A photo of my daughter’s pug who was used in social media marketing for her college swim team. The swimmers on the sports marketing team posed Waffles around the pool wearing goggles, on the blocks and lifeguard stand.
As I think about Thanksgiving, it dawned on me that our last two pets, Olive and Waffles, were adopted Thanksgiving weekend. What a joy they’ve brought to our family.
My son left for college in 2011 and my daughter and I visited the animal shelter in Palm Springs looking at kittens. It was right before Thanksgiving that Olive came home with us. Because my son is allergic to cats we waited until he moved away to college to adopt Olive. We kept Olive hidden in our daughter’s bedroom for the four-day weekend and didn’t think my son would have any reaction from his room down the hall.
Olive’s baby picture taken around Thanksgiving.
Everything went smoothly. I cooked dinner for my kids, husband and dad. I remember a wonderful weekend spending time with family walking downtown and playing in the park.
Then my son called to let me know he was back at school safely. While we talked on the phone, the kitty snuck out the door into the backyard.
“Quick, get the kitty!” I yelled to my daughter.
“WHAT?!” my son said. “I knew it! I knew there was a cat in the house. I had allergies all weekend.”
Today, he can visit our home in Arizona with Olive inside, and doesn’t seem to suffer. I’ve installed an air filter in the casita and the new house doesn’t have the same issues as our 1930s Palm Springs house did for allergies like mold and a grassy back yard.
Then came Waffles. It was my husband’s idea to adopt Waffles as a companion dog for our daughter. She came home from college for Thanksgiving weekend, along with our son, and met Waffles for the first time.
I cooked for our family, my college roommate, who was visiting from Seattle with her mom and brother. Plus a former coworker of mine — and dad of course. Waffles was a hit with everyone — except Olive. I remember my college roommate’s brother thanking me over and over for a home-cooked Thanksgiving. They had planned to eat in their hotel restaurant.
Waffles was beyond cute and so tiny!
Pretty kitty Olive as a grown up.
Waffles as a middle-aged man, snaggle teeth and gray hairs.
Have a happy Thanksgiving with family, friends and your furry friends.
What is it about Thanksgiving and adopting our pets? I’m thinking our prior two, Sherman and Angus joined us in the fall as well.
Oh my—you made my day with your stories and photos of the adorable snaggle-toothed Waffles and his questionable non-friend friend, Olive. What a beautiful family—puppy, kitten, and kids—precious gifts and incredible blessings all! They have so much to teach us, and so much to give. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
That is such a wonderful comment, you made my day! They are all my blessings. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Have a great holiday EA!
You too!
Being thankful that you have the ability to care for pets…it’s a beautiful place to be
It is. They add so much to our lives.
What a sweet family you have! How appropriate that your fur babies came during a time of Thanksgiving! Thanks for sharing your lovely story. Happy Thanksgiving! Mona
Thank you! I got to take care of Waffles several times like when my daughter studied abroad. I miss him, but Olive does not! Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh good golly. Olive has some competition for my heart. I love grown up Waffles…but his baby/puppy pic? Be still my heart. Thanks Elizabeth! xo! 🥰
He was so adorable as a puppy. I was lucky to be his puppy raiser for several months and took care of him while my daughter studied abroad.
Adorable! 🥰
That first Thanksgiving he was the hit with all our guests! 😊
But of course…the cutest little man! 🥰
💕
I miss having a furry family member. I was fantasizing the other day about which I would adopt… a cat or a dog when the time comes. Olive and Waffles (both great names) are so cute and, obviously, well loved.
My daughter named both of them. We had a family tradition of naming our pets from Rocky and Bullwinkle. We had Natasha Fatal, a rotti, two cats, Sherman and Peabody. But then we got Angus our yellow lab from Guide Dogs of the Desert and he was trained and named. So our streak was broken and then Olive and Waffles were named. There’s a lot more freedom in owning a cat than a dog, I’ve found.
Um, Thanksgiving weekend is coming up. I’m just saying. What new animal might EA be welcoming? A new cat or dog perhaps? Ha, ha.
At this time, Olive rules the roost. She gets to decide and so far she’s content with swatting at the birds out the window.
Oh, that would be even better, a little bird in a small cage to grab Olive’s attention. Ha, ha. No I get it. We won’t be getting anther dog either. Ha, ha.
Oh dear! A bird in a cage is too much to imagine with Olive. We’ll stick with the wild ones we both stare at every day.
Happy thanksgiving dear friend. Hope it’s a joyful one.
Thank you post Thanksgiving. It was a good one!
That’s good to know. 🩷
👍🏼
I love this post, Elizabeth! The stories are great and the pictures are so cute!! Thanksgiving pets – what a wonderful thing to be grateful for – on both sides! <3 <3 <3
Thank you! I’m so grateful my daughter has Waffles as her companion and I’m glad she left me Olive! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Olive and Waffles are both such little sweeties! Cute, cute, cute!!! Hope you and your family have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Erin. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. We are visiting friends who moved from Palm Desert to Prescott five years ago, then didn’t like the winter weather, so they built a house in Oro Valley. We haven’t seen it before.
Ah, interesting! I actually haven’t been to Oro Vally before. Hopefully it’s a fun adventure for you.
I guess it’s a suburb of Tucson. I haven’t been there for 30 years!
Giving thanks for the furry members of our family is right up my alley. You have a delightful, adorable family. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Thank you!!! I was surprised to realize our furry family joined us Thanksgiving times. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Adorable pets and how cool about giving them forever homes on Thanksgiving 🥰
Pets definitely are a huge blessing! 🧡
Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!😊
Happy Thanksgiving E.A. Wickham! To you and yours, give the pug a hug.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours too including the pug!
Waffles has the most hilariously expressive face!
He’s a cutie pie!