On its way to a fix, I hope. I tried to sign the contract, had an electronic glitch with the process, got sick in early December, and my agent had a family loss, and somehow things didn’t happen. We are working on that now.
I just signed for an Audible version of REgenesis.
Also closed-circle is down temporarily for maintenance. I’ll tell you when it’s fixed.
Oops; sorry for the empty post! My laptop gave up, and I’m reduced to phone; not ideal. Did a bit of real and internet shopping to replace but no decisions yet. Been kept pretty busy helping hubby through 2 cataract surgeries in 3 weeks. So far, perfect results, and he has the best vision he’s had since elementary school … wasn’t expecting that! He will likely get mild glasses again in a few weeks. Haven’t seen the grandson much, but we had to Facetime so he could be assured “One Eye Patch Pirate PopPop” was okay, after which he ran off to urgently … eat more so he could grow more lol. Ice Hockey is keeping him busy now, and he’s scoring GOALS!, which is new … he even managed to score one from defensive position behind the goal … only it was his net, hence a score for the other team 🙂 BlueCatShip I can try to dig out my mom’s recipe for old fashioned stuffed peppers if you want. Easy, more a technique than a recipe … sweet/tangy sauce, ground beef, rice etc. maybe not the healthiest, but always popular. I make it in summer when peppers are cheap and plentiful, and freeze some. Meanwhile you might like to wander through a wonderful Chinese/Asian/American cooking blog called The Woks of Life. Mom, Dad born in China, 2 grown daughters born and raised in US. Grandfather, and Dad had a big background in restaurants, both Chinese and classic old school American in resorts in NY mountains. They are personable, entertaining and all write from their perpectives on recipes, food and travel. Lots of great simple Chinese restaurant recipes for things like Beef and Peppers, more sophisticated authentic “old country” specialties, and foolproof Prime Rib and Turkey (those resorts). Also very helpful “dictionary style” pages of Asian ingredients from pantry items such as Soy Sauce to the mysteries of aisles of Asian greens … and they’ll give you the Chinese characters in case one wants to take along shopping. Fun to read even if you don’t cook … some really nice trip logs and photos too, when they travel. Hi to all here. Stay well, and please accept my apologies for unintended consequences of typing internet posts with short pudgy fingers on … a cell phone.
Good that your husband came through cataract surgery with good results. Mom had both eyes done, and while the results were acceptable, they weren’t as excellent as foretold.
Got any favorite recipes from that cookbook? It’s cool-ish now, and we are always on the lookout for new favorites. If I could get DH to eat vegetables without cheese, I’d make a pot of pinakbet, Filipino veggie stew.
I’d be interested in that stuffed pepper recipe and the pinakbet sounds intriguing. I haven’t been eating enough veggies lately. I used to be good about veggies. Dunno what’s going on with me. Getting lazy and set in my ways, maybe. — I’ll check out that blog / site. Sounds neat!
Your husband had the other eye done within a few weeks? Good he could get it done that quickly too. And great he could have a better outcome. LOL at the grandson’s response. 😀 Houston used to have a hockey team but I don’t recall if we still do. Here, street hockey would be more appropriate; skating rinks definitely have to be indoors.
I’m still trying to come up with a name that fits Misty, but so far, he’s stuck with it. Translating Misty didn’t come up with something that really struck me. I discovered in Hawaiian, its Kuhihewa. Longhair translates to Lauoho Lô’ihi, which I like, but doesn’t seem to suit him. Note that literally, the word order is noun-adjective, so it’s “hair-long” instead of “long-hair.”
I liked the Hindi for “misty mountain,” dhundhala parvat; where the latter is mountain, probably Parvati is a feminine form. Google Translate’s pronunciation had Dhundhala stressed on the first syllable and the second syllable’s vowel almost omitted as if Dhundh’la. I like it, but not yet sure if it fits him.
I also thought of “bundle,” like a hobo’s bundle and stick, like a kid might carry in the old-fashioned image of a kid running away from home or else going out for a day in the woods to play. I didn’t look up “hobo,” but bundle tried to translate into sounding it out in Japanese or Hindi, while Irish looks like a cognate for to bear or carry, Beart. French wanted to give me Paquet (m.) which might work and is close to Paco and Pacques (the latter is related to Easter and Pascal and Pasquale.) Spanish for bundle gave me a word, bulto, which is a bundle or package, with hump and lump and bulge as added meanings. Bulto might work, but I don’t want to give him a negative name.
Misty stayed in all night and was apparently happy, though he did stretch to look out the window while I was awake. He went out this morning and is still out. Peppercorn snuck in without me knowing it, so I thought she hadn’t come around, until I turned and went into the kitchen, and she was busily cleaning up what Goober had left. I didn’t find Goober, thought for a bit he’d gotten out, curious where everybody feline was going. But no, he was off in an out-of-the-way spot, on top of the cable box / router, not happy, I think, that other cats are getting attention and he feels he isn’t. (He is, but he’s insecure about the others, and a bit jealous of Misty, maybe.) Peppercorn stayed a minute and I thought she was going to behave herself but then she got insecure again and hissed and growled at me while she inched toward the door. I let her out and said, hey, I’m not the enemy, Im your friend. She took off. Poor kitty, she. could be a good indoor cat but still has no idea how to trust people beyond being so hungry. Like Curry last night, wanting out almost as fast as he’d eaten.
If I can settle on a game for Misty, I’ll order ID tags for him.
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bindle
@BCS, why so fixated on strict human gender-norms for a cat’s name? The cat won’t care, and a neighbor who hears you calling wouldn’t care, because they won’t know your cat that well.
If Misty fits him, it’s not a super-feminine name, might even be a bit ambiguous like Leslie and Robin, so why not leave it at that?
It could be a nickname for Mister as well as for Mercedes (which I know is a Latina name for a woman, but as a big German car also has distinctly masculine connotations in my brain), and the weather phenomenon is gender-free.
Pinakbet is one of those things where you adjust the ingredients according to what’s available locally. It usually helps if you have access to a farmer’s market and can pick up vegetables that are less than perfect; once they go into the cooker, it all blends together and doesn’t matter. It’s also a good meal for a crockpot, and as a bonus for CJ and Jane, onions and garlic are not necessary!
It usually has the following:
Tomatoes roughly chopped
Kabocha pumpkin, or other hard skinned winter squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-2″ chunks
The next veggies can be cut into 1-2″ pieces:
Long green beans,
Wing beans,
Okra,
Eggplant
Bitter melon, cut into 1″ pieces. This is an acquired taste, so go light!
Onions and or garlic are optional
Add a cup of water or your favorite stock, and let cook slowly for at least a couple of hours.
It can be left vegetarian by seasoning to taste with pepper and soy sauce. Omnivores can add a cut up porkchop and a couple of tablespoons of fish sauce or a few dried shrimp.
Aha, bindle. It is good to have smart and nice salads, associates, and friends.
I was trying out names, and Misty understood I was talking to him. I got a meow at “Monty? Montaignard? Montague?” So that might work. I’m getting sort of tripped up on “Mister Misty,” as I tend to call the cats Mister or Miss or Mizz with their name, teasing.
Y’know, I kind of like Señor Nebular, but I’m not sure he’ll go with that one.
But hmm, he’s already (I think) associating Misty as his name. I’m not sure he knows yet that’s him, but possibly.
I’ve been thinking of misty or snowy mountains, given that he’s very fluffy but not super longhaired, and is brown tabby and white, so snowy or misty mountains fit him. He is an unassuming sort of cat, quiet, and I think he’s finally catching on that he might have a real home, a safe place where someone cares about him, shelter and food. I get the impression he’s had that, but has been out for so long, he had become depressed and resigned to it. I really don’t know. I am guessing, of course, from how he acts. He loves the attention, and he liked getting to stay in last night, but wasn’t quite sure he should stay.
Most of the flyers stayed up until Wednesday. On Thursday, some came down after groundskeeping went by. Today, I don’t know if any were up. But today was the 9th day, and I’d planned on keeping them up through the end of the week. This is close enough. No one has come by to claim him and no neighbor has said, “Oh, that’s so-and-so’s cat, or, “He’s a stray, he’s been around for weeks and no one knows who he belongs to.” So, well, I think I’m justified now to say he’s mine, short of putting up more flyers.
Tonight, Peppercorn zipped in the moment I opened the door. Ain’t no moss growing on this girl. She knows what she wants and goes for it. But yeah, she’s still that hungry and knows she has a sure bet by now. She ate and I thought she’d hidden in the apt. Whew, she showed back up as I had decided I was stuck with her in. So I replenished the dry bowl and put it back outside. She had polished off what Goober didn’t eat.
Whereupon, hey, there were Curry and Misty / Monty / Nebular(?) who invited themselves in past Peppercorn. Amazingly, this time, she didn’t bother to hiss at anyone. I guess it’s amazing what a full tummy and a little human praise and petting will do for a little mama in the right mood. So when she’s not too scared or defensive or too hungry, she can like a small dose of love. — I fed Curry and Misty and Goober got food again, but he’d only snacked before. He was satisfied and went aside to wash up, while Misty ate nearly all his food (so he’s reached a good place, food-wise, no longer really needing food urgently) and Curry ate all his can plus what Misty left. What Goober left, I set outside for Peppercorn.
Curry stayed in and is still in, napping. Misty did too, but I expected that. I sat and gave Curry attention, and he, darn it, put his head on my hand and slept, very happy about it. So he got tired of being ut in the cold and wet and hungry, and needed to rest up. I’m glad he liked the attention. I didn’t want to push it, and when he moved into a new position, I let him be.
Im going to take Hanneke’s advice and see if Misty fits, and if Monty or Nebular fit instead, then maybe. I’m hoping to order his tags this weekend, which should get here in a couple of weeks. I forget how long it took last time, for Curry’s tags. Peppercorn’s small and outside full=time. I’m not sure a collar would fit her and think it’s not a good idea unlesss she gets tamer. I’ll have to work on finding foster homes for her and a barn or other placement for Curry. But meanwhile, Curry’s welcome as he’s been doing and so is she.
