goodnight, shade.

shade

1992-2010

shade, my dearest old cat, the last of the three wise cats, passed away last night in my lap watching a light romantic comedy. shade was the sweetest cat i have ever known. he loved all animals. and fully embraced our move from city to farm three years ago. he loved being outdoors during the day with his rabbits and indoors at night watching over the baby birds. many of the poultry here owe their lives to his kind supervision. our farm will never be the same.

shade watching over the bunnies

enjoying the grass

surveying the lawn

the three wise cats circa 2002

(nico, chelsea, & shade)

super shade

shade post

goodbye, friend

bye bye birdie.

i am sorry to report that floppy the twisted-neck chick didn't make it. she was doing so good. was up and walking and eating on her own. but it just wasn't in the cards for her. she took a turn for the worse and stopped walking and eating. i kept dosing her with gruel and vitamin water. and i made sure she was peaceful, well-hydrated, and loved in her final hours. mother nature had other plans for her. perhaps she has flown off to be chelsea's sidekick. chelsea loved birds.

chelsea

rest in peace, abraham.

king abraham

my handsome bearded dragon, abraham, passed away this afternoon due to natural causes. i am deeply saddened. he was a good lizard. he loved to eat, had a sweet tooth for tomatoes, and was a great aid in helping abolish the dreaded hornworm infestation of 2008. once the weather clears, he will be buried in the yard next to his dear friend, chelsea.

when he was a wee abe

doing his push-ups

chelsea girl.

miss chelsea

1992-2008

chelsea passed away in her sleep last night. i will rememeber her as a kitten with ears too big for her head. a cat that loved chicken and tuna and cheese. in her heyday, a princess who commanded attention with coal-lined egyptian eyes. the wisest of the legendary "three wise cats". in her former years, an eccentric recluse whose rare filmed interviews helped to promote feline senility awareness as well as pet turkey safety.

she is survived by parents, larissa & jason rook; brothers, porkchop, shade & jerry; step-sister, amber. a service will be held this evening at sundown behind "the pool" and next to her prized volvo station wagon.

miss chelsea's last waltz.

my cat chelsea is older than time. i spent the afternoon with her yesterday while she lounged outside on the cool carport floor. although it hurts to see her decline, to fade away, i'm glad that she has had the chance to enjoy the wild outdoors, gentle winds, and butterflies. i think it is a perfect retirement. chelsea has been sick for the past three years. nothing has ever been diagnosed. probably just old age. a lot of which hasn't been pretty. i wrestled with the idea of photographing her in her final days. is it something i want to remember? but i think it is just as important as when she was in her prime. it is life. and it is humbling. and it is what is in the future for every living thing.

she still has the pinkest button nose and the softest green eyes. she is amazingly strong. she just keeps on keeping on. but i'm afraid the velvet curtains are ready to close. she will soon take a graceful bow and exit stage left.

a few words from mr donkey...

"i would like to set the record straight, i am NOT afraid of cats. my grandma rita gave the fine ladies at her work false information this morning. i have the utmost respect and admiration for my feline companions. this photo, i hope, will be proof enough. it is imperative that i be fairly represented. my fans, especially the fabulous ladies of washington county memorial, deserve at least that." - mr donkey

leroy's famous.

he made it to the main page of "i can has cheezburger" posthumously. and just in time for turkey day. he's at god's table now.

leroy's lament.

porkchop, donkey, chelsea & shade reflect on the life of leroy the turkey in "leroy's lament", the latest episode of "the secret lives of farm animals."

meet miss chelsea.

i am slowly but surely losing my mind. the animals are taking over. started their own series on youtube. a documentary of sorts. "little leroy eats a cookie" was the pilot more or less. here is a link to episode one.

meet miss chelsea.

send help, please.

the houseguest , an art film by herr daniels.

it was a lazy predictable saturday afternoon. porkchop was bored.

"i am so sad". no one ever comes to visit us.

"i have an idea" says miss chelsea.

"i will wave my magic paw and conjure up a visitor."

"ha! you ain't no magic cat, " porkchop laughs.

"wait a minute. maybe you is magic. my nose detects a visitor."

"why hello there! my name is ellie and i traveled from afar."

"come on porkchop. get up. let's play."

"what was i thinking? dogs tire me," complained miss chelsea.
next time i conjure up a visitor, it's gonna be rap-cat from rally's."
meow meow meow meow meow meow

the end.

miss chelsea.

my 14 year old cat chelsea has been sick. she recently lost a bunch of weight and has been having accidents outside her litterbox. i took her to the vet and they ran a bunch of tests. good news is she's fine. bad news is, she still likes to shit the bed. isn't senility great? anyways, i'm glad she isn't sick.

my three cats.

meet nico, chelsea, and shade. these are my cats. they have taken over the guest room. they aren't very ambitious. they are motivated by food and fear of jerry.