Turkey Walk

There were seven turkeys ambling through the yard yesterday. I didn't have a good vantage point for a photo, this is the best I could do, capturing three through a screen. It has been at least a decade since I've seen turkeys, they were abundant at one time. I was pleased as punch to see them.

I make a point of staying away from politics, not because I think it's best but because I get so distraught I feel I shouldn't spend much time on it. I cannot avoid mentioning the so-called Supreme Court. Back to the fifties and not the music. Yesterday and today....it's sure not a brave new world. 

On a lighter note.... last evening I asked Mark to bring me my phone, telling him it's on the center island. He quipped, is it now the phoney island. Oh, my god. I married him, what can I say.

Howard and Murphy

Why I Love Bassets

In Pictorial Form

 

Drooly, yeasty beasties. Splatter paint the walls every time they shake their head. Demanding, endearing. Stubborn. Did I say stubborn? They are living, breathing cartoons. I am happy to have known them. 

All Quiet in the Western Metro

It's quiet here. Quite quiet. Keetah barked a lot and moved around the house, laid in doorways, generally took up a lot of space, both in the house and in our heads. We worried about her. I've always had cats, but my dogs were where my attention went. Having cats without dogs, starting in 2018, allowed me to know them in a way I'd never before taken the time to. Gatto misses Keetah. He is now mirroring her behavior with Mark. When Keetah heard the screen door open she would run to greet Mark. Now, Gatto is doing the same. He's off like a rocket, meowing as he goes. They are all clingy. Mark has a new dog in cat form.

It's been awhile since I graced this page with a food photo, so I think it's fitting that this is one of soup. Considering how hot it has been soup has not been on the menu. It's still hot, but just mid-80s hot. We both enjoyed it. I won't be making my Aldi trip this week. Mark has to get his CPE (continuing professional education) done by the 30th, so the BIG trip is postponed till next week. Alas, my debut must wait.

He may miss his girl, but Gatto is finding time for those much needed catnaps. Since I put the slipcovers on, to protect from kitty claws, he has loved sleeping there. The covers are soft. Like the landing he got when I let him in. He's been a real handful. He is starting to calm down, maybe in ten years he may act like an adult. My son told me I need to outlive Frieda and Gatto, he doesn't want their kind of trouble. I think he was only half joking. 

Old...But Not Out

Technology

I have kept up with it, although sometimes I don't pay attention and need to catch up. I made two discoveries yesterday that I hadn't known about. One: If I get a digital book that doesn't come in audio I can use my Alexa app to turn it into audio. Alexa reads it. I don't care for reading digital books, now I don't have to. Two: Roku now streams live tv. It's been probably six months since I used Roku, so I turned it on yesterday and there is was...the option for live tv. We don't have cable available to us. We had satellite tv for about a decade and dropped it perhaps a dozen years ago. We use a digital antenna and Roku. Streaming through the device means bad weather, windy weather, does not disrupt reception. My kitchen tv is smart. I haven't used that feature since I bought it about three months ago. I'll look to see if it has live streaming. Isn't this exciting stuff!

We got some rain last evening. I heard while listening to the weather yesterday that the last time we had drought this extreme in the Twin Cities was 150 years ago. Now, not to be greedy, but more would surely be welcome. The rain broke the heatwave we have been enduring. On another note of interest, at least to me, I plan to go to Aldi next week. Why, you ask, is this a note of interest? I have not been inside a grocery store since the third week of February 2020. You read that right. First, when we went to lockdown, I had delivery. Then I went to pick up, which I will still use. I just want to go myself, with Mark's help. And the help of a cane and a cart to support myself with. Big stuff going on.

That's it. The story of life in my lane. Unabridged.

Onward

Truth

We've had hot weather all week. Humid but not tropical. We desperately need rain. This is so un-Minnesota. Slowly, I am de-furring the house. No matter what, I could not keep up with the shedding the German Shedder put out. It's very strange to sweep or vacuum and have it stay fur free. I'm going to become downright lazy. We were able to give Bill's brother the dog food and almost a full box of Kirkland dog biscuits. He has an elderly lab. I'm happy he could use it, rescues don't want anything that's been opened.