—–
“Bitter Melon” is a specific type of melon? I didn’t know, haven’t heard of it. I haven’t heard of that type of pumpkin, but possibly my store will have it. If some winter squash / gourd works, I can do that. Got to read the post again, that name did not stick. Wing beans? Never heard of wing beans. I must be missing something with those three. I’ll see if I can get them. (Kroger and Amazon do deliveries, and now Amazon is teamed up with Whole Foods Market and their “Fresh” program.)
What about celery or celery seed (pinch or dash) in the soup? Other veggies, such as carrots or maybe a bit of bok choy? It sounds like this is more savory or tart, not toward sweeter or mellower.
There is a well-known, older Farmer’s Market (or was) a fair distance away, but my parents and grandmother would shop there periodically. There are Asian markets in town, though where a good one is close to me, I’m not too sure. I’ll check Google and will ask those friends. One or the other of their moms or their wives are likely to know. There may be an Asian market around where I went to school and used to live and work. (I miss a great Chinese restaurant that was around there, and the one before it in another location.)
The aloe vera lotion arrived and oh, immediate help. Two knuckles and the web on my left hand are involved, but are healing well, steadily. They have blisters that are weeping fluid, but I keep washing my hands, so they have a good chance of staying clean.
I fixed spaghetti noodles and tried Prego sauce with whew, too much garlic, plus parmesan, that sauce flavor. The meatballs had not yet thawed enough. I figure with the meatballs and some extra veggies in the mix, that should dilute the garlic, which was about twice or more what I’d like the parmesan was fine in it.
I have bell peppers and some more tomato paste on the grocery list. I have rice on hand and oh, I need another salt shaker. — I might need to get some spices if I don’t have them. I need to recheck what I have for spices. — My memory says there should be something else besides bell peppers, tomato paste, rice, and hamburger or ground pork for the stuffed peppers, with salt and pepper and possibly cayenne. I get the feeling I’m forgetting a spice or two and possibly a veggie ingredient. Naturally, everyone likely has variations. I realized it had been so long since I’d fixed them, I didn’t recall the amounts or all the ingredients for the filling. And I’ve never fixed beef and peppers, so now’s a good time to try. — Groceries will be later next week, as I want to go back to getting groceries every 2 to 3 weeks instead of monthly, to keep from going overboard on some tings and still forgetting others.
So, going well here. LOL, my hand smells all hand-cream lotion-y. 😀
The neighbor kids were out in force around dusk, at least the boys. And whew, definitely boys’ behavior, complete with trash-talking and cussing, while I was fixing supper. They were playing ball of some kind. So, f-bombs and at one point a number of, ah, allusions to gay activities, to trash-talk whoever was on the other side, or who they didn’t like so much. (Or I don’t know…. No, I don’t think it’ was meant favorably as a friendly invite. Hmm. Yeah, that still isn’t a thing.) I got concerned when one kid got mad at another and started hurling words, but they ran off. I hope the one getting yelled at was OK. No, it is not OK to get so mad at guys you’re playing with, that you say, “I’m a kill you, &itch.” — The second time things escalated among the boys, older / leader boys moderated. No adults came out to make them behave. But at least it means that some of the boys are more fair and level-headed, even-tempered, so they can moderate things before boys get into real fights over some slight or some call or result of game play. Simmer down, y’all, you’re the only guys you’ve got, and years from now, no one’s gonna care about a missed ball or a questionable call or whatever, and try not to let what y’all say to each other get under your skin too much. (That can be hard to do, I know.) — Er, hey, I remember things like that, including the slurs, growing up, in P.E., etc. It happens. Kids have to learn how to deal with each other. But it reminded me, yeah, I did hear things like that, kids are not always little angels, and…hmm, yeah, when you hear some boy calling another boy gay, or saying for him to do such-and-such gay thing, or saying he does it, when the implication is, he’s less of a man, more of a girl/woman, and gay, and therefore again less of a person…. Why is it that boys are so readily conditioned, or generate that kind of thing themselves, toward each other, to insult or dominate? And hearing that, and realizing, hmm, if it were a different tone of voice and attitude, that would be a very loudly announced invitation…. The subtext going on, that boys readily both fear or have latent feelings like that, maybe simulatneously negative and positive, it’s a strange thing to hear and look at it a different way and think, well, what is going on there? Why is it that same-sex feelings, or ideas of masculinity and femininity, so easily brought up when boys play or disagree/fight? Is there really that much latent same-sex interest, or fear, or both, going on? I don’t really know what to make of it. The boys playing, talking like that tonight towards their rivals (and maybe friends too) were doing that in particular as strictly negative, to insult, to put down the other boys, back nd forth. It’s so common, no one notices, almost. It’s taken for granted. It hurts feelings briefly, or for some, it has lasting effects, and it contributes to the boys who don’t feel sure of their occasional same-sex feelings, and towards the boys who have those feelings often, who are not straight.
I guarantee you, if someone had called out a racial slur, that would’ve been met with loud disapproval, because the mix of boys out there are black, Hispanic, white, blended, whatever, with accents and cultures right in their homes to go with it.
Yet nobody said a thing when boys yelled insults about gay stuff back and forth to each other. — However, I have heard before when a parent would stick her or his head out the door, or rarely an older kid might speak up, and tell some kid he’d better not say things like that. And that is new. No one ever objected, including teachers and coaches and school staff, back when I was in school. — But we still have the level of stuff I heard tonight. (Not the first time. But I was glad the night I heard a mom open her door and fuss at the boy who’d called another boy a f**/f****t.)
I don’t know if it’s really any different in Europe or in Canada or in Latin American countries, or Australia and New Zealand. But tonight, it struck me how endemic that was, but also how, if you’d changed the tone of voice, those boys would be, hmm, not as straight and not as angry and not as fearful as it is when that’s given as insults, to put down and dominate. (And it is very, very telling about our primate or mammal natures that under the surface, we as a species resort to dominance and sexual dominance like that)
Eh, I don’t know. I’m just observing, not wanting to start a fuss. It struck me as odd that what is ordinarily so strong as insults, if said with a different attitude, would sound a lot more like a friendly invitation. And I don’t mean that to bother people, so much as food for thought. Why do we do that, the insults? Why do boys use that for fear, anger, put-downs, dominance? It happens. Basically, one boy is insulting another, accusing him of being gay or unmanly or girly,. Or he’s telling him to do something for him that’s, ah, sexual; or he’s saying he’ll do that to make the boy do it or will do something else to him. As aggressive dominance and sexual references. — I wonder why we humans are prone to do that, particularly boys in many cultures. Are there feelings, latent, underneath that, that drive that, that are wanting it? Is it, as usually said, because it’s so looked down on, so feared? Why the fear and shame? Why use that as an insult or a threat?
I am just throwing I out there. Hearing things like that tonight, from a group of boys just playing ball, having a good time mostly, but occasionally trash-talking and trading insults and occasionally getting mad at each other, hearing that, being reminded what that is like when you are a boy playing, and then hearing it the other way around and wondering what the heck is going on under all that, what it is in our primitive pre-civilized, biologically driven selves, both the negative and potential less negative sides, as in, do the boys saying that towards others want that? It struck me as something to wonder about. I am not sure what is going on, and yet that is a commonplace thing. I am sure every boy and most girls have heard things like that on the playground growing up, and we hear it from kids growing up today. Including good kids. I am pretty sure those are all pretty good kids out there. I’d bet the boys saying those things would be shocked at themselves if they heard it, saw it, in a video of themselves, if they’d set it up. I wonder if it ever occurs to them what they are saying, what it means, or if it indicates anything really, one way or another.
So I dunno. It just struck me tonight, hearing it as the kids were playing ball while I was fixing supper. Yes, you can easily hear them through the windows, or at least I can. (I can’t always hear everything, including knocks, sometimes.)
I would’ve separated that into another post, but I lost track of where it entered in my train of. thought.
Gonna check on Curry, but I haven’t heard a peep. I think he’s sleeping off one-plus cans of cat food, and liking the relative quiet.
(The boys either had to go in to eat or do homework. No one’s out there now. So if Curry wants out, the coast is clear. If he wants to stay in, he’s welcome. He and Misty have been in before and not fought, so I think we’re OK there. But hmm, not guaranteed.)
I still vote for Senor Nebular…
Checked on the cats: Misty was right outside my bedroom door, and thrilled when I opened it and greeted him. He is definitely welcome here. He wanted to be in with me, I take it.
Curry was still napping, but once I was back in there to give him and Misty and Goober more attention, he got up, got a brief snack of dry, and wanted out to roam. Misty went out too as if that were just the thing. But he’ll be reliably back. Huh, and Peppercorn was also right there once the door opened, in, and, “Meow?! Where’s the food? I’m (still) hungry (again)!” She ate a little dry and drank some water from the bowl inside, while I went out, brought in her water bowl and replenished it, washed out her food bowl, filled it with dry, rather amazed it had disappeared since this afternoon, and took those outside, with her following all this with keen interest, plus meowing, plus accepting a little petting as thanks for being fed. — So she’s getting constant food from me, this time, more dry. And aha, Little Miss Thang saw and smelled the container that holds the dry food in the pantry. No telling what the wheels inside that furry brain made of that, a whole 15 pound bag of dry food in a pet food container sitting there in the pantry. Yes, kitty, that’s the combined weight of two or three of you cats in dry food, and would last around a month or two for two cats, depending on how hungry they are. Maybe three months, but I’ve had to replace every other month or so.
So now only Goober is in. Tonight is still fairly mild out, but the temp will drop during the night, then back to warm in the daytime. I may check on Misty before bed, or I may let him stay out.
It got to me that he was right at the bedroom door and so happy to see he and be greeted, that he must’ve wanted in the bedroom, but didn’t meow for it. If he can behave that well, then he’s fine inside.
Curry behaved himself admirably tonight. He’s learned (almost) how to go to the door and ask to go out. Not quite got it all the way yet, but near enough to ask nicely, without loud meowing and pawing at the blinds. But he also has not been in for any extended period in a few months now.
I presume Misty will have recovery time if and when we get to when he can have surgery for his tail. I’m unsure yet what that will involve (I almost said entail, ahem.) But I’d guess he shouldn’t go out until it’s healed up. Will cross that bridge if and when we can get to it.
