Tales from the Outside

Don't let them fool you looking sad, they get to go out too. This was just taken early one morning when Brendan was on Dawn Patrol. I don't want the kittens to learn about Dawn Patrol (the 5 AM out the window to check the territory thing) This is the gate to the Land of Happy Cats. Olof built it from fencing. We still have a roll left which we will use to connect the two buildings (house and studio) when Uncle Sid moves in next door. I'll have to post some photos of the studio under renovation. It is a huge mess at the moment. Big hole dug for the garage, roof partly on and stuff all over the yard. It is easier to build a new place then it is to tear an old one apart. At leas it is neater. The kittens are just thrilled with Outside. They have expanded their area and go up the hill to the vegetable garden and to the edge of the woods behind the compost. Today it is pouring rain so they were out for a bit and then I shut the cat door and Harper started yelling like only a Meezer can. "You gave me Outside and I want it back! Now! Now I say!" Imagine a Meezer saying this and you get "NEEEAAAHHH NEEEAAAHHH!!!!" I opened the door for him (probably a bad idea since I just taught him how to get me to open the door). He went out and sat on the porch and looked at the rain coming down. "No good. You fix it" So they understood Outside was No Good today. Tomorrow is another day. Ramona still loves her apple tree. And it's blossom time.

Outside

We can go out? Really? Yes, kittens, out is yours. Three of us worked on Saturday afternoon putting up the cat fence. It goes all around the back yard, and the vegetable garden. When Uncle Sid moves in next door it will be extended to the walls of that house. The cats are safe from the road and other animals. Jakey the Barn Cat next door is fenced out. Brendan thinks it is cool. And yesterday Olof was sitting out by the pond when a bear popped his nose up over the bank and into the fence. It was enough to make him change his mind. A bear could easily knock the steel bars holding it down but he'd probably need a good reason, like when the plum tree has fruit. Until then all shouldbe well. The fencing we used is called deer fence. It is a sturdy black plastic seven feet tall. You install it by pounding steel stakes into the ground and tying those plastic wrap ties to it. You can't even see it along the trees. I can never remember the name of the company we bought it from but I will look it up and post it if anyone is interested. I really recommend it, it is a great peace of mind to have the cats running around exploring and having a great time and not worrying about them. It is good for Warrior cats too (Magoo, I'm thinking of you here) because your territory is fenced off to intruders. Ramona just loves the outdoors, even more than Harper. They have spent the last two days of beautiful weather outside and then they were exhausted by TV time, when the pride all gathered together.

Home Again

We have been away and now we're back. It's finally spring and there is so much to be done here. Olof is tearing the studio apart for the remodel and my keyboards are all over the place. I am trying to get some video projects wrapped up and that long audio script. Today I am just wiped out from not sleeping so I am going to try to take a nap and then attack the housework and work work. When we got back to Portland the kittens didn't know who we were. Brendan of course knows that we return. But the little guys, as far as they knew we had been eaten and were lost forever. I picked Harper up out of a deep sleep and he just didn't remember me! But then, twenty minutes later, I lay down for a nap and both of them arrived and the Big Purr began. They had been in Portland for six days. When we got home everyone was wiped. Things will get back to what passes for normal around here soon. We did start planting the garden anyway. And one thousand feet of cat fence is arriving to make the entire back yard and garden safe for felines. Good thing, since Mona really wants to get out there. One thousand feet of cat fencing. Twelve hundred dollars. Knowing the precious ones can be out in the sunshine, happy, safe and secure. Priceless.