There are 2 distinct groups of cats in my little world. The inside cats are the ones that…..well, come inside. Polly, old Brenda and not-too-long-ago Toby were the cats in this clique. Then there are the OUTDOOR cats. You can probably guess where they have to stay.
Usually the outdoor cats are just a lump group with no individuality. There are a pack of them, ranging from a few tom cats, several females that have several litters a year and varying sizes of kittens from new to half-grown. But once in a while, a cat steps forward from this anonymous group to be, at least for a while, a part of a nebulous third group; The Outdoor Cats Who Have a Name.
Tree Cat , of whom you have heard me speak before, was pretty much the only outdoor cat who had an appelation, no matter that it (and he) is a little strange. But lately…...............
Mostly the outdoor cats are skittish and fearful. They allow me to feed them, and some even let me come quite near, but a touch, or even a near-touch is NEVER allowed. But this little cat seems to be an exception. He is always on the steps when I open the door in the morning. As part of his morning ritual, he runs a few steps into the house and I tell him to get back out. Then, as I carry the “breakfast” to the cat-feeding station, he rubs against my leg and runs practically under my feet. When I have dumped the food into the “troughs”, he follows me back to replenish the water dish. Yes, I have named him (actually, could be a “her”, but the name is equally good either way); I think it is the perfect name for such an endearing little creature. Are you ready? Okay, here goes: its MUFFIN.
Okay, now imagine my consternation when I arrived home last night and Johnny, who had come home for his days off, informed me that HE had named the cute, personable kitten. The name? WET SPROCKET. How, or if, Johnny’s mind works, I will never know.
Anyway, here’s the photo. You be the judge.
UltraMom
Muffin or Wet Sprocket?
What a Cat!
I just returned from my annual MountainWest Women’s Ministries Retreat. Several churches from Idaho and Utah participate and it is always great to see old, familiar faces as well as new, fresh ones. We met in Sun Valley for the second time, but have met previously in a hotel in a Provo, Utah canyon, in Grand Targhee and in Jackson Hole. We had a little over 100 women attending this year, and there were 12 from my church, including invitees, such as my sister, UltraDebi.
Our speakers are quite a varied lot, with vastly different methods of instruction, but each one speaks to a need that, usually, I”m not even aware I had!
This year, Debbie Smalley was our speaker. She was witty, funny, down to earth and very instructive. It’s funny; I have noticed lately that I often get the same “life lesson” from several different sources within a short period of time. Several sources lately, including the retreat speaker, my “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” book, my “The Purpose Driven Life” book, Dale Carnegie’s 1930’s classic “How to Make Friends and Influence People”, and even Cheryl Crow’s song “I Want to Soak up the Sun” have been telling me that “Its not having what you want; its wanting what you’ve got” that brings true contentment.
Some other contentment principles: It is NOT complacency, sentimental resignation, or denying present conditions, but it IS learned by experience, the opposite of covetousness (you simply can’t be content and coveting at the same time), and unaffected by life conditions. . Whew! And that was only one little part of it.
We also had some terrific meals, including the “world-famous” Sun Valley Brunch, consisting of omelet station, crepe station, outstanding fresh fruit, pastries and things that we could not identify. In our free time, UltraDebi and I took a hike on a path partway up a mountain with some of the local ladies. I’m pretty sure we were the oldest hikers. Some of those woment really set a pace! With our requisite wandering about lost trying to find the meeting point, the actual hike, and walking back to the Condo from the town, I logged 17 miles on my pedometer in one day!
I had today off work for Columbus Day. I’m not sure why we celebrate it, but am glad that we do; I LOVE paid holidays! I met Johnny in town and we ate Mexican food and saw the “Shark Tale” movie. Yeah, I know its a kid’s movie, but we quite enjoyed it! The only bad thing is that I had agreed to donate blood since there was a Red Cross Blood Drive in our town today, but I totally forgot about it until it was too late. I hate breaking my word.
Well, its back to work tomorrow, and its already late, so I’d better get doing. Still have to change my sheets since the old cat was apparently laying, shedding and drooling on my bed today and SOMEBODY fogot to make it up this morning.
