A Brother finds his way to Heaven's Hockey Team

Yesterday was a busy day for me trying to get as much done as possible. I seem to be always chasing time, trying to do this and that and a bit more of everything. Like everyone I have a story, like everyone my life seems full of things I wish I could have time for, people I want to spend more  time with, always , always more time.

Last night I came home from work and  had that telephone call that changes things in life. My brother had choked twice and now the family was called to the nursing home as he was in danger. For 11 years he has been battling a disease that left him fragile. His memory slowing disappearing until he ended up bedridden at 63 years old in a home for old people who are at the end of their road.  He could no longer even move in bed, could only drink from a straw and was forced to eat a few spoonfuls of mush and ice cream to survive on a daily basis.

 When I got to the hospital I already knew that he was on his way to heaven. This was the final scene and together as a family we would be there to help him make the transition to a softer, kinded place where Mommy and Daddy and my other two brothers Hurd ( died at 48) and Royden ( died at 44) would be there to meet him.

He  softly took his last breath with his three sisters, his wife and two sons at his bedside. In a moment of silence, he left us and his shell of a body that was so thin that it was only a reminder of the man that he had been.

 Today we mourn Blair, we cry and feel the emptiness, yet we are grateful that his earthly sufferings are over. We will go through the process of a funeral and will  then return to our lives to slowly absorb the loss and reflect on who we are in this world of wonder that is always changing.


Life is fragile, handle with care and be gentle  and forgiving of yourself. Do not let your hurts determine who you are, and do not allow others through their shortcomings destroy that amazing spirit of youth that you were born with.  Chase your dreams and let no one close the doors to them, no matter what hurdles you have to jump through to get to them.

 Blair I hope that there is a Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey team in heaven and  that you are given a brand new pair of skates when you join that team.

Another Cat Found at the Old Barn

Well well well.. another cat was found yesterday at the old barn. This young cat was once a well cared for cat living in a loving home.


.......Elizabeth's Story.....



One day her owners decided to go for a drive and without them knowing, Elizabeth had jumped in the back seat and hid. She never thought that the doors would close and that she would be trapped inside. She was so afraid that she curled herself in a little ball under the back seat and shivered from fear of being in the strange environment of a moving car. When the car stopped at a shopping center, the door opened and she jumped out without her owners knowing that she was there. She ran across the parking lot and into the park and up a tree before she stopped. She sat there for a long time wondering what to do for she knew she was lost. Later that night she walked back very quietly to the parking lot thinking that her owners would be there waiting for her. She looked all over and found nothing familiar. She began to meow but a large dog who was taking a walk with its owner began to bark and chased her back into the park.



The days passed and she watched and waited but her owners never came back. In time she realised that she would have to find her way back to her house on her own. Life was very difficult for this little cat who had been so spoiled with love and kindness. She missed her food bowl and her warm wool bed. One day as she was walking on an old branch to get across a brook, the branch snapped and down she went into the icy cold water. She hit her back leg against a sharp rock and could hardly move yet she knew that she would surely freeze if she stayed in the water. She struggled to get up on the bank and lay there too weak to even meow.



Erma the old barn cat  had been sitting in the upper window of the old barn out behind Maggies Raggedy Inn when she heard the branch snap. She went to investigate and found Elizabeth in pain. Erma was a strong cat and had carried many babies in her time. Elizabeth was almost grown and was really too big to be carried by another cat but  she knew that it was the only way to save her. She had to take her back into the warmth of the hayloft where she could be looked after. Her back leg was probably broken but she knew that with time it would heal and she would be able to walk again. She picked her up by the neck and carried her back.



The weeks passed and Elizabeth grew stronger. Just like Erma has predicted , her back leg did heal and she was now able to walk with a limp and look after herself. Elizabeth still  thinks about her owners everyday and looks out into the wide open spaces wondering where they have went. She still thinks of trying to get home but by now she has lost their scent and no longer knows where to go because it has been too long since they seperated. The old barn is her home for now but she has never lost hope that maybe one day they will find her.


Ah yes ... every cat has a story!

