There are no ordinary cats

May 29, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

There are no ordinary cats

~Colette

Yes, this is another post about my cat, Maggie. She turned 20 last week which meant a celebration was in order. Her longevity–and my love for her–got me thinking about cats (and dogs, fish, hamsters…) in the U.S. versus other countries around the world. That my sweet girl made it to 20 is in part due to the luck of genetics, but I am also certain the extent to which we pamper our pets in the U.S. goes a long way towards keeping them healthy and happy.

When I travel, I am conscious of the fact that some countries are pet friendly while others are not. When I’ve visited Amsterdam, cats are everywhere, on the street (but not looking homeless), and hanging out in windows. However, when I’ve visited Armenia, I mostly see feral cats and packs of wild dogs. On rare occasions I’ve seen a pet dog out for a walk on a leash.

I did a little research on the prevalence of pets, especially cats and dogs, around the globe, and was surprised to learn that China ranks number two, after the U.S. for the country with the most pet cats. I was equally surprised (shocked, actually) to discover that the Swiss–who do rank high in pet ownership–are under a lot of pressure to stop eating cats and dogs. I must tell Maggie to take the Swiss alps off her travel bucket list. Even in the U.S., some states have more “cat people” whereas other states have more “dog people.” Apparently the west coast leans in the cat direction.

For countries saddled with economic challenges, pets are an additional burden–another mouth to feed. Having pets who can live out a life of leisure is most definitely an indication of wealth and prosperity.

Right now, as I look into our yard, I see Maggie sitting in the garden under the espalier apple trees, licking her paws. Bliss. Earlier today, she was snoozing beside the tomato plants.

Every day she’s still with us, I say a little thank you to Bastet, the cat goddess. I’m grateful I live in a country where we have both the desire and the means to share our homes with our beloved pets.

Happy Birthday old gal!

And if you want to read more about all things Pampers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or RSS/email.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Look who’s 4! Happy Birthday Little Bird

May 3, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

Look who’s 4! Happy Birthday Little Bird.

You are my inspiration, my perspiration and–sometimes–my desperation. You put both the ‘pampers’ and the ‘pakhlava’ into my blog.

You love kitties (especially ours), ‘Bunny,’ books, cowgirl boots, twirling, cupcakes and ice cream.

You spend your days riding swings, climbing walls (including those you shouldn’t), watching movies, being silly.

You can ask for milk in French, take super duper jumps, and write a few letters of the alphabet.

You are uniquely you. May your next trip around the sun be as bright as you are.

If you want to read more about all things Pampers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or RSS/email.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Easter Bunny

April 3, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

On April 8, Easter Sunday 2012, our little family landed in Seattle. After 36 hours of travel time from Armenia to the U.S., we were too exhausted to hunt for eggs, but the Easter Bunny had a noteworthy gift for our daughter. When our plane touched the ground, she became a United States citizen.

We didn’t put an Easter basket in her hands, but we did let her feet rest inside her new crib, in her own room. For one little girl, the door opened to a brand new world.

Easter rarely falls on the same date twice. The holiday can vary by more than a month, falling between March 22nd and April 25th for the Western church, and between April 4th and May 8th for the Eastern church. But no matter the date, Easter happens in springtime, the season of renewal and new beginnings.

That is why Easter Sunday–wherever it lands–will always remind me that on this day my daughter got a fresh start and the three of us began a new life, together as a family.

Easter 2013

Easter 2014

And maybe this is why, out of all the toys in the nursery, Little Bird chose ‘Bunny’ to be her special lovey. For years, he magically appeared on Easter morning, sitting in our plum tree until one very special Easter, when he found a new calling, in a little girl’s heart.

Happy Easter! May the bunny be good to all.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Want to be in-the-know on all things Pampers? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter or RSS/email.

Oh the places we’ll go: A decade ago I boarded a ferry

January 9, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

A decade ago, I boarded a ferry. On a cold day in January, I headed to Bainbridge Island…with a man I’d never met before.

We went on a first date that nearly wasn’t. “Why waste a perfectly good Sunday afternoon on a date that won’t go anywhere?” is what Big Papa thought some ten years ago. But in fact, we did go somewhere.

On that snowy Sunday, we took a ferry to Bainbridge. We drove to the Bainbridge Island Winery for a wine tasting. Afterwards we headed to Fay Bainbridge State Park, and froze our booties sitting on a picnic bench at the park. Then, back in Seattle, we went to Coastal Kitchen for dinner. As first dates go, ours was a trip.

We’ve been going places ever since. Some of our destinations have been actual locations: Beijing, Tibet, Armenia, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Baja, Hawaii, and Colorado. And, just as frequently, we’ve traveled to places–metaphorically–that aren’t a place at all. Adoptive parenthood for one which, as most of my readers know, was the literal and figurative mother of all journeys. We’ve traversed family illnesses and passages, transformations of our home and garden, our lives.

