Before I get to Raji and cheating, I feel I should explain the math in my post titles. Originally I had planned to make February 4 my termination date, my last day with my employer. But when I told my husband that I had a month of vacation time saved up, he suggested March 4 for my termination date and that I take vacation time for the month of February. By the time I agreed with him, I was already writing these posts about my impending retirement. So I adjusted the math.
And guess what?! I’m not taking the month of February off because, you know, I’m not very assertive when it comes to my own needs. Sigh. Well, I’m taking February 9th off. There’s that. And I’ve got my eye on a few other days so there’s that too. And so that’s the math. Because I should be on vacation right now.
I’m not complaining though because soon I’ll be on vacation for the rest of my life.
Life with Raji is going so well now. He’s spending more and more time in our house. Junior, Maxine and Wendy all take turns hissing at him, but they are tolerating his presence more. He still sleeps in the garage and has most of his meals there. He loves our back porch, as you know.
These photos are from today (Sunday). Raji is straddling the arms of two patio chairs to get a better look at whatever may be lurking in our yard.
And this is what gives me hope.
Raji and Wendy on the porch at the same time, in full view of each other. Granted, I don’t think Wendy was thrilled to see Raji, but she didn’t hiss and didn’t run away.
Even better is this photo from earlier today. Coexisting on the same bed! Hallelujah!
We’ve started calling Raji the Tundra Tabby or Arctic Cat because he doesn’t seem to mind the cold. Our other three will all be nestled on the couch, curled up with their noses covered, and Raji will be on the porch, engaged in watching the birds and squirrels.
Now the cheating part of this blog is I don’t have any recent nature photos so I’m stealing some that my husband sent me during one of his rides in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
The photo on the left is the Pinhook River when the tide was out. The photo on the right is the Pinhook River a few hours later after the tide came in.
Sunset. Need I say more?
And sunset with bike.
I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I enjoyed receiving them.
Raji and I and the rest of the crew wish you all well. Stay safe, healthy, and happy.
(this is my favorite photo of Raji so expect to see it a lot)
I’m very happy to say that Raji’s transport to the vet on Friday was smoother than I dared hope for. It only took several weeks of stoic patience (on my part) and routine before-meals petting and brushing PLUS one week of frequently feeding him in the new large hard plastic kennel PLUS dosing him with 100mg Gabapentin 2 x day for 3 days.
That’s all it took.
I had my heart set on taking him in the new kennel because I was afraid he’d rip the fabric carrier to shreds. The new kennel is “top loading” (click here if you want to see a picture of it; this is not an affiliate link). He got used to hopping into it and eating his dry meals. Eventually he’d even let us pet him while he ate, and a couple of times I was able to close the lid without him noticing.
It seemed too good to be true that morning, when he hopped into the kennel to feed and I carefully secured the lid. Sure, as soon as he realized he was trapped, he started mewing and pawing at the blanket. He was scared, but I knew he couldn’t get out of the kennel.
The vet inspected his powder puffs and determined that they had shrunk since his last visit. Between that and the fact that his penis was smooth and not barbed, the vet was able to confidently declare him neutered. Well, given that he’s more likely to run away from Junior than stand his ground and fight, I kind of figured the spay and neuter clinic had done their job properly after all.
He was also chipped and his nails were trimmed. Oh, happy day!
Here’s the little snugglebunny acting as if nothing had happened.
He really did bounce back quickly, even though he obviously hated being caged. He let us pet him as soon as he was out. What a relief!
Well, this weekend there were no walks on trails. However, I did walk around the perimeter of our house and “discovered” two blooming camellia bushes. Here’s one:
You see, this is why I need to retire. I don’t even know the flora around my own house.
Well, now I know more and I’ll be spending more time with these luscious flowers in the very near future.
As well as with this guy.
Raji is spending more time in the house interior. Our other three cats are grudgingly getting used to him racing up and down the hallways, sitting in their spots on the back porch, and playing with their toys. Most of the time they are sleeping anyway. Junior has “charged” at Raji a couple of times, but still no fighting, thank goodness. Raji stays cool, but he often seems perplexed that the others don’t think him as adorable as we do.
