STILL WITH US THANKS TO YOUR PRAYERS...

DEAR ANGEL-FRIENDS AMONG US,
Should anyone ever doubt the power of prayer and love
that we have the capacity to gift one another,
just accept our gratitude that, while not better,
Raj and CoconutPie have survived the night.
They are back in their hut snuggled together
not moving and I am going to get their
wheat grass and perhaps some fresh
carrot juice and begin force-feeding
them today for hydration as they
still have not had anything to eat, drink, 
pee, or poop. But they are alive!
AND WE HAVE YOU.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
THEY ARE STILL ALIVE.
AND WE HAVE YOU.
Today YumYum and VinnyGuinea come
home and will be placed in the living room
quarantined for as long as they appear healthy,
assuming they are...
I am writing large because of the severity 
and frequency of the migraines, the pain
of which is now dwarfed by the grief in
my heart. But a Grace of sorts has begun
comforting us from Within...there is
a glimpse of inner calmness and peace,
as if we are in the Presence of Angels,
and that would be all you, and how
we feel your love.
It is palpable. It is real. It gives us comfort.
We no longer feel alone.
And we have no way to thank you...


Yours,
Chana

NIGHT HOSPICE VIGIL

Late this afternoon we were able to
pick up CocoNutPie and Raj,
both grieving for their friends
and cagemates...
Tomorrow we will get YumYum and his
VinnyGuinea.
But all has not gone well.
The vet could not definitively diagnose
the cause of Taj and MacNutPie's
illness but both Coconut and Raj
began presenting the same
symptoms early this evening...
At one point, CoconutPie could barely
lift her head...too weak to move any other
part of her body and had rolled 
heartbreakingly over on her side,
her big eyes pleading into mine.
 Raj did not move at all. Coconut Pie's breathing
became shallow and labored.
Neither have eaten, taken water,
peed, or pooped; both stopped moving
and had taken refuge inside their big
Snowflake Hut, cuddled side
by side...dying...


A vet once told me that guinea pigs
can die of grief and pain, and if all
else fails, to bring them into bed
and sleep with them.


Since the vet's life-saving attempts to force 
feed and hydrate Taj and MacNutPie, give them
antibiotics, and the best care 
possible - and failed to save their lives,
I brought them into bed with me. At 
least they would die in a loving embrace.


ConniEeeeeee was exhausted from her
own Lucy (her basset hound) having
surgery today but stayed up late
(East Coast time) and kept us
all company as I expected both
piggies to pass within hours and
praying only deepened my shock and despair.
So we all went to bed together
for their last hours while Connie kept
us company and from feeling alone.


As Connie and I talked, the piggies began
slowly moving about and became a little
more active.


I have moved their cage with no top adjacent
to my bed so I can pet them throughout
the night, although it is doubtful they will 
live without a Miracle...although I will
bring them into bed as often as possible.


At least by morning, whatever happens,
they will know that they were loved.


I hope that YumYum and VinnyGuinea
will be returned in good health tomorrow...


The losses are devastating and we still
miss Calvin, who passed January 2nd.


Thank you all for your love and
prayers for us as we endure the
Dark Night of our Souls, Raj and Coconut
still grieving for their loved ones as they lie dying.
It would be more than anyone has a right
to ask to wake up with Raj and
CoconutPie both alive in the morning,
Yet shall sleep tonight meditating
with that prayer which I know all of you share:
YOU: who are now the wind beneath our
broken wings...and hearts.


Love and Need you all,
Chana
and thank you...LOVE
is the only thing that can save us now.