I am considering restarting my blog, which hasn’t seen activity in months. I’ve stunned myself by my latest post going off on that tangent, plus the length and number of posts.
I am unsure if there is a good way to post in the blog by category, so that related posts, such as, all about the cats, might be one busy category, while other topics would appear as needed, perhaps also categorized, meaning, one page per a given category, ideally. I haven’t seen blogs do that much. Usually, each blog post is given a cloud tag for its category keywords, and not much from there, such as a category jumping-off page, similar to how forums have their subforms.
I didn’t know I was going to go on such a long tangent at the end of that last reply post. I’d reiterate that the kids are not bad kids, they are in fact being typical, doing what’s normal among American boys playing. Bt it got me to thinking, and it should have been in its own reply, in case it was too controversial.
I haven’t been doing anything with my own blog in ages, and I don’t have one started for my fonts site, which I had started too soon, it seems.
Wow, I have gotten so eager to share every little thing the cats do. My life has become that minimal, I guess.
So this weekend, I will check my blog and dust it off and I may be restarting, while leaving old posts there. — When I’ve restarted, people will need to register to reply. I’ll have a link there to do so, but I may ask people to email as a verification, or I may be able to put up a Captcha that is accessible for physically impaired visitors. I will need to look at it again.
In many ways, I like forums as much or more, but the last time I’d tried running a forum for my site, the bottiin were so bad, it was too much daily to manage, so I took it down. WordPress is mostly better about that. — Current forums may be more solidly resistant to bottiin, I don’t know. I might try a forum again. I’ll let folks know. — Anyone who has been a member of various forums before, likely knows the process. Many moons ago, despite not knowing PHP, I had volunteered in admin’ing and moderating a couple of forums, and had tried my own. Things have changed only somewhat since then. — If and when I do that, I’ll let folks know here.
Both my sites have lain dormant for a long time, but for those who may not know, I am at: shiny fiction.com and font stylus.com . The former is my writing and design and catch-all site. The latter is my startup-too-soon font design site. — And BTW, I had voice acting roles in a handful of Star Trek related fan audio dramas / podcasts. The credits appear on my shinyfiction site. I haven’t done that in a long time, but I always enjoyed those and would enjoy other science fiction fan and original voice acting. I’m an amateur, like most folks out there. — When I last looked, I didn’t find where Audible had hidden where to apply to be a reader / voice actor for them, or if now you need an agent, etc.
I will be continuing work on fonts, of course.
(I feel like I went overboard in the previous reply, getting into that subject, so I’m reassessing how best to interact. I like the community here and oh, I miss the activity at Terra Firma (Farscape forum) and a few others that no longer exist. So I’m considering how to be a better web citizen and blog fan associate.)
This thread has been going on for rather a long time.
I begin to worry for our ladies.
Agreed. Hope all is well at the homestead, and the plague has been vanquished.
If they extend the koi pond into a koi moat and turn the bridge into a drawbridge, perhaps add a floor or two to the house, or at least a good tower or two, hmm, no, three for felicitous numbers….
Do they need a knight or a dragon or some other fabulous beastie? Other than perhaps a beneficent pookah…?
Be it noted, spellcheck attempted to respell pookah into pooch. I am not sure; would a pookah be amused at that or take umbrage?
Well, I would not mind if the household and estate were a sort of Euro-Japanese-American Western fort – sort of fusion. One just hopes they are free of said plagues.
I might be overdue for a fantasy novel, I think. — Wishing all is well or getting well with the House of Cherryh and Fancher and the feline crew therewith.
I seem to have acquired almost enough crew for a very furrily run starship here, although I am not sure what sort of starship skills any of us have. Curry and Peppercorn do have talents for security and carousing of docksides. Goober and Misty seem more suited to science and technical and comms. Myself, I am not sure, but I am not the captain type. This is OK as no startup has turned up as of yet. Not even a little shuttle jumper or an odd police box or flying saucer. Huh.
At least I think your crew understands jumps.
I am hoping CJ and Jane are only busy catching up with the books and whatever’s going on with the audiobook that had been delayed. I am hoping they are not one or both sick. CJ had said here that they’d both been under the weather. I hope they are not still feeling bad.
—–
I’m not sure if I’d posted it, but yesterday evening, Peppercorn invited herself in again and I wasn’t sure I was going to get her out. She finally went out, with food. She didn’t want to pass Misty, who was eating. But she was the one hissing and then sneaking by with me supposedly running interference. Misty’s calm was undamaged. Heh. Peppercorn thought she might stay in, or at least stay in one spot in the middle of the floor in sight of the door. But she did also want out, and with food and water on offer, she went out. Hah, spicy and with a mind of her own, and won’t take no for an answer. I kinda like her. 😀
While Curry was in a couple of hours yesterday evening, and I was in here posting, the cats did fine. When I went to check, Misty was parked right outside the bedroom door, but hadn’t meowed to be let in. Oh, he was thrilled to see me, dancing around and purring. Little character got to me. Very endearing, that he so plainly likes it here and wants to stay. Of course, when Curry woke back up, snacked, and wanted out, Misty thought he had to go out too. But later he came back in, with the bit with Peppercorn I’d said just above. Misty’s reaction versus Curry’s independent reaction tell their two outlooks. Curry does like me and wants to be here, but he cannot abide staying indoors for too long. He wants his freedom to roam. I think Peppercorn is much the same, so used to being outdoors that her memories of once being a socialized housecat, probably as a kitten, are in the past. She’ll take on anybody. Feisty girl.
This morning, I fed Goober and Misty, and Misty wanted out. In came Peppercorn and then Curry showed up. They ate what Goober and Misty had left. They were both eager for more, so I lured them outside with more food. Peppercorn was downright civil the whole time, but I’m not yet prepared to let her stay in, because I don’t think that extends to the other cats, and only this once to me. But it was a good start.
So the three are out and Goober’s in.
Goober made me laugh so hard this morning, and it’s stayed with me. When I fed Goober and Misty, Goober got his food first, a real event, because Misty hadn’t caught on, wasn’t that hungry, and was still napping (in the bedroom). Misty came in and I put out his food. But somehow, he went to Goober’s bowl and took over. So what did Goober do? The little character moved quietly to the brand new, full bowl and ate his fill, neatly fooling Misty without batting an eyelash. Both were fine with each other aside from Misty having appropriated Goober’s bowl. They are both fairly shy and mild-tempered unless pushed. I get that sense about Misty, and I know that’s how Goober is.
Goober’s reaction was so suave and canny, I just had to laugh. I love him and I love Misty. … And heck, I love Curry and Peppercorn. I’m easy to get attached to cats, I guess, a little more circumspect about people.
Last night, seeing Peppercorn’s reactions, I was reminded of Lady Ilisidi. But the aiji-ma is not so combative by nature unless forced. Or at least she is not as a wise elder lady. It made me wonder what nand’ Ilisidi was like as a very young woman, first starting out, not yet grown into the full “lady” courtly title of respect for an august leader. I suspect she was always canny and had some sense about her, even as a new adult, but not the experience and seasoning one gets with years of life events and dealing with problems and people.
Anyway, it gave me a perspective, an insight into Ilisidi that I hadn’t thought of before. — I like Ilisidi, although her tough side is more than I’ve been used to in real life particularly her earliest testing of Bren. Yet as with Curry, I can still like someone with whom I’ve had a few difficulties. I can also admire their qualities, even if I don’t necessarily like or agreee with all of them. I get a kick out of Ilisidi. She reminds me of a few ladies I’ve known, including my mom and my grandmother, who were two very different personalities, and different again from Ilisidi.
Little Peppercorn is too spicy, too prone to hiss and want to fight anyone who she thinks is a threat. But I also see that she can be nice and has liked (briefly) attention from me. She seems to be mellowing a bit with repeated exposure to me, seeing I’m friendly and don’t want trouble with her. I’d rather avoid trouble and give her a little room to work things out for herself. This morning and once last night, she wanted to linger for some affection and was thankful for that. She’s shown thanks before, even when she was most starved. She is still very , very hungry, but no longer as desperate. I checked, and this is the 9th day since she showed up, Thursday before last. Little mama has made progress in that time, and it’s all going to her babies on board, and/or to any unwanted parasites. But she’s doing better too, and being a mama cat, I think she gets it that I am trying to help to e a friend, in however cats thin of that. I know they love and count friends, but yes, their ideas and feelings are not exactly the same as ours.
So Misty is part of the family, although he is still getting used to that idea after so long without a home and family. Curry and Peppercorn are both determinedly semi-feral and too independent to want to stay in. Well, I suspect Peppercorn might be thinking about it, but can’t yet bring herself to tone down the At-ti-tude long enough. And granted, that defensive, combative mien is justified, she’s so at risk. She’s already made good progress, and with regular food, which she is taking oh, full advantage of, I think she will mellow a bit.
I am also wondering to what degree the three strays have led each other to get help here, and how much is each one being independent and watchful, seeing I’m friendly and willing to feed them. I get the feeling that although they are not easygoing close friends, they do know each other and are somewhat willing to help out. Or something like that. Whether they are related I don’t know. But the end result is first Curry, then Misty, and then Peppercorn, all discovered they could get a good meal and a friendly port in a storm, and all are taking andante of that, with Misty tame enough to want to stay in some more and to overcome his time outside, to think about being a housecat again. I expect Curry and Peppercorn will always be mostly outside cats. I don’t know yet how much Peppercorn will socialize, or if she can, but she’s more prone now to linger. I think she may be testing to see if this would be a good spot to have her kittens, or at least stay over.
I sill don’t know, but I suspect she has not yet had her kittens, that they’re gestating, which is most of why she’s so very hungry and thirsty. I’ll keep dry food at the door out for her.
I expect she will need a foster home so she can raise her kittens and get a permanent outside or in/out home. Curry still needs this, but I’ve been and will keep on helping him. I’m more attached than he is, but he’s depending on me and does appreciate it in his own way. In less than two weeks, he will have been here half a year, associated with me, I mean. Sunday will be six weeks for Misty, and it’ll be two weeks for Peppercorn on Thursday.
