I wasn’t able to water the garden last night – I was just too burned out and went to bed early. It was going to be hotter again today, so I wanted to make sure it was done this morning, including the walnut trees and Korean pine, in the outer yard.
To water those, I drag the hose out as far as it can go, then grab a couple of watering cans. I keep those by the rain barrel against the house, filled with water, so they don’t blow away. Since they’re already full, I use that water on the first two saplings.
The last time I did this, something was clogging the water, and it turned out to be a frog in the watering can. So when the first watering can started clogging again, I figured it was another frog!
I took the rose off just in time to see a little frog face duck back into the spout. 😂
I poured it out and found the lovely green friend.
It seems that once a frog gets into the watering can, it can’t get out – but it can go up into the spout, above the water line, so it won’t drown, either.
When I was done and put the watering cans back, I refilled them – then removed the rose. If a frog gets into one of them again, it’ll be able to get out through the spout.
When feeding the yard cats this morning, I have been making sure to bring a bowl of food to the garage, where the secret kittens are. I never saw the kittens, though I did see the mama coming up the driveway from across the road, at the time. After the watering was done, I went to retrieve the bowl for this evening’s feeding. I peeked through the open door first, of course, and didn’t see anything, so I went right in.
A white and grey kitten suddenly bolted from my brother’s big mower, and hit under the stuff in the corner where their “nest” is.
Then I saw the mama, starting at me in alarm.
She had been curled up with her babies, nursing them, on the comfortable seat of the mower! The seat has a back to it, plus arm rests, so they were completely hidden from view from behind.
The mother was acting really nervous, but she did let me come closer. I reached my hand out and she sniffed my fingers, and allowed me to pet her for a bit before she ran off.
The other kitten was still on the seat.
Did I dare?
I decided I did.
My goal was really just to touch the kitten, and give it a chance to learn my scent. It hissed at me, but not very enthusiastically. It gave my fingers a sniff, and hissed again, but didn’t move.
I went for it.
I pet the kitty – and it let me!
I was even able to give it skitches on the neck and ears. It just looked at me, but didn’t try to get away.
I was leaning awkwardly across the mower, so I had to pull my arm back and shift positions. I got another light his, but the kitten still stayed.
It let me pet it again.
As I was petting it, I thought again; do I dare?
I dared.
I very gently scooped the kitten closer to me on the seat, so I could pick it up.
It let me.
I was able to hold and snuggle the baby for a couple of minutes!
This kitten is a solid baby. All dens muscle! Even its fur is thicksome.
We have another kitten with blue, blue eyes!
After holding it for a while, I didn’t want to push it too far, so I gently put it back on the mower seat, then took the bowl and headed back. I am so amazed that I was able to pick it up at all! I would have been happy if I only managed to get it to sniff my fingers without running away!
Hopefully, I will soon be able to touch the other kitten, too – and bring them to the house, where they will have access to food, water and comfortable beds, and other kittens to play with.
This baby is an absolute stunner.
I don’t know where the mamas find them, but we’ve got some gorgeous genetics showing up in our colony!
The Re-Farmer
The Re-Farmer 