Tuesday saw us on the way to the Veterinary Hospital again but only for routine check-ups and vaccines.
Lily and Dee Dee make no fuss which reduces our own stress at such times. When you have difficulty rounding up the patient, it can fray the nerves.
We allow time for such manoeuvres but there was one occasion when we failed which was embarrassing.
.
Lily is our senior cat although she may not be quite the oldest. She was barely full grown when she came to us and it’s hard to believe she is 17 as she still charges about like a kitten.
The only possible sign of aging is that she has become more vociferous. Always a talker, she now does it more frequently and at greater volume.
.
Lily has a large vocabulary of demands and complaints and she has a whole conversation with the spirit we assume lives in the basement.
Tom and Toby used to commune in the same way. None of the others do.
.
Dee Dee is one of our 3 younger cats, merely middle-aged and she too still behaves like a kitten.
Dee Dee is not much of a talker, unless she happens to get shut inside a closet by mistake in which case she is inclined to whimper pathetically.
Dee Dee talks with her eyes and face. She knows where cat treats are kept and once she has your attention, she casts a look quite deliberately at the cupboard door, then turns to engage you with those huge expressive eyes and the slightest twitch of a whisker.
.
Dee Dee is Grant’s Number One!
No other cat is allowed near his lap!
If she happens to be elsewhere when Grant sits down, another cat need only to think of climbing aboard. Suddenly they are confronted with a hard look.
Lily and Dee Dee both got good reports from the vet.
Such a relief.
.
When I came back to my room after lunch I was amused to notice track marks on my bed.
.
Not long after, we had a visitor who came to help us with leftovers. With tummy full, he looked for a comfy place to nap.
Every other place being occupied, he reclined in Toby’s old spot.
.
He soon departed, leaving another track mark!
How have I never noticed this before? Maybe I gave the quilt an extra fluffing this morning.
.
Recently, I was persuaded we should offer our avian friends finch food.
Another choice for the smaller birds.
.
It had to be served up on a plate.
.
Funny-looking finch.
.
Could it possibly fit one more seed?
.
It seemed amazing that the chipmunk could even move, but it rushed off at top speed under the hedge to empty its cheeks, then zoomed right back.
.
“Missus have you got any more of that other nice food?”
“For my starving family.”
So much for the small birds.
.
Yesterday after hours of rain, Grant felt sorry for the poor assorted, bedraggled creatures.
So he extended a further offering.
.
“My kids, missus. Still hungry.”
.
While waiting outside Hannaford’s the other day I noticed starlings enjoying…what is that?
.
These pretty trees were at their best that day, but they don’t all come into bloom at the same time.
Spring is an ever-changing tableau.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the wonderfully entertaining post and photos! I love the woodland pathway, the tribute to your cats, the funny-looking finch eating as if the end of the world was coming, and your musing about so many things! Brilliant!
Joanna
I really enjoy your kitty cat stories, and pictures.
I can relate to so many of them! 😸😻
Your outdoor critters are adorable, as well!
Thank you, so much, for sharing…
Catherine
That first photo with the road between the trees is such a lovely picture. Haha, Dee Dee sounds like the smart one (not that I’m saying the other cats are not … of course not). But I can now understand why Dee Dee is the shop steward! Oh my gosh, that little chipmunk can stuff his mouth! And he doesn’t even look a tiny bit guilty!
The starlings are probably eating grubs.
When I used to put out bird seed, the squirrels ate most of it. I have just taken delivery of some ‘no-grow’ seed for them, and some mealworms especially for the Robins. I am hoping that starting to put out seed again will not attract too many squirrels, as the large greys eat everything!
Best wishes, Pete.