Almost 5…

Okay, it’s been a long time. I know. Unfortunately, 2023 is not going the way I wanted. But no worries, I’m ok and Jimi is ok. In fact, he’s the reason I have to write a post today. Jimi’s birthday is coming up tomorrow; he turns 5 and his Gotcha Day is just around the corner. I enjoy his company every day although I still miss Mr. Bowie a lot. 

The summer isn’t great in this part of the world but I’m not complaining. We have normal temperatures but a lot of rain. It didn’t hold me back to go outside for a walk and have my meditation exercises in the forest. It helps me weaning off anxiety and sleep medication. And for the first time in my life I am in therapy. I’m feeling really good right now and that was years ago. Knock on wood.

It’s a tradition to invite my friends in July, to have pizza, chocolate cake and coffee. We had to stay inside because of rain but we had a great time. I am blessed with a good circle of friends and a wonderful family. I don’t know what I would do without them.

I recently discovered some new hiking trails in the neighbourhood. It’s so funny to see Jimi checking my boots to see where I’ve been.

I wish he could join me for a walk. But he loves to stay at home and go hunting grasshoppers…

Enjoy this beautiful day, my friends, wherever you are. Peace, love and understanding.

140 responses

  1. So good to hear from you, and to hear that there are positive things happening for you too. I hope being in therapy turns out to be life-changing in a good way. Happy birthday and Gotcha Day to the handsome Jimi. Wonderful photos!

    • Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad you liked the post and photographs. I should write some more post because this felt very good… 😉

  2. Jimi looks happy and sassy. I’m happy to hear you are getting on and feeling better. We need your rain. The pizza looks great. It’s good to keep traditions alive.

  3. So good to hear from you Herman! I think I probably speak for all of us who are your blog followers when I say WE’VE MISSED YOU…..Glad that you and Jimi are OK and glad you are taking therapy when you need it – we all need to “care” about how we feel especially these days. Those pizzas look amazing! I know a couple of cat bloggers who take their cats on hikes/walks with backpacks made to put your cat in so he can enjoy the “close” time with their human – might be fun for you and Jimi. Teddy and I wish Jimi a VERY happy Birthday – and we wish for you nothing but happiness and peace.

    Love, Pam and Teddy

    • Hi Pam. Thank you so much for your kind comment and heartwarming words. This really means a lot to me! I’m still following all my blog friends in the WP reader and leave a comment once in a while.
      There are too many people with dogs on the walking trails. I think it would be too much stress for Jimi. But maybe I should give it a try one day…
      Thank you very much for the wishes. Jimi sends his regards! We’re having a birthday party for Jimi tomorrow with special treats for cats and humans… 😉

      • You’re right – the dogs on the trails might cause Jimi to not enjoy the “ride” but with you right there he might feel safe. At any rate you know him best. He loves his home and yard a lot AND without him along you are free to RELAX on your hike. Wish I lived close enough to bring Teddy over for the party!

        Hugs, Pam

        • I would love to invite you all to Jimi’s birthday party. Unfortunately we don’t have a transporter device like in Star Trek… 🙂

  4. Dear Belgium boys, wonderful to open my mail this morning and there you were 🙂 Life must be celebrated and I wish Jimi the happiest 6th year. He looks very satisfied with himself in that tree,”look dad, I’m as tall as you”, ha! Great friendships help make life enjoyable don’t they? I’m glad you’re surrounded by their love. I just had a fabulous weekend in the mountains with a friend of 57 years. Deb lived across the lane from me and we became friends in grade one. OMGee, LOL, now ‘last century’ ago. We can always pick up from where we left off. Sorry to hear you’ve had too much rain. While we’ve not had enough. I don’t know, if here in the west, we’ll ever have a safe ‘normal’ summer again. Half of Canada has been on fire this summer. The smoke is relentless (even today, air quality alerts are high). Working hard to stay positive and your post helps! Take good care of each other there Herman, peace and love from Canada.

    • Hi Kelly. Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern! Happy to see you liked and enjoyed the post.
      I was thinking of you when the news about the fires in Canada was on the local tv news (almost every day). Glad to read you were safe…

      Nice to see you had a good time with your friend. It’s very important to have close friends and a good family. It makes your life much easier. I’m trying to have coffee with my best friend every week if possible.

