No kitty pictures today, BUT! They are cone free! There was much rejoicing last night, including aerial acrobatics and mutual face washing. Their cuteness knows no bounds.
Category: Photography
Yellow Slant-line Moth
This little guy was resting on the main door of my building when I got home this morning. I wish I’d gotten a better shot of his face, because it was amazing. I went inside to get my macro lens, but by the time I’d gotten back, he’d flown off. The one face-on shot I did get was taken through the double-glazed window, so it’s not as clear as I’d’ve liked.
Their larvae mimic tree branches. Very cool! I’ve never seen one in that stage, but now I’ll know to keep an eye out for them.
Henry
She was flopping around on the bathroom floor and being impossibly cute, so I had to take some photos.
The cone can, in theory, come off at any time now. I took it off for a few hours last Thursday night, but Henry did some vigorous licking at her incision, so I put it back on. The incision looks fine, but the skin around it is a little raw. We’ll try again tomorrow, but I’d rather err on the cautious side. And besides, it’s not like the cone is hampering her ability to get around and play, so I don’t think it’s a big deal to leave it on a few more days.
Speaking of playing, I picked up one of those bendy sticks with feathers and a tinkle bell on the end. Somehow, Polly got it down from its hiding place. She played with it for a couple of hours yesterday, and then Henry got hold of it and spent 3-4 hours playing with it. So much for it being an interactive toy! Henry even carried it into the bathroom with her, when she used the litter box, and then carried it back out again. That was $5 well spent.
Harriet is still not amused, but she’s being very good with the kittens. That may be because, so far, at least, they’re being respectful of Harriet’s personal space. I’ve been able to leave them out together while I’m at work, even. Heaven help the first cat to jump up on the bed, though. I have a feeling that Harriet may have strong opinions about that.
Kitten Update
The kittens are getting used to the dog, and the dog is (slowly) getting used to them. She’s not really cranky about the cats, but she has a serious jealous streak, and she thinks it’s her job to be The Fun Police. Both of these are problems we’re working on. For now, calm interactions are being rewarded.
They kittens were spayed on Friday and came through it fine. In fact, when I brought them home that evening, they didn’t even seem to notice that they’d just had pretty major surgery. They did start licking at their incisions, though, so I had to put The Cones of Shame on them.
They both figured out pretty quickly how to eat and drink with the cones on, which is good. The problem is that they keep getting litter in between the layers of plastic. I’m constantly having to clean their cones after they use the litter box. Not so fun, but they should be cone free in a few more days, so it’s a short-term issue.
Oh, and if you ever want a good laugh, try watching two kittens staggering around like drunken soldiers while they get used to The Cones of Shame. Apparently they forget how to walk when you first put cones on their heads. Who knew?!
Henry is turning into a total mush. She doesn’t care how I pick her up or hold her. She just purrs and purrs and purrs, as long as you’ll pet her. Polly ended up being the more outgoing of the two, which surprised me, because she seemed flightier than Henry. Probably the most surprising is that, while they play with each other and groom each other, they aren’t inseparable. They’re perfectly comfortable hanging out in different rooms.
Harriet thinks the couch should be a kitten free zone. I sympathize with her, I really do, but all good things must come to an end, and she’s just going to have to learn to share. Not today, though.
Things! In! Bags!
A coworker got tired of the “OUT ORDER” sign, so she added the “of.”
What goes best with Sink in a Bag? Why, Toilet in a Bag, of course! This stall has been on-and-off “Out [of] Order” for a couple of weeks. Why the the maintenance folks feel compelled to shroud broken fixtures in black plastic trash bags is a mystery to me.
Inconceivable
I regularly complain about how hot it is at work. My cube neighbor told me yesterday, “Just wait until you start having hot flashes.” Now, this is not the first time this comment has been made to me (nor the first time she’s made it). I’m the youngest person working in my section. Everyone else is in their late 50s/60s. They think they’re being funny, because it is obviously utterly inconceivable to them that someone my age could be starting menopause. They are not as funny as they think they are. Alsotoo, it really is hot here. I always look at the thermometer before complaining, so I have empirical evidence. Alsoplustoo and FYI, I’ve been having a year-long hot flash, you patronizing jackass.
And some random raspberry blossoms:
Introducing Henry and Polly
Henry (left) and Polly (right)
Polly (with Henry behind her)
I said that Henry was the more outgoing one, but as soon as I opened the bathroom door and started taking pictures, Polly came out of hiding and stuck her nose in the camera. I love both of their markings. If you look closely at Polly, she’s got orange stripes leading away from the outer corners of her eyes. Henry has cream colored back feet, which are super cute.
(Please ignore the rumpled bath mat, which they’ve pulled down from the side of the tub. Stinkers.)
Raindrops
Fairy
I think my little tomato seedlings are a little stunted, but they’re finally developing “true leaves.” Exciting! The baby peppers I started from seeds are farther behind, but they’re growing, too. I wish I could say as much for the columbine seeds I planted. I’m not seeing any signs of life from them. The zinnias and four o’clocks are growing, though. If something doesn’t happen soon in the columbine beds, I’m going to plant some more zinnia seeds in them. Who doesn’t like bright, happy zinnias?
Iris
red paper boat 