Here are the other "people" that live here at "Gra-Mar". Just because they are fuzzy dosen't mean they can't "talk", and love! They were all "rescued" animals, and we've had them either spayed or neutered. In the past, we've had other dogs, cats, and horses, as well. They were all well loved and taken care of. Usually, when they have, "passed on", we have buried them here at Gra-Mar with a "proper" funeral service. However, this page is to give you a chance to meet all the pets we currently have living here. (The cats actually "allow" us to live here with them! If you are a "cat person", you will totally understand this, I'm sure.) This is "Moto". He is part Pomeranian and part Skipperke. He is a sweet, funny,  bundle of high-speed energy, and built like a cinder block- brick covered with fur! (And he weighs about the same!) He loves us, the kitties, dogs, people, riding in our vehicle, cookies, Fig Newtons, green olives, Kosher dill pickles, oranges, apples,  spaghetti, and Chinese food, among other things! Also, he loves to play with old socks, balls, us, and dog toys in general. He loves to be petted, (especially on his tummy), and to give dog "kisses" in return! Sometimes he just can't contain his excitement! He was in need of a good home at about age 4 months. Since he wasn't a purebred Pom, his former owner (and the breeder of his Mom-a purebred Pom) wanted no part of him! Too bad for her, great for us, and Moto!

Here is, "Lonesome". He is a, "Treeing Walker Hound", kind of like a Foxhound. He's big, and goofy. He's sweet, and loves to be loved. Lonesome stays outside, mostly. But he comes inside in really bad weather and sleeps in his cage in the living room. That's also where he eats. He feels secure in there. He likes most any food, (and some questionable stuff outdoors!) Hotdogs are a favorite, and cornbread.  We found Lonesome standing at a closed rest-stop on the top of a mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway late in November about seven years ago. He looked like he'd lost his last hope! He was a walking skeleton! We just couldn't leave him there to starve and freeze! When I opened the car door he climbed in on my feet and laid down. I think I heard him say, "Thank you for saving me!" Sonny and I named him, "Lonesome" because he was. Plus, he always looks sad, even when he's happy! He can't be trusted to wander the house indoors as he likes to, "mark his territory"! Plus if he is eating or sleeping he will jump at the cats, or other dogs! We think he was raised with a bunch of puppies being trained to hunt bears. So, he had to fight for his food and place to sleep!  When the former owner found out Lonesome was "gun shy", (afraid of guns), they "threw him out", to fend for himself! He was lucky they didn't just shoot him! He is the only dog with a regular dog house for bad weather and winter, an old truck bed to lay under in warm weather, and a "patio" (old metal picnic table-top), for sunning himself!

Now, here are our kitties!   A SAD NOTE: "Babygirl " passed away in our arms on April 23rd, 2009. She died of an auto-immune disease at approximately five years old. We miss her very much. We were heartbroken when "Babygirl" passed away. I just couldn't bear to think of another kitty right away. One day, at the end of this September, 2009, our local TV station was promoting the county ASPCA. The "pet of the week" was a long- haired daushund. Very cute and quiet. We thought we'd check him out as a playmate for our little dog, "Moto". So, we went to the ASPCA that day. We took Moto along to see if they would get along. Moto loves everyone, so we thought it would be a "no-brainer"! Well, when they brought out the daushund, he liked us fine. But he hated Moto, (who wanted to make friends!) In fact, the other dog growled and bared his teeth. NO WAY! Something made me ask if they had any kitties. Of course they did! A whole room full of grown cats and little kittens!!! Sonny told me to go look. I saw some very little kittens sleeping. Some nice full-grown cats. A cage with two sisters about four months old, very friendly. I was thinking of picking out one. But, just above them, all alone in a big cage, was a kitten about six months old. She was an orange-stripey tabby. Slim and long. With huge eyes! She was plastered against the corner of the cage as close to me as she could get, with her "arms" reaching out to me, purring as loud as she could! I asked if I might hold her? The lady said of course and got her out of the cage. When I got her in my arms she immediately looked up at me, reached up with her little face, and nuzzled my chin, and proceeded to purr loudly! I started to cry. I just couldn't help it. We took her to a room set up for kitties, with cat toys and seats. So you could see if you all got along. (We took along Moto who'd been sniffing all the kitties he could reach.) After all, if Moto and the kitty didn't get along, it would be a "no-go". But the kitty liked Moto right away, and visa-versa!!!! We told the ASPCA folks we'd take the kitty but had to get her the next day as we needed to bring a carrier. I named her, "Sweetie-Pie", because she is. We got her the next day and she never made a sound on the way home. In fact, when I placed her carrier on the floor at home, she was just laying in it like a queen. As I opened the cage door, Moto stuck his head all the way in to say, "HI!" Our old kitty, "Noel" , aka: "Granny", touched noses with Sweetie-Pie and they liked each other right away, too! Sweetie got out and made herself at home. In fact, Sonny and I remarked we'd never seen a cat who got along in a new place just settle in right away, like she'd been waiting  for us and just wondered when we would come get her and take her home! We believe God had her picked out for us at the same time Babygirl was dying. He knew we needed another kitty. But, we didn't know it and poor little Sweetie-Pie had been waiting "forever" for us to show up! Sweetie-Pie and Moto love each other! They play and chase each other. They wrestle and tumble. Sweetie loves to play with anything and nothing at all, actually! She fits in like she was always here.  In fact, she's helping me type. It's taking extra long with all the help! We think she was weaned too soon as she loves to "suckle" on a shirt sleeve and knead us at the same time, purring, (she's doing it now!) Anyhow, we love her so very, very much! We are all so blessed!     Scroll on down for more critters......

