Now that we’re back on standard time, it’s getting dark already by the time I get home from work. When I pulled in the driveway last night, I scanned the back yard automatically… are any of the local cottontails in sight? Where is Warren? Is Hutch back there tonight? And where is little Haasenpfeffer (for short, I call him Stew)?
No rabbits to be seen, but there was a small dark shape near the birdbath. It didn’t look at all familiar, so I hustled inside and grabbed the binoculars.
It was a male ring-necked pheasant, the first I’ve seen around here for years and definitely the first I’ve seen in our suburban back yard. When this area was rural, they say there were lots of pheasants, but unlike the rabbits, the hawks and other natives, the ring-necks haven’t adapted to the changes.
I called upstairs to Pat, and she hurried down to take a turn looking through the glasses. A few seconds later, the bird got up and walked toward the neighbor’s yard and out of sight.
With their natural physical gifts, cats are well-suited for climbing. (Getting down is sometimes a whole other subject.)
Cats like high places; for instance, a tree or the top level of a piece of cat furniture, maybe even the top of a refrigerator.
Some cats, however, don’t limit their places for climbing to inanimate objects. Regardless, any cat who climbs, such as Caitie in the photo below, is a Good Cat.
My favorite day of the year isn’t Christmas or my birthday (not anymore!), but it’s the day clocks are set back to standard time. Just once a year, there’s a 25-hour day!
It’s possible for me to stay up a little later and sleep in a little longer, and there’s still some extra time after the necessary things in life (like resetting the clocks) to try some fun stuff.
The “fun stuff” I tried yesterday is embedded below — a YouTube video. It’s my first attempt, so there’s no fancy editing or other post-production, just a minute of plain footage, consisting of a glimpse at how Caitie the Calico Diva and I have Quality Time together. In this case, she didn’t settle down on my lap for her brushing until a curious potential intruder left the scene…
Some years, we make sure we’re out of the house on the neighborhood’s trick or treat night, but last night granddaughter Diana was here. Her mother and father took her around the development and Pat went too. But before long, the rain and cold forced them home early.
While they were out, they left me to hand out the sweet treats to the little buckaroos, and eight or nine bags of fun size candy bars went fast. Not much in the way of memorable costumes. One kid had a Terrell Owens Philadelphia Eagles jersey, but had covered up the name on the back with his own. T.O. has few fans left in this area, either.
Before they all went out, Pat made Golden Crusted Pork Chops (without the green beans) for us for supper. The quick prep time was a big plus. Didn’t taste bad at all… we’d have it again.
The Good Cats stay out of the way when the baby is around. When Diana and company went out trick or treating, Kelly must have thought they were gone for the night, and he came downstairs and hopped onto his recliner to nap. I tried to warn him, but being a Good Cat, he ignored what he wanted to ignore. When the humans returned, the Big Guy moved faster than he has for awhile to exit, stage right.
One time, Diana surprised Kelly and since a cat can’t be too careful, he hissed at her. Diana has not forgotten it, because ever since, when she sees him, she keeps her distance. Pat says the little girl looks at her and says, “Kitty! Hisssss!”
We used to think 3 Good Cats were enough. Here’s the little guy who changed our minds 6 years ago. Photos are below, and here’s a link to Nicky’s story.
With sisters Noel and Holly in a basket at their foster home.
Nicky’s mother Mow-Mow. I promised her we’d take good care of Nicky.
.jpg){kind=link}