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This is Michi, he lived 17 years. My little brother.

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My dear Sister Alice,

Why do you have this phobia regarding the spiders? I recognize that I like them a lot, no matter if small or huge. They are little reasons of this nature, they weave beautiful nets and we MUST learn from them

Perhaps on the way to the hesychia, we should pay a humble visit and ask the spiders how it is with this matter.

May God bless you all. Amin. Xristos anesti!

Marian+

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http://www.sacredromania.com

Alithos Anesti!

What a lovely, appealing cat! I'm a dog-lover myself, but that cat seems quite special.

Fr. Serge

I received this in an email today .....

This is one of my very favorates! L


Excerpts from a Dog's Diary*


8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!





* Excerpts from a Cat's Diary*

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.
In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
BAH!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe, for now..........

Hmmm. This house has two cats - both of whom simply moved in of their own volition, and neither of whom shows the least interest in leaving, despite having plenty of opportunity to go elsewhere. They know where the food is! And they fully expect to be fed. Cats are conservative in their eating habits; they do not approve of change. Come to think of it, cats don't approve of very much, other than people feeding them and treating them with the correct degree of obsequiousness.

The dog, on the other hand, dislikes the cats. He's not allowed to run around the neighborhood, first because it's against the law, and, second, because (unlike the cats) there is serious danger that he might not find his way home, or might even be stolen (he's a Cavalier King Charles, and they're expensive). He also dislikes riding in the car - because the only destination when he is in the car is the vet's and he's scared of the vet. Otherwise, his behaviour is true to form (meaning he is irrestistibly lovable).

It's not at all unusual for a feline to notice a house without another of the species and simply decide "oh. Here's a house with no cat. I shall move in."

Adult tomcats have a disquieting habit - left to themselves, they will often kill kittens.

Fr. Serge

Dear Father Serge,

You have a cavalier King Charles spaniel? They are lovely dogs!
I must say that knowing you as much as we do, a dog of such pedigree certainly becomes your personality!

I have a Shetland Sheep dog, commonly known as a Sheltie... Poor girl, she has such a beautiful coat of hair, (visualize Lassie, with her regal white ruff and long hair), but is desperately sensitive to warm weather. She has lived out most of her summer days either on the porch or infront of a favorite air conditioning vent in our kitchen, which is situated in the wall, and very conveniently placed just a few inches up from the floor! :-)

It is funny how dogs are often just perfect for the climates areas of the world they were bred, or originated from, but transplanted, they do not do so well. Atleast, our North East American autumn, spring and winter suit my sweet Sheltie well.

The most painful sight I ever recall seeing was a pet Collie on a Greek island in the middle of August (for those who are unaware, the average summer temperature is very dry and hot, and the sun is very strong. Clouds are virtually non-existent and air conditioning is used sparingly). I really pitied that poor dog!

Alice

Dear Alice,

Christos Anesti!

Murf (the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) is a most lovable beast -apart from excessive barking, but even then I remind myself that when no one else is home the sound of a dog with a loud bark is apt to discourage intruders. Had his hair cut a few weeks ago and shrank to about 1/3 his previous size as a result, but also became much livelier.

The Cavaliers bred here in Ireland tend to be more affectionate than the ones bred in the USA. The lady from whom Murf was obtained tells me that she regularly sells puppies to the US, although shipping thim is a bit complicated.

The real problem with the Cavaliers is that they had to be re-bred twice in the twentieth century, and as a result there are some genetic weaknesses (they run to bad hearts, which is why Murf is on heart pills). The psychological problem is that it's almost impossible to resist the temptation to spoil them! Murf is my third of the breed.

I once knew a sheep dog in Rockland County who was firmly convinced that his name was "Go Away, Rags!". He also was firmly convinced that he was a lap dog. Excellent disposition, but there really was rather a lot of him!

as ever,

Fr. Serge

Just noticed a poster on another thread describing the Protestant Churches as some sort of animal! That is not at all what I had in mind for this thread!

On a happier note, those of us who are fond of animals (or at least some animals) might note an interesting idea propounded purely as a theory by C. S. Lewis (or Jack Lewis, as he himself preferred). To the occasional question as to whether animals can be saved in heaven, he suggested - and he made it clear that this is pure guess-work - that if such a destiny for any animal is possible at all, which he did not claim to know, it could only happen through a close association between that animal and a specific human being who himself attained salvation and asked that the animal might come along, so to speak. Lewis put it better than I can, but it's a plesaant thought. It is unlikely that many of us worry about the eternal prospects of particular spiders, or even spiders in general.

Fr. Serge

guess you could say that if the EC community are animals, then we are hamsters. we safeguard the truth by diligently searching, then stuff it into our mouths where no one will see, OR HEAR, of what we have.we don't seem to want to share. I am at fault, here, as well. I guess in my last life I was a hamster. I am looking for that no good cat who ended it all too soon!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much Love,
Jonn

With elections in the offing in several countries, including both Ireland and the USA, I suggest keeping in mind Psalm 50, verse 9a (RSV translation), which reads:

"I will accept no bull from your house"!

Look it up if you don't believe me.

Fr. Serge

THAT's what happened! Somebody tried to feed that cat an onion!!

M.

This could be quite confusing. Would feeding a cat an onion produce crodile tears?

Fr. Serge

Without a doubt!, Father Owl.



M.

Still with the felines, Walter Hooper reports that C. S. Lewis, of holy memory, had a much-loved cat named "Old Tom", who had been an excellent mouser in his prime, but had grown old and lost all his teeth. Lewis's housekeeper suggested that it was time to put the cat down - but C. S. Lewis would not hear of it, saying that the cat had worked hard and was now a pensioner. Several times a week Lewis had the housekeeper prepare fish for the cat - the fish was deboned and cooked to be soft enough for the cat to eat it pleasurably. Lewis would always tip his hat when he saw the cat outside, and would remind people that the cat was a pensioner. [Roger Lancelyn Green & Walter Hooper, C. S. Lewis: A Biography HarperCollins 2002, p. 224.]

Don't know that I would do the same - I prefer the dog - but I can well understand C. S. Lewis's feelings in the matter. The only time I've ever been involved in having a pet put down, it was a cat: the poor thing had suffered a badly damaged paw, which was not healing; the cat spent all her time sitting on the stairs, clearly in pain, and not able to eat much. When consulted, the vet said that putting the cat down was the only humane thing to do: the cat had no quality of life in her damaged condition, and if the vet were to perform surgery to amputate the damaged paw the cat would never be able to go out again and would not be able to defend herself. I saw the point.

Fr. Serge

LOL !!! I did look it up, and there it is !

-- John

This might just win the No-Bull Prize!