Buzz, Buzz

Sharknado!

I don’t know if you’ve even heard about the spoof disaster series involving man eating sharks getting pulled into a waterspout and raining down on unsuspecting citizens. Seeing the first (also maybe second), I found the premise delivered a fun and silly popcorn movie night.

Well, Terra discovered my cute stuffed shark, an adorable reminder of those films. This is probably not the healthiest (communist Chinese made) human toy for pet play. However, she appears to use her paws more than teeth. I didn’t know cats batted prey out of the air like that.

Wouldn’t she make a great huntress? Do you think I should be on the safe side and take the stuffed animal away?

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This Woman Groomed the Tiniest Poodle in the World

This video is not short but I couldn’t resist sharing. Feel free to just enjoy the opening.

Do you tend to notice that men often walk the tiniest pooches while women often have more massive pets? Do you think it’s a security issue for a lone female out walking?

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Kitty Nicknames

The sweet kitty lover over at the Eastside Cats blog shared this post regarding nicknames. I commented about hearing somewhere that the more nicknames a pet has collected the more love the animal receives.

I don’t know if that’s true but like the theory. The idea popped into my mind to share all our kitties’ aliases, whether gone but not forgotten or living here today.

Then I realized the list would soon become a tedious read and I don’t want to bore anyone. Heh… So, I’ll share the latest our Dandelion earned.

I have resisted all temptation to neaten my novice, ragged job...
She obviously does not care that her fur looks lopsided...

Friday morning my husband told how she woke him at 2am just like clockwork. It made me think of the creepy, dark and dystopian film “A Clockwork Orange” released in 1971.

Without hesitation, I called Dani “Clockwork Pink” and my guy cracked up. Her pink skin really is showing through since dear Strayer recommended a pet grooming tool.

Do you or have you in past had any nickname(s)? Isn’t it rather sweet that some coworkers back in the nineties called me Flower Child?

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My Cutest Spider Yet

This happened just minutes ago and I am sorry but I just had to share. And I wish its itty bitty stripe pattern showed up in this clip.

Is this not an adorable start to a gorgeous October day? Are you enjoying nice weather today?

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The World’s Tiniest Ninja

I’ll warn anyone with a dread of spiders that this is my little ninja’s species. The creature, smaller than my pinky fingernail, landed on my laptop lid the other day. My photo turned out fine. The video, however, showcasing its skills is blurry.

I apologize in advance. So please scroll down if you want to see my miniature visitor.

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Can you spot the thread of silk between the abdomen and rear back leg?
I dragged my finger over the line to set the jumping spider free...

Is that not an adorable animal? Aren’t you glad these fierce hunters don’t scale up to predate humans?

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A Big Win, One Loud Scream, & a Gigantic Squee Over a Teensie Weensie Itty Bitty Critter

Our heating and cooling service offers gift cards via raffle in exchange for reviews. Winning a twenty-five dollar (US) for Kroger purchases delighted me. Imagine my thrill upon learning the stakes were higher. Instead of several small awards, the company owner decided a single $300 card would be offered. No doubt you know who won this time around.

Woo hoo!

My husband has been napping every midday, which leads to my second title point. He fell into a deep sleep until Polly ran under my feet. I shrieked upon feeling multiple kitty legs underfoot. Thank heaven she did not get any broken bones, nor even cry out in pain. How I kept my weight off her without falling is a mystery.

Referring to my critter encounter, a garden perusal led me to finding a few pickling cucumbers and the tiniest amphibian I’ve ever seen. This creature would fit fine on my thumbnail.

"I am huge in my sphere."

Do you think this tiny animal is a frog or a toad? Have you ever heard the song ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Polka Dot Bikini’?

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Beans!

 

Terra curled up on the bed and I could
not resist this phot op.

Can you tell I trimmed her nails?

Tenacious Terra – 9

Terra is so clever that I am always looking to create fun little puzzles. Putting catnip in this box provided no real challenge but she was still fun to watch.

And I just had to grab my camera upon finding this sight. I’m glad she sat on empty my laptop bag.

She stayed still and posed for me!

Doesn’t this kitty look comfortable? Do you think the nylon bag made her feel cool on that sunny summer day?

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Creature Feature

For the first time, I found monarch butterfly caterpillars on a milkweed plant. The tall perennial isn’t particularly attractive and that’s okay.

I collected some seeds and gave them to an interested neighbor passing by. Meanwhile, my husband found this informational article from the US Forest Service.