In the grand scheme of things, ten years isn’t that long. But when I look back on our many adventures (and misadventures), it’s hard to believe a mere decade could hold them all. These days, while we might not be traveling to distant exotic locales–at least as much as this travel blogger would like to–more often than not we still seem to find ourselves on the road less traveled.

Happy ten year anniversary, Big Papa!

Oh the places we’ve been–and the places we’ll go.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Grand slam haircut at Sharkey’s

November 20, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

Haircut #4. Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids. Little Bird’s last haircut was ten months ago. It was time.

The before picture

Remind you of a certain former U.S. professional tennis player?

Off we went on our Grand Slam adventure to a new salon. Bunny got a piggyback. This was a big occasion.

Sharkey’s is named for…you guessed it. Mr. Shark was the second big-toothed dude we’ve encountered in the past week.

I’d heard about Sharkey’s from a friend (Thank you, Sara!) who said she’d had a great experience there. Her opinion was echoed by many others in Yelp reviews. Seemed like a good bet. Nevertheless, I felt a bit anxious. My Little Bird is not the most patient of clients. She has trouble sitting still. In fact, most of the time, she has trouble sitting. At all. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

First we met our stylist (Thank you Julie!) and Little Bird selected the stylin’ ride of her choice (pink Barbie Jeep). Then a hair wash.

Next, the hair cut. Per usual for my squirmy kiddo, we weren’t but two snips in before…Are you done? When do I get my ballon? And my lollypop?

Blow dry, followed by Princess braids. Julie is fast. I can count on one hand (less than one hand) how many times Little Bird has worn braids. Cute little clips attached them to her swanky shorn mane.

A spritz of cupcake-scented hairspray (I kid you not) and a sprinkling of glitter and my glamour gal was ready for…

Her mini-mani. She selected a few blue nail polishes. And a sparkle polish to top it off. Of course.

Little Bird also got to choose one jewel to adorn her finger, from a selection of big, beautiful blingy, rings.

And then from thumb to pinky all ten of her nails got a coat of polish and…more sparkles. Bunny was the epitome of patience throughout.

Finally, the moment she’d been waiting for. Not the haircut. Not the braid. Not the glitter. Not the mani. Not the ring. The balloon!

And the lollypop!

All of this set me back a mere $28 which, when you add up every little treat Little Bird scored, seemed pretty reasonable. And her hair–ADORABLE!

The big bonus (in my opinion), with every haircut Sharkey’s donates to Seattle Children’s Hospital, Make A Wish Foundation or Big Brothers Big Sisters. If you pay in cash–which I did–they will double the donation.

With a kiss to Mr. Sharkey, we were out the door and homeward bound. Bye-bye Sharkey’s…we’ll be back.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Postscript: She unclipped the braids before we got home and started to peel off her nail polish. But she still looks pretty darn cute.

First day of pre-school

September 6, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

~Chinese Proverb

Take the road less traveled, Beth

I feel like dancing

August 28, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

I feel like dancing
Dancing, dance the night away
I feel like dancing, dancing, aaaah

~Leo Sayer, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Take the road less traveled, Beth

On the other side of the camera

August 1, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

I am usually on the “business end” of the camera. So rarely do I have photos with me in them. Thank you, Wenmei Hill, for the photo sessions of our family.

Feet 2012

Feet 2014

The three of us 2012

The three of us 2014

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Bunny’s trip to the Rockies

July 18, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

When you’re a bunny, taking a trip–to the Rocky Mountains–is a big deal.

Waiting for the plane at the airport

Getting buckled in and ready to fly to Colorado

Chilling on the deck at the cabin, looking at Long’s Peak

Diaper before nap

Getting tucked into bed–Rocky Mountain travel is tiring

Bunny in the Rockies

Breakfast on the deck with the family

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Life is a lot like mountaineering

July 4, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

The Three Rules of Mountaineering
It’s always further than it looks.
It’s always taller than it looks.
And it’s always harder than it looks.

– Author Unknown

Fifty years of life is like is a lot like mountaineering. There are the days when you feel like you are on top of the world, and others where everything feels like an uphill slog. You might lose your way or encounter unexpected avalanches. If you’ve got a few decades under your belt, you’ve no doubt experienced incredible highs and epic disasters. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best: Life is a journey not a destination.

Happy Birthday, Big Papa! Whether we’re at 17,000 feet in Tibet or down at sea level in Seattle, being with you sure is grand. Wishing you many, many more trips around the sun.

And Happy Birthday U.S.A.! From ev’ry mountainside, let freedom ring.

Take the road less traveled, Beth