The Kitty Trail

I went for a walk on the 'Kitty Trail' yesterday evening around sunset. It had been a hot day in a whole string of hot days and it was finally cool enough to be outside for any length of time. The 'Kitty Trail' is a little trail that goes up a little knoll in front of our house and then looks down the other side on the valley below. I gave it that name because I used to have kitties who would go on walks with me, and that's usually the way we went. Now days, I take the trail mostly by myself (lazy kitties). Anyway, last evening as I was walking to the top of the knoll I noticed small foot prints in the sandy soil. They were evenly spaced and about a foot and a half apart. Then I suddenly noticed that the tracks were spaced about four feet apart. I couldn't imagine how a small person, possibly an older child, could have such a long stride. Just at that moment I heard a very high pitched buzzing and noticed that my head was engulfed in a huge swarm of flying insects. They were buzzing in my ears and trying to go up my nose. I began swatting and as I ran I realized that my foot steps matched the tracks on the trail, the ones that were four feet apart.

What's Missing Now?

During the last few weeks a lot of items around the house have come up missing. First, it was the silver pie server, which has been gone for a couple of months. I like to make pies and I really miss that nice big shiny pie server that matches the beautiful silverware Roger's mother gave the family many years ago.

And I've noticed recently that I cannot find the Stake Telphone Directory. I use it sometimes when I do the Sunday bulletin.

One missing item that has gotten me into trouble is the family calendar which has everyone's birthday on it. I've had to mail a few "Sorry This is Late" cards.

I needed the latest Ensign Magazine last month to look up the Visiting Teaching message and not only was it gone, but all of the recent Ensigns had vanished.

Now the latest items, nowhere to be found, are two heat bags (the kind you warm up in the microwave and apply to sore muscles and other achey places) Oh, and I forgot to mention that we can't find Roger's hair brush.

I know it's normal to lose things once in a while that you eventually find, but these items are adding up and none of them are turning up!

Being a known sleepwalker, who tends to rearrange things at night, I have my suspicions as to who is responsible for the mysterious disappearances. Roger is just hoping that some day soon I'll find my little stash.

Little Prisoners

I stopped by PetSmart to pick up another kitty brush since the other one disappeared from the back porch. (very suspicious) I studied the wall of kitty brushes...all sizes, shapes, colors, and purposes. Finally selecting a medium sized pink one I headed for the cash register. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a row of cages against the distant wall. I didn't intend to seek out the pets that day. I didn't even know PetSmart sold pets. And before I knew what happened I found myself headed for the cages and the little kitty cats each one contained.

Most of the prisoners were kittens, some half-grown, and some tiny, but all of them adorable. I could barely contain myself as I watched their furry little bodies, sleeping, trying to play in the cramped conditions or just sitting there looking at me through the bars.

I had only stood there for a few seconds when one little orange kitten got up from his bed, stood at the bars and looked at me right in the eyes as he cried. He reminded me of Zeke, a kitty I have at home. And it broke my heart to see him begging me to rescue him from that awful place. I already have four kitties at home, I couldn't possibly think of making it five!

As we stood there with our eyes locked, both of us close to tears, I knew it was truly a crime for little kittens to be locked up unable to run and play and with no one to love and pet them. So with a heavy heart, I told the little orange kitten I was sorry and left to go pay for the brush.

It's been a few days now but I still think about the little orange kitten, hoping he got adopted and wondering if I should go check.; )

Cherry Thief

In case you can't tell this is a picture of a little pile of pie cherry pits. What few cherries my tree did produce this year were taken down one by one and eaten in the same place at the foot of the tree by a red-breasted robin thief.

That Darn Cat!

Zeke had a problem and I knew it was really bugging him as I watched him scoot across the grass on his hind end. He was trying, without success, to scrape off a turd that was stuck in his fur underneath his tail. I knew he needed help taking care of the problem but I also knew it would mean trauma for both of us, so I decided to let him solve his own problem any way he could.

Later, I was walking through the garage when I noticed brown streaks across the hood of my car and a small clump of brown stuff on the windshield wiper. I was disgusted by the sight but I also had to admire his ingenuity; the wiper is a good tool for helping to dislodge something sticky.

