FINAL HOBART SUNDAY

Well, for some closure for all of us, here is a final post about Hobart.  

Here he is, about a week after we found him.  Pardon the fuzzy image, no smart phones with fancy cameras back then, ha.  Who knew that mischievous little face would bring us so much joy and happiness over the next twenty years?!?

As we did with the other two, we had a paw impression done.  They actually did this while we were there, so while it was sad, it was nice to watch it being done.

We got his ashes back a few days ago and now he is with his two brothers.  It was bittersweet of course but provided some more closure for us.  We put them on his favorite blanket...on his favorite chair...in the sunshine...one last time.  Because...

#heWASspoiled

We hope you are able to nap in the sunshine forever sweet baby boy!

We loved you your whole life and we will miss you the rest of ours...

THE SADNESS CONTINUES

 We're not sure why, but Hobart's passing has deeply affected us.  We've been through this twice before now.  We lost Sydney and then Brisbane.

We've been thinking about it and realized that when we had Sydney, we added Brisbane.  Then we added Hobart.  We always had cats around us.  

Then we lost Sydney.  But we still had Brisbane and Hobart.  Then we lost Brisbane but we still had Hobart.

Now we have no kitty. 

The void in our lives is palpable.  The pain this time is very difficult but we are managing as best we can.  

Our entire 26 years together has always consisted of having cats.  We come home now and there is silence.  We wake up and there is silence.  I find myself wanting to go check the litter box.  In the mornings we feel like it's time to feed the kitty.  When we're watching TV, there is no cat on the floor by us. Or on the couch.  Or meowing for a snack.  Or just walking through the room to say hello on his way to a favorite spot.

There is an emptiness...

...and sadness hangs in the air.

We're hoping this passes but as I type this, I look at the chair that held sunshine days with his blanket on it and he's not there.  We haven't moved it yet.  2nd Man expects to see him sleeping on the blue blanket next to him on the couch.  Or I expect to see him in the cat bed by the door when I get home from work.  But he's not there.  And that's when the tears come.  I think with all of our other losses, there was always still love to give and love to surround us...but now we can't feel that.

Today, I went to the grocery store, ended up on the cat food aisle and was sad...

...then I saw these and shed tears.  There in the aisle of the grocery store.  A 60-year-old man crying in a store.  I'm sure I'm not the first to do that.  These were his most favorite treats.  We had our Alexa device set a reminder, every night at 8:30pm, that said "Here is your reminder: Hobart asks for a spoon!".  He even learned that when the reminder timer went off, he could find his way into the living room to "get his spoon".

It went off the other night.  We had to delete it.  It just hurt too much. 

We don't want a new pet anytime soon.  We need to focus on the move and getting settled and maybe we'll adapt to a new normal.  As I mentioned, we don't know what it is to not have pets, but we'll get through it.

Right now, we feel as if we've lost our mojo.  It's only a few days post loss so hopefully, we'll get back into the swing of things soon.

Grief takes time...and time heals.

WE HAVE LOST HOBART

 Our hearts are broken...

...yesterday, we had to, for the third time in our 26 years together, make that decision, awful for us, but the right thing for him.  It never gets easier.  Sigh.

In the last two weeks, we noticed he was slowing down.  He was more lethargic but had a great appetite and was still getting around well, albeit slower.  Then, in just the span of about a day and a half, he stopped eating and started drinking only water, and constantly drinking it.  Then yesterday, he was barely able to even drink water. He was using his foot and pulling the water out and then would drink what he could but stopped using the litter box.  We have been down this road before and we understood...his body was quickly shutting down.

We got him all his favorite food and laid down on the floor with him to feed him by hand, but he would not eat anything at all.  He would just lay down wherever he ended up because he was becoming too weak to stand.  This all happened in less than two days.  

Yesterday, he managed to look at us and meowed and we both knew that he was telling us it was time to let him go.  He was tired and he was ready.  We took him to a 24/7 emergency vet nearby.  He had a very peaceful passing.  The vet and tech people were SO sweet and caring.  We had a private room with dim lights and a comfy couch and we were there with him, holding him, petting him, giving him lots of kisses on his head and kept telling him what a good boy he had been to us.  He was the best boy.  The bestest cat ever.

He was known by many names around here:  

Hobart.

Baby Boy.

Baby Cat.

Mr. Hobarto.

Honeybear.

We'll take some time off the blog for a few days, there is so much going on right now in our lives and we were not prepared for this and we need time to process this unexpected loss.

A sweet kitty whose loss will reverberate with us for a long time to come...

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART LABOR DAY WEEKEND

 Where have we been?  Ha.  We are here, just doing some unwinding and enjoying the long weekend. It's rained on and off all weekend so it's been kind of lazy time.   We have been going through drawers and such in order to get read for the move.

