Death And Destruction

Not a banner day on the farm.

Scrunchy tested positive for both Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. I knew this was eventually going to happen. We have too many strays around here to get lucky forever. There are no good decisions. None. You try to balance the needs of the cat and the needs of your other cats and the needs of all the other stray cats he might come in contact with as a free roamer as there is no way to bring him in the house or confine him for the rest of his life.

There are some rescues that can take infected cats, but they are already overcrowded and overworked. As all the rescues are. For cats, dogs, horses, pigs, rabbits... I'm sure the majority of blog readers are already well aware of this problem. We've all taken in strays and rescues and wondered why folks just couldn't be a little more responsible.



I'm not sure where we go when we die, but surely it's better than living in a cage. And hopefully you know that someone is sad to see you go.

Today also began the destruction of the old stripping room out by the big barn. This is the bigger of our two small outbuildings and had been moved here by a previous owner back in the 70's I believe. He stopped by one day to see the farm and told the story of balancing it on a tobacco wagon, pulling it over here from a nearby farm and resetting it all by himself. Quite a feat.

And while the building was still standing and very useful for parking tractors and miscellany, the foundation on one side had collapsed and we were told it would be cheaper to rebuild it than to repair it. As it came down in less than five minutes, it was probably a little dangerous as well.

Still, old buildings have character and history and I am a sap and sad to see it go as well. I'm just glad the project took a little longer than planned to get underway, as it gave all the baby birds plenty of time to grow up and move out of there over the last couple of weeks.



There is an email that frequently surfaces that features signs between two churches somewhere.

It starts as "All dogs go to heaven."

"Only humans go to heaven, read the bible."

"God loves all his creations, dogs included."

"Dogs don't have souls. This is not open for debate."

"[withheld] dogs go to heaven. [withheld] dogs can talk to their pastor."

"Converting to [withheld] does not magically grant your dog a soul."

"Free dog souls with conversion."

"Dogs are animals. There aren't any rocks in heaven either."

"All rocks go to heaven."


And cats.

And old barns.

Give Me A Break

It's 60 bajillion degrees here with about 500% humidity. No lie.



I've watched a progression throughout the day from Comby's feet sticking up in the air to falling off the chair, getting back up and going right back to sleep.

I've been trudging back and forth from the barn in sun so bright I can't even open my eyes all the way.

And I'm sweating. I Hate. To. Sweat.

And I broke my good [cheap] sunglasses.



Eli's sleeping under the porch.

Give me 40 and raining any day.



This does seem a little cooler Brushy, what with the breeze being able to blow underneath you. Good thinking :-/.

Because at least then I don't have to look at all my hardworking compatriots.



Aw, ain't she cute. With her widdle head up on a dirt pillow.



Which is why she's called the Garden Weasel. Nice hole there Weaslie.

The only reason Iris and Claire Bear aren't pictured is they are smart enough to hide [it's too hot to go looking for them].

Scrunchy's laying low because he heard something about getting 'tutered tomorrow.

Ugh.

Sunday Stills

Our challenge this week is yellow...



...so I'm starting off with purple. With some yellow. Even more yellow if you click to biggify. I'm pretty into my pollen.



If I'd posted a full photo of this flower, you'd think it was just a plain white iris. I love the way my camera shows me there is always more than meets the eye.



This yellow flower is someplace that it should not be. In my greenhouse. I posted this not only as a beautiful example of yellow, but to shame myself into getting this poor squash OUT of the greenhouse today. Feel free to throw in some extra shame. I deserve it.



And I bet you thought I would throw in a bee picture, too. I was, until I saw how neat the yellow is on this moth. (Definitely click to biggify.)



And I gave the camera to Keebler and Graham Lamb because I thought it might be interesting to see what yellow they would pick. Kids pictures are frequently insightful and this is no exception - a yellow box of cookies and a yellow(ish) cat. Graham must have had the camera for this one. He loves his kitties as much as cookies. Keebler loves his cookies.

Scrunchy (who's starting to feel a little more comfortable - and better fed - on the porch) is going to be sorry to see the heated cat condo heading to the barn (just for the summer - don't worry) today. I'm going to miss the two layer table/shelves. But not too much.

And yes, that's a Christmas tree. For the cats. On top of the condo. With presents underneath. And the lights (LEDs) still on. As a night-light for the boys. Who are also moving off the porch this weekend.

Enjoy your Sunday! And to enjoy more Sunday Stills...

You Can Tell By The Overhang...

I came home yesterday and was greeted by a peach colored cat on the porch.



"Hey Brushy. How's it going? Did I miss anything?"

Wait a minute.

That ain't Brushy.



Scrunchy!

He'd been gone for a day or so and I was afraid (okay, sort of hopeful) that the other cats (Comby!) had chased him away.

Any cats that come around here and will let us get ahold them get Feline Leukemia and AIDS tested (we've been lucky and not had any positives), given their shots and 'tutered. At least that way they've got a better shot of not getting sick and giving anything to our existing cats and at very least aren't adding to the cat population if they move on. HAHAHA - no one ever moves on.

So then we feed them for the rest of their lives, add some flea and tick treatment throughout the summers, update their shots every year, treat their boo boo's (note the lump on Scrunchy's back - thanks a lot Comby!), buy them stupid heated cat beds and build them outrageous condos so that everyone has a warm place to sleep in the winter.



The fruits of our labors? Yeah, that would be Brushy.