Over the years I've become pretty good at catching snakes. I've had to develop this skill as my kitties like catching snakes. And yes, I know what the poisonous ones look like too.
Yesterday, Keith left the garage door open at cat's height since they prefer to use the garden instead of the litterbox, and we quite agree with that. I was sitting outside, enjoying the coolness after a brief storm, when I heard an odd squealing. Those of you with kitties know that sound. It's a happy and excited cat talking with her mouth full of prey. "Look mom! I've brought you a goodie! I'm taking it inside for you!"
Keith and I translate this into "run like hell and block off all other entrances so we have a chance to catch whatever the present is this time." I race to the basement, yelling to Keith as I go, "Lily's got something, and she's bringing it in!"
Lily had caught a snake. What I'm pretty sure was an Eastern Kingsnake. Keith got Lily, and I got the snake. I first picked it up with a dustpan, but it was one active snake. As I got near the back door, it wiggled right over the edge of the dustpan and into a pile of extension cord. Great. Well, it's not poisonous, so I grab it with my bare hand and put it back on the dustpan. I'm sure it would still hurt if I got bitten. I raced outside, but the darn thing wiggled off the dustpan before I got it as far into the backyard as I would have liked. It didn't appear to be injured. I didn't see any puncture marks like I do see on snakes sometimes after they've been caught. I think the snake was fine after it's adventure. As for Lily, the minute we opened up the basement again, she was down there looking all around for her snake. Poor kitty. I really didn't want to spend time at the emergency animal clinic having a snake bite treated. I've been there, done that with Scooter - twice. (He really loved to catch snakes in his younger days.) As for me, while snake catching is not a hobby I really enjoy, I'm not too bad at it. I'm just so thankful it wasn't a poisonous one. I'm not ready for that.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Here's another cat trapper
You can read the exploits of another new cat trapper who is doing TNR at her apartment complex. http://project-cat.blogspot.com/
I'm so glad that I don't have that many cats to TNR. I would never have time to knit!
I'm so glad that I don't have that many cats to TNR. I would never have time to knit!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
More firsts
Keith and I had a couple more firsts on July 4, 2008.
We successfully got our first item listed on ebay. I had tried and tried to get it listed last weekend, but for some reason ebay just could not find the photos on my computer. I gave up, but Keith tackled it on Friday and finally got them to load. I'm very excited as we have 2 people watching it. We plan to get a few more listed today. This is a great way to earn a few dollars and clean out the house.
Second first. I planted 4 blueberry bushes many years ago. From several things like bad location, getting moved, having tree limbs fall on them, and possibly being mowed over, we ended up with only one bush. One poor little bush that has few berries, and the birds get them before we ever did. This year is different. We picked about a pint of berries off the bush on Friday, and we'll go get more ripe ones today. That is very exciting to know that we can have blueberry pancakes for our usual Sunday breakfast with berries we picked from our own backyard.
As for knitting, I had completed almost 2 lace repeats of my second Monkey when I compared it to the first. Major change in gauge. I had gone back to my stranglehold on the yarn. (I knit socks at a very tight gauge.) I ripped it all out and started over. I might finish 2 pairs, maybe 3 for Summer of Socks, and I'm okay with that.
We successfully got our first item listed on ebay. I had tried and tried to get it listed last weekend, but for some reason ebay just could not find the photos on my computer. I gave up, but Keith tackled it on Friday and finally got them to load. I'm very excited as we have 2 people watching it. We plan to get a few more listed today. This is a great way to earn a few dollars and clean out the house.
Second first. I planted 4 blueberry bushes many years ago. From several things like bad location, getting moved, having tree limbs fall on them, and possibly being mowed over, we ended up with only one bush. One poor little bush that has few berries, and the birds get them before we ever did. This year is different. We picked about a pint of berries off the bush on Friday, and we'll go get more ripe ones today. That is very exciting to know that we can have blueberry pancakes for our usual Sunday breakfast with berries we picked from our own backyard.
As for knitting, I had completed almost 2 lace repeats of my second Monkey when I compared it to the first. Major change in gauge. I had gone back to my stranglehold on the yarn. (I knit socks at a very tight gauge.) I ripped it all out and started over. I might finish 2 pairs, maybe 3 for Summer of Socks, and I'm okay with that.
Friday, July 4, 2008
One Monkey down
and one to go! I finished my first Monkey sock, which is also my first sock for Summer of Socks,
this morning. Well, I do have one more end to weave in, but I'll get to that in just a minute.
For those of you here in the States, have a happy and safe 4th of July. As I mentioned at Knit Nite, it's a typical American holiday. You know, drinking, grilling, and explosives (fireworks.) At least we don't live in the part of metro Atlanta where they celebrate by shooting their guns up into the air. As for me, I think I'll stick to the drinking and knitting. I'll let Keith do the grilling, and let someone else handle the fireworks.
