Becky's Rebuttal

Hi Everyone.  I'm Becky.  I wanted to talk to you today, because I didn't like what that smarty pants little Rachael had to say about my Mom yesterday.

You see, I love her very much.  Where she is, there I am.  She gives me good food,  pets my head and scratches my ears, and lets me sit on her warm lap whenever I want.  She's no servant, she's my Mom.  While Rachael was "helping" Mom made the bed, I was there, on the chair, watching, like a good girl should.

When Mom is in the living room, I sleep on the register, so all of that hot air doesn't blow on her.

I am very timid and shy.  If you come to my house, you won't see me.  I'll be upstairs, hiding under the bed.  But, when it's just me, Mom and the other cats, I hold my own.  Leon scares me a little, because he is so big and strong.  But, I swat Rachael, if she gets too pushy, and Gina and I are best friends.  I love her best, next to Mom.

Mom isn't a Servant to me, she is my best friend, and I love her with all of my being.  She loves all of us cats very much, but she says that I am her Heart Cat.  I'm not quite sure what that means, but I think it's a good thing.

I am a very lucky cat.  And, I'm way prettier that Rachael is!

Rachael Helps

Hi!  Rachael here.  I decided to write the blog entry today, because I wanted to tell you all about how I helped the Servant last night.  Before I helped, I ate a good dinner.  The Servant feeds good food, and I eat every bit of it.  But, I have to eat it up on the bed in the downstairs bedroom, so that my pal Leon doesn't get pushy and try to eat my meal after he finishes his.  He eats his meal from a dish on the floor.  I let him clean up my dish, after I'm through, but by being separated, I don't have to swat at him, while I'm still eating.

It was so good that I decided that I would help the Servant make up her bed.  She washed the sheets yesterday and I know that she just hates having to remake the bed. 

The first thing I did was to get under the sheet.  I did this so that there would be some "moving room" for the Servant, when she was trying to sleep.  Aren't I a thoughtful girl?

Then, I helped her smooth out all the wrinkles.

That was hard work, and I got bored.  I decided that I would let the Servant finish making the bed all by herself.  After all, I live to be waited on, and working is not something that I normally do.  But, before I left, I struck a pretty pose and waited to be praised.  After all, you don't want to let these Servants think that you do this helping stuff for anything but the fun of it.

So, that was my good deed that I did yesterday.  Aren't I just the most wonderfullest of cats?

Short but Sweet

I got myself a set of trekking poles for Christmas.  So, since hunting season is over, and the day was halfway decent, I decided to put on my other Christmas present - the Bean boots, and go for a walk back in "my" woods.

I was surprised to see that an old dead tree, that last year was home for a red-bellied woodpecker, had fallen.

But, not so surprised to see that there were deer tracks everywhere.

The view down from the top of the incline, down into the woods was lovely.

Unfortunately, I discovered once I started down that the going was not the best.  There was a layer of ice under the snow and, inspite of good boots, and the poles, I was afraid that I would slip and fall again.  You can tell by my tracks that I was being very careful.

More shuffle than walk!  I got to an even steeper spot on the trail and reconsidered my desire to continue.  Hmmm, old bones, vs. a fanny slide down the hill.  Nope, I decided to go back home.  The trail will be there another day.  We're supposed to have a thaw this weekend, and maybe the trail will be easier to navigate.  It was actually quite nice to catch a view of my house through the trees. 

So near, yet so far.  I was very disappointed, and, partly in myself.  I'm sure that others would have pressed on, and everything would probably have been fine.  I guess I'm just not the bravest of souls.  Heck, I know I'm not the bravest of souls.  I just wish I had more adventurous bones in my body.

Poultry

This is what I saw when I looked out of the window just before dusk last night.

The Mallards were there first, but just as I got to the window, the Turkey Ladies came running over from the woods.  They looked like tiny velocoraptors and I thought that the ducks would fly away.  They just sat there, though.  I guess the draw of the food was stronger than fear of the strange creatures running towards them.  I just wish I had gotten a shot of that.

In my town, you can't have chickens unless you have at least five acres, and have a working farm.  I guess I'll just have to make do with these guys.

Out of My Rear Window 12/26/10

Oh my!  Here it is the 26th of December.   Christmas is over for another year, and all of the hustle and bustle has ceased.  Unless, of course, you are going out to shop the after Christmas sales.  I did that on line this morning and scored a set of flannel sheets and a down alternative comforter at about 60% off, with free shipping, no less.  Yay me!

It's dull and dreary outside.  Cold, too, at 21 degrees F.  At least, we're going to be out of range of the 'Nor Easter that is running up the coast.  Hope those of you who are in its path are snuggled down tight. 

Not much activity at the feeders this morning.  I bet the birds are all off somewhere, sitting all fluffed up and waiting for me to get myself outside to put fresh seed down.  They're going to have to wait a bit, I have some stuff to get done first.

Have a Happy Sunday, and I hope you find some bargains, too, if you're looking.

Merry Christmas!

I have a tin ear.  But, even with my inability to really understand music, there are certain artists and songs that speak to me.  John Berry isn't well known outside of those of us who listen to County Music.  He never was a really big star, probably because he came along just at the time when the "Pretty Syndrome" hit Nashville.  But he has a wonderful, pure voice, and his rendition of "O Holy Night" always makes me catch my breath. 