We roasted a chicken with veggies.  It's been feeding us all weekend.  We also got two more chickens and roasted them just to save the meat and make some stock. More on that in another post.

There is the farm, that blue arrow near the middle.  This image was from yesterday, it was much the same Saturday and again today.  No need to really go out there, too wet and they haven't done much new that we needed to see.  But we will have an update this week, the TILE has gone in!  Woo hoo!

   Hobart however, has enjoyed the rainy weather.  He has slept here on his quilt most of the weekend.  Only to get up for litter box usage and food and snacks.  But hey, it's OK because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

Another weekend is here!  It's been busy, we went to the farm yesterday to check on the house, they were there working so we didn't stay long.  Plus it was too wet to mow.  So it was some quick pics (counters are in!) and they are about to work on tile!

Had a thick cut lean pork chop (we cut our own off of a large pork loin) and coasted it with some panko bread crumbs (no saturated fat) and seasonings and then spritzed with some avocado oil.  Rice with corn and jalapeños as a side and of course, a salad as almost always, to start.  It was like our own version of Shake N Bake (and I helped!), LOL!

Hobart watched from his perch, as usual.  He napped on an off but ostensibly, he was just waiting for us to finish our dinner so he could have his.  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

 How does the time go so fast?  

It's been a good weekend and oh yeah, speaking of time flying by, a few days ago was our anniversary!

TWENTY SIX YEARS!

We splurged and went a little decadent but used as many healthy ingredients as we could.  These are turkey meatballs, 2nd Man made his own homemade low sodium pasta sauce, whole wheat bread toasted with a a little heart healthy butter and olive oil with garlic and parsley.  It was so good!

A little portion control by buying only two cupcakes to celebrate.  No need to make a cake or two dozen cupcakes, just buy two good ones and enjoy them.

Hobart wanted to pop in to say "yeah, yeah, and I've been here for almost 20 of those 26 years, now feed me please..."  And we did.  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

 Gosh, time is flying by.  Already Sunday.  It's been a hot weekend.  Saw the house yesterday, pics coming tomorrow (AMAZING!).

Time for some good food and Hobart!

Got some marinated leg quarters that are cut in half (for grilling) and 2nd Man made some brown rice with corn, homemade corn tortillas and we added fresh avocado.  Delicious!

While we worked on dinner, Hobart was sleeping on the couch, cuddled up with his catnip sock (his most favorite toy).  We let him enjoy his sleep because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

 It's been a busy weekend and the weather (at least yesterday) was sketchy.  Didn't get to mow or edge, way too wet out there.  Time for some good food and some Hobart!

But it WAS a good day for a roast chicken and vegetables.  Always so good.  And we can eat on it for a few days!  Win/win!

Hobart was on the floor relaxing, just waiting until we finished cooking the chicken so he could get some on his own little saucer.  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND SHARK WEEK HOBART SUNDAY

             

Here we are!  Shark Week 2025!

Last year, we had hoped we'd be in our new house this time but, you know, reality happens and things work in the time they are supposed to.  So this year, it's one more time watching it at the apartment, ha.

The other night, we had some leftover chicken and 2nd Man made some cilantro lime rice and added the chicken to it.  I sliced up some avocado and put some roasted hatch green chili sauce on top.  Delicious!

Here is Hobart, safe and secure, hiding from the sharks!  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

 Wow, this week has flown by.  It's been a weird week of weather, rain on and off, hot, then reasonable.  Yesterday was pretty good for weather, but now today there is more rain coming.  2nd Man and I went out to the farm to see the progress and wow, some really awesome stuff happening!  Updates coming!

This is one of our new favorite meals, our interpretation of a stir fry.  2nd Man uses pork tenderloins sliced into medallions, some fresh carrots, beans, onions, snow peas, mushrooms, water chestnuts and those little baby corns, all served over rice.

Hobart is charging his solar batteries by relaxing in the sunshine.  Of course he can't lay on the bare floor, he must have something so he gets his special floor towel, ha.  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

Another week, another month, gone.  Can you believe it's almost JULY?!?

Recently, 2nd Man made his spin on a Spanish tortilla, also called a Spanish egg and potato omelette.  It's onions, potatoes and eggs.  He used one whole egg and then a carton of egg whites, to make it heart healthy.  Topped with some fresh parsley and salsa.  So good!

And here is Hobart, living his best life.  Not sure if the pillow from the couch is enveloping him or if he's melting into it, but either way, he was happy.  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

Here we are, another week has flown by.  I went to the farm yesterday and mowed, it was hot.  Not much progress on the house but Tuesday, you all will get to see the painted exterior so watch for that!!

