Cats, Appointments and Being Older

 Good Morning from the Inn on the Catmore Estate. This is a much better morning than yesterday. The kittens were lethargic and had that look. We ran through anything that we had changed in their diet and we narrowed down what we thought might be the problem. Last night we fed them just a bit of milk to tide them over through the night. It seems to have done the trick. This morning I was greeted with a exuberant greeting by all three. We did a little milk and then had morning playtime on the front porch. GMoey took part once again but still ignores These Three for the most part. When the gray kitten tried to nurse from him, GMoey gave it such a look! Just gave them the second round of milk and they have settled down into nap time. At lunch time we will give the two who eat solid wet kitten food a little bit of lunch. I read this morning that the little guy who has trouble eating out of the bowl might be due to eyesight not being fully developed. This is my first time working with kittens so young so I am trying to learn all that I can. 

 This time two Saturdays ago I never planned nor imagined that we would have little kittens in the house. It has been our practice to help only when it seems like the mom or moms in this case need help. Everything seemed to be going well with the exception of the eye matting. That Saturday afternoon when I picked up the first kitten, she was covered in maggots. I hate those things. Anyway, that opened up the opportunity for These Three on Sunday. They are fun to watch and all three have the sweetest personalities. I had my doubts with the gray one because his linage is Mr Meany, Frankie and Nimbus...all mean, all nasty in temperament. He is just the sweetest thing, purrs and he loves that solid food topped with salmon lil soups as a chaser. I just gave them their milk feeding and then brought the above mentioned fav of the lil gray one. He and the orange kitten that loves wet food, fought to the death I mean fought to the nap to clean out the bowl, although there right beside the grudge match of the morning was a bowl with the same food in it.

We are more and more becoming "that" couple who go to Dr appointments together. Although, we have not stepped over the line of going back as a couple behind the golden door. The nurse asked if I would like Roy to come back and I said no way. Not there at that point. Success with the three words, yay! Drew the clock but with just a second of hesitation. She said draw the clock with no hands. Okay, I replied, it might take a while since I don't usually draw with my mouth holding a pen. I put my pen in my mouth, it was my pen, and she cracked up. Of course she must have seen that a million times, but she said I am the first who ever did that. Got to see Dr Andy and always a joy to talk with him. I have had some concerns and we talked though what they could be. This thing, whatever it is has been going on for a little more than two years. The process of getting an orthopedic is in process. Andy sent a referral and  I got a text that I am now in their portal system. Everything moves slowly here, especially anything in the medical profession. 

Our blackberries are producing much fruit this season. Some of those berries are huge! Both Roy and I picked yesterday. Birds are getting to the tomatoes, so we hung red Christmas ball ornaments among the branches. We planted purple Cherokee cherry tomatoes and they are producing like crazy. All his tomato plants are. I haven't been over to the other side of the yard to see the bell peppers but Roy says they are doing good. 

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 Getting a mammogram here is one of the only not slow timing medical things one can get here. They contacted me yesterday to set up my appointment and I could have gone in today, but since we have a car in the shop I turned down the immediacy of getting in so quickly. I chose another date a couple of weeks out. Now, here is the thing I learned yesterday. For a brief moment that maybe I'll start calling Bidenbrain, not a political comment just keeping up with world events, I had Bidenbrain and couldn't remember the word, mammogram. Imagining, resolution all came to mind but finally at the last minute, the word came forth into the brain and out of my mouth. This little slip up caused the conversation to go really slow and be given instructions very slowly and at least five times telling me the address. Yes, I have been there before but now the mammogram office takes up the whole second floor instead of being on the first floor. Yep, after about the third time I know where to go. I am at that age and I know it comes with the territory but some of the questions you are asked are borderline ageist.  Do I live at home rather than in a home, can I bathe myself...? Yes, it is my preference. Can I walk by myself? Yes, that is my preference as well. Do I know what time I am supposed to arrive at the center? Why yes, I can even draw a clock for you and show my work that I understand the concept of noon. The lady asking me all these questions was so kind but I was painfully aware she had or as singers and worship leaders are wont to say, let's bring it down a little, cause I had a bit of a stumble at first. I thought I was never going to get off the phone with her, though. Must be a sensitive subject to me cause of those types of questions in the checkup this week. Do we have throw rugs? WE also have cats, so we do have throw up. Do we have cords and wires I have to step over? Do we have stairs and if so, are there items on the steps. Well, technically yes but I answered no cause they are neatly organized in a stair basket and one of these years, the contents will finally make it upstairs. The new question this year along with the smoking, drinking and stepping over cord questions and the nurse prefaced it with kind of a blush, was a question about s#x. Yes, this is all important information that the government and hospitals need to know. Oh to have had a pack of candy ciggies in my purse, to pull out the pack and retrieve a candy ciggie from it. Then tap it on my thumb nail like my Aunt Amy used to do, act like I am lighting it, take a long draw and respond with a witty answer. Like, we just did it in the parking lot waiting for your office to open after lunch time. 🎜Sky rockets in sight, afternoon delight . 🎜 I will have to remember this for next year's check up. 