So, may all of my Blogger friends that celebrate Christmas have the very Merriest one possible.  And, those of you that don't, well, you have a great Saturday, too.

Cats in the Dog House

It has not been a good morning, so far.  And it's all Gina and Becky's fault.  First, Becky ate her breakfast too fast, and then proceeded to yak it all over my kitchen table.  That was a joy cleaning up.

Who, me Ma?

Then, I noticed that Gina had excavated a large portion of the litter box onto the floor, not an uncommon occurrence.  Not thinking, I got the dust pan and brush and started to sweep it up --  right through a large puddle of pee.  You see, Gina is almost 14 and just a bit senile.  She will get into the litter box, and pee outside of it.  And, this time, she pee'd in such a way that it ran for quite a distance over the floor.  So, I cleaned that all up.  Stupid me for not checking.

I've been here all the time, Ma!

So, now everything is spread out, and drying.  I'm sweating, and feeling just a little dirty, in spite of the fact that I have washed my hands until they're red, and those two are just a little bit in my bad graces, in spite of the fact that I do know that they didn't mean to cause me a bad morning.

Winter on the Blue Trail

I haven't done the Blue Trail at Whiting Road much since I started walking.  Frankly, all Summer and Fall I thought it was too easy, not enough of a challenge.  But, with the deep snow, I decided that I had better test out my Winter walking skills on an easy trail, before I attempted anything harder.

Walking in the Winter, you notice the lack of color.  White and shades of brown and black are about all you see.

Someone had been cross country skiing there, and I followed the tracks.  It was only after I got home that Isobelle's Lady told me that was a mistake.  Apparently, you're not supposed to walk in the tracks, because you mess them up for the next skier who comes along.  Sorry, I'll know better next time.

With all of the colors so muted, the bittersweet was a welcome break of color.

As were the blue privet berries, and these nightshade berries.

But, the snow was the story, covering everything.

I didn't have too hard a time, walking the Blue trail.  Next to tackle the Orange trail, and the Red trail.  But, for those, I'll make sure I have my brand new trekking poles along with me.

Out of My Rear Window 12/19/10

First, the traditional Sunday morning shot.  It's a quiet, overcast morning, and the feeders are deserted.  Not so last night, however.  Things were bustling.
Just as the sun was going down, things at the feeders were heating up.  First, it was just one little squirrel, all alone in a lovely sunset.

He wasn't alone for long, however.  Soon, he was joined by some of his siblings and cousins, plus the ever present mourning doves.

Then, the two young bucks who have been regular visitors to the feeder, showed up.  For once, they were early enough that I could get some pictures of them.

They are such beautiful creatures.  But, I noticed a strange thing.  One of them only has one antler.  What makes this even more curious is that I saw the same thing last year.  I assumed, then, that he had somehow lost the other one.  But, seeing this again this year, I guess it's a malformation of some kind.  Maybe it will keep him safe from the hunters.

Here's his brother, with the normal two antlers.

Hunting season is down to muzzle-loaders and bow.  That will be done on the 22nd, so, if that poaching neighbor of mine doesn't make one last foray into the woods, I think these boys are safe for another year. 
The last visitors of the night came just before sunset.  Mr. Mallard and his Lady came calling, looking for food to carry them through the night.  These pictures aren't that good, because they were moving so quickly that the couple were blurred, in every shot.  I guess that they really were hungry.

OK, ok, I do notice that it is Mrs. Mallard who is the more blurry.  Hungrier, or just greedier?

Early Winter at Lake Ontario

I crashed mentally yesterday.  All the stress of the last weeks at the track, then the sudden letdown, made me feel kind of lost.  So, I decided I had to get out of my funk, and I took myself down to the lake.  I had just gotten some new L. L. Bean boots for winter, and I wanted to try them out.  They worked wonderfully, and kept my feet warm and cozy all the time I was tromping through the snow.  Aren't they spiffy?

The lake just plain looked cold as I walked towards it.

I had a bit of a spill on the way down the incline.  I guess I was too confident with my new boots on, and I slipped on some ice and fell, right on my keester.  First thing I did was look around to see if anyone had seen me.  Not a soul in sight, good!  Now to get up.  There was a bench about ten feet away from me, but I didn't want to crawl over there to use it, if I didn't have to.  So, I got on my hands and knees and kind of inchwormed my way up.  I'm glad no one was around, because I must have been a sight, but, I did it!  All that was left of my fall was the spot in the snow.

Yup, that's pretty icy under there.
The original plan had been to walk out on the pier.  A good close look, however, told me that wouldn't be the best of ideas.

Smart decision, don't you think?
I wasn't totally alone, by the way.  Much to my surprise, the Mallard ducks were still there.  I don't know why, and I told them in no uncertain terms to get themselves South.  They paid absolutely no attention to me.

My teeth are chattering just looking at them.  How can they stand to be in that cold water so long?  I would think their little feet would be frozen stiff.  Heck, the water was so cold it had "ice cubes" floating in it.

Luckily, I'm smarter than the average duck, and I decided, after my nose started to chill, that it was time for me to leave.  Up the hill I went, back to the car with its nice warm heater.

That walk did the trick, though.  I felt much less mopey and lost, after I got myself out doing something.