Last weekend, we had this wonderful comfort food. Being the first NASCAR cup race in Mexico City, we did a Mexican American meal.  For the main course, we had Mexican red (rojo) pozole.  It's a pork stew of peppers and hominy.  It was delicious with some homemade corn tortillas and all the garnishes.

Then for dessert, I made us a special treat:

Root beer floats!  Nothing more American than that, ha.  And before you think "but that's not healthy", this is an almost fat free vanilla ice cream and the root beer is from Poppi!  It was SO good and healthy!

Is there any picture that conveys spoiled more than this?  Oh wait, we forgot, he's definitely...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

 It's been a weird weekend of weather.  Monsoon rain, then sunny, the rain and wind, then sunny.

Recently, we had some arroz con pollo (using brown rice) with some homemade pico, fat free refried beans (we use a Goya brand that is fat free/vegan and it's amazing) and some sliced avocado.  So good.

Here is Hobart, moments ago.  Just stretched out with a full tummy, and happy dreaming, living his best life.  Because...

#notspoiled

This weekend has been fun for us as NASCAR fans because they have ventured to Mexico for the first time ever (Cup Series).  Yesterday, one of our favorite drivers (Daniel Suarez, front and center in the pic above) won in his home country.  The meal we posted above was last weekend but for this  weekend, we're doing some pozole. Pics next weekend.

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

 How do the weeks fly by so fast?  Here we are, back to Sunday again.  Yesterday was a good day.  More updates this week.  Now it's time for some good food and some Hobart.

We stopped at a market on the way back from the farm last weekend and picked up some chicken leg quarters that are literally split in half through the bone.

They are called Piernitas de Polla Partidas, a special cut made for grilling and quick cooking.  They literally slice a leg quarter in half through the bone.  It's not something you can do at home because it requires a bandsaw, ha.

We picked up some onions and poblanos as well.  These look like larger spring onions but they are actually a special variety called knob onions or also known as Mexican spring onions.  We sautéed it all together.

...and added corn tortillas, Mexican brown rice and black beans with turkey bacon and cilantro.

It was SO good.

Hobart spent the day sleeping, covered up under his favorite blanket (but head has to stick out).  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

It's been a good weekend.  We went to the farm yesterday to check on progress and it's amazing.  More updates on that coming in future posts.  But Sunday is here and time for some good food. Now we are having good food today but we would be remiss if we didn't share last weekend's wonderful meal.  

Rib dinner!  A lean rack of pork ribs with low sodium rub and bbq sauce.  I made some pickled red onions and broccoli coleslaw. And a glass of red wine of course!

Even Hobart got to have a bit, and he loved it.  At his age we want him to get any extra calories or protein he can.  Because...

#notspoiled

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART RACE DAY WEEKEND

It's been a good weekend so far.  More house updates next week.  Today it's time for our usual routine of some good food and some Hobart.

Now today, we are having our tradition of BBQ ribs and coleslaw but the ribs are in the oven now, ha.  Last week, we had some super healthy chili dogs.  Believe it or not, this is a virtually fat free meal.  The buns are whole wheat with 15 grains, the hot dogs are white meat turkey hot dogs with no saturated fat, we topped them with some Hormel no bean turkey chili.  Then some mustard potato salad. It was good!

Hobart wonders what all the fuss is about.  The TV might be a bit loud with the race car noise so we'll turn it down a bit.  Because...

#notspoiled

Regular readers know that we are racing fans.  Typically, it's just NASCAR but when this weekend rolls around, it's a trifecta of racing.

Formula One, Indy Car and NASCAR.

First up is the Monaco Grand Prix. 8am our time.  

Then comes the Indy 500, an American institution.

And then the evening wraps up with the longest race of the year, the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor speedway.  Yet again this year, one driver will attempt the rare doubleheader.  Kyle Larson, a NASCAR driver will drive in the Indy 500, then get on a jet at the end of the race and fly to NC to race in the Coke 600.

As someone described this day of racing:  You get up early to coffee and breakfast while watching one, then fire up the grill for mid afternoon racing and then have a couple of drinks to round out the night with the third!

GOOD FOOD AND HOBART SUNDAY

Here we are, another week has flown by.  Lots of house progress, more on that this week.  2nd Man and I were out there yesterday, I didn't have to mow but I did have to water and we had to meet a contractor out there.

We opted for easy, some 15 bean soup, a little sliced avocado, and some good cornbread.  It was very good, all made with very little fat and but very filling.

When we got back, he was lying in his usual sunshine spot, stretched out and enjoying the warmth on his old bones.  We can relate Hobart, we can relate.  We let him sleep as long as he wanted and we just stepped around him.  Because...

#notspoiled