signs of things to come

first frost

i woke up to the first sugar coated frost of the season, and i realized how close the winter really is. fall is always too short for my liking, but i guess that is what makes it so glorious too. as the darkness spills into the daylight hours, i am busy filling all the baskets of my life like the little squirrels gathering nuts. i feel very centered, very hopeful, and all cozied up in a very comfortable, happy place. there are lot's of wonderful things to come...

so busy

creating together

making applesauce for school

staying warm and cozy together


celebrating the small steps

and stretching my creativity

these are just a few glimpses of what i've been up to. on the whole life has been extremely full and very busy. i've recently noticed that i function best with a lot going on. it seems with a lot on my plate, the more momentum i have to get things done. this helps me dive into my days with more excitement and inspiration, and also fuels me with the much needed energy to be present for myself and my family.

for now i am enjoying being in this flow as i am getting ready to take some pretty significant creative~life leaps in the very near future. just yesterday i finally opened my etsy shop. it's been hanging around empty since last spring waiting for the right moment to open. this photo above shows the beginning stages of my first original piece up for sale. i am excited to have that space to share more of my creativity with the world.

at home, things with the boys have been moving so quickly it seems. the baby is growing in leaps and bounds, so many firsts already recorded! my oldest son is growing more into himself every day. he's got new passions (pokemon and harry potter), new friends (mostly girls :) and a new perspective on his own struggles and triumphs. it's been a whirlwind fall already and i feel like i've learned so much about myself as a parent these past few months, even more so than in the past couple of years. maybe #2 does that to you... shows you that beyond all the worry and the inexperience is the true parent that we are. i feel like i have just stepped into that place of my motherhood, and it feels so comfortable and good. it's given me a level of confidance that i never really knew i was missing, and has spilled over into all the areas of my life.

it must be what growing truly feels like!

inspire imagination

my husband and i spent the day in the city yesterday exploring the new harry potter exhibit. it was a really fun look inside the imaginary movie world of those beloved hogwarts wizards and witches. there was so much to see... set pieces, movie costumes, original props, and movie magic secrets revealed. from an artistic point of view, it must have been so exciting to recreate this world for the big screen!

i loved seeing all the attention to every tiny detail, especially on the smallest of things - the buttons on the robes, the carvings on the wands, the wizard money, the packaging of the candy, all the graphic pieces that were made like the newspapers and textbooks and wizard magazines. some of my favorite things up close were professor umbridge's office (all pink, i loved the drapes), the griffendor dorms including contents of harry and ron's trunks, the yule ball gowns of hermione and cho, the marauders map, and the boggart wardrobe - such a beautiful piece.

creative imagination like this on such a grand scale is just so inspiring... if you can dream it, you can create it! simply magical.

recovering from the whirwind

"pink sky" at detroit airport

i am back from a whirwind visit to the midwest. the littlest one and i traveled to ohio to spend some time with a whole slew of family who i haven't seen in a few years, and who were meeting the baby for the first time. we successfully navigated all the travelling and visiting and had a really nice time.

it amazes me how much calmer and more confident i am with this second one. i would never have been brave enough to fly solo with my first as an infant. he was a wonderful travel companion, happy to be out in the world, taking it all in, and smiling on every person who crossed his path. the flight attendant on the way home affectionately named him "cheeks".

poor big brother was home sick all week with dad, so today he and i are laying low, lounging in our pj's and catching up on our rest.

"cheeks" with his great grandma

postcards from my son

all of these images were captured by my 6 year old over the past weekend. i love being able to see the world from his point of view... tiny but profound moments (like saying goodbye to his nana and grandpa at the airport), and the beauty of nature that truly brings him peace and joy. i especially love the self portrait and laugh out loud that he tried to take a picture of himself :) clever little boy!

it was a very busy and full week visiting with family, and being out of his normal routine made the days a little tricky to navigate. so in the stillness of a quiet house this morning, i uploaded these pictures as i thought about what i wanted to share. then, there on my screen was everything i could think to say and more. narrated in these moments are treasured little bits of happiness. even amidst the chaos there is meaningful yet simple joy. this is what we all try to capture and hold on to.

this is what i need to always remember, and hope to share.

