THought we’d skip the pub, where alcohol can be involved, it being only lunch, and ate at an old favorites. They changed everything: mine turned out to be chicken with cabbage, not a great combo, and Jane’s had something wrong with it..
And then..we got home to find a horrid scream coming from Jane’s tarped car that has been sitting on the in-yard drive all winter. Like a burglar alarm. We tried to cut off the alarm system. We tried pulling the battery cables. The neighbors from a street away are concerned and asking. We tried pulling fuses. No joy.
We called the fire department, now convinced it couldn’t be the car. Bounced from station to station, nobody knowing what it could be but promising to come have a listen…the fire department having much more important crises….
Theories ranged from a nearby transformer to the pressurized street lamp nearby…
Then Jane found it. In the basement remodel—a water leak alarm had gotten tossed out. It had rained. And water finally reached it. Nobody had pulled the battery. And yep—can be heard on the next block.
We both decided, yes, we want supper, as in food, but we’re not hungry and I’m not cooking. We went for a drink and dessert at our local Italian pub: Jane had creme brulee and I had tiramisu. And we went home and vegged.
Personal Update: New Wrinkle. For months now, I’ve been thinking my apt. lease was 18 months, up for renewal in August. Ah, no, it was for 15 months, due May 20th. The mgmt. office put a reminder note on my door yesterday, and I checked my copy of the lease. Yes, somehow, 15 months. So there will be a bit more hustle, but possibly, the timing on this might be golden, just right. We shall see.
Starting between 5 and 6 a.m., we’ve had nearly non-stop heavy rain, suitable for flash flooding. Things are fine here, but the city may be flooding. That, too, could tell me how either rent house does with flooding, useful to know when thinking of rent-to-own.
My tooth’s still OK, but didn’t like something overnight. So I’m opting for fish tonight and tomorrow. Not truly necessary; I’m Protestant and largely non-practicing; but some nice fish and veggies and fries should hit the spot.
Working on a font idea which became a moving target yesterday. This idea is likely to morph some more before I truly like where it’s going, but still, having some fun with it meanwhile. — I’m trying for “Art Nouveau” meets “Space Age.” It’s veering toward the latter, still in rough draft stage, but I think I’m zeroing in on it.
From your descriptions, I’d think that the apartment-complex management could make its own job easier by having an office and mailboxes on your side of the street, too. (It’s either that, or get the authorities to put in either a signal long enough to let people cross the street safely with their packages and their wheels, or a pedestrian overpass. A second office with mailboxes would be much less expensive and a lot faster to do.)
I wish they had an office on this side of the street. There is a bank of P.O. Boxes on this side, so what fits in a standard small P.O. Box is not a problem. Most package deliveries do get to me. But every now and then…sigh. The office (politely) reminded me yesterday that I have packages awaiting. I told them (politely) I had called my friend to come pick them up Monday or Tuesday. This really needs to happen, as I need to look over the one rent house besides. I’d left a message for my friend, but will call again Monday. It’s this little stuff that’s irritating.
I am not sure where they have space on this side of the street for an office, but I’m fairly sure they could do it. But alas, I don’t think that’s going to happen. And a walkway over the street is a wonderful idea, but that would require both the apartment complex and the city to agree on it and construct it, which would mean years from now. Ah, the city.
I am very hopeful the rent house will be doable without too much more cost.
I looked: The apt. lease says if I don’t renew on time, it goes to month-to-month at the existing rate until I either give notice and move out, or else renew the contract. So with a month left, I think this can get done. The other rent house, the previous owners have until month-end to be entirely moved out and cleaned up. Hopefully that can happen sooner. But that would still give me 20 days, if I choose that one; and it sounds like the better deal.
There was very mild partying Friday night, and it’s been quiet yesterday and today and likely will be tonight. Easter and Passover aren’t really “party” opportunities, anyway, haha. Only occasionally does the noise get to me. Overall, I’ve been surprised. Maybe it’s because there are enough families with kids, so that there isn’t a lot of partying or rowdiness, drinking, etc. Things are usually reasonable when folks do have fun, and often, the kids are out there with them, which again encourages keeping it sane.