Thank you all for your kindness, I really do appreciate you all.

Return

Good Morning

The black cloud has moved on, allowing me to see the sunshine and smell the roses.

 

The cats have been clingy. Gatto went back to pacing the house and yowling for a few days. He seems to have stopped that. How difficult it must be, not understanding what happened to your buddy. They, like me, are coming around.

The event itself was traumatic, mainly because it was so unexpected. Then there is the fact that Keetah was the last of the animals from my mother's house. There is also the finality of it, as my long dog owning years have come to an end. I counted how many I have had since adulthood. Twenty. Twenty dogs who gave their all, kept me company. Some made me feel very safe, especially when we moved here and I had never lived where there wasn't pavement and concrete. Having a dog who would die for me made me feel secure and got me through the fear of what I had just done, uprooting my life for something very unknown to me. Now, that chapter is closed. Now I have cats, solely cats. Which is not a bad thing.

Farewell. Good Girl

Keetah

2012-2023

Keetah had a heart attack and quickly died last Thursday while walking with Mark to the mailbox. It hit me hard. I am clinically depressed and a black cloud enveloped me. I want to let you know I am still vertical, or as vertical as I can be. I'm still poor company, so I will probably be absent a bit longer. 

Deer oh Deer

About 9:15 last evening I looked up and saw this pretty in the yard.

 She was munching grass for about an hour before she left.

I see deer in the distance in fields around here but this is the first time I've seen one in my yard. I was photographing through a window from a great distance away so the photos are poor, but still, a deer! It stays light late, which is the only reason I saw her and could take lousy photos of her.

Yes, the tree is still laying in front of the house. Mark had something come up with a client, then horses took down a fence and....well, life.

Gotta Love a Gatto

Gatto was a stray that showed up here about a week before he came into the house. As some of you know, it was late December and very cold the night I heard him howling on my porch and brought him in, frozen to the point of being nearly unable to walk. I posted him on a few sites but no one claimed him, so I kept the orange monster.

I was curious about the tail, never having see anything like it. So, I looked up curled tail on cats and found out about ringtail cats. Gatto's extreme aggression when playing is part of the genetics, I guess. I do hope he outgrows that, because it is aggressive.

I have no idea where he came from. I thought he'd been someone's house kitty, but a house seemed completely foreign to him. He was very friendly and absolutely clueless. I'll never know his story, only the story he's had since crying for help. He found my giant German Shepherd to be completely acceptable and the other cats, although they gave him snake eyes, didn't bother him in the slightest. Nothing bothers him.

 *The ringed tail is not painful.

The ringed tail is caused by a mutation of a recessive gene. The bones in the tail are not fused. American Ringtails use their tails for balance and to slow their jumps. They can curl their tails around a person’s hands while they are petting them. The tail can also be held straight when the cat wants, but a curled tail is a sign that the cat is relaxed and happy.

The American Ringtail Cat is set apart from others by their signature curled tail, but this breed is similar to other domestic cats in nearly every other way. They have a few wild traits left in them from their feral roots, but they are typical housecats.

Finding a kitten may be difficult because this is a rare breed. If you’re looking for this cat, be sure to check shelters and rescues in your area to see if one is available.

The American Ringtail is a loving, affectionate cat that makes a great addition to any household. They get along with kids and other pets and are always looking for ways to let their fun personalities shine.*

I am glad he found us. As much trouble as he can be, and boy....he can be trouble, he's also a good boy, he loves his dog and he loves biting my feet. 

Roses. Septics.

My lovely old Madame in her glory.

I have two rambling roses left. All that remains of the dozens of roses I had. Time takes its toll on all things.

Onto a much different topic....septic tanks. We had ours pumped yesterday. It's more expensive now, like everything else. I consoled myself with the fact we don't have a monthly water/sewer bill. It's another sunny day, which isn't all that appreciated. We desperately need rain. Every day will be warmer than the prior, great. I seem to be in a bah-humbug frame of mind! Ah, well.

Ciao