Why Breed?

Why Breed?  Someone asked me quite some time ago.  I gave the person some really poetic answer about the joy of seeing the new owner with their precious bundle etc etc.  I mean, isn't that what we always say when people ask?

Lately, I have been really thinking about it though... Why Breed?  The over thinking could be due to the fact that I have been on heavy pain killers due to a minor surgery.  Orrr... it could be my natural inclination to totally overthink.  Either way...

Why?  Why do it?  I mean, I can't even pretend it's for the  money.  The last time I looked at my books I was literally In the Hole.  I looked because I was in a great debate with myself over weather or not to get another cat tree.  I got the cat tree.  I haven't looked since.  I know I am deeper in the hole.  It's not even a real business, I am pretty sure a real business is supposed to make a profit.  I do not.  Okay, so it's certainly not the money ~ that is non -existent.  In fact, any GOOD breeder is always "animal poor" we just pour any dollars we get, right back into the animals.  They need things... like cat trees for mental stimulation.  They need fluffy beds for comfort and warmth... if one cat has a comfy bed, the others need one, it's not fair if they don't all have one!  They need shots, and de-worming, and vet exams, and food!  Oh my gosh the food, the stress over the food.  The food is ridiculous.

I am convinced that there is no perfect food for cats unless they are feral and hunt in the woods. The cat litter is another thing!  It's not only expensive, but it's a decision process, seriously, it's every bit as stressful as the darn food.  You want a litter that you cats like (obviously) but you want it to be cost effective (HA!) you also want it to be healthy for your cat.. so not a lot of silica, you want it to be as green as it can be, but it can't be clay, that's too hard to clean. The paper pellets are very green (yay) the cats like them (yay) but they smell, and they don't last long enough.  Back to square one on the  litter.

Lets not forget supplements, we get liver treats, because it's good for the eyes.  It's important for our kitties to have good eyes right?  We get kitten milk replacer, and calcium, and colostrum (just in case) We get canned food because the mama cats need extra moisture and nutrients.  But it can't be just ANY canned cat food, it has to be the "good " kind.  What is the good kind?  I mean really...is there a good kind?  We have to have special kitten food ~ they need taurine.  What is taurine? What does it do? Why do the kittens need it?  Can they get  it anywhere else?

We need syringes, and nipples and iodine and scissors, and tape and wraps and puppy pads, and mini litter boxes for the babies.  The list doesn't end.  Have I mentioned cat toys yet? We need those too, it's important.  They need fresh air and sunshine, that means and outdoor cattio on nice days.

But why?  I mean, it's really just stress after stress! What is so great about this and why on earth keep doing it?  Do I need to even mention the furniture?  Or lack thereof?  We can't have nice things...  unless by "nice" you mean "smells like cat piss in July " then we have that covered.  The fur, the fur is everywhere.

and the PEOPLE!!  Do people  not read anymore? Did they EVER?  I post an ad with the PRICE, the BREED, the AGE, the GENDER , the LOCATION ... and what happens?

People call/ text/email... How old are your kittens (date is on the ad) can you count?  How much is it?  "It" is a kitten and you can't have "IT"  Where are you located?  You are in Wisconsin right?  Is Wisconsin in Indiana? How far are you from me?  (They don't have google maps ~ but clearly  I do, because I can always answer this question)  My computer is special, and when you type things in the search engine... like "google maps" it can tell me how far away things are.  It's complex, I know... don't try it at home.  Leave it to the experts.

These same people ~ after figuring everything out, by chatting with me for hours on the phone and via email, and 2 am texts, take the kitten home.  Meanwhile... I stress over weather or not I made the right decision.  I mean Mary Jane couldn't read the ad, should I have let little fluffy go home with her?  Did fluffy like the drive there?  What if fluffy misses her brothers and sisters?  What if they should have taken two kittens to keep each other company?  What if their dog actually hates cats.  What if someone steps on fluffy?!  OMG!  WHY BREED?!

Back to the narrative, these people take fluffy home.  I calm down, and reassure myself that fluffy is just fine and happy.  Then they call/ text/ email... "Fluffy sure does poop a lot, is there something you can recommend to make him poop less?"   What?  I mean.. how much is a  lot?  "Well, I have to change this litter box once a week at least"  A week? SIGH... I need to put that in my information papers, what goes in, must come out.  Kittens poop, it's a fact.  The box should be cleaned daily.  Once a week?!! GAG!  Yes, that was a real conversation, with a real person.

The next call / text/ email is inevitably,ALWAYS  "What do you feed her at home?"  I stupidly forgot that people do not read anymore.  I sent an entire information packet  with Fluffy that tells the new adopter alll about Fluffy's likes/ dislikes, favorite toy, favorite color, favorite brother and sister, best habits and what time of day is the best for sunning in a sunspot in June, so they will open the damn curtains.  But people don't read.  Fluffy was eating Royal Canin last week.  This week I was debating over canned food vs kibble and ended up mixing the two together with pedialite in case Fluffy needed extra electrolytes.  I tell them Royal Canin.

Why BREED?  This is a night mare.

The truth?  The truth about breeding... after many hydrocodone and lots of Diet Pepsi (because we all know you can't have one without the other)

I breed because I LIKE it.  I DO love the soft, snuggly, little purrs.  I THRIVE on the damn 3 am phone calls about "what food should I give Fluffy" and the 15th request for new photos in three days.  I am THRILLED about the incessant questions, and the need to explain for the 12th time how much Fluffy costs, and why cats need to poop.  I LIKE it.  I like interacting with the people, they are asking because they care.  They have read 300 ads, and they have no idea who they  have talked to, and who they haven't. They don't even remember which kittens I have.  I like talking about my kittens, and what kind of food they need to have (even if I haven't quite decided what is actually best for them yet.)  I like feeling like I have made a difference in the life of a family by having the privilege of providing them with the perfect little paws to fill their hearts and race through the house at 2 in the morning chasing invisible mice.

