Category: Pets

Crankypantsing, Pets

The Search Is On

Shelly

I’ve been trawling for a cat or kitten. I swore I wouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. There was a litter posted to Freecycle this morning. I emailed the woman, to ask how old they were. Five and a half weeks. FIVE AND A HALF WEEKS! That is way too young.

I replied, trying to be as tactful as possible, telling her that they shouldn’t be separated from their mamma until they’re at least 8 weeks old, and preferably 10-12 weeks old.

Sometimes, I just want to smack people upside the head. There are six kittens in the litter, which means that six people are going to end up with cats that weren’t properly socialized by their mother and littermates. That’s a recipe for disaster, or at the very least a giant pain in the ass.

Pets

The Search Is On

Shelly

I’ve been trawling for a cat or kitten. I swore I wouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. There was a litter posted to Freecycle this morning. I emailed the woman, to ask how old they were. Five and a half weeks. FIVE AND A HALF WEEKS! That is way too young.

I replied, trying to be as tactful as possible, telling her that they shouldn’t be separated from their mamma until they’re at least 8 weeks old, and preferably 10-12 weeks old.

Sometimes, I just want to smack people upside the head. There are six kittens in the litter, which means that six people are going to end up with cats that weren’t properly socialized by their mother and littermates. That’s a recipe for disaster, or at the very least a giant pain in the ass.

My Garden, Pets, Photography

Seedlings

Shelly

My little veggie garden is sprouting! The pepper is a little bigger, because it was a seedling I got from a coworker. I’ve also got a large container of peppers I’ve sprouted from seed, but they’re only now starting to peek out of the dirt.

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Pepper

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Tomato

And, because I just can’t get enough of it, another gratuitous Wild Columbine shot.

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I also got canna bulbs and some more primrose plants from another coworker. I put them the ground when I got home from work. I’m not holding my breath for the primroses, because they were awfully sad looking. The cannas were starting to grow shoots, though, so I think they’ll be in good shape. Assuming the grounds crew don’t mow them down again this year, that is. And if the primroses don’t make it, I’ve got some in another bed from last year, and they’re thriving. I can just move some of them around, if I ever get anything remotely like a garden plan.

Speaking of plans, with the help of some imaginary friends in the Kibology group, I think I know what I’m going to do with Pandora’s grave. Someone suggested putting a box on top of it, as a marker, which I thought was both funny and appropriate. And then someone else suggested planting catnip on her grave. I don’t want to do that, because catnip can be invasive. But! Some catnip planted in a box would be Perfection. Now, all I have to do is find an appropriate, and appropriately sized, box-like planter.

Pets, Photography

Pandora

Shelly

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Pandora has slowly but steadily been going downhill the past couple of years. And then, the past few months, she really started to show her age. She was sleeping almost constantly, waking only to eat. She was wobbly when she walked. There were a few times lately when her back legs would give out on her. She was in good spirits, though, and didn’t seem to be in any pain. Her appetite was good, too, so I didn’t feel like it was right to have her put to sleep.

This weekend, she seemed especially bad, though, and I knew she’d be gone soon. And she was. She died tonight, curled up next to her food bowl, the little greedyguts.

Stupid me. I knew she’d be gone soon, but I stopped and picked up more canned cat food and a new bag of cat litter this morning. I didn’t even stop to think, until I was leaving the store, that she wasn’t likely to be around long enough to need either of them.

I’m going to take tomorrow off work, so that I can bury Pandora in my flower garden. I’m sure it’s against the rules, but she was a little kitty, so I don’t think anyone will mind.

Godspeed, Pandora.

Pets, Photography

Saturday Dogblogging

Shelly

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It’s Saturday, which means it’s laundry day, which means that Miss Brown made herself comfortable on the just-changed sheets.

In other news, it’s Little 500 weekend, so I’m trying not to leave the house unless I absolutely have to. The only exception is that I’m cat sitting, but it’s northeast of town, so there shouldn’t be too much extra traffic.

I’ve been sitting for this client for a couple of years now. One of their cats has been in kidney failure nearly the whole time. She suddenly went downhill and was put to sleep last weekend. I didn’t think it would bother me much, but it did. Mostly, I think it was upsetting to see the remaining cat all by himself. He’s an awfully affectionate and gregarious boy, and the owners plan to get a second cat as soon as they feel up to it, so hopefully he won’t be alone for long. For now, though, he is full of pathetic sadcakes.

Pets, Photography

Sunday

Shelly

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Today was a lazy day for Miss Brown.

Not so much for me. I baked another apple pie, then decided to try a veggie shepherd’s pie (baked in a cast iron skillet!). The apple pie was even better than the first one I made, but I forgot to add potatoes to the shepherd’s pie, so it was not as tasty as it could have been. It as probably healthier potato-free, but the yum factor wasn’t as good as it could have been. (How the hell did I forget potatoes?!)

All that baking heated up the kitchen. At one point, it was 75F inside, so I opened the windows, which of course meant that it immediately started storming. Harriet slept through it. She is completely useless for moral support during storms. Luckily it didn’t last long.

Harriet is sleeping on her new super soft leopard print fakety-fake fur blanket. It was on clearance at Target for $6, so I couldn’t resist. It’s very warm, because it’s lined with fleece, and it’s big enough for both Harriet and I to sit under while watching TV.

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Grapevine

Pets

Mr. Pleco

Shelly

I got a plecostomus last summer, because algae was building up in my goldfish tank. He’s been a funny little fish. I noticed a few months ago that he was coming up to the surface and stealing the leftover floating pellets I give the other fish. The pellets end up along the edge of the tank, at the water line. Mr. Pleco hoists himself up, so his head is above the water line, then gets the pellet in his mouth and ever so carefully scoots down the glass. Because his mouth is on the bottom of his body, it can be tricky for him to keep the pellet from escaping and floating back to the surface. When that happens–and it does at least once every time–Mr. Pleco has to swim to the top of the tank and start all over again.

And now, Mr. Pleco has a new trick. Last night, at their bedtime feeding, I noticed that he was scooting around the tank upside down. He was actually lying on his back, hoovering goldfish flakes off the surface of the water. What a clever and resourceful little guy! I really should try to get video of it, because it’s a hoot.

Crankypantsing, Pets

No Noise is Good Noise

Shelly

This day? A total waste. I took my car in for an oil change and to get the “I think it’s a warped rotor” problem fixed. Only, they hunted high and low and could not find anything wrong with my car. That’s typical, isn’t it? It only makes the rubbing noise when the temperature is below about 15F, so I guess I’m going to have to wait until the weather gets cold again and take my car back in. If it gets that cold again. In the meantime, I’ll try to look on the bright side: less money spent is a good thing, right?

I was so stressed, worrying about how much this was going to cost, that I didn’t get a damned thing done today, aside from walking the dog and loading the dishwasher.

Oh, and to add to my stress level? I got home last night to find another notice from the property manager about people not picking up after their dogs. I really hate tattling on others, but I guess I’m going to have to call tomorrow and let them know that it’s the folks in number 9. Since they also have a fawn Boxer, I don’t want to risk my dog taking the fall for their laziness. And we’re talking serious laziness, here. They stand inside the main door, with their dog’s outside on retractable leashes, so their dogs just squat anywhere–including on the sidewalk right in front of the door–and the owners don’t pick up after them.

Now, I understand that it’s not always fun or convenient to put on your shoes and coat and take your dogs outside, but if you’re going to have dogs, that’s what you’ve got to do. And if you suspect that you might occasionally feel lazy and just want to let your dog out the back door, then you’d damned well better make sure you get a ground floor apartment, preferably one with its own patio. Duh.