Hey guys! I hope you had a good week!
This week didn’t start off too good for us as we lost one of our furbabies, Red 🙁 When I woke up Monday morning, I noticed that Red seemed to be having a hard time breathing. He struggled with allergies since he came to us as a stray, but he never had breathing issues until this. I took him to the vet as soon as they opened that morning. They took x-rays of his lungs and they had fluid in them, which is never a good sign. A blood test confirmed the worst – Red had both FIV and feline leukemia. The FIV part didn’t surprise me since we got him as a stray and it is something that strays often have. The feline leukemia did surprise me because when we brought him to the vet after we first tamed him down, he tested negative for it and we’ve had him immunized against it ever since. My vet told me that strays are often born with feline leukemia in their bone marrow and it will not show up on a blood test. I also knew from prior experience with a cat I had a while back that the feline leukemia vaccine is not a 100% guarantee that they won’t contract it if they are exposed to it. We made the sad choice to put Red to sleep as by this time he could hardly breathe and the chances of him recovering were next to nil.
This is Red photobombing my recent Spring tablescape shoot. This photo is less than a month old, and as you can see he looks to be in perfect health. Feline leukemia is a sneaky disease and the symptoms can come on literally overnight like they did with Red. The best defense against it is to always keep your kitties indoors, but if this is not possible always make sure to keep up on their vaccinations.
I am really sad about Red’s passing and didn’t get much of anything done this week, blog related or otherwise. I’ve also been struggling with some weird perimenopause symptoms… headaches, increased tinnitus (I’ve had it since I started the perimenopause adventure but it has worsened this week) and just the general feeling of being hit by a truck. I’ve had the typical perimenopause symptoms (mood swings, erratic periods and hair loss just to name a few). But I’ve had some other interesting symptoms that I didn’t know could be symptoms of perimenopause, namely chest pains and breast cysts. Of course I thought the worst at first (Heart attack! Breast cancer!) only to go to my doctor who after a few test confirmed all of it was caused by my fluctuating hormones. This week, I get to add headaches, more tinnitus and feeling hit by a truck to the symptom list. Fun times 😋🤣
Despite Red’s passing and feeling crappy all week, I did manage to get out and get some planting done in my garden. I got most of my “garden staples” (tomatoes, hot peppers and bell peppers) planted as well as carrot and green onion seeds started. Today I plan on getting more seeds started and depending on how I feel maybe some weeds pulled.
Do you grow a vegetable garden? If so, what are some of your favorite vegetables that you like to grow?
This Week’s Features:
Since I’m in the gardening mood, this week’s features are all plant related 🌻🌿🍅
Farmhouse Style Herb Planters by DIY Vibes
DIY Planter Boxes for Herbs by The DIY Dreamer
Planting Succulents in Pretty Thrifted Pots and Urns by Follow The Yellow Brick Home
Styling with Succulents by White Arrows Home
Link Party Rules:
The party rules are super simple! Link up your favorite farmhouse style DIY projects or indoor/outdoor decor inspiration. You don’t have to live in a farmhouse or have farmhouse style as one of the main themes of your blog – as long as the project or decor would work in a farmhouse style home, it will work here 🙂 No food or recipes, please.
I don’t require you to link back to this party, but if you do, I appreciate it! I also don’t require you to visit or comment on other blogger’s linkups, but it’s always a nice way to share the bloggy love! By linking up, you will get a chance to be featured here at next week’s party and across my social media. If you pin anything from the party, please pin it from the original source.
By linking up to this party, you permit me to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features, roundups, etc. with a link back to your post or a link back to this party on the week your post was featured.
Thanks so much for stopping by and and have a great weekend!
Thank you so much for hosting and for the feature! This week I am excited to share my favorite spots in Minocqua, a painted TV tray DIY, and my rustic fireplace mantel! Hope you have a wonderful day, and stay safe and healthy!
You’re very welcome Kristin! Thank you for sharing all your beautiful projects, and have a happy and healthy week!
