When P’nut was born, there was Alice (on the back of the chair),Nikki (a Cocker Spaniel who thought she was a cat, on the back of the couch), Rosie (my soul cat who died a week after this picture was taken @20), and Gertrude, who was too shy to meet the baby. P’nut was 1 day old in this picture.

P’nut is walking in her University graduation today. Though she really finished school last December, this is when they do the cap and gown thing. That made me look back at her life so far, and all the animals that I brought into it. I think that raising children around animals is a wonderful and loving lesson. Because I chose to share my life with all these critters, so did P’nut. Since the moment she arrived she was surrounded by fur.

Cats: Rosie, Gertrude, Alice. Exit Rosie, enter Cuddles, Zackary, and The Muffin Man. Exit Alice, then Gertrude, and enter Miss Constance Kitty and Noel. Exit Zackary, Kitty, and Muffin, and enter Nine and Stella. Exit Cuddles and enter Mini Cooper. And there is also Aunt B’s cat (that we rescued and drove from Maryland to NY), Jazzy, and P’nuts many feral cats from her year in Israel, especially Soshanna. Every feline teaching different lessons about independence, affection, and silliness.  Cats definitely teach patience, I think.

Dogs: Nikkolette (Nikki) and Squash E Bear. Exit Nikki and enter Louise. Exit Squash and enter Sofie Bear. Each dog teaching endless lessons in unconditional love. Also another big influence in her life was Socki, Tante Judy’s canine companion, who taught us that dogs can be amazing helpers. I think the dogs taught her responsibility for something other than one’s self.

Horses: From Honey, her first pony, to Sport, and the many other leased horses over the years whose names I forget, this girl loved to ride. I am remembering one major fall she took off of a horse named Cinnamon. I sat and watched the horse refuse the jump and P’nut’s 10 year old self fly through the air into the sand (she was OK, just bruised). I know it is a cliche but, she learned the age old lesson of getting back on the horse after you fall off. I think the horses also taught her confidence, bravery, and humility.

Guinea pigs: (I just realized I forgot to include the Guinea pigs in the collage – I am so sorry little ones.) First there was Sam. Exit Sam enter Georgia and Mr. Moto and their babies, Bubba, Checkers, and Mo Jr. and then the foster, Samore.  Learning that rodents can be sweet and funny furbabies, even when they pee on you, teaches one that things don’t always turn out as you planned, but you can change your shirt and move on (I know she struggles with this one).

I can’t believe the years of hugs and cuddles, kisses and purrs.  Happy college graduation ceremony day, Baby.  From all your fur siblings over the years. ❤ ❤ ❤

Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