Bananas

"Lynn, I didn't think you saw all the 'naners in the kitty posts

we visit!"

I had noticed all the cats going bananas for a  'naner, as

we call 'em here.  And I never gave it a thought to try to figure

out where to buy one.  Precious is so bad about using new

toys that it is a waste of money. Better spent on her food!

It was by chance I saw it when I had to go to our only

big box dept. store to buy cat food. I keep 2 sacks at all

times nowa days, and when my big grocery did not have it

I had to go else where. And both big chain stores only have

small versions of the "big" store in our little city.

Anyways,  I found the Purina One Indoor and was glad

to see they had lots. So I got greedy and bought 2. I did this

in case we have really bad weather this winter.  I glanced

around at the lack of Fancy Feast, which we don't use and

saw the small display of cat toys.  Lo and behold, a

BANANA was hanging there and not the kind I eat.

So I quickly gave in to the urge to buy, got the bags

of cat food and quickly checked out and headed home.

Going into any store is just no fun anymore. 

" I know, Lynn, the bananas you eat stink. They make my

nose curl every time I sniff them. And I always ask to have

a sniff.  This 'naner is perfectly ripe and smells great."

As a side note, those interested in the Ash trees decline,

25 years ago there abouts, the Emerald Ash Borer from

Asia was imported accidentally on a shipment of living

non-native ornamental plants.  They lay their eggs in the

bark and within 2 years, the larvae kill the tree eating

the soft under tissue.  The ash in Michigan, where they

entered port, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois are losing the

trees by the millions. Eventually they will be completely

gone across the Americas.

 

She took to her Bed

"Lynn, what is that awful noise? How can I get

any sleep?"

Poor Precious trying to get her beauty rest during the day in her tent-bed.

And the neighbors are having their spare lot cleared of

briars and multiflora and dead trees. All Ash trees here 

are now dead.  We have thousands of skeletons standing every where.

There were some on our property alive

until 2 years ago. We had 15 dead ones removed.

This is one trailer I can see from the bedroom window.

It was a sunny but cold day. But I am sure the Amish in the stove pipe

hat was not cold with all the work he and another man did.

"I need absolute peace and QUIET. Doesn't anyone hear me?"

 

Late Package Delivered

"Lynn, the mailman left a box on the porch. You know I

don't like him close by."

I know, Precious,  it is a good thing you growled loudly,

because he did not ring the door bell or knock to let me know

I had a box.

And this box had my Nala's World tee shirt and carry bag in

it.  And if this box could talk it would have a story to tell.

It was ordered November 24, 2020.  And it was shipped

out of the UK on Dec 3, 2020.  However, our postal system never

indicated it was in the US at all.  The package must have flown into

the Bermuda Triangle to never be heard of again.  But USPS finally

admitted to having it on January 1, 2021.  It was in Chicago, Illinois.

Here's the trail from, Chicago, Illinois to me on Jan. 8.

Chicago west to Des Moines, Iowa 334 miles.

Des Moines, Iowa east to Indianapolis, Indiana 475 miles.

Indianapolis east to Columbus, Ohio 175 miles.

Columbus north to my tiny town 60 miles.

It traveled 1041 miles to be delivered to me late. As the crow

flies, it is 343 miles from Chicago to my town! I am glad it

arrived and as you can see Precious has a new bag to try out.

"Lynn, I don't know who Nala is, but I like the green eyes like mine."

I guess it is fitting the box went long way round about to get here. Nala and

her human wanted to bike around the world, pre-covid, and I guess

the trip the box took just represents that.

8 wonderful years

 "Lynn, it's my 8th anniversary today. I try to remember

how it was before, but I really am only interested in today."

"Is that really me back then? I must have grown up."

And maybe a bit out, Precious. But that just means there is

more of you to love.

She gets into the sink today only to drink. She can get

her front paws in, but she'll never get herself in to lie down.

When we brought Precious home, she spent 3 days straight

laying at the foot of the bed on a thermal cat blanket. She'd get

up to eat a tiny bit, potty and go right back to bed. Even

though we were strangers, and who knows how much tossing

and turning we do at night, she slept right there for nearly

72 hours.

