Monday, November 18, 2013

weekends, storms, and kitties

 What an "interesting" weekend! Started out well enough where on Friday night,
I went to a bread making home party with a friend. The bread making was 
cool...the rep milled wheat flour from fresh wheat berries and then made
whole wheat bread, focaccia bread, and cinnamon rolls, using a Bosch mixer.
We had some delicious treats! I don't know how this rep makes any money though - 
all she sells is the mills and a Bosch mixer, each around $300. She wasn't at all
 pushy and no one at the party bought anything. Saturday was a quiet day, but I got
 a phone call from my mother that night. She and my sister were traveling home
 from my great-aunt's funeral in Kentucky and my mom hit a deer that jumped out
in front of her car while they were driving on the expressway. It totaled her
car, but thank God, my mom and sister were not hurt at all. I could tell my mom
was in shock though because she was too calm while telling me the story. Sure
enough, she had a very hard day on Sunday when reality and the emotional 
aspect sunk in. She's doing fine today ~ picked up a rental car and is dealing
with the insurance company. 

And then you may have heard about the terrible storms and tornadoes we had 
here in Illinois yesterday. My area had minor damage - we were lucky. All that
 happened at my house was that a possum got stuck in my window well (don't worry,
 got him out by putting a pole down in there for him to climb out)...


and a huge branch from my neighbor's tree fell on our patio. So glad it
only hit the patio and not a window or gutters or roof!


 On to a happier, lighter subject - my cats! I haven't talked about them or posted
any pictures in awhile. These three fur babies have my heart. I'm a big animal
lover, especially of cats. I do like dogs, but not enough to have one of my own.
This is Clementine. I found her on my front porch a few summers ago. She
was scrawny and afraid of everyone. She's now fattened up (not too much ~
she does keep her figure) and has beautiful, glossy, silky fur. She's also
very sweet and now loves people. You could pet her for hours and she'd be
content. However, she doesn't like to be held. She's not a snuggler.
But, I'm working on that. ;-)


She cracks me up when she lies on the heating vents to keep warm!


Or, when she climbs into any available container - in this case, a Backgammon
game - and just makes herself at home.


 We didn't know for a couple of weeks after Clementine joined us, that
she was pregnant! She only had two babies and one was stillborn. So that
left us with one kitten. Say hello to Monkey. This sweet, but very shy boy
is huge! He is very long and quite tall. Everyone jokes that they'd love to
see his daddy since Clementine is so tiny.


 When Monkey lies on any surface - a chair, table, or a dresser - he always
hangs one leg down. Animals are so quirky and funny, aren't they?


He also sleeps in some very unusual positions.


 And then there's my Zippo. He was another kitty that was found as a stray
at my house, but a long time ago. He was about three months old when he
was found and he's now 14-1/2.


He seriously is the most affectionate, sweetest cat we have ever had or
known. We always say we wish we could clone him. He is such a snuggle
kitty. Tim sure enjoyed his cuddle time with Zippo when he was home from
school last month.


In the evening, when I'm finally relaxing in bed with a book or some
TV, Zippo will come and curl up right next to me, in the crook of 
my arm. He even sleeps under the covers with us in the winter, snuggling
right between me and Brian. What a pussycat!


 I hope your weekend was a calm, quiet one. And if you'd like to tell
me about your fur baby - or babies - I'd love to hear about them.


36 comments:

  1. Hello You!! I loved hearing about the kitties...I've seen so many pictures but don't recall the stories behind how they came to you. I had to show A the pic of Monkey with his leg hanging off the cabinet!

    Opossums creep me out, we've had so many families living under our shed over the years. Little tiny Layla got in the face of one (that was obviously very sick, it could barely move) one night as it creeped across the yard. It was terrifying, they have some claws!

    The storms were terrible yesterday. We were right in the path of the huge tornado before it veered off toward Indiana. Emily was at work and also directly in the way but again, it changed course by the grace of God.

    My laptop died so I am using A's. I hope to get a new one this week. I haven't wanted to load any pics on his so we'll see if I decide to get a post out tomorrow. Sorry about your mom...I would have been beside myself. Did the deer make it?

