IN MEMORIAM:PRECIOUS MARIGOLD HAS LEFT US

Up until her final days at the Thatched Cottage with Fairy, Mr. Bear, and her mice, Marigold was such a happy girl and we will remember her that way: Sneaking into Mr. Bear's "Holiday sherry" once he was too tipsy to notice her nose stuck in his glass!
A Very Merry Girl, Marigold was always up for
a Great Adventure, she was!

Sadly, she passed yesterday leaving Fairy, Anita, and Ian to celebrate a life well-lived, their Very Special Girl, bringing joy 
to all whom she met.

What's funny is how sad we felt yesterday, not knowing why.
Today we recognize that Marigold had come to say good-bye before we received the news: She'd been ill and now she is free.

Animals are like that & guinea pigs are especially sensitive:
I still smell PandaPig's sweet, musky scent years after his
work here was done, and it reminds me that as long as we
keep those we love in our hearts, no drop of love is ever lost,
no pig forgotten...for they have become part of who we are.

Marigold, we can't help missing you. 
We send all our love to your mischievous partner-in-crime,
 Mr. Bear...and most of all to Fairy and your mum
and Dad, Ian and Anita.

We've all become such dear, dear friends through our guinea pigs.
And Molly the Owl.
And all whom we have ever loved and been loved back in
return remain in our hearts, opening doors to subtler nuances
of the Secret Emotional World of our dear brothers and sisters,
large and small, who - in the end - turn out to be the ones who actually rescue us.

Marigold, you will be missed. And your joyful life celebrated:
We love you.

{Photo courteously swiped from Fairy's most recent
blog post which we encourage all to read and enjoy
in sweet remembrance of our special girl.}

In My Own Voice, at last...

 

Last night, one of the most faithful and helpful
readers of our blog expressed (not for the first time)
that I write in First Person.
I set up another blog, called
"Honeyantdreaming"
for that but haven't written much on it, preferring
instead to let the piggies speak here and to write
on matters spiritual and engaging for the 
Times of India's "Speaking Tree" section on
spirituality,  kinda  how the New York Times has
Travel, Entertainment, Arts & Leisure, etc.
except in India they value Spirituality and include
that as an integral part of their own cultural news reporting.
Between writing, photographing the piggies, drawing,
and playing with the piggies, taking care of them
and myself, I've kept pretty busy.

And I am ill. But everyone already knows that.
And it's just a part of life I really don't think much about.

Except for one tiny, itty bitty problem: I live alone.
And doctors, social workers, physical therapists 
(I am a "fall risk") and occupational therapists aren't
crazy about that.

It isn't for lack of an abundance of wonderful friends.
I'm infinitely blessed in that department...it's just that
in my youth I travelled so much they are spread across
the country and now, through Molly the Owl, Guinea
Pigging, and writing with the Times of India, the world.

Edwin, my near and dear one of over 20 years lives 
90 miles south of here in Seattle, has taken both the
cats, but for good reason simply cannot come up for
caregiving any more than I could go down there if he
needed me.

Which brings me to YOU. You. And why Spirituality
mean so much to me: because of YOU.

I worry about two things: not being able to live alone
at home, although I have adapted to it and the place
is now outfitted with all the handicapped aids
I need to take care of myself. 
(Just need to be able to get to them.)

More than that is "Can I care for the piggies during these
acute episodes of some kind of infection that went undiagnosed
forever, can I keep their cages clean, water bottles clean and full,
food bowls full, hay bins full, enjoy lap time with them, let them
play together on Runabouts, and keep things as normal as 
Possible?" Moving my low bed from the bedroom into the 
living room adjacent to their cages has made a huge difference
in the HAPPINESS OF ALL OF US!
THEY POPCORN MORE, HOP AND JUMP AND INTERACT
NOT ONLY WITH ONE ANOTHER BUT WITH ME EVEN 
WHEN I AM LYING NEAR-MOTIONLESS IN BED 
(gnawing loudly on things, then looking up to see if I have
noticed...) They are smart and may initiate their assault gently,
but if they don't get their way, they will start knocking things
over and banging their heavy ceramic food bowls together
(don't ask me how!) then escalate until I get up and ask
the redundant: "Are you hungry, babies, do you want love?"
It's amazing!

For quite some time, we have enjoyed the
generosity of anonymous $ benefactors 
who have allowed us to purchase the largest,
most well-made "Habitats" and numerous
other additions to create a beautiful space
for us all to live.