      Take care, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards!

    • Thank you so much for your kind comment. Glad you liked the post! The food was delicious and we all had a good time.

    • Hi Jennifer. Thank you so much for your kind comment! Having such a youngster in my home makes me feel young again… 😉
      Jimi sends his regards!

  5. I used to have a wonderful dog named Maggie. She was in my life for 12 years. She passed away 13 years ago and I still miss her. Our beloved pets are always in our hearts. Mr. Bowie was a great companion. Of course you still miss him. ❤️

    Happy birthday to Jimi! 😊🎂🎉

    • Thank you so much for your kind and heartwarming comment!
      You are so right, all our beloved pets are for always in our hearts. I’m still telling stories about Mr. Bowie to my friends. He was such a sweet boy…

      Jimi sends his regards! I’m sure he’ll enjoy his party tomorrow.

  6. A Happy B-Day and Gotcha Day to Jimi.

    I’m glad you’re feeling better and have found hiking as a way to righting yourself. I think this has been a more difficult year for many, for many different reasons. Our year hasn’t gone as we have envisioned. For awhile, we thought a tour of the Nordic countries was in the cards, but things ‘happen’ when outside factors come into play. Visiting Belgium, that would have been a personal sidetrip to meet you and Jimi. Have some chocolate. A show … that would have been fitting a 30-piece rock band into your living room and do a five hour set. You may have enjoyed it, your neighbors maybe not.

    We’ll write you a note, get you caught up on some things.

    Take care of yourself,
    Deborah

    • Hi Deborah. I was thinking about you and your family while writing this post. Maybe my year was hard so far but knowing what you’ve been through the last few months is much worse.

      I love the thought of having a 30-piece rock band in my garden (because the living room is too small). My friend and I are always joking of giving a live show on the roof of the garden house, just like the Beatles did on their last live performance. I don’t think my neighbours would be a problem, they are all still relatively young and going to festivals.
      But yes, I’m sure I would have loved your side trip to Belgium and have coffee and chocolate in the company of Jimi (he sends his regards!)

      Wishing you and your family all the best. Thank you so much for keeping me informed. This means a lot to me.

  7. Ik denk dat iedereen jou en Jimi heeft gemist ❤ . Wel mooi om te lezen…
    En al VIJF jaar!!!!!! Jaja, kleine kindjes worden groot.

    • Ik heb dit jaar regelmatig mails aangekregen van blog-volgers die bezorgd waren omdat ik nog amper iets op de blog zet. Men wou steeds weten of alles in orde was… Wel heel lief, hé?
      Ja zeg, Jimi morgen 5 jaar… tijd vliegt echt verschrikkelijk snel voorbij… Straks wordt hij ook 18 jaar oud! 😉

  8. So good to see you here again dear friends and so lovely to hear you have discovered new trails to explore. Wishing Jimi a very happy 5th birthday tomorrow and happy Gotcha Day too and may you both enjoy these special celebrations! 🤗💕🐈‍⬛

    • Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad you liked the post, my dear friend!
      We’re going to have a special party tomorrow with lots of treats, of course… 🙂
      Jimi sends his regards!

  9. I was starting to worry about you! I’m sorry that the year hasn’t been going as you wanted, but glad that the pizza evening has given you a bit of a boost. Seigneur looks quite menacing sitting there in the grass! If I were an insect I’d sit still and shut up!

    • Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern, my dear friend! I’m still taking a lot of photographs of Jimi (every day) and I’m reading the posts of my blog followers in the WP reader. But for some reason I can’t motivate myself to write a new post. Thank goodness I can read the adventures of Louis, un chat très spécial… 😉

      I’m afraid it’s a real grasshopper genocide. I couldn’t find one living creature today… Let’s hope they moved to the garden of my neighbour… 🙂

  10. Jimi is a mighty fine looking feline! Best Wishes to him for his birthday. Sorry you have been having not such a great time but I’m glad you decided to have therapy. It can be very helpful. Having a good support team is too, of course. We are far away but we care too. Things will get better!

    • Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern. This really means a lot to me. Reading such heartwarming comments make me feel good. And having a furry friend by your side helps a lot too!

      Jimi sends his regards!

  11. Oh…walks in Nature are very helpful too! And I meant to say Of course you still miss Bowie. I miss every cat I every lived with. The joyful memories will be with me always.

    • You are so right about both things. Walking in the nature helps me to relax and find some peace of mind. And yes, we all miss every cat from our lives. But cherishing all the warm memories can give you some comfort.

    • Hi Bernadette. Thank you so much for your kind comment! You are so right; I try to enjoy all the little things in life and give myself a present each day (espresso and dark chocolate).
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards!

    • Hi Correne. Thank you so much for your kind words! Glad you liked the post and photographs.
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Jimi sends his regards!

    • Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern, my friend! Glad you liked the post and that you’re still hanging around all these years. Much appreciated!
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Jimi sends his regards!

  12. Happy Birthday, Jimi, and many more to come! I am glad you are feeling better, Herman, and have the loving, wonderful support of family and friends. Connections, especially these days, mean a lot. None of us are islands. Cats and crew here send their best to you and Jimi.

    I miss Mr. Bowie, too.

    • Hi Lavinia. It’s always a pleasure to read your comments. Thank you so much for your kind and heartwarming comment, my dear friend! I hope you’re ok and feeling good.
      Jimi’s birthday party is inside, it’s raining non stop today. Thank goodness the summer returns from tomorrow.

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Lavinia! Jimi sends his regards to the cats and crew!

            • Hi Lavinia. We’re both ok, thank you so much for your concern! Autumn arrived and I’m already looking forward to spring 2024. I’m going to write a post soon about what happened to our house (airco and solar panels). Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards!

  13. Happy Birthday Jimi!!!! You’re looking as handsome as ever. My thoughts and prayers are with you both and I wish you all the peace and happiness possible. Hugs to you both!

    • Hi Polly. Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern. This really means a lot to me! Getting so much positive feedback on the blog makes me feel better.

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards!

  14. It is good to see a post from you Herman. I am glad you had a nice time with friends, the pizza looks good. Happy Birthday to Jimi! Sending him some nose kisses from Chancy and me. It is nice you found some new walking trials. Hoping for a great September for you and Jimi.

    • Hi Mags. Thank you so much for your kind words! Glad you liked the post.
      It just stopped raining so we can go outside and have a garden birthday party for Jimi.

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards to Chancy!

  15. This is a lovely post. There is peace in your words and photos ❤. Meditation, walks, kitties and therapy are such positive tools…also pizza, coffee and chocolate. Bagheera would approve of those napkins! Happy birthday Jimi and much love on your “gotcha” day. ❤❤

    • Hi Christine. Thank you so much for your kind comment, my dear friend! Glad you liked the post and photographs.
      We’re outside right now. It stopped raining and Jimi asked to go outside in the garden (with treats, coffee and chocolate…). Guess it’s a fine way to start our weekend… 🙂

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Jimi sends his regards!

    • Bonjour Domi. Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend! Glad you liked the post and photographs.

      Jimi sends his regards! Je vous souhaite un bon week-end !

  16. Jimi! dood ! a most eggz cell ant 5th two ewe and heerz two 50 mor. make sure
    dad getz ewe a new toy, ore 50, and N joy a perch cake. hope yur summer waz good
    and heerz two a yeer a head filled with happeez and healtheez 🐟‼️

    herman, good to hear from you and glad you’re feeling better, there’s something
    about being outside that helps one really focus and feel great. here’s happy days
    ahead, many of them! and that tree stump is awesome….somewhat old, look at all the “rings”

    • Thank you so much for this kind comment and heartwarming words, my dear friends! Glad you liked the post and the photographs. Thanks for hanging around all these years.
      I was counting the rings of the tree; it was somewhere between 70-80 if I recall it right. Wow…

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, my dear friends! Jimi sends his regards!

  17. The Big Five! Happy Birthday, Jimi!

    We all miss Mr. Bowie, Herman, though that isn’t to say we think less of Jimi. Jimi has been a good stand-in, physically, for his late brother-cat, but is his own kitty.