I did not expect to be hosting three itinerant cats, but am glad one looks to be permanent. — If and when I can get in a rent house and stay, Curry and Peppercorn are welcome as indoor/outdoor cats. Misty belongs here. Goober’s place is without question. He’s been with me 13 years, 3 months, and now 8 days, and shows good signs of living longer than Toby, who had the previous record at 13 and some months.
Now if I could find human companions as reliable, and perhaps as housemates / roommates, that would be wonderful and equally unexpected.
@BCS, If you think Peppercorn is still pregnant, please contact those animal rescue numbers you tried for Curry; see if they can come and catch her before she gives birth.
Now she’s used to getting food in your front yard daily, that should be fairly easy.
From what I’ve seen on TinyKittens, that way her kittens can be born in safety, socialised and adopted – and Peppercorn herself is much less likely to die giving birth, and can use that time to decide to calm down and see if she prefers living in a home, or needs to be spayed and let out again.
Once the kittens are born you’d have to track down the nest before they could capture the mama, and if you can’t find it, then (from what I heard on TinyKittens and the CatLady) the kittens have only a 1-in-4 chance of survival, and a much greater chance of being firmly feral if they do survive. They need positive human contact in the first months to quickly become socialised and fully accepting of humans; after that it takes a lot of time and patience without guaranteed results.
With someone in your area shooting cats with air pellets (as demonstrated by Curry’s embedded pellet) a scared outside mom like Peppercorn is not likely to trust her kittens to humans, if she can hide them well.
Off topic and sad, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller lost their cat Scrabble at the ripe old age of 18. The grand dame of the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory.
https://rolanni.dreamwidth.org/1227093.html
Like the others who posted earlier, I’ve been checking in regularly to look for an update on CJ and Jane (and their furry friends). Does anyone stay in touch with them personally, and if so are they okay?
I used to see Jane sometimes in the Guild Wars 2 game, though our playing times don’t align well with the time difference. I haven’t seen her in the game in a long time; I’ve been considering sending her a game-mail to ask if they’re OK but didn’t want to be intrusive, when they’ve been so busy as well as struggling with their health.
If CJ doesn’t react here, I’ll mail Jane this week.
CJ posts regularly on Facebook, often several times a day. One of yesterday’s posts included an anecdote about Finity.
I’m so sorry for Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, about their cat. I have a couple of the Liaden books in my to-read pile; I’ve never read their books before, and people, including here, keep telling me I’d really like them.
I’m not in personal contact with CJ and Jane, but I think one or two folks are occasionally in contact. So I hope everything’s all right and they are just busy, writing and with the audiobook delay being handled.
—–
Whoa, Mama! — Cat Update — Momentous Day.
Peppercorn woke me bright and early at 6:15am, “Meow! Meow! Meow!” She was demanding to be fed. Loudly. — Things got very interesting. She had one black kitten with her, less than 6 weeks old. — She came in without her kitten. I set about getting food. Misty and Curry arrived in the midst of me getting things done and checking on her and the kitten, with her in and the kitten outside the door.
Nearly had a fight between Peppercorn and Curry, but this was averted by me raising my voice, not too fussy, just a mild warning. — I did get her lured outside and fed.
I got a plastic storage box and a bath towel and set it outside and put the kitten in it, showing Mama Peppercorn where her baby was, and placing her in there. So all was well. I went back in and wrote a sign to post, not to disturb her and her kitten(s), in case she went back to get more. I sure didn’t want to bring them in too soon, if more were out there. I went in and mopped the bathroom, thinking I’d sequester them there. Then I intended to wait until noon, so she could get any remaining kittens and bring them here, or move her kitten back if she wanted. Meanwhile, the bathroom was drying slowly.
Misty and Curry are still in. As it had passed 10:30 and little kids were beginning to come out, who might take or harm the kitten, I had decided to bring Peppercorn and her one kitten in, thinking that was all of them.
When I went back out, the umpteenth time this morning, aha! — A young teen boy showed up. He said they had two cats, and so she had been staying mostly outside, but that one of the kittens had gone missing this morning, and he’d been looking for her and the kitten, afraid some little kid might have taken the kitten or would hurt it.
He said she had come in the apt. and had given birth in his room, behind a basket, about 2 or 3 weeks ago. (I forget which he said.) He gave his name and I asked what her name was. They call her Pearl. 😀 (Good name.) And yes, there are more kittens, one or two. He didn’t give his apt. number, and only after he’d left with the kitten and hwith her following, did I realize he hadn’t given the number. Of course, I had said I didn’t want to take the kitten or her away from them, and said they and she and her kittens were welcome, that if she still came around and wanted food, she’d be welcome. I explained I had cats and had taken in a stray, but I didn’t go into all of it.
So! Peppercorn — Pearl — and her briefly visiting kitten very nearly ended up staying until I could get them to the vet. I am very, very glad I didn’t inadvertently separate her from her other kittens, or her owners. The boy said they are probably going to look for an adoption home for her.
Peppercorn, Pearl, was back a few minutes later, I guess to see if she could get more food, or maybe to thank me for returning her kitten to her family, her other kittens, and her boy. — I took that the boy is attached.
So I am glad it turned out OK, and maybe we’ll have further contact as Pearl goes back and forth. I didn’t say how starved she’s been. But apparently, she’s an outside cat mostly. But as with me, it looks like she has a home, a family, and we’ve been sharing her for the past week and a few days. I wonder if she’s been getting much food from them too, or if she’d tried moving here, despite the other cats, because she thought the setup was better.
Well, so I guess I have one less mama cat and kittens to worry about. Or rather, more likely, I may see her regularly, and may see her kittens too. — I hope the boy and his family will know they really would be welcome to come by and say hello, and I’m happy to share caring for Pearl and her kittens while they’re here. I’d rather coordinate so we, both sides, know she and her kittens are safe and get a good home.
I had called one of my friends to say I’d need a vet trip this week for Peppercorn, Pearl, plus her kitten, plus Misty. He’s supposed to get back to me to schedule.
Well, now I can only hope Pearl and her kittens will be OK. I’ll be happy to keep seeing her and feeding her. The boy and his family are welcome. I wish he’d given his apt. number, to help in case there was a problem again with her or her kittens missing. But at least I hope he knows he can come by and ask. He’s a nice kid, maybe 8th or 9th grade, if I’m guessing right. (I could be off.)
I took a few photos and will have those up soon. — Hah, these probably show things besides the boxes, the current messy state of my living room. I don’t know if I got a good photo to show Misty’s tail, poor kitty. But the photos of Goober and Curry are OK, and the photos of Peppercorn, or rather Pearl, and her kitten are pretty darn cute.
It’s ironic, maybe karma or kismet — Smokey was nearly all black. Pearl and her kitten are both small black kitties. With luck, the little kitten and his/her littermates will grow bigger and stronger. She’s fit enough, but small.
I’m very, very glad to know she has a home and family of sorts, but I was getting attached, especially after she woke me so insistently and had brought by her kitten. I guess the little one followed her or she brought him/her with her. Until the boy showed up, I had every indication she had no home or family, and was going to move in here. But I also didn’t have any indication, after several hours, that she had other kittens. So I’m kinda sad not to be fostering her, as much of a complication as that would have been. But she’s still welcome. No knowing if her boy or family or other kittens will show up over the next few weeks. (I’m of course not saying his name. I got a first name, no family name, no apt. number, darn it, and should’ve thought to ask, in order to keep each other updated if she or a kitten turns up missing.) But at least he knows now where she’s been, and that I was OK to make sure he brought her and the kitten back with him.
Good thing, too. Because now there are the usual bunch of kids out playing. Peppercorn, Pearl, would have needed to bring her kitten in for safety by now.
No knowing if I’ll hear from them again. That’s OK, but I would like to be friendly with my neighbors. He was a nice, regular kid, Hispanic, maybe bilingual. He didn’t see the sign I’d already taken down, but he may have seen the sign about Misty from last week and this week, which was in Spanish and English. Others surely must have.
So, well, quite a morning, very busy, and with a good outcome, even though I would’ve been happy to foster Peppercorn and her kitten. Pearl, that is. Hah, I do like the name and will use that from ow on, but Peppercorn sure fits her too. If anything comes of meeting the boy, then good. Cats can be random and make some odd decisions, like how she was OK leaving her kitten outside while she went inside. But that they have cats, and that Pearl thought the best place to give birth was in the boy’s room behind a basket, well, that says good things about the boy and about them, in my book.
At least the bathroom got mopped (and swept beforehand). But it showed me I need to do cleaning more often, and I need to get things reorganized and reduced down. I’d done some and it’s gotten too full again.
So, good overall. I was honored by a brief visit with her little kitten outside. My goodness, it’s been so long since I’ve had a little kitten around.
Curry and Misty are fast asleep inside. hah. So all is well here.
My new phone arrived and I have to get it set up. — But I’ll have photos of the cats posted soon, with a link to the web page.
I too have been getting a bit worried about CJ & Jane. It occurred to me to check and see if she has been posting on her FaceBook page — which I do not “follow,” but can see. Yes, she has regularly and very much “in the past few hours” been updating it… mostly reposting news stories and the not-at-all surprising, wide range of CJ interests. At one point she did mention a nasty ice storm or something in Spokane in which she and Jane had to briefly abandon their car, but got a lift home from a trucker friend and later retrieved their car too. I conclude that human activity is alive and well in the household.
Hi Naomi & Rasean, thanks for the reassurance!
Could one of you put in the URL for the right page on Facebook?
I’m not on there, and if I search for it I get two results, one years old with only some photos, one that says it’s her official page from 2008 but was last updated in May 2019. Clickingon Home or Messages doesn’t get me any younger posts.
When I search further within Facebook I get an endless list of Cherrys, with no way to limit it to cherryhs.
Hi Hanneke
CJ’s current Facebook page is Cj Cherryh, exactly as I’ve typed it, with a lower case j and only one space. She is the only person on Facebook using the name as I’ve typed it. She has two older Facebook pages which don’t appear to be used anymore.
