Tuesday, March 15, 2022

How Many Cats Do We Have?


 I woke up feeling so shitty this morning that I broke open one of our government-issued covid tests and took the damn thing. For the first time in taking one, I really thought it might come out positive. 
It did not. 
So I guess I have a cold which is what I guess I've had since last...what? Saturday? Friday?
Whatever. But last night it seemed to redouble its efforts to make me miserable. As the day progressed I have felt somewhat better but I do not feel great. I've "tried" not to do much and really, I haven't, but I'm just no damn good at being sick. Mr. Moon helped me get the porch plants back in position and the covers folded and put away and I appreciate that so much. He's such a dear man. He started work on the deck between the house and the old kitchen which he has now fallen through TWICE. How he hasn't broken something I do not know. But he's in the process of taking it apart. But then it started raining so he's moved inside. It's one of those days. 
Here's a picture of Liberace in the rain position on the kitchen porch. 


He's giving me the eye. He would love to come in but we're already experiencing an animal shitting in our house so NO!
The animal in question, I do believe, is this cat. 


We have found cat poop in the kitchen bathroom three times now. Or maybe four. And our cats just do not do that unless they get locked in the house which is almost never as we have a cat door which this highly unattractive cat knows how to use. We've seen him in the house before and for awhile he was peeing in the house but then he quit for a long time. He's been around the yard for over a year and he can't help being unattractive. I know that. Perhaps if he was given a chance to become a house cat he would slick up a bit but that is not going to happen here in the house of Jack and Maurice. He stands outside and makes a rowling sound which is at once plaintive and horrifying in its volume. It sounds like something wild, desperate, and heartbroken. Which it is. Once when Mr. Moon set a trap to catch and release a possum which was bedding under the house (the one he found yesterday?) this cat showed up in the trap which was a bit shocking for all concerned.
All of this has put our cats on edge. Maurice has gone from door to door today, her tail twitching in anxious worry as she has scanned the area with her little whiskered face. Even Jack, whom we should have named "Sluggo," has appeared to be more alert and concerned than usual, which is to say at all. 
Now, having said all of this, another stray cat, a black one, has just crossed the back yard. This cat too, seems to be using our place as a home base. Or for all I know, it may live across the street and just come over here to watch chickens. It seems to be a little more domesticated than the big gray one but he (she?) could be the poop culprit. I don't think so though. Mr. Moon is talking about putting a trail camera up in the bathroom and I think that's a good idea. 

So it's been that kind of a day. I did sit on the couch long enough to tidy up my various balls and skeins of wool that I've had scattered there and also to do a bit of mending on a pair of old linen overalls, worn so thin that they are as soft and insubstantial as the whisp of a whisper. You know, I would replace these garments if I could find any I like as much but I can't and besides- who cares? In the meanwhile, it gives me something to do with needle and embroidery thread, scraps of fabric from old projects. I've made up a big pot of a sort of chicken soup that I'll make dumplings to put in for our supper. August and Levon are coming out tomorrow as both of their parents are working and I know they like chicken and dumplings and will be happy to eat some leftovers as their lunch. I hear that August too has a cough and is congested so we probably have the same thing and we will probably spend a lot of time on the couch, watching TV.  I tried to find something to watch today while I was doing my little needlework things and settled on what looked halfway decent that the man and I both might be able to tolerate but it was horrible. 
"The Adam Project." 
It seemed like a fun little sci-fi time travel, go back into time and meet your former 12-year old self thing but then suddenly, there were laser sword fights and all kinds of superhero type activities and I just said, "Nope," and got up and did some laundry. Mr. Moon would gladly have watched something else but I didn't have the patience to try and find anything. 
Which is just as well. 

Oh! Exciting news! For me, anyway. 


This does not look like much but it is the Ashe Magnolia I planted so very long ago in the camellia bed area and last year it got knocked to hell by a flying pecan limb which dropped from the sky upon it and I thought it was surely dead. It has not given any indication of growth this year so far although the even smaller one I planted a few years ago in the front yard is. But I found proof of life on it this morning when I went out to dump some kitchen scraps for the chickens to eat. 
I was so happy. 


And so were the chickens. 

Love...Ms. Moon





33 comments:

  1. sorry you are still peckish...... you've been on and off this way a few weeks. Enough ....cold be gone already! Lovely and exciting to see the magnolia bud..... and your soup sounds healing and comforting. Hope you sleep well in preparation for a busy boy day tomorrow!
    Susan M

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    1. I agree- and it's the same with Jessie and August. This cold just drags on.

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  2. I love when I see signs of life in the garden, it is so hopeful to see a leaf or two when you were worried the tree was dead. I think your chickens are a handsome looking flock. Get well soon.

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    1. Me too about the garden! It's so cheering to see that green coming through.
      I do think my chickens are very pretty but then again, I am their mama.

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  3. Just curious if you make the cut dough southern dumplings or my favorite puffy rising ones? Before You Know It is a nice movie you might enjoy. Hope you feel better soon.

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    1. The puffy ones. They are the ones I like but Mr. Moon likes the flat ones so I buy the frozen ones of those and make him happy sometimes. I'll see if I can find Before You Know It. Thanks!

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  4. i wonder if the unattractive cat is a she and is in heat? waiting on the next installment of 'which cat did that?', a game we know well with 4 housecats...


    xxalainaxx

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    1. Nah. I don't think so. I think it's an old Tom who just wants to proclaim his dominance.