I can’t believe we’re still in January, that another whole week stretches before us. My wall calendar is covered with green X’s, but still a whole week awaits me and my Sharpie.
This weekend I was busy, busy, busy; again, playing at being retired (I’m not retired just yet). I bustled and hustled and wore my feet down from walking and standing. I feel that good kind of fatigue, the kind you get when you can finally check a few things off your list. Like vacuuming my house and even the garage since a live creature still abodes there. Vacuuming might not seem like much of an accomplishment but when you live with three (now four) cats and lots of books and magazines and you haven’t vacuumed in literally months … well, let’s just say I’m quite pleased with myself that I managed to (finally) get that house chore out the of way … for now.
That’s one of the things I don’t like about housework. Nothing stays dust- and dirt-free for long. Especially in a house with three (now four) cats.
Happily I got quite a bit of walking in this weekend. Saturday I had my first real caffeinated coffee since I started working from home in mid-March. A cappuccino, to be exact. I am quite sensitive to caffeine. A little bit goes a very long way. For me, that meant going for an hour-long neighborhood walk at noon and then an amble with my husband in the early evening.
We went to our favorite ambling trail, Timberlane Ravine, where my husband showed me the biggest mouse trap I’d ever seen.
I would not want to meet a mouse big enough for that trap. We’re not entirely sure of the history of this oddity, but my husband recalled a couple of former coworkers who loved to participate in geocaches, or treasure hunts. Apparently, someone built this trap and dragged it out to the park (we don’t know how) for the sole purpose of geocaching. Okay, then.
I’m still enamored with the panorama feature of my iPhone, as you can see by the photos below.
The photo above shows a 180 view of the trail. Below is a 180 view from a bend in the trail. The coppery color of the birch trees, perhaps not well captured in the photos, was a lovely contrast with the dark green of moss, pines, and bush.
As we continued with our amble, Greg demonstrated the patience of a saint as I stopped to take photos of tiny flowers, trillium, and unusual (for me) fungi.
A dandelion daintily pushing through.
A shy violet making an appearance.
Trillium abounds. The trail was lined with trillium, or Wake Robin, or more formally, Trillium maculatum. They are considered rare, yet we saw them in abundance. I am so looking forward to our next visits to see them bloom.
And my beloved fungus, although I know zip about fungi. These photos were tricky since the fungus was attached to a rotten log resting on the ground. I felt like a contortionist angling for a good shot.
We only walked one loop, as it was past sunset and the light was getting dim.
If you look very, very closely, you can see the moon just above the tree tops in the center.
Raji Update: I do believe he and the other kitties are starting to “acclimate” to each other. We’ve been letting him in the house where he runs up and down the hallways and over the counters. Wendy tends to avoid him by leaving whatever room he happens to be in. Maxine will hiss at him and Raji shows deference to the old lady. Junior doesn’t like the young whippersnapper at all. He’s all hiss and growl and posturing. For the most part, Raji defers to Junior as well. At heart, Raji’s a lover, not a fighter. We haven’t had to break up any fights, and when Junior gets really puffed up, I just remind him that he’s still my boy, but now my big boy (Raji’s my little boy).
With our temps being a bit warmer, Raji has discovered our back porch and really likes it there.
He gets a lot of pleasure from watching the birds and squirrels cavort in our backyard. Not surprisingly, while he’s on the back porch, the other three are checking out the garage and the play pen on the side. I’m confident that eventually the four of them will coexist tolerably if not amicably.
Now, wish me luck. I’ve scheduled another vet appointment for Raji for Friday morning. Remember, the last time we tried to take him to the vet was the time when he bit into my hand. So that visit was canceled.
This time I’ve got meds to mellow him out and–most importantly–I’ve been able to close up his big carrier with him in it while he’s eating. It will be an awkward transportation as the carrier is huge feels flimsy (it’s all mesh and fabric). I’ll take along a regular pet carrier along just in case.
I will be so glad when this visit is out of the way.
Thanks for reading! Stay safe. Stay well. Stay as happy as you can.