I am so lucky to have been Blessed with the knowledge to keep these babies going, and keep the mama's healthy and the Daddy's happy.  I adore that I can share this with others.  I get to play with fuzzy, sweet, gentle, babies every. single. day!  Then, I get to share these beautiful breeds with others.

The truth is... I like breeding. That is Why I Breed.

Death of a tooth brush...

My tool of choice

So, as I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush... it occurred to me:  I spend an inordinate amount of time on my hands and knees on the floor, and the benefit to me is minimal.  For the amount of time I spend on the darn floor I should get better rewards.  That's all I am saying.

What was I doing scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush you ask?  Aside from the obvious ~ cleaning the floor..

Well, I saw this article when I went into a deep google dive looking up paper clips or some other inane/I don't need it/ probably another cat/ object.  But I digress, I stumbled across an ad for a "grout pen"  you draw on your grout lines with a magical pen (that looks suspiciously like ANY paint pen) and it seals your grout and makes it look like new again, just like that!

BEFORE black grout.

Hmmm, so then I started thinking... shouldn't you clean the grout before drawing on it and sealing the dirt/ germs in forever?  So, I clearly had to research how to clean grout... with out chemicals.... because I am totally wholesome like that.... and cheap.

So, I watched YouTube videos... that is where all of my DIY house hold fixing education is obtained. Turns out that hydrogen peroxide and baking soda cleans grout.

So, I have white tiles (who puts white tiles in an old farm house?!) with black grout in my kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.  I clearly have nothing else to do, like work, do homework, chores, take care of the animals... so I am going to clean my grout. That is why I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush... the grout on my floor to be specific.

AFTER light grey grout!!

It turns out I have light grey grout!!!  How embarrassing! Allll this time, I think I have white tiles and black grout.  Seriously.  No one teaches you these things... in fact, before I was forced into becoming a "handy woman" I thought that the floors were magically made out of tiles by fairies and that the lines between them were part of a pattern that never changed colors.  So, my white tiles can be mopped white... but the grout.. the grout is porous, all that mopping... yeah, that dirty mop water... the grout soaks it up.  GROSSS!  I hand scrubbed all my grout with a toothbrush (Had to get a new one two times) baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. 



I quite liked the results.. surely there is an easier way!  Isn't there like a grout steam cleaner out there?  I can't do this once a week.. .but I sure am not going to live with germy grout.  Maybe I need a paint pen after all....

Super clean! 

West and Wind August 10, 2019 Alpine Kittens

These two Lovely Boys are still available!  I know it's not a Windy Hill story, and boy do I ever have a lot of those!  However, these friendly,  playful bro's want a forever home...In fact, Wind has written his own ad copy (and who am I to say no)

 *SWM - extrovert, likes the outdoors, hunts, fishes, enjoys long naps, walks in the sunshine, early spring mornings, butterflys, cuddling, tv night, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, very clean!  Just looking for the right person to settle down with,  Hit me up! 

Psycho Wig Guy...

Thank you all for the many emails reminding me that I did NOT write the Windy Hill Halloween story that is traditionally posted on or near Halloween.  You are right, and to make up for it, I have posted it NOW.  Enjoy ~

So, before we get to the part where I apologize that I have not posted in so long, let us rejoice in the fact, that I have so many stories for you to laugh about...or groan in dismay (whichever pleases you)

So... today was an interesting day... and it's only like 3:30 pm!  We have so many hours left, I may have to update later. 

Okay, let me set the mood, I am dutifully dressed up in my "house-wife on Holiday -teacher clothes" because I left the confines of Windy Hill in order to venture forth into the wide-wide world.  That, and I had a counseling appointment.

First we have to discuss synchronicity.  I was scheduled for an 8:00 am appointment, but due to circumstances beyond my control  ( I was taking care of some waif that needed me in that very moment) so I called the office to reschedule ~ normally that means it would be sometime next month...however...shockingly there was an appointment available later today.  What?!  So, yes of course I took that appointment.  Keep this in mind for later...

Back to my housewife, school teacher out fit and duty and all of that.  It's a blustery, snowy day, I am in my fine, sleek new car and listening to my favorite spooky podcast.  It's called "The No Sleep Podcast"  it's found on itunes, and it's free.  I am in the middle of a particularly scary story as I pull up to a clear spot at the counselors office.

No Sleep Podcast on itunes

 I mournfully turn off the scary podcast and prepare to leave the car and brave the cold.  I hadn't been paying much attention to the surroundings because I was so enthralled with my podcast.  I gather my purse and phone and glance at the vehicle next to me rather absentmindedly as I exit the car. 

I gasp at what I see!  The hill billy looking rattletrap next to me was no surprise... it was the woman's wig entangled upon the antenna that struck me as odd to say the least. 

I have questions!  I mean... was he taking the body out of the passenger door and in his state of mind didn't realize she had lost her weave?  Clearly he drove all the way here in the vehicle weave and all.

Actual wig on antenna

 Is this a new antenna accessory - do we now pick these up in the auto department of Walmart? 

Was this a Halloween Costume gone wrong?  I mean it is the end of November...so it would have to have been horribly wrong. 

