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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / April 2005Spring is for taking a walk
The last of the blizzard is nearly gone now. And I know there won't be any more. It is glorious Spring! I know cause I hear the toads croaking! What a chorus. they must have all woke up at the same time. Jeff harnessed Robin and I got my walking stick and we rambled across the pasture listiening to the toads and birds. Robin had to examine a few gopher holes. We finally ended up at the dammed end of the spring-fed pond. It is covered with ancient willows, whose softwood trunks are too massive to stand up; and just lie along the ground. The ferns are coming up and the currant and chokecherry bushes have green buds. There is a trunk with shredded bark and Robin's tail bottles as he gets near it. Porcupine? We peek over the dam in time to see big turtles slide into the water; their heads coming above water from time to time. Along the shore are a couple of killdeer. Red-winged blackbirds are whistling in the trees. Grackles are making their unmusical chirp/click. And in the distance we hear the glorious sound of true spring; the song of the Western Meadowlark. Robin could care less about bird songs. he is interested in eating fresh grass and sharpening his claws in real bark and getting some exercise. The supine willow trunks are natural racing tracks for a lively cat. He is having the time of his life. I am anxious to go back next month when the leaves are out and the pond is filled with ducks and phalaropes and herons and the swallows swooping above the water. We might even be lucky enough to have a Kingfisher; there are little fish in the pond. I saw a kingfisher several years ago. that was the same year 3 migrating pelicans landed there! Imagine pelicans in the middle of Colorado. When we finally got back to the house we spied a pair of house finches on the feeder. I love their song. And the brilliant red of the male. Robin was tired and fell asleep where he was on Jeff's bed as soon as the harness came off. He really does need the exercise. We had a good time and are looking forward to the next time. -- CATherine > The last of the blizzard is nearly gone now. And I know there won't be > any more. It is glorious Spring! I know cause I hear the toads [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > the harness came off. He really does need the exercise. We had a good > time and are looking forward to the next time. Oh wow! That sound absolutely wonderful, CATherine! If I could live anywhere in the US it would be there! Hugs, CatNipped > CATherine >Oh wow! That sound absolutely wonderful, CATherine! If I could live >anywhere in the US it would be there! > >Hugs, > >CatNipped At least during the spring. But you wouldn't want to be here in the hot, dry summer and the bleak winter. -- CATherine > >Oh wow! That sound absolutely wonderful, CATherine! If I could live > >anywhere in the US it would be there! [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > At least during the spring. But you wouldn't want to be here in the > hot, dry summer and the bleak winter. Ha! Yes I would!! I love in Houston now, so it beats the heck out of hot (105F) and *wet* (100% humidity)!!! I've been to Denver in winter and although it was 32F outside, since it was so dry I was out in shirt sleeves and still comfortable. It's the damp here that chills me to the bone. And the dry would be *wonderful* for my allergies! It might not be for everyone, but it would be great for me. Hugs, CatNipped > -- > CATherine > > >Oh wow! That sound absolutely wonderful, CATherine! If I could live > > >anywhere in the US it would be there! [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Ha! Yes I would!! I love in Houston now, so it beats the heck out of hot LOL! Well, actually I *do* "love" in Houston, but I meant to say I "live" in Houston (my Freudian slip is showing!). Hugs, CatNipped > (105F) and *wet* (100% humidity)!!! I've been to Denver in winter and > although it was 32F outside, since it was so dry I was out in shirt sleeves [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > -- > > CATherine >> >Oh wow! That sound absolutely wonderful, CATherine! If I could live >> >anywhere in the US it would be there! [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >the dry would be *wonderful* for my allergies! It might not be for >everyone, but it would be great for me. Well, come to think of it, 95F with only 40% humidity is not so bad after all. I couldn't survive in the kind of heat and humidity you have. -- CATherine Hee hee, hoomins can get used to just about anything! I moved from a place w/low90's,78-90% humidity except in winter, and here I am in MileHigh, and I survived the winter here! Yahoo (rebel yell) spring! CO rainstorms are toothless compared to those of s.FL....the thunder is usually far away and so is the lightning, not crashing down around you like where I lived before..... >>> >Oh wow! That sound absolutely wonderful, CATherine! If I could live >>> >anywhere in the US it would be there! [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > -- > CATherine > Hee hee, hoomins can get used to just about anything! I > moved from a place w/low90's,78-90% humidity except in winter, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > far away and so is the lightning, not crashing down around you > like where I lived before..... The new kittens here just went through their first thunderstorm yesterday. They weren't really upset by it. Most cats I've ever had would run and hide, but they sat on a chair by the screen door and just looked at me when the thunder boomed as if they were asking me "what is going on?" They looked a little wide-eyed, but didn't run. Brave kitties!  SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields > The last of the blizzard is nearly gone now. And I know there won't be > any more. It is glorious Spring! I know cause I hear the toads [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > -- > CATherine Sounds lovely! > The last of the blizzard is nearly gone now. And I know there won't be > any more. It is glorious Spring! I know cause I hear the toads > croaking! What a chorus. they must have all woke up at the same time. Sounds like a lovely walk, Catherine. What a treat for Robin. I'm learning what it's like to have a kitty on my arm every time I'm on the 'puter. Like Robin, Mere wants to be close all the time, except when she's busy chasing greeblings, of course, or beating up her squirrel. SignatureMarina, Frank, Nikki, and introducing: Mere! marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> The last of the blizzard is nearly gone now. And I know there won't be >> any more. It is glorious Spring! I know cause I hear the toads [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >'puter. Like Robin, Mere wants to be close all the time, except when >she's busy chasing greeblings, of course, or beating up her squirrel. Kittens do have a short attention span and so much to explore and keep them busy. They remind me so much of when my son was little and would come in and tell me all about what he learned and discovered during the day. And with such enthusiasm. Then he would fall asleep in my lap in the middle of the exciting recital! -- CATherine > When we finally got back to the house we spied a pair of house finches > on the feeder. I love their song. And the brilliant red of the male. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > -- > CATherine Catherine, what a beautiful descriptive. It made me want to be there. We are well into spring now, with temps in the high 70's, low 80's. Trees are pretty well all leafed out, the cherry tree is blooming, the hyanciths, tulips & lilacs have bloomed and faded, now the irises are blooming, and all the rosebushes have big buds ready to open. The birds are now completely ignoring us and the feeders -- they always do when winter's over. It is my very favorite time of year. I hate winter. That's the main reason I plant crocuses. They stick their bright little blooms up sometimes even through the snow, but it's a reminder that spring *eventually* will come. Sherry What a great writer you are, CAT...it made me feel like I was right there with you all on your walk. I don't know how you are so sure another snowstorm isn't going to kick our you-know-whats, but I sure hope you're right! Here in MileHigh all over the place is some bird that sounds just like a laughing hyena (that's what I called it to my son and his wife; they don't know what it is or what it looks like. I even hear it downtown @ my place but can't see anything. Do you know what kinda bird here goes "eh-heh-heh-heh-heh"? LOL. I have not turned into a bird-lover, it just makes me laugh when I hear it cackling..... >> When we finally got back to the house we spied a pair of house > finches [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Sherry >What a great writer you are, CAT...it made me feel like >I was right there with you all on your walk. I don't know [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >makes me laugh when I >hear it cackling..... That sounds like a Yellow Warbler. It is a very small yellow bird; the male is the singer. He has a very loud voice to draw other birds' attention to himself while his silent drab mate is in another tree building a nest in secret. I have a pair of them in my yard every year. One year they built a nest over my flower bed and I kept tabs on them. When the male would come to visit, he was as silent and secretive as the female. When he would leave, he would go to the other side of the yard and be obnoxious to the other birds. It is an effective way to keep his mate and progeny safe. Glad you liked my walk story. We greatly enjoyed it. After this many years I have gotten a feel for when spring is truly here. Although the weather says we may get a few flakes Sunday/Monday; but I think that is closer to the mountains. -- CATherine >> When we finally got back to the house we spied a pair of house >finches [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > >Sherry I have seen in the City where the trees are blooming and the tulips and daffodils are about done with. Spring is always later out on the High Plains where I live. But my squilla was blooming before the blizzard and was still blooming after it melted off! Tough little flowers. My other bulbs haven't bloomed. The lilacs and honeysuckle are just leafing out some. Lilacs are my favorite flower of all time. -- CATherine Thanks for the lovely walk Cat, I really needed that after a long day. >From your story I could feel the sun on my face and for a minute thought I could smell the pond water. I am glad Robin had such a great time. Skritches, KittyLady >Thanks for the lovely walk Cat, I really needed that after a long day. >>From your story I could feel the sun on my face and for a minute >thought I could smell the pond water. I am glad Robin had such a great >time. >Skritches, >KittyLady Happy to oblige. Wish you could have heard the toads chirping and the birds singing. -- CATherine > There is a trunk with shredded bark and Robin's tail bottles as he > gets near it. Porcupine? We peek over the dam in time to see big [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > unmusical chirp/click. And in the distance we hear the glorious sound > of true spring; the song of the Western Meadowlark. I love (and miss) the sound of Western Meadowlarks in the spring. I still hear them in my dreams sometimes, but haven't heard them in person since I was 14. Your walk sounds like it was totally fun. I envy you having room to roam. Pam S. who sometimes misses living in the country >> There is a trunk with shredded bark and Robin's tail bottles as he >> gets near it. Porcupine? We peek over the dam in time to see big [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Pam S. who sometimes misses living in the country I have lived in the country so long now that I feel stifled when I am working in the city. It is always such a relief to get home. I can see for miles and breathe fresh air. And is so quiet. Even when the birds are chirping by the dozens, there is no background city roar. Sometimes we hear coyotes at night. Sometimes we hear the landlord's cows moo. We have a square mile to wander around in. It is a feeling of freedom. -- CATherine > I have lived in the country so long now that I feel stifled when I am > working in the city. It is always such a relief to get home. I can see [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > -- > CATherine I understand that totally, CATherine. I love the quiet most of all. All we hear at night is the train, occasionally coyotes and sometimes an owl or two. I also like the isolation. The only part I don't like is not having police or fire protection. Sherry
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