What is in a Name

Ganesh is known as a remover of obstacles; his trunk can be seen as performing this task, and his mount, the mouse, can be seen as an agent for providing help in finding the way to one’s destination. One interpretation of the figure holds the elephant head to represent the cosmos, and the human dimension to stand for human existence with the pot-belly containing the created world and symbolizing prosperity.  

My Ganesh, he has lived up to his name most of his life.

I don't know about you, but I sometimes give the animals that come to live with me names that will give them such attributes.

I named a "stray" cat Masai to give him the strength to run from danger and just the general majestic strength of the powerful Masai tribespeople. He was a black cat that a neighbor brought home from a local sea port. The cat was small, had been picked on by other stray cats at the port, and worst yet, was shot in the side with a small pellet gun by someone. Our neighbor paid for vet bills. But, when he brought the cat home, he never took to the neighbor and instead came and hung around our home. Tom and I tried to make him an "inside cat," but he tore through the screen enclosure during the "transition period." We, at that time, had four or five cats. So, Masai roamed. The only time he let us keep him in the garage was when he was sick; possibly poisoned, and needed recovery time. He lived many years. We named him well.

I just gave this instance above to suggest the importance in a name because now my Ganesh, once again, faces an obstacle. He has been having seizures, that I have noticed brought on by loud noises. Twice by me; once when I was empting the kitchen sink drain trap in the kitchen garbage (banging up against the side of the can) and the second was when I was hammering the paint can lids back on top of the can after painting. The vet didn't seem to think much of these, because Ganesh seemed healthy otherwise. He is 16 and Tom and the vet didn't opt to do any other test other than blood and general physical. I think Ganesh had an x-ray in the vet's office.

Anyway, about a week after the picture was taken, one whole day he spent on the bed. I spoke with Tom in the evening about the possibility of  it being "time." And, Ganesh walks out, stumbles rather, with a red, red, eye. Tom, the nurse, right away, isn't very concerned, and knows it is just a broken blood vessel. Now, this could be broken from thinning due to his age or fighting with a rather bully of a younger cat that we have named Alobar (again, named appropriatly if you read, Jitterbug Perfume  by Tom Robbins).

So, Tom took Ganesh to the vet, who again isn't too concerned. We got some very expensive eye drops. And, now we need to wait to see what happens with time to see what really is the cause of all this. Maybe a brain tumer, and how slow or fast growing it is remains to be seen.

Now, Ganesh needs to learn his environment blind, or with much reduced sight. He has a hard time jumping on the bed, and sometimes it takes a few times to get it right. He gets lost in shelves and can't figure how to turn around; it's like watching an armadillo. He has a good appetite, and slowly makes it to the dinner bowls behind the other two cats, Alobar and Kudra. And, good thing, he goes to the litter box. He keeps himself groomed. And, we still cuddle, just now, just like in the photo; as I am typing on my bed, he is on my lap.

So, I've kind of been bummin' about this lately; but trying not to because there will be time for that and this should not be the time. But....

In honor of Ganesh, I am giving away four Ganesh pictures from a sheet of Hindu deity transfers. Just grab them if you want.


 The other three are attached at the end after my signature line.

Here are pictures of a table I found on the side of the road.

And, Alobar is on the chair. He is  looking rather BA here, isn't he. He's claiming the new area! Actually, he looks like

he needs a cup of coffee.

I think the table was at the same place I found the chairs at about two or three years earlier. The place is at a house just a street away. They could possibly have been a set. Soul mates, this table and chairs.

I painted the table white. The wood was rather pretty, and as I painted I kind of regretted it, but there was some rot and I don't like working at all with wood stain. I figured since it will be in an outside patio, if the paint begins to chip off, then that will be all the better to see a nice dark wood grain underneath. 

This is a fine place to sit and go over blogs and email and etsy, etc. It gets the morning sun. This is, of course then, the East side of the house, it has the Oak hammock for coverage. The butterfly garden is just next to this sitting place. However, at this time, there is much to be done to reinvigorate the yard to help Spring along. The thing about Florida after the Winter is we have the dead frostbitten and dead from the freezes flora next to the stuff that survived and new growth. It is hard to clean up and looks rather nasty. Oh, well, I'll take it over a northern winter ANYTIME. And, I mean ANYTIME. I'm very thin blooded.

I bought a little french portable easel on ebay. I figured it would be good for painting and collages especially in the hot summer days when the house can become oppressive. In our area of Florida, the mosquitoes are numerous most months, so a large patio is the only way to really be able to live an "indoo/outdoor" lifestyle. The patio, on this side, is rather like a corridor, and can get a most glorious summer breeze. And, because the easel is of a lighter weight wood and has a nice strap attachement, I can bring it with me to the beach as well!!

I also found these white metal shelves, again out along the side of the road. They look like the kitchen butler type of shelves (?) often set up in, well, the kitchen. In the next picture, they are the ones that are facing and have the little clock on top.

They help hold accessories to the "terrarium making." In fact, that little clock is destined to be a terrrium. I plan on keeping the face in place. The whole front panel is a glass door. I can't wait to start playing with the design. I'm not sure if I'll put a terra cotta pot inside, a glass pot, or rig it so I'll plant the garden plop right inside. You'll have to check out Tom's Terrariums and Glass Gardens to find out!! The table in front is temporary. Tom takes it to the local Flea when he sells the terrariums and glass gardens. I saw a nice dining set at the Affordable Used Furniture store and I am going back to price it. It is where I got a couple of things for making terrariums, like the really cool "victorian" or "art deco" -not sure or the period replication- of the lamps I am going to make terrariums of.

The set has four chairs. It is black and square. I think it'll fit well in this patio space. Then Tom can keep this table in his vehicle and won't have to load it every time he goes to the Flea (early in AM or you miss out getting a spot!).

Again, because of the heat in the summer, it is nice to have alternative living set up in the patio. I've been wanting do get a dining set up in this "East corridor" for awhile. I think this is the year.

The patio wraps around to the South and there is the pool and the hammock and the Adirondack chairs. That is also where the clothesline is.

Oh well, I've defined two names for you: Ganesh and Home (aspects of my definition anyway).

Recently, my Buddha Hands Shrine was chosen on the Gypsy Tears treasury  and my Green Man was chosen on the In Amongst the Roses treasury - both on Etsy. I thought that was nice.  

Have a very nice weekend.

Peace.

Brianne