I haven’t done anything about trying to order the Resurgence ebook yet, as I’ve been dubious about using my British card for payment. I’ll be in Italy in April, so will try to order it from there.
Hi Naomi, that was one of the two Facebook sites I found, but it won’t let me view anything but some photos on the front page, and in the description it says that she went to Hogwarts and Miscatonic university and is an SF writer. There are three tabs, for Friends, Photos and Videos, but not for messages or postings or whatever they’re called on Facebook. If I try to access any of those, or anything beyond the splash page, it says I need to create a Facebook account.
Even for CJ I won’t do that. 🙂
Maybe you could occasionally repeat it here, if she puts up something important there, or just to let us know she’s still okay?
Off topic. Naomi, as I didn’t receive an email from you, I’ve stopped checking that address; so if you do need to reach me it’s probably best to give me a heads-up here, or it might be months before I see it.
Hi Hanneke
That is the correct page you found. It’s a shame you couldn’t access it completely without your own account. Most of what is posted is sharing from other accounts news items of local, national, and international interest, plus recipes, etc.
The only personal story that’s she’s posted recently is about Finity on 8th Feb. As It’s quite short I hope that CJ won’t mind me copying it here. Incidentally I knew Finity’s name from CJ’s Facebook a long time before it was posted on this blog.
“On the kitteh front: Heard from the living room, re Finity: “Get! You’re going to upset my glass!…your FOOT is in my glass! Gah!” “
Raesean and Naomi, thanks, that is a relief to hear. I don’t do Facebook or Twitter. Possibly others of us are like that.
— I did get cat photo pages mostly done, enough to post and add biography history later. But since I’d last done website updates, the app I was using (FileZilla) has gone “Pro,” and the old version was marked as unusable, while the new version wants a subscription fee, but won’t say how much or how often, so, no, thank you.
I will hae to go in with a new app and setup the file transfer techno-magical incantations to do so properly. So, not tonight.
I didn’t get to my WordPress blog to fiddle with it and consider restarting it. Possibly during the week.
— Aarrgh! Amazon did not deliver the cat litter subscription this month (again). The supplier’s out of stock (again) and no idea when it’ll be fulfilled or if I’ll get a refund. So I’d ordered a different brand entirely. It was not delivered today and they say it was returned. Why was not said. I was very much here and alert and active all day and evening, so I don’t know what happened. I suspect the delivery couldn’t get in at the gate or the office. The mgmt. is still very much “in transition,” and the repairs I asked to be scheduled (in person) last week have not yet occurred. Same old story, just new mgmt. So, dang. Meanwhile, I have things to do to proceed towards maybe moving and other needs. Phooey.
I think Peppercorn, Pearl, was by again, but I missed her that time. I hope she and her kittens are all right. I will help her as usual, but think I should step back a bit, only…she is genuinely hungry, trying to fill her tummy in order to feed her kittens, and she’s small and they are a few weeks old, from the little one I saw. She’s sweet, despite that fierce front to all comers. I hope she and her babies will be OK, and I hope there can be good relations between her family and me.
Busy day. I am more than ready for a break. More to do tomorrow, and I hope to get at least Misty in to seee the vet this week. Now that I know Peppercorn, Pearl has a home, I don’t think it’s my place to bring her in to see the vet, and without her kittens, knowing there is the one I saw and at least two more, they need checkups too. I hope her people take her and the kittens in for that.
Misty is _still_ in and apparently happy or unconcerned about it. He’s sacked out. I suspect he may be older than I thought, but I also think he’s getting the idea he’s got a good deal here, he’s safe and wanted and has good food and shelter, so hey, livin’ the life of a housecoat again.
Goober has felt rather overwhelmed today by all the feline company and goings-on, and has felt left out. I’m going to check where he is again and give him some attention. Misty too f he wants some. — Late. You mean I’ve been going since 6:15am, it’s now 10:00pm, with no real real? wow. No wonder I’m tired. Things can wait until tomorrow.
Bless CJ and Jane. It sounds like they are busy. Good to know she is always interested in things, multiple subjects.
So tired today. Had a comedy of errors and cat fussing today. Lesson: Feed Goober first, so he gets his chance. Also Lesson: Somehow get better at cat wrangling and redirection. — I started with Goober in, and should have fed him then. I checked the door. Curry came in and so did Peppercorn. Not sure who got in first or how. Peppercorn proceeded to argue over getting Goober’s and Curry’s food, and surprisingly, despite hissing and growling, it didn’t get to a real fight. Curry backed off! Huh, well now, so he has limits and some sense. Meanwhile, in trying to get Peppercorn outside, I got Misty in. (His name may change to Mystic after last night and today.) He…guarded Peppercorn at her bowl and didn’t initially eat his bowl, though I’d tried that after trying to lure Peppercorn out with it. — He did eat some. Then she ate all of his. I think she had two small cans, all told. Everyone else was more or less OK about this, but Goober had retreated to where he was yesterday. After Peppercorn polished off every scrap of moist available, I thought she’d disappeared in the apartment. Curry lounged, ready to be king of all he surveyed. Misty chose a spot out of the way like Goober.
Finally lured Peppercorn outside without food (she was full) and she went back on her way. Misty went out and is lounging just outside on the stairwell. Curry went back for dry. — Checking later, Peppercorn came by, but wasn’t displeased I didn’t offer more most. (Thank goodness) and didn’t get in for another round of trouble, heh. So all’s well.
Note that although her human boy took back her kitten and she’d followed and I’d put up the box and towel — She was back that afternoon and night and this morning, hunger unabated. This morning’s feeding was a record. So although I haven’t wound up with her kittens and her, hosting them, I am still feeding her a lot, regularly, and she invites herself in, darting in each time. She is not getting enough food from them and might have parasites or might not, I don’t know. But she has at least three kittens at least three weeks old. So even if they (her family) and I are feeding her, she is still extra hungry all the time; and she’s a mall cat, maybe young.
I almost wish I had been brash enough to say I’d take her and the kittens. I didn’t It was getting to me last night. So…I’m supporting Goober plus three strays plus three kittens. Although Misty, or Mystic, is now mine.
I am surprised Curry has been a steady regular the past few days Maybe it’s due to new mgmt. and new activity, so he hasn’t had luck foraging for food, and he’s sticking around for food and shelter. He does have a sweet side in there under the spicy, combative side.
Amazon says the cat litter I ordered had a problem in shipping and was scheduled for return before delivery, and I will be refunded. Maybe the box broke or the litter spilled? I don’t know, but I am lucky I still have enough on hand for now. But I will need the new litter soon, so I’ll order later in the week.
Other items are still to do, and I am wiped out today and need to rest. I’ll work tonight or else tomorrow. Haven’t heard back from my friend and will have to call him. Things are rocking along, so we should be OK for now.
The blisters where I scalded my hand are still healing, and I’m impatient with it and trying to be careful. They are healing OK but a real nuisance and a risk. Two knuckles plus the webbing between thumb and index finger, my left hand instead of buy right.
Still hoping we’ll hear from CJ and Jane soon. Hope they and the cats are OK.
I haven’t really researched this, but I’ve heard–at least for younger cats–dry is really better for them. It may be that Pepperpearl has plenty of food, but she just prefers wet to dry. Would it be a good policy to only feed dry to cats you don’t want to adopt?
She is eating any and all moist food in sight as soon as the food is offered to her. When she invites herself in, if there isn’t moist food out, she’ll wait for it now, as opposed to starting in on the dry immediately, like before. She’s also very thirsty and gets a long drink. She’ll dart in, since the first two or three days, proactive, assertive.
I started putting out a water bowl and a bowl of dry food when she was so obviously starved the first few times. That disappears too. She is eating it. (Curry may also come by and eat it, but it’s primarily her.) She will inhale a small can of Fancy Feast in less than 5 or 6 minuets, as fast as she can get it, and hiss/growl at any of the other three to assert her rights. The dry food also gets eaten within an hour or so, or by the next feeding. For her, this goes beyond a wet/dry preference, it’s real hunger. Her body is using up energy so fast to feed her and her kittens, that whatever her family are feeding her is being used up, and she’s outside all the time, as far as I can tell, so she is scrounging food from whoever will feed her, I think. Since I was calling for Curry and then Misty (now Mystic), she saw/heard this and decided this must be a good deal. With that first feeding, I think she put me at the top of her list.
The example yesterday, when she had her kitten with her, she meowed as loud as she could, enough to reach from the inner patio area door to my bedroom down the hall and wake me. Then I discovered why, with her kitten in tow. I think she either was trying to move him/her in, or else she wasn’t sure how to get back safely with her kitten to her other kittens, and was setting up shop here for that morning. If her human boy hadn’t shown up when he did, I would have taken her and the kitten inside to avoid little kids messing with her and the kitten, which would’ve resulted in either harm or stealing of the kitten, or else the mama would have taught a child a thing or two about going after a mama animal’s babies. (She was fine with me being around her kitten, however.) — But she hadn’t brought her other kittens or couldn’t get to them inside. It was just the one.
Today, she managed to get two other cats’ remaining moist food, to usurp it while they were eating; even from Curry, who we know can fight seriously. In attempting to feed Mystic, he was content to sit and guard her from Curry while she (Peppercorn / Pearl) ate the other bowl, and ignored his own food. She then ate all of his bowl. My attempt to distract and lure her out didn’t work. So she had part of two servings of moist food plus one whole can, before she was full enough to seek a spot to hide in the apt., before I could get her to go out.
This meant the cats did get a little moist food, but not as much as usual. (I had started by only feeding dry, but when I first saw Curry, he was so hungry, he ate everything, so I gave him moist also, and he ate all of it. When he’s been gone for days, he will eat more than one can, either moist and dry, or dry, or he’ll take Goober’s food so he eats more than one can.
But Peppercorn’s hunger level is beyond what his was when he first showed up. She is not emaciated, but I think all her food energy is going into feeding her kittens. She’s small, more like what you’d expect of a cat between 6 to 9 months than a full year, so I don’t know how old she actually is, but young, I think.
