Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Update: Kate--A Few Bright Spots

It's been very comforting to have such support from all of you. I wanted to let you know that we continue to be cautiously optimistic about our Miz Katers. She has such a good and strong spirit. We think if any dog has a chance of beating this awful disease, tick fever, she can. It's been a week now since we thought we would put her down, but have since decided that the few bright moments we observe suggest that we should wait and see. I took this photo in 2008, but doesn't it look like a dog's head--seems eerily relevant, don't you think? Until then, we'll all be taking care of Kate--even Loki (the GSD on the left, the one who looks tough, but is a huge baby and a 'city dawg'), has joined in.
  I've been going through old work again and found this Katchina Study (6" x 8," oil on panel), thinking it's a good thing to consider all kinds of spiritual help right now. It is in the style of T. C. Cannon, who has been another inspiration over the years.
  Thank you again, everyone. Wishing you healthy pets!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Melinda, it's so hard to watch an innocent animal suffer. Especially the ones we know and love so much. I really hope Kate makes a strong recovery.

Anonymous said...

That photo sure does look like a dog's head, maybe a standard poodle, or something else with that kind of curly fur. I think the Katchinas, Shamans and all the good spirits should be called on for the recovery of Miz Katers.

Betsy Grant said...

This painting is fascinating...

Melinda said...

Hello Silvina,
You are so very right. Sometimes I still have dreams in which past pets show up happy and free. I miss them so and am not ready to lose Kate, but will respect what her body says.

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Melinda said...

Hi Donald,
I thought you might like this. I did photoshop it just a teensy bit (adjusted levels a few degrees).

Thank you for joining with us with your optimism. It means so much to me.

Melinda said...

Hi Betsy,
Thank you! If you haven't seen T. C. Cannon's work, I highly recommend having a look. His work is distinctive and remarkably imbued with the energy of the southwest.

SamArtDog said...

That is definitely a dog angel. Struck with divine light. We all send love.

Melinda said...

YES! I'll take that--Dog Angel in the sky, SamArtDog.

Embracing the love and grateful.

Thank you.

Linny D. Vine said...

This is wonderful, Melinda! It tells a story that my imagination wants to travel with. Thinking of you and your pupper and sending good health your way!

Melinda said...

Oh, that's great to hear, Linny!

I'm so glad you sense the narrative--even if neither of us can articulate it in words.

Thank you, too, for the good wishes for the pup. :-)

Bonnie Luria said...

Any sliver of good news is so welcomed. Miz Kate has the sweet visage of a loving, loved dog- as does her doggie guardian.
There isn't much that breaks a heart as terribly as seeing one suffer with illness, so dependent on us and so forgiving of us.
It's hard to concentrate ( maybe I speak for myself only ...) on very much of anything when they hang in the balance.

It's not surprising your cloud formations would look like a dogs head and why couldn't it be! Topped off by the bright light behind- I think the mystic significance is evident.

Take every minute of her rebound to love her up and know that you're being thought of by spirits down here.

Melinda said...

You are speaking a deep truth, Bonnie. There were a few days (more than I'd like to admit to) that I was a basket case thinking about Miz Kate's end.

Loki gets most of the attention because of his breed, but dear Kate, faithful and a family anchor, is quiet and often invisible.

I've realized just how foundational she is to the household and how many pets she's outlived with us--wrangling them all--including our ole Chirpa, the parakeet and Molly, the tarantula.

Thank you so much for your comment. I'm in total agreement.

She now gets a massage each day, along with whatever she wants to eat.

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Melinda,

I just read your blog and am sending you all the good health spirits to help with your doggie. What a beautiful dog. I really know how hard it is when an animal is ill, and she is clearly one of the family.

Fabulous painting.

Love,

Barbara
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Thanks for sharing one of your 'olden goldens' with us Melinda...we will be thinking of you and yours and sending you healing energy...

Jeffrey

Jeane Myers said...

think of you and dear 'Kate' and hoping for the best xxo

Melinda said...

Thank you, Jeffrey! We can use all the healing energy you can spare.

She's in a holding pattern these last few days. That's good!

Melinda said...

Thanks so much, Jeane!
Really, really appreciate your comment.

We're still hopeful!

daviddrawsandpaints said...

It's been a few days now since you posted this Melinda, and I hope things are still going well. It's a helluva thing to have a furry friend not well. We suddenly realise just what they really mean to us...much more family than pet.

Also hope the storms that have been engulfing you have subsided.

Love the T C Cannon paintings - no ifs and buts about them, just straight expressions of what is intended. Very much like your own painting. Such power. I need to stop ifing and buting and just get on with it.
Written from:
3rd Bedouin Tent on the Left,
Sandy Place,
Western Sahara,
Darkest Africa,
Scotland.
ps: Not forgotten our secret exchange. Just need to get my cerulean hat on.

Melinda said...

Hi David!
Yes, the storms are outta here for now. We'll miss them. They are sooo exciting.

Thank you for your kind comments. We're struggling, but hanging in there.

Glad you like T. C. Cannnon! He was in a class with Fritz Scholder in the 1960s and people saw how they each were influenced by the other. Love them both.

You seem to be writing from my neighborhood! Ha!

Marilyn Flanegan said...

The other pups in the herd have a wonderful way of nursing them along. Sending a healthy, healing vibe Kate's way.
:)
Marilyn

Melinda said...

Welcome, Marilyn!
Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate your coming by and wishing our dog well.

Hope you'll visit again.

Edgar said...

Katie is a bright spot all by herself, and I cherish all that she has given.

It has been difficult to have her so ill, and it is hardest when we worry about the worst. I like that Kate sees the situation as uncomplicated. She doesn't feel well, and that's that. There's a lesson in there somewhere...

Jala Pfaff said...

Oh, sweet sweet dog! All my best wishes!

I also have dreams where my beloved pets are once again alive and with me. Very bittersweet.

(What a cool photo, by the way.)

Melinda said...

Hi Jala,
Thank you for your good wishes for Kate. She's still struggling, but hanging in there for now.

An accidental photo, on file for more than a year, showing up at just the right moment, this seemed to illustrate best the struggle in which Kate's body is engaged.

Dreams of pets can be so very comforting! I'm glad you have them, too.