Monday, November 8, 2010

Back again .........

First, I want to thank each of you for your thoughts and prayers for my Dad. He passed away around 4:00 Saturday morning. I'm glad his suffering is over and that he is at peace. He lived a good, long life (96 years). He wanted to be at home and I'm thankful that we were able to keep him there until the end. We had services for him this afternoon. My brother-in-law played the guitar, and he and my nephew sang a beautiful hymm. My cousin, who has been farming Dad's land since Dad sold his cows, is being deployed to Afghanistan this week and couldn't attend the funeral. He wrote a touching rememberance of Dad that his son read. It was truly a celebration of his life.

We don't usually have many visitors, but over the weekend there were lots of people going in and out. Maggie May is terribly upset over all the strange people smells in her house. She never has been a friendly cat - usually hiding under the bed when someone comes and staying there for at least an hour after they leave. She had been crying and pacing the floor all night, until I finally calmed her down a few minutes ago. Mazie Grace is out and about on her nightly hunting expedition. Last night was very productive - she had a squirrel and a bird for breakfast this morning. Mollie Ann is in the garage curled up on the rocking chair, resting after filling her fat belly.

Our weather has been sunny but cool. It finally feels like fall. We haven't had a frost around my house yet, so my flowers are still blooming. The tomato plants look better than they did all summer, and I have lots of little green tomatoes that will probably never ripen. We will have to start getting up leaves before long - they are falling fast. I haven't gotten used to the idea of fall yet, and before long Christmas will be here. Seems the older I get, the faster time flies.

I'm off to catch up on your blogs - if I don't fall asleep first.

17 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

My sympathies on the passing of your dad, but (96), my what a lucky man. It's sometimes hard to stay sad when one has lived a good, long life. May happy memories be everywhere.

Our black cat Buddy hates company and hides. The other (3) are not as timid.

Take care.

Becky Mushko said...

My condolences, too, but how nice for your father that he was able to be home at the end. I know this must be a difficult time for you.

My cats don't do well with strangers either. If they run down the hall and vanish under a bed, we know that someone will knock on the door within a minute.

KathyA said...

Oh Mary, I am so very sorry about your dad's passing. Ninety six years is an amazing lifetime; a blessing.

Our cats have always figured if we had company, it was for them! I bet MM also senses your loss; it's not just the people smells bothering her.

Glad you're back. Blessings, Kathy

Michelle said...

96 yrs really is an amazing lifetime, but I know that doesn't really take away the hurt. My sympathies on his passing.

Unknown said...

So sorry for your loss. I'm so glad he was able to be at home, and to have lived a long and happy life, much loved by those around him. What more can any of us ask for? He will be looking down on you all. My thoughts are with you and your family in this difficult time.

~Tara

Linda said...

96 is a long life. Your dad was a lucky man. He was fortunate to have you living so close.

Now all the kitties can settle in for a long winter nap.

rachel said...

Thinking of you with much sympathy. x

Pat said...

My condolences on your Father's passing. It was good that you were able to keep him at home, like he wished. Sound like a beautiful service.

You are right...time does seem to go by faster the older you get. Need to find a way to slow things down.

Arkansas Patti said...

I am so sorry you lost your father. It was a blessing he had such a long life and could be at home in the end. Even when you know it is coming, it is so hard.
My sympathies to you and your family.

NitWit1 said...

What a blessing to have had a parent for 96 years. My Dad died at 92 but far from me in distance in a nursing home.

My best memories are our discussions of his life when I would visit him. However his hearing became so bad, that conversation turned to yelling which I really hated, and soon we often sat in silence. It probably was a comfort I was there for the brief times I visited, just sitting as the home to home was so lonely when Mother died.

J_on_tour said...

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you .

Sweetflutterbys3 said...

I'm sorry about your dad. It's never easy to lose someone special. You and your family are in my prayers.

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry to read about your dad's passing. It's nice that he lived to such a wonderful old age and had a long life. But it's very hard to lose a parent young or old. I'm glad he was able to remain at home as he hoped to be in much cozier, loving surroundings until the end. The celebration sounds beautiful.

I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers and will be thinking of you.

Poor Maggie May, I hope things are more to her liking soon! I have a few hunters here too and they have been quite active lately. Oy! What a cutie Mollie is! Our animals are such a comfort, aren't they?

~ Amy

CountryDew said...

I am very sorry to learn of your loss and I hope you find comfort wherever and however you can. It is difficult to lose a parent regardless of how old you are - and I'm sure you were your daddy's girl. I am glad you were there to help him with his last days.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. My deepest condolences.

Anonymous said...

Sending a huge hug of condolences and love your way during this sad time. What a long and wonderful life I'm sure he had.

Take care,
Di

Thistle Cove Farm said...

My condolences on the passing of your Dad; it's always hard but you had him at home and that means a great deal. I'm sorry I've not been keeping up; Dave has been diagnosed with cancer and I'm over whelmed. Keeping up is so hard and, mostly, I fall behind.