I'm down in Wilton right now, spending a couple days down here. I had some things I wanted to do for myself (process peaches and plums, check chickens, start packing chicken stuff) and I also came down to give my mom a hand with a few of her projects. So I've gotten a ton of stuff done but still have a very full schedule tomorrow.
I can't remember if I already wrote about this, but I had released the peafowl about a week and a half ago. They seemed ready, and Nara had healed up extremely well from her broken leg. They came and went for a few days, and then they went... and haven't been back... for almost a week. It's easy, and unpleasant, to think that something may have caught them, and yes it's possible and yes I knew the risks, but since I knew they were fine for several days, and I would see them foraging far from the house, I think the more likely scenario is they have wandered off and found some place they like better. Peafowl are notorious for this. My peafowl-experienced friends have also told me it's not unusual for them to immediately disappear for a week or even two, exploring as far as they can, before they return home and stick around. I sincerely hope that's what they are up to. They are such totally cool birds, it makes me sad to think they might not come back, so keep your fingers crossed that they're just out on walkabout for a while. Or, if they decided to live down by the creek where it's shadier and cooler, I wouldn't blame them, and then at least I could walk down there and visit them.
I brought Olin with me when I drove down here, I didn't want to leave him alone in the loft for that many days. He does not like being alone, so I thought he'd be happier coming back here. He does seem rather happy, he promptly went outside and I hadn't seen him until finally he came in this evening! Mom said she saw him twice between then and now though. I jokingly said to her that we may end up with shared custody of him, and if he doesn't show up when I'm ready to leave, that may well be true... he'll end up staying down here for a while. And truth is I still wonder if leaving him here would be better for him anyway. I know he's not happy being indoors all the time, and he definitely drives me crazy with all that meowing. I know that's a hard transition and I know it would take time, obviously more than a month. I don't know, sigh. If he stays here gets to be outside and around Homer (Mom's cat), but he doesn't have a person he likes all that much. If I keep him with me, he stays indoors, but I've always been "his person" he's so affectionate with me. He is SO dear to me, I don't want to leave him behind, but I don't know how much time it will take for him to be happy up there, or if he ever would. I guess with the peafowl gone, putting him out in their old aviary sometimes is an option. I just don't want to let him loose, he wanders like crazy, and there are way too many predators. Could I really only see my little boy a few times a year for the rest of his life though? I don't like this idea...
As you remember, my horse Shylah moved up to Oak Run with me, but my old mare Gwen stayed here in Wilton. Gwen is not doing well. Age is definitely catching up to her, and she has the looks of some pretty serious heart trouble. I think I'm seeing the beginning of the end. It won't happen right now, I'm not ready to say "it's time" but I'm saying it's time to figure out the options, because I think it will be time pretty soon. I HATE this.
Dang, this is really not the cheeriest blog post is it. There are good things this weekend too! I've had a good time visiting family and friends! Yeah, okay, I'll just go to bed before this gets even more depressing.
Showing posts with label Olin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olin. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Olin update, and the other inhabitant
You know how I said that Olin was being incredibly well behaved and sleeping most of the night? Ha ha, um, that changed. A few days after I wrote that, the dreaded "meowing all night" began. OMG. It really made me question my decision to move him up here, and really made me think I'd be taking him back down to my mom's house next time I went down there... and leaving him there.
But he's gotten a little better. I think this is simply a very hard transition for an outdoor kitty to move permanently indoors. In the grand scheme of things he's actually doing very well, and if he continues to settle down, that would be super. I am determined to make it work for him to be here, I even went so far as to buy him a cat tree, which he darn well better use because those things are crazy expensive. He always wants to climb my furniture, so I thought perhaps he'd like his own. So far he only sits there if I put him on it... And catnip does not affect him, how boring! So I'd say at least 90% of the time I'm thrilled to bits that he's here, and he seems happy and content and sweet, and for less than 10% of the time he drives me insane and I'd like to toss him out the window. That's a good start, right? Cross your fingers that in another few weeks he's doing even better. He's my little punkin, I want him to be here. :-)
I have decided that when I do go back to Wilton if it's going to be for at least a few days I will probably take him with me (not to leave there, but just to visit). He might enjoy the visit, and he's an easy cat to have in the car anyway. Probably better than leaving him alone up here. I am leaving him alone for two nights very soon when I go up to Oregon to visit relatives. I hope that goes okay...
