See the little brown cat in the arms of his master? My heart is breaking when I look at his sweet face. Our dearest Oskar has lost his battle with liver disease despite putting up an incredible fight right until the end.
We have the scars to prove it - administering pills to Oskar had always been challenging.
Actually the 13 years we spent with Oskar was often a challenge. The yowling in the middle of the night, just to remind you he was there.
The nonchalant puke over the side of the kitchen chair on to the floor and going back to sleep afterwards as if nothing had happened.
The chicken carcasses regularly dragged through the cat flap as a special, if greasy, gift. (We have no idea where he got these from.)
The tiny, but deadly, squirt of cat wee up against the skirting board which would have us armed with various potions to vanquish the smell.
But all was forgiven as he curled into your arms at the end of the day, warm, purring and ever loving.
So there it is, Oskar joins darling Bluebell in the next place. There's got to be a next place, right?
I can't believe we have lost two cats in less than one year. We have had these three for what seems like forever . . now we have only one. Poor Percy. and poor, poor Alexei, whose heart has been broken twice this year. It doesn't get easier.
But I have some cheery pictures to share too. The lovely Mr and Mrs Cupcakes on their big day.
I think this was the nicest wedding celebration I have ever been too. Relaxed and so, so pretty in every way.
Many, many congratulations to Catherine and Ben. May you have a long and totally fabulous life together.
And a new drawing always makes me happy (when it turns out alright).
I am fascinated by the moon and we all like to watch the night sky at Pixieland. I wrote a note to Alexei's teacher to explain why he was late to school last Tuesday. . .we stood in the garden on a balmy, honeysuckle scented night to watch the international space station fly over us.
And space might come a little bit nearer this weekend as now Roland is whisking us off for the trip of a lifetime to the Space Center in Houston. I daydream quite a lot about being an astronaut but I suspect would be totally useless as I would spend my whole time gazing out of the window rather than flicking switches and recording data.
We are off this Saturday. There is still much to look forward to despite the sadness.
Sleep well sweet Oskar. We will be thinking of you as we look at the stars.