The "Blues Brothers"

(I'm going to be  very busy tomorrow, so I thought I'd post this early.)

My husband refers to them as the Blues Brothers since they look so much alike. I'm talking about Buddy and his brother-son-uncle-grandfather-father-cousin-littermate 2B. Yes, we call him 2B as in "To Be or Not To Be."  

Buddy was brought to us by our feral girl, Java before she was hit by a car. 2B showed up just about a month ago. We were actually surprised to see him, mistaking him for Buddy for a bit, until we saw them together. We know they are related, because they look so much alike and because they act like recent siblings--ones that have a long association with each other.  Surprisingly enough, Buddy who challenges every cat (and dog) that ventures near the front porch, did not challenge 2B other than a minor hissy spit. They also like to intimidate dogs, cats, and humans they don't like out of the front yard. 

2B 

Buddy 

 They were both full males, meaning that they haven't been neutered.  Buddy's age has been estimated to be about 5 years old, so we are surmising that 2B is the same age. They are strays and recent ones at that. We know they are strays because they don't act feral. That means they don't hide or run away from us and they allow close contact by humans, like petting. Although in Buddy's case, he has to pet YOU first before he allows himself to be petted. It's just his feline prerogative. On the other hand, 2B allows you to pet him and then thinks about returning the favor. 

 

Buddy eats while 2B looks on 

We had Buddy neutered and vaccinated this week. We opted not to get his ear tipped, in hopes that we can find him his people or a new home. By the way--we aren't holding our breath for either case.  2B will get his soon.  

So why do people get cats, make them pets and then dump/abandon or mistreat them? There are as many reasons as there are grains of soils. With the current economic crisis on hand, many people are having a hard time feeding their families in our little town, let alone pets. There aren't any services or food pantries for pets. Even the town pound is having problems. 

But the current economic crisis is fairly recent and people have been dumping their dogs and cats for a long time before it hit.  I believe the reason why people dump/abandon or mistreat their animals is a combination of reasons. Our society operates on a "disposable mindset." We get rid of, throw away, trash, toss things easily. We've been conditioned to throw out the old and acquire new or do the latest trend. Our society still looks at animals as "property" rather than living souls/beings and that makes it easy to toss them away. Our society also lacks commitment to anything that may be a long-term responsibility. Pets take long-term care and responsibility. 

Not every one feels this way or behaves this way. I know many people who work hard at reusing and recycling materials and resources; who take long-term care and responsibility seriously; and who do not toss their pets away or mistreat them. Many of them see pets are as part of their families, vital members of their families. They are the ones who give their time to their communities and are committed to their communities. I'm glad we have caring and committed people.

Many people also mistakenly believe that cats "can survive" or "take care of themselves." They believe that cats can hunt mice and birds and they will do well out in the world. They have to hunt, kill, and eat the equivalent of eight mice per day just to survive.  Pet cats often do not survive because they don't have the training, skills, or knowledge of how to survive.  This is not information they will gain within a week.  Many pet cats will die from exposure, starvation, malnutrition, disease, being hit by cars, savaged by dogs, fights from other ferals, and at the hands of inhumane humans when they are dumped or abandoned. 

If you can not keep your cat, find him or her a good home.  

Lucky Cat 

(Buddy) 

Bead Trade!

Recently I joined this threadkiller contest. Never having done this before, I read the rules--which seemed fairly simple: Post as often as you wish, but each post must be 7 words or more and be the last one to post for 24 hours. The prize was $20 credit in the Etsy store. Woooooohoooooo! I was so there! I like this particular store, having purchased beads and crystals from there before.  So I figured I could be the last person to post within 24 hours and hopefully win some easy credit at the store. Right? Right.  

Well, so far I'm NOT doing good at killing the thread. I seem to be adding to it. But that's ok--I'm meeting some wonderful people there. One of the wonderful ladies I've met is Jo Gallagher. She is the owner and designer at Jo's Jewels. During one particular and interesting exchange with several of the ladies there, I mentioned that I take the beads I know I won't use or can't use to either one of the local child development centers or do bead trades. Jo immediately jumped on the bead trade part of my post. 

