Posted by Janice at Rocky Ridge Refuge - knowing the two of them this is not at all surprising
I'm not big on Christmas. I don't have many good memories from my childhood or the years since really, so never had a happy association with this time of year. I have lived alone most of my adult life also, so never felt any need to decorate or even have a tree.
Today I was sitting here thinking about things. I have always had a tendency to think about and empathize with others who may find this season hard for any reason. Though I am not lonely, many people are. Though I am not in dire financial straights, many people are. Though I have not suffered a loss recently, many people have. I feel for them, and of course for all the animals unloved and in need also.
As I sat brooding a bit about all this, I was barely aware that Butterbean had come in and jumped up on the chair next to me. I looked over and there she was, with a small pine bough in her mouth. I waited for her to start shredding it, as is her normal behavior, but she just sat there smiling at me. She looked cute, so I took a picture. I reached over to pet her and she then dropped it in front of me. I picked it up and placed it on the counter, intending to toss it outside when she wasn't looking. And I did.
But, a few minutes later, here came Butterbean with her pine twig again! OK. I can take a hint. I got a bowl and stuck the branch in a little bed of stones. It looked bare and pathetic, as you might expect. But I remembered there are some green vine thingys growing in the yard and took a few small pieces to wrap around the little limb. Have several bushes flowering now also with pretty red flowers, so brought in a few of those. With Butterbean supervising, we soon had a tiny, decorated Christmas tree. Butterbean was very happy then, and I feel a little better too....
Today I was sitting here thinking about things. I have always had a tendency to think about and empathize with others who may find this season hard for any reason. Though I am not lonely, many people are. Though I am not in dire financial straights, many people are. Though I have not suffered a loss recently, many people have. I feel for them, and of course for all the animals unloved and in need also.
As I sat brooding a bit about all this, I was barely aware that Butterbean had come in and jumped up on the chair next to me. I looked over and there she was, with a small pine bough in her mouth. I waited for her to start shredding it, as is her normal behavior, but she just sat there smiling at me. She looked cute, so I took a picture. I reached over to pet her and she then dropped it in front of me. I picked it up and placed it on the counter, intending to toss it outside when she wasn't looking. And I did.
But, a few minutes later, here came Butterbean with her pine twig again! OK. I can take a hint. I got a bowl and stuck the branch in a little bed of stones. It looked bare and pathetic, as you might expect. But I remembered there are some green vine thingys growing in the yard and took a few small pieces to wrap around the little limb. Have several bushes flowering now also with pretty red flowers, so brought in a few of those. With Butterbean supervising, we soon had a tiny, decorated Christmas tree. Butterbean was very happy then, and I feel a little better too....