the river when she stumbled on a flat rock and heard the buzzing, much like a happy bee, of the fairie's music.  So sweet the sounds and soon wee wife felt sleepy."Aaha  my dear Tankene, let me rest a spell " and she fell into a deep slumber, slumping on top of the rock. Ten fairies jumped out of the round mound, angry that wee wife was sleeping on their chimney rock and there would be no fire to warm the hearth if she stayed asleep long.
      Tankene  gazed at the Full Moon and saw the reflection of a White Trout in the river below. "There is the cure for ol' Wood." purred Tankene.
       The ten fairies gathered on the bank and looking below saw the White Trout swimming just beneath the water.
       "We must catch White Trout to cure 'ol' Wood " meowed Tankene.
        Wouldn't you know but at that very moment, Tankene's pink nose smushed into a spinning spider's web and some of the silky threads covered his face
      "Let's make a fishing pole and catch the White Trout " exclaimed the ten Fairies. So the tenth and fairest fairy  pulled out her trusty spinning wheel, spun a fine line from the spider's gossamer threads and strung it on the fiddle's bow.
         Tankene's golden eyes reflected the White Trout and Full Moon. Sparkles lit up the water below as White trout swam slowly by the bank. Tankene softly scraped the damp earth with his feathery, pink paws and the tiniest of earthworms came up for a peek.
       "Would you be willing to help us? wondered Tankene.
       "Indeed as long as the White Trout doesn't really swallow me," retorted the worm." Indeed!" said he all the while slowly uncurling and slithering into the hand of the tenth fairy.
      Strong fairy magic cast the pole with the worm as bait and the White Trout took a bite.Well as you were wishing, the tenth fairy caught the White Trout's reflection. Numbers  nine, eight, seven, six,and  five gently placed it on a golden platter. Fairy four, three and two wrapped it up with dew and the first fairy placed it in a  knapsack full of grassy down. Right quick they were all tramping back up the trail to the wee wife. Snoring soundly was she, dreaming wee wife dreams of Sparklewood.
       Ten fairies and Tankene make quite a ruckus and she awoke with a  loud snort."Ahha' my fine, fey friends, you have brought me the blessings of the White Trout and now I can save me ol' Wood. I thank thee for your fairy gift! "
 and as the old ones like to say ol' Wood was cured..

Cherry Blossoms, Bird Calls and God

       Cherry blossoms fall silently like snowflakes then swirl when the breeze kicks up. I sit in warm sun and and smell bee honey. Rhododendrons spring open with pink and purple treasures. Distant birds sing haunting tunes, praising  Nature's pearls. Just reach up and grasp the sky! You may actually feel a wee  puff of  heaven. God's love drifts  down on all of creation today. Blessings, Love and Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Book Review from MaaMaa

Thomas Nelson Publishers graciously allowed me to review( for free) the book "The Liturgical Year." The book was an intelligent, well-written chronicle of the Christian Liturgical Year. The author , Joan Chittister, was very knowledgable about each step along the faith journey. She explained Lent as a " Symphony in three parts." and I found this a wonderful way to think of the the living memory of Christ and the last supper.I expecially enjoyed this statement : " Lent is not a ritual. It is time given seriously to think about who Jesus is for us, to renew our faith from the inside out."We journey to the desert for forty days and fight off our lusts and temptations just as Jesus fought off the devil! Lent is just one part of the Liturgical year. The author speaks of the celebration for fifty days of Paschaltide or Pentecost.This is a time of great joy when  Christians experienced Jesus and his resurrection.The living God walked among us.She goes on to discuss Ordinary time, Feasts and Advent.Understanding the Christian year was a map of our soul journey. This was a book I would highly recommend.I am going to share this book with my Prayer Group in hopes that the other members will enjoy the explanations of the Liturgical year and find deeper meaning and understanding of our Christian faith. Check it out !

Special Blog Award

Thank you to my dear friend  Sunshine at  http://terragarden..blogspot.com/ for giving me a  Beautiful Blogger  Award.

       I have selected 7 deserving bloggers  to pass on this lovely award.

    samandy007.blogspot.com 

   adventureswithpemberley.blogspot.com

   housepanthers.blogspot.com

   countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com     wethreegingercats.blogspot.com,

   catwithagarden.blogspot.com 

   tobersadventures.blogspot.com Each award winner post the Beautiful Blogger Award on your blog, select 7 deserving bloggers and list them on your blog, and share 7 things about yourself.

  7 things about Tankene Ice Mist:   1. I am  descended from Viking cats,  2. Nickname: "Weggie", 3. Double-coated to stay warm during Norwegian winters, 4. Intelligent, playful and very loyal friend, 5. Pure white with a tiny lightening mark on the top of my head - MaaMaa says that is is why I sometimes time travel, 6. Norwegian mythology refers to two Norwegian Forest Cats that pulled Freya's sled; one pure white and one black, 7. Daddy's name is Mainelines  Shalu of Sangha who won Supreme Grand in his show career-- and My Mama's name is Sweeson's Amaryllis of Sangha.

ePurrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Why does Easter fall on different dates every year?