Before I knew it, I was taking pictures of the various beads I wanted to trade and sending them to her.   She sent me an email, stating which ones she was interested in and asked me if I had any cabochons. I only had one--a pink fiber optic oval that I kept for two years because it was so pretty. The next thing I knew I was digging through more beads, trying to find her "extras" that she may enjoy with the ones she wanted. As it turns out, she was doing the same for me! 

We both sent our respective packages Monday and got our bead trades by Wednesday and Thursday! It was so exciting to see all the extras in the trades, to make a new friend, and get some extra  new beads we didn't have before.  

This was my very first Internet Bead Trade and I have to deem it a grand success, largely because of Jo! I'm eagerly awaiting my next Internet Bead Trade to come along. Thank you Jo for such a wonderful experience!

(The extras I received. I wished I had remembered to take a photo of the beads I sent to her!)

Solar Powered!

Cats are solar powered creatures. They need the sun. Forget all the hype about sunshine gives them natural Vitamin D. (It does, but cats think differently from humans!)  It's all about worship and being the objects of worship. Cats were once worshipped as gods in different ancient cultures. That little tidbit of knowledge has been passed down from cat generation to present day.

 

(Max-catching afternoon rays) 

  

A house with one or two cats (or more) will find them claiming the best spots to catch a few sunbeams.  

 

(Arby and Merlin) 

At times when the afternoon sun is strong, even conflicts can be set aside to catch those solar rays. A favored spot can be shared, despite the different personalities that inhabit the home.

 

(Chile warming her tummy)

 Sometimes, solo is worth everything for a few rays of golden afternoon sun. It's a great time for cleaning oneself, communing with the humans on a sub-vocal level, and just enjoying the simple pleasures in life.  And sometimes, it's just the best time to catch a nap.

 

(Harley napping in the sun)

  

But Kitty! Oh...Kitty Butt

As feral colony managers, we've become accustomed to kitty language.  It took us time to understand that the first rule to managing cats is that they are tele-empathic. They can feel your thoughts. They communicate to you through telepathy when they choose to do so. For the most part, they prefer to train you (cats see human as somewhat inferior beings--don't forget that!) because it's easier.

So when we plan to catch/trap a cat for speutering purposes, we don't even think the words TRAP, CATCH, SPAY, NEUTER, VET'S OFFICE around any cat. We learned to talk in code. 

"Have you seen Buddy today?"

"Not yet. He's usually around about this time or that time." 

"Oh good. I wanted to give him some extra time to pet me this evening (or special treat, depending on the cat) and he's no where to be found."

An hour later, Buddy will show up, demanding his time with me. That's just the first hurdle to trapping/catching a feral/stray. My point is that cats are tele-empathic. That's why they stress if we we stress, get manic at times when we are extremely happy, or have hissy-fits if we're having one.

Anyway--back to kitty language. Here are some examples.

The slitted eyes are a warning that things could get ugly between you unless you have a favorite food or treat on hand.

(Chile) 

  

Note the crossed-paws. That's an extremely happy kitty.

(Sunny & Graycie: Adopted) 

 

 Hunting is play-time to cats. Notice the forward pointing ears, the intense expression on the face, and the whiskers. The whiskers can tell you when a cat is about to pounce--either in play or during the hunt.

(Peachy) 

Totally relaxed kitties. This signifies trust in their environment--not so much their trust in you. 

(Chile, Max, Lacey) 

 

Some cats actually smile. 

(Merlin) 

 

(Blue) 

The famous Kitty-Butt. It has several connotations. It could simply be "You disappointed me." It could be part of a sulk--"I'm not ready to talk to you!" If the ears are laid back, you have one mad kitty--"I'm seriously considering packing my fur and LEAVING you!" You will have to do some serious groveling to even get to the negotiation stage before forgiveness is allowed.

"I'm listening."  

(Blue) 

 If you want to calm a stressed out or fearful cat, eye-blink slowly. Slowly turn your head to the side so you aren't directly looking into the cat's eyes, and then eye blink. Again, keep this slow and even. Eye-blinking tells the cat that you are no threat and the situation is ok. If your cat is calm and you want to give him or her  a special message, look at him or her and then eye-blink slowly. It's a way to communicate "I love you"  to your cat.

Topaz in the middle of an eye-blink, telling me she likes the tent I made for her. 