remembering gratitude

i am grateful tiny toes and for being able to kiss and nibble them whenever i want... i am grateful for the calm that always comes after the storm... i am grateful for all of the ways i know i am a good parent, especially in the moments when i'm not... i am grateful for having family to gather around us and make us feel loved and special... i am grateful for a love that makes me want always find my best self... i am grateful for having everything i need... i am grateful for the lessons my children teach me every day... i am grateful for having friends who truly understand me... i am grateful for almost always finding that my glass is half full and often overflowing... i am grateful for knowing that imperfect is really o.k... i am grateful for having dreams and hope... i am grateful for this day, this moment...

finding center

there is so much going on these days. my head is overflowing with things to do, creative ideas, plans to come, caring for family, things to organize, and keeping it all in balance. i'm not very good with balance. i often tend to want to put all of my eggs into one or two baskets at a time when i need to be dividing them among many more. i am working on this as best i can as i know that this off-kilter existance can be a precursor to overwhelm and burn out for me.

so today, even though i want to spend the day creating away (i've got a painting in my head dying to get on canvas), i am going back to center by putting a little energy into all my baskets. some of them have been a little neglected as of late. at the end of the day i know that this is what will ultimately feel the most fullfilling. moderation i initially thought is the key, but rethinking this i believe that it is more about staying tuned into all facets of my life, not just the ones that are the easiest and most fun to focus on. because the things i take my energy away from start to wither and groan. and i definately hear a little groaning.

finding center is about touching upon all the things that matter to me and make my life a good and happy place to be. even if that means just paying the bills or getting my flu shot.

ups and downs

simple joy-filled moments

(not so small) wonders... our weekend visitor, mr. mantis

the past few days have been a real mix of shiny moments and storm clouds. i've felt a bit raw and sensitive to everything...the good stuff and the bad. and there has been plenty of both: a sweet outdoor lunch date just me and my sleepy wee one; an email taking me 2+ hours to write due to fussy baby, homework resistance, and time-out; perfect fall weather; feeling crabby none the less; playing chase and tire swinging at the park; wii remotes being launched in frustration; amazing creatures found in the garden; a chaotic morning at nana's house; a new pair of boots; a little catch up time with my mom; not finding anything on my list of things i needed; homemade chocolate chip cookies; yelling; a night of uninterrupted sleep; a broken cell phone, all contents lost; a birthday party at the local farm; getting lost and being very late; pumpkin decorating, hay rides, and piniatas; getting soaked in the rain ; a patient husband holding down the fort; a lost vacation day spent running errands; connecting with an old friend; a long walk with an inconsolable baby; a yummy grilled dinner (thanks again to hubby); dishes falling and breaking; a long, hot shower; and just getting this all out.

in my world

here in my little corner of the world we are chasing summer even though we've welcome the arrival of fall. beautiful warm sunny days followed by cool comfortable nights have been a blessing. the basin is still full of life... boaters, summer birds like the beautiful white cranes, and lots of fish and crawly things for little boys to catch.

we've gone back to school and started first grade. we rode the bus for the very first time. we are making new friends, meeting new families, finding our way through the longer days in the classroom. we are reading like nobody's business! i am always amazed by what an incredible little person my oldest son is growing up to be.


and so i have time... time to spend with the littlest one. who is smiling, and cooing and gurgling. he is happy to be with his mommy (most of the time :) and to hang out in the sunny studio listening to music and chasing dreams.

a glowing stacy at squam

there have been artful connections made and whirlwind adventures, which has sparked a flurry of creative activity around here. lists and projects cover my table. emails fill my in-box. things are moving forward and it's really, really exciting. and even though there are dishes in my sink, 18 things (still) on my to-do list, laundry by the cellar door, and not enough hours in the day, i find myself content in this moment like it is right where i am supposed to be.

embracing my truth

this weekend i am diving into my creativity full-on. i will be stretching myself in lots of ways. it will mean cracking open and embracing who i am in a way that i haven't fully experienced yet, connecting with a sacred part of Me and ultimately connecting with so many other like minded women.

i am headed off to participate in a fabulous art workshop with some dear creative friends. after, together we will be travelling north to have a whirwind adventure inside the the inspiring world of squam. i can't wait to immerse myself in all the beautiful artful connections, some old and many new, and be surrounded by this community that fuels so much of my soul... i imagine it will feel a lot like coming home.