But now that I have become too weak to do
laundry (and it is the bane of every piggie
steward: What kind of litter or flooring
is best for them?) new friends I actually
met through Molly the Owl and who I never
had the good fortune of getting to know very
well unexpectedly gifted us Very Special flooring 
which will be custom manufactured by our dear
Jen at Jen's Custom Crafts (whose link appears
beneath "Blogs We Read") and these floors are
going to revolutionize EVERYTHING from me having to do much, MUCH less cage cleaning, 
to never having to buy litter of any kind again
(a waste on Mother Earth when thrown out) and
will remove the guilt I feel lying in bed knowing
their cages really could use a good cleaning.
Following this first compassionate gesture,
two other friends and then my friend's sister
(who I don't know at all!) chipped in to 
enable us to ALSO install their new flooring
system in the Rabbit Pen adjacent to Peter-Peanut and Bhindi's habitat!
 (Peter considers himself a Gold-Medal winning Olympic horse-jumper who adores running sprints from the rabbit pen before launching himself into the air & over the lined ramps dividing their different living spaces.)
If I am a "fall risk" Peter is a "flight risk!":)
Well, I would like to write a WHOLE LOT
MORE ABOUT THIS but just bonked and
must turn in...

Why this post? Because during this challenging
time for all of us, LOVE CAME IN THE FORM
OF GUARDIAN ANGELS AND THIS IS REAL
STUFF, REAL LIFE STUFF, REAL LIFE-SAVING STUFF BOTH FOR THE GUINEA PIGS AND FOR ME (and my feeling that there
is always more I could and should be doing.)
We have had a constant benefactor whose
generosity we never expected. Now, in crisis
again, an entire entourage of Guardian Angels
have appeared to ease the suffering and that is
what we need to share with our readers:
We live in world so torn up with tragedy and
divisive hatred for one another.
But here at PandaPig's Peace Sanctuary, please
join us in celebrating the unasked appearance of pure, selfless Service, (called "seva" in India), 
compassion, empathy, caring, generosity,
and Divine Love reaching beyond kith and kin
to a sick person desperately trying to care for
unwanted creatures whom the world abandoned.

Tomorrow, when I go to the doctor and she asks
the inevitable question I shudder to think about,
"Do you have friends who can help you?"
I CAN SAY "YES."
AND I WILL.

THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
BUT YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY
KNOW HOW PROFOUND A 
DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE
MADE IN OUR LIVES.

And for that, words fall short.

Love,
Chana, YumYum, Vinny-Guinea,
Bhindi, and Peter-Peanut.

(P.S. if possible, we will produce a 2013
calendar and section at Cafe Press so
stay tuned. Actually, I wouldn't hold 
your breath because I'll probably forget.
But...we got plans, baby, BIG PLANS!)

seva = selfless service
sevadars =  those who perform 
selfless service with no thought
of reward...

Thank you, friends and sevadars.
We wish you rewards of love,
knowing that despite all the strife
in this crazy, mixed-up world,
you have actually made a difference!

~

 

Vinny-Guinea, Our One and ONLY!

"I wonder who else dreams
in color? Is it just me, or
is that normal?"

The Guinea Pig Daily: Please vote for Australian Cavy Sanctuary Brisbane

The Guinea Pig Daily: Please vote for Australian Cavy Sanctuary Brisbane
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hi OlymPig Fans, wanna make a difference
in the world? We're not on Facebook, but if
you are, ONE CLICK IS ALL IT WOULD
TAKE TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE 
IN THE LIVES OF THESE GUINEA PIGS
AND THE SANCTUARY IN BRISBANE,
AUSTRALIA THEY DEPEND ON!
G'day, MATES!

We Sneak A Peak Into OlymPiG Village...Oh MY!

OlympiG Champions Captured in Private moments of repose.
YumYum visualizing his upcoming competition, 
VinnyGuinea focusing on which side of his face is his "good side;"
Bhindi takes a well-earned "Time Out" in his Penthouse condo
& Peter-Peanut has "deep thoughts." (Again!)
Each wonders, in his own heart, how far, how fast, and
just how high he can go to reach - THEN EAT - that elusive 
GOLD CARROT!

WHADDYA THINK OF USAIN BOLT, MATE?

 

Peter-Peanut: "I could've taken 'im out."
Bhindi: "Yeah, me too."
Both Piggies: "Why bother, though,
WHEN IT'S BREAKFAST?!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Usain Bolt Wins 200m at 2011 World Championships in 19.40 seconds - YouTube

DANCE-A -BOLT! 
We love his little dance at the end.
We love his spring-loaded take-off.
We simply love this superb athlete!
(not to mention a new world record!)

Usain Bolt Wins 200m at 2011 World Championships in 19.40 seconds - YouTube

Elephant Walk Tribute | Be happy, inspirational motivational quotes, inspiring true stories, uplifting blog posts, positive thinking

What a deeply moving story illustrating the love 
between a very special man and his extraordinary
elephants...a tribute.

Elephant Walk Tribute | Be happy, inspirational motivational quotes, inspiring true stories, uplifting blog posts, positive thinking

OlymPig Spa Day Off!

One quiet morning in OlymPig Village...

Bhindi sniffed the fresh London aire...
And it was Good.
Meanwhile, Peter-Peanut ran off to
play with hedgehogs.

Then, something out of the ordinary happened,
and Bhindi wasn't quite certain what it was.

