An Asp by any other name...

Judie asked a great question about the asp. I always forget that Texas is really its own country, and things are different here.. Everywhere else, an asp is a poisonous snake (Shakespeare, anyone?). But in the Great Republic of Texas, an asp is a poisonous fuzzy caterpillar, the larvae of something called the Flannel Moth, which I find quite hilarious, since flannel is fuzzy too.

It's also called a puss caterpillar. There's this adorable video on YouTube of one. Watch out - it's poisonous! Don't pick it up! But ADMIT - you want to!!!

Now, speaking of Judie, look at this card I received. It's beautiful, and hard to see in the photo. First of all, she made it - which is incredible. I thought she bought it until I turned it over. The sunset and trees you see are part of the vellum layer - this vellum is beautiful. The side has a strip of some stunning pearl carstock, which is embossed and decorated with half pearls and pearl ribbon. It is a show stopper.

But it's the inside that just kills me, in the best sense of the word. I can hardly type this:

Four Feet in Heaven, by Alice Chase.

• Your favorite chair is vacant now
• No eager purrs to greet me.
• No softly padded paws to run
• Ecstatically to meet me.
• No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry
• Will say it's time for feeding.
• I've put away your bowl and all
• The things you won't be needing.
• But I will miss you, little friend.
• For I could never measure
• The happiness you brought me,
• The comfort and the pleasure.
• And since God put you here to share
• In earthly joy and sorrow.
• I'm sure there'll be a place for you
• In Heaven's bright tomorrow.

Thank you Judie. There's no way for me to say how touched I am. You have been so kind. Hawaii doesn't feel so far away today.