I think her family don’t realize how hungry she really is, and so they aren’t feeding her enough. She’s been around for each meal even after the boy came and got the kitten and she followed him back to their apt. I am not sure if the kittens are outside or inside, but she is nearly always outside. — He said the kitten went missing and they went looking. (She showed up at my door at 6:15am Sunday morning, and it was after 11:00am when he got her and the kitten. She stayed with her kitten rather than going back to get the others.)
I wish I’d been brash enough to say that I would take her and the kittens if they couldn’t seep them. I was trying to be understanding and nice, thinking they were very attached, even though I’ve seen how hungry she is in the almost two weeks she’s been around. I sure wish he had given his apt. number. I don’t know which apt. he went to. That would have let us coordinate or talk, so maybe they could realize she’s hungry and needs a vet checkup to see if she has worms or bacteria interfering with her getting food value, and to help if she or her kittens go missing. I’d want to be a good neighbor and help. But I’m also concerned at the level of hunger and thirst I keep seeing. To me, this still goes beyond ordinary, oh, I want a snack, that moist is nice, or beyond, I’m really hungry, I’m nearly a stray. Curry’s eating habits are a stray cat’s level of hunger. But if/when he comes around regularly, that slacks off so he will only eat his share, and once or twice, he’s left food. When he hasn’t been around in days, it’s back to truly needy. But Pearl / Peppercorn is showing real hunger, even after almost two weeks. A cat wouldn’t gulp down a whole can, small or regular cat food can size, in that short a time and then go for the dry and the water bowl, if she wasn’t that hungry. — I mean, it’s a different level than you’d see with a cat who is a habitual eater but fed steadily, or a housecat with regular meals, or a stray / semi-feral like Curry. The first couple of days, I was really alarmed for her, which is why I fed her as much, including moist food. Even now, I’m concerned, because after this long, I would’ve thought she’d be getting enough from me on a regular basis to stave off that severe a hunger level. — Something is doing this, and it’s not just a preference for yummy moist food; she’s eating it before dry, but she eats dry food too, and goes for long drinks of water. — Also, Smokey was a habitual over-eater because he’d been a street kitten. So I know what that looks like as a habitual thing.
So — Anyway, it turns out, she’s still coming around for food at every meal, or nearly every time I open the door. (She hasn’t shown up at the parking lot side door, though.)
Heh, she invites herself in, and there’s no avoiding it. Foot at the door? No problem for her. Another cat there? She’s fearless and motivated and able to bluff or probably fight too.
(She showed up this afternoon about half an hour to an hour after she’d had so much food, and I didn’t put more food outside for her. She stlll had some dry. So she meowed, got some petting, and went off happy enough. I think her meow may have been calling to her kittens. I suspect they are within the same set of blocks of apartments as mine, but maybe not directly in the same square as mine, facing one of the sides.
I will have my eyes and ears out, in case she brings around kittens, or if one gets loose and goes wandering. — The kitten she brought was old enough to not quite make it over a large plastic storage box, around the size of two office file storage boxes side by side or a little more, not as big as the larger tubs that can store quilts or large items such as for holidays. The boy said, I think it was, about two or three weeks, for the kitten’s age but they may be a bit older. Old enough to start being active. Not old enough to be able to escape an open box like that, over the side, and not old enough to be scampering around exploring everything they can get to. But that kitten is on the verge of that, within a few days to a week or so, all those kittens will be all over the place, anywhere they can get to that mama will let them play in.
I didn’t do a close inspection of the kitten, just picked up him/her to put in the box and then showed mama so she’d check her kitten. I don’t think the kitten is old enough for eye color to have changed, but probably his/her eyes are open fully. The kitten, though, looked healthy and decently fed. Solid black like mama, and reminded me of Smokey, therefore.
Tonight, I’d even had the thought that if I see José again, I may ask about that kitten for adoption. But really, Pearl / Peppercorn and her kittens need a home of their own, since I am going to have Mystic and Goober, and Curry is around whenever he feels like it, but not in full-time.
Mild to hot out yesterday and today. Rain expected tonight. Then cooler for the rest of the week. But way too mild for winter: 60’s and 50’s instead of lower. Not unheard of for here, but what’s so unusual is how many days we’ve had with warmer temps and not down below freezing nearly as often as usual. Yesterday’s high was supposed to get to 79°F, but we’ve also had nights down to 37 or 35 a few times.
Otherwise, going mostly OK, rocking along. — Did not hear from my friend today; have to call to get things scheduled. — Mystic needs his first vet visit and assessment of his tail, at least.
Cats can be strange, though. As a child, I was catching smelt, a fish the size of a hot dog or so, and a cat I know was owned and well cared for just couldn’t take enough of them.
Since you’re thinking about a keyboard, you should check this out about MIDI 2.0 if you’re not already aware:
https://qz.com/1788828/how-will-midi-2-0-change-music/
Walt, thank you! That didn’t give a lot of details on new features, but as an overview, it gives a sense of what’s ahead, maybe soon. I’ll need to look at the keyboard I was thinking of to see if it or others are MIDI 2.0.
I’m almost surprised they didn’t go for 64-bit as opposed to 32-bit these days, but maybe this will allow an easier upgrade for a future standard version. I hadn’t realized there wasn’t a more modern standard for MIDI. an old byte-based 7-bit 1983 standard? Ouch, that goes back to Apple IIe’s and 286/386 based PC days. A modern standard with 32-bit and bidi and interface hardware and software should really be able to capture musical depth better. It’s still trying to capture a digital, finite, discrete representation of an analog sound quality, but that should offer far better precision and depth and speed levels. Much more expressive and useful, I would think.
— I wish American schools in particular would teach more music and other arts; pairing, sculpture, drawing, singing, instruments. We Americans pour (or used to pour) so much into sports ball athletics programs, team sports, yet that’s only a fraction of athletics or fitness, the fun and health of outdoors, swimming, so many things. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how much I got from the arts and how much I also missed out on things, because my parents were middle class or didn’t concentrate on those, I was visually handicapped, and I wasn’t an obvious prodigy at music or arts, I was a regular kid, but also somewhere in the gifted and talented range that’s usual for college-bound students. I wish I’d applied myself more at piano lessons for the year and a half I had lessons as a young teen, or could have had some voice lessons. I wish there’d been something better for physical fitness and sports for a boy who couldn’t see well enough for nearly all ball games and wasn’t so much the rough-and-tumble kind of boy. More opportunities, and more of a way to get through to a kid like that, why, even if you are not naturally athletically graceful or powerful, there is still a lot to be gained from outdoor skills, game skills, basic fitness, and so on. I get it more now, but hah, I am much more of a bookworm, and my eyesight was always a limiting factor.
We just don’t teach the arts enough or value them enough in education for kids and college and adult levels in America. yet Americans go ape for movie and TV celebrities and bands, singers, musicians. We send kids to scouting, but they don’t get a real dose of either fitness or outdoorsmanship or so much else that they should. So why the divide in education versus entertainment, or likewise in funding? I do not understand why we as a nation do that, when we do love arts. Other countries do somewhat better at it. I’d of course include languages in that, and the days, I wonder why we don’t teach all kids sign language as a useful survival and communications skill, not only to provide fluency and a mother thinking style, and not only so deaf and impaired and hearing people would have a better basis for mutual understanding and talk back and forth. Or Braille, maybe. (I wasn’t taught Braille because I wasn’t supposed to need it; or how to use a cane or a seeing eye dog. Yet I might need to learn.) I got foreign language classes as a “try this” sort of thing, because my parents (and possibly others) thought I might be good at it and it could be useful. But I don’t think they knew it would be so important to me. And I don’t get why we don’t teach American kids at least one other language, if not more. Any major city today, or any business contact, and you would be much better off knowing one of the ten to twenty most common world languages. Yet we Americans only rarely do that. Most Americans do not see, hear, or think beyond English-only chauvinism.
But my jumping-off point there was musical education. Nearly all kids have some musical ability that could be developed. If we were taught musical notation and how to play instruments and sing, it would really provide outlets for expression and ways of thinking that would be beneficial in more ways than enrichment and personal enjoyment and entertainment, being able to play and sing.
(I haven’t done anything yet towards a keyboard or a futon or the box springs. That danged couch is still sitting there unmoved.)
I know that Mystic will need surgery and both he and Curry need to be neutered. Curry needs that dang BB pellet removed. So those are expenses I expect to have to do in the next few months, as soon as possible. I want the other too, but I still am not sure if I can sing a rent-to-own home, or what I will have to face ahead.
If and when I get help for my eyes or teeth will also be an expense. But that is more an IF right now, which like a house or later living and income, I hope to be able tor resolve Sigh. Glad I did rest some today. Needed it. So maybe I’ll be more productive tomorrow. Stuff on the to do list needs doing.
Do watch the video in that article. Sounds like you didn’t.
I suspect 32-bit, over 4 billion volume levels, is more than enough. CDs are in theory just enough: 44,100 Hz sampling rate and 16-bit resolution, two channels.
Pearl / Peppercorn and her one little black kitten are back this morning. I have the box and towel out there again, with a hoodie at one side for warmth. It could use a partial cover if I had something I thought would be sturdy and wouldn’t risk caving in on the kitten. — She ate this morning. She’s currently elsewhere, maybe getting the other two or more kittens. — I’ve put up a sign plus an envelope for José, the boy I saw Sunday, hoping to get contact so we keep the kittens and mama safe. I don’t want to bring them in until or unless all the kittens are in safe.
Curry came by just after Peppercorn took off. I’ve let him in and he’s eaten and hasn’t yet settled. He got in the other bedroom. I’m hoping he’ll settle down somewhere and stay put a while. With him in, I know where he is, so he can’t hurt the kittens. I don’t know if he would, but I don’t want to take that chance.
Mystic / Misty hasn’t been here since yesterday afternoon. Hoping to see him too.
I’ve got to get my new phone set up (code to start it up and so on). My old phone is still acting up and I need to call the friend to get a ride set up so I can make a vet appt.
So far, my day has been only getting the kitten stuff done. Hoping for better today.
