Cats Truly Do Have Nine LIves

My Cat Gizmo has been ill as of late. Twice now I have thought that it was time to take her in to be euthanized. She has had what appeared to be renal failure twice in about 3 months, and once about 1 1/2 years ago. She suddenly, will get better. The first time I changed her food and she was better for a long time, then she got sick again. This time she had an accident in the house, and she was sent outside permanently. She has a nice soft cushiony wicker bed, and a crate to go into. Anyway, she is 13, and a little slower. Her days of providing meals for us are done. ........or are they?

I also have Hermann tortoises. I do have babies, correction did have babies as well.

As my babies came out of hibernation this year, I found a couple with holes in their shells, very unusual, and couldn't figure it out. They both died and we discovered that a couple more were dead in the home we had built for them as well. These were my older babies, about 3 - 4 inches long. Since we live next to the desert we surmised that quite possibly a rat had gotten to them and set traps.

In the next enclosure are my little babies, mostly newborns from the previous fall and a couple of 1 and 2 year olds. I started counting heads as they came out of hibernation and all was well. One day, I noticed only a couple little babies, we opened their home and it was a killing field inside. I was and still am sick to my stomach about it. We still have not caught the rat.

At the time I told my cat, that had she caught the rat, she would have redeemed herself for her indiscretion in the house. She looked at me and went back to sleep.

Well, she once again has gotten better, might be the trout my husband and I have been feeding her. This will be her fourth life, and in this one she has managed to redeem herself!

Last night at bedtime, my husband was locking doors and checking everything and there was Gizmo meowing at the door. My husband looked down and she had killed a mouse! Not the rat that we might have been hoping for, but hey, she has been sick. Baby steps. It brought tears to my eyes, that she was better, but also appreciated us enough to provide for us once again. We gave her high praise and told her where there was one there would me more. Although we are happy that one This mouse has been caught, we know that it is not the culprit, and have to rethink the traps.

So, in conclusion, for those that do not believe that cats have hearts and nine lives, I have proof!

Vintage Stylish Hats, Bygone Era

I am fascinated by the variety of designs in hats over the eras. Such imagination, and what style. From Fur to feathers, velvet to felt. Straw and ribbons. A simple veil. Here are a few that I have in my collection, and that are for sale. Perhaps there will be something that may interest you.

A simple blue hat with faux pearl and rhinestone decoration.

A 1960's ? Dark navy blue woven hat with grosgrain ribbon and box.

Deco Dotted Black Veil

Stylish Pink Hat with Big bow

Offset Black Velveteen? New York Creations Hat with Satin ribbon

Vintage Milgrim Ruffled Ribbon Straw hat and box

Woodland Count:
21 - Bunnies and Rabbits
12 - Ground squirrels
1 - Covey of Quail
1 - Coyote

Great California Poppy Season

What a great poppy season we had this year. The first picture shows the poppies on a cloudy, cold, windy day when the blossoms are closed. The rest of the pictures show them on a warm sunny day about a week later.

These pictures were taken in one area, and it seemed that the poppies went as far as the eye could see. There were poppies everywhere, one of the best seasons in about 15 years.




Woodland Count:

19 1/2 - Cottontail bunnies and Black Tailed Hares 1 1/2 because one was the cutest tiny baby

19 1/2 - Ground squirrels, again one was a tiny baby leaping into a bush, too cute.

3 - Lizards, fence or spiny
2 - Scrub Jays, not really known for this area.

and of course numerous other bird types.