this much i know is true

best friends in atlantic city, early 1960's

fifty-three years ago these three were boys and became the very best of friends. little did they know back then that they would not only forge lifelong friendships, a brotherhood in the truest sense of the word, but that they would create a legacy along the way.

this is my father (far right) and his two oldest and closest friends. they have been inseperable since long before i can remember. they are my family, born not of blood but out of sharing years and years of life together and a kind of bond that is extremely precious and rare. they created something beyond themselves, a rich and joyful tapestry of past and present, memories and traditions, friendship and love, that continues to weave together the lives of everyone in thier wake... i feel incredibly blessed to be one of those people. so many times i have sat in a room filled with this tribe, and felt overwhelmed and awed with gratitude. i couldn't imagine my life without them having been a part of it.

this past week we had to say goodbye to one. though he was not well for some time, the loss of someone close always takes you by surprise and knocks the wind out of you. it makes you take stock, reminds you of what is most important, and offers you another day to get it right. i've learned so much from these men, about the meaning of family, about the virtue of loyalty, about the essence of living a life meant to be enjoyed and especially shared.

it unquestionably is the end of something significant and irreplaceable; a life, an era, a chapter of a story that though changed will continue to be told. i now know that long after these three have gone on, thier legacy will persist through everyone they've shined upon and encircled with the gift of thier friendship.

sharing the bounty

fresh zucchini bread baked from veggies from our garden
...a little loaf for each of our neighbors

sweet peaches picked fresh from a neighbor's tree
and brought right to our door

homemade quiche creating family time around the table

it has been a very bountiful summer. our home has been overflowing with so much goodness. it feeds my soul and grounds me in deep gratitude. makes me want to to savor all the little things and share all that i can.

always brothers

such a beautiful notion. this was created for my boys especially by armani. isn't is so sweet? i think of the future and hope that they will have a long and beautiful relationship. for a while i thought of my first being an only child. now, i am so happy that the two of them will always have each other (even after i am gone). there is a tremendous comfort and joy in that... that family will always persist and be an important cornerstone in their lives. a mother can dream :)

catching up

i've been...

getting more sleep than expected
loving being a baby momma again
watching my first enjoy being a big brother
planning for 10 relatives to stay and visit next week

so excited to join leah and jenn for this upcoming creative workshop
creating e-vites for a 6th birthday party
trying to stay cool in hot and humid weather
enjoying lot's of family time with a laid back summer schedule
out to see the new harry potter while nana came and babysat
carrying my new diaper bag, but forgot how much stuff you need to lug around
amazed at how the summer is flying by
working on making birth announcements
reading the twilight series again, getting ready for new moon this fall
so grateful for the overflow of well wishes for our new family of four
watching too much t.v. but enjoying it while i can
sipping wine again and taste testing the new trendy boxed kind
recording, once again, all the firsts... like first bath (so cute :)
kissing chubby cheeks, tiny toes, wiggly fingers
marveling at just how big, big brother really is and how much he has grown up

hello world

almost 2 weeks...
and we are slowly waking up
healing and resetting
finding our new rhythm
of days and nights melting together
and simply being together
as a new family of four

our (second) bundle of joy

a little brother is here!

born july 9th at 2:30am
two weeks early and a healthy
8lbs. 5oz.

we couldn't be more in love.

a gentle knock

lately i have been tired and slowly chipping away at my to-do list without any real sense of urgency. yesterday though, it hit me... i have two weeks left and still lots to do! so with a burst of energy (i guess what they would consider a true nesting instinct) i spent the day busy running errands, finishing cleaning and organizing the nursary, and getting ready for this baby to actually arrive. by 9pm, withough having had my usual afternoon nap, i was still not tired and felt restless and a little off. then the contractions began coming... 6 minutes apart, 5 minutes apart... not very strong, but surely there. by 1 in the moring i was still contracting and not really able to sleep so i called my doctor. was this it?

my husband gulped down a cup of coffee and started packing bags for my son and for us. at the doctors suuggestion i hopped into the shower to see what, if anything would happen, and nothing really changed. by 3am, i finally felt tired and it seemed my contractions might be slowing down so i decided to catch a few hours of sleep.

showing other small signs of early labor now, i am heading off to my doctors this morning to get checked. having anticipated a planned c-section, the thought of going through labor and then delivering by cesarean (again) would not be ideal, but whatever will be, will be. my instincts are telling me though my baby is knocking gently on the door and it's almost time. part of me is excited with the anticipation of finally meeting this little one... another part of me is wishing the baby would just wait a wee bit longer, not really sure if i am absolutely ready.