My time here has had some real aggravations, but on the whole, well, it could be much worse, so overall, I’m thankful. — If I were going to stay, I’d want to see about an apartment on the other side of the street, though, yes.
Back on the Notre Dame thing…
Clad the timbers! A point has been made that saving the wooden beams in the bell towers was crucial to saving the overall structure. Effective additional protection can be given them, preserving the “original structure”, by fitting relatively thin, 1/16″, sheet steel into two “form-fitting” channels to be screwed together around each timber. The steel does two things: conducts heat away from “hot spots”, and excludes oxygen.
Plant a forest! Grow the trees needed. Then replace “temporary” steel structure with oak beams when they become available. Many cathedrals took centuries to build. It’s entirely in keeping with their historical construction and maintenance!
I saw a photo of the roof structure at Reims, which was rebuilt not too many years back – they used smaller beams and fastened them together in pairs. What I’m finding says concrete beam, with oak pages.
picture (not the one I saw the other day):
https://beyondthewindowbox.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/reims-cathedral-7.jpg
Now there is more concern for the organ, water in the electrical actuator system and the wooden “wind chest”. But although the pipes appear to be OK, I wouldn’t be so sure. One thing that is NOT desired is for the material of the pipe to itself “ring” with sympathetic vibrations, so the conventional material is a mixture of lead and tin, essentially solder! Although alloy’s can vary, it’s soft, the molecules aren’t tightly bound in crystaline structures and that prevents ringing. The eutectic solder used in electronics melts at 360°F. That’s not very hot with a raging fire nearby!
Happy Easter, Salads!
Happy Easter! I hope your day is great.
Happy Easter everyone!
It’s gorgeous weather here, about 24°C, and all the roads to the tulipfields and the coast are overfull – at 11o’clock the radio was already warning everybody NOT to go to the Keukenhof, as the parking and the park itself were full.
I went in the opposite direction, and met my future new housemates – a brother and sister Persian who will move in with me in one or two weeks, when they’re 13-14 weeks old.
They’re such sweet little kittens, and very well socialised.
I was looking to rehome an older Persian cat (it has to be a Persian because those are the only cats I know I’m not allergic to), but they are very hard to find. Apparently, Persians are very passé, and have been out of favour for decades, so the shelters very rarely get any to rehome. So after a month of looking in vain I decided to go for a youngster, which meant two, so they can keep eachother company when I’m at work.
I’ve never had a kitten before, so if you have any advice for me, I’d be grateful. For instance, are kittens allowed to go up- and downstairs at will, or at all? My neighbor’s dog wasn’t allowed to take the stairs until he was one year old, but I can’t find advice like that regarding kittens.
I’ve read advice that I should get them accustomed to daily teeth-brushing. Neither of my grown cats would let me do anything like that, so I wouldn’t know where to start…
Re kittens: do not allow a kitten to do anything or be anywhere that will not be cute or desirable when adult. They set their habits for life.
Discipline: tap gently on the nose. This gets their attention. Pick up, tap nose, set down with kitten’s back to the forbidden thing.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Get them used to their name, ‘good kitty’, and ‘no-no.’ If a cat turns his own back on a forbidden thing, you’ve won. Pay him a ‘good kitty.’
Ah, kittens! Oh my, two! Well, you are in for constant energy! I highly recommend kitten-proofing your house / apt., much like child-proofing it. Anything breakable needs to be safely out of reach in a cabinet. Kittens are bundles of energy except when they’re asleep, and they will try to climb anything. At 12 to 14 weeks, they are, oh my, plenty agile enough to try anything. 😀 You are in for some fun! As kittens, cats are even more curious and learning and investigating, than they are as adults. Some are very smart and others, well, not so much. Each one has his/her own personality, such as with my two, one very non-assertive, a naturally quiet gentleman, and the other an assertive brat. 😀 (And I miss him, except for the misbehavior. I have been seeing Goober blossom again, though.)