As of this writing, I’ve been off work for a few days, getting a feel for life after the job. It’s a good feeling. One day I spent several hours knitting and listening to an audio book (normally that’s my bliss, but the novel–Last Rituals by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardottir–was so full of cliches I could only listen to it if I was distracted by something else like knitting or housecleaning).
But the first day of my long weekend was spent with my husband, on a bike ride at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. A bike ride that almost didn’t happen. It started off nicely enough.
First, just before we left, I took a photo of the trees from beyond the roof of my house. See all that blue sky? After a few cold gray days, the blue was a balm to the soul.
At St. Marks, the blue sky and green pines and palms soothe my color-starved eyes. We hopped on our bikes and started cruising down Tram Road. My husband had found an old pair of panniers to attach to my bike so I was a happy cyclist, toting my own lunch, hot tea, and wool sweater instead of cramming everything onto his bike. I like to be independent when I can.
I was soaking up the blues and greens when I heard a soft chafing sound. Must be the panniers, I thought. My speed slowed as if I were going uphill. Only I wasn’t going uphill. The sound got louder. I came to a stop at the same time that I recognized the sensation of something being dragged. I bent over and looked at my rear wheel. It was not only flat. Its guts were hanging out of it.
I called to Greg and in a few minutes he had my bike upside down and the rear wheel off. The tire had come off the rim, and the tube had somehow twisted back on itself. He was perplexed and not confident that he could fix it. “I think we need to call it a day,” he said.
“NOOOOOOO!,” I responded.
We had riden less than one mile. I had been enjoying myself for less than nine minutes. The thought of turning around and going home seemed unbearable.
For the next 30-45 minutes, I watched my husband first pull out a new tube that he happened to have in his pack, pump it full of air, and fit it and the tire back on the rear wheel. Then I watched him examine the old tube, pump it full of air, search for leaks, and apply two patches. He said we still have to have a spare, even if it is patched.
My husband is a cyclist. He’s ridden centuries (100 miles) in California, taken weeks-long biking trips, and generally rides one of his two bikes a few times a week. While I watched him work, he told me about how he once had a Peugeot bike with sewn-up tires. It was during his early Navy days in San Francisco. Every time he rode that bike, it got a flat. After a few times of sewing the tires back on, he started carrying a spare set of tires to spare him the agony of sewing.
A guy like that is going to be prepared but also open to taking chances. After his work was done, I asked if we really had to call it a day. He gave me a smile and said, if I was willing, we could go ahead. Worst thing would be I’d have to walk back.
Here are a couple of scenes from the trail.
You might remember our last ride to the Pinhook River (6 + 4 Weeks: Holiday Relief and Bad Cats #Nature #corneredcats). Our timing on this trip was roughly the same as the last. By mid- to late afternoon, we’re at the river. The sun is sinking and casting light in weird and mysterious ways.
For the first time, I notice the colors of the river’s bridge. Maybe it’s the sunlight playing tricks with me. Maybe it’s whatever chemicals were applied to help preserve the wood. Still, I was entranced by these lines and colors.
Eventually we headed back to the car, pedaling steadily, Greg asking about my rear wheel every so often. It was holding up just fine.
About halfway, I stopped to take this photo, shot in “pano” mode.
It looks otherworldly to me, the blues and greens so lush and vibrant. At St. Marks, I always feel that I’m stepping into another world.
And then there’s home.
By the time we get home, the light has faded. Those trees lit by the sun in my first photo are now sliding into shadow.
Raji update: We’ve been letting him into the house interior, trying to familiarize him with the layout and the other cats. Maxine ignores him for the most part. Wendy runs away, and Junior tries to stand his ground, but only if he’s awake and not in a primo sunny spot on the couch. Sometimes Raji acts like he’s right at home.
On this particular afternoon, Junior and Maxine could not be bothered.
Thanks for reading, friends! Stay well, healthy, happy as you can be, and doubly safe (as folks are saying around here, “Don’t go downtown!”).
P.S.
The day after our bike ride, Greg went to take the bikes off the car and found that my bike’s front tire was flat. Then he went inside and bought me new tires.
Camellia from a neighbor’s yard. It was the one perfect bloom in a large bush. Photo is edited.