truly the best of all scenarios is that we simply end up with a healthy and happy baby.

it won't be long...

milestones

yesterday we finished our last day of kindergarten. it was a big day and full of mixed emotions... the joy of accomplishment and success, and the sorrow of leaving the safe little educational nest this year has built for us behind. as a parent these milestones are so wonderfully momentous. as a parent of a child with special needs these milestones are huge in a different kind of way (though i don't really know otherwise), and often bitter sweet.

the road is always long. sometimes this is a gift, as it forces us to appreciate the small shiny gems of our own measures of success. sometimes not so much, as there are other days when the challenges feel impossibly insurmountable.

my son has an incredible self awareness for a little person only six years old. though at any given time the adhd has his his world whirling and spinning too fast, he is able to later reflect and talk about his feelings in a quiet moment of calm. this always amazes me. his emotional maturity. his resilliance. his perfectly imperfect self that i see so achingly clearly in these moments. this morning was one of those times when at the breakfast table he shared a sound dose of wisdom far beyond his years.

as his mother i want everything to be easy for him, and the reality is that this is simply not the case. the journey from point A to point B is never a straight line. sometimes one of the hardest things as a parent, as his parent, is accepting this basic fact. i am still learning and imagine i always will be.

so with this big milestone we are celebrating not just a graduation, but more importantly the zillions of tiny steps it has taken us as a family to successfully get here... the learning we all had to do along the way to see him in this moment, standing alongside his peers, for this simple right of passage.

it makes my heart swell with pride and a complex joy that is hard to describe, but it is a moment i know i will remember forever.

taking it as it comes

here i am at 35 weeks... huge right? everyone i run into asks me if i am due any day now, and i have to say "nope, got a month left", and then there is lots of smiling and head shaking with the reply "you're not going to make it... i bet you'll go early!". as much as that notion appeals, i am hoping that all goes as planned... but we all know the saying about best laid plans.

in between now and july 17th (the day of my c-section), there is still lots to do... finish up kindergarten, get settled into the new rhythm of summer camp, an unexpected trip to the dentist to fix a broken tooth (yuck), a consultation with the new pediatrician, plan a sixth birthday party, await the replacement part to the crib we lost and finally put it together, meet my delivering obstetrician, organize the wishstudio for the summer, register and pack our bags for the hospital, treat myself to a pedicure since my toes are completely out of reach and a wreck, and so on...

i'm trying to go with the flow and listen to my body and soul each day. some days i have more emotional and physical energy than others, and some days i have little of either. sleep has become irratic and i have been often finding myself wide awake in the night, so i take that time to work on baby names or dream about the future. baby brain seems to be kicking in early, and i feel a bit scattered and emotional.

it's all a rollercoaster ride... the usual really.

just busy with life

catching up with mama nina and her little beans is always such a sweet joy. there's hugs and smiles and easy conversation. always talk of crafty stuff and creative dreams, babies, school aged triumphs and woes, family goodness, and the everyday craziness of life. it's refreshing. it's simple but magical. it's just what i needed. and my little man got to practice his big brother skills on the littlest ninabeaner babe {who he has lovingly dubbed honalulu}. with the sun finally shining and time to share with friends, it was the perfect morning.

tender spots

this week i am feeling the weight... of life, of the baby growing inside of me, of everything unknown. i'm feeling very tender and sensitive and unsure about a lot of things, and i've been holding on to the things that are helping me get through these days like my son's smile, my husband's encouragement, the little wiggles inside my tummy, and staying connected with my creativity and the people and things that really bring me joy. i am carefully putting one foot in front of the other.

on the cusp of so many changes i feel like a caterpillar wanting to crawl into a safe and snug cacoon, to shut out the world so i can focus simply on growing, becoming and soon emerging into a new life. still i know, now is not the time to retreat.

i've been reading a little about prenatal and postpartum depression and was surprised to find some daunting statistics... that an estimated 1/3 of all mother's with young children are dealing with some kind of depression, and that prenatal depression is actually more common than postpartum just not as clearly diagnosed due to blame on hormones. though i am not quite there, i know that slipping into that place is not a giant leap for me having been prone to depression in the past. i am treading carefully and buffering up my support where i can. some days are easier than others and i am taking it one moment at a time.

in this moment i am quietly content and looking forward to embracing the day. there are emails to send, things to cross off my to-do list, playdates to make, time for a nap and time for play, happy endings to celebrate, and projects to work on. every little bit is helping to move me forward and to soften the aches and pains of a life that is simply growing.