I’ve been lucky: any of mine, cats or kittens, have been easily litter box trained. Your two probably are already, but a simple demonstration, you pawing through the clean litter, or putting the kitten in the box and holding his/her paws gently and showing the digging motions, and they generally get the idea right away. However, kittens in a new environment, yes, can have accidents at first. (For example, Goober’s first night with me, he hadn’t used the box, and when he settled down to sleep with me, he relaxed, and as a kitten 6 to 8 weeks old, his bladder relaxed and…I ended up throwing out that futon mattress. Haha. But he couldn’t help it. It was much like a little kid who is mostly old enough, but still may wet the bed. He didn’t do that again, either. Poor little guy. I understood, but oh, the commotion, which worried him, as I dragged out the mattress and put it outside. Whew.) Smokey’s adult misbehavior had some reason to it, even though I don’t know why. — But most kittens are fine, and want to keep clean by nature. If they are not adequately cleaning themselves (bathing, litter box, etc.) then there is generally a reason they are not feeling good or are depressed. Very small kittens, though, newborn to around a month or so, need to be stimulated to pee or poop, which the mother cat does for them. Your kittens should be functioning as little adults in this. Persians may need help with brushing, to keep their fur from getting tangled, but you have experience with them.
Food and water: By that age, they should do fine with water, moist and dry food, milk if you give them any, and so on. As long as they know where their food station is, early, they’ll do OK. By that age, they are on adult food, but they will tend to eat or snack a lot and drink a lot, as they use up more energy.
They play a lot, they run a lot, they explore everything. Ah, be prepared for kittens to try climbing drapes, furniture, and so on. They don’t know their own limits yet, and they are growing muscles and habits like little hunters. Everything is to be investigated and played with. 😀 They will enjoy playing with you, too. — You’ll discover if they are lap cats, shoulder cats, or if they are the sit-by-you sort of cat.
If you like / don’t mind them on the bed with you, this is also fine. (I personally prefer that.) However, as CJ and Tommie said, yes, their habits are set early, during kitten hood. It may be cute now, but will it be cute and will it be what you want them to do as adult cats? (The general Dutch mindset, preferring order and cleanliness and common sense with a lot of freedom, seems to enter into this.)
I have had cats who learned how to open cabinet doors, simply pushing or pulling a door that doesn’t latch. Cats can learn to work a lever handle, and some determined cats can learn to work a doorknob, though that is more advanced. Or, if very determined, and they can pull/push the door’s tongue-and-groove latch (the little pin or nub that holds the door to) they can do this. Some cats don’t learn that unless shown. Others discover how through effort and experiment. Goober knows how to do this; Smokey learned from him.
Basically, your two new kittens are in late kittenhood and about to enter kitty adolescence. (I believe it’s at about 6 months when they are old enough to be spayed or neutered. Your vet will know the recommended age.) They are going to be full of fun, occasional exasperations of misbehavior, and they will be full of energy and curious about everything. Playing and socialization are important. Practicing play-fighting and all the skills a little hunter needs are natural for them, and can be encouraged through the same kinds of play you’d have with an adult cat.
Discipline: Saying, “good kitty” and “no-no!” (and meaning it) and the nose-tap work. Any clues you know of cat behavior from previous cats, use all of those with the new kittens. They need to learn human cues and human rules, along with proper cat manners. (And cats have natural feline courtesy rules of their own, just as dogs have canine politeness rules.) With two kittens and without an adult, your situation’s simplified; you’re the adult, the leader of the pride, and they need to see that you’re fair and not overbearing, but they need to see they can’t walk all over you either. (I think Smokey was permanently confused on this from his assertive side. I think he thought he could be top cat over me, not just Goober, and of course, this didn’t work. Most of the time, he was good about it, but I can see now, times he tried to get away with things. I’ve never had a cat like him before. I’ve also never had a cat quite like Goober before.) Every new cat is a learning experience for you as the human. 😀
You are going to be in for quite an experience! For the first year or two, they are full of boundless energy, and when they sleep, they sleep soundly, and wake up ready for more. But they do settle down as adults and as they get older. Each one has his/her own approach. — It’s good they’ll have each other for companionship when you’re at work. They should be fine. Kittens are really interesting, full of little surprises and the joys of discovering their personalities.
