Donna, hugs to you and your family    Bucca is in the best place now and knows you have given him ALL of yourself.  Your sharing, brought back memories of my Shaq.  I know it's a hard thing to go through.  Keep the special moments close, and time will heal.

Thank you Dana, like I said, we have all been through this at one time or another. It's hard. I feel for everyone of you who have lost a "loving" pet. If it weren't for you all, I'd be up in my bed sulking. This at least keeps me busy.  everyone!

This is as good as it gets. A white dot.

And I see that white dot!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/decorah-eagles#id3064708 eggs soon. Love the birds in the background making noises.

Would it be different on nice sunny clear day?

That spectacled owl is spectac-u-lar. Thanks Bobbie, this is all keeping my mind focused.

Shaky, how did you spot him over there? Nice.

I read Dana's tweet.

Yeah, that will do it! Thanks

Thank you Aafke, hugs are good. Now Sam, Bucca's brother is howling all over the house looking for him. I feel bad for him too. He knows.

Dot, I know what you mean about replacing a beloved pet. Sam N Bucca were rescues from right outside my door. There were 4 of them, 3 boys and a girl. I took them in before anything bad happened to them. My friend Mark took 2 and we kept 2. So glad we did and we loved them both for almost 12 years. Sam is like a kitten still, full of spunk and always getting into mischief, something Bucca never did, except remove the ornaments from my Christmas tree. This past Christmas, Bucca tried but just didn't have enough strength to do that and he always, always, every year, slept under the tree. Not this time. I think Sam was a bit jealous of all the attention his brother was getting and he would lick Bucca, then hit him and leave. Poor Bucca, I think he was bewildered. Now it's only Sam and we will love him til the end also. Thank you.

Shaky, how did you spot him over there? Nice.

Donna and family, as I try to write this, I am crying so hard.  My heart aches for you all.  It is just awful to watch our beloved furry family members decline like this.  Bucca's purring was his gift of love to you for all the love you gave him-- and the biggest gift of love- to release him from his illness.  Every year, in Sept. I interpret an animal memorial service and I will light a candle for sweet Bucca when I do it this year.  I remember sobbing over my Harley's body.  and having to make that same horrrible but loving decision.  I hope you know how much we feel for you and your family and understand

  Thank you jeanne, that would be so nice.

It does pay to look at the cams:

from yesterday
Beauty is bowing to Mr T
Beauty takes off, see her?

Thank you all so much for your kind words. Yesterday was the hardest for me and my family. Gee, I can't stop crying. It started in October when we noticed Bucca's bottom jaw looked crooked and he couldn't eat. Took him to vet and all she noticed was maybe a small gum infection. Wow, it totally deformed his face. Ok so antibiotics for 7 days and he was cured, not! We noticed his weight going down, (Bucca was a huge cat, over 22 pounds) so when he lost a few ounces, who knew? Then he started shedding pounds and we knew something more was wrong. A trip to the vet for some blood work told us he was in Kidney failure! OMG, no, it can't be right. She said his numbers were off the charts. For example, his BUN for normal should have been 15-35, Bucca's was a 199 and all his other numbers were high also. I asked, how long, she couldn't give me an answer but I'm sure she knew. Said we can start him on fluid therapy, bring him in 5 days a week for a drip. I was willing to do so, then remembered we have a vet tech right next door. I asked Pamela if she would be willing to do this and she agreed. Went to vet, picked up a bag of fluids, the line and a needle. 1 bag will last 5 treatments, not bad I thought for $25 a week, (so I thought)! I went home and looked online for prices for the same fluid. WOW, was I shocked. I found the same thing for $4.49 a bag, so I ordered 5 of them plus free shipping, (with a prescription, of course). OK, so he had his 5 drips a week and was doing good, (a miracle I thought), yes, just for a few weeks. His health started failing bad about 4 days ago, he looked different, didn't eat much or drink, (he would only drink from the tub spicket at this point). When he tried to jump on the tub, he would fall in, not good. Called the vet again, Bucca won't eat, he said bring him in, we can hook him up for a few days with a few different fluids. I said guarantee? He said no, he is too far gone. He even said which shocked me that Bucca should not even be alive at this point! Whoa, heartache for sure. Well, we made Bucca comfy but all he wanted to do was hide, then we knew it was time. I made the most unimaginable call of my life and we took him in. By this time Bucca was 12 pounds and all you felt was bone. He laid on that table and he purred with every ounce of energy he had left as me and my daughter held him. He so knew we loved him and showed it by keeping his motor running. As I laid my head on his small frail body, I felt his last purr. Why did I do that? I needed to as I loved him with all that I had. He went peaceful. I pray he's at peace now. So THANK you all so much, I really do appreciate your heartfelt thoughts. I read them all to my family, which of course, made us all cry. It was a good cry. What a great bunch of animal lovers we have here and I know I'm not the only one to go through this.  and hugs to you all.

Donna & Family

Here's where we have Beauty and hopefully Archer, Lady Pefa and her mate, Charlotte Pefa and Brighton Pefas all stay and we have cameras, falcons and watchers all over the city!

Imagine??

Thank you Shaky, you turn ideas into reality.

I love this picture. Tell Mary she did good.

A very nice article Bobbie and a beautiful white Snowy. May he find his true love.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpps/news/national/whooping-cranes-raised-in-maryland-to-be-released-in-louisiana-021011_11823069 story and video