Hi Michelle, I can so sympathize with what you’re going thru, and I’m so sorry about Red. He’s a real cutie. oh how we love our furry family members. The strain of this time makes everything so much worse. Take care of yourself and stay in touch with your doctor. We need to be proactive with our health issues. Your garden sounds like a great way to stay busy and distracted from all the other junk in life right now. thanks for having us over to party!
Thank you so much Debra ❤ It was a rough week but I’m feeling better now. Thanks so much for joining us each Friday, and have a safe and happy week!
Thank you Michelle for your 151st Farmhouse Friday. Keeping you in my prayers.
Hugs
Joy
Thank you so much Joy ❤ Have a healthy and happy week!
I am so sorry that you lost your handsome cat this week and that you’ve not been feeling great. Hope that next week is a better week for you.
Thank you so much Paula ❤ I feel much better today! Thanks so much for joining us each Friday and have a safe and healthy week!
I am so sorry about Red. I hope you can find peace soon, but take your time and grieve. It’s hard to lose a pet. On a separate note, thank you for featuring my farmhouse style herb pots. Hope you have a better weekend.
Thank you so much Pamela ❤ I feel much better this weekend. You’re very welcome for the feature and have a healthy and happy week!
Aww, I’m so very sorry to hear about Red. What a beautiful boy 😢 I know he will be with you in spirit forever and you will see him again on the Rainbow Bridge 🌈 ❤️ Sending you prayers for comfort 🙏🏼
Thank you so much Laurie! ❤
So sorry to hear of the loss of your fur baby…..
Thanks so much for continuing to host during this health crisis, spreading beauty, laughter and information!! Stay Safe, Healthy and Happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thank you so much Debbie ❤ And you’re very welcome – I’m happy I can offer this little oasis in these difficult times. Have a happy and healthy week!
So sorry you’ve had a rough week, Michelle:( Hard to experience a loss when there’s so much other sadness around us. Thanks for faithfully hosting each week, and spreading some optimism through beauty!
Thank you so much Lora ❤ I’m happy I can host the party to offer a bit of distraction during these difficult times. Thank you so much for joining us each Friday and have a happy and healthy week!
What happened to Red is exactly what happened to our Rexy last year. He went from his usual self to struggling to breathe overnight. He was also a Tabby and a stray. Rexy was my shadow and so Michelle, I know exactly what you’re going through. My thoughts are with you and sending hugs your way from Canada. xo
Thank you so much Marie ❤ I’m sorry to hear you went through the same thing with your Rexy. Strays are tough because you never know what hidden illnesses they might have when they show up in your life, and because of that their life spans are often much shorter than cats that have had a home since birth. But I look at it this way – we gave them a few good years of health that they wouldn’t have had if they remained a stray and we greatly reduced the amount of suffering they had to experience at the end. Hugs right back to you and I hope you have a healthy and happy week!
I love your great site and am so sorry to hear about your beloved Red. Losing a wonderful furry companion is just the worst. I hope you feel better soon and know that all your readers send their love!
Thank you so much Connie ❤ I am feeling much better this weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a healthy and happy week!
Sorry for your loss, they are part of our hearts 🙁
Thank you so much Lee Ann ❤
Hi i am so sorry about Red it made me remember my ginget cat Oscar i still think about him every day .
Do you have any more pets at home ?
Thank you so much Janet ❤ Yes, we have 10 other cats (we live in the country and my hubs and I are both cat lovers so we tend to keep every stray that shows up) and a bunch of farm critters. Having other pets does make the loss of one a tiny bit easier. Thank you so much for stopping by and have a healthy and happy week!
So sorry to hear you lost your kitty. Not easy to deal with, and then add hormonal issues, along with staying at home… not too fun! Thank you for hosting in the midst of all this!
You’re very welcome Julie, and thank you! <3
First time to your blog. I am so sorry to hear about your sweet Red. So hoping you are feeling better! Love your link party, I will definitely have to join in soon!
Thank you Kim! I’m so happy you found my blog and I can’t wait to see what you link up! 🙂
I am so sorry for your loss and that you are feeling poorly. Sending postitive vibes and prayers your way!
Thanks for hosting and for the feature!
Thank you so much Amber <3 You're very welcome for the feature!