Our neighbors made another hornet removal attempt and it cut short our watering, pruning and picking of fruit last night. Just as well, cause we needed to stop and let the little ones out on the front porch for playtime. Third kitty is eating from a bowl and gray kitty is drinking water from a saucer. They'll be leaving for college before you know it. 

This has been a hard week in some ways yet a very joyous week as well. Rejoicing with a friend with a new job and passing a certification in her line of career. Praying for friends here as well as praying for friends in Houston after hurricane Beryl. So many do not have power yet and the heat index is over 100 degrees. 

We did something new this morning, we fed These Three on the front porch while cleaning out their playpen. GMoey came out for a while but just watched the yard for birds. Now the kittens are fast asleep in their clean bed and playpen. 

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth

 Happy Fourth of July! Hopefully, some of our neighbors in the distance will put on a great show of fireworks but sometimes we can see the official firework shows from our front porch. I think from about ninth grade till a little after high school, Westbury Square had a wonderful firework display. Westbury Square holds many good memories for those of us who grew up in southwest Houston. It really was ahead of its time with quaint shops and restaurants. Sharpstown Mall began its downfall. It felt like a European village with winding walkways, not that I had ever been to Europe back then. Candle making shop, bookstore, perfume shops, and Cargo Houston. Large store with international merchandise. Hey in the late 60s and 70s, it was our first experience with international shopping. Kind of leaned to the hippy influence. Being young, the walk from our home to the Square was easy so many a fourth either as a family or with friends walk over to the Patton's home and sit in their front yard for a front row seat of brilliance and flashes of light in the sky. Ooooh, ahhhhhh....could be heard all throughout the neighborhood. One year I wasn't feeling particularly interested in being with others watching the show. I climbed up one of the big trees in the backyard and ooooohed and ahhhhhhed by myself. I remember thinking as I easily climbed up the tree that this might be the last time I would climb a tree cause you know one didn't do that as they got older. Had a perfect view for fireworks near the top of that tree. 

We press onward taking care of These Three. We've had them out sitting on our laps. Uh, I mean climbing up our shirts and digging into our necks. We've been changing out the blankets in the playpen but I found a little cat bed in the garage. I put that in the playpen about an hour ago and they love it. Their appetite and kitten milk consumption is up and that makes them energetic and being a little more playful. We will go out to the front porch again this evening and let them run and wrestle or just investigate this new area in their lives. 

Been working on the lesson today. We get to see this how big picture of a life, Jacob's, and watch his growth and trust in God. His birth, hanging onto his brother to be the first one born. He deceives his brother and father, then shipped off to reform school at Uncle Laban's. There he perfects some of his most deceptive and manipulative maneuvers but Uncle Laban is a little better than him at the beginning. God is with him but he wrestles with Him to get that blessing. Did the family tradition thing and showed favoritism. His other sons were not too happy about that and hated Joseph. Took his coat, threw him in a pit and then sold him to be a slave in Egypt. That's where we lose about twenty years of Jacob's life but we see in between that it has not been a happy twenty years for anyone except maybe Benjamin. We have the details of Joseph and we know he is second in all the land. The seven years of plenty have come and gone and now Egypt and the surrounding countries find themselves in famine and lack of food. Here come the brothers, with empty sacks, money in their pockets, donkeys to carry everything back but they meet a prime minister who accuses them of being spies. Joseph recognizes them but they don't have a clue who they are dealing with now. We are looking at the big reveal and the trip to live with his son in Egypt. We see Jacob's total life, mistakes and all as well as the good and godly. There around chapter 46 we see Jacob reacting in fear, well we see that in-between the lines until verse 3 when God addresses the issue with Jacob. Fear, good fear keeps us safe and healthy but oppressive fear of going, coming, learning or trying something new can stop us dead in our tracks and we find out that we are not experiencing joy or relying on God's strength. 

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Our new neighbors as well as our long time neighbors put on great firework displays last night. The one across the street was a short program but dazzling to be so close to the display. For only about fifteen minutes did it sound like a war zone outside. That's what I like great shows compacted into a little bit of time and not all night and then all week. Our area is in a bit of a drought so hopefully everyone was careful and haven't heard of any fires in our area. 

These Three are doing well this morning. Two milk feedings and one soupy solid food. Two of them love it and the other one wants to be biblical...not desiring solid food but wanting the milk. 

 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. Hebrews 5:12

We added something new to the day, a morning trip to the front porch. While they explored Roy cleaned out their playpen and litter box. Food and fun leads to nap time at this stage of the game and although I would love to take a nap, that SS lesson isn't going to write itself.

The blackberries we are growing this year are huge. Roy took a look at the peaches and they are ripening up. It is the time for free stone peaches and we haven't bought any, yet. Strawberry season is just about done. Apples are ripening and well that means that apple cider donut season is less than a month away. 