A Little Doll with a Dream

So nice that you found your way here. You must be wondering what this little doll is doing hanging on the clothesline?  Well yesterday I was doing a bit of cleaning and found her sitting on a shelf in my bedroom.  She always makes me smile with her silly little hat and  her two big feet. I picked her up to give her a hug and a little dusting off  but for some reason I held onto her. She was so cute and innocent looking and her little personality seemed to shine through her faceless expression. I remember when I made her, I intentionally left her face blank as I thought she had enough character without eyes, nose and mouth. So many dolls end up looking different than what you wanted them to be, once they have a face. I guess it is like humans... our face tells so much about who we are but oftens hides the real soul of the person.  

 After looking at her for awhile I  brushed her off with a damp cloth and put her out on the line to air dry. She blew in the soft  breeze and looked so happy. Then I remembered that when I made her about 7 years ago, she was  meant to fullfill a dream of mine. I had always imagined myself as a doll maker and story teller.  I thought that I would happily grow old and have my grey hair tied up in a bun, wear little glasses and bring these little girls to life in my little sewing room.  

 What happened to that dream? Well I did get older and I do have little glasses to read fine print and my hair is turning grey ( thank God for hair dye)  and I still dream of making these little dolls.. more so everyday. Maybe it is my destiny and that is what I am supposed to do. For now though I still have to earn a living and have a regular pay check coming in but who knows what the future holds.  Maybe some day I will find my way to my dream and make many more of these little souls to hang on other people's clothesline.

 What is your destiny and will you ever do something about making it come true?

Andrew the Barn Cat

This is Andrew the Cat. Yes another little Barn Cat found at the old barn behind the Inn. Now Andrew was not born at the barn, no he like all the other cats just happened to find his way there after a long walk from the home he once knew.







Andrew was born in a really nice little town far away fron here. He was a happy little cat, cute, playful and he came from a good family. Like so many other cats though, his family was split up after they started to grow. He was adopted by Sandy, a very kind little girl who had always wanted a cat of her own. So her parents went to their neighbours and picked Andrew from amongst his 6 brothers and sisters.






He was so afraid those first few days away from his mother. He cried and cried but they seemed to give him warm milk every time he did, which was not really that bad. They also gave hime a warm wooly blanket and some toys that looked like the mice his mother had told him about. Yes she had said he would grow up to be a hunter but he figured if they kept giving him milk, he would not bother with all of that mice stuff. And so he became quiet content in his new home and soon forgot about his lost family.






One day he went for a walk rather far from his home even though he knew he shouldn't but he was a cat and cats were curious. He found all kinds of things to explore in the neighbours back yard and then he went to another and then another. It was fun but soon he stared to get really afraid and he smelled something scary. He ran as fast as he could back to his house but when he got there, something was really wrong. There was no more house. It was just a big blaze of hot red flames. His family was gone and there was so much noise that he hid behind an old garage and watched in silence. In time everything got quiet again and so he waited for his family to come back. They never did and Andrew was forced to learn how to hunt for there was no one to give him warm mik and a safe place to sleep. He cried but no one bothered with him. He finally realised that he was alone in this big world and he would have to move again. He had lost another family.






After many weeks of travelling, he found himself in front of an old wooden barn. For some reason, it felt safe and he entered through an upper window. It smelled of hay and other cats. It smelled like what his mother had smelled like and soon he was fast asleep. Yes in time Andrew settled in with the many other barn cats and this is where he can be found waiting for someone to adopt him and give him a safe home once again.

Roses in October

Yes I know it has been awhile since I have invited you back to the Inn. Life here is busy and I am trying to get things in order. My Mom used to say that time waits for no one and over this past year I have come face to face with that reality. Things have to change ... or should I say that I have to change so that I make  time for the little things in life that we all  seem to take for granted and never take the time to enjoy until we feel an emptiness and suddenly look around and see what we are missing,  It is a choice that we all make on a daily basis.. always thinking that there will be a lot of time to stop and smell the roses. Well it is October and the roses are dying for yet another year and I feel that I never took the time to watch their gentle beauty growing in my garden. What a shame... next year for sure!

 There is an old quote that I always liked that said " God gave us memories so that we could have roses in December" Take the time to add as much as you can to those roses starting today. Yes I know we all have a zillion things to do today and maybe tomorrow we will have time .... yes tomorrow  maybe we will have time to catch up on those smiles that require our precious time.. tomorrow.....

Today I will tell you a story about one of the little Barn Cats  ..

