We Are So Thankful…………………………by Pam Todd

There are so many things for which we can express thanks on a daily basis, not just at Thanksgiving.  But, for this blog, I just want to say how thankful I am for the animals of the world…….for the knowledge that has been gained through research, study, and for the videos and films that enable us to see the creatures of the earth from the comfort of our recliners and sofas, for the zoos and aquariums and museums that allow us to visit and see animals up close and personal, and for books, magazines,  other written publications, and the internet from which we can learn about animal habitats, their habits, and whether they are in danger of becoming extinct. 
When I was teaching, I loved using Zoo Books in my classroom as a basis for units that included reading, writing, poetry, art, and music about so many non-domesticated animals. Following are the lyrics to a song I wrote and which my class performed for other classes in my elementary school.  (Not a candidate for any Music Awards, of course, but it was lots of fun!) At the end of that school year, one of the mothers typed the lyrics, decorated the paper with butterflies, and put it in a gold-colored frame as a gift to me.  The same class also gave me a butterfly bush as an end-of-the-year gift.  I think my butterfly bush is about 15 years old now and gorgeous every summer!

Butterflies, butterflies, butterflies, butterflies. On the rocks and on the ground. Butterflies, butterflies, butterflies, butterflies. Here and there and all around. Flitting, flying, soaring high.  Colors streaking through the sky.   Such a beautiful sight to see. Sitting in the apple tree.  Butterfly, you fly like a kite.  Little blue, you're small as a mite.  Butterflies red and butterflies bright.  You fly in the day but not at night.

And closer to home, there are our pets…….mostly dogs and cats, though some may have rabbits, birds, gerbils, hamsters, and fish in a bowl.  Some even have snakes and tarantulas.  But, for us, our dogs are just part of our family, and a very important part.  Daisy, who was almost 12 years old when she passed away October 28, 2010, was so smart.  She loved to go outside and catch the frisbee in mid-air after we threw it, and then bring it back to us and play tug-of-war as we tried to get the frisbee to throw it again.  She was a great mole hunter…….no traps, no pellets in our yard….just Daisy.  She followed my husband everywhere he went, and on her very last day, when she was so weak that she could barely stand, she walked off the porch to follow him into the yard.  We cried just thinking about the love she had for Bob.  After a year, we can smile and talk about her without crying…..most of the time.

Eddie is the baby of the family now, if you can call about six years old a baby!  He is the most affectionate, fun Boston Terrier that could every be!  He loves hugs and kisses and snuggling up.  Eddie is a big guy for a Boston, weighing about  40 pounds (and trying to lose a few at the advice of his vet).  He likes it outside when the weather is just right…..not too hot and not too cold.  And he likes basking on the sun on the blacktop drive.  Did you know that his normal temperature is about 103 degrees?  No wonder he is sooo warm! He loves to ride in the car and has become quite the traveler on trips to Oklahoma and Florida to visit other members of his family. He is a sweetheart!

We are so thankful for the pets we have had throughout our lives.  They have brought laughter, joy, fun, and tears when we have had to let them go, but memories will always be at our beck and call when we think of them and the love we have for our four-footed family members. At Thanksgiving and every day, we appreciate the animals in our lives.

LiveJournal Tags: Thanksgiving,thankfulness,dogs,pets,animals,cats,CFA,Crafting4Animals Guild,domestic animals,wild animals

This post written by Pam Todd, a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on ArtFire, and whose shop http://www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com/ features hand-crocheted items for pets, people, and homes.  Pam  loves learning about animals of all kinds, and especially appreciates the fur babies that are and have been part of her family throughout the years.