Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

We sprang forward

I am not sure that I ever did “Fall backward”. As a 1 human household, I eat when I’m hungry, sleep when I’m tired and the clock is only relevant for being on time for appointments and meetings.

AND, to my personal delight … the U.S. Senate passed a bill for staying on Daylight Saving Time permanently!!! If the House approves, it is to take effect in 2023 so I am guessing that means 1 more Fall back and Spring forward and that is that. YEA!

Meanwhile, clocks reset.

Emmett and Oscar’s inner clocks are a different issue. They are both set in our daily routine and remind me if I should forget.

Emmett speaks to me in a long groany-whiny-OMG sentence if I am late for a walk.

Oscar’s internal clock is funny. When I first put away his “kitty crate” that had his cave bed and toys, I put the cave bed in my bedroom closet.

It is on top of a stack of soft storage items with some older comforters and sheets. It is high enough to satisfy kitty height requirements … high is safer! I showed him the bed and opened the closet doors. I wasn’t sure what he might decide about sleeping.

After some experimenting, he ultimately decided on sleeping in the cat cave. He comes on the bed with Emmett and me until “lights out” and then sometimes plays in the living room and THEN … into the cave. At 4:32 a.m., nearly always, he leaves the cat cave, walks up my body … has a bit of a head bump snuggle and then finds a spot between Emmett and me. He sleeps quietly until I get up.

I don’t know … did Emmett and he have a discussion? Emmett is into routine also as he brings a toy or bone to bed and occupies himself at the foot of the bed until lights out. Then he curls against my back with his head on a pillow next to me. He sometimes gets down and sleeps for a bit against a cool wall, but by morning, he is back in “his” spot.

Whatever, I am the most restless of the three of us and am grateful that they are both such good sleepers … so far.

Oscar will be 6 months old 3/22. So far, he is interested in what goes on outside, but runs from open doors. Yea! And I hope that continues, although I had planned on getting a harness and having him out with Emmett and me on the front porch. We will see. And as far as night activities, as far as I know there have been no house mice since Oscar has been part of the family. If/when that changes … ???

The windowsills in the office and the bedroom are wide providing great seats for “kitty-tv”.

Emmett is loving the clear view from the new windows in the boy’s room! I am loving the light in that room and the gorgeous frames. I remain VERY happy with the new windows!

Most of the snow is gone and we have had a warm, windy day as another “atmospheric river” passed just to the south. Zero complaints! I hate to complain about getting moisture, but currently the ground is very wet and even muddy in spots. Typically, the ground on my property absorbs moisture very fast, but the combination of cold/very cold and the amount of rain has meant more standing water than usual, i.e. some mud. That also means a higher risk of tree fall over with the wind from this/these fronts.

After a quick errand run to Bigfork (7 miles vs 22 miles to Kalispell), I despaired at the state of my driveway which badly needs a refresh of gravel/pitrun … something! One more thing!

But … some scenes from the return … on the road home:

The wide view toward home (east looking).

To the west.

Wide view to the west.

Closer view to the East … the road home!

I wish I could convince them to smile!!! They look like they are being punished when I point the camera toward them :(

Anyway, we sprang forward and are all happy and well and enjoying almost Spring in our little house in the woods!

***I continue to pray for Ukraine, for Russia and for the whole world. I “listen” via my news feeds while also living my life the best I can. So much uncertainty, but mostly my heart breaks for all who suffer from this needless war!

Lovely Light: Outside

We had a rainy-warmish week and then it got very cold … forecast for cold and wind and 1-3 inches of snow.

Cold and wind, but just a skiff of snow.

It is warming up and the light outside, late afternoon is lovely. Maybe because there is no snow and it looks more like late Autumn than almost Spring…

Emmett and I are taking at least 3 long walks on the state land every day! The footing is good, the bears are still abed, and it is wonderful to be out there. We should have another 6 – 8 weeks before bears are around and too high vegetation to see them, keeps us closer to home so we are making the most of this time.

This Friday evening … a cloudy afternoon as we transition from cold to a forecast high of 49F tomorrow – YIKES … heat wave!

But tonight…

A little snow!

It is supposed to warm overnight and change to rain, but we had a dark o’clock walk in flurries.

Lovely light: outside.

International committee of the Red Cross

UKRAINE CRISIS | International Committee of the Red Cross (icrc.org)

I know there are other charities and you can search on …

how to help ukraine – Search (bing.com)

I found a lot in …

25 Meaningful Ways You Can Help Ukraine (globalcitizen.org)

For me, it is challenging to live my life which is currently good and safe and relatively secure … while watching what is happening in Ukraine.

It is different [to me] than many of the climate and weather cataclysmic events. This is something that need not have happened. There is no good reason for this “war”. The devastation and life disruption is something that I thought we, as in humanity, was beyond.

It is not over.

It … as in devastation and life disruption … could come to us in the United States. And I wonder if we would respond with as much courage and unity as Ukraine seems to have.

I can see the ugly view clearly :)

Scenery-wise, it is not the most beautiful time around my property …

Not pretty, but VERY clear view of the melt down.

An atmospheric river has been giving us a lot of moisture. Temps have been above freezing day and night. There is not a lot of snow left.

Kind of blah out there…

Walking is now not too bad as in not a lot of ice on our paths.

But per NOAA’s advice … keeping the snow gear handy!! Last week, heading to Kalispell, I did see some baby cows and thought … OH!!, it could be difficult. I hope the new ones will do ok through this late Spring.

Oscar continues to be his normal self post op. Yes, nap time, but normal mid-late afternoon nap time and considering it is rainy-foggy outside … super normal.

Kind of ugly outside, but our view is clear through the lovely new windows.

***Ukraine. I have looked at International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and other humanitarian sites. Also at the pleas from Ukraine for Cryptocurrency donations to help them fight. I am not sure yet what is the best thing to do so am holding for the moment. If anyone has insight, please comment!

Oscar: Post Op

Oscar had his snip-snip operation (neuter) today.

We are home (2:30 p.m.) and all is well.

I broke my wine fast :(

I think Emmett would have also.

I believe Emmett and I had more anxiety than Oscar!!

Per the paperwork sent home with me, Oscar might be lethargic for the next 48-72 hours … FAT CHANCE!!!

The carrier that he will normally have nothing to do with is suddenly a great toy: rug, zippers, handles … what fun!

I moved his bed into the office. This bed was his itty-bitty kitten bed in the crate, but it now resides in the bedroom closet. I keep the closet door open and typically, he will have a bit of a snuggle with Emmett and me, then play on his own and then sleep in the closet in his bed until 4:00 a.m. You can set time by Oscar. At 4:00 a.m. he gets into bed with us and snuggles down between us until we get up. Anyway, he found it … in and out and ….

Drink of water. Oscar has been a good drinker of water from the start! I am so happy about this as it is often a concern with cats, especially male cats, getting enough “water” or equivalent.

A towel on the floor became a “kill” and a toy. Oscar dragged it around … Yep, very lethargic.

Operation ??? What operation … I feel great!!

***He is on “pain killers” and I have 4 days doses so we will see :)