It’s damp to rainy, overcast, and very chilly. That little kitten needs to be inside. I will be checking periodically. I know better than to bring him/her in or pick him/her up and tie lots of attention, to keep from getting my scent all over the kitten and risk her not liking him/her for it. However, she has let me pick up the kitten to put him/her in the box, she knows the box and her kitten are there, she’s had food from me for around 2 weeks, and she has some trust built up, though she’ll hiss or growl slightly if she’s unsure, and yet she keeps coming here and brought her kitten again. Once might be an accident. Twice tells me she feels her kittens could be safer here and fed well and cared for. — I’ve written the note to ask for José and family and me to work together to keep Pearl / Peppercorn safe, and the sign to let anyone who comes by know that there may be kittens here that I want to be safe and not taken away. (Presuming any kid is old enough to read Spanish and/or English, expecting any adult can.)
So, still lots to do. I want Curry out of that bedroom if he will, but if not, if needed, I can close the door and keep him in there. I just would rather he not spray, pee, or poop in there.
I bought a third carrier, but it’s not a good design, so I intend to give it away and get another one. — Still have to find a place that could take Curry, and now work with the family to get that for Pearl / Peppercorn and kittens. I’ve said in the note, I’m willing to foster them until the kittens are old enough to give away.
I don’t know whether to be surprised or not, that she brought the kitten back. I haven’t sen the others and don’t know which apartment. Sure hoping things work out OK and no hard feelings will be left over. Wish us luck, more her and the kittens than me. I’ll keep checking on that kitten. Next step is to see if I can get my phone to make a call, then set up the new phone, and at some point, have breakfast or lunch. Heh.
I have photos ready to post when I can get a new FTP for Mac app set up to do so.
Update later, tonight or tomorrow.
Hoping still that CJ and Jane will get a chance to check in at the blog.
Update: Oh, what a wacky day so far!
Over the course of the morning, Peppercorn brought the rest of her five little black kittens over here, stopping at a neighbor’s along the way with them; which I know because they were crying just over the privacy fence for the next apt. over. — So five tiny kittens and herself, eventually all cuddled up in the box.
José came back over this afternoon. Peppercorn’s kittens are back at his family’s apt. and I have an apt. number but not a phone number. Hoping once he talks to his mother, I’ll hear something more. But at least now he knows I want to help, I don’t want her or her kittens getting hurt, and he knows kids around are prone to bother any cats. Supposedly, he is putting food out for her and she is getting food from others. (I don’t know; if she’s getting much food from others, then she should not be as ravenous as she is. But OK.)
I was (still) setting up my new phone and on hold with tech support, so handled that while he took her and her kittens back to his place, and returned the box and towel. I hope to hear from them.
When I went out to check and found the box was back, guess who was in it? — Peppercorn, resting there, napping after her eventful day. Heh. Which tells me a great deal, knowing cats, about what she thinks and what she wants. She and her kittens are outside nearly all the time, because his family have two cats already, and they disagree, and there is the mess factor. So far, it looks like they’ll be going back and forth. I can’t help this unless they decide to change it, and of course my place is still too untidy.
I haven’t seen Mystic today, but hope to seee him soon.
My friend will be busy this week, but said he could send an Uber with the ride issue solved. Whether that is so remains to be seen, but I have an appt. set up for Monday to see the vet, for Mystic and Goober, and possibly Peppercorn and kittens, or not. My vet has left that practice, and a new vet is there, presumably with the other two vets.
I haven’t done a thing all day except cats and phone setup. Hoping there will be good news for Peppercorn and crew, either working together to help her, or me fostering them. If Peppercorn will be OK inside with her kittens, that is.
I will not be at all surprised if she brings them back again, since this time, she brought everybody, and then she came back after being returned.
He seems nice, and may be college age, since he’d said he was asleep and had woke up to feed her, and discovered the ox was empty.
Hoping for a good outcome. — Now if I can set up to upload web pages.
Mystic (Misty’s new, permanent name) hasn’t been here since Monday afternoon (or was it Sunday?). So I called again tonight.
When I went out front / to the inner patio square, Peppercorn / Pearl was still there, or there again, plus — two of her babies are there again, but not the other three. They were on the cold concrete outside of the box. I put them in the plastic storage box with its bath towel and hoodie lining. The box has an open top; the lid is off. I haven’t wanted to risk putting a bedspread over it, in case that would sag or get jumped upon. The kittens would probably be OK, but they are still small enough to fit in your hand, approx. 2 to 3 weeks, José had said.
I didn’t hear from him and his family tonight, but maybe they needed time to talk things over.
I fully expect mama kitty will move the other three here in the next few hours. This is the third time, twice today. I am convinced, if no one else is. Mama Peppercorn feels like her babies are safer and have a better chance to be fed here, even though other cats come and go here. — But I will be surprised if her family there see it that way and let me foster them. I think I may be disappointed in the outcome, which is likely to be also not what Peppercorn wants, since she seems to have made her choice for here.
I may check for Mystic again before I go to bed. I’ll check if mama has moved any of the other three kittens over here, and put them in the box if so. She has not put them in there herself so far, but seems to like that once they are. She’ll surely get the idea it’s better than the bare concrete, warmer by a little.
I’m hoping Mystic will show up tonight or in the morning. — I think he didn’t like having three other cats around him. But he had run interference for her by laying down, putting himself between Curry and Goober, and her and the food bowl, to let her eat. For this, I thought the change to Mystic was warranted, more fitting. When he went out that afternoon, he was happy on the stairwell. I smiled when I saw him and he seemed to be showboating, playing, rolling around to show he was happy. So I smiled and looked up at him. He must have read this wrong, because he moved to the top f the stairs and looked a little worried. I told him it was OK, he was a good kitty. I had no intention of bothering him and I thought he was OK. But maybe it spooked him, and he’s still timid, even though he likes being here.
So I hope he gets over it and comes back. I’d hate to think such a small thing could have spooked him after knowing each other for over six weeks now. Hoping to see him soon. so all will be well.
Also hoping things will go fine for Peppercorn and her kittens. Maybe José and his family will decide this makes sense after all. Or maybe they’ll change their habits to help her. Maybe. Or maybe I’m headed for a disappointment. At least I am trying to do the right thing and the neighborly thing.
Dried fenugreek? Peacock brand Kasoori Methi from MDH, Mahashian Di Hatti? — I think I ddi order this, and I think someone from here (WOL?) may have recommended fenugreek. But I can’t remember what for, and I don’t find the Amazon order, although I do find the product and it’s in a genuine Amazon shipping sack. I think also I was intrigued by it. — One funny bit: Besides an exuberant yet classy peacock stylized logo, there is a picture of a very pale Indian man in a traditional headdress and shirt or jacket with a necklace. The old gentleman has quite a mustache, but other than that and how he’s dressed, he could be any grandfatherly figure, which is what they were going for.
But the really fun part for CJ’s Foreigner fans is the caption under his picture: “Mahashay Ji” (I take it that’s an endearing nickname for Mahashian Di Hatt.) (I am not so sure how much of a hottie he was as a young man, but he does look distinguished enough, he might be a good catch for some lady (or gentleman, for all I know).)
The product is _very_ fragrant, even through the packaging. On the back, the English side suggests a few dishes using this ingredient. One is a dough, presumably for a bread or maybe naan or flatbread? (I have never had naan, and not much other Indian food; I should remedy that.) Another dish has chopped potatoes, the fenugreek, tikka masala, I think it was, and oil, and something else. There was at least one other suggestion. They might be tasty. If I had potatoes on hand, I’d try it soon, but they’ll need to go on the list with the tikka masala spice blend or sauce.
—–
I hardly slept last night, a combo of neighbors and my own weird restlessness. — I checked on the cats. Did not know I would be getting Curry plus Peppercorn. The combination was hiss-spit-growl almost a fight, with Goober on the periphery. He was smart and got the heck out of that, and I don’t think he was hurt any, except probably hugely mystified as to why the two wanted to argue.
Peppercorn has two of her kittens back in the box, which I think I’d reported at bedtime. They are still there now. She was absent a while after I got Curry out the back door and bribed with some food, which was what he wanted anyway. She was lured out the front, also with food, where I confirmed the kittens were there. She hasn’t (yet) Brought the other three kittens over, but I expect it. José has not been by to get them.
Before trying to sleep again near dawn, I went out to check my P.O. Box. Besides the mystery product above, on the walk back, I ran into Curry, then Peppercorn, then aha, Mystic showed up. This meant I had m hands partly full of mail, but had to sort out the three cats. Curry got tired of me trying to redirect him and the others, and he grumbled and took off. (Not a problem, since he’d eaten earlier and I was going to give him dry.) Peppercorn got a bit of food and I found only the two kittens. Mystic, I escorted in and fed. He stayed a while, unaware of the prior spat, unless he could smell it somehow. Very good to see his mild, pleased self. He slept a while, but when I got up after I couldn’t get back to sleep, he wanted out. It’s damp and foggy/misty this morning and cold enough that in sweats and a hoodie, after the walk, I was too cold. And he wants out. So I let him. And there’s Peppercorn and her two babies, and it is too cold and wet out by my personal definition to wish for her little family or Mystic to be out in that. But I bow to the ongoing issue, plus she doesn’t have all five of them with her. — If I knew it was OK with José, and if she had had all 5 with her, I would’ve invited them in and set up the box inside, and theca with it. But no, with just the two, plus the human factor, I let them stay out, which she was used to.
I’ll have to schedule the ride, but the vet appt. for Mystic is scheduled, if he’s here at the right time, if I can keep him in that morning.
I had oatmeal and am finally getting sleepy enough I may be able to crash for a few hours.
The near fight with Curry has me set to call again for placement for him as a barn cat. If the ride works for the vet appt. for Mystic, then I’ll take Curry when I can get him next, so he can finally get a better home situation. — I like the charming little so-and-so, but the hair-trigger aggression, and the inability to trust him in the bedroom, means he needs to stay outside. Poor kitty doesn’t know what he’s missing.
Meanwhile, they are all out in this weather. I wish that they could be in. — I wish Mystic hadn’t wanted back outside. Silly cat. He should know by now, and I still think he’s a former housecat who’s been outside too long.