I haven't introduced you to the other inhabitant of this little space (and I'm reminded that I still need to take pics of the whole place now that it's done). This is Phil:
Phil is a heart-leaf philodendron that my oldest brother gave me for Christmas 26 years ago. I don't know what the average heart-leaf philodendron life span is, but that seems pretty old. I don't have a green thumb at all, gardening is not my thing, I accidentally killed the adorable cactus that one of my best friends gave me (over-watered, oops!) but I seem to do okay with Phil. Phil used to be very very lush, with huge leaves. Now Phil is like one of those old men with a bad comb-over (not that there's a good comb-over). I just try to arrange the remaining foliage in the most aesthetically pleasing manner, but there simply isn't much of it left to go around.
But he's gotten a little better. I think this is simply a very hard transition for an outdoor kitty to move permanently indoors. In the grand scheme of things he's actually doing very well, and if he continues to settle down, that would be super. I am determined to make it work for him to be here, I even went so far as to buy him a cat tree, which he darn well better use because those things are crazy expensive. He always wants to climb my furniture, so I thought perhaps he'd like his own. So far he only sits there if I put him on it... And catnip does not affect him, how boring! So I'd say at least 90% of the time I'm thrilled to bits that he's here, and he seems happy and content and sweet, and for less than 10% of the time he drives me insane and I'd like to toss him out the window. That's a good start, right? Cross your fingers that in another few weeks he's doing even better. He's my little punkin, I want him to be here. :-)
I have decided that when I do go back to Wilton if it's going to be for at least a few days I will probably take him with me (not to leave there, but just to visit). He might enjoy the visit, and he's an easy cat to have in the car anyway. Probably better than leaving him alone up here. I am leaving him alone for two nights very soon when I go up to Oregon to visit relatives. I hope that goes okay...
I haven't introduced you to the other inhabitant of this little space (and I'm reminded that I still need to take pics of the whole place now that it's done). This is Phil:
Phil is a heart-leaf philodendron that my oldest brother gave me for Christmas 26 years ago. I don't know what the average heart-leaf philodendron life span is, but that seems pretty old. I don't have a green thumb at all, gardening is not my thing, I accidentally killed the adorable cactus that one of my best friends gave me (over-watered, oops!) but I seem to do okay with Phil. Phil used to be very very lush, with huge leaves. Now Phil is like one of those old men with a bad comb-over (not that there's a good comb-over). I just try to arrange the remaining foliage in the most aesthetically pleasing manner, but there simply isn't much of it left to go around.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Olin is here
I moved my cat Olin up here a week ago. He's actually handling the change MUCH better than I expected. I was dreading all-night-meowing, thinking he'd be doing naughty things to my furniture. So far he hasn't done any of that, though he does tend to want to get up between 4 and 5 in the morning and climb on things he's not supposed to be climbing on, which sometimes involves me stumbling out of bed to remove him from atop something precarious. But mostly, he sleeps... He's got one of those pheromone collars on, I read all sorts of good reviews about how they keep cats calm through things that would normally freak cats out. I have to think that's helping, because he does seem unusually calm, even for him. And he's EXTREMELY affectionate. If that's a side-effect of the collar, I like it! Or maybe he had just missed me in the month I didn't see him. Why can't I get that response from anyone else... ;-)
I still have a few doubts about how well this'll work out in the long run. I think he's bored. I don't want him to go outdoors though. He's a fighter and a wanderer. There are a couple cats around, some feral and some not. There are also coyotes and eagles and bears and all manner of things that would like to eat a cat. And I'm hoping that lack of exposure to outdoor crud will put an end to his allergies. But... bottom line I want him to be happy, and not drive me crazy. So I guess it's kind of a trial run right now. I know if it came down to it he could live down in Wilton at my mom's house, but it's SO NICE to have him here, I missed him so much, and he doesn't act sweet to anyone else, I'm his person!
