Kitties

Although it may seem that life on the farm revolves around the newborn kittens, the truth is, well, uh, it does. We have to achieve many other tasks in a day but Girlie and her babies are ahead of everything else in the queue when it comes to our attention. So far, Girlie and crew are doing well. The babies do three things- drink milk, sleep and flush that milk through their little systems. For all of her virtues, Girlie doesn't do much cleaning of herself - or so far, of her kittens. Mrs. Fuzzy gives them a washcloth rubbing every night, which not only cleans them up a little (before we put in fresh bedding) but stimulates their bladders and intestines to 'work' almost within seconds; normally their mom's washing would perform this function.

The other cats are feeling a bit needy these days as they don't get to go into the bedroom and take their daily afternoon naps on our bed. Jack and Lily seem especially hurt by loss of privilege - but that's the way it will be until the kittens are at least six weeks old. Here is Grover performing his duties as border patrol cat...

Mrs. Fuzzy completely tore apart and rebuilt the flower bed to the right of the front door. Farm life is good for her - you should see the size of stone she can lift and carry now! The bed is filled with pansies and iris (some of which we brought from home in pots). It is beautiful (photos forthcoming)!

Mr. Fuzzy washed the Morris Minor and the Honda, neither of which had seen soap and water since about last August - both look much improved (guess that means it will rain soon). He planted a few more lavender plants as well. And as most days go, unpacked a half dozen or more boxes...

More trees are blooming or leafing out. The two ancient apple trees down slope from the house are spectacular. Our 65 year old neighbor remembers them as 'old' when he was a child. We will trim and fertilize them in hopes of extending their long lives a few more years. To think of the stories of past farm occupants they could tell...