The First Place Gold Winner Is...

This winter season I have lost two of my outdoor felines. Good friends of mine who have been in my life since my family abandoned me in early spring of 2011. 

Chaun Elizabeth

A Bombay, Chaun Elizabeth was quick to become my friend if I had food or not. An orange tabby, Jimmy James discovered me a few short weeks later and couldn't help but be my friend. I love them both very dearly. Friends are friends. It does not matter if they walk on two legs or four. I appreciated their kind and gentle souls.

I finally came to grips with them missing in the past week. As Chaun (pronounced Shawn) disappeared at the beginning of March. She was my guard cat. She was fearlessly loyal and protective of me. She never missed a meal. James would come in and out. He would take vacations but when Chaun who rarely missed a moment with me did for over a week; I knew my friends were lost to the elements. 

As a tribute, i wrote the poem: All I Have to Give. The poem was my way of dealing with another set of losses in my life. Poetry is how I transform negative emotions into positive action. 

It doesn't mean, it doesn't hurt any less. I hurt. I cry. I want my cats returned to me.

Jimmy James

Until then, I entered the poem into a contest, which I won. I very much appreciate the vote of confidence from the anonymous judges.

So a huge Thank You goes out to Bonnie Jennings who organized the contest. The other poems entered were just as worthy and worth a read. I hope you visit the source link below. 

To Chaun and James, I hope you are soaring wherever you are and will come visit me again. Thank you so much for your companionship. You are wonderful examples of service cats. I appreciate your time and patience with me. 

Good-bye, my friends, may you always be remembered in verse.


Also added to Reiteration's content. 

Source: Boondoggles and Snafu



Please donate to my fundraiser: A Safe Place for Us. Thank you!   

Feline Domestication: It's All About Them

Cats are really their own best friend, but they like us nonetheless.

My friend had made mention that she read an article that made the declaration: cats domesticated themselves. So much for dogs. The cats have it! 

With human agriculture and grain storage attracting rodents and mice, cats entered our world over 12,000 years ago. Let the cat worship begin! Well, they did start it. 

Today's domestic cats come from a small variety of wildcats. 

This study also explains why my little grey tabby calico wanted outside so bad. She lives out there with the others who have wandered my way. While the study explains her genetics, it also explains the indoor, never want to go outside, cats I have as well. 

Good to know it is not me.

Have a great and wonderful day! 

Source: Washington Post

Rainy Days for Lazy Cats

I confess: I am a lazy cat.

In human form, but in the spirit of a rainy, cloudy evening, I turned into a lazy cat. And, why not? It was a great day to be lazy. 

I like to watch a cat sleep. Cats are such peaceful sleepers in peaceful homes. They stretch. They blink. They go back to sleep.

Ah to be a cat and today I got to stretch and blink and go back to sleep.

Try it sometime. It is a wonderful experience.

Have a great week! 

Hummingbird Graduation Day

It's Graduation Day at the my house.

Baby hummingbirds are taking their first flights this morning... awww! 

I did take some pictures this weekend of the babies because they were getting too big for their nest. I knew their time to investigate the wider world was not far away. Today was that day.

So I went out and all the babies were gone from their nest. As I stood around the gazebo, the last of the babies buzzed up to me. She wanted to show me she got her wings. I put my hand up for her to land and she decided to go another direction... which she smacked into my six foot fence wall. 

She bounced a few more times until she hit the ground. Irene, my outdoor cat, pounced on that stroke of good luck and proceeded to get the baby in her mouth... but Irene listens to me. I kept repeating NO! until my cat released the baby bird. It must have been quite the mental struggle for Irene to let go of such a tasty treat, but she did.

Even Ivanka, my indoor calico who gets a free pass to the outdoors a few times a week, wanted to capture the baby hummingbird. It was such a scene of me yelling and running around to save that baby bird from two feisty felines. In the end, I was victorious.

I gathered that little bird into my hand and made sure she wasn't bleeding anywhere. Then I moved my wrought iron loveseat so I could bring down the planter with the nest in it to my level. I placed the baby back in the nest and hung the planter back up so mother hummingbird could take a look for herself... 

Boy, was she concerned. I think more that I touched her baby then about the cats. Anyway, the baby is good, being refueled by mom, and encouraged to take another flight. I am staying inside as to not create another incident. The baby's wings got tired too easily when confronted with a challenge.

I'll just watch from my glass security door... but those first few seconds of "look human what I can do!" was priceless and to make me apart of their Graduation Day was sweet of them.

See what happens when you help out your fellow creatures? You get rewarded in ways that are too emotional for words. I hope tomorrow is a better day for the baby hummingbirds and that they spend a few more nights in their nest. 

Sometimes saying good-bye is such sweet sorrow. 

Something About Anniversaries

On this day, one year ago, my adopted cat Irene had four cute little wigglebutts.

Thus the house was never the same again. The End... just kidding!

I have four little furry people who think I am their world. Riley, my Bombay, is playing fetch with me. I throw her toy and she brings it back for me to throw again. She is self taught. 

