Getting Lost in the Garden

What a joy to finally get out in my yard yesterday and work in the garden.  Because of the abundance of rain over the past month, the grass in my flower beds, as well as other various weeds, had taken over.  Yesterday was my chance to tackle the grass.

I feel like I get involved in a task such as weed pulling, and time stands still.  I get lost in my task, take time to let my mind wander, and it is such a wonderful experience.  Not to mention the benefits of just being outside and watching life go on around me.

We have had some cowbirds chirping around the yard for a few weeks, and taunting the cats.  I believe they have nest around here, and, on Friday, PKR saw a baby bird in one of the trees that the other birds were protecting.  Unfortunately, they didn't protect the baby enough from Toby, the mighty three-legged hunter.  Yes, our cat Toby (who is missing one of his front legs) hunted down and captured the poor baby bird in our backyard.  It felt as if I was watching an episode of Wild Kingdom.  Of course, he felt so proud.  Poor bird.

My veggies are coming up, and I love to watch their progress.  The tomatoes are looking much better, now that they are in soil.  The radishes are bursting forth, and I see signs of peas and carrots.  Various types of lettuce are also emerging.  I'm waiting to see signs of beets, zucchini, and cilantro.

I finally got my pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds planted yesterday.  I got one little pumpkin last year, so we'll see how they do this year.

Later today I have some roses I need to plant.  I've been scouting out my yard, trying to find the best location to grow them.  I think I have found the place, but I need to get the ground ready for planting.

As I look out at the yard this morning, Toby is again being taunted by the cowbirds.  I think he is also digging up some flower seeds I planted yesterday out by the raspberries.  That cat can be so destructive in my yard.  That is why my raised beds have fencing on top of them, so he doesn't use them as one big little box.

T.C., one of our other cats, just came up to say good morning, rubbing her head on the side of the laptop. 

Off to make breakfast before we go to church this morning.  It is amazing how sunshine boosts the spirits, and energizes me for the day.

"This is the day that the Lord hath made.   I will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

I Hate It When Cats Don't Come Home

This is the first time we haven't had a cat come home. Our cat Milo has been gone for three weeks now. PKR let him out one Sunday morning, and we haven't seen him since.

We only live a block away from the river, and Milo used to like to go over there, hunting little critters like mice I suppose.

When I started letting people know Milo was missing, I heard about coyotes being spotted in our subdivision, and that could have been his fate.

The trouble is the not knowing. Did he get hurt by the river? Did coyotes take him away?

What did happen to Milo? He wasn't sick, so he didn't go off to die because of that, like some cats are known to do.

He liked to prowl, but would always come back, usually because he was hungry.

In fact, he always came to the patio sliding glass and jumped up and down until we would let him in the door.

I still get up every morning, hoping to see him jumping up and down.

But I don't think he is coming back.

I don't like losing a pet in this manner.

Goodbye, Milo. You've been a wonderful cat for many years. We all sure miss you.

Furry friends bring amazing gifts

Inland Empire Girl gave us this week's sibling assignment. Here it is:

Think about a pet that has been a part of your life. Think about a significant event that happened with that pet that made you realize you were glad the pet was in your life.

Her story can be found here, and Raymond Pert's can be found here.

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Emotional healing is a most amazing gift that's bestowed by our furry friends ... The choice to nurture a pet in our life can bring huge returns on our investment.

— Chelle Thompson, Editor of Inspiration Line

Jessie and Lynx

Here they are, my two furry friends that helped me survive life on my own my first year out of college. My first job took me 691 miles away from Kellogg, to the town of Glendive, Montana where I worked at Dawson Community College.

I had always loved animals. My first pet that I remember was a cat named Peter-Twinkletoes. Then we had a dog names Cleo. These were both before I was 4 years old. Both died by being hit by a car. We did live on a busy street, so no more dogs or cats at our house.

In later years, I had a white rat and two different parakeets. Mom, because she was a schoolteacher, also had various critters in her classroom.

When I moved to Montana, I knew I wanted some companionship, and I knew cats were a little easier to care for than dogs. Also, my fiance PKR (who was back in Moscow finishing up his education at the U of I) also loved cats, so I decided to get a cat to keep me company.