So here's hoping he continues to handle indoor living as well as he has done so far, because I really love that he's here. :-)
I still have a few doubts about how well this'll work out in the long run. I think he's bored. I don't want him to go outdoors though. He's a fighter and a wanderer. There are a couple cats around, some feral and some not. There are also coyotes and eagles and bears and all manner of things that would like to eat a cat. And I'm hoping that lack of exposure to outdoor crud will put an end to his allergies. But... bottom line I want him to be happy, and not drive me crazy. So I guess it's kind of a trial run right now. I know if it came down to it he could live down in Wilton at my mom's house, but it's SO NICE to have him here, I missed him so much, and he doesn't act sweet to anyone else, I'm his person!
So here's hoping he continues to handle indoor living as well as he has done so far, because I really love that he's here. :-)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year!!!
Please fasten your seat belts, and put your tray tables and seat backs in the upright and locked position. 2012 is going to be a wild ride, and the captain thinks we might experience some turbulence. ;-)
Happy New Year everyone! Here's hoping 2012 treats us all well!
Happy New Year everyone! Here's hoping 2012 treats us all well!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
just a few photos
We had the first super hot day of summer today. On the first day of summer. And I'm already tired of the hot weather. I really think I get wimpier every year! Even Olin got a little melty. This is going to rank right up there among my favorite photos of him.
There are a lot more California Quail around this year then I've seen before. I actually took this a couple weeks ago, but forgot about it. They are so skittish they're darn near impossible to photograph, or get anywhere near, so this was taken through my bedroom window, oh well.
And here's another terrible photo, pardon it being blurry, I was holding the The Beast camera up over my head to try to get this and it was dark outside. One of the baby owls was peering out of the nest box just before it got all the way dark outside. By the time I got my camera and went back out, it was totally dark, and the owl had stepped back, so this is what I got by "shooting in the dark."
There are a lot more California Quail around this year then I've seen before. I actually took this a couple weeks ago, but forgot about it. They are so skittish they're darn near impossible to photograph, or get anywhere near, so this was taken through my bedroom window, oh well.
And here's another terrible photo, pardon it being blurry, I was holding the The Beast camera up over my head to try to get this and it was dark outside. One of the baby owls was peering out of the nest box just before it got all the way dark outside. By the time I got my camera and went back out, it was totally dark, and the owl had stepped back, so this is what I got by "shooting in the dark."
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Olin allergy update
I'm sure you don't really love looking at pics of my cat's nether regions, but woo hoo look at that!
He's turning into a normal furry cat again. Poor thing has been on a twice-a-day dose of Benadryl for months. He has not received any meds for the last week because Mom doesn't like to give pills and I was gone for most of that, so I guess we'll see how he does off meds. So far so good...
He's turning into a normal furry cat again. Poor thing has been on a twice-a-day dose of Benadryl for months. He has not received any meds for the last week because Mom doesn't like to give pills and I was gone for most of that, so I guess we'll see how he does off meds. So far so good...
Friday, May 27, 2011
pictures today
Just a few things I've taken lately that I haven't posted...
It was horsey bath time today. A friend of mine who loves to paint horses is coming over to take some reference photos tomorrow, so the girls have to be looking their best!
Zen kitty Olin sends telepathic messages telling me to drop some of my BBQ'd chicken into his mouth.
Peafowl at a friend's place. I house-sat for them recently and spent a lot of time admiring the multitude of peafowl. Anyone want peafowl? They want to get rid of a few...
I'm hatching some Ringneck Pheasant chicks for a friend. Here's two of them hanging out with my 1-week-old Rosecombs before they go to their new home.