My calicoes, one is a bday girl and one is a year older from another litter, are both best friends. Those cats understand and nurture each other. Very cute.

The siamese screams and yells around the house with his bankie (a small, decorative wool blanket the size of a large index card for display items) in his mouth. I wake up in the mornings usually with one next to me. The other times, I yell back that I am in here (whatever room that tends to be). I explain to him with seven creatures in this house, there is no way he could ever be alone.

My black and white kitten is full grown and acts like his feral father. Boy, what a boy! He likes to be dominate especially over an older white male in the house, but I don't allow that. 

For creatures who are supposed to be dumber than dogs, these cats are really smart. They listen to what I have to say and do my commands when I talk loud enough. Cats are not stupid. You have to train them just like a dog. I associate words with actions and treats. 

Neighbors have even complimented me on how the outdoor cats listen to me.

Well, in the babies case, I fed Irene really well, took care of her, and trained her babies. These one year olds are very smart because I took the time and energy to raise them right. Doesn't mean they still don't act up and out like cats. They're cats! Of course, they do, but they also think and evaluate situations like how annoying can we be until the human gets the squirt bottle out and how fast can we run to avoid getting wet. 

Kitty logic.

Their presence has really helped me. My family abandoned me. A friend suggested: left me for dead three years ago. That leaves a lot of healing to do. 

With my new-found family, I don't have to worry about being alone in my house now. I have love and companionship. It may be unconventional but I don't see any human giving up their materialistic lifestyle to spend a life of isolation with me. 

Hell, I would be the greatest candidate to go to Mars, or some other colony. As long as I have a cat, the internet, and entertainment, I'm good. I wish I wasn't so ill. 

So off I go to get the office back in shape. I cleaned, organized, and am getting everything set up still. I am going to get back into writing novels and books again, not just do the periphery actions. If I start now, I should be done in about five to ten years! Isn't illness fun?! 

Have a great and wonderful day. 

 

_____

 

Novelist, DL Mullan, has Biotoxin Illness from industrial chemicals, black mold, and pesticides from her former employer. Her office was in the same building as the water treatment plant. Years later after receiving no recompense, she uses natural supplementation, sugarless diet, and detox methods to regain a small quality of life. She may never be whole, or able to work in an office ever again, but with perseverance, Ms. Mullan is beating the odds against a low functioning/collapsed immune system. 

Support her efforts by purchasing her apparel, art, and books.

Walking Like an Egyptian Bearing Cats

I was playing around on the internet the other day and discovered I was born during the Egyptian astrological sign of Bastet.

I love cats. I have cats. Cats are the one thing in life I am not allergic to. I even have a statue from a store that is of a cat with ancient Egyptian markings.

So, I wonder: do I have an old Egyptian soul?

It would make a lot of sense. Cats are attracted to me. Even mad, feral cats seem to find their way to my yard even if there is no food left in the garage. Freaky.

Really freaky because is this life, I'm Irish. 

Look, Dawn, No Paws

One of my outdoor felines is a big, beautiful, and sweet Bombay.

She has this loving heart that just melts you with her serene glance. For an outside cat, spayed, but ready to rumble when necessary, she is really nice. She seems to adore me.

She also seems to disappear on me every once and a while. I don't know why. I don't know why... She usually returns with a few pounds shed and very happy to be home. 

Yeah, let's make me crazy screaming for you three or four times a day!

It's either that or she gets trapped inside a garage or takes an unexpected ride in a vehicle. I don't know. I'm just glad she is home safe. 

When a cat disappears on me, I always wonder if they went to die alone and I didn't catch the signs. Or if one was harmed in another yard and has expired. I know it's their way to go die alone, but I rather have them die in my arms. It's just my way.

At least I know they were well taken care of and they can be cremated with dignity at the local vet. And, no, I do not keep the ashes. I cannot do it. It would make me mourn too much. So I let them go with their friends. 

If a kitty wants to come back to me in their circle of reincarnation, I always let them know they are welcomed back. Right now, I believe I have two reincarnated kitties with me. One is a gray tabby with cream calico markings.  She reminds me of my childhood cat, but this go around, there is no anger in the house, so she is very sweet-natured. The other one is my lynx colorpoint shorthair. He loved me on day one. The first week I would take the kittens out of the bathroom while their mother slept to get them acclimated to a human household for adoption. Well, he never screamed or begged to be taken back to mom. He would spend thirty minutes or more cuddled on my chest until he was hungry again. He reminds me of the Himalayan that died of the same mold illness I struggle with everyday. Since he could not be on the bed with me, he would sleep directly beneath me on the floor under my head and talk to me. 

The day he was put to sleep because of his illness shattered me. My sister took his paw prints, from the vet's crematory practice of sending a card with the prints to the owner, without my permission. That can never be forgiven. That's just cruel. 

Now that I'm all wet. The two cats I believed are reincarnated are here with me. The calico on my pillowed lap. The lynx on my foot watching me type. It's so nice to have my little family to comfort me when I am upset. 