*edited to add... thank for all your loving comments and emails! i felt your words like a big hug and appreciate the validation and wisdom more than you know. xo

studio time

amidst a very busy weekend, i spent a few heavenly hours in the studio yesterday and created this. inspired by the many amazing mixed midia artists i seem to be drawn to these days, i wanted to try my hand at something similar. so with paint, rubber stamps, some vintage bits and ephemera i made this piece as a gift for a very special sweet 16 year old friend on her birthday. she is an artsy soul just beginning to blossom, and the thought of simply sharing a piece of art with her made my own heart happy. it is something i would have loved to have received when i was 16; the color, the messege, the inspiration and really just the possibilities... then i realized this is just where i am right now too, embracing it all and dreaming big!

a gift

i recently received this lovely gift from a sweet creative soul who has twirled into my life via the wishstudio. lucky me. i have been reading her book in delicious savored doses every night since the package arrived at my doorstep. i am truly touched and inspired.

there is something about the richness of a creative unfolding that so intrigues me. while i love crafty how-to books and beautiful books on artful techniques, my heart really connects with personal stories of an artist's becoming. i naturally connect to the emotion, the soaring impulses, the reality and messiness of it all. it is what i feel in my own life too.

finding the richness in the day to day can sometimes be a challange, especially with children, laundry, bills etc... but therin also lies the gift!

band aid

after having a complete meltdown
it was simply just what i needed.

{peanutbutter, chocolate and whipped cream
chased by milk and apologies}

opening up

my mother's day orchids in bloom

i am feeling my voice bubbling up today. it is a deep vibration coming from the center of my being. it is wanting to simply speak, to be set free. there is nothing earthshattering to share. no big exciting news or groundbreaking crisis, there is just my voice wanting to speak.

i feel...good. ok. and that is good enough for right now. i feel the changes that are upon me like a light misty rain with the sun still peeking through. the deluge is soon to come, and i am getting ready. i've been trying very hard to take care of myself and nurture all the different aspects of my life that i am embracing today and carrying into tomorrow. i can clearly see the path and the scenery beyond...the joy, the sleeplessness, the challanges, the love blossoming, and even the big unknown. it is all there, a definite part of my immediate future.

at 32 weeks pregnant i am getting more disorganized and forgetful. my head is a little weary and full, and my body is begging me to slow down too. i hear the clock ticking down the time and it excites me and terrifies me at the same time.

i realize i am ready though, and this is very comforting. the house may not be completely in order and i still need to unearth the infant car seat, but i feel like i have most of my mental ducks in a row, and for me that is huge.

it's been almost 6 long years since i have held an infant in my arms, and there were many, many days in between that i believed that i would not ever be a mother of two. i honestly didn't know if i had it in me. i always wished i was easily able, but i just seriously doubted that i was meant to care for more than one little human.

i haven't really shared much of the nitty gritty of my son's childhood and becoming his mother. it's been a beautifully messy, long and winding road, and i feel a bit protective about sharing what has been a really emotional journey for me. i know someday soon i will. i guess this is kind of the beginning.

as i wonder about what to share here, i find myself aways coming back to a place of authenticity even if that means shedding light on some of the darker corners in my world. i tend to want to only show the joy and the light here, of which there is gratefully an abundance of, but i often feel like i am only painting one kind of picture. i just want to share a little honesty. that's all.

comfort in little rituals

with all the changes and chaos in life, our family finds comfort in these little rituals we have established over the years...

* sundays, early in the morning while dad sleeps in, we feed this little goose family and then head off to todd farm, the nearby antique market affectionately know to my son as the "treasure farm". we always find a treasure to bring home.

*during the week, there is always snuggle time in the morning, even if i am awake first and have already started my day, my son will climb into my empty bed and call me back for a little cozy moment together. there is always butterfly kisses, lots of laughter, some sneak attack tickling, a kiss (without a raspberry if i'm lucky), and maybe even a thumb war or two.

* we never miss 10am and 3pm snacktimes. ever. we are all about good snackin'!

