Tag Archives: companions

Man’s or Woman’s Best Friend

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How many of you have given up the privilege of caring for a pet? It doesn’t have to be a dog or cat. It can actually be a bird, fish or anything else you can think of…

In our home we’ve had spiders, snakes, parrots, bunnies, lizards, skunks, and just about anything else you could think of. If you are wondering why, four words…I have Two boys! As the last child, my daughter was a Tom Boy (go figure), and was into anything her brothers were.

We have lost many animals, as many of you have. It’s always sad when you loose a companion regardless of what it looks like. Sometimes it takes longer to get over the loss of a pet than it does a family member. (Remember, You can’t choose family, but you can choose a pet!) Family can be very critical, but our animals give us unconditional love. I’m sure our families do as well, but they seem to be adept at surrounding that love with criticism.

Peppa meditating

How many of you still have pets for companionship? Are they birds, cats, dogs, or something else that gives you pleasure? Many people love little birds like canaries, or parakeets. In my eyes, as long as they bring you joy, it’s a wonderful way to get pleasure, and be happy. After all, it gives us something to get up for, take care of, and have purpose for.

We just adopted a French Bull Dog, or a Frenchie. She is stubborn, a little crazy, loving, and a couch potato. Perfect for anyone not having a lot of energy! Perfect for Us!

Peppa and Papa being lazy!

Let me know what kind of companion you have, or that runs your household. I find all our pets are not for us, we are for them. And to prove it, they run our households.

I appreciate you taking time to read my blog, and hope you are all well.

Until next time, with Gratitude, Karen

Cruising the Baltic Sea…

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Stockholm

Stockholm

This year we were privileged to be able to take two vacations, and they are much different from what I had imagined!  Friends of ours asked us to join them on a cruise to Russia this year, and after much thought, we decided it would be fun and interesting.  My husband didn’t have any desire to travel to the Baltic Sea, and I can’t say I’d given it much thought either, but after looking at the itinerary, we decided it was an adventure of the “Happy Accident” kind!

We flew into Amsterdam, then on to Stockholm Sweden. The cruise left from Stockholm, and for seven days we were fortunate enough to have smooth sailing on the Baltic Sea!  Smooth enough that my husband who never leaves home on vacation without his trusty sea-sick patches, didn’t even use them.

He what?

Les’  not using the sea-sick patches came about because our luggage was lost, and the patches were in the luggage.  I did however see a moment of panic in his eyes when he realized the patches  were in that particular piece of luggage.

After the realization of not having the two bags that we never wanted  to lose set in, we started gathering the most needed of necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and…….sea-sick patches.  Of course since the patches were a prescription, and not easily replaced, we found the sundries department on our ship.  Fortunately, they had wrist bands that put  pressure on specific points on the inside of the wrist.  Once on, they squeeze so tightly that I’m sure it’s convincing that they are working.  The fact is….not only did they work, they worked well!  This I say because my husband,  Les  never once threw up on anyone, or anything.  The real truth is,  the sea was so calm, we couldn’t believe it.  I have never been on a cruise like it before, and probably never will again!  At the end of the cruise, even my husband didn’t bother with the wrist bands.  This is an act of bravery on his part for sure, because in the past all that needs to be mentioned is boat, and I have a green husband.  So to not wear the bands was a huge leap of faith for this man!

Les the Brave

Les the Brave

Pride shot through me as we walked into the dining-room for dinner on that  last night.  Everyone asked why I looked so different?  I wanted to shout it out from the balcony in the dining-room that my husband wasn’t wearing any wrist bands, but I contained myself if only for the sake of our traveling companions.  This was  a huge gift Les had given me, the gift of knowing how brave my partner in crime was on our trip cruising the Baltic sea,  and Russia.

Thank you all for your interest in the ramblings of our adventures.