Shelter .........

We finally got some much needed rain yesterday. It was a real treat. It's been a long time since we had a cool, wet day. We're hoping for some more tomorrow.

I did worry about little Mollie Ann, however, since she has been living in the wooded area beside the house. I had seen instructions for a simple shelter for feral cats in a recent issue of the Humane Society's magazine All Animals. I had an old storage tote that I wasn't using, so Hubby and I cut a door in the side, put an old towel in it, and set it on the deck. We may move it behind the shed so it will be closer to where Mollie Ann stays during the day.

I don't think Mollie Ann has used her shelter yet. Mazie Grace discovered it this afternoon and she spent all afternoon sleeping in it. That's her in the picture. At least I know that one of the cats will use it.

Fall ????

Yesterday 95 degrees
Today 97 degrees
Tomorrow 96 degrees

And some say global warming does not exist ........

Monticello again ..........

Yesterday, we decided to take another trip to Monticello. We wanted to tour the upstairs rooms that just opened to the public this year. I left my camera in the car because I knew that pictures were not allowed in the downstairs rooms. However, they did allow pictures to be taken upstairs. Next time we go, I will know to take my camera.

To reach the second floor, you must go up narrow, steep, winding stairs. The rooms are unfurnished, except for alcove beds. These rooms were used by family members and guests. The third floor, also reached by narrow, steep stairs, contains the rotunda. I thought this was the prettiest room in the house, however, it was never used for anything except storage.

After leaving Monticello, we stopped at the Kluge Estate Winery for a bottle of their wine. It was an enjoyable morning outing.

Mollie Ann is doing fine. I take her back to the vet tomorrow afternoon to have the stitches taken out. We let her out of the garage Sunday morning, since she was getting very restless and had torn up the window blinds. :-( She still stays gone all day and comes up to the house at dark for her supper. Mazie Grace seems to be accepting her presence, although she is not happy about it. Maggie May is the aggressive one. She acts like she wants to inflict pain on her.

Back from the vet .......

Mollie Ann had her operation yesterday. When I brought her home, I put her in the garage so she could recover. She ate a whole can of food, drank some water, found and used the litter box, then claimed the rocker as a bed. She has been completely satisfied out there all day and has made no attempt to escape. I think she feels very safe and secure. The other cats haven't been allowed in the garage, since I don't think Mollie Ann needs to be in a cat fight right now.




Doesn't she look comfortable?

My brother is at my Dad's for the weekend which means that the nurses aides are not there. We have been busy with his care. He cannot stand at all now, so we have to lift him when moving from the bed to the wheelchair and to his recliner. I have much admiration for nurses and those who care for people - I could never do it.

Mollie Ann update ..........

I have been so tied up with issues concerning my Dad and life in general, that I have totally neglected blogging. Sometimes you have to deal with the most important things first. I'm hoping that things will settle down now and I can get back to my usual routines.



All of you who were betting on Mollie Ann becoming a member of the household are winners. When she comes to the deck tonight around dark, I will put her in the garage. Then in the morning she will go to the vet to be spayed and to get a rabies shot. I haven't found anyone who will claim to be her owner. I don't know where she goes during the day, but every night around 8 PM she comes across the back yard and up on the deck for her supper and for water. She is always gone by daylight.



After a little effort, I convinced her that I was not a danger. Once she allowed me to touch her, she was overjoyed to be held and petted. She was someone's pet and is used to being held. She even got in my lap last night and went to sleep.



Of course. Maggie May and Mazie Grace are not very happy that she invades their area. In fact, Mazie Grace watches for her at night and tries to chase her away. So far, we've only had some hissing and growling - no physical fights. I'm sure with time they will accept her presence - or at least I hope they will.



We are still getting summer weather. It's been in the upper 80s or 90s - today was 93. We haven't gotten any rain since August 19th, so it is terribly dry. Some areas have limited the use of water since the reservoirs are so low. Our water comes from a well, so we are being careful with our water use too.



I'm off to get Mollie in the garage and then catch up on a week's worth of blog posts .....

Meet Mollie Ann ...............

This is Mollie Ann. I don't know if she is merely a visitor or if she has moved in. Maggie May and Mazie Grace keep telling her to go away - that this is their home and she should go find her own place to live. Hubby says she belongs to someone and is just coming by to get food. He's thinking about the $500. plus vet bill for spaying, shots, etc. we had for Mazie Grace when she showed up. I think she is so sweet and I want to adopt her. Time will tell.......

Our nightly visitor .............

Several weeks ago, I caught a glimpse of a strange cat several times when I went outside. Once I saw Mazie Grace chasing it across the back yard. Then I started to notice that occasionally all the dry cat food that I would put in the garage for Mazie Grace would disappear if we left the door open after dark. Hubby and I both came to the conclusion that this might be another homeless cat dropped off beside the road by a heartless and cruel person.

We started putting a bowl of dry food beside a bucket of water on the deck every night. I would watch at the window. Every night as soon as it gets dark, she comes up and eats her food and drinks some water. She seems to stay around the deck all night. I don't know where she hides during the day. If she sees any movement at the window she will run off, so she is very scared. I can't get a good look at her, but she appears to be gray and white.

I've got to try to gain her trust so I can get my hands on her. If she is not pregnant already, I need to get her to the vet quickly. Of course, Maggie May and Mazie Grace are not very happy that this stranger is coming around their house.

I cannot understand people who will take a cat or dog they no longer want and drop it off beside the road - left alone to hunt for food or starve. All of our pets except Maggie May have been throw aways that we have taken in. They all have been sweet and loving animals. Looks like we may have cat number three.

Hurricane clouds ..........

Around 7 AM this morning, we began to see some of the outer bands of clouds from hurricane Earl. Other than clouds, we're not suppose to see any effects from the hurricane. It will remain off the coast of Virginia. I hope the damage along the coast will be minimal.