Category Archives: Cats

Marking Time

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The title of this post is a good description of my life in recent days.  Mark time means to wait.  In military terms, it means march in place without making forward progress.  Yes, that describes it. :surrender:

I’m not able to spend much time here at the computer.  That means fewer posts for you and fewer comments on the posts of my blogger buds.

My sister, Maggie, sent me an e-mail asking about Nellie.  She also asked why I hadn’t posted about her lately.

The answer to Maggie’s queries is that Nellie is still avoiding me most of the time.  She has grown close to Sylvia and spends time on her lap a few times a day.  Once in a while, she will visit me in the evening.  She hops into my lap and I give her a kitty treat or two.  Soon after she is gone.

Wednesday evening, my neighbor and friend, Bud, dropped in for a visit.  While we were chatting, Nellie came into the room.  She spent a lot of time looking at Bud.  Bud talked with her.  Then he moved his closed hand up and down a couple of time on the arm of the recliner in which he was sitting.  Nellie came closer to investigate.  Soon she was on Bud’s lap.  It took a few days before she did that with me.  Go figure.

Yesterday, Sylvia flew to Florida where she will visit with family for 9 days.  Perhaps Nellie and I can bond a bit during that time.  I’m hoping so.

Meanwhile, I can see the appearance of progress in my foot.  The color is nearly normal and the base of the big toe does not hurt when I touch that area.  Still pain continues and the foot is swollen so that I can’t yet wear my loosest tennis shoe. 🙁

The good news is that spring is coming.  I can see the signs of its impending arrival.  I hear the sounds of geese and sandhill cranes as they fly overhead.  At least one turkey buzzard has come back.

How I react to all of this is my choice.  That choice will be to remain optimistic and be happy.  I do get to choose that.

A Very Quiet Morning

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At midday, I have an appointment with the podiatrist, Dr Dave.  He’ll be removing the stitches from my bunionectomy.  I’m looking forward to that.  I’ve noticed healing progress each day since the surgery was performed last Wednesday.

I’m awake far too early this morning, but I’m also tired of sleeping in the recliner.  For that reason, I’m here in the office doing a short blog post for today.  Perhaps I can return for a bit more sleep before Sylvia is ready for breakfast.

Nellie

A couple of you have inquired about Nellie.  Short answers are: “She is still shy, but coming out of it . . . slowly . . . very slowly.”  And: “Yes, she will be a lap cat.”

Nellie is bonding well with Sylvia.  You can see this in the photo.

Nellie shares the recliner with Sylvia.

The two of them are doing quite well, and that pleases me.  Soon I’ll be more involved as a care provider for Kitty.  That should help.

Ah . . . life is good!

I’m ready to try sleep again.  Perhaps it will come this time?

Lily Speaks

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This was written by Lily.  She asked me to post this for her.

“You’ve been so kind, but . . .

Searching, searching, searching and calling.

“I finally got out of the old folks’ home.  That place was boring, boring, boring.  Yes they were nice to me.  They gave me good food and water, clean litter and lots and lots of skritches and head rubs (oohh I love those).  Still I wasn’t happy.  I tried to tell them, but they don’t speak kitty very well.

“That poor old man just didn’t get it at all.  Finally the lady began to understand what I was trying to tell them.  I saw her pick up the phone in the office and call the shelter.  She asked a lot of questions of the woman that runs that place.  The lady talked to the old man and they got real quiet.  I heard a sigh and then . . . to my relief . . . he said, “Okay.”

“My request had finally been understood and granted.  They took me back to the shelter.  As soon as I was out of the box, I ran to greet the other girls and then settled into a nice little nest all set for me!

“I didn’t want to break the old folks’ heart, so I sent them back home with Nellie.  Nellie came from a quiet house, and that’s what she needs.  NOT ME!  Boy, is she going to find things quiet and boring.  She tells me that that’s what she needs.  And she’s going to get it.  So, ‘Goodbye Old Man and Nice Lady.  No hard feelings.  You’re nice, but not for me.  I hope Nellie is happy with you.  I need more action in my life.’ ”

Nellie

 

More About Lily

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On Saturday, after 48 hours of hiding, Lily came out to socialize with us.  We were happy that she was no longer avoiding contact.

