Box Baby

We have been enjoying our company lately – as much as possible in this heat! Yesterday was a scorcher. 29C with a “real feel” of 35C! We were supposed to get thunderstorms, and one did quickly pass over us, but for the most part, they all passed us by. Which meant very little rain.

Today, we were supposed to get a series of thunderstorms, but again, they passed us by. We are, however, FINALLY getting a solid rainfall right now, and it’s even cooled down a bit. We need rain so much! At least it’s not as dry as last year, but it’s still way too dry. Yesterday, my friend and I went to get the mail, stopping at a park nearby. When we lived here, years ago, we once released a snapping turtle found on the side of the highway into the pond in the park.

The pond is completely dry right now. Even with the one downpour we had earlier, the only side of it was what maybe-couldbe-kindalookslike some mud, visible between some grasses.

Today, the girls arranged to take Dave to the vet in town. He got a check up and vaccinations, as well as a deworming pill. We got some antibiotic eye drops to take home. His eyes are getting better on their own, but the drops should help his eyes clear up faster. The vet says it’s from cat herpes, and that pretty much all outdoor cats have it (and worms).

He is a bit under sized for his age, which we could see just by comparing him to the other litters. However, aside from his eyes, he seems quite healthy. He’ll be coming back in a month for another round of vaccinations, and likely another deworming pill. Since we now almost exactly when he was born (thanks to date stamps on the photos I took!), we know to come back in November to get him fixed.

He was a very tired kitty when we got him home.

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Gate installation: it’s done!

I have the most awesome brother in the world.

He made the hour + drive out this morning to get the gate up for us, early enough that it was finished well before I drove my daughter to work! He even had enough time to swing by and join my mother for church before heading home.

What a sweetheart!

I got to help. :-)

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Cat tales

The kittens have really been enjoying their newfound freedom.

Yesterday morning, they all discovered the ornamental apple trees in the old kitchen garden. At one point, we have 4 or 5 of them in one, and 3 in the other, all at the same time!

All that running around is very tiring.

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Smoke on the Water

I was up earlier this morning, heading out to switch the memory card on the trail cam so I could check the files before heading out. I left the critter stuff for my older daughter to do later, since I was heading for the airport after dropping off her sister.

It was less than an hour later when we headed out, and immediately noticed a dustiness to the air – except it was in all directions.

There was also the smell of smoke.

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Critter(s) of the Day: kit and cat

The kittens now eagerly await for the sun room door to be opened from the outside. When it opens, they just EXPLODE outside and start running around and exploring.

This little guy was investigating the garden hose. :-D

I also wanted to share this picture I got last night.

Guildenstern, in her favourite spot. So regal! Like a forest queen. :-)

Posting might be a bit light over the next while, as we will be having a dear friend stay with us. I pick her up at the airport tomorrow, and we can hardly wait!

Gate post progress: painting done!

After giving the second coat of paint 8 hours to cure – and making sure they weren’t tacky, like we were having problems with before – I put the hinge pins back up.

All of the painting is now complete!

The chain will be held just by the hinge pins for now; I don’t want to start scratching the new paint by wrapping the chain around the posts.

Though the paint was not tacky to the touched, I didn’t want to take a chance of the pins and their washers getting stuck once the nuts were tightened, so I applied spray lubricant, first.

As a bonus, while I was working on it, I met our neighbour, who was out jogging. As she was walking back, we introduced ourselves and had a nice chat. They live a mile away from us which is a pretty typical distance for neighbours around here. :-D I’ve seen them (well; their vehicle) pretty regularly, but we hadn’t had the chance to meet until today. :-)

The posts are now ready to have the gates mounted on the hinges, whenever my brother is ready to come by with the last pieces he has for them.

I’m really looking forward to seeing our freshly painted gate up again! :-)

The Re-Farmer