ETA Here are Keith's finished socks finally! I'm not sure how long I've been knitting these
socks. It seems like forever! I am very happy to be finished with them today. They are knitted very densely with a gauge of 11 stitches per inch. They should wear like iron. The cuff is a 2x2 rib that stretches quite nicely. In fact, I've been using the 2x2 rib as my basic sock that I make for myself. I had almost finished the first Meanie sock I am making for myself. I had knitted a stockinette cuff, but when I tried it on, I didn't like it. I ripped out the cuff and reknitted it. I'll have it finished and posted in the next few days. However, I plan to cast on that second Monkey tonight so I can finish at least one pair for Summer of Socks.
this morning. Well, I do have one more end to weave in, but I'll get to that in just a minute.For those of you here in the States, have a happy and safe 4th of July. As I mentioned at Knit Nite, it's a typical American holiday. You know, drinking, grilling, and explosives (fireworks.) At least we don't live in the part of metro Atlanta where they celebrate by shooting their guns up into the air. As for me, I think I'll stick to the drinking and knitting. I'll let Keith do the grilling, and let someone else handle the fireworks.
ETA Here are Keith's finished socks finally! I'm not sure how long I've been knitting these
socks. It seems like forever! I am very happy to be finished with them today. They are knitted very densely with a gauge of 11 stitches per inch. They should wear like iron. The cuff is a 2x2 rib that stretches quite nicely. In fact, I've been using the 2x2 rib as my basic sock that I make for myself. I had almost finished the first Meanie sock I am making for myself. I had knitted a stockinette cuff, but when I tried it on, I didn't like it. I ripped out the cuff and reknitted it. I'll have it finished and posted in the next few days. However, I plan to cast on that second Monkey tonight so I can finish at least one pair for Summer of Socks.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Yay! Not diabetes
The vet called today to let me know Monster's bloodwork came back okay. She has incipient cataracts, which sound like pre-cataracts to me. I'll spend some time surfing and researching. As for the food, Monster needs to stay on the Diabetic Management food to lose some weight, and Scooter most definitely needs to stay away from it. Please don't think Scooter is neglected when I keep him away from Monster's food. Today is liver day for him, and as Keith and I are having flounder tonight, I'm sure Scoots will get some of that too.
I've got to get some knitting done before Keith gets home. He kept muttering things about housework before I escaped today.
Have a happy fourth!
I've got to get some knitting done before Keith gets home. He kept muttering things about housework before I escaped today.
Have a happy fourth!
Wollmeise Monkey #1
This is No Purl Monkey number 1. These are for me, and I'm knitting them as part of Summer of Socks 2008. If I can get some quality knitting time tonight, I'll have it finished by Saturday. Then I can cast on number 2.Monster seems to really like her Diabetes Management catfood, but I do have to feed her away from Scooter as he wants to eat it also. I usually want to let my ancient kitty eat whatever he wants, but I need to make sure it's okay for him. Well, this also costs more than the holistic food they normally get, but then again, my Scooter is over 18, and I think he's worth it.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The vet again
Today I took Monster and Grey for annual checkups and vaccinations. There was nothing serious wrong; they just needed shots and a quick look in their ears. Yes, I have lots of cat ears to clean.
Monster doesn't like going to the vet, and she usually lives up to her name. It has been suggested to me that I change her name, but I haven't found one I really like for her. Today Margie, who I've known for years, told me that she distinctly heard the name Madelaine while she was working with Monster. Madelaine sounds ok to me, so I'll try it out and see if that's her real name. Yes, I know that makes me sound like a wierdo, but that's how I've found names for the dogs. A name would just pop into my head and be right.
As for Madelaine, she probably has diabetes. She has cataracts starting to form, so I've gotten a new cat food to try out. We tried last year to put her on a different food. She refused to eat it while Brownie would gobble it up. As Brownie needed every calorie she could get, and Madelaine does need to eat, I returned what was left of the food. She needs to go back next week, then we'll have to take her in to see what insulin levels she needs. I said as I was leaving today that responsible pet ownership is not cheap.
I've also got to get Madelaine up and moving more. She spends so much time sleeping on the coffee table under the fan. (Did I mention that she's seriously overweight?) We've got to make her get up and play some. I see my knitting time diminishing right before my eyes. Thank goodness I've turned the heel of the first Monkey sock.
ETA: I'm not sure about calling her Madelaine. I think I'll stick with her long time nickname of Wooly Bear. I call her that most of the time anyway.
Monster doesn't like going to the vet, and she usually lives up to her name. It has been suggested to me that I change her name, but I haven't found one I really like for her. Today Margie, who I've known for years, told me that she distinctly heard the name Madelaine while she was working with Monster. Madelaine sounds ok to me, so I'll try it out and see if that's her real name. Yes, I know that makes me sound like a wierdo, but that's how I've found names for the dogs. A name would just pop into my head and be right.
As for Madelaine, she probably has diabetes. She has cataracts starting to form, so I've gotten a new cat food to try out. We tried last year to put her on a different food. She refused to eat it while Brownie would gobble it up. As Brownie needed every calorie she could get, and Madelaine does need to eat, I returned what was left of the food. She needs to go back next week, then we'll have to take her in to see what insulin levels she needs. I said as I was leaving today that responsible pet ownership is not cheap.
I've also got to get Madelaine up and moving more. She spends so much time sleeping on the coffee table under the fan. (Did I mention that she's seriously overweight?) We've got to make her get up and play some. I see my knitting time diminishing right before my eyes. Thank goodness I've turned the heel of the first Monkey sock.
ETA: I'm not sure about calling her Madelaine. I think I'll stick with her long time nickname of Wooly Bear. I call her that most of the time anyway.
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