Sunday afternoon, I coaxed her to come upstairs.  A few times before she had come to the top of the stairs, taken a look around and hustled back to her basement.  This time she came would take a few steps and stop.  I’d be a little ahead of her and would reach out and she’d walk on up to me to get her skritches.  She loves those! :awe:

She checked out the guest room and the office.  That was enough.  She went back downstairs.  I left the door open and went into the family room to watch a movie with Sylvia.  A while later we heard the now familiar “Meow.”  The explorer was venturing forth once more.

Lily stood in the shadow and peeked into the family room.

Sylvia and I spoke to her.  Eventually Lily ventured into the room.

“Hi y’all, whazzup?”

Little by little Lily is feeling more comfortable in her new home.  Thus far, she is well behaved.

I’m sorry about the picture quality.  It’s the best I can do with my shaky old hands.  I’ll have more Lily pics for you tomorrow on Wordless Wednesday.

Family News

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Click on the banner to visit the Family Friday blog.

We had lunch with our older son yesterday before we went to the shelter to bring Lily home.  We always enjoy those lunches with him.  For a variety of reasons, we haven’t been all that regular in meeting since for the last month and a half.

The roads were not particularly good, but we wanted to see him this week before he and his wife leave for a vacation Puerto Rico.  You might enjoy summer vacations, but his seasonal business dictates winter vacations.  What better place to go this time of year?

Sylvia and I would love to go there again.  Our one trip there was marred by a hurricane shutting down the island for the last half of our short stay.  We were a day late getting back home.  We have friend there that we’d love to see again, but it’s not likely that we’ll do that except on FaceBook.

Lily

Our newest addition to the household is still hiding in the basement.  She did come out last night and used the litter box, ate, probably drank and checked out her bed.  Today, we can’t locate her at all.  I put out a couple of tasty treats to tempt her.  Patience is the order of the day.

Sylvia and I ran lots of errands today.  We did buy a bag of the same kind of dry food that Lily was eating at the shelter.  We are hoping that will help ease the transition to her new home.

Family Friday Linky

This Linky is the same as the one on the Family Friday blog.  You can register participation on either site and your link will appear on both blogs.


Lily Comes Home

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This picture of Lily was on The Ionia County Animal Shelter Website.

Sylvia and I met  Lily on our first visit to the shelter.  We were not going to adopt that day, and Lily was not yet available.  A few days later, the shelter listing was updated and had this to say about Lily:

My name is Lily and I am about 7 years old and a Siamese Lynx Point mix.  I am spayed and up to date on all my vaccines and am FELV negative.  I lived with 59 other cats in the house and they came and brought me to the shelter.  I am a very sweet girl and love getting lots of attention.  I can’t wait to find me a new home and new family to love and care for me.

Today, Sylvia and I returned to the shelter.  We visited with lily for a while and talked with the director about her.  We took care of some formalities and then we were able to bring her home.

Lily and the old man.

Once we were home, Lily went to the heated basement where she has food, water, litter and a comfy bed.  Right now, she is getting acquainted with her new surroundings.  We’ll get better acquainted with her later.

The Life of Midnight

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I’m going to try to write this on Sunday afternoon for posting on Monday.  Sylvia is reading a book while relaxing in her recliner after our walk together.

Midnight was born probably in late March of 2009.  (We don’t know the exact date, so I have celebrated his birthday on the first of April.  I do things like that. ;)) His mother, a feral calico cat we called Checkers, gave birth to a litter of kittens in neighbor Meghan’s barn.  When the kittens were a little older,  Checkers moved four of them to our barn, which was her home.  Sylvia and I enjoyed watching the little ones when they would come out to play with their mom and with each other.

Checkers, gray tiger & Midnight enjoying summer weather.

Fall came and so did a strange queen.  I don’t know where she came from, but she was ready to pick a fight with anyone or anything.  One afternoon, I heard a terrible sound and looked out to see that queen attacking Checkers, and the fur was flying.  It was all Checkers’ fur.  Checkers was driven off and we didn’t see her for several months.

The kittens were never to be seen again either.  That is except for a little guy that was mostly black.  To tell the truth, he didn’t seem to be the cutest kitten of the litter, but he was the only one left.  We didn’t see him for a while.  Every day Sylvia or I would put out food and water for feral cats in our barn.

One day, Sylvia came back from feeding the cats and reported that the queen had hissed at her and acted aggressively.  I decided put an end to that and did.  (Don’t ask!  And don’t mess with Sylvia.)