Ah, they will appreciate window sills and spots to sun themselves. They’ll like cozy nooks to sleep in or hide in, out of the way, such as under the bed or furniture. — As a kitten, Goober managed to get himself behind the drawers in a built-in cabinet. Thankfully, I heard him meowing and figured it out and got him out. Some cats like getting into spots like that. — That first night, I had him in the bedroom and bathroom with me, with the bedroom door closed so he wouldn’t be loose in the entire house. This is a good idea for the first few days. Keeping kittens separated from other, already-resident cats for a day or two can be a good idea also. My own experience with introcductions has been good. (But in Goober’s and Smokey’s case, with Goober so non-assertive, I should have realized that scolding him when Smokey tried to eat from Goober’s bowl was the wrong thing to do. I was concerned about Goober being an adult male and Smokey being a small male kitten. Ordinarily, that would be smart. In Goober’s case, he took it too much to heart and Smokey took advantage of that ever after. So all advice depends too on your assessment of each cat’s temperament, their personality.)
Best Wishes, and oh, you are in for a good time. There will be a few frustrations and misbehaviors and learning what to do and what not to do. But expect that the normal behavior of cats is magnified in kittens, and their intelligence and ability to learn is also magnified as kittens. You will learn, too, all the quirks of each one’s personality and how smart they are and in what ways each one is smart, or talented, gifted. All the things you know as a cat owner will be tested when raising kittens, and you’ll learn more besides. Enjoy! 😀
On YouTube, you might also want to check out Cole and Marmalade, and the Kitten Lady. The former is a British guy and his American wife, here in America for many years, with their current cats. The Kitten Lady is a crusading, free-spirited, bohemian young lady who is very, very into fostering and rescuing kittens. Both channels have past videos showing how to take care of cats in need, including kittens from newborn to adult, such as bathing and drying, giving medicine, feeding and getting very young kittens to go potty (stimulating them), things to look for in signs of health or sickness, behavioral issues, and so on.
Ah, I have never tried to brush a cat’s teeth, and I rarely try to bathe mine. However, you may want to get yours used to getting baths and drying them, as needed for de-fleaing or general care as longhairs. You will also want to get them accustomed to their carriers as safe places, and travel by car as a safe, regular thing also, not always associated with going to the vet, for instance. This is good practice for them, so they are less stressed throughout life by trips in their carrier or by car. Some people train their cats to walk on a harness and leash, for outdoor visits. I have never had luck with that, but it’s a good idea. — If you are not used to giving a cat medicine orally, have your vet show you how, in case you need to. Likewise for giving a cat shots. (I am OK giving oral meds. I have not tried to give a cat shots.)
Basically, you’re getting them used to all the things they’ll do as adult cats with you.
You already know a great deal by having had cats before at all life stages. Enjoy them. Kittens are truly wonderful. — Goober’s a happy, healthy senior kitty these days. He’ll be 12 1/2 plus the 6 to 8 weeks he was when I got him, at the end of this month, 13 at the end of October when I got him. I am hopeful he has one or more good years left. My oldest cat reached 13 and some months, so Goober is on track to last past that by months or years. I’m very thankful. Hah, and he was really something as a kitten, gangly and curious about everything. Now he’s an old gentleman cat. I’m glad to have him, and I’ve been through those old-age years with cats before.
Up until now, all mine have been strays or given to me as free or stray cats / kittens. When the time comes, if another cat hasn’t wandered into my life, I’ll get a stray or check a shelter. My past experience is, you’re always led to the one who’s right for you and vice versa, and they name themselves. Best Wishes!
Kittens are harder to keep from doing things than grown cats. Stairs should not bother them. Doors which are not open will be found to be annoying. If you value unbroken sleep, do not let them in the bedroom with you at night until they are at least a year old, no matter how they caterwaul.