Interests and Hobbies

I have been an animal lover all my life.  I can't remember a time when I didn't have animal companions sharing my space and my life.  This trait may have a genetic component because I can remember my Dad bringing home lost or injured animals.  One time it was a baby barn owl,  another time a stray cat.  We always had a house full of critters as I was growing up.  So when people ask me why I live with so many animals (currently two dogs and three cats), I just say that that's the way I've always lived.

My current tribe consists of:

• Pempa-(the name means "vigorous" in the language of Tibet) Pem is a Tibetan Terrier and he lives up to his name.  He is an active little guy with a heart as big as all outdoors. Pem's picture is above left.  This breed is not commonly known or recognized, although I have begun to see TT's in various dog shows.  This is not truly a terrier breed.  When these dogs were brought out of Tibet into England, the term "terrier" was used in England to refer to all midsized dogs.  If you are interested in knowing more about Tibetan Terriers, you will find the breed website at the Tibetan Terrier Club of America

• Rincen-(the name means "precious")  Rinnie is a  TT who firmly believes that she is Queen of the Universe and we are simply her loyal servants  She was born with a severe birth defect, a hole in her heart, that can't be fixed.  The vets in Gainsville gave her a life expectancy of two years in 2002.  She  celebrated her sixth birthday in July of 2007 and, we expect her to be around for years to come.  She has been treated by a holistic veterinarian since the diagnosis and remains on an all natural diet.  I credit her longevity to these factors.  We just let her go on believing that she is the queen and pretty much cater to her every need.  She has her very own Radio Flyer wagon to ride in if she gets tuckered out on our walks.  That's her picture above right.

• Frederica Katianna-Freddy Cat was abandoned at my husband's place of business.  She was just a few weeks old, and my husband started calling her "Fred" because he didn't know if she was male or female.  When he took her in to the vet, he found out Fred was a "she", so she became Frederica. 

• Crumpet- Crumpet started life in a very small town in Tennessee.  I was visiting my mom and dad after they retired and found a stray kitten in the woods behind their home.  The kitten was very ill, so a trip to the local vet was in order.  When I decided to bring the kitten home with me, I was going to name her Tennessee, but my dad wanted to name her Crump, after the town where they lived.  My mom said that because she was a little girl, she couldn't be named Crump!  So dad said to call her "Crumpet" and so it was. 

• Jazzman- Jazz is the latest (and I hope-LAST) feline addition to the crew.  He is our only "outside" cat, which means that he pretty much comes and goes as he pleases.  Jazz is a strikingly handsome fellow, jet black with white jazz paws and the loudest purr I've ever heard.  That's his picture below.

Now that you know more than you ever wanted to know about my animal companions, you can readily see that they consume all of my time and most of my money, leaving little of either for other pursuits.