My Other Vice

We all have vices, habits, addictions that we find it difficult to break. Naturally there are vices, habits, addictions that we are just not going to attempt to break because we enjoy them so well! That's where I'm at in my journey. I've given up a lot of my favorite foods, disgusting habits (like smoking) and have sacrificed convenience for quality. I've formed new habits, spend hours--literally, spend hours reading labels on my foods, doing lots of research, and I let my 80-year old neighbor drag me around the park every other day. I've even stopped doing chores in the most time-saving and efficient manner so I'm that much more active. 

I have two vices--I call them vices. Whether or not you do is up to you. But I call them vices. These two shall not be touched. I won't give them up. Not now. Not ever. Don't ask. 

My first vice is my coffee. I was willing to give up smoking just so I could have my coffee. Seriously. Most smokers think I'm a total headcase because I was willing to throw away the cigarettes but not the liquid. Don't ask me to give it up. I won't. You don't know the pain I went through just cutting back from 2-4 pots (and mostly drinking that by myself) down to three measly cups per day. I made others miserable. It ghastly. It was difficult. Giving birth to my son was easier and less painful than cutting back on my coffee. 

(And here comes Harley as I type this. He has to "neck" when he feels traumatized. I mean do the nursing-mama-thing and suck on my neck--complete with kneading. I'm guessing he's feeling my pain at giving up a lot of my coffee and it's traumatizing him. He wants to neck. It should make me feel better. It works for him. But I digress...)

My second vice is beading. Don't ask me to give it up either. The need to bead is strong within me, do you hear?  And please don't ask me which one I value most--my coffee or beading. It's no competition! I've got to have both.

The need to bead goes back to my first real release from the hospital back when I was sick in 2008. I was hospitalized the first week in March and had four more hospitalizations by May. In June, although still pretty frail, I was feeling somewhat stronger. I still had the last vestiges of the suicide ideation which was caused by all the medications shoved, poked, and needled into my body during the past two months.  (Yes, being allergic to medication can cause suicidal thoughts.)  I decided that if my time was limited (and I felt at the time, that the end was fast approaching), I couldn't leave without first making some sort of memento for my sisters. I have two younger sisters. Middle Sister and Baby Sister. Despite all the fights, bickering, slap-downs (verbally--not literally) and miles between us, I still love my little sisters. 

I had seen this Sisters pin of three female figures-each figure done in silver, copper, and gold. Well at the time, I couldn't afford it and at the time, none of us would ever wear a pin. But I loved the idea of symbolizing the concept of "sisters." So I used silver, copper, and gold metal plated seed beads. I wanted a stone that would represent women, sisters, bonding. I found some beautiful rhodonite. I didn't want to make the necklaces exactly alike, but make them to reflect our differences despite us being connected by blood. I chose different colors of 6/0 seed beads.

That's Arby's paw in the upper left, holding down the shot.

  

The concept began growing in my mind. I realized there were several women in my life that I recognized as my "sisters." I wanted them to have a necklace too. So I made one for the special women in my life.  Unfortunately, I was in a hurry to mail out their jewelry, I didn't take the photos I should have. I wasn't quite thinking that clearly yet. 

Beading helped me get my life back into perspective. It gave me purpose. It helped me to get my brain functioning again. I temporarily lost the ability to read, count, do simple thought processes. It was a scary, scary time for me. Beading helped me by giving me something to focus and concentrate on and work through logistics of putting a piece together. It helped me burn the last of the medication effects out of me. 

The first piece I put together that helped me to start functioning again.

 It also gave me my new vice. My other vice other than coffee. I may not be able to drink coffee all day long any more, but I can certainly bead all day long! Well, when I can. When students are demanding lessons and graded papers back. When I don't have to clean the house and plan dinner. Or shop for food. Things like that.

 

I found I could make my own funky but stylin' earrings. I found these beads on eBay, created by Terri Stone at TLSClayDesign. I need to finish the bracelets. Did I mention I have a bunch of her beads?  







Middle Sister's birthday is in December. Last year I decided I wanted to give her something special. I found these beautiful clay shields on eBay, designed by Linda of NKDesigns. I saw one that would be perfect for Middle Sister. When it arrived, I discovered that I really liked it. I kept telling myself that once I made it up, it would look like it BELONGED to Middle Sister and I would be happy. Which reminds me, I need to visit her shop and pick up a few more of her beads. It's an addiction, I tell you!

