Letters from Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary

And this cat is Fergus! He is very feral but knows when he shows up that I'll feed him. He sometimes stays under the building next door and at other times disappears for days or even weeks at a time. I named him Fergus because it means the strong one and also because in my Ancestry searches, I am trying to find information on one of my third great-grandfathers. I know for sure that he existed (I'm here!) and he's named in family history books, but there is little other proof. He was born in/about 1785 in Pennsylvania . . . no good birth records there. And I believe he died in 1812 - no good records there either and no grave.  To those who love puns, yes, I realize that Furgus might be a better spelling for a cat name, but for now I'm sticking with Fergus!  

Janie Blue and I visited the vet today for her updated blood work. She really likes Dr. Spofford and waited eagerly for him to come back into the room.  She is still heartworm positive, but all of her other blood tests were normal. Because of her age (9 or 10 years old), the vet will spay her tomorrow. If you're into praying for dogs and their doctors, please remember Janie Blue and Dr. Spofford tomorrow! Thanks. 💙  

 The first Sulphur Cosmos bloom! The weather here is still warm and humid, but now we know for sure that Autumn is just around the corner. Hope you are having a beautiful Sunday!

Sadly, my good friend and fellow rescuer, Patty, will be having some extended medical treatment, so we agreed to help by taking her five parakeets. They arrived yesterday and are making a good adjustment to their new home.  The dogs supervised their arrival with much interest and barking but have since seemed to ignore them completely! When the dogs bark, the parakeets chirp - when the dogs are quiet, everyone is quiet. But never a dull moment . . .!  

Two unrelated photos - a hummingbird having her breakfast and a few zinnias! Hope you are having a sweet and beautiful day, too!  

Since early Summer this little black cat has come to our yard in the morning and sometimes in the evening looking for food. During the day she disappeared under the next-door building or into the woods. As a friend of birds and so strongly opposed to outdoor cats, I would gladly bring her indoors, but she is too shy, feral, and elusive for that! Recently she has moved into our garage/hay barn but still spends most days in the woods near the edge of the horse pasture. I named her Midnight "Middy" - yes, after Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , although I have not read the book, because she did first appear near the graves and not far from the daylily bed. I don't know if she knows her name, but I greet her by name every morning, with cat food of course, always giving her a chance to come closer - six or seven feet away seems to be her safe space. For now, she's a good luck kitty!  

  Remembering my father, Harvey Mellor Shepherd, Jr. - may he rest in peace - and all Coasties! Eternal Father, Lord of hosts, Watch over those who guard our coasts. Protect them from the raging seas And give them light and life and peace. Grant them from thy great throne above The shield and shelter of thy love.              ~George H. Jenks, Jr.

The doggies now have a new tradition at Sanctuary House: Pooch Creamery ice cream on Sundays!  In the past we usually had vanilla, but yesterday we had "chocolate" - well, carob to be exact, a safe alternative for dogs. Everyone loved it! Duke thought it was the best treat ever. And Mec, the chocolate beagle, was thrilled. "Chocolate is the best!" I'm sure she thought. She ran to me with a smile on her face, "Let's do that again," she said.