Comfrey was the first, just days old when his mother was killed by a tractor, raised on a bottle, he grew to be big. He liked to go for walks.
When Comfrey died, Arthur and Martha, brought home in a cardboard box, small ginger bundles. Arthur went to live with my neighbour but would always come back to visit.
Max next. When he was young Hannah carried him everywhere in a basket. Now he spends his days in the wood pile and always greets when we get home.
Bird found us. Small black cat, he always loved Bella.
Then Pixie and Maurice. And I can say nothing about Maurice without raising tears. I loved him so.
And Kiffer, who had already used some of his nine lives before he came to live with us and then borrowed some from Maurice.
And Elmo.
When Comfrey died, Arthur and Martha, brought home in a cardboard box, small ginger bundles. Arthur went to live with my neighbour but would always come back to visit.
Max next. When he was young Hannah carried him everywhere in a basket. Now he spends his days in the wood pile and always greets when we get home.
Bird found us. Small black cat, he always loved Bella.
Then Pixie and Maurice. And I can say nothing about Maurice without raising tears. I loved him so.
And Kiffer, who had already used some of his nine lives before he came to live with us and then borrowed some from Maurice.
And Elmo.
Such beautifully executed darlings.
ReplyDeleteAll gorgeous too!
ReplyDeleteLovely memories, not one quite like the other - ever.
Sandie xx
oh Jackie I feel the burning of tears when you speak of this,, I know the hurt you speak of all too well, please be happy, you did them all proud and a better home they never could have had,,happy thoughts I send to you,
ReplyDeleteThat a is lovely painting
ReplyDeleteOur Cat story would start with Charlie a gentle black short hair who followed my brother and sister home from school, followed by General Smutty...a small black farm kit with white paws, nose and whiskers who never made it too adulthood, Dusty..tabby and white ..a serious hunter who lived to be an old cat, Mitzi who arrived in a cardboard box thrown over the hedge into a nearby field... the list quietly goes on through time each with a story.. but they only come together in pictures in my memories
How lovely to be able to paint good memories and the present together
Some wonderful memories there, I'm sure. Aren't they all just so special.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful cats and stories. I will never forget your photo of two orangies in the field, with tangled tails. I had my own cat once, he is to me like Maurice is to you, and I know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteThe lives of our beloved pets are always too short by human reckoning--even when they are blessed with the fullest measure of cat or dog or horse years.
ReplyDeleteThe passing of some of them leaves an empty place that won't be filled.
A wonderful tribute to your cats, past and present. Made me think of my first, second, third.......each one so unique in character, and regretably some with lives cut short but still with us long enough to share their feline souls. X.
ReplyDeleteIt's is years gone by, and I still miss my rumpled, 6 toed orange boy.
ReplyDeleteOrange goes deep into the heart.
Beautiful loves...
ReplyDeleteJackie, that is lovely, the painting and the words.
ReplyDeletexxx
I spent a few minutes remembering ours, over 50 years of cats on the farm and my married life, down to one now the huge and magnificent Oscar but there were many to remember.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have shared your life with these lovely friends and to be able to carry the memories of those no longer with you in your heart and share their loveliness with us in a painting.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Robyn
so sweet so beautiful
ReplyDeletePLEASE tell me this will be a card or a print that we can buy!!!!!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful marmalade cats... with a little cream and dark chocolate thrown in... but for Max the tiger of the woodpile. I know the loss of a cat too and how much it hurts and how deeply.
ReplyDeleteOur measure would be Possum a bright ginger and white longhaired cat who adopted us. Locks who was a honey-blonde longhaired cat from cat rescue. He'd lived with an old lady who'd called him Goldilocks. When we realised he was a Tom we called him Locksley or Locks for short. Then followed Manfred a cat of mainly dark brown and white, also longhaired who was frightened of most things unless he surprised himself and was brave by mistake. He was a champion long-distance sleeper as many cats are. All have lived and been loved and have loved us according to their lights before moving on to the great prowl in the next life.
Oh I have had a Maurice in my life too
ReplyDeletelost him last year
I loved how you did this
I have always wanted to write such a thing as this
so important were they in my life
there when I needed them
and no other
wonderful telling of your life of felines
What a beautiful painting of all your wonderful friends together and each one remembered as an individual.
ReplyDeleteTashacat
I feel sad too, when you mention lovely Maurice, as I know how much you loved him.
ReplyDeleteAnd all of them. All in a line.
oh jackie, that pulled at my heart strings, I felt your pain through your words. they are still with you, you know, just the other side of that veil...
ReplyDeleteblessings to you, Leanne x
What a beautiful remeberance of your precious feline family.
ReplyDeleteOh, it brings a tear to my eye. I love seeing all those kitties.
ReplyDeleteI love that Maurice and Elmo lent Kiffer some of their lives. Beautiful.
ReplyDeletea beautiful study, of beautiful cat-souls, from a beautiful human soul!
Leanne x
So beautiful. After commenting I am going to go back and look at one of your posts about Maurice because your words and tears made me, a faraway reader, miss him too. It is a feeling I understand, as I miss my orange-and-white boy, Bleecker, so deeply to this day. I cannot believe that this Christmas it will be five years since he died.
ReplyDeleteI love this drawing. Any cat person would adore having their beloved cats drawn in one piece like this. It is very special.
What a great parade of cats.
ReplyDeleteI know...still have really sad moments when I think about my special kitty. Have one left & she is a comfort-but........
ReplyDelete