Wish I could find some way to blame UltraBob….............
UltraMom
The hikers from the lookout point. UDebi and I are front left. She has is wearing the sylish American Eagle shirt and pretty much looks like the rest of the group, while I look as if I should be on a sourth-seas island.
This is near the lodge where we had our meetings. Aren’t the swans beautiful?
I thought it was fairly even as expected, but Edwards was able to bring out a number of lies by the Bush administration that will hopefully wake some people up. I only caught the last half hour or so though. What did you think?
Okay, UltraBob. I’d kind of forgotten about this story, but since you asked for it, here we go:
“We live on a farm in a remote area of southeast Idaho, and have to travel 70 miles to the nearest town of any size. Going to town always involves intense preparation, especially where the pets are concerned. One winter several years ago was particularly severe and there were huge snow drifts. Jeff, our old setter dog had many of the problems that accompany old age, such as senility and incontinence, so it was important that someone accompany him on a jaunt outdoors before we left him alone in the house for several hours. One day, my husband and I had an appointment in town, and it was my turn to take Jeff out. I followed him as he wandered aimlessly about, in and out of snowdrifts for 10 mintutes or so. When he finally finished “his business” and I was able to corral/cajole him back into the house, I was grumpy, cold and wet. My husband John seemed unconcerned as I tried to get a little sympathy. “The snow is really deep out there! It was up to my waist.” I declared. At his skeptical look I faltered, “Well, it was at least up to the top of my thighs.” Critically he eyed the water line on my jeans. “It appears to me,” he said calmly, ” as if it were no more than a a middle-thighs drift.”
UltraMom
I submitted this true, “Life in These United States” story a couple of years ago. I never heard a word. Their loss is your gain (though I may submit it again!)
My teenage son, Jim, and his friend, B. J., were getting ready to go fishing, and Jim asked me to make them a lunch. I made a few sandwiches, found some cookies and pop and was lamenting the lack of healthy fruits and vegetables when B.J. showed up with a cooler. At my request, B.J. opened his cooler to reveal a bag of mini-carrots. “Oh, B.J.”, I exclaimed, “What a good idea! The carrots will make it a much healtheir lunch.”
Several days later, I was again telling Jim how we really needed to start eating healthier, and praised B.J. for bringing some vegetables to snack on. Having finally heard enough, Jim turned to me with a sigh. “Mom,” he said, “I hate to burst your bubble, but those weren’t carrots in B.J.’s cooler. They were cheetos.”
*************************************************************
True story; that was before I got the glasses (which i still never wear). But what I want to know is why put cheetos in a cooler???
UltraMom
Well, its official. UltraDad will soon be employed in Carlin, NV driving a big truck for a local gold-mining company. After practically the most extensive physical of his life, they pronounced him fit enough to work for them and offered him the job.
He has been home for the past several days, and I have been trying to make the most of it, being mindful that he will soon be gone. In fact, he will be gone tomorrow. Although the job doesn’t start for a week, he has been looking forward all summer long to going hunting in another part of Nevada. You have to apply for this hunt, and then there is a drawing, kind of like a lottery. After not being chosen for the past several years, UDad and his brothers will be permitted to deer hunt in Nevada this season. So this week of grace will be spent hunting.
He had several projects he wanted to finish, and there is nothing like a deadline to add that extra incentive. Today, he finished up the porch which has been in state of half-finished limbo all summer long. Today, with my expert fetch & carry, stand on the end of the board he is cutting,clean up all the scrap lumber help we got the job done. One of the main things was to enclose the underporch with lattice wood. That way, the kittens would be banned from sleeping, playing and pooping in that area, previously a great favorite. Anyway, now it looks fantastic. Too bad he won’t be around to enjoy it:(
Before: Notice the Artistic Clutter. That is our trademark.
Aah! Finished at last. A thing of beauty. Notice the tiny black kitten scurrying across the porch.
Is it just me, or is Kerry stomping Bush in spite of Bush distorting things at every opportunity?
UPDATE: Right now, just after the debate has ended the MSNBC poll has it at 72% – 28% Kerry victory.
84% – 12% with 4% at evenly matched on CNN
