slvrwhispr's furkids!

[k9Karen]

You never know. Are your ancestors from The Netherlands?

[slvrwhispr]

No ma'am. Poland and Puerto Rico. Odd combination, I know.

[k9Karen]

In a global sense, we are all cousins, as we all trace back to the original humans, but it is unlikely that you and I are closely related. All my relatives in GR are of Dutch ancestry. Your combination is not odd at all. America is after all, quite a melting pot and very few of us are "purebreds", most of us are mutts. Myself, I'm a mixture of Dutch and mixed British (English, Welsh, Scotich and Irish) ancestry. I'm an Air Force brat - some of my best friends were "odd combinations". One of the salesmen who used to call on me at work was 1/2 Polish and 1/2 Japanese. (He looked Japanese, but had a large Polish nose). The couple next door to me would fit the definition of odd or unusual to most people. He's from the mid east (moslem) and she's from Puerto Rico (catholic). They have visitors all the time who are obviously moslem - the women all observe Haj (I think that's the right word) and cover themselves completely. My neighbor will be out in her yard in shorts and a tank top. Three doors down, she's of Pakistani origin (born in the US) and he's African American. She's been disowned by her moslem family for marrying outside of their nationality and faith. They refuse to have any contact with her or her sister who also married an American. I believe she coverted to Christianity, but I'm not completely certain - I don't know her that well. One of the techs I work with is married to a man who is from Peru (she's from Cuba). His ancestors are Spanish, Chinese and Inca Indian. So I've know a lot of "odd combinations" all my life.

[Traci]

Slvr, I've been following this post, but you never stated when you're due to travel?

As for landlords, I will never understand how they can get away with requiring declaws, although I do understand they don't want their carpets and drapes ripped up, no one has the right to demand someone else's cats are declawed. Landlords like that do not deserve your hard-earned money.

You'll find something for you and Jon when the time is right. Try to save money, keep your credit excellent and it will happen for you when it's supposed to. I am thankful you have wonderful parents who are so willing to help you!

As for Tyler, Emmy might surprise you and actually appreciate his mellowness. Take it one day at a time, with slow introductions. One usually does not have to worry about the cats antagonizing the dogs, LOL, you must be the exception!

Karen, I agree, we're all mutts. I'm probably more closely related to you, scary though, eh?

[slvrwhispr]

Traci, growing up, the neighbors across the street had an orange tabby about 8 years old, and then they got a golden retriever. They thought for sure that they'd have to keep the puppy away from the cat, and it was SO the other way around. Bogart (cat) tormented BJ (pup) endlessly! He spent much of his daylight hours in the back yard playing with us kids just so he didn't have to be around that mean ol' kitty. They got along eventually, but man, that cat did NOT want that dog in his territory!

We're hitting the road on the 30th of this month. I'm so torn. Part of me can't wait to be home, part of me really doesn't want to leave this place for good. Oh well, such is life.

[Traci]

Awww, I understand those emotions. Try to think of it as another new beginning.

[k9Karen]

Karen, I agree, we're all mutts. I'm probably more closely related to you, scary though, eh?

No, not scary at all. Are your ancestors British or Dutch?

[Traci]

Take your pic, Swedish, French, English, Irish. A heck of alot of Irish on one side I'm surprised my family isn't at war, LOL.

[slvrwhispr]

Quick update, as the POD just arrived to be unloaded, but it's cold and I don't wanna go outside...

Things settled down quickly here. Emmy figured out pretty quick that Tyler isn't going to chase her anywhere. If she's sleeping on the couch or the recliner, he'll walk by and give her a friendly sniff and she doesn't protest. When he's laying on the living room floor sleeping, she'll creep around him and sniff around. It's pretty cute. He just watches her. My old man dog... such a good boy. This is the dog that would find my sister's escaped hamster and bring it to me in his mouth, perfectly unharmed, and even suspiciously not damp.

Izzy... ohhh lordy, she's happy to be here. When I say happy, I mean HAPPY. She walks around nuzzling everybody, purring CONSTANTLY (which is funny when she's in the basement because it's loud enough to echo!) and cuddling all over the place. She did the funniest thing last night... I was trying to clean the baseboards in the basement suite (lots of dust and dog hair under the wood, was scrubbing at it with a dry tooth brush) and she kept talking talking talking at me, so I finally stopped to give her some cuddles. I flipped her over on her back in my arms because she doesn't mind and then she doesn't milk tread all over me (she's got strong little paws). Well, normally she wouldn't tolerate me touching her belly, understandably, but last night she stretched one back leg out, so I gave it a go. Gently rubbing her belly fur. And then she stretched the other leg out, totally exposing her belly! Purring like a motorboat, DH comes over and she lets him rub her belly too! And she did it again this morning laying in bed with me. Just rolled over, splayed legs, looking at me, then purring when I gave her a belly rub. I'd say this is one cat that feels very content here.

Oh, the other cute thing (remember when I said this was going to be a quick update? I lied... LOL) that Emmy has been doing... my sister comes over a lot with her baby, three months old. He is, of course, never unsupervised, especially around the animals. But Emmy is ENTHRALLED with the tiny human. She loves to sniff and nuzzle him, and she loves to watch him in his swing. She'll sit on a chair or on the couch near him and just get hypnotized by him swinging. And she loves to hop up on the changing table when he's getting a diaper change and just sit there, watching protectively. We keep a super-close eye on her so she doesn't catch him with a claw, but she seems to sense that he must be handled gently and follows our lead. It's just adorable that she seems so protective of him. And I have had MANY nights where I've had Noah in one arm sleeping and Emmy sprawled out on my other arm napping. I have a pic somewhere... I'll post it when I get a chance.

And now, back to painting and unpacking... blah!

[momPaws]

So glad they are doing well. Poor Angel was hiding all day as I had a 3 year old here...now she is so happy to be with me again...grandma needs a nap!