The Saga of Henry

In a previous post I told the story of Henry, the stray cat.  Since that time he disappeared for 16 days and returned again.  While he was gone, I was heartbroken.  I didn't realize just how much he had stolen my heart and how much I loved him.  He appeared in my dreams, and I found myself looking out the patio door often feeling lonely.  Little by little I took away his stuff and ultimately decided to throw away his moist food.
The very day I threw away that food he came back!  My daughter and granddaughter were visiting, and I happened to look out the patio door.  I yelled Henry, Henry!  He was in the yard eating old pieces of bread I had thrown out for the birds.
He was starving and covered with cockle burs, not to mention a few ticks.  Over the course of a couple days, I got him well fed, cleaned up and applied the rest of his meds.

 

 

Twice this week I have gotten him to come in the house for a brief time.  He sat on my lap for quite awhile, and I felt like we were both thinking the same thing.  Would his moving in be a game changer?  Is our relationship better the way it is?  Last night he came in and most likely would have stayed, but I opened the patio door to give him a choice.  I don't want to frighten him too much or make him feel trapped.  He went out again, but I will try again tonight.  Henry gives me purpose and a link to childhood memories.

Above is a photo of Henry having a good rest on the deck due to a full stomach and lots of hugs from the woman that loves him.

Thought for the day:   Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.   Wm Shakespeare

Tiny Miracles

This summer is the first time I have had hummingbirds in my backyard, and I have just been mesmerized by them.  They came in June, and I have seen them everyday since.  They actually showed up right after my sister, Lynda, died on June 6th.  So in that respect, the little creatures are even more of a miracle for me.  I so want to believe that it is her way of telling me that she is okay.  Even if that isn't the case, it makes me feel better.  Not only do they feed, but they often sit on the clothesline or power lines.

You have to look very closely

 

Another interesting activity I was able to watch was a hummingbird being banded while we were in Nashville.  It was at a nature center. They often have the same birds return to the center and often around  the same date each year.

 

Hummingbird Facts

 

They are the tiniest bird in the world

 

They can hear better than humans and see farther

 

Their hearts beat up to 1,260 times per minute and the heart is 2.5 % of their body weight

 

They weigh  between 2 and 20 grams (a penny is 2.5 grams)

 

They can fly forward, backwards, sideways and upside down and can also hover in mid-air

 

Their wings can beat up to 200 times per second, and they can fly 25-30 miles per hour

 

They do not mate for life, and the females do all the nest building and care of the young

 

They fly across the Gulf of Mexico which takes them about 20 hours

 

 

So indeed, the hummingbird is a miracle.  I am going to miss seeing them when they soon leave for the winter.  Really hope they decide  to come back and visit me again next summer.  I will be waiting!

 

 

Thought for the day:  In wilderness, I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia.    Charles Lindbergh

 

 

 

Snapshots of a Free Summer

This is the first summer in well over thirty years that I have not held a job.  It has been wonderful having the freedom to truly enjoy it.

Here are few things that made it special

taming a cat (see previous post)

watching hummingbirds all over my backyard

watching a sunflower open

 

Hanging all my clothes on the line ( haven't used my dryer for a month)

 Spending time on gardens

Trip to Nashville

Time with family

 

 

Yep, I am one very blessed individual!

Thought for the day:  Summer afternoon, summer afternoon...to me, those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.   Henry James

Henry

I grew up on a farm, and one of the things I did was attempt to tame wild cats.  We had plenty of them, and I would sit for long periods of time in the hay shed and meow or simply be quiet.  Most of the time I was successful in being able to tame those cats. 
Cats have always been a part of my life...from farm cats to house cats.  Our last house cat died about three years ago so my life has been catless since that time.  I had made a decision not to get another cat for many reasons....they live a LONG time, not a fan of litter boxes, cat hair gets tiresome, etc.
Well, awhile ago this scrawny gray cat started hanging around the area.  He was very skittish and fearful so you would only see him on rare occasions.  About three weeks ago, I noticed he was around more often so I decided to start setting out food and water.  I also noticed that he seemed to have some sort of respiratory infection so maybe a little food would help so his energy would not have to be used for hunting.  Because I am not working and have extra time, I used my old skills of meowing as well as being quiet and patient.

We went on vacation for a week so plenty of food and water was set out, and with his condition, I assumed maybe he wouldn't be around when we returned.
Well, guess what!  He was around, and just a few days after we returned I was able to pet him.  The next day he was rubbing all over me and purring.  Today I spent some time brushing his coat.  So it appears that a new cat has entered my life and time will tell whether it becomes a house cat or simply a backyard pet.  By the way, I also got close enough to confirm it is a Henry and not a Henrietta.  Also, it is not a surprise that he is named after Henry David Thoreau.

Thought for the day:  a cat improves the garden wall in sunshine, and the hearth in foul weather.  Judith Merkle Riley

The Traveler

About two weeks ago, my husband and I were headed to the airport for a trip to Nashville.  I decided to stop for gas about four miles before the MN border.  As we were getting back in our car, we noticed a young girl who appeared to be hitchhiking with a dog.  We discussed the situation and decided that if we saw her again, we would give her a ride.
So as we approached the freeway ramp, there she was.  I pulled the car over, and we asked where she was going.  Her reply was anywhere in the St. Paul/Mpls area.  I opened the trunk to put in her backpack, and the dog jumped right in, too.  She got him out of the trunk, and they both got in the backseat.

We discovered her name was Kara (sp?), and the dog was Deter.  It was a German shepherd she had gotten as a puppy while in California.  She was originally from Philadelphia and had been on the road for quite some time.  She had come from California most recently and was headed back that way before winter.  We were amazed by a number of things.....she was able to travel with a dog which gave her both companionship and protection...this was a lifestyle that was chosen, not forced.....no harm had come to her (even after riding with truckers).....and last but not least, she had ridden freight trains for most of her journeys.
I am so glad we were able to help in a small way and glad I was able to see that not every one chooses the safe, easy route through life.  There are all kinds of different ways of life, and if they differ from our own, that does not make them wrong.
Happy Trails to You!!
Thought for the day:  Two roads diverged in a wood, and I.....I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.    Robert Frost

Should be a Crime to be so Cute

This past weekend our granddaughter, Aria, came for a visit.  Her parents were attending a wedding so we got the pleasure of spending some time with her.
She didn't cry or get upset when they drove away so I knew she trusted me.
Her first order of business was to check out the whole house to see what might be of interest.  We quickly discovered which doors would need to stay shut and what items to put away.
My husband asked a couple times, is this really happening?  This was in response to seeing such a cute little person walking all over the place.

 

Some of the things we did............

Visited the railroad museum

 

 

Walked down to the creek

 

Went to the park

She carried all my potatoes into the living room



Enjoyed our dog, Maxine

Snuggled

Snuggled some more


It was a wonderful time, and I sure hope she visits often.

 Thought for Today:   There are places in your heart you do not even know exist until you love a child.

One Year

I have not been blogging lately because I was having difficulty opening my post page on our computer, but now it works!
Today marks one year since leaving the workplace.  It does not seem possible that I reached that goal.  Now I have a new one....to make it until the end of the year.  Seems like if I break it up into time frames, it is easier for me to sustain.  Of course, my sincere hope is that I can meet the goal of never having to return to the formal workplace. 
I am just now starting to relax more about being home and enjoying it to the fullest. 
Thought for today: Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.    Winston Churchill