TAJ MAHAL ON THE COVER OF GUINEA PIG MAGAZINE

Dear New Friends,
For those of you not familiar with
the world of guinea pigs,
Guinea Pig Magazine is the only
International Guinea Pig magazine
of its kind in the world.
Published by our dear friend,
Alison, in England, she picked
our very own Taj Mahal to kick
off her first issue for 2012!
His wonderfulness traveled to many
countries throughout the world
and he is still on the cover until the
next issue comes out.
He was an orphan adopted from
the Whatcom Humane Society
with his brother, Raj Mahal.
An orphan made International
Stardom in the guinea pig world!
Even if he hadn't, he would have
been no less special to us.
He made us laugh, loved to
be picked up and petted,
was a rapscallion whose
favorite trick was to steal Raj's
fresh, organic veggie treats,
run into his Hut to hide them,
then run back out begging for
more, get his own, hide them,
then run back out and steal
his brother's...that was his
idea of Great Guinea Pig FUN!
And he also had a special gift for dragging
all of his toys and heavy ceramic food
bown into his Pigloo, no matter how
difficult it was to move...how he
did it remains a mystery.
But every morning, all that had
been scattered throughout his cage
was missing and one lift of his
Pigloo revealed a trove of Taj's
precious treasures.
And he was sweet.
Just look at that smile.
He was so proud of his tongue
and bi-colored lower lip, too...
To our new friends in India
who may be visiting our site 
for the very first time,
many pranams for coming,
and for your love.
To our old friends, we need
not speak, for you already
know anything and everything
we could possibly say...
Love,
Chana

TWO ANGELS IN SMALL PACKAGES: WE MISS YOU...

BROKEN HEARTS TODAY...

                             MacNutPie
             FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taj Mahal
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


YOU ARE LOVED.
YOU ARE MISSED.
WE WERE BLESSED BY YOU,
OUR PRECIOUS GIFTS FROM GOD.
OUR LIVES WERE BETTER FOR
YOUR PRESENCE IN THEM...
WE WILL NEVER BE THE
SAME AGAIN.


Guinea pigs can die of grief.
While living at Parker's farm,
MacNutPie and Taj Mahal
took sick
and both passed
away today.


CoconutPie is living with Raj.
I have brought them home.
Tomorrow, Parker will bring
YumYum and VinnyGuinea home 
to us.


I am doing my best to stay out of the hospital
utilizing a variety of in-home health-care
providers who are coming here to enable
me to avoid inpatient care.


I knew guinea pigs could die of grief 
when they lose their friends,
But never realized or imagined they
would or could die without their "person"
and Home here. Now we know just
how sensitive their precious hearts are.


While in hospital, it was necessary 
for them to live with Parker's animals.
He said they loved their mini-bunny and
slept and snuggled with him.


Originally, it did not appear
that I would become strong enough
to take them back and
care for them (physically) but have 
and will
do so for the remainder of our
lives together and never part with them
again until Their Angel Comes.


As I am completely inconsolable
and in too much migraine pain to
read and respond to emails,
your love and prayers
are appreciated with
profound gratitude
even if I am unable to
thank you personally.
Right now I am just in shock 
and grief
that they are both gone 
never to return home again to
PandaPig's Sanctuary.


Love,
Chana

Turn, Turn, Turn Part 1

 In the Beginning...it was just PandaPig and me.

Now, it's time to repay his kindness by 
giving VinnyGuinea what Panda gave me...


And the Circle remains unbroken.


And it is GOOD.

THERE IS A SEASON, TURN, TURN, TURN...Part 2

Once upon a time, in a faraway place, a long, long time ago...

I was just a wee lad and PandaPig took me in as his very own.

And mom snuggled me every chance she got! Then, I grew up
and PandaPig died of cancer. Although it has been years, I remained inconsolable and became an attack-pig, waiting for
the return of my beloved Panda Pig. But after awhile, all the
other guinea pigs were having fun together and I began to feel
lonely. Still, mom was afraid I would hurt the others and I only
let her snuggle with me. She didn't know that my loneliness
was beginning to overcome my "attack anything that moves"
ways of yore.

Then Calvin died. And nobody was getting over THAT,
not a one among us...especially mom. So, she did what
she promised she would not do...brought home a little
tyke named VinnyGuinea, a big New York Giants fan!

At first he clung to his look-alike, Raj, who adored him the minute
he laid eyes on the cutest baby-pig he had ever seen because it reminded him of...well, himself!

And it was Good.

It was very, very good. And watching them,
I began to remember what happiness felt like,
what it felt like when PandaPig did for me
what Raj was giving VinnyGuinea.
And we all knew from the get-go that Vinny 
was a Very Special Piglet!
When mom got sick, and we moved to the Farm,
Parker the farm-boy-animal-whisperer did
an amazing thing: he put Vinny in with me.
And I forgot what loneliness felt like.
So now we are together,
and Raj has Taj,
And MacNutPie has CocoNutPie,
and I have Vinny
and we all have a bunny.