Maybe this guy and his girlfriend were in a horrible fight, and that's why he is here at the counselors office:  There was a horrible fight, they are driving and arguing and she gets so angry she decides to jump out of the car, as she is jumping he is grabbing her arm cursing at her, his eyes are on her, in this moment,  they hit a deer, he loses his grip...  her wig gets stuck in the antenna as she careens out the door to the hard pavement below.  Now he is really pissed!  His bumper is dented, his grill is smashed, his windshield is cracked, and where is that bitch?!  He finds her, beats her to death, fails to notice the damning wig and gets back in the truck.  He realizes he can't leave her there and puts her in the back of the truck under the camper shell.  She's probably still there.

I looked accusingly at both the wig and the camper shell of the pick up truck. 

I chastise myself for being so judgmental and stereotyping people.  In fact, perhaps the truck and the wig belong to the woman who is sitting in the counselors waiting room, happily reading "New ways to please your man" in Cosmo right now.  Perhaps it's her wig, and she is making some happy statement about women's power or some such.  Maybe it is a testimony that she is both beautiful inside and out and she doesn't need a wig.  That would mean the counseling is working!

I was pretty proud of myself for that positive spin on the whole creepy wig story.  I look at the wig and the truck one final time... definitely a serial killer and that is the trophie from his last victim.  There probably IS a body in the back of that truck, it's cold, so it wouldn't stink ....

Maybe a neighbor kid was playing a prank?

I shake myself out of my speculations and head towards the counselors office.  I am burning with curiosity!  I firmly decide that I am going to ask the person in the counselors office what's up with the wig?  Unless... he is a tattooed, has a buzz cut, scraggly beard and tattered jeans.   Then, I am right and he is a serial killer, and I am not going to ask anything. 

Again, I chastise myself for being such profiler!  Shame on me! Probably is a sweet old lady.  I am going to ask!

I enter the counselors office and I see a man there, he has a buzz cut, a scraggly beard, tattered jeans and a tattoo on his neck and forearm....

Sigh, I will  never know, I am not asking the psycho wig guy how the wig came to be entangled on his antenna.

Maybe it was a sexy hint from his blond girlfriend that she was going to play the brunet cop tonight?! 

Maybe it wasn't a wig at all...what if it was a scalp!?

When my name was called I had to walk right past him, he glanced up and I just know he was looking at my auburn hair as a slid by....

That last sentence SHOULD be the end of this story, but this is Windy Hill, so it's not the end.  When I leave the counselors office, psycho wig guy is no longer in the waiting room.  I briefly wonder if he is in with a counselor or if he has left the building.  My answer was quickly realized when I walked to my car and I see the wig tossed to the pavement like so much chicken scratch, and the rattle trap hillbilly mobile is absent from the parking lot.

Wig on the ground

He must be looking for the next wig!  Maybe it was a prank form a neighbor child, or a disgruntled girlfriend.  Now, about the synchronicity:  If I hadn't been  helping a friend in crisis over the phone, I wouldn't have had to reschedule my appointment.  If I hadn't called to reschedule my appointment I wouldn't have been told that miraculously someone had called and canceled for later that very day.  (Really wonder what that their story is)  If they hadn't cancelled, I couldn't have come in and I wouldn't have been baffled by the wig, and I wouldn't have had this story to tell. 

Isn't it amazing how all of that fell into place just for this one event to take place?  So, all those times that we get depressed or down because something is or is not happening in our lives, remember the psycho wig guy ... because there are always things going on behind the scenes that we don't know about.  Maybe that one thing you are hoping will happen or hoping will not happen is just one wig away!!    Hang in there friends, it's all being worked out. 

Meowy Babies Available!

Bad Kitty Babies

The Day After

The Day After Christmas started just like any OTHER day here on Windy Hill... Windy.

I awoke to my son loudly walking up and down the stairs.  This is his signal that he wants me to wake up and answer the ever burning question "Can I go to my girlfriends house now?"  This entails him borrowing my car.  This would be simple matter for most, but we all know how I drive and how I worry.  It's windy and snowy and cold outside. I confirmed this by sticking my pinky out from under the blankets.  I snuggled deeper under my pile of blankets and cats.

TROMP TROMP TROMP, SLAM, BANG, CREAAAAK> siiggghhhh. I won't be sleeping any longer, he has positioned himself in front of the computer.  This means he is about to play a rousing  (translated as loud) computer game.  I get up.

The boy had the courtesy to act surprised before he said "OH! you're awake?"

I rolled my eyes and got out of bed, and yes he borrowed the car.

            Then THIS happened

About 10 minutes after my loud car leaves, I hear my loud car return.  Now this brings up many questions, as once a teenage boy is on a mission to go to his girlfriends house, it's the rare thing to bring him back to the house.

I met him at the door, full of motherly concern.  He looked incredibly guilty.  His first statement "It's not that bad"

I respond with "You are clearly okay, that's all I care about, the car must be okay, you drove it here ...What happened?"
He hit a phone pole.  He slid off the road in 2 wheel drive and hit a phone pole.  The car door opens and closes fine, and the worst of it is the mirror on the side was taken off.  Meh, okay.  I test drive the car, explain how to drive in hazardous conditions and he is back on his way to his girlfriends house...in the dented, mirror-less car.

Pick yourselves up of the floor.  I know it is shocking that I let him go back out again.  I am fully aware of how deeply my paranoia and cars runs.  That is exactly why I let him go back out.  I don't want my fears to control my child's life.  I had to learn to drive in this stuff in a two-wheel drive El Camino.  He can do it in a 4 wheel drive mini SUV.

Time to tackle the rest of the day.  As if the morning was not pleasant enough, there is more.  There is always more here on Windy Hill.