I cannot pretend to be upbeat and positive. I want to be. I was at the beginning of the month but events–both national and local–have left me feeling sad and often scared. While I’m writing this post, I’m listening to a podcast that a relative (by marriage) publicly shared on Facebook.
Yes, I should know better. For months now I’ve read this relative’s public posts with the sinking feeling that it wouldn’t be long before this relative embraced all the most ludicrous and bizarre conspiracy theories shared by the mob that stormed the Capitol. Well, this relative’s slide into the abyss of disinformation is complete. And that makes me sad … and a bit scared because there are obviously plenty of other people who believe as this relative does and a lot of them are willing, perhaps even eager, to use violence.
So … kind of hard to feel upbeat and positive, but I need to get up every morning. My cats and my husband depend on me to do so. They are my welcomed distractions.
Here’s one distraction who probably doesn’t need an introduction. Things are going well with Raji albeit slow. My goal is still to get him into a pet carrier, but he’s fast and has great reflexes. We’ve tried feeding him inside a carrier, in the hope that he’ll relax and not notice us slowly coming up behind him. Eh, he doesn’t relax. Usually he keeps a back foot or two outside the carrier so he can quickly back out and get away. The least sense of movement from either of us and he’s off! So we recently purchased a pet carrier built for two.
The trick with this carrier is not in getting him all the way into it–he will do that when he’s eating–but in getting the “door” zipped up before he can escape.
Meanwhile, we continue with our before-meal-petting routines.
Can you see his sharp little claws in the last photo? Right now that’s the main reason I want to get him back to the vet: nail trim! Besides being such a cutie-patootie, he is still allowing me to pick him up, but only when I’m sitting on the floor and I follow this procedure:
put gentle pressure on his back until he’s prone
firmly place my hands on either side of his rib cage and under his shoulders
slowly lift up, making sure his back is to me at all times
hold for one, two, maybe three seconds
slowly lower down to the floor
loosen “grip” on his sides so that my hands caress him as he launches away from me.
It’s fun, and it gives me hope. For the most part, we do have fun with Raji. Recently we’ve allowed our other kitties to be around during his supervised visits to the house interior. No fights so far. Nothing worse than Junior hissing and Raji running back for the garage. He’s curious about the other cats, but leaves them alone if they get hissy (thank goodness!).
It’s been cold here and we’ve been too busy for Greg and me to go on a nature walk. So, here’s a few of the plants I’ve been tending the last several months. I am quite impressed by these lovelies. I do shelter them on nights when the temps are below or near freezing, but it still impresses me how resilient they are.
This bromeliad was gift from a coworker. I’ve had it for over a year now, and it’s already bloomed once. I’m thrilled to see that it plans to bloom again.
I purchased this Red Penta a couple of months ago, shortly before our temps turned wintry. Butterflies and perhaps hummingbirds are attracted to the red flowers.
This here is a white-flowered butterfly bush. What you are seeing are new leaves interspersed with old. I find it so fascinating that this bush is continually pushing out new leaves. The white blossoms won’t appear until spring.
I feel a lot pride in this Scarlet Salvia. My husband bought it a couple of years ago and then complained that “it never bloomed.” I guess it’s one thing to tend to trees and large bushes, but a potted plant is something else. By the time I took an interest, it was already quite “leggy.” The soil was bone-dry. I started to water it. It is a water hog. It requires twice as much water as all the other plants. After a month or two, red shoots started to appear and before too long we had blossoms. And it has not stopped blooming since! It’s a miracle! In spring, I plan to prune it back, once it has access to plenty of warmth and sunshine to spur new growth.
I am grateful for these distractions: my cats, my husbands, and my plants. I’m also grateful for all of you who bring light and love into my life.
Well, hello, 2021! So far, it’s looking good. At least for me since I’ve been living in my comfortable, do-not-wear-in-public, sometimes-wear-to-bed clothes since January 1. Of course, by the time you all read this, I’ll be in regular work garb. But only another 4+4 weeks of that.
