Everyday life with Good Cats, plus anything else that comes to mind.
During warm weather two weeks ago, one rose appeared, then blossomed on one of the bushes Pat planted in our back yard. Around here, it’s not common to have roses in November, so we thought we’d take a picture to remember it by.
Permalink Comments off
Maybe it’s just the cozy feeling of a small, smooth area, both rounded and recessed. How else to explain the fascination for bathroom plumbing shown at Cats in Sinks?
(Via News From ME)
Permalink Comments off
On Thanksgiving morning, Caitie was sitting next to the sliding glass door, meowing to go outside. I picked her up and started to tell her she could go out soon, when I looked out over the back yard and saw what she was looking at.
In the maple tree on the lowest branch there was a Cooper’s hawk. I froze, but it did no good. The sharp-eyed raptor had spotted me at once, of course, and flew away.
Here’s a photo of a similar hawk taken a couple of years ago as it perched on the wooden frame of a children’s gym next door.
Hawks have adapted as this area has changed from rural to suburban. I think it was earlier this year that I turned a corner in my car and saw a redtailed hawk on the ground in someone’s back yard. The bird saw me and flew off, releasing the rabbit it had gripped in its talons. I like rabbits, but was sorry for coming along at the wrong time and depriving a hawk of a hard-earned meal.
My timing wasn’t much better another time. Caitie was outside and I was following her around the house when she slowed down, crouched and started to creep forward. Recognizing her hunting behavior, I hung back, and wound up with a great view of a hawk taking off a few feet from our little calico.
This hawk was also hunting, but had already made a kill and was determined to keep it. I clearly saw the mourning dove it carried in its talons as it flew past me and off toward the woods. (As Pat put it later, the final score ended up Hawks 1, Doves 0.)
P.S.: New York City is about as urban as you’ll get, but the redtailed hawk called Pale Male has adapted and adopted Manhattan as its home. Lots better photos of this hawk, its mate, its offspring, and other beautiful wild things are at this site, too.
Permalink Comments off
Our little Calico Diva caught a vole this afternoon. We were outside when I heard a familiar squeak from the far edge of the back yard. Caitie had a small grey something in her mouth and was carrying it toward the house.
But a few feet away, she dropped the rodent, which didn’t move. Right after we adopted her, Caitie caught a mouse in the back yard, but back then, she was still used to living and getting food on her own. By the time I saw her, she’d already applied a killing bite to that mouse.
Today, though, Caitie is more domesticated and much more well-fed. The vole was only stunned, and after a few seconds it turned over and ran toward the closest hiding place, a nearby bush. I was between it and the bush, but moved out of its way. Hey, it wasn’t my fight. Besides, the first thing I thought of was a quick vision of a rodent running up my pants leg.
Caitie, evidently wanting to extend the game of cat + mouse, didn’t pursue as fast as she could. But when the vole disappeared under the bush, she went back to hunting and stalking her prey.
I watched her circle the bush, reaching under it from time to time, until the vole made a dash for another hiding place and made it. It’s interesting to observe this cat hunting, and honestly, was glad she could pounce and make a capture, but at the same time was just as glad that today she played catch-and-release.
Permalink Comments off
Installed the new PC Power & Supply PSU today and immediately put it to the test. Last night, I tried doing a virus scan with Kaspersky Anti-Virus, and just as it did the previous attempt, the PC went into what resembled standby mode, but would not come out of it. Today’s virus scan with KAV and the new PSU went A-OK. No crashes and no viruses, either. Once again, thanks to everyone who provided input while I was trying to figure out the problem. I appreciated hearing from others who knew something about the situation. Here’s to a more powerful future…
Speaking of kittens, here’s Nicky (El Gatito Perfecto), shortly after we adopted him in December 2000. Our ever-lovin’ blue-eyed little boy!
One has already been dubbed Sirius, which she must have known is not only the satellite radio outfit she’s gone to work for, but also the Dog Star.
All this means is that naming the other one XM is likely neither in keeping with Ms. Stewart’s intent nor, I fear, original.
Anyway, hurry and vote — the big announcement is coming next Tuesday night.
| Archive | [-] |
| Cats and their staff | [-] |
| A few more Good links | [-] |