The Horses in the back pasture were telling me that they were out of water.  Hmmm, that is curious, because said speedy teenager watered the horses just yesterday.  Still, they are looking at me quite plaintively.  FINE.  I will go check the water...I am sure it's fine.

The water is NOT fine.  Not only is it incredibly low...but it's frozen solid.  Now, that is also interesting because I distinctly see the water heater in the trough.  The frozen trough.  Why is it frozen??

I follow the cord belonging to the water heater to... NOWHERE!   It's not even plugged in!! Who does this?  Who has a water heater in a trough in order to keep the water from freezing, and does NOT plug it in?

I have my suspicions.     I find the extension cord, and plug it in.  NOW I see why it was unplugged.

floating extension cord 

The extension cord is not quite long enough to really reach the trough... so it's floating mid -air.  Which might actually be kind of cool (out of the snow) except our yard pony walks through there all the time, unplugging the heater all the time.  Far be it for me to suggest getting the longer extension cord....

                                * If you want something done right, do it yourself!!*
Okay, cord taken care of -  now for the water.

outdoor spigot 

Of-COURSE  the spigot is frozen ~ why would I even begin to presume any differently?  Hot water poured over the spigot to the rescue...NOT!   It didn't work....it always works...but not today my lady, not today. After spending a good 5 minutes sobbing helplessly while my tears froze to my face,  (because we all know that the tears of a damsel in distress will melt the most frozen of spigots) I formulated a plan...

FINE!  I shall open the basement doors, run the hoses down to the basement and attache to the hot water heater as I have in the past.

That would have been fine except...

FIRST - I couldn't get the pad lock off of the cellar doors.

Stuck padlock

The real question here is... how did I get it ON the doors if it won't come off?  I presume it was a sunny summer day, and I could easily manipulate the doors, allowing for the latch to be less close to the pad lock ..thingy.  Not so today!  With some gentle coaxing (translated as hammer) I removed the pad lock.

NEXT  - Somehow I cut my finger in the process.  Of course I did, we all know that you can't do something on Windy Hill without gloves and just get away scott-free with no hand injuries!

poor finger.

AND THEN - I tried to open the cellar doors. Note the use of the word "tried" that is indicative of the next few words... "and failed"   Thaaat's right... they are frozen shut.  That freeze/thaw ...freeze/thaw thing...it does that to metal doors.

Hot water to the rescue again!  NOT!  (again)  But it does make for a nice skating rink between the porch and the house if you are interested in such things.

The horses at this point are now lined up at the fence mentally cheering me on.  I remind myself to find my joy...and quickly ~ before things go down hill even more.  As I had this thought, I slipped and fell on the aforementioned ice-skating rink, the hand holding the hammer hit the ground first, the hammer bounced off of the ice and ...yes, it hit me in the head.

I half-wished it had hit me hard enough to knock me out, except I would have gotten hypothermia, and I would have become coyote food...(Hey, that's not too bad, circle of life and all)

However, I was not knocked out, just frustrated.  I formulated a new plan.  If you live on a farm in the middle of no-where it pays to have a back up to your back up.  I seriously considered just putting a nice hole in my shiny new tile that leads directly to the hot water heater spigot.  I begrudgingly chose not to do so...but I did glare at the tile on the way by...holding two 5 gallon buckets ~ one in each hand ~

bucket

Yep, I did it the old fashioned way, except I used the bathtub instead of a creek.  I heard my ex-husband in my head each time I put that "dirty bucket in the (beeeping) bathtub for those (beeping ) horses!! "  (It's not like HE was the one that had to clean the bathtub after) I lost count after trip 16.  No, it didn't fill the trough completely, but it did help and I will do it all over again tomorrow morning, afternoon and evening so ensure that they have water.

Now, for the cats... every.single.bowl. is frozen solid.  of-course they are!!  They are each plugged in, correctly, happily, and heated.  Apparently they can't with stand sub zero temps (wimpy heated bowls)  I thaw out each bowl, re-fill with water and then tuck each bowl into it's own little cubby (made out of totes)  That should do it.

By now my gloves are soaking wet, my toes are... do I even have toes anymore??!! and I am having a very hard time finding my joy!

I decided it was time to come into the house, and take a nice break and warm up.  I even decided to turn the central heat as opposed to just the gas fireplace.  (big ~ I know)  I walked merrily over to thermostat repeating to myself "find your joy, you have a warm home to enter, you have heat and..."  I stopped my joyous litany in my head when my heat refused to turn on.

This HAS to be some kind of cosmic joke right?  hardy har har.

Before I burst into tears again, I decided to just re-group and meditate and pray. I spent some time breathing deeply and making a running list of amazing things in my life, and reminding myself that anger is a wasted emotion, and that all we have is each moment.  The moment I was in, was not that bad.  The horses and cats had water, my car runs, my son is fine (Thank you Jesus) and we are both well fed and have a home and the fireplace works just fine.  Hmmm, put that way, I actually have a lot of Blessings in my life, the list is much longer, but you get the idea.

Did the heat ever turn on?  Did I find my toes?  Will the lump on my head ever go down?  Did I remember to bring the hammer back inside the house?  Will I fill the water trough all winter long by hand, listening to my ex-husband in my head chide me for my foolishness?

Stay tuned for the rest of the story on Windy Hill....

It's all about the gloves

So, it's getting to be that time of year again... the time of year in which my old, country, farm house atop Windy Hill gets... well, windy.  This means that I get cold.  I work at my computer a lot typing... cold fingers and typing don't mix! 