I expect January to be a stressful month but I’ll try to go with the flow, reminding myself that I’m doing the best I can do. The challenge will be to take care of myself. As you all know, walking is a great stress-buster for me. Well, it’s been rainy this weekend so no nature trails. I did manage a morning walk in my neighborhood on New Year’s Day, before the rains came, and saw a bird on a wire.
Actually a big bird on a wire: the neighborhood red-shouldered hawk surveying his territory. A few days ago I saw two hawks on the same wire. We’ve had generations of hawks in my neighborhood, with this last generation seemingly at ease among humans, or maybe they’re just unimpressed.
Since we haven’t gone for a nature walk, I took a few photos of my micro-mini-rain forest aka my backyard. Here’s the wide view:
I love the Pano setting on my iPhone, but here’s some individual shots for a more up-close and personal feel:
I have all my plants on the deck because I was afraid they would drown if they couldn’t drain properly. A few of them love water, but it’s been raining steady for two days. Their cups runneth over.
Can you guess what my other great stress buster is? You got it! CATS! And now that I have four, I have plenty of opportunities for stress busting. Right now, though, Raji is hogging the camera.
Isn’t this little guy fricking adorable! Yes, folks, Raji loves to be petted AND brushed! (The other three have to be “in the mood” for brushing — “eye roll.”)
We’ve come a long way with Raji since we brought him into our garage in early November. Then he’d flinch and move away if we reached out to him. After about a week, he let me lightly caress his head while he ate. Fast forward to now, we have a routine of petting and brushing him for a few minutes before every meal. On his own, he started “flopping” down onto his side during this ritual, lying still while he’s being brushed or rolling on his back and being playful. He kneads and kneads and kneads and kneads. He even kneads his stainless steel food bowl.
I wish I knew Raji’s history. I can only imagine he was taken from his mother too soon and then neglected. We have not integrated him into our household yet. We’re rather anxious about that because he won’t be able to live in the garage during the summer. Even spring might be too hot. We have allowed Maxine, our oldest, to go into the garage to meet Raji. He is very curious about her and seems to want to be friends, but she wants nothing to do with him. She’ll hiss and then exit, probably pissed off that there’s another cat in the house.
When our three indoor kitties are sequestered for their midday meal, we let Raji come into the house proper and roam around. We’re thinking that as he becomes familiar with the house, he’ll feel less intimidated whenever we start the formal meet-and-greet meetings. At least, he’ll know how to find his way back to the garage. The most important thing is to never let Raji feel cornered.
Here’s another one of my stress-busters, the ever demure Wendy.
The look on her face means: “Stop taking pictures and feed me already!” Can’t you just feel the love … lol.
My wounds are healing, and the size of my hand is now normal. The swelling only lasted until Tuesday, although I was impressed with what I could still do while it was swollen (knit, type).
Our bond with Raji gets a bit stronger each day. He really doesn’t hold a grudge, it seems. He’s loving the petting sessions and is very playful. Getting him to stay still long enough for a photo is still a challenge.
It seems the only time Raji is still enough is when he is eating.
I am testing some medication on him prescribed by our vet to “calm” him and make him more amenable to getting into the pet carrier. The dosage prescribed is 100 mg of Gabapentin the night before and another 100 mg the morning of his vet visit. Two mornings ago I gave him the 100 mg with his breakfast just to see if he would eat mixed with food (he would) and whether he’d show any adverse effects (he didn’t). He seemed a bit more mellow, but not enough to be coaxed into a pet taxi.
It’s going to be another slow process. I’m trying to desensitize him to the horrors of the carrier by lining it with a familiar cushy pillow, playing near it with him, and putting treats deep inside. He will go in to eat the treats, but he keeps his back legs planted firmly outside the carrier. Maybe I should get a bigger carrier.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We spent it as we usually do. Outside, weather permitting. We went to our favorite in-town trail. I thought I’d have no reason to take photos and yet …
Late afternoon light is the best!
Not as vibrant as previous weeks, but I’m still loving the yellow, red and orange leaves of these trees.
Consider me odd if you will, but the center of this palm really caught my eye. I had never noticed this difference in color before.
The Timberlane Ravine trail is criss-crossed with thick roots for the most part. I spend a lot of my time looking where I walk.
