Violet & I love snacks, naps, wandering in nature, snuggling, and playing. Oftentimes we do this stuff together, combined with reading, making art, watching movies. Sometimes I have to do less exciting work and I hear Violet in the other room making A LOT of noise--not breaking stuff, but making a ruckus. When I check on her I always find her just happily playing with her stuffed animals, a treat, a tennis ball--she looks at me like "what? I'm fine!" :) She is so imaginative and funny and smart, and she is the best friend anyone could have. She let this poor sweet homeless kitten/cat Stella move in, and Violet has been very patient while Stella learns not to use her claws when she wants us to play with her. The other day a pair of red tailed hawks were soaring above us in the yard, and I just said aloud, while I was watching them "we need to stick close to Stella." Violet went and stood right beside the kitten on the front sidewalk, and kept watching the sky, making sure that the hawks didn't come closer. My heart is so full and grateful for this wonderful, brave girl. She makes my life better and makes me a better person every day.

We live out in the country and it's very healing. I have regular tests to make sure my cancer doesn't come back. I have scans this Wednesday. Violet saw me through my treatment, and was very gentle for months. Now she's back to normal, since I'm so much better. She makes me laugh really hard every day between 4:30-5:00 am, as she makes sure I'm awake first, then smashes me, tail going crazy, giving 5,000 kisses a minute. In college, we were still doing artwork or writing papers at that hour! I'm so lucky, and blessed, and I hope I can make a difference with my life in some small way. Thank you for helping to support our shop, to pay the medical bills and student loans and buy more tennis balls when Ms Violet and Ms Stella have torn them UP. Violet can and will destroy a real soccer ball in 5 minutes or less.