Love Me Because..

Today was a good day in animal rescue ~ it was one of those heart-warming, tear jerking days, the ones that get us through the sad times and the hard times.

This was one of those days that you volunteer in animal rescue for.

The Love Me Because event is an adoption event to help those animals with special needs find their homes. We implore people not to love them despite their problems, but rather because of their problems. We want them to be loved because they are overweight, have medical issues, are older, are not cuddly, have behavior issues because no one taught them better ~ and sometimes, simply because they are overlooked, for no apparent reason.

Today so many of these animals were adopted out, including many long time residents from the shelter I volunteer for.

Tibby is an adorable calico ~ she is very sweet, despite her constant frowny grumpy face. She has been in our shelter for at least 10 months. Today she found her permanent home, one with kids to love her. They looked beyond her grumpy face to the sweet cat within.

Willa Nelson is a gorgeous orange tabby~ she came into the shelter so full of worms they had infiltrated her bloodstream. We treated the worms, yet the neglect she had suffered prior to us had taken its toll, causing poor Willa to slightly drag her back legs. Today, she found a family that loved her, walking impairments and all.

Some of our long timers were not so lucky ~ poor Quicksilver is still looking for his home. I can't believe this handsome devil is still without a permanent, loving family to call his own. He is a fighter and a survivor, having come to our shelter on death's door, starving and flea ridden. He is a well fed, healthy boy now, and continues to wait for the right family. He is a cool guy who even has his own Facebook page, Quickster McChubbs!

Even though Quicksilver still waits, so many others found their homes - a pair of senior sister tortoiseshells were adopted by two senior sisters, a shy black cat named Ranger was adopted to a quiet home where he will flourish, a beagle recovering from ear surgery went to a great home as well. For all of us volunteers, today was a great day, to see those we worried about and loved find their happily ever afters.

You can view more pictures of the event at the Wyandotte Patch.

Wordless Wednesday- Maggie and the Snowfall

Maggie takes the snow seriously.

Big Blizzard Coming..

This is the storm with many names..Snowzilla..Snowtorious B.I.G....Snowpocalypse. The list goes on and on. I like to call it the Blizzard that Ate the World, personally. It is currently snowing like a son of a out there, and I am waiting for Billy and our neighbor Greg to get back from Meijer with a spark plug for the snow blower.

The past few days have been a little crazy around here, gearing up for the storm. Everyone asking, will we get the snow? Will it happen? Running to the store to get supplies and whatever else they feel they need. I didn't go to the store, but I did come up with an emergency plan in case we lose power and heat - thanks to my dad, a full time Red Cross volunteer in the Disaster Services Department, I always have to come up with an emergency plan. My plan is simple : if the power goes out and we don't have heat, we will pack up the animals and head to my aunt's house, and her giant living room and fireplace. She could probably pack our whole family in there to keep us all warm. It would actually probably be kind of fun - I can see all of us with beds of blankets on the floor, talking, drinking, laughing, little Chloe dancing. But I am hoping it doesn't come to this, I would rather stay in my own home, cuddled up here. But it is good to have a plan.

In a minute I am going to make an overnight French Toast Casserole , that sounds like the perfect thing for tomorrow morning. And then I am going to read The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I might even read it to Billy while I am at it. It is just a Little House on the Prairie kind of night, in weather and in spirit.

The Knockout Artist

Hostess: Alyssa

Book:The Knockout Artist by Harry Crews

Food: Salmon with leeks and jalapeno, toasted bread with goat cheese, pears and roasted red pepper, triple chocolate torte

Wine of the Night: Tormenta

Month: January

First book club of the new year, and I needed it. I have been feeling a little bummed out this week, with all that has been going on, but apparently all I needed was book club. Good friends, good food, good conversation, and of course good wine.

Alyssa always picks books with strange, sordid characters living the basest forms of life, doing the worst possible things to get by. Eugene Biggs may not have quite hit rock bottom, but he was lingering around down there with a crazy cast of characters. Oyster Boy, Charity, Pete..

We all agreed the book was hard to get into. For me, the turning point was the introduction of Charity. She was a bigger mystery to me - like what was her story? She acted like a super academic, but she was really just crazy. Karin and I agreed that she was just getting off on her relationship with Eugene, and had the money to live out the farce she was producing. Ironically though, it is crazy Charity's "work" that finally gets the lead out of Eugene and gets him to want to change his life. Shame and humiliation kept him from going home, but reading what Charity thought of him, and realizing that he was just an unique party favor was the epiphany creating moment.

Will I read Harry Crews again? Probably - Alyssa told us about one novel that sounded kind of interesting, although I can't recall the title. I will have to find out. He looks like an interesting guy too.

Karin, at her book club meeting in November, mentioned that we all have a pattern of book choices, which was really interesting. I have been thinking about this, and will continue thinking about this until I decide what pattern I seem to follow. I already did find a common theme that runs through all my choices, although I don't think this is what Karin meant. All of my choices have involved water as a major player ~ Remembering Blue, The Problem with Murmur Lee, and now my next choice, Waltzing the Cat. I hope to explore this idea further, as it develops in my mind.

The next book club book is Waltzing the Cat by Pam Houston, my choice. I am looking forward to rereading this book, Pam Houston is a favorite of mine.

Wordless Wednesday ~ January's Bones

January's Bones.

Wordless Wednesday - Wishing for Warmth

California, I miss you.

* Please remember all photos are property of Cinnamon Owl.

A wintry mix of children's books

Today would have been the perfect day to stay home - cold, wet, gray. Instead of snow, we have rain. This type of day calls for some serious couch time with a book and my animals. Instead, I am here at work. Which is not too bad either, really. I get to hang out in the school library and look at the books and help students find authors that they love. Which is pretty cool.

At the beginning of the month, I lined the tops of all the bookshelves with some of our winter and snow themed books. I find it comforting to read old favorites, especially on days like today, and I thought I would share just in case you are interestedin checking them out for your family as well, one wet and cold day.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen - I love any book with owls, and this is a sweet book about a parent and child's hike through the woods, looking for owls.

Cross Country Cat by Mary Calhoun - Poor little left behind Siamese cat! I love how he uses cross country skis to get around!

The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen - I just love Gary Paulsen. Try Puppies, Dogs and Blue Northers as well.

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I loved these books as a child, and I still love to revisit the world of Little House! Sometimes I think if I need to survive in the wild, I could, having learned all I needed to know from the Ingalls family.

This next one is not an old favorite, but rather a new one. And it is not wintery at all, but is a book that is good for all seasons.

Zen Shorts by Jon Muth - A wise panda breaks down buddhist lessons into a story telling language easy for kids to follow and understand.

What about you? What books from your childhood stand out in your memory, and make for great cozy reading?