I have not yet found a Mac FTP utility, but will look again after I wake up, after I get In touch with the Barn Cat Project at Texas Litter Control. (Look for those keywords on Google and it will pop up.) I wish I could keep ?Curry but this confirms he could only be an outside cat and can’t be trusted to get along with the others. Poor fool kitty, you have such a charming, sweet side, I wish you’d keep that instead of being so quick to fight everyone.
Peppercorn would be welcome from what I’ve seen. She’s assertive, quick to defend herself, but I think that’s maternal instinct and sheer need, hunger. The five kittens neary outmans and out volume her, and they are nowhere near old enough to give away yet, and not yet socialized to humans. But I think they could be.
Thinking about it last night, hah, I sort of have my own little crew here, or aishid, me, one old cat who’s mine, three strays, plus five kittens The mama and kittens are all black, very fitting if they were atevi, unusual if hani.
I don’t know which kittens are boys or girls and haven’t handled them much at all yet.
Still don’t knoww how that will work out.
Going to try to sleep again. Wish the two plus five could be in. Wish Curry could, if he were separated.
So I’m going to bed with reliable, sweet old Goober. Also wish he and Mystic would make friends. They are peaceable though, willing to live in the same rooms.
This evening, Peppercorn and two of her kittens were still there. She came in and ate the rest of Goober’s moist food. She licked the platter clean, and I was getting her back outside.
Curry came also, and I got him in without fuss and so got him fed, which has the side effect of, he won’t move until he’s eaten it all.
Now outside, I saw her two kittens were there and — either she’d brought one out of the box or he/she had crawled over the side and was exploring, with the other trying to. And…when I put out food, then went back to check on Curry…one of the kittens was busily eating moist food with Mama. Oh. Oh, my. OK, not too soon, then. — I got a plastic plate and fed them, and moved the 2nd kitten so he/she could join them and eat. Oh, my, little kittens eating, as hungry as Mama. I went back in and left them to it. — And discovered Goober and Curry perched on the hexagonal table, eyeing the proceedings. Goober was complaining about sharing the spot with Curry.
I went back out a bit later and Peppercorn wasn’t around. I thought she might be getting the other three kittens. Bear in mind, these two have been here since last night or before dawn. — So I stayed with the two and they explored a little, the food bowl and (after a bit) me. One thought that hiding in the overhang between my knee and foot, sitting Indian-style, was a good shelter. LOL. So OK, I put him/her in my lap. Too dark by then to tell their sexes, without close inspection and a light. But I’ll do this periodically until I know all 5 together. — So for something like twenty or thirty minutes, out in the cold and with the porch light still out, I sat there and entertained the two, not yet sundown. They were in my lap resting at one point. I was trying not to get too close to get my scent on them too much, but tonight, I think did that. — And so now I know the kittens can take moist food and water, not yet dry, although I’m not sure they knew how to get in that bowl yet. They both drank from the water bowl too. So the one kitten skill they need is litterbox training, and lots of human socialization, which we started tonight. They went from hiss-spit-avoid-hide (good kitty) to oh, funny creature, to, hey, he’s warm! We can snuggle, ’cause Mama’s not here for warmth.
I very reluctantly put them back in the box to go in and fix my supper. — No visit from or talk with José and family. But it’s now around 18 to 24 hours since the two kittens were back here yesterday. Mama Peppercorn thinks this place is a good spot, even with Curry and Mystic coming around, and Goober inside.
Oh — Mystic did show up this morning, ate, napped, but thought he was supposed to go back out. I did try to tell him he could stay in, but it was warm enough (too cold and damp for me) that he wanted out. I haven’t seen him tonight.
I will be pursuing that Barn Cat Project – Texas Litter Control, tomorrow, so that maybe I can get Curry to an office and get him into a barn cat setting. He is too aggressive, as much as I like his better side. He’s in right now, hiding, unless he darted out when I was in and out about the kittens. — I still have the records and his vaccination tag and contact info, so they can have proof he’s had all his shots and had had some medical treatment earlier. He needs a repeat de-worming, likely, a checkup for a possible respiratory problem, and he needs to be neutered, plus that BB pellet in his neck should be removed. Hoping I can get him off to a new home via their office, later this week or else next week. He’s been showing up more often lately.
It looks like the situation with Peppercorn will be rocking along unless I can get some movement going, a meeting of the minds, so I know if we are going to share them or if I’m going to foster her. At present, I feel like I’m fostering, but the other three kittens are not back over here, and I haven’t seen José today.
Going to check again and bring in their bowls to wash. Likely the water bowl and dry food will be OK for now. I’ll need to wash their towels soon, and rotate, since I still have no dryer, the line isn’t fixed, so it takes days for heavier items (towels, bedspread, mattress pad, jeans) to dry.
I gave a neighbor her voter registration card, which had been put in my P.O. Box by mistake. (One digit off.) We’ve met a couple of times before. Only that, no conversation beyond giving it to her and thanks, general courtesies. But at least she got it in person, directly in her hand, and I feel better about it.
Saw but still don’t know the next door neighbor on one side, while I was with the kittens.
I have kitten pictures. LOL. And yes, they are tiny, cute, solid black, and I think their eyes are still blue.
Update tomorrow, likely. — Going to get supper and check kitten and mama status.
It is so damp and cold enough, that if all five kittens were there, I might consider bringing them inside. — But I’d have to have Curry separate or out. No way I want to mix him into it. I don’t think Peppercorn would let him get near them, but she would be perfectly willing to battle him, possibly take chunks out of each other if he wouldn’t back off. — I believe Goober would only be his curious, friendly, quiet self. I think Mystic is the same type. (The two still have not bonded, but give each other space or are OK to be near each other.) So I think they’d be good roommates, though Peppercorn may not be ready to see it that way, and would argue it if they got between her and food. — So separate is good there too.
—–
Update:
One of the two kittens is missing. I think Curry went out without me noticing, and I think either he stole or scared off the kitten. I don’t know.
I’ve looked all over for the kitten, including in my apartment, just in case. They are about hand-sized and all black, easy to miss in the dark.
The other kitten has proven he/she can get over the side of the box at will, and I caught one of them earlier at the door like Mama Pappercorn does, right on the door sill, way too easy to step on or hit if I hadn’t seen that. So now I know to be even more careful than I have to be with the adult cats doing that. I don’t want to hurt a tiny kitten; I bump into the adult cats too often because I don’t notice they’ve gotten next to me or I don’t look or I just don’t see them and step. So I will be extra cautious for a while.
worried for the lost kitten and hoping he/she makes it back safely with Mama. I will have my eyes and ears open in case the kitten is around here, such as in the apartment. But I don’t think that’s the case.
Peppercorn left briefly, came back, left again. She knows her kitten is missing. I think she may have chased Curry, not sure. The kitten could be gone, but I am hoping he/she will show up again with a little time. I wonder if the kitten can know the route between the other apartment and here by now, and if he/she would know this is one home base, from the look, sound, and smell.
I spent a little time holding the one kitten who had stayed, who was wanting to explore. Once he/she was wanting back to safe and sound known territory, ready to hunker down, I put him/her back in the box. He/She is sleeping now.
Definitely have to find a home for Curry, and I wish I could bring the kitten(s) and Mama in. — I trust Goober and think I can trust Mystic too. Curry might not hurt them, but I don’t want to chance that, and I don’t know for sure if he was involved in how the kitten is missing. But he is too danged aggressive for his own good. despite his charming, sweeter side.
I am going to check out my old blog to see if I can get it space-worthy again. If and when so, I will start posting the cat journal there, at least.
My Blog — I’d thought I had a backup current, but no. — I went through and added a page, changed the menus, and adjusted the widgets, did a WordPress and Plugins update, and updated Themes. — WordPress replied that I needed to update PHP in order to update to the latest WordPress version. So I went to my website’s control panels and updated from PHP 5.2 to 5.6 something or other. This appeared to be fine. — I then made the mistake of trying to change from the 2016 Theme to the 2020 Theme, and…poof, errors which persist, so I can only see the blog if I’m logged in through WordPress as blog admin. Viewing as an ordinary user shows me a technical error message about updating the Customize on the Themes. Some blog admin functions are screwed up while others still work. (It wants to give that script error message on the broken portions.)
I have, I think, gotten it to export everything, all the blog content.
I won’t lose a whole lot if I start from scratch, so I won’t be too bothered, but I’d prefer to keep what was there if possible.
What’s my best option? Or rather, how should I go about removing what’s there, re-importing the old content, and then getting the theme reset? — Or am I better off deleting it, reinstalling WordPress, and starting over from scratch?
It is currently saying that even though it knows I’d upgraded to PHP 5.6 something, that it wants something done to that or another (later or different flavor?) of PHP 5.6 something.
Previously, the hosting service had me set to PHP 5.2, which I hadn’t updated in forever.
I’m not sure how these interact, but I would’ve thought that having the whole site updated to the latest version of PHP they offer (from the domain service, one of the common big ones) would satisfy that.
Seems like last time, I simply deleted it and started over, but this time, I think I can ask here for advice and get a little help. — I’m not jumping up and down in a hurry, and I will want time to get it set up or fixed and put in some new posts before announcing it.
However, before it choked on the Theme update, it was doing fine, and I can see the updated themed/skinned version from WordPress but not from a general view like any ordinary visitor would see. So I think it may be salvageable if I can undo the theme or undo back to yesterday’s content, or to the backup I just did, and go from there. Phooey.
This looks like something that won’t heal itself, so I expect to have to undo or redo something, or start from scratch. I’d rather not have to start over, ut it would be OK if I do.
Oh, cool! — The problem appears to have resolved itself after a few minutes for the hosting service, my website’s settings (such as the PHP version update), and my blog’s settings, and WordPress, all to agree with one another. Hmm, plus, at least in my time zone, it’s around when service companies do backups, so lag time makes some sense.
My questions above still stand, but the problem appears to have worked itself out, so now I’m only asking for informational purposes. And add blog WordPress knowledge to the techie reading / self-teaching I need to learn, get caught up on.
Hmm, so the blog now looks quite unsightly, whereas before, it was at least nicely laid out and formatted. I will have to adjust it later.
Chuck and anyone else with advice on this, thanks in advance, and I’d appreciate it.