My beautiful boy, Blackie. Except he's a girl. And s/he deserves a better name. Suggestions, anyone?
PHOTO CREDIT :: ADELINE JESSICA CRITES-MOORE
THREE LITTLE KITTENS WITH MAMA.
It's all about kittens
I've been very busy with a litter of kittens! We volunteered to foster a litter for the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) and, I must say, we had no idea how much work would be involved! This, of course, is why kittens are so darn cute. Cuteness serves as a sort of camouflage: "Yes, we are a poopy, needy mess, but we are so tiny and adorable."
When we brought them home they were just shy of three weeks old. Tiny little rat-kittens. And Mama was sick with Giardia, which meant diarrhea everywhere in "their" room, which used to be called "the dining room." When I say everywhere, I really mean it. She is very good about using the litter box to pee, but she will not use it for poo. Seriously. We cleared out lots of stuff and shoved it all into the living room, which is no longer livable. We even put the dining table in there and turned it on its side to make a barrier so Mama can't go in there. (Did I mention she has diarrhea everywhere she goes?)
THIS USED TO BE MY DINING ROOM.
WHAT WAS IN THE DINING ROOM HAS NOW SPILLED INTO THE LIVING ROOM.
Mama is a very sweet girl. The poor thing was found huddled under a porch with her litter. She must have been terrified, especially since she is obviously not a feral cat. Her sweet disposition and friendliness tells us she was somebody's pet. Apparently her owner just dumped her when she became inconvenient.
If you can't take care of your pet, find her another home! If you can't find her another home, at least take her to a shelter. That's why shelters exist. Don't just abandon a helpless animal.
MAMA IS A SWEETHEART AND HER BABIES LOVE TO CUDDLE WITH HER.
One of the kittens became sick, probably with what is called "Fading Kitten Syndrome." His weight dropped from .6 lb to .4 lb. One of his eyes was plastered shut and the other one looked awful. He was lethargic and too weak to claim his rightful place in the nursing line-up. We were so worried about him.
The vet injected fluids under his skin, because he was severely dehydrated. Adeline fed him by hand, with a special supplement she had to mix before each feeding. We kept him warm - space heater, hot water bottle, and lots of cuddling. Now he is as energetic as any of them and his weight is up to .85 lb. Happy.
We call him Little Tiny One, which was also the name of a doll Adeline carried everywhere when she was a one-year-old.
WE ALMOST LOST LITTLE TINY ONE. HE ADORES ADELINE, WHO NURSED HIM BACK TO HEALTH. SHE LITERALLY SAVED HIS LIFE.
BLACKIE HAS AN "M" ON HIS FOREHEAD. IS THAT AN "M" AS IN MINE? PHOTO CREDIT: ADELINE JESSICA CRITES-MOORE
We are now at the stage where the kitties are starting to wean themselves off of Mama (I'm pretty sure she likes that) and they are exploring and playing. Did I mention they also have diarrhea? No? It doesn't really matter - we'll give them their medicine and not really mind at all. And you know why: because they are so incredibly, amusingly, fuzzily, tiny and adorable!
KITTENS ARE STARTING TO EXPLORE AND PLAY.
She who hesitates ...
This is what happens to those who procrastinate: I'd been planning to buy all three of the above items from Christine Mauersberger, but I kept putting it off. Now they are all sold out and her Hank & Spool shop is going into sleep mode for the summer. When will I ever learn?
The up-side: We will all be rewarded when Christine re-opens in the fall, possibly selling some of her own creations. Yay!
Sepia
A little pottery jar I bought for my mother years ago, sometime in the early 1970s. I wish I knew who made it. I bought it at The Craftsman Gallery in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Faded roses, from last year's garden. "People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us." -Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat.
A sweet Schneeman angel. "Angels are all around us, all the time, in the very air we breathe." -Eileen Elias, The Angels' Little Instruction Book.
Old thread on old spools. "Sewing mends the soul." -Author unknown.
Celebrating, Swedish Style
Time to celebrate Ann-Margret's birthday in rural upstate New York.
Candles, always candles.
Beautiful natural light, too.
And a little paper Swedish flag made by Doug.
Barely Functioning
I just can't wake up. I suppose I could try a cup of caffeine. Or go back to bed, yet again. Yes, that's what I'll do, go back to bed. Wish I had something interesting to share.
