With a Little Help From My Friends
Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful comments, poems, emails, and phone calls on the loss of Matilda. You all have been so comforting to me during this difficult time. I know I couldn’t get through this without the help from my friends and family.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: My Baby Angel
Who knew that my greatest love would be an orange and white ball of fur with bright green eyes.
Last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, Matilda passed away peacefully in my lap. For over 17 years, she was my best friend, muse, my playmate, and the sweetest snuggle buddy a girl could ever want.
The routine parts of the day that are the hardest. I miss the morning walks down the hall to the food bowl. Seeing her perched on the bed after my shower ready to settle in and cuddle for the night.
I miss the pitter-patter of her tootsies on the floor on her way to jump in my lap.
She was my rock for almost half my life. I’m sure going to miss that tuna breath. I loved being her mommy.
Her last day was snugly and quiet. We took a stroll through the yard to smell the grass and roll in the dirt. We Skyped with a couple of our closest friends at the very end. The vet came to our home and with great compassion, he reassured me that it was time for her to cross the rainbow bridge. I laid her to rest in the backyard and tossed in a handful of dirt. Patrick came out to finish and held me close while I cried and cried.
This might be the last Tilda Tuesday, at least for a while. As I go through my pictures of her and our time together, I’m sure I’ll post some to share with you. How can I not? But that will happen after some time has passed.
Thank you all for the love you’ve shown for my girl. I have enjoyed sharing her sweetness with you and she loved being a part of this. Hug your fur babies a little extra for me.
Rest In Peace Matilda ‘Badilda’ Marie Consuella Rodriguez Yetter.
Also known as: ‘Tilda, Tilda Mae, TillyToot, Tootles, Turtle Dove, TillyTat-TillyTat, Sweet Punkin’Pie Angel of Love, Baby Girl, my Baby Angel. ♥
Tilda Tuesday: Where’s Tilda?
Like many of us here in Wyoming, Matilda is often outdoors enjoying this beautiful fall weather. She loves to hide behind the sagebrush and jump out with a burst of energy and pounce onto the deck. She may be 17 years old, but she sure doesn’t know it. Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone! 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: Through DEVO Glasses
“I have noticed that what cats most appreciate in a human being is not the ability to produce food which they take for granted–but his or her entertainment value.” -Geoffrey Household
Matilda was helping me organize my photo shoot props. Apparently my rush to get everything ready for my next shoot was really entertaining for her. Silly Tilly. 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: Sunburst
It’s getting to be that time of year again when Matilda rotates around the house throughout the day seeking out the sunny spots. 38 degrees this morning. Yikes!
Tilda Tuesday: Missing her Momma
Tilly misses me when I go out of town. This last trip really did a number on her so now that I am home she doesn’t let me out her sight much. We snuggle at sunrise, she sits in my office window all day while I work, and we watch the sun set after supper. It’ll get back to normal soon but for now, snuggle sessions are abundant! 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: Summer Evenings
Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone!
We’re not the only ones that love to watch the sun set. Tilly loves her summer evenings on the deck. I don’t normally let her sit on the picnic table but for portrait purposes, I let it slide this time. 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: In the Weeds
Ugh. As they say in the restaurant business, I’m in the weeds. I’m trying to find some balance in all this busyness so you know what that means? It’s time to step away from it all for a few moments. And that’s what Matilda and I did this morning. We stepped outside for some fresh air and I decided I’d try the multiple exposure function on my Canon 70D. I was encouraged to try this from my friend Tracie over HERE. I’ve done some double exposures in Photoshop by layering but this is the first time I’ve tried this function in camera. I obviously need more practice. In this image, one shot is of sagebrush and a bald sky. The other is of Tilda but because of the bald sky, there isn’t any detail for her upper half. But I like the stripes and curl of her tail. 🙂
Our little walk made it all better. Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone!
Tilda Tuesday: Pick a Winner!
Looks like Tilly is digging for nose goblins. 🙂
Not really, I just caught her during bath time. Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone!
Tilda Tuesday: Crouching Tiger
My little pumpkin sunshine of love crouches in a warm window sill to watch me work in the yard. 🙂
Happy Tilda Tuesday my friends!
Tilda Tuesday: resting our creative bones
Matilda and I have been in a creative slump these last couple of weeks. It’s okay, it happens occasionally. She enjoys her 12 hour naps in the guest bedroom while I work around the house and yard, schedule photo shoots, and learn how to drive my new-to-me mountain bike. I have big projects lined up for this summer and I’m hoping my bike will come in handy. Anyway, Tilda and I are doing good and hope the same goes for you!
Meows and hugs to you on this fine Tilda Tuesday. 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: Bright-eyed and Bushy
Matilda Badilda gets excited when cameras and tripods are by the door. But really she’s just impatiently waiting for me to fill her food bowl before I go out shooting. Silly Tilly.
Tilda Tuesday: The Grands
We have very special guests staying with us this week and Matilda especially couldn’t be more excited. Her grandpa (my dad) and gammy (dad’s lovely wife) have made the trip out from Georgia for a visit. Tilly has fresh laps to cover in her orange and white fur. She turned and looked at me with crossed eyes after I took this shot. I’d say she’s in heaven. And so am I. 🙂
Happy Tilda Tuesday my friends!
Tilda Tuesday: Follow Me!
Matilda loves to unplug and go for a walk. She always seems to say “follow me!” She loves rolling in the sand but I am anxious for grass to grow.
Hope you take a moment to unplug and take a walk outside. That’s where I will be all day today… until the rain comes. Happy Tilda Tuesday!
Tilda Tuesday: Relaxation Envy
Who among us hasn’t envied a cat’s ability to ignore the cares of daily life and to relax completely? – Karen Brademeyer
Even though her momma has been super busy these last few weeks, Matilda patiently (or rather impatiently) waits for her favorite lap to be still. This is a daily occurrence. I wish I could be as relaxed as she is on this sunny window sill.
Happy Tilda Tuesday. She apologizes for her two week absence. xoxo
Tilda Tuesday: Waiting for Momma
We are starting a new tradition. I let Matilda out at daybreak when I head down to check the cattle. She impatiently waits for me on the deck and then we head in for breakfast together. It’s still a little chilly so she held a paw up this morning. Sweetness. ♥
Tilda Tuesday: Not Always the Center of Attention
Matilda was appalled that this photo shoot was about a precious 6 month old baby and not of her. Silly Tilly.
Tilda Tuesday: Shadow Play
I’m still trying to get the perfect a shadow portrait of my girl. Her head is turned too much here because she’s looking at my lap, ready to curl up. But the light that shoots in at sunset is beautiful and when she perches on the arm of the couch, it cast a neat shadow image. It’s a work in progress though.
Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone!
Tilda Tuesday: Nice Day for a Walk
Matilda took me for a walk yesterday. The weather was gorgeous once the wind laid down. Today hasn’t reached above freezing and there is snow on the ground. Go figure. Looks like it’s just me going out in it today. Tilly turned her nose up at me when I opened the door and has decided to stay under the covers instead.
Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone!
Tilda Tuesday: All Curled Up
Matilda is all curled up and under the covers.
I envision us exiting the house in a couple of months like Dorothy and Toto; eyes wide and jaws dropped when we finally see the world in color. But for now, it’s just white snow on the ground and gray skies up above.
Uprooted Magnolia 
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