    I especially like the photo where Jimi’s sniffing out your hike on your shows! LOL! Andy does the same every time I leave then come back home. Cats!

    • It is especially helpful to have little traditions like getting together with old friends for food and a social time. I do this with friends who graduate high school with me in 1966! Some of those friends go back to when we were toddlers, over 70 years ago, or, as I tell them, “…when we were in poopy pants'” LOL!

      (One of the “poopy pantsers” is a dentist; his brother a resource administrator, retired, in the elementary schools; another taught high school, then went to the railroad because his least competent students were making significantly more straight out of high school at railroad jobs than he was as a degreed teacher!)

      I’m pleased you and Jimi are doing well. I concur that we followers missed our Belgian “boys” a lot!

    • Hi Doug. Thank you so much for your kind words and concern!

      Jimi is always checking my boots when I return home. He also smells the dog that came across my way so I always try to avoid the dogs on my walks… 😉

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Doug! Jimi sends his regards!

    • Hi Jen. Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern. This really means a lot to me.

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Jimi sends his regards!

    • Thank you so much, Greg! We had a fun party outside in the garden with lots of treats for the humans and the cat. 😉

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Jimi sends his regards!

  18. Hello Herman,
    Thank you for this update. Very happy to hear you are doing better, and blessed with the company of good friends and of course Jimi. Happy Birthday Jimi, 5 years already 🙂

    Best wishes always from Japan.

    • Hi Takami. Thank you so much for your kind words and concern. This really means a lot to me! Glad you’re still hanging around the blog for so many years.

      Wishing you a wonderful Sunday evening, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards!

  19. Oh it is so good seeing your post Herman, I’ve missed you boys! Happy birthday to that gorgeous kitty .. it’s fab to see these photos of him! That pizza looks amazing too .. Glad to hear that you are feeling good … hugs

    • Hi Julie. Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern! It’s always a pleasure to meet you here in the comments. Thanks for hanging around all these years…
      The pizza was very delicious and spicy, almost a bit too spicy… But having chocolate cake afterwards was a good compromise… 😉

      Jimi sends his regards! Have a great week, my dear friend!

  20. Happy Birthday Jimi! You look fierce enough to frighten any grasshopper in that last shot 😉 Sorry your summer isn’t up to scratch Herman. Keep up the forest meditation – a great solace.

    • Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern! Thank goodness summer’s back in town and we can have ice cream outside in the garden… 😉
      Jimi loves to stay outside as long as possible. You are absolutely right about his fierce look because all the grasshoppers moved to my neighbour’s garden…

      Jimi sends his regards! Have a great week ahead!

  21. Missed you! So happy to hear from you and Jimi. I can imagine how much you miss Mr. Bowie. I still miss my sweet Bobcat who passed just before my cancer surgery in 2021 despite how much I love and adore Samantha Jo. And I’m glad to hear you are working on self-care. The hiking places look gorgeous. Samantha hunts crickets in the yard. Sending hugs!

    • Hi Pamela. Thank you so much for your kind and heartwarming comment! This means a lot to me. Glad you liked the post. And thanks for hanging around this blog all this time…
      I noticed all the grasshoppers moved to my neighbour’s garden. Guess they don’t like to be hunted… I enjoy sitting outside in the garden with an espresso and watch Jimi chasing butterflies (and occasionally grasshoppers). I don’t want the summer to stop! 😉

      Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards to Samantha Jo!

  22. It’s so good to hear from you and good to hear that some things are going in the right way for you. Weaning some meds and starting on therapy could be wonderful steps to feeling better. It was Jimi’s birthday and Gotchya Day both, and I hope you and he had good celebration days with amazing treats, human and feline. I hope your rain is over and you can enjoy your garden and he can find more grasshoppers. Be safe and well old friend, and happy. 🙂

    • Thank you so much for your kind words and concern! This really means a lot to me, my dear friend. I’m feeling much better than a few months ago, I’m sure I’m heading in the right direction but I have to patient and keep working on my mental health. But with Jimi by my side in combination with coffee and dark chocolate, things will work out fine… 😉
      Summer’s back in town and we spend the whole day outside. I had a small portion of blueberry ice cream and Jimi had the treat leftovers from his birthday party.

      Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards!

      • Blueberry ice cream……..oh, I never had that! Be kind to yourself and patient with yourself as you work thru these things you’re doing. Improving mental health is not a linear process; but small side steps can still keep you going in the right direction. 🙂 Jimi, dark chocolate, coffee, all that is such good stuff and ohhhhh, you said blueberry ice cream and now I’m jealous! Feel better and eat some of that good stuff for me too. 🙂

  23. Wow 5 already? Time sure flies! Happy Birthday Jimi! So nice to see him in your pictures. 🙂 Great that you are doing some new nature walks and therapy. One thing about the rain is it does usually smell good. 🙂 Wishing you both all the best!

    • Thank you so much for your kind words and concern! Glad you liked the post and the photographs. Jimi is such an adorable cat, I’m so happy with his company.
      Wishing you a great week! Jimi sends his regards!

  24. I was just thinking about dear Mr Bowie yesterday and today here is your post! Happy birthday to Jimi, he is such a handsome boy and I love the pics. Sorry that this year hasn’t been your best, but therapy sounds very positive and a good step forward – and with chocolate and coffee, how can you possibly go wrong? Lol. I know what you mean about motivation, I need to find some myself and get back to writing some posts too. I hope things keep on improving for you, Herman. Very best wishes from Australia.

    • Hi Jill. Thank you so much for your kind and heartwarming comment! This means a lot to me! It makes me feel good to see people keep coming back after all these years… And what a coincidence you were thinking about Mr. Bowie the other day…
      We had a fun party outside to celebrate Jimi’s birthday with lots of treats (and chocolate for me, of course)… 😉

      I hope you are ok, on the other side of the world, my dear friend. Wishing you already a wonderful weekend. Jimi sends his regards!

      Thank you so much for your concern!

  25. Jimi is such a beautiful and handsome boy! Please share my belated birthday wishes by giving him a few skritches and a treat.

    I am glad you are taking care of yourself, Herman, and finding ways and trails that help your well-being. It is so important! Have a wonderful weekend and much love from Gibbs, Hoshi and me. 🙂❤️

    • Hi Mary. Thank you so much for your kind comment and concern. This really means a lot to me. It’s a pleasure seeing you coming back to my blog after all these years. Thanks for the birthday wishes!

      2023 was a hard year for me (so far) but things are changing in a positive way. I’m feeling a lot better than a few months ago. And I’m trying to enjoy and appreciate all the little things around me. Like having an espresso outside this morning with Jimi by my side… 🙂

      Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and a great week ahead, my dear friend! Jimi sends his regards to Gibbs and Hoshi!

  26. Lovely post, Herman. Glad you are you and Jimi are okay.

    I had a scare the other day with our cat. He is a house cat and somehow got out and I didn’t realize it until the next day. I went searching everywhere in the neighborhood and asked anybody I saw if they had seen a cat. People were nice and concerned. I couldn’t sleep that evening. I continued the search the next day which was torrential rain and thundering. Nothing in the morning.

    After the afternoon storminess, my girlfriend and I searched again in different directions. I went much further away, fearing how cats like to explore. I get a call from my girlfriend who is crying, saying she found our cat, hunched, sitting still and not responding. Our cat was only two condo units away, hiding under a deck! He is dirty and wet, but doing okay! He was too shocked to wander too far because after all he was a house cat all his life. I gave him a bath and now give him whatever he wants.

    Sorry, I just had to vent and share that story. I feel like our cat was given a second life (out of 9, that is).

    • Hi Sir Albertus. Thank you so much for your kind comment and sharing your emotional story. It reminded me a lot of the 2 days Jimi went missing a few months ago. I couldn’t sleep either… Thank goodness we found him locked up (by accident) in a garden shed.

      Glad to see everything turned out fine and your cat is back home safe. What would we doe without our cats?

    • Hi Charlotte. Thank you so much for your kind comment. Glad you liked the post and photographs. I’m still so happy that I found Jimi by accident in that shelter…
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Leave a comment