* evenings consist of family time - a half an hour of something we do all together, usually a game, then a little wind-down t.v. time, and plenty of stories to read before bed.

* after lunch and before school, we have a moment to read a story together. for some reason my son likes to read his oldest books during this time... books that he loved to read as a toddler and a baby, even some of his tattered old board books. such nostalgia is very sweet.

* friday nights are pizza and game night, where mom doesn't have to cook and dad gets to play wii for a while. fun for all :)

* saturday mornings are always pancakes for breakfast...the thin french kind that dad makes from his perfected recipe, with real maple syrup, whipped cream and love.

in between there is always the regular flow of committments and responsibilities like school, t-ball, swim class and such, which all help keep us grounded in our week. then somehow everything else fits in... family, friends, creative time, work, outside time, gardening, cleaning, food shopping, etc. etc. sometimes it all seems managable. sometimes it is completely chaotic, but it is a life that is full and good and one that i wouldn't trade for anything.

the start of our beach season

it promised to be a beautiful day. the kind of day that's so nice, you consider playing hookie from school or work and other responsibilities. with a bright blue sky and temps reaching into the 90's, the beach finally beckoned. our first drive of the season through the peaceful and scenic sanctuary and out to sandy point to play and relax among the plovers and the locals. the water was crystal clear and friends with the same idea were gathered there too. we nibbled on fresh pineapple and smart puffs, basked in the sun, and dug little rivers and streams in the sand. it all was so lovely, so lovely until...

we were headed home and off to school (resisting said urge to play hookie, like a good mom :) and i locked my keys in the car. ugh...unbelievable! thank god i had my cell phone in hand.

needless to say in spite of all my good intentions, we missed school anyway waiting in the beach parking lot for my AAA hero, mike who was so nice, to arrive. during the two hour wait (where i would have been napping while my son was in school) i got a sunburn, and my little guy was lamenting over missing school and not being able to go back to the beach and his friends because we had to wait by the car for the tow truck.

people passing by felt bad for us... me in my huge 31 week pregnant state and my sad little boy beside me, we were given sympathetic donations of food and water and even a few shared tales of similar situations from strangers. one man said his wife used to lock herself out of the car so often he made are always wear a spare key... my son thought this was a seriously good idea. i am happy to report there is still kindness in the world, at least if your pregnant and stranded at the beach.

hopefully the rest of our beach season will be filled with more relaxation and a lot less drama.

one of my most favorite things

one week in may
every year
my house smells like heaven
and i feel wrapped in love by mother earth

nesting

we are in serious nesting mode... yesterday we spent the day cleaning out the basement (o.k. my husband did), unearthing all the baby stuff stored away and shuffling around furniture from room to room to create the new nest that will soon become a home for four. i've been planning this reorganization in my head for so long (it seems) and to finally get things moving it feels exciting and good, but a little scary too. it's beginning to feel very real...this new addition, whereas just a few months ago the baby felt more like a possibility. our world is going to be shaken up, and i am anxious to see how the all pieces resettle into what will be our new normal.

for now, i am enjoying the process of expanding and becoming... getting our physical world ready for the big change. i am in the process of moving my studio out of the spare bedroom that will become the baby's room, and refitting a smaller somewhat unfinished room to be my new creative haven. thinking about color and storage and all the possibilities is so fun! i love organizing and setting up. it really puts me in my happy place :)

the baby furniture has finally been moved out of my son's bedroom, and his position as big brother is beginning to materialize (which is kind of choking me up surprisingly). his new room will be redecorated and complete with his own bunk bed "tree house" (inspired by the magic tree house book series) where he can escape to his toys, books and imagination. he and i have a lot of fun and creative ideas for this. i'll be sure to show pictures as it comes together.

as for the baby's room, it will be kept plain and simple for now. i know when we meet our new little one i will then be inspired to create the perfect cozy little world. for now, not knowing if it will be a daughter or a son, i am content to just wait and see and dream of possibilities...

some things to share

amidst many special treats
a little vintage diary found at sunday morning's treasure farm
and happy mother's day wishes

scooby in the studio helping me make a baby quilt
for a brand new little niece

another yummy vintage quilt to add to my collection

and a sweet and very sad farewell to my longtime furry friend
elliott...

for 18 years he was a much loved and devoted companion
who will be greatly missed