Then on the fourth day, she did her usual routine of eating

some and potty. But she did not go back to bed.  She looked

up at me in my recliner, jumped up on my lap, gave my face

a complete inspection, turned around and laid down on my

legs. She started purring and was there for a few hours. I was

so amazed, but I think she was just recuperating from the trauma

of being abandoned and unhappy with the stress of the humane

society.

I'm glad to say, that starting right then she was a new girl. Unhappy

when she had her first of 3 vet visits soon after. But forgiving when

she came home.

"I just knew you were going to be good to me, Lynn. It's a good

thing I can't keep track of time, or I'd be sorry so many years

have gone by."

I am sorry that 8 years have passed. Where does life go?

I am getting old older and wish it would just stop on a  good

day and remain there for just an extra week or two.

Santa delivered

"Santa brought me just what I wanted, Lynn!" 

"I can never have enough sacks to lay on."

Maybe you can pick out Precious's scratchy 

post in the top right of the above photo. It is

actually a cardboard tube wrapped in sisal

(coarse rope) and on the table leg, so no tip

overs of a free standing post and it is well

used this way.  Had to tip the table over to 

install this and every couple years, it has to be

turned upside down to even out the rope as it

gets scratched so much. 

"How did he know what size bags to bring?"

"How did he know where I live? And the paper

shopping bag from the bike store.  We can play

frog on it all evening long. Just get ready to

flip the frog, Lynn."

Precious is easy to please.  Me, I wonder how

many sacks I can have on the floor at one time. 

Just like having stepping stones in the house, but 

hey, she's happy and no one is coming here to visit

during these times. No pressure on my part to keep

every thing picked and and put away.

As for my gift, I woke up Dec.25 to 10 inches of snow,

and 13 degrees (-10C). It was to be 1 to 2 inches, but I

guess St. Nick needed more for those reindeer of his.

I spent a few hours just shoveling snow and part of it

was to clear paths to the bird feeders as you can see here.

Happy New Year from Precious and Lynn

Christmas Traditions

"Lynn, let's decorate the tree with the Fancy Feast Kitties."

I have mostly cat related ornaments for the tree. Most are

the Fancy Feast ones I was able to get from 1997 to 2012.

You had to have dozens of can labels and a bit of money,

so I saved every label off every can of food Seney would

eat. Not that she usually ate a whole can! She was so 

picky and finicky her entire 20 years. 

When Seney died on Christmas Eve, 2012 that put

an end to tradition.  However Precious and I have

our own tradition of getting them all out and putting them

on a much smaller tree, as the years go by. Basically,

I believe Precious would rather have them for toys,

but that isn't likely to happen.

"Don't let Santa know I'm under the tree skirt.

I'm hoping to see him come in with my favorite

treats and wacky weed.  I've been very very good."

Merry Christmas to each and everyone. I have

truly enjoyed doing the blog this past year. And every

one of you who have visited are in my prayers for

a wonderful new year ahead.  Lynn

 

Take sun where we can get it

She's a sun beam seeker.

Winter is here, not it's worse yet, but cold. And Precious

seeks out any sun ray she can find in the late afternoon

when the sun is coming in the front west facing window.

On days when it isn't too cold, after the sun warms up

the front door and porch, I'll open the door for a bit. Not

energy efficient, however, I think I can take the furnace

running a bit more for her pleasure.  It is certainly short

lived as the sun goes behind the bare trees across the road.

Then it is daylight a while longer but quickly too cold.

"Gosh, Lynn, were are the butterflies and humming birds?

They've all left me and now I just have dry leaves blowing

all about the yard! I'd love to catch them!"

We had a "snow incident" the next morning. Just ask me what

that means! It used to be called a snow storm when it was inches

deep, now the weather girl ( I know, don't call her a girl)

uses new terms for old weather patterns. And yes, I consider her

a girl, she looks too old to be my granddaughter, and so young

she'd could be the youngest child, if I'd have had kids.