Remembering Bea

My favourite picture of our regal Beatrix Potter. A youngster on the porch in Guelph.

It's a sunny, lovely day at the farmette. Same as yesterday, when I did full contact gardening all day, getting most of my veggies, hangers and deck pots planted. I could easily live with 20C weather during the day all the time.

Like all her brothers and sisters, Bea couldn't resist a cardboard box.

We made the tough decision to put an end to Bea's suffering. She was vomiting, not eating, and hiding starting on Sunday. She had been diagnosed with mammarian cancer two years ago and had toughed it out since then, having had an emergency episode two months ago, as well. Dr. Jacques, a qualified and very compassionate veterinarian came to the farmette on Tuesday morning to do the deed.

It was so, so, so hard. But he explained the procedure, was gentle with us and her, and it was all over in less than a half-hour. He took her away to be cremated, and we'll get her ashes back in a couple of weeks.

Latterly, Bea could be found 'lumping' on our bed.

She was a corker. Her name came from re-doing her shelter name, which was Twix. Nobody should go through life as a chocolate bar. So, she took on the moniker of beloved children's author Beatrix Potter.

She was the youngest of the feline family of four when we moved up to the farmette. Our former veterinarian Dr. Melanie said she was made by committee. Chunky body, tiny head, too-short legs and tail. But she also had the softest fur any of us had ever felt. Plus wee white killer toes.

Rob's lap served quite nicely as a chair for our Beatrix.

In her later years, she snuggled up with Rob at nap time, tucking her paws under his belly and purring up a storm.

In the last few weeks, she also took to laying on our chests early in the morning and late at night. She did that on her last day, after being so sick. Which made it worse and better at the same time. Like she was saying goodbye.

We were privileged to have been able to rescue her 16 and a half years ago and will always, always love our wee Bea. Until next week.