Although it rained today it would appear we have seen the last of the rain for a while - let's hope so. We need to offer some TLC to the garden to be honest.
It's been a quiet day today for us. We have enjoyed a quiter time whilst Nigel's brother is here with his mother. It has eased things a little for Nigel for a while. Nigel's brothers had both moved away before his father passed away back in 1982, but Nigel was still at home and he has always been the son who has been close at hand to have to do everything over the past 35 years and, as she has become more and more frail and the dementia has taken hold that obviously means more has fallen to Nigel. Not that he minds, at all, he likes the fact he can help care for her, be with her whenever he can and do the basics that need doing every week too, but of course it takes it's toll and no-one really appreciates quite what it is like. So it has been nice for him to have a quiet ten days or so whilst his brother is staying.
I have scrapped today - a new page for the challenge Shimelle was running to use random elements. I haven't managed many of them as some of the things just don't work for me and rather than try and make them work I have been happy to miss those that would have been a struggle and just enjoy scrapping whatever I fancy. However, today's was tiger - that I can do.
I opted not only to use a tiger embellishment but also to use tiger photos.
Many of youalready know the story of how we came to meet 18 month old Bruno. I had arranged a tiger cub interaction for Nigel's 40th birthday and when we got to Paradise wildlife park, the cub was sick so the meet was off. The other couple there kicked up quite a stink and flounced off. We knew the cub came first and so were disappointed but OK with it. Consequently the keepers said if we stayed until the park closed we could meet Bruno. When I saw the size of Bruno I was happy for it to be JUST Nigel. Turns out it wasn't an option and he came out to us. The two keepers were marvellous with him and had sucha bond with him. If any of you watched Tigers about the House and Big Cats iabout the House, which if you haven't seen you must, then you will 'know' the amazing Giles Clark. He was one of the keepers who made this possible for us and he was also one of the two keepers who saved Bruno's life a few months after our meeting by sleeping with him for 5 days to ensure he didn't die from pneumonia.
We were thrilled to see Bruno again when we visited what is now The Big Cat Sanctuary - he was an old gentleman by then, but still with his lifelong partner Padi who he had only just met back in 1995 when we first met him.
I made the journalling block and printed that and all of the elemnts out. The papers were very very old Bo Bunny papers that I some small scraps left.
These are pages NOT made today but pages that show Bruno and the last one of the group is Padi
They were both hybrids and so could not have pups, but they spent many happy years together.
Today I am thankful for
- respite for my Nigel
- quiet days
- the amazing privilege it is to spend time with animals, be it the big cats like Bruno or our own little felines... big cats in their own way. I cannot believe our little 'kittens' turn 15 tomorrow, or as we say - elebenty four
Such very special layouts about very special cats. I would be so afraid to be near animals that could eat me! I am sure all was quite safe and supervised well, but I would be a wreck. LOL!
Is Nigel's mom still living in her own home? Does she live far from you?
When my mom was suffering from dementia, she would not eat properly (she would only snack--mostly on cereal and cookies) nor remember to take her medicine. We girls decided it was time for mom to be in an assisted living residence. She was not happy about it, but she adjusted and did very well. I was so blessed to only be 10 minutes away.
I agree that having a break from the responsibility is such a relief and also a healthy thing to do. Bless his heart for the care he gives his mother. <3
Posted by: Barb inAK | April 19, 2018 at 12:10 AM