Did you know that releasing commercially grown butterflies can disrupt useful studies of the struggling natural population? Would you visit one of their famous overwintering sites?

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Tenacious Terra – 7

I caught Terra sizing up my dragon this morning. She tried to look casually aside but I can image what she was thinking.
 

“That’s right, brimstone breath.
Stay safe in your pretty cage.”

Do you think I’ll have to break up a fight one of these days?

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Polly’s Follies – 7

This first bit is not at all amusing. I’d thought her through the cord chewing phase. Apparently not, despite the fact she is rarely left unsupervised and gets plenty of playtime.

Her chewing exposed wires!

It took me a while to figure out why my cell phone wasn’t charging. We’re lucky she didn’t electrocute herself and/or burn the house down. My ringing phone has been knocked to the floor numerous times. Perhaps it’s a theme.

On a cute note, I discovered what garnered her excited attention outside our bedroom window. She found a bit of clinging vine waving from the north facing brick wall.

Can you believe citrus doesn’t deter Terra and Polly from jumping on my kitchen counters? Do you have any recommendations?

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Tenacious Terra Episode 1

Terra Cotta Dactyl has tried my patience more than once. This feline athlete goes to great lengths for attention. Try watching television and you might find yourself looking at something like this in her wake…

A ghost reaching out from beyond?
Or something more sinister?

Exasperated one day, I threw a lint ball at her. Silly Terra carried the thing around like a trophy. Finding it across the house next to their water bowl, I stooped to take a photo.

The ball consisted mainly of cat fur
collected off my comforter.
Fitting, no?
~sigh~

 

Another toy rescued from drowning -
classic brat cat behavior.

Having knocked this little cabinet over
she promptly lay atop it before
boredom sent her seeking
trouble elsewhere...

Can you believe nobody has gotten hurt yet? Anyone want to take bets on how long before her ornery self breaks my fish tank lid and lands in the water?

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Polly’s Follies Episode 1

It seems likely this will be a semi-regular subject as Polly Esther Dactyl is every bit the silly kitty one could want. Terra’s own feature will be soon forthcoming. She is the ringleader, after all. Here, persistent Polly has followed her sister’s determination on ‘supervising’ kitchen activity. While not as good a jumper she figured out how to use my stepstool.

~rolls eyes~

Thank heaven our GoWise USA has a washable inner pot and we have plenty of antibacterial wipes.

This thing needs a cuteness setting...

 

Who knew this home’s airy, open floor plan would become a detriment? And what is it with my shoes?

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The Swarm

Blogging friend Strayer and I were of like mind when she requested images of our cicada infestation. ~grin~ I am sorry that sharing my footage has been so long delayed. I am sure you can imagine the… ahem… feline reasons.

Even as I began uploading stuff to compile here, Terra decided to knock over a sculpture. I’m happy to say that this one did not break. The elephant’s giraffe friend had to have its ear glued back on. ~shakes head~ The moment our eyes met I decided my kitty needed some enrichment time.

So I got her harnessed for a foray into the front yard. What fun - for us, anyway. A few unfortunate cicadas were caught and at least partially devoured. I wish the humidity hadn’t been so miserable, though dodging the ugly bugs provided me a good bit of calisthenics.

 

I am very glad none of the neighbors were out as I yipped, yelped, and danced around the yard. Heh... Eventually I had to carry a resistant yet well behaved and gentle Terra inside. Her sister Polly enjoyed a good sniff fest.

Would you consider following Terra’s example by eating these high protein insects? Do you know the difference between locusts and cicadas?

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Bottled Up, Boxed In, & Unbridled (Joy)

Please forgive any errors. I'm trying not to spend so much time nitpicking. :) In the long run who cares anyway?

In a perfect example of First World problems our built-in kitchen soap dispenser is a pain to refill. From above it is slow and the removable bottle is tucked way up behind both the right hand sink and garbage disposal. Removal is easier than replacement and I did it without thinking so I had no choice but to finish the job I twisted into all sorts of contortions and worked up quite a sweat. Sweet Polly ‘supervised’ all the while. Her super soft distracting cuteness made my task all the more difficult. At last I succeeded.

Minor lingering aches and pains are another win. I count that as an unplanned workout!

I also needed to do some laundry loads without letting cats into that cellar room where we store various potentially toxic paints and such. My first attempt at engaging Terra and Polly in play succeeded until my steadily speedier basement approach met Terra’s racy intervention. Her equally fast sister and she followed me back down the upper hall whereupon I shut them inside for the few precious minutes needed.

