Practicing front yard activists

Our next door neighbor has 2 kittens not even a year old who are skinny and always on my porch looking for food. They also both had litters this year and when they neighbors moved in I urged them to get their cats fixed... they didn't and now they are both pregnant again.

They say they don't have the money to get them spayed/kitty abortion, but I offered to pay, and take them in multiple times. when the kitties had the appt. the neighbors were too lazy to awnser the door. The worst part is, they are both sporting new tattoos from over the weekend, one of which would have payed for the abortion.

The SPCA is overfull, they are putting down animals every day.

It took everything I had to not say this when she showed me her new art: "What did you get tattooed on your back? Pictures of dead kitties?"

I just had to walk away.

GET BENT!

Recumbents are the only way to go really. This is a totally different ride... no weight on your hands, the steering is smooth and very responsive, and it takes a little something extra to ride, but well worth the new POV.

Donnie just got a new one for his birthday, so maybe after our ride, I will post a picture of it. (his has ape hangers instead of the steering I have)

My ride

This is a post that I am going to have to dedicate more time to, so for right now I'm just gonna have to show you my new cart and tell you that since I got it I have yet to go to the store in a car. I can do all my regular shopping with the exception of buying lumber, ect with this cart. Kenyon and I have been to Walgreens, Atwoods, (twice) Subway, Homeland,(several times) K-Mart, the gas station (for sodas not gas) and a million other places that we needed to be. We go to church, meetings, the library and Farmers Market all with pedal power. I figure I have gone a minimum of 60miles in the last week.

Some carrying 40 pounds of cat litter and a case of beer!

Say lady, whats in your cart?

The benefits, I have spent nothing on gas and had some extra dough. I heard birds singing, church bells ringing, and seen lots of wildlife. I have met dozens of curious folks and felt much more connected to my community. I also have some really strong legs compared to a few months ago and sleep better.

What's really funny is after I got my cart I read on a "'bent site" that it was just about impossible to ride a short wheel base recumbent with a cart. I didn't know that when I first got it, so I went ahead and did it anyway.

I will admit that stoplights are difficult to start at with everyone watching because it is awkward with clipped pedals... and even worse is starting at the base of a hill with a load. The best part is making it to the top of the hill with a load and knowing if you can do that, you can do alot of things!

Unitarian

The kittens have taken over the front part of the house. The good news is Casey and Walter seem to be dealing with it well.

It's fuuny, sometimes the cats end up color coded. the other night it was brown cat night all night long. We had Wilma, Iris, and our two brown kitties River and Scraggles. No other colored cat got in bed....

Earlier today 3 versions of white cats were eating out of the same plate at the same time.

Here is the Atchi Brigade...proving my point.

Usually when she is asleep Kenyon is covered in these. However, this is Lucy, her favorite... who seems to be wherever Kenyon is at any given moment. This year I let Kenyon do the majority of the mothering of the babies. This means they have imprinted on her this time and they keep HER up all night. She does most of the feeding (she makes a great formula) and has even taken over baths. I am really proud of her. This really is a huge responsibility as this many babies is alot of work (and they cost alot when feeding replacement milk) but to see them thrive and love is a really great thing.

Dillon helped Donnie build a cat house for me the other day. When Donnie finished it he said "There, nothing proves I love you more than a cat house."

While it may not be a new bracelet or a ring he had made for me, I have to agree, any man who does something like this and lets me have this many cats, is a pretty good husband.

Wilma, would really like to be your good friend. Talks alot.... and seems to be a bit of a loner hanging away from the other cats. Very friendly.

We have 3 of these. We call them, The Atchi Brigade because they all 3 look like my beloved Atchi who passed away last year. He was one of the great cat loves of my life. These kitties were wild when first picked up, and we have been teaching them that people are ok. They seem to agree and really purr loud and get a little crazy with the kisses once you get them started. They are also very friendly with the other cats and like to play alot. They are all fixed and have shots....

Emily, she is very swwet. A lap cat, a bed snuggler, a bit of a talker and very gentle and mellow.

Honkey cat (in the white) will probably be a permanent cat here at the Wood home. The other one in under the bed cat as we call her. She is very sweet, just a little shy.

Somebody's gotta do it!

Everyone in the family spends alot of time helping to socialize the kitties.
This is a really hard job.
We have to sleep with them, snuggle them, talk to them, brush, them... all day and night.
We have to put up with all their kisses, snuggles, and listen and respond appropriately to their kitty talking.
It just wears me out.
I have to wake up in the morning, surrounded by cats... and pet them all before I get up. I have to rub little kittens bellies to make sure they poop and clean their ears.
It is so hard.
I have to hold kitties anytime I sit because there isn't enough time for them all. It never ends. All day long I have to go out of my way to love on cats, and so do my kids and husband.
We all really hate it.
Can you tell?

Cat in the box

Having a 10x10 enclosure for several cats means you have to have a place where they can all be, but not have to look at each other if they don't want to.

Sometimes the kitties get a little overexcited when they get petted.

They do alot of this!

This is the "finished" cat house that we have going on for our SPCA kitties for outdoor relaxation. When it gets a little hotter I will put a mister out there and run it during the hottest parts of the day to keep the kitties cool. They all seem to be very comfortable and have lots of places to hang... I think whats works best is to keep half the adult cats out in it at all times and that really relieves the pressure inside the house, considering we have 5 permanent cats that have egos and anger issues right now. Actually, the one with the biggest problem with it all is one that came to use the last time the shelter flooded and she grew up to be Scraggles, so I really think she should drop the attitude. Mostly everyone gets along pretty well considering...

Several of the kitties came to us with some issues, some are not fully tamed either, so those are some things we are working on with the kitties. All of the kitties enjoy attention once they are in your arms, just a few need a little convincing that this is safe. Some of these kitties have very outstanding personalities, cute quirks, and funny things that they do. If you are at all considering getting a pet, come check these guys out!

Cats are my crack!

Every year the SPCA floods and they have to evauate the animals. When Donnie heard that they were evaucuating, he made a comment to Doug about how when he got home there would be 10 cats at home... and he was wrong. Who is he to think he knows everything?

I brought home 12.

and a rabbit.


Remember how last year when it flooded we got Miss Meowgi and Scraggles, as in "your not keeping that scraggly-assed cat?

Meet Honkey-Cat.

Deb and Rhonda's 40th Birthday Bash

Let's see, they rented an old bar, set it up like one, had a couple bands show up, Jimmie and Hopp both snorted tequila out their nose and we drunk dialed.

Sounds like a sucessful party!

Nothing is sweeter than seeing 2 of your friends riding down the street in the middle of the night on a scooter together, holding a ballon.

The end of the story

This is "The End" of Sunfest ( I know, I blogged backwards and you got the end first), so I thought it would be fitting to share this picture with you. I was trying to get a shot of the dog in the middle of the frame, but got his ass only all the way to the right, look harder... and you can see it!