Shadow Shot Sunday #198 ~ Hootie

A pensive Hootie in the shadows. 

He loves our neighbor Jeanne and longs for her when she is gone!

For more Shadow Shot Sunday 2 photos, go visit  http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/.  Our hostess this week is Magical Mystical Teacher and to get a glimpse of her fab Shadow Shots, and usually some great haiku, just click here.

Blessings to all who pass this way.  Life is short.  Make sure to let those you love know how important they are to you.

love, Cassie 

Rest In Peace El Gato

Our daughter and son in law's Chartreaux cat, El Gato, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, 2/28/12.  He was rushed to the emergency vet and pronounced dead on arrival.  The vet said that he probably had an aneurism that ruptured, causing sudden death.  There was nothing that could be done to save him.  He was a wonderful boy and I fell in love with him from the moment I met him 9 years ago. Everyone who met him, cat folk or not, thought he was a wonderful cat.

Here is a little history about this serene fellow:   The "kids" adopted Gato early on in their marriage, after finding him starving, shaggy and frightened in the woods in Issaquah, WA.  They went around to all the local vets and also posted "Cat Found" posters around the area.  He was "de-clawed" (brutal amputation at the knuckles) when they found him so they figured he was someones indoor cat. When no one came forward to claim him, they went about getting his proper shots, etc. while nursing him back to health.  He totally became their cat.  The only thing I can say derogatory about Gato is that he was a miserable not a good traveler.  The kids only made one car trip with him to visit us in Idaho and it was a nightmare apparently.  Though he was normally very quiet he made noise and poohed and up-chucked the whole 9 hour trip. I think that was probably his one and only road trip...and maybe the only time he was naughty. About 2 years ago when Gato was at the vet it was discovered that he had a chip implanted in him.  The kids were devastated, fearing they would loose their wonderful cat, but knew the people that had owned him originally were probably missing him all those years. They prayed about what to do and decided they needed to contact the original owners. After many tears, they were prepared for the worst but hoped for the best.  The man that they talked with said that Gato was purchased for their little boy for his birthday, but when the cat ran away they got him another present. Just like that, he said, "No problem. He's your cat now."  Our daughter & SIL were so happy.  They called us to tell us the good news and we rejoiced with them.  Gato said nothing...he was a cat of few words, but we know he was happy too.

Rest in peace Gato.  You were a good boy and we will miss you.

Shadow Shot Sunday #197 ~ New England Aquarium

Leafy Sea Dragon

This is my friend Maria next to what I believe is a Goliath Grouper.

Here is another picture of the fish I've identified as a Goliath Grouper.  If anyone can identify this fish as other than a Grouper, please make sure to tell me in your comment, so I can change this label!

Sea Turtle (Really HUGE!)

Turtle

Sea Slug & Anemone

Winter Flounder 'eying' Me & Lobster

Sea Anemones & A Fish

Sea Anemones

Jellyfish

More Jellyfish

And More Jellyfish

Last week Patrick and I spent in the Boston area.  While our husbands went to school, my friend, Maria and I took the train to the New England Aquarium in Boston(as well as a side trip to a shopping plaza).  The aquarium was quite amazing and afforded me plenty of Shadow Shots.  I took about 100 photos inside the aquarium, but many didn't turn out as good as I had hoped.  Either my flash made a glare or when I turned off the flash the slow shutter speed made them a blur.  Oh well, I hope these photos that I've posted aren't too hard to look at.

For additional Shadow Shots please swim over to our host blog HERE.  This week, playing hostess to our international group, is the lovely Gemma, from Melbourne, Australia.  I hope that all who visit here are blessed in some small (or large!) way.Please come again.

love, Cassie

Shadow Shot Sunday #196

 

The top shadowy visage is our Airedale, Baby Rocket Dog, trying to get me to toss her ball for her while I was on the computer.  The next 3 shots I took while our Welsh Terrier, Hootie, was at his beginners agility class with Sun Dog Training & Behavior.  The course has some very large China Berry trees around the perimeter.  The third shot is where China Berry and Bamboo converge.  It is quite pleasant looking up while at agility class, but usually I'm busy either running Hootie or watching the other dogs learn to do the course.  If you double click on the last photo you get a better view of the berries.  They are very hard and Patrick told me that when he was a kid they used to use them with their sling shots.  Ouch!  To view more Shadow Shots from around the world, you can go over to http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/ or just click HERE.  Thanks to Rose, our hostess this week!

Hootie insisted that I include him in my SSS too, so here he is doing a good sit.  Blessings to all who pass this way.

love, Cassie

Shadow Shot Sunday #195 ~ Happy Valentine's Day!!

The Phoenix Zoo had a fundraiser several years ago and my sweetie bought this brick as a gift for me.  There is an identical one on the walkway to the Phoenix Zoo, so if you ever go to the zoo, look around row 121 for our brick!  The hand sculpture is my Valentine's gift to Patrick this year.   It means "I love you" in American Sign Language (ASL).  I think it's nice to have these little reminders around.

This weeks hostess for Shadow Shot Sunday is Toby in Israel.  For shadow shots from around the world, just click HERE.

Here's hoping you all have a good weekend and Happy Valentine's Day!!
love,
Cassie

A Neat Video of The Sheep Herding Rabbit

This is such a cool YouTube video of Champis ~ The Big Little Rabbit.    My pooches little friend, Lacie the Lakie, pointed it out to us.  We have since gone to Sweden, via the blog of the folks who made this, and it is wonderful!  Their blog address is:  www.gardsbacken.blogspot.com .  Go take a look. 
Have a great week!
love,
Cassie

Shadow Shot Sunday #194 ~ Sunset In Phoenix

Here is the view from our patio at sunset.  We're in the city, so not a whole lot of neighbors in the evening (other than coyotes & roadrunners!).  I like it that way!
To see more Shadow Shots click here.  Our hostess this weekend is Magical Mystical Teacher.
Blessings & love,
Cassie

Shadow Shot Sunday #193 ~ Seating Shadows

It's time for our Shadow Shots once again.  I decided to pick a theme this week, so delved into my photo archives for all the chair shadows I could find. Even the dullest appearing chair or seating arrangement can cast an interesting shadow it seems.  The bottom photo was actually taken automatically by my husband's game-cam which I had placed on the floor at the cabin. I have several interesting shots that were taken that way...All of the dogs in various poses, initiating the automatic shutter.  This week Miss Gemma is our hostess with the mostess.  To get to the host blog, just click HERE.  Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.  Blessings on your head!

love,

Cassie

Shadow Shot Sunday #192 ~ Guest Photographer

Patrick has had his eye on this saguaro cactus for a while now.  He is fascinated at how it seems to be growing out of the rock outcropping.  He got these shots when our daughter and SIL were here.  I'm guessing the artist in Patrick and the ham in David helped concoct this middle photo.
For more Shadow Shots from around the world, you can just click HERE. Our hostess this week is Rose.
Blessings to all who pass this way.

love, Cassie

Shadow Shot Sunday #191 ~ Poolside

Here are a few shots I took at the pool the beginning of this new year.  Can you see the date palm tree shadow in my first shot?
For more Shadow Shots swim on over to our host blog HERE. Say hello to Rosie, this weeks hostess while you're there.   Tell her Cassie sent you!
Blessings.