Furfriends, It is Lent now and MaaMaa is busy trying to clean out the cobwebs to prepare for Easter-- so here's a tidbit for you'all to chew on.

"Everyone knows the date for Easter is different every year. If you've ever wondered how it is determined, here is the answer. Use it to stump your friends! Easter Sunday is the first Sunday following the first full moon that follows the spring equinox. Spring begins on March 20/21.Check your calendar for the next full moon after that date. Easter is the next Sunday. So, this year, the first full moon occurs on March 29th (Monday), and thus the next Sunday, April 4, is Easter Sunday. That rule applies every year." This is from Father Anthony and  I thought it was worth noting-just in case you wondered!How do you spend the weeks leading up to Easter at  your house? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

New 2010 Annual Flowers

However unusual, I share MaaMaa's love of gardening. I curl up in her lap and read the gardening magazines with her. MaaMaa showed me a new Dahlia called " Windmill" and it reminded me of a red and white pinwheel. Next was "Pretty Much Picasso Supertunia" with shocking violet face and charteuse; an attention grabber but still a Petunia. We loved the " Twinny Peach" Antirrhinum majus with dreamy petals.This dwarf snapdragon's pastel hues shine with peaches, yellows and melons reminding me of sunshine. New this year these annual flowers reveal such creative artistry. Have you ever blessed Jesus for the colors of nature? Purrs. Tankene Ice Mist

Wind Whispers

Hi Furfriends, MaaMaa's been busy so we haven't had time to post. Thanksgiving blew past with a waterfall of sparkling leaves. I watched glorious golden cherry and birch leaves cascade as the gusts kicked up. The red and orange leaves trickled next as the gusts died down to wind whispers.A tapestry of color painted the patio that I observe from my cat perch. My white coat is thickening now and covering me with a lush Norwegian Forest Cat coat.MaaMaa thinks I would have lived in the far north of Norway where the winds holler down the fiords and the snow blankets the earth in preparation for winter. Do you feel Jesus talking quietly to your soul as you watch the leaves fall? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Remembering Sly

FurFriends it is with deep sadness my MaaMaa reminded me that the angel cat, Sly, died one year ago today. How should we remember Sly said MaaMaa? I gazed up at her and she gathered me in her arms. Here is Sly's story.
Sly was an abandoned, 5 week old, smoke black, furbaby who was tucked into a ladies's purse and smuggled into a bar. MaaMaa's, Aurora, plucked the kitten out of the purse and rescued him. He purred the whole way home, curled up on Aurora's lap. Grandson Blake loved the kitten but Aurora said he had to live with Popo and Nona.
(my MaaMaa and Papa). Papa wasn't too happy to take in a tiny kitten but because it was for his grandson, Blake, he gave in. Blake brought kitten food, a blue dish, and a cat box. He loved the furbaby but Blake had to say good bye when the weekend was over and he went home.
Now the furbaby needed a name. Papa thought Sylvester Stallone would be a perfect name since the kitten was so courageous to have left his Moma and already be on the road at his age. He would sit under Papa's big hand to stay warm and snuggle around MaaMaa's neck like a kitty scarf. He slept in a warm, dimly lit closet with a fluffy blanket the first few weeks because my parents were afraid he'd get crushed sleeping in the big bed. During the afternoon, Papa would watch Star Trek : The Next Generation, and Sly would use Papa's legs like a tightrope , digging in with sharp claws across Paapaa's legs. I hear his legs got a bit scratched!
Sly grew to be a large beauty with a fluffy tail like mine.He loved to play in the sink with water and would dip his paws in MaaMaa's water glass.Sometimes the glass would fall over and the water would run down the table to the floor.He also loved the tiny balls his parents would throw under the gap in the old door, chase them all over the hall, sometimes batting them back under the door. Nancy Sinatra hissed at Sly and Mr. Chub loved him.
Sly's birthday was June 29th 2008 and he celebrated being a one year old in style. Lots of treats, hugs, and feathers. By late July, something terrible happened and he started having coughing attacks. Maa Maa took him in to the vet, thinking it was a hairball but it turned out that Sly had Mediastinal Lymphoma.: a bad cancer for a cat. He had rapid breathing and would get a shot of Prednisone that would help but the cancer kept growing. Every six weeks he'd have to get another shot and would feel pretty good and play but his energy was gone and he felt tired. As time went on Sly knew that the angels were waiting for him. MaaMaa even saw them fluttering at the window .Eventually Sly gently told his MaaMaa with his shiny,copper eyes that it was time to go to the Rainbow Bridge.He died peacefully Oct. 7th, 2008 and we remember him today and say a little prayer for Sly and all kitties who need prayers. We know Sly will be waiting for us at the Rainbow bridge when Jesus calls us home.Until we meet again, Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist