Today we had the first snow this season. According to the weather news, it was the earliest snow in four years. I like snow. The bad news was that it was a very little amount–no more than 1/2 inch or maybe 15 millimeters. It does not snow here much or very often. It is usually too warm and there is much rain instead. I let the cats have a look out in the catio. Opie was not interested.
Marigold
When my father was only a child, he saved the holiday postcards he received. There is a large collection which are mostly valentines and Christmas cards. Today in honor of Thanksgiving, I present a postcard from 1921:
1921
In the upper left corner, we see a “pilgrim” girl waving at the turkey, while she holds what appears to be an ear of indian corn. Bye, bye! To the dinner table with you!
Previously, we were complaining about having nothing to do around here. Instead of lying about, we decided to put up a Christmas tree and other holiday decorations. A small artificial tree was put together. Opie supervised the placement of the tree, and declared the position to be satisfactory.
We finally finished most of the tree decorating, but not all. There is no shiny tinsel. The cats like to play with tinsel and eat it! Tinsel is not allowed! There are a few more special ornaments I must find, and place upon the tree. Overall, Opie was satisfied with the results of our labor so far.
This does not smell like a REAL tree!
Zeke
You need to add more dangling things at the bottom for me to bat around! (Will do!)
Marigold
Why are the lights off?
I did not ask for the camera flash!
Thanksgiving Day we prowl about as the holiday turkey is being cooked. After we eat, we groom and sleep, while the humans watch football.
It is dark in the morning when we wake up. Many days it is raining. Zeke decided to jump outside into the rain and have a scratch on the catio. Maybe it would be better to go inside, as the rain is getting stronger.
Zeke scratching
The rain is falling on my back!
The holidays have not arrived. The weather is colder and damper. There is not much to do for fun-loving Maine Coon cats like us. We like to bother Marigold. She is not like us. She is not around right now.
Opie
We have been getting extra catnip. Sometimes we chase each other through the house. Sometimes we get grumpy and fight. Most of the time we lie about doing nothing much.
Zeke and Opie
It is grey and cloudy out in the catio. The squirrels are busy. In the early morning, we see and hear all the birds. We wait for the holiday when we can eat fresh baked turkey meat! Thanksgiving holiday arrives Thursday!
Zeke and Opie
Germania Kalender 1916
National Cat Day falls on Oct 29 every year here in the USA.
Today I shall mention National Cat Day. It was created in 2005 by Colleen Paige. She wanted to draw attention to all the homeless cats in the USA that need help and new homes. Many millions of feral cats roam the country. A million or more are killed in animal shelters, because they cannot find homes for them all. Animal shelters are reducing adoption fees on cats, or eliminating them altogether today, to stimulate the adoption of cats today. Cats and their contribution of human society should also be celebrated!
Marigold I got from an animal shelter. Opie and Zeke were from a litter of feral cats, I took home.
Today we begin with extra tasty breakfast for all. Later, toys will be distributed and dangled! Catnip will be dispensed! Let the festivities begin!
Near Montgomery, Alabama 1950’s. Free TV, Spring Air Mattresses, Heating, combination bathtub and shower.
There is nothing I like better than going on a long road trip. If you need to get somewhere quickly, airplanes are the way to go. If you want to have fun, you need to travel by automobile. Motels used to leave postcards in the room for guests to use. It was a good way to advertise their establishment. I would always take them, and mail them to people. Sometimes I had a few left over. What you will see today, are a few of my leftover post cards. They range in age from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. Most, but not all, of these motels still exist today. I was always wanting to stay where they had a swimming pool. If there is a pool in the photo, I swam in it! Having a large sign which could be seen from the highway was very important. Fasten your seat-belt as we travel the highways and byways of America on the open road, and look for a nice place to spend the night.
This is the story of Zeke and the bee.
Zeke in catio
As much as I would like to think so, it is not always a safe place outside in the catio. This week I happened to stick my head outside the window, to see what was happening out there. Zeke was at the bottom, trying to catch a bug with his two front paws. I instantly knew that this was potentially trouble! I shouted at him, but he took no notice of me. Suddenly, he lets the bug go free, and it flies away. Then he comes jumping through the window, and running through the house on three feet. He is holding his right front paw in the air, and shaking it. Yes, he got stung by a bee.
He spent time licking his paw, and seemed to be not badly affected otherwise. I decided not to take him to the veterinarian. I would just monitor his health closely. That was a mistake.
In two days, he was walking well upon his foot, as though nothing had happened. He was eating and drinking, and normal in every way–almost! I noticed that he began drooling saliva like an old hound dog! He was soaked! It was time to call the veterinarian.
Zeke did not want to go to the veterinarian. He never does want to go to the veterinarian. “It is for your own good,” I said. So, I put him into his carrier, and drove to the veterinarian.
The veterinarian technician weighed Zeke. She took his temperature. Then she wrapped him in a blanket to calm him, while he waited for the arrival of the veterinarian.
Zeke was very still and calm. He was wrapped in the magical Blanket of Invisibility. No one could find him now. Well, maybe someone could find him, if they looked closer.
After a thorough examination, the diagnosis was that Zeke was in excellent health–except for the fact he was drooling.
Since I saw him get stung by the bee, we decided that must be the cause, and he got an injection of antihistamin drug. That was a few days ago. I can report today, that he has stopped drooling. It was caused by the reaction to the bee sting. Another “crisis” is over–until the next time!
Feline Café 