Sweet Little Friends - Five on Friday and Saturday's Critters

In this life, we have family and friends, 

but our animal companions 

are sometimes both. 

I can't imagine life without 

these sweet friends 

who bring so much joy

and ask for so little. 

Today I would like to introduce 

you to the five companions

that share my life. 

This earnest face belongs to Whitey Bear,

 one of my American Eskimo's. 

I found him by chance, running through 

a busy intersection and down 

the center of the road in front of me,

on my way home from my daughter's

bridal gown fitting 7 years ago. 

After knocking on doors, I found out he was 

lost and had been wandering a couple of weeks, 

and didn't trust anyone. 

After an hour of coaxing and help from a good 

Samaritan with a can of food, 

I convinced him to come with me

and brought him home. 

After posting an ad in the lost and found

(with no responses)

 and taking him to the vet

to check for a micro-chip (he had none), 

he became mine. 

He came into my life when I needed 

him most, during a difficult 

time just before my parent's died. 

We've been best friends ever since :)

He saved me from a bear once. 

He's brave, loyal, and a true gentleman, 

This little fellow is Kai. 

He is also an American Eskimo. 

He came into my life after losing

my Border Collie, Champ,

last January. 

Whitey Bear needed a companion

after losing his best friend, 

so I started searching for one

in May. 

Kai was the result. 

The young man that loved him 

was going through a life change

that left him unable to provide 

the care and time his little friend needed. 

And so he is mine, and I can't imagine

how I got on without him. 

He's playful and sweet, 

and full of youthful joy and energy...... 

And mischief! 

But he's stolen our hearts, 

and we can't help but spoil him.

This funny girl is our dear little Ling-Ling. 

She came into our life as a promise. 

You see, she was my Dear Mother's 

precious companion and I promised 

I would take her and care for her 

after my Mother was gone. 

She's gentle and trusting 

and we share a special connection. 

We both loved and lost 

a piece of our hearts. 

She slept on my Mom's quilt

that retained her sweet scent,

and I couldn't bring myself 

to wash it for the longest time. 

Sometimes when I hold her, 

I can feel my Mom's presence. 

We comfort each other 

in a very special way. 

Maggie's my old girl, 

almost 18 years old. 

She came to me via 

my daughter, Heather, 

who found her as a tiny kitten, 

able to fit in the palm of her hand. 

My daughter couldn't keep her, 

due to allergies, 

and so she came here. 

She was an apartment kitty

and had never been outside. 

It took her months to get brave

enough to venture outside, 

and she's always stayed close 

to home. 

Her favorite hang-out is the deck railing

where she keeps watch on her world 

from up high. 

She's chatty and sassy, and an excellent mouser.

If anyone messes with one of her friends, 

she'll rush over to defend, 

spitting and arching her back,
and ready to take on even the biggest foe. 

She has lost two treasured friends

in her short little life, 

and I know she may not be here

much longer, so I treasure her. 

Then there is this little guy, 

Birdy Boy. 

Here he is looking out the window 

of 'his' room upstairs. 

He is a Cockatiel and I found 

him on the roof one summer day, 

and lured him inside with a handful of seed. 

He was tattered and tired,

and hungry, thirsty, and scared. 

I had never owned a bird, 

but had a decorative bird cage

where he sat on the perch without

moving for 3 days. 

I thought he might die, 

but he finally rallied,

and when I put my hand in to feed

him on that 3rd day, he jumped on my finger

and walked up my arm. 

That was in 1999. 

He's loving and charming, 

and comes when I call. 

I bought him the largest cage

I could find - 4'x5'- and he comes 

out to keep me company every day,

for a little while, to stretch his wings. 

He 'dances' to music and nibbles my ear

and chews everything he can fit into his beak, 

so I offer him paper and flowers and treats. 

I read that they live about 20 years, 

so I try to enjoy him as much as I can. 

So these are the friends and the family 

of my every day world. 

With Ramblin' Man rambling, 

and the kids all grown
with lives of their own, 

these little companions 

keep me from being alone. 

xoxo

I can't imagine life without 

these sweet little friends.  

xoxo

Do you have animal companions 

of your own?

Today I am linking with:
Love Made My Home - Five on Friday

Viewing Nature With Eileen - Saturdays Critters



Won't you join the fun?