But looking down has its rewards!
Fungi!
It’s not obvious in the photo but this is a lovely and gentle downward part of the trail.
Ending with the love of my life perched on a boardwalk.
Thank you for reading! So now I wish you all a very happy New Year! Bring on 2021! I’m ready to say adios to 2020.
P.S. Did I mention how chilly it’s been in north Florida lately? Only cold weather would get these two to snuggle together.
So we were supposed to take this sweet-looking cat to the vet on Friday.
Just a visit to check out the power puffs he still carries, get a booster shot, nail trim, chip. The last time we took him to the vet, we had to trick him into the pet taxi. This time he remembered the trick and would have none of it. Long story short: he got away from us and ran high and low through the garage, doing anything he could think of to avoid us. We tried to outwit him … hahahaha.
Eventually he wound up in a corner of the garage, on a fleecy bed we had put there for his comfort. He seemed to be slowing down, giving up on getting away from us. I had a small bowl with a pasty treat and dropped it near him. He started licking it and I thought, “Good. Now I’ll just grab him.” My husband was watching and said later he had two thoughts going through his head as I approached Raji: “NO!!” and “Maybe she can do this?”
I’ve never been bitten by a cat before although I’ve been scratched numerous times. Cats have nipped at me without breaking any skin so I was unprepared for the overwhelming pain I felt when Raji clamped his strong jaws on the fleshy part of my right hand. He had flipped over as soon as he felt my touch and latched all four paws on my hand. Somehow he also scratched my left hand but I don’t remember how.
My husband had had a similar experience with our first cat many years ago, and so he knew exactly what to do. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I couldn’t stop crying at first. Huge sobs of anguish, shock and fear. We got me cleaned up with running water, iodine, ointment and bandages. It took a few hours but eventually I saw my doctor and got antibiotics.
Now my right hand is swollen (it started swelling before I even picked up the antibiotics), movement is limited and it throbs painfully at times. I can type though. From what I’ve read online, swelling isn’t unusual and could last a few days. It’s Sunday as I’m editing this post so hopefully by Monday as you’re reading this post, the swelling will be going down.
Lesson learned: never try to pick up a cornered, frightened cat. I don’t blame Raji. The pet taxi terrifies him apparently. He’s also fast, strong, and smart. Our vet will give us medication that might calm him down enough to get him to the next visit … whenever that is. Frankly, I’m happy to put the visit off until next year.
I had taken this week off work, and a high point was a bike ride we took to the St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge and adjoining wildlife management areas. Here’s some scenes from our ride.
The light was so interesting. It started off bright, with few clouds, and then they started rolling in, making for a hazy perspective. And, of course, I found a small lovely plant to photograph.
The following photo is a panoramic I took of a favorite spot: the bridge over Pinhook River.
I’m not sure how well this will show up on your screens, but it represents a 180-degree turn.
Here a few photos of the view.
I love how my husband’s eye always gravitates to any insects that might be about, and my eye finds the flowers that possibly attract them.
On our way back to our car, the sun was setting, lighting up the few colorful trees around us.
This next photo was taken from our car, just as we were leaving.
No matter how often we go to the refuge, I’m always in awe of it’s beauty.
Last but not least, here’s a cat who missed us so much that day, he couldn’t wait to hug Greg’s leg.
We have hopes that Raji might be the same with us someday. Yes, we still hope because after we left Raji alone for awhile, he started to relax into his old self. Yup, we’re back to heavy petting before his meals and playtime after. He is resilient.
Thanks for reading! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday, however you choose (or not choose) to celebrate.
Seven weeks to my desired employment termination date, but another four weeks to my actual termination date. This is one example of why I don’t commit myself to specifics, why I’m a pantser and not a planner. I had planned on February 4 as my last day as a state government employee; now it’s March 4. Fortunately, that extra month is just to accommodate unused vacation leave.
It’s all still good. Since I turned in my resignation letter on Friday, it’s also all very official. Surprisingly, I seemed to be the only one in my office not surprised that I was planning an early exit. Granted, I didn’t discuss my plans with anyone, and I guess I played the part of a dedicated public servant well enough that no one could imagine my leaving, even when I was handed one good reason after another.
