Staff Meeting

"OK cats, we've got several issues on the agenda today that we need to cover."

"Oliver, I'm sorry to have to come down hard on you like this, but you really must work on your attendance issues.  

 
"What?  Me?  I don't have any attendance issues.  I attend every time I feel like it."

"Oliver, I think we are having a bit of a communication breakdown.  Why don't you take some time to rethink your position."

"Kipper, we need to address your lack of teamwork and attitude.  We all need to pull together to get the job done.  All for one and one for all, right Kipper?!"  

"Kipper?  Where ya going Kipper?  We're still having a meeting here Kipper.  Kipper?"

"Give it up dog.  I can't talk sense into her either."

"Herding cats sure is hard work."

Fickle Friend

Oliver is proving to be a very fickle friend.  After his trip to the vet, he was around every day for about 10 days and then disappeared once again.  He had clearly caught a bug at the vet's and had developed an upper respiratory infection.  I was just thinking about how to get him some medicine when he disappeared.

After a week with no sign of him, I was convinced that I had managed to kill him off after all.  I didn't want this cat, but I accepted responsibility for him and I didn't want to inadvertently kill him.  Thinking that my good intentions had been the end of him had me feeling very depressed and futile.

I figured he'd gone off and died of pneumonia or been eaten by the coyotes or the Fisher Cat that I found in the woods last week (they like cats for dinner).  I had just about given up on him when I was out late at night stacking wood and heard a noise in the barn.  Sure enough, it was Oliver looking perfectly healthy and wondering why the food dish was only half full.

I gave him a lecture about crying wolf and he stuck around for a few days before taking off again.  He finally reappeared last weekend looking sick and miserable and with one eye badly damaged.  I couldn't tell if his eye was swollen because of illness or injury, but I treated it and tried to make a vet appointment for him.  Before I could get hold of the cat carrier and him stuffed into it, he disappeared again.

This is getting very tiresome.

Heading out to the barn this afternoon, more than a week later, I look up and see him lying nonchalantly on his favorite rock.

His eye is all healed and I can now see that the damage was caused by a fight not illness.  It is obvious that he has been getting into a lot of fights.

Despite having "brain surgery" over a month ago, it is clear that Oliver is still suffering from acute testosterone poisoning.  He is proving to be the living embodiment of the term "catting around".

I told him that he is welcome to stay, but he has cried wolf one too many times.  I was feeling very guilty thinking that my good intentions had gone awry, but now I know better.

The next time he disappears, I won't give it a thought.  

I know better than to throw my heart after a man who only comes around when he wants a soft bed, a full meal and somebody to lick his wounds.

No matter how charming, don't fall in love with a man who only comes around when he wants something and always has one eye on the door.

Stick Up at Ear Point

"Alright kid, I'll keep a lookout, you show her the note."

"Note?  I don't have a note.  I thought you were supposed to have the note."

"No way, pipsqueak, this was your idea.  I'll help block the door, but you you make the demands."

"Hear that Ma?  We've got the door covered, you're not getting out of here without handing over those feed dishes."

"Just slide them out here and nobody has to get hurt."

"C'mon Ma, get a move on, we're waaaaiiiiiittting!"

Mighty Fine Shine

It occurred to me that I haven't had a Ramsey update in a while.  In short, he is doing well.  He had an abscess in his good front hoof a few weeks ago after the ground got hard for the first time since last year, but I got it drained and kept it wrapped for a couple of weeks and it healed quick.  Actually, I wrapped both feet just because I believe in maintaining a healthy dose of paranoia, especially where Ramsey is concerned.

For the rest, just check out that shine.....

I think he is at an ideal weight, his coat is soft and silky and just starting to thicken up.

If you look close, you can even see some chocolate dapples.  Ramsey is looking mighty fine.

And he is still the demanding, spoiled, loveable brat that he has always been.

"A little help here would be nice Ma.  I'd be even finer if I could just reach these leaves...."

For Every Season There is a Job

I left this job a bit lat in the year.....

But at least it's done.  Do you suppose I'll find some enthusiasm for firewood before the snow flies?

Yeah, me neither.  By that time I'll be thinking fondly of my little unplanned weeding project brought on be heat prostration.

The heat wave lasted long enough that I feel like I made a significant dent in the water weed problem.  I had three heaping sled loads of weeds.

I don't think I'll ever qualify as the Lady in the Lake, but I may have made it past Swamp Thing.

The weather has changed once again so now it is on to the next task.  This one could take a while.

Since I don't have a spreader, I decided that all the little trees could use some fertilizer.  From Paul Bunyan to Swamp Thing to Mt. Poomore, there's a job for any day.

Some People Love Mondays

The puppies love Mondays because it means I have to go to work.  That means Connor goes to FB's to hang out with Bess while I am away. 

They are best buddies even if my poor puppy is starting to look like a chihuahua next to the Great White.

I guess somebody has to appreciate Mondays.

Bess certainly does, she misses her buddy on the weekends.

Who else is she going to practice her squashing techniques on after all?

Happy Monday.  I hope you have even a fraction of the fun that these two have. 

Or at least enjoy some puppy antics to soften the blow.

Night Work

The big project for labor Day was to get the firewood stacked. However, it was absurdly hot and I don't handle temperature extremes well.  I have had sun stroke a few too many times and the September sun is intense.  It's usually a good thing as the temps begin to fall, but it's a bit tough when we're having a heat wave.  What's a wilting red-head to do?

Work nights. 

I've just about got this job tackled despite my lack of enthusiasm for it this year.  I'm still sick of firewood from last winter, which is not a good thing.  I did have quite a lot of help with this project at least...

Some people around here just loooove firewood.

Love it sooo much.

Others....not so much.

There are better things to do than play with hunks of wood.