Today was the day... today was the day that I rolled my eyes, and begrudgingly brought out my "finger gloves" because my hands were so cold that it was making it difficult to type.

Finger Gloves in action! 

As I put the gloves on each hand, in my head I have a running commentary about how "This is why I am moving South as soon as possible!  I was not made to be in a cold climate.  I despise doing this every year.  I should have fixed those drafts this summer!  (and on and on it went) as I am having my "It's so cold" pity party.  I happened to glace up and look out the window so see the over cast sky, blowing wind, and a winter tree.

Winter Tree in yard

I began to continue on my rant about the cold, when it occurred to me, I could be outside right now.  Which brought me to an entirely new line of thinking... I could work outside... all day long in fact.  What if - I asked myself- these gloves, with no fingers, were the only gloves you had, and you were working outside all day?  At this point, I looked down at my finger gloves, and realized, I am very lucky to even have gloves.  In fact... I purchased this particular style of gloves just so I could  cut the finger tips off of them!!  Here I was, whining about how cold it is in my house, when I have a house to be cold in!

I then went on another rant

• I have gloves to cover my hands
• I have a computer and keyboard to use for my hands
• I have the internet to write this blog, and many other things
• This means I have a job
• I am inside 
• I am inside my own home
• I am inside my own home and it has a yard!
• My yard has trees
• Trees are good
• I am free to look at my good trees from inside all day long

And so it went...

The moral of the story is; no matter how bad I have it, it could be worse... so be grateful for what you DO have.

Highlander Kittens!

Our Elderly are Suffering!

It's so sad to see someone you love living in squaller when they have done so much for others ~ yourself included over their lifetime.

 I never do this, but I created a fund raiser for someone very special to me and I have included an embedded link in this blog post.

 I know, I know, I hate these things too, I really do.  I always feel so bad when I can only donate so little.  Plus, I sometimes question the authenticity of the request for funds.  I can promise you that Betty is a real person, and I honestly, have not met a kinder soul.

If the situation were reversed, she would be right here typing this up for me.  She is always lending a a helping hand to others, be it via hard work (that she is not supposed to be doing due to her triple bypass surgery) lending an ear, or even giving up her last dollar to help a friend, or someone she feels needs it more than she does.

Within the past three years, 71-year-old Betty has

·         lost a beloved son,

·         lost a brother,

·         been hit by a tornado,

·         been in a car accident,

·         had triple by-pass surgery,

·         lost her job.

·         Stove no longer works

·         Washing machine, no longer works

·         Needs to purchase headstone for her beloved son

·         Needs to fix her home

·         Needs to fix her septic tank.

Betty has always been a very giving, generous person, willing to help anyone in need.  Now, she is the one in need of help, and doesn’t like to ask for it, so I am asking on her behalf.  After the hardships, and tragedies of the past three years, Betty is left bereft and close to destitute.  She has no stove to cook upon and no washing machine to wash clothes in ~ and no funds to purchase either one. Her septic tank is backing up into her back yard!  She hasn’t the funds to fix it.  Her treasured son has no headstone; she still owes thousands on funeral expenses.  Her house still needs work from the tornado ~ one wall of her trailer wobbles if you touch it!  She is more than willing to work, but it’s hard to get hired anywhere if you are a 71-year-old triple bypass patient with a rough running vehicle.  I hope you can find it in your heart to help this warm, giving woman, our elderly should be revered, not disposed of.  Betty needs $20,000.00 to cover funeral expenses, headstone, fix the wall and roof of her house, get a used stove, and maybe a washing machine, and have the septic tank in her yard fixed. 

If you can donate even a dollar, it will be deeply appreciated.  Thank you so much for listening.

Kitten Update!

I am lucky enough to have several wonderful people that send me photo updates of the kittens they have adopted over the years.

Last year, when Spooky kitty had her very first litter, I was thrilled!  Spooky proved to be our most wonderful mother ever!  She does have some ...minor quirks.

Spooky is a lovely smokey black Highlander (you can see her below with one of her babies)

Spooky and one of her kittens

One of Spooky's quirks is ~ she MUST have her kittens either in a particular desk drawer OR in a cat carrier at my feet.  Spooky Requires that the cat carrier be left in that same spot for a minimum of one week prior to moving her and her kittens to their own room.   The reason for this requirement is because when Spooky has kittens, she wants to give them all to my son.  So, whenever he is sitting in one spot for an extended period of time, she gathers her kittens one by one and places them all on his lap.

If, heaven forbid, another mama cat has kittens laying around, she is going to steal them.  Spooky LOVES her babies, loves her boy and loves LOVE.  Spooky passes this on to each and everyone of her babies.  She is just such a special cat.  I really appreciate her sweet personality.  We looked forward to her first babies on pins and needles!  

When they finally arrived we were just thrilled.  They were not only very loving like mama, but so smart!  We actually taught one of them (Wolfie) to sit up on command and give us 10.  (two paws up)  They were so cool.

One of our Adopters got a kitten from Spookies first litter....and then when Spooky had her next litter a year later...they got another one of her special babies.  Everyone loves a Spooky baby:) 

These folks have been kind enough to send me photo up dates of the kittens as they have grown.  I am now sharing them with you because they are so beautiful! 

Lola and Lorenzo

The two stunning cats you see above are Lola (the first Spooky baby) and the newest addition Lorenzo.  They both still have some growing to do.  Such different looks and personalities, but both of these babies are so sweet and very well loved in their forever home!

Just wanted to share an update on a couple of spooky babies!

Annual Tack Sale and Chili Supper!

