Thursday we took delivery of the window well inserts, read, two six foot x six foot curved forms that have to go into the 7x 6 pits the basement window installers dug while installing the new basement egress windows. And while the SAIA truck driver was kind enough to get them off the pallet and up to the house (we tipped well!) we were left with two very expensive items standing outside until Scott could get here to help put them in. So I slept in the chair in the living room all night to scare off insert-thieves (it would be impossible to cart one of these off silently, and given the size and 75 lb weight, difficult to do solo and without a truck.) So the next day Jane and I decided to try to get them down into the pits, and succeeded with one, but the other being surrounded by thorny rose bushes, we decided that we could just trust the rose bushes to deter pilferage. Then that night I began coughing like crazy, upper back of the throat misery, and became real nasty coughing spasms, and then genuine symptoms of head cold. Stuffy nose, headache, and insane coughing.
So I have spent the last couple of days coughing and being miserable, and finally, Monday, Scott came to attach these forms to the house, so the next step will be some finish work and some fill in behind them.
Today I think I am on the downward side of this misery—over the hump and on toward normal. I can breathe and the coughing has stopped. Hurrah. Scott will be back to help finish, and also to replace our top-of-basement-stairs door with a screen door, our brilliant notion to try to get Tanner and the dreaded Shu-shi unit to co-exist. We found a 30 dollar screen door at Lowes, and will install it temporarily to see if we can’t get these fellows acquainted without a vet bill involved.
Having the screen door available when and if, in future, you wish to introduce new felines to the current cast, should be very useful. In the meantime, one hopes it will be successful.
I was informed last week that I have nearly 3 weeks of vacation I must use or lose by the end of the year. Taking more than 2-3 days off in succession would be impossible, simply because it wouldn’t be fair to staff (substitutes are nigh-impossible to procure). Therefore, I have decreed that from now until the New Year, I am taking every Wednesday save 2 off. If this files, I will be able to devote those Wednesdays to finishing up what remains of the upstairs remodel; we are now down to table construction, and I hope my little Fit is up to transporting 4×8 sheets of plywood. I will also be able to finish a quilt I was working on for a mainland friend. Bunny lives in NC, and although I don’t think she was hard hit by flooding, she may find it useful.
Yay for vacation days!
100 years ago the Spanish Flu epidemic killed 50 to 100 million people – far more than WW1. We’re fortunate we have antibiotics, though they are steadily becoming less effective.
Anitibiotics might have helped them – many died from pneumonia or some other secondary infection – but flu vaccines would have saved a lot more.
Hopefully by today the cold has wandered away muttering to itself and you’re back to speed. I go forth to make a dump run with all the rubbish that was supposed to go out yesterday (vandals stole our Dumpster lock, and everyone in the neighborhood proceeded to fill it with their trash). Then it is lumber and table building.
Another thought regarding the socialization of kitties: Have you ever used Feliway to try to get new and old cats to coexist peacefully, and was it successful? I used it trying to get Zorro and Junior to not swat each other; they eventually calmed down after over a year, and I am not sure if the Feliway actually helped. I still have some of the kit, if you want to give it a go.
Oh, yes, we use Feliway.
I seem to remember that I first heard of Feliway from CJ and her blog here, I believe when introducing Shu and Shi to each other.
I didn’t remember that; thanks! Ferocious kitties are ferocious.
And it’s getting cold here—50’s to 40’s at night, so our kitties’ willingness to go outside for 3-4 hours will lessen.
I also have to move the new water lily into the deeper pond for winter—it’s in a pot, so this is doable. And shut down the pond pump in the lily pond for the winter.And prune the apple tree.
Meanwhile, Tanner, being part Siamese, is a nonstop yodeler when he wants something. He is a trial in that regard. He can literally keep it up for an hour.
Are you sure he hasn’t found a Poetry Corner? Junior just came in and informed us of — something — I don’t know what. Loudly and repeatedly. It seems to be something older cats are prone to.
We’re somewhat more, errm, consistent than your locale, but I changed the sheets this morning. I’m going to the flannel, chose the blue plaid. The ritual changing of the sheets are two of the hallmarks of the year.
Can you sing at the same time in more than one key
Duets by Rossini and waltzes by Strauss
And can you, as cats do, begin with a “C”?
That always triumphantly brings down the house!
Jellicle cats are queen of the nights
Singing at astronomical heights
Handling pieces from the Messiah
Hallelujah, angelical choir
Wow. It’s seemed decided that cats aren’t self-aware, but this cat seems to be, touching her own ear experimentally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akE2Sgg8hI8
Intriguing, that video.
What is it? I have a Flame Point Siamese coming around to hunt voles in the backyard, it’s pale like this. Is there a Siamese color for the silver we sometimes see in Persians? That looks like what it is.
Maybe a Lilac Point Siamese?
https://www.life-with-siamese-cats.com/lilac-point-siamese.html
A cat used to live across the street from the library. It was a very pale gray tabby like the cat in the video, very friendly, with plushy soft fur (for a shorthair). We were never formally introduced; I used to call her ‘Cloud’.
Yeah, I think so. Before bedtime I thought I’d look up Siamese colors on Google, and got into bed at 1AM! Look up “Ocicats”. 😉
Amazing! She seems to wonder whether there is another cat there or not. She checks by touching her ear, and sees that it’s only her reflection. Right at the end of the video she is striking other poses and watching the result.