Oh, boy, it's late. Dinner in ten. 

Before I go to sleep later, I'll have that reoccurring thought that will make me smile: I wonder what the cats will do to make me bat shit crazy again tomorrow? I know in their way that's amore! 

I hope whatever type of pet you have that you love them as much as they love you.

Nighty night, Cyber friends

Awake and Determined

I got up late this morning... hehehe! 

I'm not used to being able to sleep past my expiration date. When others used to live with me, They were determined to "bomb" me out of bed. Hey, I pay the bills, then let me sleep in. 

As for the feline compatriots, I make sure I fill up the food dishes before heading off to sleep. If I forget to do so, when my alarm goes off for my medication in the morning is when a pile of cats ends up on my bed. Luckily, I have a squirt bottle near my bed so there is rarely any ruckus but it's hard to sleep until my last alarm with eyes staring at me.

"Wake up, human! Our bowls are almost empty!" Emphasis on the almost. What a bunch of brats! 

So now I am going to get out of bed, I've already had my cocoa mocha, and do a load of laundry and dishes. I like cleaning up before I have to do a grocery run because I like a clean kitchen and refrigerator to put my produce and other food stuffs in and away.

I'm trying to buy only food in the outer isles of the grocery. No more boxed or poisoned foods. I've had my fun in the last year, now it's time to reintegrate into the synergistic diet I like being on. It's a combination Chinese medicine and eating for your blood type, which serves me well. I'm not saying there won't be a cake mix or PF Chang's, I'm saying I am making the switch over to a better diet. 

I feel better with meats, veggies, and fruits. I try to stay away from GMO's and artificial anything. Bodies need nutrition, not chemical soups! No wonder America is so ill. Switch your diet and be amazed how you will start feeling better in the coming years.

It's not an overnight fix. You have to clean out your pipes first so go see a Naturopath or Homeopath for a diet that cleans, rejuvenates, and adds quality to your life. Trust me, junk food and sodas mean nothing if you're too sick in bed to do anything at all.

So I am awake and determined to be healthier than I have been in the past several years, maybe even the last forty, as long as I stay away from chemicals in the food, air, and water as well as mold and fungi everywhere else! 

... and I am awake ;) 

Cat People and the Hunger Games

The new cat that adopted me outside and lives in my yard/garage, well, I named her Abreen.

We had a cold front move through yesterday and we have had cooler temperatures. This morning, Abreen begged for food and rubbed against my leg. which is a first. I petted her without getting hissed at, another first, and felt how emaciated she was.

Underneath her long and matted coat is skin and bones, it's so terrible. I hate kitties that are starving to death. No wonder she sticks around my yard. She probably doesn't have the energy to roam that far.

How horrible.

I guess from her behavior this morning she now considers me a friend. The rest of the hoard still stay back probably from her hissing and growling during dinner time in the past. Again, I don't blame her. Although, I am still guessing about her gender. Time will tell.

I picked a unisex name for her: Breen. Then I added the A prefix because I do believe she is a she. If not, she responds to Breen, so not harm done. 

I began calling her Abreen a few days ago. I guess she thought that if I am calling her a name then that means she is welcome and safe. Cats are strange and wonderful creatures. If you send out the right energy, then you have a friend for life. If you don't, well, I guess you are not a cat person. 

I like dogs too but I'm allergic to the ones that shed and dogs are too much for me right now. I can't devote walking time or fetch time outside. So cats are better than dogs at this juncture. 

I do hate finding animals that are hungry. I surmise that if Abreen had not come to my home when she did; she would be dead somewhere right now. Just makes me sick. 

No one, human or animal, should play a real life hunger games. There is enough food in the world to go around, no matter what the television or government says. [Clean and safe] Food like water and air are rights. 

It's just too bad corporations and some people don't see it that way. If you refuse someone any of those three necessities, then people die. Isn't that considered murder? Don't we as a species have a moral obligation to others of our kind and to this planet?

Food for thought...

No Country for Old Women

So I had a crappy morning. Terrible nightmares will make anyone a little grumpy, but I soon found someone the universe sent to me as recompense: an old cat.

S/he has now decided that s/he too is going to live in my garage with the other kitties. Everything is fine until food time then this new cat growls while s/he eats. Poor kitty. 

I shush the kitty so my others will eat. All except for Irene, my cats have not been aggressive with their meals as they know I hand out equally from the can. Irene has since become quiet when she eats. 

However I went inside and got a second can to feed everyone and give some more to this new dark gray and black with long hair cat. S/he looks old. S/he should be in a home with an old woman watching television with s/he on her lap.

I'll wait awhile before attempting a stroke to see if the new cat is skin and bones or not. S/he sppears rather healthy albeit beat up and scared.

I guess that's how it is in the world these days. It's not a place for old women especially if you are a homeless cat. 

The universe decided I should shrug off the evil of my former life because it's really not my burden to carry and showed me that I am needed even just to give that TLC I am so famous for to the underprivileged felines of the neighborhood.

Have a great and wonderful evening!