Well, a few new things going on, some good, some not so much…
I just got word my valves are ready and should be shipping tomorrow, or if worst case some time next week. Last time they told me something would go out ‘the next day’, it went out 7 days later. So, they are fixed and paid for and now its just a waiting game to see when they arrive…but we are on the ‘good side’ of this procedure. Now I just have to hope that this solves the problem….
(an example of the new kitten. All pics we’ve taken are crap, so this is kinda what she looks like)
Brian cleaned Petco on Tuesday night and while there a customer brought in a small buff calico kitten that was found out in the street. And can you guess where she is now? Ding! She’s got three little mates to play with. She’s pretty scared, and will let us pick her up but runs from us when she sees us. I haven’t seen her eat, but she’s not starving yet, so I’m hoping that she’s eating when I’m not in there. We have an appt for the vet’s office next Tues and we’ll know more about everyone’s health at that point. She cries out looking for her mom and siblings and I’m hoping these other little ones will help her learn to play and be a happy kitten. It’ll take time, but it’s certainly possible. I’ve had mixed litters here before to take care of. They had their mom with them, tho and that really helps…
(an example of what the black duck looked like)
And the worst of the day – my neighbor’s duck was just attacked by a dog in front of my house. I had to pick up the duck and carry him over to his home while he was gasping for breath. It was very sad. Its not the first animal she’s lost, I’ve seen dogs take out some of her free-range chickens before. But its such a drag and we always enjoy seeing her birds wander the neighborhood. She said she relocated her giant geese to another farm that has lots of wandering room, so they’re gone. Last year one of her ducks laid a dozen eggs right in front of our house and we did what we could to keep them from getting busted. I think she finally came and took them away, which was for the best. I can tell you – when you move to the country you better be able to handle death cause you see more of it out here than you do in the city. I don’t freak out about it, but I do feel really badly whether its one of my animals or a wild animal. Its always hard. One of the reasons we don’t have chickens yet is cause I know the loss rate is high from predators. And we know there are raccoons, possums and rat snakes all of which we’ve seen in our yard. Our chicken coop will have to be fortified like Fort Knox and even then I’ll worry. I think I’m going to have to REALLY think about whether I can handle chickens….I woulda never survived on a farm in the 1880′s, that much I know…