I have never done this before, but as you all know, I am a lover of horses...and the tack that goes with them.  So, I am shamelessly plugging this event!

Clinton County Bits and Spurs

Annual Tack Sale and Chili Supper

Saturday, March 12th 2016 at 5:00pm

Clinton County Fairgrounds

                                              Frankfort, Indiana

New and used tack from

Brookston Tack and Feed Store

Tack swap and Sale tables available

     $15.00 a table

                            Silent Auction

    Ends at 7:00pm

                                      (Must be present to win)

        

Chili Supper

                    Served from 5:00pm - 7:30pm

   

For additional info / table reservations call:Barb – 765-337-7979 or Tracy 765-491-0569

Comfort Cat Update!

The emails I have received asking for updates on Comfort cat have been overwhelming.  I am so proud to have such wonderful, warm, caring people out there interested in the goings-ons of Forever Kittens Cattery and it's inhabitants.

I know I have been remiss in keeping you all updated.  Rather than send out a ton of personal responses to emails, I have finally made it back to the blog to give you all the long awaited update.

As I had predicted, comfort cat was perfectly fine and normal looking when he left for his new home.  A tiny scratch among kittens playing rough and tumble with one another does happen from time to time.  It has never been an issue, and I certainly did not expect it to be one this time.

A close up of comfort cat 

Note that his eye is fine ~ though he didn't appreciate the bright lights.

~ What everyone really wants to know is...where did he go?  What amazing family was able to adopt comfort cat?

Admittedly, I did have my ideas (again) about who should adopt comfort cat, I thought perhaps someone that had a struggle of their own that had worked through it would be a lovely match for comfort cat.  The new person would hear comfort cats story, see that comfort cat is healed and feel as if they were "kindred spirits" of sorts.

~ Is that what happened?  No.  That is not what happened.  We poured through the adoption applications, looking for just the right family (or special person)  I, with my grand ideas, Comfort Cat with his wishes for a cuddle buddy...and after much discussion we settled upon a family with two wonderful children that would adore Comfort Cats amazing ability to know when it's okay to cuddle and when it's time to play.  I was hesitant at first, still holding onto the idea that Comfort Cat should be with just the right family.  Then it occurred to me...This IS the right family.   These people are warm, and caring, and kind.  After speaking with them several time over the phone and sending many texts and emails, I realized that "YES!"  This is the perfect match!  This is the family that will benefit the most from Comfort Cat, and that Comfort cat will benefit the most from.

There is a little girl out there right now cuddled down with comfort cat purring away on her lap and a proud Mom and Dad looking gazing upon the scene satisfied that they have a new heartbeat in their home that will bring them joy for many years to come.

That's what it's all about

A Photo of comfort cat a few days before he left for his new home. 

The Rest of the Story ....

The next burning question for everyone was ... "Did he get a name?!"  

 ~ yes

His new name is "Briggs"   

A very dignified, sturdy, and noble name for a very  dignified, sturdy and noble cat!

Briggs in his new home! 

The last photo is of Briggs in one of his favorite spots, cuddled up with a human in his new home.

The Kitten Who Lost His Name

This story is about a kitten who was once named Zues.  Zues is the son of our lovely Spooky and our Handsome Tonka. 

Zues didn’t always have that name.  (But more on that later) The name given to him by his mama was “Comfort.”  You see, Zues was a comfort kitten.  He did not use his big ol poly paws to swat his sister or brother, he did not use his big ol poly paws to grab his Mama’s tail.  He planted his big ol poly paws on humoms legs each and every time she came into the room.  When humom picked up the little wide-eyed kitten he would plant his big ol poly paws on her chest, look her square in the eye and say in his little kitten voice

“I am here for you, and I love you.”

 Comfort cat wanted only to love others.  His interest lay solely in the attention of humans.

Comfort cat was special, he played gently with his cunning brother, he out smarted his bully sister and he was always, always, the first one to greet humom when she came in the nursery to check on them.  Comfort cat needed a special home.  Comfort cat needed a home where he could comfort someone.  Someone that needed him.  The first family to ask about him was turned down because they didn’t need him, they wanted a kitten that would rough house on the floor with the kids.  Humom did look dubiously at his sister Spectress for a few moments…and then recommended another breeder that would have just such a kitten.

Spectress

   Humom daydreamed about Zues joining a family that would need him, just as much as he needed a human to comfort.  She pictured a small child in a wheel chair in which Comfort cat would sit upon the lap of the child throughout the day purring in sheer bliss.  Humom imagined Comfort cat with an elderly woman that just wanted to watch a kitten play with the yarn and would watch t.v. with her.  Humom imagined Comfort cat with a small child that was sickly and needed a friend, she envisioned little Comfort cat becoming the child’s constant companion, in the car, at home, on the way to the Doctor, there would be Comfort cat.   Or maybe a rebellious teenager that wore black all the time, and felt very sad inside, and there…would be Comfort cat. 

Tiny Tim Via Pinterest 

Hmm the possibilities were endless.  The second family that called about Comfort cat was a top contender, they had a little girl who wanted more than anything to have a kitten for Christmas.  They were a lovely family, but in the end…they didn’t need Comfort cat.  Comfort cat had to go to a very special home. 

Finally, the call came in, the call for Comfort cat, a young boy that had battled Leukemia wanted nothing less than a Mighty Highlander to call his own for Christmas!  Oh Joy!  This was the family for Comfort cat.  The young boy promptly gave his kitten the Mighty name of “Zues!”  aaah a wonderful name for a Comfort cat, strong, yet understanding.  Yes, Zues was a good name and the deal was sealed!