So, he decided not to like it.
There were things...THINGS IN HIS BED!
They were not things he could eat.
So, it was Not Good.
Definitely not good.

Then there was something good: a big,
bright, juicy, orange carrot!
And It Was Good. Again.
(So good, in fact, that he didn't even
notice mom trimming his toenails,
brushing his swirly-swirls, and
beautifying him for all his adoring fans!)
AND THAT WAS BEST.
~

Portrait of an OlymPIG...Hopes and Dreams Beating Within His Piggy-Heart!

Behind the scenes, an ordinary guinea pig aspires to greatness.
Only he knows the hopes and dreams he keeps tucked secretly inside...dreams pigZ around him only say will - no, could! -
NEVER COME TRUE!

He puts in countless hours of practice, struggling to believe in himself.  Team-mates make fun of him, roll their eyes, and leave him alone on the bench to guard the carrots and salad...still, even
left alone, ridiculed, the butt of jokes, he practices, never losing hope, never giving up, never leaving any carrots or salad for them.
(heh-heh!)
WAIT!
TEAM-MATES ARE INJURED IN A HEAD
COLLISION, BOTH KNOCKING THE OTHER SILLY...BOTH CARRIED OFF THE FIELD,
LIKE RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, YUM-YUM'S MOMENT HAS COME! HE IS CALLED TO THE FIELD IN
OVERTIME, THE ONLY PLAYER CAPABLE
OF HEADING THE BALL INTO THE GOAL!
One guinea pig, one solitary, ridiculed guinea pig
who refused to give up hope, and it all comes down to him in the game's final seconds.
Can YumYum prove them all wrong or has he been deluding himself?
"Shake it off, pig," he whispers to himself.
"Your moment has come. This is no time for doubt.
Your moment has come!"

He prepares.
He runs, he kicks, the ball...flying over
every piggie's head with unprecedented
speed and razor-sharp precision!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!
Always believe in yourself and
nevah, NEVAH-EVAH, give up!
WITHIN EVERY BEATING HEART
LIVES A TRUE HERO, AND THAT
TRUE HERO IS YOU!
US!
WE!
Everybody. Whoever. Or Whomever. Or Whatever. 
{Moral of Story: don't leave a guinea pig to guard your salad.}

TEAM UNITED GUINEA PIGS TAKES GOLD!!!

In an unprecedented UPSET, Team ^ "United
Guinea Pigs" from Panda Pig's Sanctuary WIN
the GOLDEN CARROT, SHOCKING THE
WORLD of  International OlympiG competition!

SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE "BEHIND THE SCENES" COVERAGE OF THE REMARKABLE UNDERDOG TEAM NOBODY THOUGHT HAD A CHANCE OF EVEN MAKING IT TO THE FINALS, MUCH LESS CAPTURING THEIR THIRD "GOLDEN CARROT!" WHEEEEEEEK & SQUEEE!

OLYMPIG DOUBLES in SYNCHRONIZED WATER-DRINKING!

Head Coach YumYum prepares 
his athletes for the FINALS in Doubles 
Synchronized Water-Drinking.

Peter-Peanut and Bhindi receive
last minute instructions from Chief
Pirate Coach, YumYum...

Former team rivals Peter-Peanut and
Bhindi must now bury their grudges
and compete with Focus and Absolute
PRECISION...can YumYum
inspire them?
Vinny: "Nah...notta chance."
"Nobody asked you."
"Well, nobody asked YOU. By the way,
who ARE YOU ANYWAY?"
"I AM NBC'S 'OFFICIAL ANNOUNCER'
and nothing I say will be LIVE in real time,
give you any insight into the sport, or help
you enjoy your Olympic viewing experience
in any way! So, get lost, Punk!"
"ExSCUSE YOU? I'M VINNY-GUINEA!"

(a big UH-OH has commenced.)

"DON'T TOUCH THE FACE!
DON'T TOUCH THE FACE!"
(make-up crew arrives STAT CODE RED
on the set of NBC's "Never-Live-Anyway-So-Who-Cares?" broadcast to improve
NBC announcer's VOICE.
(what a muddle.)

Coach YumYum reads FINALS
competition rules and instructions
before eating them off mom's yoga cabinet.

Pssst! Here's how you two are gonna NAIL YOUR
LANDINGS! I not only read the strategy for 
you but have digested it so you have the BEST
most comprehensive coaching experience yet!
First, you say "OM..."
VinnyGuinea: "Oh no!"
Then you breathe IN, then you breathe OUT.
VinnyGuinea: "Holy Mother of Horks!
This is bad...wrong sport, wrong sport..."

Then say "Namaste" before attaching yourselves,
in perfect unison, to your synchronized water bottles..."

Huh? Can I take a nap now, Coach?
Coach?
(CHIEF PIRATE COACH YUM-YUM OF
TEAM U.S.A. appears to have drifted
into sleep-i-tation..."nOMmmmmm...")
Let the Games Begin.