   

Naturally, this set didn't make it to Middle Sister. I LOVED it when I was finished the necklace. I loved it so much, I had to make earrings and a bracelet that can be worn with the necklace or separately. Yeah, I kept the set. Couldn't part with it. Which meant I had to find new beads for Middle Sister's birthday present. But that was ok since I'm up to the challenge of finding new beads. It's like getting a daily fix. It's rewarding. It's thrilling. It's an addiction to put it simply.

This is the set Middle Sister got for her birthday last year. The flowers came from a very talented artist, Mary Ellen at BeeTreeByME.  I told her she could have the clay shield set after I die. 

 

A close up of Middle Sister's birthday necklace.

Swirly Boy

Yesterday, I introduced the boys in our colony. I was asked if Swirly was huggable. I read that to my husband, who choked on his soda and replied, "Only if we're wearing chainmail over leather." It's a "Like Mother, like son" sort of ordeal. Neither of us would ever absently and without thought, reach out to pet his mother. We treat him like he's his mother's son.  

That got me to thinking. And I decided to write about Swirly. Swirly was part of Frosty's last litter. 

His brothers are Fiesty, Blue, and the late Mokey. His sister is Tabby. That's Ms. Tabitha to strangers. He was part of the last litter born on our property because D and I are diligent about getting all females spayed.  

He liked hanging with his siblings and his colony mates, including his Uncle Sinatra and Cousin Two-Toes.

 

 He also just liked being with his sister and his brothers.

 

Home might have been the shelter on the back porch or the back room or under the house.

 He wasn't as adventurous as his brother Blue is. Swirly liked staying at home best.   He could be found simply just poking his head out the back room to watch leaves fall. 

 And sometimes he just watches you from under the house. But Swirly is not a pet cat. He's a feral and he's proud that no human hands have ever petted him. Blue and Fiesty can't boast that brag. Only his mother, his sister, and his cousins MC and Two-Toes can share that honor with him. 

  

Sometimes, Swirly is the brave one and guards the food, letting only those he deems honorable enough to share in the bounty of fresh canned foods, treats, and dry foods.  

 He will talk when he feels that's the only way to get his point across. His favorite quest is "Special Treats." Those are bits of cooked meats, with chicken or turkey being his favorites, or a bit of meaty broth. 

He's our Swirly Boy and he is proud. Have you ever seen such colorful eyes? 

Just The Boys

I'm taking a quicky break from grading papers this morning. That's what I've been doing for the past three days--nothing but grading papers.

So this morning, I thought I'd show off some of our "boys." First meet the primary males in our colony. There's MC, the oldest. Then Fiesty, Blue, and Swirly. 

MC 

 

Fiesty eating his favorite--canned salmon 

 

Handsome Blue

                                                               Swirly showing off his colors

  They are all related to Merlin in one fashion or another. He is the granddaddy to all the above.

 

Merlin when he first came to live inside 

Then we have the "Newbies" who joined the colony over the past year or two. We have Blanco--who incidentally is also related to Merlin. Beamer and WaitAMinute came along a bit later.

Blanco 

 

  Beamer   

  

 

                                                                             WaitAMinute

Beamer is an orange tabby feral. I think he was someone's pet, turned out or lost, and became feral to survive. Many pet cats that are turned out don't make it. Beamer is one of the lucky ones. He found a pair of cat-crazy people who were willing to manage a colony. WaitAMinute was most likely was born feral. We believe he's Lacey's father because they have the same facial features.

Then we have Buddy and what could be his brother, son, father, uncle, cousin. You remember Buddy from the Halloween Post, dressing in his costume? Well this weekend, what could be his brother/son/ father/uncle/cousin joined us. Looks like a smaller version of Buddy and very friendly. Those two must have been raised together because they haven't fought at all. They share the front porch post and both chase dogs out of the yard. We are having a hard time naming him...so right now he's 2B.  

2B

He's hard to photograph 

 Buddy

He's not happy about sharing his top bunk

 Because they are both friendly, I believe them to be strays--not ferals. Stray cats can become feral in order to survive. Stray cats were once someone's pet. Some people abandon their cats, believing they can survive outdoors. As I said before, many abandoned cats do not make it.There are many reasons pet cats become stray cats,and I'll cover that in another post later.  Right now, I have papers to finish grading!