Spring cleanup

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little they become it’s visible soul.” - Jean Cocteau

Lately I’ve been thinking so much about my home life. My family, home decor, projects I want to tackle and share, lighting changes, upping the coziness factor, adding warmth...all the things that I embrace about my home, my family and how to highlight them here on Home at Three. 

We’ve always had pets at home. When I was a little girl growing up our family dog was named Sassy. She was the gentlest dog who looked like a beagle with white, brown and black markings. I remember mom & dad bringing her home as a puppy and at some point in her first few days she had an accident on our orange shag carpeting in the living room. I can still picture mom with the paper towel cleaning it up! I may really be showing my age if I tell you I also recall her fitting underneath our chrome tv stand. Her personality was so sweet and her demeanor so loyal. Often times she would lay on the road waiting and watching for the school bus to bring us home each day (much to my embarrassment!) Sassy was with our family until the ripe old age of 14. She passed away when I was in university. I still remember the phone call when Mom told me she was gone.

My first home growing up literally bordered on a pasture, where the cow fence was leaning on our back step. We only lived there for a few years, but I recall playing in the yard and seeing the cows nearby. 

When I was in grade one we moved to live with my grandmother, Alice. Upon reflection, this was when my love & compassion as a pet owner started to grow. Nanny MacLeod always had a cat; Mother’s Boy was her faithful companion. I can still see her sitting in her porch chair with the cat perched on her knee. This past Christmas my father and I were discussing that in her younger years she was a breeder of cocker spaniels after she married my grandfather, Dr. Norman MacLeod. (For any local history buffs, my grandfather was the first practicing veterinarian in New Glasgow on Stellarton Road, his clinic was just a few doors down from where the New Glasgow Vet Clinic is today). I like to imagine that their love of animals is what brought my grandparents together. My grandfather passed away before I had a chance to meet him and he wasn’t really talked about when I was young- I think it made Nanny too sad. For years I wanted to become a veterinarian myself, although science was never my strong suit - but I digress.

My other grandparents owned many acres of land. Although they didn’t raise horses of their own, there were two horses that they boarded every summer. Their names were Prince and Lady, and each Sunday I would walk through the field to the fence to feed them both crabapples or even just pieces of hay and handfuls of grass. It was one of the highlights of my week. I would pretend they were my horses and imagine riding them. 

I realize now my love of pets is innate. I’m hopeful that trait has been passed on to Aidan - I see glimmers of it with the care he takes with our golden retriever, Tenley. She makes this house (and our cottage!) a home: her eager greeting each day, her snores at night and her constant company. After many heartbreaks of losing cats, we’ve settled on keeping our cat Percy indoors since adopting him from the SPCA two Christmases ago. It’s no easy task keeping him in, but is necessary with the wildlife and traffic in our area. He has his own personality with playful chatter and energy to burn! I definitely think he’s my cat, which has a lot to do with me being home more than the others - or maybe it’s just because I fill his dish more! Though I throw up my hands at the piles of shedding fur and scratched sofas, I wouldn’t change a thing. 

My cousin Melissa was talking the other day about possibly adopting a rabbit. While I think rabbits are cute, I can’t imagine myself having one as a pet. Does anyone you know have an unusual pet? Share some pics of your fur babies, I’d love to see them! 

Regardless of what you choose for your family, there’s no more accepting company in the world than that of a loving pet. Our pets really do embody the soul of our homes. This much I know is true.

TBC...🏡