Humom was quite pleased with herself for holding out for the perfect home for each of the kittens, especially Comfort cat ~ oops ~ I mean the Mighty Zues!

Zues loved his new role, he was anxiously awaiting the day he got to meet his own boy that would love him and he would be able to comfort the boy when needed.  Zues was pleased.

Tragedy!

The bully Spectress swatted Zues right in the eye!  Zues squinted, Zues meowed…Zues smacked her back!  Spectress showed her remorse by attacking Lorenzo.   Humom did the right thing and attended to the right eye of Zues immediately, administering a triple antibiotic ointment to his little eye.  Looking, very, very closely, humom could see the two, very tiny scratches on the eye of Zues.  Ah well, no matter, Zues snuggled down with his Mama Spooky, who licked his head, and Zues kicked his Sister, who meowed at him in complaint and Zues swatted Lorenzo who then jumped on his Sisters head.  Yep, all is well in Highlander land.

Humom continued to administer the ointment to the eye of Zues, and took him to the Veterinarian for a checkup as well.  The veterinarian peered closely at the eye of Zues (who purred up at her happily) and pronounced his eye as healing quite well.  She even commented on his good behavior whilst she did her exam on him.  Zues purred happily at the attention.  Zues was happy to comfort the gentle vet and the smiling humom.  He was so excited to meet his new boy! 

Then there was the moment of the great tragedy, the tragedy when Zues, the Mighty, lost his name

….you see, when humom told the Mother of the boy about the eye of Zues,  and sent a picture to show off to the Mother how very well the eye was healing and how very happy he was at the Veterinarians office…the Mother of the boy changed her mind. 

Picture from the Vets office

 She said she no longer wanted Zues for her boy, not with an injured eye!  Without a boy, the mighty Zues, no longer had his name, you see the name that comes from your special human is given to you straight from the heart.  Zues could no longer be called Zues by a human that would no longer be his. 

Thus, we now have Comfort cat, he is available to comfort the right person in the right home.  He may grow up to have a tiny white spot in his eyes as a reminder of his lost name.  The Veterinarian says that because he is so young, he may not ever have a tiny white spot.  I think he will, I think Comfort cat will carry it with him to show the world that even though he does not look perfect on the outside, his inside is most beautiful thing about him.  Comfort cat will await his new human and his new name with pride and with dignity.  Just know that even if he does have a tiny white spot in his eye, he will still play fetch 2000 times with the little clothe mouse, he will still climb his way up to your lap when you are seated, he will still put his big ol polly paws on your chest, look you square in the eyes and say

“I am here for you, and I love you.”

Comfort Cat 12/12/2015

Do you need a comfort cat?  If so, please contact us and we will be happy to talk to you about our kitten that lost his name. 

Forever Kittens Spooky

Written by: Spooky, Mother of Comfort Cat

Comforts eye today 12/12/2015

Extra Information about Comfort Cat, 
He is a Male Highlander, 
Natural Short Tail
Curled Ears
Poly Toes
His Deposit has been forfeited by the 
former adopter ~ Merry Christmas to his new
family!  This is $200 off of his fee!
He is officially ready for his new home on 
January 3, 2015.  By that time, his eye will most likely show no signs of having ever been scratched. 

How to Catch a Wild Indiana Gate!

When we first spied the wild gate, it was so well camouflaged that we thought it was a large pallet of the of the simple "to carry big things" species.

We crept up to the "pallet"  slowly, so as not to startle it.  It stayed put..imagine our surprise when we noted that it was actually a wild Indiana gate!  A rare native of the land.  A gate of this type is rarely seen, untamed and in the wild.  Sure, once in awhile, we may come across an older wild Indiana gate, a mere shadow of it's former self, but still limping along, or sometimes even a fossil here and there.  This gate was a fine specimen!  Fairly young and spry from the looks of it.

We decided to capture the gate and tame it for ourselves.  The gate hunkered down for a fight, it really hung in there.  Wrapped in branches of old dead trees, and underneath large logs for safety the gate was difficult to move.

Wild Indiana Gate

 We were determined, we brought out the ropes, we lassoed, tied, we tugged, we pulled, and ...finally we subdued the stubborn gate.

We noted a bit of a broken patch that explained why such a young gate was found out in the wild like this.  We think maybe it was a farmers cull from a semi tame herd nearby.  We quickly chose to take him home and patch him up and get to work on taming this wild Indiana Gate.

In the photo below you see the Wild Indiana after his capture, defeated and unharmed, he is ready to get home and begin a new life protecting the soft muzzles of the horses of ...
Windy Hill

The Wild Indiana Gate subdued! 

Saddlebred Remington Update!

Remi has graduated to the next step!

At last blog Remi loaded as into the trailer the very first time with all 4 feet.  Well, he has made some more improvements.  He now loads into the trailer, and we are working on closing the door behind him while he remains calm.

We are also working on Remi loading himself into the trailer.  I don't like to walk into the trailer with a horse.  I prefer that they load themselves.  So, we are working on that now.   He is progressing nicely. See below:

Last but not least, Remi's owner was able to come out and she loaded him into the trailer for the first time herself!  It's one thing to see videos of your horse loading, or to know that someone else is loading him, but it's another thing to load him yourself.  Don't forget, Remi has a personality that  notes every little difference around him.  Different, person, different perfume, different ...anything.   He really needs confidence building and practice, so that's what we are working on with Remington.  Meanwhile, here is the video of Remi loading into the trailer at his owners request!

Yes, he was nervous, but he persevered and his owner remained calm and assured him that he would not be eaten. Thus, he loaded and stayed in the trailer nicely.