But so it goes. Right now I’m taking some time off (just a week). Let my staff miss me a bit or learn that they won’t miss me as much as they think they will.
One of my goals with my retirement is to become more fit. On Sunday I pushed some limits by going for two walks, or rather, one walk and an amble.
In the morning, I walked around my neighborhood. I take these walks alone, sometimes picking up trash but always on a mission: exercise. Up and down hills, focused on burning calories rather than smelling roses. But fall colors and blooming camellias have finally come to Tallahassee, so I couldn’t resist taking a few photos.
I walk in my neighborhood almost every day, and Sunday must have been the peak time for changing colors. A few red maples add a royal richness to the hood and several camellia bushes sport white, pink and red blossoms. We have a white cameilla bush in our yard but my husband inadvertently planted it in a shady spot so it doesn’t bloom very much. Once in a while it deigns to give us a blossom or two.
Later, my husband and I ambled at Timberlane Ravine, a spot that has quickly become a favorite. Often times we are the only people on the trail. A loop and a half (roughly two miles) is a good distance for my husband to get some exercise before his back gives out. It was late afternoon and the light, as expected, was lovely.
Here is my husband hugging a spruce pine. I love the gentle bow in its trunk as it leans toward the sun.
In this photo, we’re looking up at the interstate which skirts a border of the trail. If you look closely, you can see a semi zooming by.
This photo was taken just because of the light.
Well, I hope you enjoyed these excursions to my outdoors. I am so grateful to live near these small havens of Nature.
We’re expecting a mild cold front to come through. Junior, as you can see, is perfecting his tail wrap to keep his toes warm. As usual, Maxine is not impressed.
We’re making good progress with Raji. We’re having petting sessions before his meals, and he really seems to enjoy it. He purrs, kneads the rug, and occasionally flops down so I can better scratch his ears. I’ve even been able to gently tug his tail without him getting snippy with me. He’s going back to the vet on Thursday for a follow-up. Let’s hope we don’t lose too much of our progress with him.
I’ve always been a risk-adverse kind of person, some might say fearful. Afraid of making a mistake, of being wrong. Afraid of falling. Afraid of the dark, of getting lost, of being left behind. Some of that changed when I experimented with drugs in the late 70s, early 80s. I found my inner extrovert and risk-taker, and, frankly, she almost killed me.
For over three decades now I live with someone is who somewhat risk-adverse. He was enough of a risk-taker when he was young(er) to join the Navy and fly on planes searching for Russian submarines, to join the Peace Corps and work with an Amazonian people that had once been known as headhunters. But when it came to work, housing, and finances, he always chose the long, slow steady path of reasonable choices. Frankly, he saved my life.
For his birthday last week, we went on a hike. A slow, ambling kind of hike where he would pause to sweep for insects that he would later photograph, and I would pause to get on my knees and take photographs.
It was a chilly, green day. Lots and lots of green with few red and yellow leaves here and there.
My reward for this long ambling walk (besides the simple joy of being on a long ambling walk) was several fully bloomed yellow lupine just waiting for me to come along.
Same stalk, just a different angle.
One part of our walk took us to an open windy field. Looking up at the sky, I remarked to my husband that if I didn’t know I was in Florida, I would have thought I was in the central part of New York state.
It was one of those walks that you really enjoy while you’re walking but enjoy even more once you’re home, warm and cozy with your four-legged furry friends. Especially this little guy.
It’s not the best picture of him. Actually it’s a still from a video I took of him playing. Raji is in training for the Kitty Olympics. He’s a leaper and he loves running into things.
At this time, Raji and our indoor fickle felines have not formally met. A couple of times I kept the door to the garage open long enough for a few furtive glances, but nothing more than that. Baby steps. We don’t expect any of them to become fast friends. Tolerance and safe passage from one room to another is all we ask.
Perhaps if we try to integrate them on a warm, sunny day, Junior will be too blissed out to care.
Thank you for reading! Stay safe and well and please enjoy this petite green bouquet.
Marie at 1 Write Way 