On my last post about losing all the kitties, Linda Raha suggested I make scrapbooks for the kitties. She knew that that would be right up my alley. What she didn’t know is that I was already making something to remember my dears by.
Using my art journaling supplies and a carton that cat food comes in, I made this so that all the kitties (including Mac who I lost in 2015) are together, right where I can see them all the time.
The cat bed and bowls are dollhouse-sized. The kitty on top was a gift. Here is a close-up of the kitty pix.
Upper left is my heart Pear, then clockwise, Mac, Felix, and Izzie.
Monday I had the vaccine booster shot, and I felt fine yesterday morning. But then I started to get sick with a 101 fever and then painful lymph node swelling under my arm, reaching into my chest and back and down to the tips of my fingers. I had finger cramping last night, but not this morning, so maybe I will be getting better soon.
Well, i wanted to share with you my little cat nicho. Make it a great rest of your week. XOXO
This is beautiful, Luanne, and perfect.
I love it.
Thank you, Sheila. Put my heart into it.
A poignant remembrance.
Thank you, Joy. It felt good to work on it :/.
Beautiful kitty collages, Luanne. What a wonderfully healing project. Such dear faces! BTW: I had a very sore arm after my booster and felt at low ebb…but those symptoms vanished after a few days.
Enjoy the week ahead!
Elaine
Thank you, Elaine! I’m glad your symptoms didn’t last! My arm isn’t really sore this time. It’s a big lymph node situation haha. Apparently .3% of Pfizer recipients gets this. It figures! You enjoy the weekend, too.
Your cat nicho turned out beautifully, such a fitting tribute. I hope you will soon feel better from the side effects of your vaccine booster.
Thank you so much, Liz! On both counts!
You’re most welcome, Luanne!
What a wonderful tribute. I hope it gives you lots of comfort.
Yes, especially working on it and then sharing it.
What a lovely ofrenda, though I think you should keep it up all the time. 🙂
Thank you, Jennifer. I am keeping it up in my study/office/playroom.
This is a lovely way to remember them. 💙
It’s great you were able to get the booster. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
Thank you, Merril! Hah, I got the booster because I’m old! Thank you.
I’m almost eligible.😀
Ah, silly me: I thought “nicho” was a typo, but now I realize that’s the lovely thing you made, not an ofrenda. My apologies! And thanks for the idea. 🙂
I’m not sure of the difference between nicho and ofrenda, although it might be that ofrenda is religious and nicho can be religious or folk art. So maybe an ofrenda is a type of nicho?
I’m the furthest thing from an expert here, (though you see that doesn’t stop me from weighing in – lol!) but I think you’ve put your finger on part of it. My *very* cursory online research suggests a) an ofrenda is a little more elaborate and b) is primarily associated with Dia de los Muertos.
A beautiful tribute, Luanne
Thank you, John!
That is so meaningful and beautiful with love sent both ways. And I hope you are feeling better soon with the vaccine booster swelling. <3
Thank you, Jade. I’m glad you like it. And, yes, I hope I am back to normal tomorrow. I’m kind of wasting a day here ha.
I love your nicho. Makes me feel like going through old photos and doing the same ❤️
Oh that’s a great idea! Thanks, Marie. By using “frames” like I did, it’s amazing to discover how hard it is to get a cat in a photo to fit inside the frame hahaha.
Perfect!
Thank you, Kate!
Very nice, Luanne. Hope you’re feeling better soon. Just imagine how the real virus would feel if it had free rein in your body.
Thanks, Anneli. Ugh, I can’t imagine what it would be like to get Covid. I hope I keep it that way.
Me too, for you and for me.
Knowing it is there and that you have poured your heart into the making of it will always bring you comfort.
Thank you, Gwen. It was so comforting to make it and to share it. And I think when I walk into my “playroom” and see it everyday I will feel good.
What a lovely way to channel your grief into a work of art and remembrance. Hope the symptoms from the booster go away quickly.
Eilene, thank you so much. I am finally feeling back to before ;)! Hope things are well at your house?
We are doing okay here. Got my garden harvest (tiny, but labor-intensive) done today ahead of the coming freeze. Hubby can now drive himself to PT, so a bit of load off me.
Oh yes, that’s much better that he can take himself there. Whew. Good for you on the harvest, too.
A very fine making it is.
I’m sorry that you had such a bad reaction to the booster. I have been dreading it as I had a reaction after #2 and anticipate one after #3. I need a stretch of time when I can be down. Anyway, I hope you are feeling better soon.
Thank you, WJ. I am feeling better now. You will probably have one after #3, but you should still get one. Are you six months out from your 2nd shot?
What a lovely way to keep your lost kitties near and dear. It does do our heart good to do that. They aren’t completely “lost” that way.
Well put, Deborah. You are right. It’s like I rounded them up and am keeping them near. XOXO
Lovely idea
Thank you, Rae! Hope all is well.
I LOVE this, Luanne. xx
I had a similar idea here:
https://jenniferkellandperry.com/2018/10/07/sunday-snap-to-all-the-cats/
You have done what I was just mentioning above to Deborah: rounding them up and keeping them near! Wonderful idea!!!!
Yes, why not? We do it for other loved ones. 😊
Exactly
What an absolutely beautiful loving tribute to all your sweet kitties! So lovely, Luanne!
Re your shot reaction, sounds awful! Which company was the vaccine? And was it the same brand as your earlier shots? Did you speak with a doc, and if so, what did s/he say? Yikes!
Thank you so much, Ellie!!! xo Re the 3rd Pfizer shot I had. I asked Dr. Google who said that 0.3% of Pfizer recipients get that underarm thing. Even more of Moderna people do. So I didn’t worry. It was annoying because the pain was sharp and over a large area and because I still have my calcification tendonitis of the rotator cuff on the other side (it’s been a year!). I am all better now from the shot, but have an appt set up with a sports medicine doctor.
<3 Just wonderful <3
Thank you, Ellen.
That is a beautiful memorial to the kitties, Luanne. I am sorry to hear about the booster reaction. I get mine tomorrow, and hope all will be OK.
Read mine too
This is darling! It reminds me of creating a tribute video to my husband Michael after he died. It took over a week and countless hours pouring over family photo albums, slides and digital pictures. It was an incredibly therapeutic and bittersweet experience. Thanks for a creative expression of your own loss.
Oh Charles, I am so sorry about Michael! I will visit your blog. From a glance it looks like your blog is a creative expression of grief, too. Big hugs.
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