AND IT IS GOOD.
love,
YumYum and the Herd from the farm
officially known as "Parker's Ark."


WE LOVE YOU ALL.

I'M NOT A GERBIL - YouTube

I'M NOT A GERBIL - YouTube
^^^^^IT'S BING!^^^
PRESS I'M NOT A GERBIL YouTube
PREPARE FOR LAUGHTER!


He says: "I'm Bing. I am not a gerbil."
Then he takes us there...(Madonna)


...oh, Bing, HYSTERICALLY SUBTLE -

ESPLAININ' TO US HE AIN'T NO GERBIL...
OR DONALD TRUMP!
OR DONALD TRUMP'S HAIR!
OOPS, WE MEANT "THE DONALD!"

(Bing, we never thought you were a gerbil!)

LET'S DANCE!

The Guinea pig song - YouTube

^^^Press You Tube!
WHY? CUZ...
IT BE BING!
AGAIN, YOU ASK?

Yeah, BABY, so mebbe you have seen dis posted a half dozen times already.
WHY? YOU ASK WHY??? STILL???
(seriously, you still asking why?!)

BECAUSE WE LOVE BING and his song and perky-piggy-dance cheer us up and we know mom misses us and is afraid we'Z growin' bunny ears and bunny tails, so we need her (and YOU!) to watch Bing and, hey baby, remember that we ARE
GUINEA PIGS FOREVER TOGETHER!

DID SOMEONE SAY:
BUNNY-PARTY-IS-SO-ON?!!!

MY NEW FRIEND: YUM-YUM IS NOT ALONE ANYMORE!

Dear Friends,
I am writing from Parker's little farm with
news that mom can hardly believe!
Parker put lil'VinnyGuinea in with me
because, well, maybe Parker knows
stuff...and I am alone and Raj has Taj
and Mac and CoconutPies have one another
it is just that I have been, well, missing
PandaPig for years and...I LOVE it when
the others visit me and we sniff and chatter
while they or I are on Runabout, but put
me in with other piggies and...
Mum's hand gets stuck in the middle.
So, Parker and Edwin got some kinda
"guy thing" cuz he won't call mom
so Edwin called him for mom cuz she
misses us so bad and GUESS WHAT?
I GOT VINNY-GUINEA!
HEH-HEH-HEH!
AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE PANTS, RAJ?!
WOW!
It's wonderful. I'm not alone anymore
and nobody knows more tricks to teach Vinny than me plus it turns out Vinny got a very high
I.Q. so he will be one wily PiratePig!!!


The not so good news: mom not well enough
for us to come home. Not even me and Vinny.
And she's sad.
But we are all doing great and still hoping
to keep our bunny ears so in the spring
if we aren't home (which may be Seattle)
we hope to go "free range" in the farmyard
with his other piggies, bunnies, turkeys,
and all such what-nots!


Until then, have to admit we miss mom,
she misses us, 
and we'll blog when we have some news.
Love you all and
thanks for taking such good care of us!


HEH-HEH-I GOT A GENIUS PIRATE PRODIGY!
CAN YOU IMAGINE US GOING FREE-RANGE
ON THIS WORLD?! WHEEEEEEEK!

NEW YORK GOES ALL "HEAVEN" ON THE PATS!

{Jamie Squire photo}

'Lil L.J. Gettin' Jiggy Wid It!

Oh, Connie, you got a fan in Lil'L.J. fo'Sho!    GO GIANTS!

{PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNIEEEEEEEEE!}

LJ, OFFICAL MASCOT OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS!

It's hard being a mascot when you're a MINI-DACHSHUND
but I'm not just ANY MINI-DACHSHUND!!!!!
I am L.J. and with my mom, ConnieEEEEEEEEEEEE, she gonna feed me BIG TREATS
after game while we watch:

"ESPN: WHAT THE *** THE PATRIOTS DID WRONG" Analysis!
Actually, might not be so hard to figure out what they did wrong, considering
Tom Brady thinks it "The Stupor Bowel." Oh, Tom makes me laugh so much!

{Photo courtesy of Connieeeeeeeeeee, NY Giants cheerleader}