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Our oak tree toppled in the storm yesterday. If Mike can work it in today, he will at least cut it up. Lots of lightning and hard rain with the storm. We are thankful it fell into the yard and not across the road. Some damage to the raised galvanized metal flowerbed, but think the metal can be popped back into place. We are picking some of the biggest blackberries and Roy's tomatoes are producing well. 

Roy helped me with bath time for the kittens. They all did well and they are fluffy and clean. He took them out on the front porch after we dried them so I could vacuum and change out playpens and bedding. Mike came by and he went out to help get the trunk of the tree off the metal flowerbed. Mike will come back next week and cut it down to manageable pieces. 

Been up since 4:45 and it is now just a bit after 10:00 am. I'm exhausted and need a nap. Oh, I do think one of the orange kittens is a girl now that some swelling has gone down and so I am thinking to call them Buster, Baxter and Betty. Baptist alteration as well as having a kitten named after a friend. 💕 

These Three

 While being on the back porch with our little tribe I noticed how good the zinnias we planted in an old tree stump look so beautiful. I think it is one of my favorite flower decisions we've made. Our area received a brief shower last night and the next morning all the plants have perked up.

Speaking of perked up, I am kind of perked up. Well, let's see, I am up early and running on coffee that was brewed not percolated. But, you get the idea.  Rescuing the kittens of BBKitty and Cami has been emotionally exhausting. Those little mamas tried but they are merely older kittens themselves. I think most of the kittens we have from the litter are Cami's. The adventure began on Saturday. I picked up a kitten to check its eyes for matting. That little ones rear end was covered in wiggly, squiggly maggots that will be referred as fly eggs. Got that baby a bath and got it cleaned up. Put some Wondercide flea and tick spray on it and we brought a playpen to the back porch. Got some kitten milk in it and kept cleaning up any evidence of vermin. When we came home from church yesterday, an orange kitty was sitting by the recycle bin and seemed to be saying, I'm ready, what took y'all so long? Got him settled in after de-lousing him or at least first treatment. The babies cuddled up quickly and cat #1 seemed very happy to have company. Got a little food in him and then I settled down for a two and a half hour nap. I rarely do this but Roy said you needed the sleep and rest. Uh, I did. We were getting ready to go to the fellowship supper at church when Roy came to the back porch with two more kitties. Same procedure but the second orange kitten didn't look like it was in that good of health. Our evening plans changed and we got about the business of taking care of four young kittens. We moved them into a more spacious playpen, got rid of the stuffed animal and made a different litter pan for them. Then we used a lighter colored blanket so that we can observe them better. This morning Roy called into the vet office and we are waiting on a call back. Just called back and can't see them until tomorrow. Since we discovered that if both of us do the feeding, the resistant ones are a little less combative and will eat. Again, the two orange cats are the concern. The other two are doing better as the hours go by. For sure, not battling the heat and flies is a huge help for them. We just had a Spotty sighting and he ate really well. His wounds are healing and Fido was happy to see his bro. All in all that is good. 

The Sisters discovered their kittos on the back porch so operation move them inside began in earnest this evening. All four had a bath and a new scent of Wondercide to take care of those pesky varmints. They are asleep after all that water and change. Gave them some salmon/tuna bisque and two of them chowed down. I am concerned about the one orange one but we are getting kitten milk in it. The others as well. Did a milk feeding and tucked them in for a good night. 

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This morning the little bowl of salmon bisque was licked dry. Put more in the bowl and set it in the playpen. Mama had some coffee and then set about the early morning milk meal. They all ate well and drifted back to sleep. Had two of them wake up meowing and Roy said, hey they need more breakfast and I kiddingly responded, not my table. I'm on a break. We will get them a snack for sure a little later in the morning but quiet time for them is also quiet time for us.

Mr Mo is not happy at all with the presence of these kittens. He is taking it personally. Barely lets me pet him and stays upstairs for the most part. The other two while not thrilled are not as upset. 

Just had a moment...we could only see three kittens. Oh my, searched through the blankets and that stinker avoided detection twice. Finally, we found him all wrapped up and alive. So, got him back on the top of the blanket with the sibs. That also prompted gray and Camo Jr kitten to eat food from the bowl. Now they are all back together sleeping on this bright Tuesday morning. 

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We lost Little Bit last night. Her siblings gathered round her in that wake position that I have seen over the years of loving The Feral Fam. Each time there is a loss, it is difficult. Both Roy and I teared up at the loss. We are watching an orange kitten that is lively but does a lot of that face plant sleep into a blanket. It might like sleeping that way. GMoey has an appointment tomorrow so we can ask a few questions of what we might need to do to help Little Bit. Both GMoey and Willie have sat by the playpen to watch the kittos. GMoey even got up on the cat tree to look down and keep an eye on these little ones. I was so hoping for a better outcome. 

Seems like our attention has been directed to cats, The Four Amigos, The Boys, and The Feral Fam. Who knows, but probably something about cats will be in the lesson for Sunday. Oh I hope not but will work diligently today and tomorrow. Have an outline, which is good. 

The babies are sound asleep full of kitten milk. So, guess it is a good time to get the day started before the next meal for these three.