Pets, Plants, and Possibly People

14/05/2022

13/05/2022

I cheated on my boys this afternoon, but I didn't come home smelling of cat so I got away with it. The cats RAN as soon as they realized I wasn't their human. But I confirmed everything I needed to know--two obviously healthy felines present. They only needed a single visit to check the automatic food and water dispensers. Refilled everything, scooped litter box, stuck my hand in the water to verify turtle was present and healthy, watered everything out back in containers, admired flowers. It was a pleasant day for a trip from Arab to Decatur, and I enjoyed the back roads.

13/05/2022

12/05/2022

Bedtime for Titus.

12/05/2022

Today was an adventure with this crew, as usual. Lisa came over for a lunch date, and they were all happy we chose Brandin Iron Steakhouse - Fairview. (Highly recommended if you're ever in the area.) Everyone enjoyed a bit of steak scraps with dinner. Titus now goes in his crate when I leave with no problem, and lets me take his collar off and put it back on. Saturday I thought he might be the first problem child I couldn't win over--I have thought that before, and been wrong every time. A calm voice and letting the animal set the pace of the interaction have always worked. (My favorite was the client who told me I wouldn't see her cats. Three days into two-week job I sent her photo of both of them at my feet sniffing me out.)

Everyone is fed and medicated, and I'm about to go water the yard before I find a movie to watch.

*Teddy is here, being Teddy. If it doesn't involve food, treats, or being momentarily forced outside, it pretty much doesn't involve Teddy. He got a few scritches before finding someplace to lie down. BUT when it's time for treats, be careful, because Teddy may be mostly blind and close to deaf, but the nose works! When the fingers are holding treats, the fingers *smell like treats*! The big guys get hand-fed, not Teddy.

11/05/2022

You need a new t-shirt, don't you? Yeah, just in time for warm weather.

Hard Knocks has adult and youth t-shirts!

https://loom.ly/0UGaW3o

11/05/2022

My bed is now double occupancy. I love the difficult ones because winning them over feels so triumphant!

10/05/2022

These poor babies!

ADOPTED TOGETHER & Moved Home 5/30/2022!!

Do you need a "starter set" of sweet kitties who NEED YOU?!! This beautiful trio of youngsters have been through more in the last several months, than most kitties see in their lifetimes... Left to Right are PRECIOUS (male tabby 1 year old), littermate PATCHES (male black/white 1 year old) and LITTLE BIT (female dilute tortie 3 years old)... Their elderly owner passed away in January, and the son who had been caring for these 3, was just killed by a drunk driver last week... 😢 They're now safe in a Foster Home where vetting is being checked and updated as needed. They've lived in a home with dogs, so are comfortable around them. The two 1 year olds are more bonded so we'd like to see at least those 2 stay together, but if anyone is prepared to adopt all 3, they'll be given a priority. These sweethearts deserve a bright future - help us find their future Family or Families! Email your interest to [email protected].

10/05/2022

I do not know which side of my bed the farting is coming from, but someone is *powerful*.

10/05/2022

Last night the white axolotl was showing out for me, this morning the dark one was. I'm a lot happier about the temperature this morning--I am gonna be swapping out ice multiple times a day, I think.

Also, I won over Titus!

10/05/2022

Apparently I'm not allowed to give *anyone* else any attention--not even a goodnight phone call from my wife!

10/05/2022

Axolotls, unlike anything I've ever kept in an aquarium, prefer cool water and no bright light. They survive well between 50° and 70°, but are happiest between 59-65°. Sunday was relatively cool and the water temperature was low 60s. I just checked a while ago and put two ice packs in. We're getting to low 80s the rest of the week--I'll be checking often. These critters hail from Mexico and there are currently very few left in the wild.

09/05/2022

This isn't the first time I've shared the fact that I'm 61 and still cannot p*e unsupervised. I'm just surprised it's Titus.

He went in his crate for me when I went to the grocery store, and it only took a couple treats to remove his collar and put it back on. We're gonna be friends, he's just making me work for it.

09/05/2022

She knew where to go!

When you divide a thousand by ten, that only requires 100 dog-lovers!

09/05/2022

I didn't have far to look for dogs this morning. Boo moved down to join his siblings at some point. We all ate breakfast, took our meds, etc., and now we're lazing around again in my room.

09/05/2022

Took only two nights after their humans left. The guest room is usually forbidden territory.