This fluffy kitty is, "Puff". Her mom was a stray that showed up on our front porch one afternoon, and gave birth to Puff, and three other siblings the very next morning... as we were leaving for an art show in Raleigh, NC! We had to find someone to look after them while we were gone! We called around and finally, thank God, our preacher said he would take them, and adopt the mom and a baby! WOW! Praise the Lord, as that was certainly an answer to prayer! However, the mom must have been a "first-time" mom, as she deserted the babies for a day, and two died of the cold.  It was early spring and they were in a shed outside. The two babies that lived were, Puff, and a short-haired brother. Our preacher wanted the mom and the boy-kitten. We wanted Puff. She is a really beautiful cat, and she knows it, of course! We call her, Princess Puff quite often. Here she is on one of her thrones. My slippers tend to be another favorite place to sleep. Puff is a sucker for a can of tuna, or some milk. She is totally spoiled, of course, as a "true princess" should be! Of all our kitties, Puff, is the only one who is a true, " 'fraidy-cat"! She is scared of almost everything!

Another very sad note: "Noel" passed away at the approximate age of 17 years old in December of 2009. She is very much missed by all of us. This is, "Noel". She and her wild mom were on our roof one freezing, snowy day in mid-December. "Mom" had climbed up onto our roof via a tree growing next to it. When I came out the back door, Mom ran off, deserting the little kitten! The kitten was only about 4 to 6 weeks old, frightened, and very cold! Mom-cat must have carried her up onto the roof. The little kitten didn't know how to get to the tree and climb down. Actually, I don't think she could have at that age! So, I climbed up onto the roof and got her! She didn't take too long to get used to being inside where it was nice and warm. She learned to drink from a bowl... fast! We named her, "Noel", since it was almost Christmas. Sonny's mom, "Maria", (everyone called her, "Granny"), had been wanting a cat for some time. Granny just lived in Waynesboro, Virginia about eight miles away. So, when Christmas came, Granny got Noel as a present! Noel lived with Granny for about two years, until Granny's health would not let her cope with a pet easily. So, we took Noel back to live with us, again. This time Noel preferred to be outside. However, before we could get her spayed, she, "fell in love" with a, "traveling salesman" (or two, or three), who obviously had given her a good line! She came home very happy, and pregnant! When she was ready to give birth, she disappeared for a couple of weeks! We were worried and thought a wild animal had gotten her. Not so! Noel is an excellent huntress and very savvy about the woods. I guess her mom had taught her something before she left.  At that time, Sonny and I were in the process of building an addition to our home...an art studio for me! It was August, and very hot. Noel showed-up suddenly with a tiny kitten, the eyes just opening! She placed it at the doorstep of the new addition and looked at us as if to say, "Well, I'm home. Let me in with my baby!" We did, of course. Then she wanted to go back out. She came back with another baby! Then another! We ended up with three little kittens. She insisted on making a "nest" under big bats of insulation for the ceiling that were piled up on the floor. It must have been 100 degrees in the room, and probably hotter under the insulation! But, when we checked in on the kittens they seemed perfectly happy and content! When it came time to wean the babies, she would NOT be separated from them!  We put her outside and left the babies in my studio. She ran around the house looking for a way to get to her babies! She went under  the house to our, "crawl-space", and found a grate in the wall we hadn't yet covered with paneling. She reached her "arms" through and meowed piteously! We couldn't stand it! We figured if she wanted her babies that badly, why not? So, we brought her back inside to her children. When the kittens were old enough to leave, one was given away. We kept the other two kittens. One big, "orange-marmalade", lovable cat, "Tang", eventually died of cancer when he was about 8 years old. We still have, "Boo". Noel feels it is her duty to walk with our dogs as they go about their, "business". She has done it with every dog. If a dog was old and blind, she escorted them safely home. She is a wonderful kitty. We often call her, "Granny".

"Boo", is a sweet gray-stripped tabby. She is the last "child" of Noel that is left. She loves to be loved, but, not picked-up. We think Noel must have accidentally stepped on her while giving birth to the other babies, and broken a rib that later healed, "funny". So, now it's uncomfortable for her to be carried. Boo is more like a dog than a cat. She comes running when you call. She comes running to meet our vehicle whenever we come home. She opens her mouth to say something, but, nothing comes out! (I have heard her "meow", so I know that she can!) She runs, jumps, and twirls in the air like a gazelle! She loves the dogs. Boo also loves to sleep on your leg if you are sitting in a chair. Or between your legs if you are in bed. You can roll over and she just follows you as you roll. If your leg/s go "to sleep", Boo won't mind a bit! She isn't going to move an inch if there is an earthquake!