Glancing around for the culprit, I noticed him scooting across the graveled driveway once again trying to rid himself of the sticky mass. That was it! That cat was going to have a bath. I filled the car wash bucket with warm water, donned my rubber gloves and went to work. I never knew it was possible for a cat to fight, yowl and purr at the same time. And when I was finished with him I took care of the car too.

I felt a sence of accomplishment later, having a clean cat and a sparkling clean car. But then, once again, I was walking through the garage and I noticed that a cat had thrown up on the hood of my freshly washed car! I guess the bath was more upsetting to Zeke than I thought. The moral to this story is to take care of problems when you first notice them, or they might come back to bite you.

Chasing Deer

I thought the deer had moved on up the mountain for the summer where the lush grasses and a veritable feast of wild flowers grow. But I was wrong. I looked out the window yesterday morning to admire my promising strawberry patch. What was once covered with blossoms and healthy dark green leaves, was now stripped and unrecognisable. Most of the blossoms were gone and just bare stems with no leaves attached to them were sticking up into the air.

How long I stood there staring in disbelief, I do not know. But finally it donned on me what had happened and who most certainly did it! My eyes then wandered to my prize Creeping Phlox with their bright colors of pink, purple. Once again I narrowed my eyes and gritted my teeth as I observed a scene of devastation.

So this afternoon I was ready when I glanced out of the window and saw a deer wandering by, grazing as it went. I grabbed my shotgun and ran for the door. Opening it quietly I slipped out and aimed above their heads and shot. I think the blast startled me more that it did the deer; one gave a little jump and the other got up from where it was planning to bed down for the night and then they both just stood and stared at me.

Okay, I thought, I'll just leave the gun and chase them by foot out of the country! Still recovering from a surgery a few weeks ago, it was harder than I thought. The steep climb made my heart pound like crazy as I gasped for breath. And gasping for breath then made my lungs burn like never before. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the back end of a deer disappear behind some bushes way up the hill. So after recovering somewhat I renewed my vow to chase them over the mountain.

Twenty minutes later I reached the top of the first hill and not hide nor hair of those deer was to be seen anywhere. With some satisfaction and sence of accomplishment I headed back home. But just in case they show up again, I have covered with wire mesh what pitifully remains of the strawberry patch and the phlox.

I Hate Laundromats

I've had to go to laundromats a few times in my life; like when we were on vacation, when the washer was broken or if I needed to wash something really big like a sleeping bag or a bedspread. Well, today I needed to give our summer bedspread it's annual cleaning and run it through a washer, but not OUR washer...it's a California King bedspread and it's way too big.

So I looked in the Yellow pages, found the nearest laundromat, loaded up the huge bedspread and headed to town. Several miles from home I remembered that I forgot to bring detergent...oh well, I thought, I'll get some at Safeway not far from the laundromat. Later, I struggled into the laundromat with my purse, the new bottle of Tide and the bedspread...so what if the bedspread was partially dragged across the parking lot...it's going to get washed...right?

The washers in the front of the facility were all so small...much smaller even than my washer at home. But on the back wall I saw the industrial washers, three of them. I stuffed the bedspread into one of the front loaders, poured an appropriate amount of liquid Tide into the receptacle on top and then checked for quarters. Not having the $3.50 required to start the machine, I grabbed my wallet and went over to the change machine. Luckily, it took $1,$5,$10 and $20 bills. I tried a ten dollar bill...it kept spitting it back out at me, so I tried another ten...same result. Reluctantly, I sent my twenty dollar bill into the machine. It was accepted at once and poured out 80 quarters!

With my pockets bulging, I headed back to the washers and began inserting quarters. I was only able to plunk in about four coins before the machine became plugged up...no more would go in and none were being returned.

So, out came the bedspread and into the next washer it went. Once again detergent was poured in and once again I attempted to insert the required $3.50, only to lose about $1 before realizing it too was out of order.

The third washer had a sign taped to it, "Out of Order", so I was at a dead end. I looked around for someone in charge, or even a number I could call for trouble, inquires, or lost money, but no such luck...I was the only one in the building. I gathered up my bedspread, purse, Tide and stalked out of the laundromat never to return. What am I ever going to do with $18 in quarters?!