Then Midnight appeared we fed him and watched him play as the days got shorter and the air got cooler.  He was a lonely little fellow.  He would play with an old stick he found laying on the driveway.

Midnight and his friend and playmate, the stick.

That little guy would pick that stick up in his mouth and carry it around and play with it.  He seemed to never tire of his “friend.”  We could tell that he was lonely.  Whereas he would run and hide when Mama had been around, he now would come running up to us wanting our attention and affection.  How can you not love on a cute kitten like that.  (By then, he had become cute to us.)

Midnight loves on Sylvia.

Midnight works his magic on me.

A major storm and cold snap was forecast for the night of December 3, 2009.  I said something to Sylvia about the poor kitten out in the barn not being likely to survive being alone in the cold weather.  She thought briefly then spoke, “Let’s bring him in.”  We did that the same afternoon.

Our life changed radically that day.  We are glad that it did.  Midnight spent many evening stretched out beside Sylvia in her recliner as she read a book or watched TV.  He bonded very well with me.  We had many a nap together.  We would play peek and chase games.  One his favorites was to bat a ping pong ball back and forth with me.  He loved to play “Horse in the house.”  The day before he came down sick he was particularly crazy playing that rambunctious game.

So many of you have expressed sympathy and have even said prayers.  Sylvia and I appreciate that.  Our thanks to two very special friends who even posted their tributes to midnight.  Thanks Lin and thanks Rebecca.  We feel the love.

I’ve written plenty about him on various Mondays.  If you’ve been around here for a while you are well acquainted with Midnight.  He’s gone now.  But the memory lingers.

Midnight

No “Horse in the House”
Our kitty has slipped away
We miss you Midnight

Midnight 2009 - 2012

Not a Happy Camper Kitty!

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Midnight started his day yesterday as usual.  By afternoon, he was acting listless.  He spoke a plaintiff “Meeooow” to Sylvia as she walked past him.  He barely touched his afternoon food.  He was obviously not feeling well. 🙁  In the evening, Sylvia and I found some time to watch some TV.  I became concerned when kitty didn’t join us.  He always wants to be with us when we settle in the recliners.  But not last evening.

I went to look for Midnight and found him on the bottom step of the basement stairs.  He looked so sad. 🙁  I went down and sat beside him.  He didn’t react.  (He normally nuzzles me at times like that.)  When I tried to pet him, he gave a mournful moan and walked away.  I left him in the basement.  (He spends his night there and it is his getaway place.)

He’s neither hungry nor happy this morning.  I sure hope he gets to feeling better.

 

My Other Companion

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The Master looks down upon the world

Midnight likes his shelf.  It was a gift to him from my sister, Clara.  He loves to relax on this comfy platform and look out the window.  It’s even better when I open the window to let in some fresh air for my little buddy.  While I type at the keyboard or listen to an audio book (I’m currently listening to The Fellowship of the Ring, having just listened to The Hobbit), Midnight relaxes and enjoys the view.  He is really good at that first part–relaxing.

I frequently call him a lazy boy, but he just yawns at me.  Sometimes when he’s doing his thing in front of the window, I take the hint and nod off for a cat nap here in front of the computer monitor.  One more reason why I don’t have an Internet cam on this machine. 🙂

Later, we are apt to take turns chasing one another around the house.  Sometimes we bat a ping pong ball around as we take turns chasing it down and then send it flying at one another.  Those are fun times.  I feel the need for a cat nap coming on.  Here Kitty, Kitty.

What R U Doing?

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I’m sitting in the recliner and watching something on TV (probably a NASCAR race).  I’ve been there for a while and am beginning to feel a need for a stretch and a fresh glass of water.  That’s when Midnight decides it’s time to give me some attention.  So it’s hop on my lap, give me “the look,” settle down and settle in.  What’s with that?

If I’m content to just set there and veg in front of the boob tube, that’s when he decides it is time for him to eat.  It doesn’t matter what the clock says, he thinks it’s time to eat.  And he tells me so in his own pussy cat way.

Once in a while, the planets align and he comes to settle in when I’m content to veg.  Those are good times.  I even keep a comb beside my chair to groom my little buddy at time like these.  (It’s not used on my head, because it is not needed there.)  Sometimes we even nod off and enjoy a nap.  I like that. 🙂