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. I'm not too fond of possums either - they creep me out too. They hiss and have very sharp claws and lots of pointy little teeth. Not to mention that long rat-like tail. So glad to hear you stayed safe from the storms, too. Sorry to hear your laptop died - I would be so lost without mine! Brian's is pretty much "dead" right now so I'd be in trouble if mine gave up the ghost! Oh no, the deer of course didn't make it - he got hit at 70 mph. :-(

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  2. Hi Melanie - Well, I just loved this post tonight. You have three of the sweetest looking cats. I love the photo of Monkey with his arm hanging down. It's frame-worthy. I have one similar of our Sierra who is another wonderful feline. I'm glad you were spared from that terrible storm up your way. Deb

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    1. Hi there, Deb - glad you like the photo of Monkey with his arm hanging down. He does that all the time! Cracks us up. I like your kitty's name - very pretty.

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  3. Your cats are so pretty. I have never had a cat but I find them really interesting. I had dogs growing up and my husband and I had a dog until a little over a year ago when we had to put him down; he had tumors in his lungs and was very sick. I miss him a lot, he was our first baby. I'm glad your mom and sister were okay, that really is scary. I know exactly how it feels to be calm at first and then it hits you the next day. I've only been in two car accidents and it was that way both times for me. I'm glad you didn't have damage from the storms. The possum is so cute but he must have been really confused in the window well.

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    1. I've had all kinds of pets growing up - dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, fish, birds. I'm sorry to hear about your dog; it is so hard to lose a beloved pet. My mom is still a little shaken up today over the car accident. She's had a really bad couple of months with the passing of her dad, then her aunt, now this car accident. Funny thing with the possum was that he was actually washing himself and only peered up at me a couple of times looking like, "What do YOU want?" and would go back to grooming himself.

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  4. Hi Melanie, Your cats are adorable. My baby girl is a mini Dachshund named Kaytee. All of our kids are grown and out of the house so she is our "Kid" now. That is awful about your mom hitting the deer. God must have been watching out for her and your sister. It could have been so much worse. I was in a couple of tornadoes in when I lived in Nebraska but they were in August. November tornadoes....that is shocking.

    Debbi

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    1. Dachsund's are so cute! We had a neighbor who had one and she was adorable and very sweet. God definitely protected my mom and sister - they weren't hurt at all. Not even a scratch or a bruise. And my mom's little doggie - LuLu the Pomeranian - was asleep on a blanket in the back seat. She was fine, too. Didn't even get thrown.

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  5. Pretty kitties. I just had to put mine to sleep tonight ....so hard.
    Glad that your mother is okay. We are always dodging deer. The worst being on the interstate when everyone is going so fast.

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    1. Oh, Debby...here I'm doing a post on my cats and you had to have your kitty put to sleep tonight. I am so, so sorry. My heart goes out to you. {{hugs}}

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  6. You know my kitty boys, Max, and the late big boy, Tucker. I think Max is still missing his brother - I know I do. I told Greg we will get a new kitty, but not until next Spring. I want a baby that will grow up with the grandsons. Max is not too tolerant of the human children in and out of this house. LOL.
    I was glad to read that your mom and sis weren't hurt in their accident. We have to watch for deer on the highway, especially in a few key spots where there's a big creek. I have had them in my back yard as well, but we're so rural that we have all kinds of wildlife around, including possums - ew.

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    1. Animals definitely miss the other animals they have been raised with - I truly believe that animals feel a whole range of emotions. There's a lot of wildlife in my area, too. Tim hit a deer on a road by our house a few years ago and also totaled his car. He had a cut on his head, but it wasn't major.

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  7. Wow! You certainly had some weather.

    We have 2 cats living with us and Lulu has nothing to do with them or more to the point, they have nothing to do with Lulu. The cats belong to our son who is back in school for a third degree. He visits periodically, and the cats really miss him in between times.

    Monkey has a wonderful face.

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    1. I didn't realize you had two cats as well as your Lulu! When my mom brings her little dog to my house (her dog's name is also LuLu), my cats pretty much ignore her, too. I think it's because LuLu is so small (a Pomeranian).

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  8. Poor little possum, I think people forget that these storms affect the wild life as well. I just love you cats, we have a couple that like to get in the bed.
    Briony
    x

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    1. I think the wet possum was just looking for a place to get dry. I never had a cat before Zippo that liked to snuggle under the covers!

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  9. Melanie,

    So glad that your mom and sister were not injured. Physical and emotional feelings after such an accident take time and everybody deals with them in different ways. We also had a weekend of stormy weather, mind you, not as blustery as yours, although on my walk yesterday, I did notice many fallen pine branches, which always makes me sad.

