A loving tribute.......

I am saddened to inform you all that I lost my handsome boy, Valentino, last week.

He has made several appearances here on the blog

from time to time.

I thank God for all of the wonderful time

I have been able to spend with
him throughout his life

here on earth.

Valentino

Adopted 1/28/2004 - 5/26/2019

Several of you follow me on social media, and have been so kind and supportive.

I can't thank you all enough for that.

After losing Gracie Lu 2 years ago, I realized how supportive

my quilting friends are.

Please know, although the loss of Valentino is great, 

he left this world under greatly different circumstances than

Gracie Lu.

Of course, losing someone you love is ALWAYS

difficult.  But, when you know the life they lived

was a happy and long one, it does make the pain

for you a little more acceptable.

Please indulge me while I brag on my

good looking boy in this post.

Believe it or not, it will be somewhat

quilt related, because, Mr. Valentino was

my constant companion in my studio.

I adopted Valentino in 2004, shortly after I lost my

cat I had all throughout High School, College and

the beginning of my flying career.

The volunteer at the shelter got him out for me, and Val put on

quite a show.  I said to him, "if you want to come home with me,

jump on my lap."

No sooner when I said that, and he was right there

on my lap!

He was quite vocal on the way home in the crate.

He didn't like being confined in the crate.

As soon as I opened the door of the crate

and started petting him, he stopped meowing.

The shelter listed him as a  2 1/2 - 3 year old "spayed female."

"She" was a domestic longhair, and was in desperate need of  

a good grooming.  I named "her" Princess Petunia.

(Notice in the photo above....Valentino wasn't crazy

about being mistaken for a girl.....OR the name!" LOL

  

When I picked him up from the groomer, I will never

forget the laugh I had with the groomer when she said,

"You don't have a princess!"

I was somewhat embarrassed, thinking "Princess Petunia"

had misbehaved.

Then the groomer said, "you have a PRINCE!"

Oh!!!! No wonder he didn't like that name!!!!!

Valentino was the perfect name for my

handsome prince!

He has been the PERFECT feline

for the past 15 years.

No joke!

He never destroyed ANYTHING.

And, he LOVED his litter box......he

never left any unwanted surprises anywhere

other than his litter box! LOL

Cat lovers will understand! LOL

He even caught a mouse in the house once!

That earned HUGE bonus points with my

Little Momma! LOLOL

He always loved Christmas, and I am telling you

the honest truth when I say, he NEVER

even batted at a Christmas ornament!  EVER!

He LOVED laying under the Christmas tree though.

He loved posing for photographs in that "cat" kind of way.

You know, like, I am NOT going to look at the camera...

so just take the picture like this!

See what I mean?

"I fell in love with you, 

the first time I looked into

.......them, there eyes!"

The Cat's Meow!

As the years past,

Mr. Puss E. Paws (AKA Valentino)

began to show signs of age.

Cat naps became much more frequent and longer.

Oh, how I loved to cuddle up with him,

and let him purr me to sleep.

There's something so soothing

about a cat's purr, don't you think?

This photo really kind of sums up

our relationship. LOL

I love this pic of us!

When he was diagnosed as diabetic

a few years ago,

he received the best of care that

could be provided to him.

This did slow him down,

and he became more frail.

Through it all, he has been my constant sewing companion.

My studio snoopervisor.

And he always let me know what he thought

of  what I was working on.

I had a feeling time was short for

Valentino last week.

Isn't it odd how you get those feelings?

It wasn't a feeling of doom.....

it wasn't that he was acting any different....

it was a feeling of enjoy

everything while it lasts.

The photo above and below are 

the last photos I have of me and my

handsome boy.

I loved him til the end.

It was peaceful.

He was not in pain,

nor was he suffering.

He made a very quiet exit.

Remember when Gracie Lu passed,

and I told you all the story about my Grandma's rose

bushes blooming when she had passed?

The roses came out in full force

the day Gracie Lu passed.....

No kidding folks.......they bloomed for Valentino too!

A simple and meaningful blessing to me.

Thank you God!

And,

thanks Meemaw and Gracie Lu too!

Mr. Valentino is at home forever now.

If you have ever thought about cremation

for a pet, I highly recommend finding a reputable

crematorium for animals that offers

private cremation.

I can't thank the folks at

Loving Hearts

Pet Memorial Services

for providing such comforting

assistance during this time of loss.

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

Keep on Quilting!

Kevin the Quilter