After being in Glendive a couple of weeks, I looked in the classifieds for kitten giveaways. I found an ad and went and checked it out, and decided which one I wanted. I moved to Glendive at the beginning of August, and decided to get my new kitten over Labor Day weekend so I could be around it for a few days.

Jessie the first day I got her

After I picked out my new little kitten, I met one of the new instructors at DCC, who also had a kitten she was trying to give away. She convinced me that two kittens could keep each other company when I was gone during the day and while I was traveling on the road for my new job.

So I gave in.

Lynx on his first day in his new home

And I am so glad I did.

They both arrived on Friday of Labor Day weekend, and boy were they cute. I named the girl Jessie P.K. Roberts, and the boy Lynx Firecracker Roberts, because he was born on July 4th.

Jessie getting a little bigger. She never was a very big cat.

With my other pets I don't ever remember making a connection or having them respond to my moods. The first time this happened with the cats, I was in my living room in Glendive, and a wave of homesickness overcame me, and I lay sobbing on the couch. Communications with PKR back in Moscow wasn't quite as convenient as it is today. We would write letters, and had limited our talking time on the telephone to once a week, mostly because of our financial situations. No emails or IM's for us.

So, this particular night, I remember Jessie jumping up on the couch, meowing and snuggling up beside me, comforting me during this sorrowful moment. I'll never forget the comfort I received.

Lynx was also a snuggler, and would sleep in bed with me and cuddle up. He was like a stuffed animal.

Lynx was a beautiful cat, and, at his peak, weighed about 25 pounds. He wasn't fat, just big.

We think he was part Maine Coon.

I remember Lynx was always on the lookout for me when I would return home to my apartment in Glendive. I lived on the second story of an old house turned into three apartments. Mine had a sun porch in the back, and Lynx must have known the sound of my car, because he would be at the back window when I drove up, and by the time I came in the front door, he was down on the post by the front door. He did that every time.

After PKR and I were married, they were our "children". We got more entertainment from those two. Especially when the cat nip came out. We loved them alot.

We were blessed to have Lynx in our lives for almost 11 years. He died February 14, 1996. Jessie lived until she was about 16 or 17.

Our family still has cats, five to be exact. And now we are also dog people, with two dogs. I couldn't imagine not having pets around the house. They are such a comfort and such wonderful companions.

They just love you, no matter what.

Talking For Our Pets Keep Us Entertained

From the beginning of our married life, over 20 years ago, PKR and I have entertained ourselves by giving our pets certain voices and we carry on conversations using those voices and communication for our pets.

We think we know what they are saying.

It started out with our cats, Lynx and Jessie. Lynx was a big, furry, 20 lbs. cat that talked like a big tough guy, and had nicknames like Bubba, Lynxer Stinkser, to name a couple.

Jessie was a small and petite cat and talked like a sweet little girl, and her nicknames were Precious, and Pretty Kitty.

We could entertain ourselves for hours talking for our pets. Throwing in some catnip for them only added to the fun.

Right now we have 2 dogs and 5 cats. And we talk for them all. They all have their own "story", their own personality, and their own voice. Now it is a family affair. We all talk for the animals.

Peaches is our Keeshond, and her nickname is "Beautiful". She talks in a nice, calm voice and is always happy and willing to do anything for you.

Sadie is our Pomeranian. We have branched out a bit with Sadie. She not only has one story, she has several, because she has multiple personalities. Sadie is the good doggie who does nothing wrong, and always obeys, goes outside and doesn't bark. Louise is the bad doggie who barks all the time when someone comes to the door, and poops on the floor and won't come when you call. Often the term "Jeez Louise" is said around our Pom. Then there is Marge, who flirts with our three legged cat Toby Montana. Jose is the dog who just wants to have fun!!!

We talk to each other through the voices we give our dogs and cats. It can be quite hilarious. Pets can say the darndest things!! It can be a very unique way to communicate.

Try it sometime. Figure out what voice your pet has, and start talking for it....channel their thoughts, their sense of humor, their biting wit.

It's cheaper than cable!!