A win. Right? Not quite.

Upstairs I let them out but could not enter the room. Entry had been blocked by a narrow box I’d stashed behind the door. ~shakes head~ Fortunately I managed to push away the obstruction without pinching my arm (or worse).

How can one not laugh at these cat antics? And can you believe Jezebel tolerates their craziness with minimal hissing despite their manic efforts to engage her in play?

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A Problematic Pollywog

Upon the kittens’ first visit to our local veterinary clinic, a doctor noted Polly’s right front paw has a toe that didn’t fully form beside the other extra. Of late I started calling it a pollywog. ~snort~ Sad to say, our Polly Esther started favoring that foot.

Don't you just want to tickle those toes?

The veterinarian stated it might become a problem. So I reached out in an email today. My hope is that perhaps discomfort stems not from the malformed toe so much as its claw. Stories abound about beloved pets dying due to miscalculated anesthesia. But I understand surgery will probably be required.

Besides, I never felt comfortable trimming claws, having tried exactly once with Luna back in her youth. Of course she’d been living on the streets until she chose me as her human in 1999, so her sensitivity makes sense. Valuable claws enabled her to defend and feed herself as well as the three kittens she birthed before we met.

Fast forward to 2021, and both these kittens are incredibly gentle with us. But I still can’t see myself trimming toenails, especially when Polly doesn’t like that foot handled. ~sigh~ We shall see. Adorable as I find all her toes, we want what’s best for her. Regular trips to a groomer for nail trimming doesn’t seem like fun for anyone.

Can you believe even unseen indoor cats sent my teenaged asthmatic self to the ER about once a year? Isn’t it a shame I re-homed Luna’s kittens before her presence led me to proper allergy meds? Or should I just be glad we had space to adopt Tilly and Jezebel in the intervening years?

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Egads

I don't like to post entries more than once per day but my niece forwarded news that her dad is back in hospital due to a fluid filled lung. Her text indicated her understandable frustration and anger. In Ashley's opinion, he was released too soon without a proper exit examination.

On the bright side, my husband learned that such lengthy anesthesia as Brian underwent can result in this condition. So it's likely neither a bacterial nor viral infection. :) And he is feeling better being back on oxygen.

Also, my friend's in-laws are doing well. Mom B had a procedure for erratic heartbeat that went well and Dad is getting a heart catheterization today. With luck, a pacemaker will put his health to rights.

Last but not least, the Dactyl sisters had their final booster shot against feline respiratory infections. Terra Cotta went from 4.2 pounds to 5.5 and little Polly Esther gained just under a pound, putting her at 4.1 now.


Did you know there is a condition called feline radial hypoplasia? Can you believe some morons considered breeding these so-called "squittens"?

Sweet Kanga Roo has grown into a
happy, active adult. Click on her
name to read and see more.

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Mousie = Food!

 

Playful Terra's favorite toy mouse must
be the oldest one in the house...
I stitched the tail back on
the other evening...

I watched our silly Terra Dactyl
tuck mousie into their
feeding station...

The Up Side of Falling Backward

Autumn’s cooler weather lures me outside like no other time of year, especially with the lower risk of insect bites. I decided to take advantage after my husband had gone to bed the other evening. Taking along my iPod speaker, I sat chilling to music and playing digital solitaire.

Unbeknownst to me, my patio seat’s legs shifted to the edge as I ‘chair danced’. In one breathless moment I went from relaxing upright to staring at the branches of my crabapple tree overhead. Thank heaven nobody witnessed it. Of this I’m quite sure, as no laughter rang out along the windswept street.

It took me several moments to compose myself before crawling off my overturned chair lying atop our coiled garden hose. That probably cushioned my landing somewhat. While my upper arms and hip are a bit sore, the spots aren’t showing bruises. What a blessing I didn’t hit my head on the brick wall, faucet, or even lose my eyeglasses. They did fly off the top of my head, but with a short flashlight search those spectacles turned up.

Best of all, so did a delightful animal surprise. At first I thought a large earthworm crawled onto an unused plastic chair tucked near the weeping crabapple’s tree trunk. But how? Then I noticed tiny legs. Knowing Ohio has salamanders and seeing one are two very different things. Alas, I was too shocked to grab my iPod Touch for a photo. The one below is courtesy of the Wildherps website.

This little guy might be a different species, though the description fits here. I think the tiny creature was stunned as me at our introduction.

Can you believe there is an aquatic species known as the Eastern Hellbender? Have you ever seen a wild salamander?

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