And this, I'd have to say, might now be my absolute favorite photograph of all time. Those Pheasants are curious little buggers! This cracks me up!!! :-)
It was horsey bath time today. A friend of mine who loves to paint horses is coming over to take some reference photos tomorrow, so the girls have to be looking their best!
Zen kitty Olin sends telepathic messages telling me to drop some of my BBQ'd chicken into his mouth.
Peafowl at a friend's place. I house-sat for them recently and spent a lot of time admiring the multitude of peafowl. Anyone want peafowl? They want to get rid of a few...
I'm hatching some Ringneck Pheasant chicks for a friend. Here's two of them hanging out with my 1-week-old Rosecombs before they go to their new home.
And this, I'd have to say, might now be my absolute favorite photograph of all time. Those Pheasants are curious little buggers! This cracks me up!!! :-)
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
catching up (lots of pics!)
Time marches on, punctuated the weekly hatching of more adorable cute fuzzy chicks! Every Friday I move eggs from the incubator to the hatcher. Every Sunday I clean brooders, and move chicks, and take the new hatchlings out of the hatcher.
Ah, sometimes I think I just need to not blog for a while. Hello, world. I think I'm back.
The bison scrimshaw pendant is done. I have not photographed it yet, I will do that this weekend. Back to the dragon knives now!
Three batches of chicks have hatched now, and the fourth is currently working on hatching. I have Blues coming out my ears (questionable as to if they will be good, of course, they have Brassy Back in the lineage and are throwing some funny things). I desperately need to hatch more BBReds, but at least things are finally improving with fertility. I guess the sun just had to come out!
Olin's allergy situation seems to be improving. He is on twice-daily benadryl. Not a lot of fun for me or him, but I'll do what it takes. I guess I'll know for sure it's working when his fur grows back...
The big secret project has been done for several days, I will unveil it tomorrow! So excited!
Random pics:
A lizard I rescued from Olin. I really wish he wouldn't catch these things. It was quite healthy, he didn't damage it.
A pheasant in the yard today, I think this pair may have a nest in the corner of the pasture. This pic was taken through a window.
It's turkey time! Lots of gobbling lately, the wild turkeys are all over the place. They are out in the pastures pretty much all the time lately, and a flock walks through the driveway and yard pretty regularly. I don't know anything about flock dynamics, but was surprised to see two old toms, four young toms, and three hens. I keep seeing lots of toms together, doing lots of displaying, and yet I don't see any fighting. Huh.
Cake I made last weekend:
Ah, sometimes I think I just need to not blog for a while. Hello, world. I think I'm back.
The bison scrimshaw pendant is done. I have not photographed it yet, I will do that this weekend. Back to the dragon knives now!
Three batches of chicks have hatched now, and the fourth is currently working on hatching. I have Blues coming out my ears (questionable as to if they will be good, of course, they have Brassy Back in the lineage and are throwing some funny things). I desperately need to hatch more BBReds, but at least things are finally improving with fertility. I guess the sun just had to come out!
Olin's allergy situation seems to be improving. He is on twice-daily benadryl. Not a lot of fun for me or him, but I'll do what it takes. I guess I'll know for sure it's working when his fur grows back...
The big secret project has been done for several days, I will unveil it tomorrow! So excited!
Random pics:
A lizard I rescued from Olin. I really wish he wouldn't catch these things. It was quite healthy, he didn't damage it.
A pheasant in the yard today, I think this pair may have a nest in the corner of the pasture. This pic was taken through a window.
It's turkey time! Lots of gobbling lately, the wild turkeys are all over the place. They are out in the pastures pretty much all the time lately, and a flock walks through the driveway and yard pretty regularly. I don't know anything about flock dynamics, but was surprised to see two old toms, four young toms, and three hens. I keep seeing lots of toms together, doing lots of displaying, and yet I don't see any fighting. Huh.
Cake I made last weekend:
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