**On a side note, yes, I know I am way behind on the blog.  I really am working with Remington on the whole shots thing.  I have footage of him somewhere reacting to a sharp toothpick, in the same manner in which he reacts to a real shot.  Heck, even pinching the skin on his neck causes him trauma.  I will post as soon as possible.

Saddlebred in Training!

Remington Day 4

 Remington is here in training at Windy Hill.  We adore "Remi" as we affectionately call him.  I spell his name (Remi/Remy/ Remie)  ~ it's all the same.  So, if you happen to catch that peculiarity, all hate emails shall be ignored.

Remi was terrified of trailers, I mean, really, really frightened.  To the point of breaking into a cold sweat and tying up just because he is close to one! 

Getting Remi in a trailer to actually get here was a night mare.  When the trembling Remi arrived here and unloaded from the trailer he was off his feed for three days.  Remi was scared.

I knew we would have our work cut out for us.

On Day one of his training my goal was simply to get him within 6 feet of the trailer without having a nervous breakdown.

By day 3 I had him touching the trailer with his nose comfortably and then walking away.   I used the Parelli touch game for this.

Here you see him below touching the trailer.  His owner and I were thrilled with his progress!

I was so happy to send the above video to Remi's owner!  In only three days, he had progressed from nervous wreck to trailer toucher!  Hurray for Remi!

Remi Day 6, he has his face in the trailer!! 

I know it doesn't seem like much for a horse to have his face in the very, very end of the trailer, but for Remi this was a really big step.  He spent days 4 and 5 eating just outside of the trailer.  This was only after a rousing game of touch the trailer for about 10 minutes first.  He wouldn't even consider eating near the trailer if I had not played touch the trailer first.

                                                                  ~ baby steps~

Days 7-10 eating with his head AND neck in the trailer!

Remy was breifly stuck at this point in regards to his comfort level.  He would rather walk away and not eat at all than to put even ONE foot in the trailer.  So, listening to the horse, I allowed him to eat this way for 3 days, each day asking him to juuust come a little further and gauging my next move based on his reaction.  This work was down twice a day, every day.  Starting first with touch the trailer, until on day 10 Remi ignored my request to touch the trailer and just calmly ate his meal.  I asked him to come forward and put one foot in the trailer.... Remi declined.

Day 11

 On day 11, we started out as normal with just head and neck in the trailer.  However, this time when I moved the food back a little bit further, instead of walking away...Remi did this ~

Remi stepped into the trailer!! Both front feet! 

And Calmly back out when he was finished eating! 

I was thrilled with this great leap of faith from Remi!

                                ~ Then the vet came~ 
Remi has to be the most observant horse I have ever met.  He watches everything.  He is always very interested in what the humans are doing.  He knows what is going on at all times.  When the red vet truck pulled up he promptly took himself to the very farthest reaches of the pasture.  How did he even know?  I can only presume vet trucks carry with them a certain "vet smell" that horses can pick up on.

I explained to the vet that the first time I had wormed Remi, I worked with him for over an hour in order to get him to accept worming without too much protest.  I further explained that I normally give my own vaccinations, however Remi was against that idea to the point of being dangerous.  The vet was very kind and worked with Remi for a good 35 minutes to get the 2 shots administered to Remi ~ this after being knocked over twice!  Remi's owner had really wanted Remi's teeth looked at, however Remi was having none of that!  Suffice it to say, it was a very traumatic experience for Remi.  Over the next few days, Remi regressed back to the horse that wouldn't step into a trailer even if you had baked apple surprise laid out on a buffet for him.

                                           ~I listened to the horse ~ 
In my years of training horses, so many people have commented that it just "takes so long" and "Why don't you just put him in the trailer already!"  I know there are many different ways to train a horse to trailer load.  In the case of Remi, due his great fear based on bad experiences he has had in the past with trailers, I chose to train him to trailer load the same way I do the mustangs straight off the range.  Yes, it does sometimes take a long time.  However, when I am finished with Remi, he will be more than happy to walk onto a trailer at any time ~ without the food as a reward ~ 

Fast Forward to Day 18

I worked with Remi every day, twice a day, concentrating on  getting him more and more comfortable with the trailer.  

After going through the different hills and valleys that are really part of training any horse, Day 18 proved to be a major breakthrough for Remi!

See the Video below!

I am so proud of him!  I have more work to do with Remi's trailer loading.  The final goal is to have Remi loading himself into the trailer and waiting patiently for the bar to be put up and the door to be closed.  We still have some work to do, but I am 100% confident in his ability to be a trailer loading champion!

Remi's owner loves to trail ride ~ Remi was newly obtained July 15th and she hopes to have him trailer ready prior to the end of trail riding season.  She even plans to take him all the way to Florida this winter!  Based on this information, I want Remi to love the trailer.  

I love a hot blooded horse with some interesting quirks to fix!  Remi is right up my alley!  His other issues include:

• A huge ~ dangerous aversion to shots ~ anything shot like and all pokey things in general
• Any kind of pressure on the crest of his neck or pole
• Anything that looks like wormer anywhere near his face.

I intend to get Remi's normal "before" reactions on video and keep you updated as we go along.  I have already missed a little bit of the before part, as I have begun working with him on these things already.  I shall get his reactions on film ASAP!

~ As a trainer I feel it is really important to get "points" of progress on film, or in someway documented.  The biggest reason is because, quite often from the owners perspective, it appears that the animal has not made any progress, or that it is taking too long.  I never push the horse beyond his mental, physical, or emotional ability to comply with the desired action.  I DO push the horses boundaries, but I never push beyond.  It's a fine line.