Oh yeah...and cats, we need lots more cats, too!

Talk about your cup overflowing! Acquiring a new puppy a week ago wasn't enough for Naruna. Last night one of the cats had kittens. This was a cute little kitten who appeared asleep on our front porch swing one day, and proceeded to make herself completely at home. She had a collar, and was obviously used to being around people, so for the first few weeks I held onto hopes that an owner would appear and take her home. Of course, no one showed up and Bella just moved in.

When we returned from visiting the grandkids a month ago, we noticed that Bella didn't seem any worse off for being home alone for a week, and even seemed to have gained some weight. You guessed it! The little hussy had gotten herself knocked up. We never saw a strange cat around the place, and had no idea who was involved, so didn't know what to expect before the kittens arrived.

Best I can tell, there are four kittens; one grey tabby, two which appear white, and one which looks to be a light yellow or gold color. If you look at the first picture, you can see Bella, like most expectant kitties, didn't use the elaborately padded box the LB fixed up for her delivery. Instead, she decided that the bed in the garage apartment would be more to her liking. Please note, she and the kittens are inside the box springs, not just under the bed.

Some Quiet Time

It has been a lazy day in Naruna. The sun came out after a rather chilly gray start to the day, and critters have been seeking spots to nap and generally conserve energy and body heat. Rosie grabbed a little patch of sunshine, while Sam & Tizzie cuddled up on the sofa. The LB and I have also been slugs after church, just sitting eating popcorn and watching a movie, "My Dog Skip". It is a real tearjerker at the end and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Tangentially, the movie let me give the LB a little history lesson, which I love doing. Anyone want to sit and discuss the cultural impact of the Spanish Civil War on American society in the second half of the 20th century?

Oliver, the whiny cat, has had a trying week, with the ugly scab on his nose finally falling off. Very pink and still a little raw. Maybe he has learned his lesson. Yeah...right.

Yesterday afternoon, the LB and I visited the Middle Child and her husband. He has been home from Iraq for about a month, and has been getting out and catching up by doing all the things unavailable over there. While doing one of his favorite activities - riding his new motorsickle - he dropped the front wheel in a hole on the edge of the pavement at about 10 mph, flipping the bike(and himself). He landed squarely on his shoulder, fragmenting, comminuting and dislocating the medial portion of his right clavicle. That just means he smashed hell outta the end of his collar bone where it should be attached to his breast bone. Lots of sharp pieces that are not where they are supposed to be. He has had to wait while being referred to the most appropriate orthopedic surgeons specializing in trauma, and then wait some more until a thoracic surgeon would be available to help if needed. Should get fixed this week. Everybody keep praying...for patience as well as healing.

Oliver's questions answered

Sunday morning brought an answer to what happened to our whiny cat, Oliver. After imagining all sorts of encounters with local critters, the truth came out during my Sunday School class.

Two weeks ago the 132 year old church had a scare when smoke began billowing out of the ducts immediately after the heating system was switched on. Turned out a raccoon was using the attic of the church for a refuge from the cold weather and had succeeded in gnawing through a couple of wires which caused the smoke.

Stanley, a WWII Marine Corps veteran and a member of my class, decided the coon needed to be caught before some real damage occurred. He brought his live trap and set it out behind the church house and baited it with something smelly. Apparently, Oliver couldn't resist the lure of the decaying tidbits, and sprung the trap on himself. Now the goal of a live trap is to capture a critter without inflicting any terminal injuries...all that is required of the animal is to sit down and wait to be released. Oliver is not a patient pussycat and kept trying to butt his way out of the cage, hence the damage to his nose by the time Stanley checked his trap. No wonder he acted so embarrassed...a self-inflicted injury!