Well well well.. another little kitten was found last night at the old barn. Erma the cat was out prowling around, doing what cats do best at night when she heard a car door shut. She watched closely from beneath the steps and seen a woman dressed in a dark coat, walk up towards the barn and leave behind a small basket covered in a wool blanket. She seemed to be in a hurry and walked back to her car nervously. Erma watched and waited and heard a faint meoowing sound. Shaking her head she went towards the basket knowing all too well what was inside. She had seen many others drop off cats throughout the years who never looked back.

 Ah yes this is just a silly little story to introduce you to yet another on of my wool cats and you will have to come back again to see who is next to join  us in the big old barn out behind the Inn.

 Untill then spread some kindness.. it will make a difference.

I got Nothing Done Today

Today was a busy day and  I seemed to not get really anything done. I went to the office to find that there were several issues that needed fixin and since I am boss, I had no choice but to deal with them. Then the carpenter for my sister's house came to see me to tell me that the 12 new windows that she ordered  to renovate the old house did not fit. Since she lives away in the city, I had to deal with it by going to the house and seeing for myself that a big costly mistake had been made. So I had to follow up and fight with the supplier to re-order them.  \Hopefully it will work out.

Then I came home to find a sick cat who I hope will be alright. Then my sister called to say that my sick brother had not eaten at all today and was losing the use of his legs. He is only 62 years old and  has a form of Alzeimers which is slowly taking over all his mental and physical abilities. Rough stuff and all we can do is watch him slowly turn into a little old man tied to a bed. If only God would take him to heaven but that is not how life works.  Then my daughter calls and tells me a horror story  about the day camp  where she works.  A man got in and threatened her and called her all those names that send chills up your spine. He was a very sick disturbed man in his fifties and was filled with hate and anger. My daughter stood   between him and the little kids to protect them and slowly got them all out of his path.  She says everyone on  the campus  was aware that a disturbed person was on the loose and it was her that he tried to attack. My daughter said she remained calm and was grateful it was not any of the other student councillors who might have panicke and made the situation worst.  Okay so I am very thankful that everyone is safe but it certainly leaves me feeling sick and worried for my kid.  Dear Lord, please keep her safe out there amongst all the sick and deranged people. 

Then my sister call me and tells me that my ex partner is acting very strange. Her husband saw him today and said hello and he turned cold, gruntle and walked away with rage in his eyes.  He is filled with cold hatred  and at 47 has just got his ear pierced and now is travelling with a motor cycle crowd. WHAT? He just lost his young son to cancer  a few months agao and so I know he is suffering but he was such a kind and gentle man with a good head on his shoulders. He was respectable, hard working and considerate... I mean I loved him unbelievably until he began to side track and left me for someone else. I suffered through it  and forgave him but from never spoke to him again because of his choice. I always wished him well because that is what love is all about. To think of him as a cold hearted, miserable, turned away from society hateful man has left me very disturbed.

  No I did not get anything that I wanted done today, but I guess there are days like that and I will go to bed grateful for the goodness that I do have in my life and pray that the world will keep all those that I know, and love safe.|Time to pick up my knitting needles and retreat into the calming world of creativity.  Tomorrow will be another day.........

Just Never Enough Time

Another long weekend is over and a new week begins tomorrow morning. In fact the summer season begins as seasonal employees are back to work to get the tourist season in order.  The rush will start and it will  be an intense couple of months. How will I find the time to knit and make my little cats and mice to fill my Etsy shop. There is just never enough time to do the necessary things that it takes to run a house, let alone try and take some time to exercise, do some volunteer work, be there for family. The few minutes that I will find to create back here in my little craft room will be precious and I will enjoy this quiet time alone. 

I tried to explain it to my partner that it is a very necessary part of my life. To have to live without creating would not be really living, as crazy as that may sound. To not be able to use my imagination and play with colours and create would leave me empty. Therefore I will have to devise a plan to to get the housework done,  do my best at work despite the hectic pace and responsibility, eat well, exercise look after my animals,  look after my flowers and keep the lawn cut, breathe and find my time each day to do something that gives me complete joy.   Life is about finding these little bits of joy, where we are at peace with ourselves. No one else can make you happy.. you have to find it and fill up on it to be able to give out the best of yourself and in turn life will bring you  the good stuff of life. Well back to my knitting .. another pair of slippers to finish . ..so that I can start a new pair!