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  5. That grey cat probably would not make a good house cat. Dropping a load in the bathroom indicates his utter disdain of the other cats in the house. He is the head honcho of a house he has not yet conquered. If you ever have chance to trap him again, I would relocate him. No, it's not awful and inhumane. He's made the choice to take a dump in your bathroom.

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    1. Woman! I totally agree with you! I used to be more bleeding heart-y about animals but I'm not so much anymore. I have become hardened. Especially about animals that poop in my house! Get away with ye!

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  6. These days feel like flying pecan limbs all over the place, so glad the little bud looks so promising.
    Sorry for your subpar feels- Being around children does it to me every time. Kids have super germs. I am grateful for masks at all times now. Be well soon.
    The grey kitty looks nice enough, I would have it and name it something cute, if I lived close by, but I don't, mores the pity. I would love having you for a neighbor, you would inspire me to be a better person.

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    1. Kids do have super germs. I swear.
      I wish you did live closer. The house next door already sold so forget that. I seriously doubt I'd make you a better person though. I'd probably just want to drink gin with you and watch videos of the Rolling Stones.
      I think if we named that cat we'd call him Biscuit Head. Have you ever heard of Cat Head biscuits?

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  7. The new growth makes me happy. I'm always glad to see something spring back to life.
    I don't think the grey cat is unattractive, he does look lonely though. Perhaps someone has abandoned him. I also don't think any wild cat would come inside just to poop. I wonder instead if your cats have become worried about going outside if they know those cats are there and are pooping inside instead? Is there a rescue service you can call to come and catch those strays?

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    1. Well, he's been abandoned for a long time. Like- years. I think he definitely would come in just to poop. It's a territorial thing.
      No rescue services in this county. They don't have enough money to rescue kids, much less stray cats. It's a very poor county.

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  8. Sorry you're still under the weather. Yes, I can see that just lolling about on a fainting couch isn't your style.

    That cat us definitely trying to establish chief catness in your house. Can you get a local rescue to pick him up?

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    1. Yeah, I'd just about have to faint to loll about all day. Which I have never done in my life. Faint, that is.
      As I said in the post above, no rescue situation around here. It's pretty much root hog or die. There is a human society but I'm pretty sure he'd end up being euthanized if we managed to trap him and take him in.

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  9. Interesting to see the word " peckish" used by Susan in the first comment. She seems to be using it to denote feeling a bit ill. Here in UK it is a term for being slightly hungry! Another difference between countries !!
    I hope that you feel better soon.

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    1. That's how I've always heard the word used too- as in a bit hungry.
      Thanks. I do feel better today.

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    2. Frances....I've always heard the word peckish to mean *something a bit off*.......I've never heard it (here in Calif) referred to as a bit hungry.....but interesting how the meanings vary from place to place. It's a big world, word-wise!
      Susan M

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  10. Chicken soup with dumplings sounds like the perfect cure for you and August to get over your colds! Hope you all feel better soon!

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    1. We all really enjoyed those chicken and dumplings.

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  11. We liked The Adam Project. I thought it was fun and sweet. My sister turned it off too. We've been watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Took a while to get into it but that's like just about every series I think. We're on season 2 now. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. As for the cat problem, good luck. Maybe you can trap him and take him to get fixed. It may not solve the problem but at least he won't be siring a bunch of unwanted babies.

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    1. Yes, but you like super hero movies, right? I am not into them at all. I'm sure The Adam Project was sweet. It seemed like it would be at the beginning. I do like Mrs. Maisel a lot. Not quite sure why but it just appeals to me. Gorgeous clothes and lots of swearing? Bring it on!
      Not sure we could even trap that cat since he's been trapped before. I looked today and it does not appear he has the slit in his ear showing he's been spayed.

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  12. Kitchen scraps? It looks like those chickens are at a salad bar in The Waldorf Astoria. As for the unloved grey cat, surely you can find a place in your heart for her? Coochie-coochie-coo! Here pussy!

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    1. Right. I'll catch that cat and send it to you. Then you can coochie-coochie-coo her/him all you want!

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  13. For me, any cat with fur looks attractive even this one. Doesn't shitting in weird places means claiming territory?
    I have to test at home three days every week - employer stipulates and thankfully provides a large box of self tests. But now two people I know tested positive with PCR while simultaneously neg with home self tests. Of course this means that I am convinced we all have it.

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    1. I do think that his shitting in the bathroom is very much a territorial declaration.
      I think that you're probably right about covid- we either all have had it, do have it, or will get it.

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  14. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but that cat is indeed most unattractive isn't it! And I hope you feel better soon (although glad it's not covid)!

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    1. He's not a lovely cat. I'm sure that if he were taken care of, he'd clean up nicely. I bet he'd be a good mouser.

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  15. You have quite a variety of chickens. I'm surprised that they and the various cats can coexist.

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  16. I'm glad your magnolia has shown signs of life! I can't wait to see what it looks like when it leafs out.

    You have more than enough cats hanging around, it seems to me. I love the idea of the trail cam. I am very curious to find out who's slinking around inside your house. (Could be BOTH of those wandering cats.)

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  17. I tested positive for the first time the other day - a present from trip to Mallorca. Bugger! Oh well, it might make for a blog post.

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  18. Something about that last chicken picture is pretty. I know it's chickens and scraps but the colors are really nice. I took my first COVID test ever yesterday and was negative. And I got to see what it was all about.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.