    Your kitties are TOO cute! Zippo seems so sweet, Monkey is a hoot, and Clementine is the personification of a prim and proper Victorian lady!

    Growing up, we never had any pets, except for the occasional goldfish or two. BUT, both my husband and my daughter are HUGE animal lovers, especially cats, and you may know from a few of my posts, that we have adopted the most fun-loving, sweet and undemanding cat I have ever known, by the name of Prince Richard! BTW, I am seriously allergic to cats, so he can't live indoors with us, but he is a gentleman, devoted and warm hearted, especially with his two best buddies, as they are able to pet him, play with him, and hold him. Prince Richard has changed my mind about cats, as many of them only seem to be spongers, only siding with you because of their next meal!

    Have a happy week, my friend!

    xo
    Poppy

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    1. You are spot-on about my cats! Clementine even sits tall and pretty with her tail wrapped around her front paws like a little lady. I don't think I've ever seen your cat on your blog. Sorry to hear you're allergic to him. You're lucky he stays around outside and doesn't wander off!

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  10. They are all adorable...love the shot with the arm ( leg, ha ha ) hanging down. I have had many cats over my lifetime...just have the one now...a white cat named Kanga. She was so tiny and jumped around like a Kangaroo, hence her silly name.
    She is not and never will be a cuddler as in snuggling under your arm or being in your lap. Her style is to climb on top of a napping son and begin to knead stomach or leg area or as to me, a side & stomach sleeper, she comes and lays on my back or hip. And starts to purr and knead ..generally around 3:30 a.m. to the point where she wakes me up, I toss her off, she comes back, I toss again, etc. Sheesh! :0)

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    1. I love the name, Kanga - that is so cute. I know about cats waking you up in the middle of the night...not the time you want attention, right? ;-)

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  11. Well first off, so glad that you are safe and sound:) We cannot or will not allow anything to happen to you! Your sweet little kitty's make me smile-I was a cat lover growing up- I had a beautiful long hair cat by the name of Worthington another short hair Spike and of course Rafiki oh the list goes on and I am still a cat lover, but the hubby has issues with fur...so sad. I love animals and if I had my way I could easily become the crazy cat lady:)
    Darling photos and stories, Melanie!

    Warmest of Hugs!
    Jemma

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    1. Aw, sorry to hear your hubby is allergic to cats since you're such a cat lover. Technically, I'm allergic to them, too (worse with certain dog breeds) but not enough where I can't live with them. So I'm a bit stuffy - oh, well! I wish I could have more cats - every time I see one at a shelter or in the cages at PetCo, I want to take them home with me.

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  12. Glad you guys didn't suffer any major damage from the tornadoes and wind that ripped through your state. Thank you for helping the little possum to get out of the hole. You have such a kind heart. So glad your mom and sister were not hurt in the collision with the deer. They run right out on the road and there is no way to avoid them. Your kitty cats sure are adorable! That is such a dear picture of your son snuggled up with Zippo.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comments...you make me smile.

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  13. Yes, I will be praying for your family. Thanks.

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  14. Thanks for the cute photos of your kitties. Their names are delightful! Each cat has his/her unique personality. If I could I would love to have 20 instead of the 4 that I do have, aged 11 - 1 years. Happy to hear God spared you & family from storms & deer! Mary

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    1. I'm with you - I'd love to have a lot more kitties! But even three in our small house is plenty to take care of and they also cost a lot of money with their high-quality food and vet care. I am counting my blessings with staying safe in the storms and for protecting my family, too.

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  15. I guess your weekend was a little too eventful. So glad everyone is okay.
    Mary Alice

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary Alice. Sometimes a quiet, non-eventful weekend is a good thing!

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  16. No fur babies here, we hope to get another dog but it will have to child-proof. Our sweet Theo has been gone almost a year and he was just a perfect match for our family. He died the day before the Sandy Hook shooting and I still imagine him comforting all those children that went to heaven is such a tragic way.

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    1. Oh, Rhonda...I think you need another fur baby in your household! :-)

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  17. About wheat and bread, I grind wheat in a vintage Vitamix. Who knows, you may find one on your thrifting trips.

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    1. I would be over the moon if I found a Vitamix at a thrift store!

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  18. What sweet kitty-cats!!!! Sure am glad the storms were not on top of you.

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  19. I enjoyed reading about your cats and loved their pictures. I officially have only one cat, but unofficially, two more have chosen The Little White House as their home!

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind comment - I read and appreciate each one!