Wordless Wednesday - Open The Door

 

Mischief Monday - Is It Over?

 Hi friends, hi friends, hi friends!

First, we have not got to visit you like we have wanted to, because we are busy, busy, busy. Lady says we may not blog 5 or 6 days a week for the short term, but you will hear from us a couple times a week.  She says, things overall are just rolling along and there isn't much to talk about.  We are boring, boring, boring, in a very good way. 

Enjoying the last of the summer sun. 

Now, perhaps the most important news for me, your Styxy. The kittens have all been adopted. While some are still in our house, they will all be to their forever homes in the next day or two. 

California is going to a lovely young couple who said goodbye to their calico earlier this year and are ready for another one. 

Austin and Friendly are going to a family who have always had cats. They will live with 3 kids. They will get lots of love and not from my, my, my people. 

Together forever - Friendly and Austin

We have also heard from Phantom's (now Eva) family that she is settling in and they love her already. 

I stopped to look at the kittens yesterday, and I did not, not, not like it. I had to growl, growl, growl at them.  I am hoping having intruders will be over, but I heard Lady tell Man, she is working with the rescue to figure out the best fit for the next cat(s). We will see. I think Lady has done enough with Lanie and these kittens to help the Cat Redistribution System.  She says no, no, no. 

Styx - who isn't sure he likes new cats in his house and wants it to be over. 

Caturday - And Then There Were 3

 We are happy to report that Miss Phantom has left for her forever home! 

For the organization we are fostering the adoption process goes like this. People apply to adopt the cats. After a pre-screening, their contact information is shared with the foster family. The foster family sets up a time for the potential adopters to come and visit. This is relaxed, but the foster family is encouraged to look for red flags/get a sense of the people. The foster family reports their impressions to the person supporting this adoption. If the potential family wants to go through with it, they let the organization know. After 48 hours (to try and stop impulsive cat adoptions), the adopters complete paperwork and payment. Once this is done, the foster family arranges pick up. Each of the cats leaves with a small bag of treats and toys and a quilt that has been handmade by one of our volunteers. 

Phantom is going to a lovely couple with a 12 year old son (who clearly loved to play with kittens) and a 13 year old cat. The family seemed warm and caring and clearly wanted a kitten (the lady admitted to having starting to buy new toys for one), so we know this was not impulsive. 

We will miss her and wish her all the best in her forever home. 

During our short time with Phantom she was playful and cuddly. A bit unsure about new things at first, but after a few moments, happy to join in or check them out. She also gave the most kisses. 

Nature Friday - Last of St. John''s

 Our third day in St. John's Newfoundland was the quietest one. 

We started with a boat tour. Unfortunately, we missed both the whales as close to the city and the icebergs. We did enjoy 2 hours on the Northern Atlantic. In my next life I will live on a boat. 

Can you spot the bald eagle? Mom and Dad were out of the nest which has young this year. 

After our ride, it was time to try fish and chips. The Man can't eat fish and I don't usually eat fish, but we found a place with gluten free fish and chips (batter was salt and vinegar chips) and was not bad. The cod was very moist. 

Then it was time for the Newfoundland tradition of getting screeched in.  This is a tradition where tourists pay a small fee to become honourary Newfoundlanders. First you have to talk like a Newfie (I know I did not say anything like what I was supposed to). Then you eat like a Newfie, having a piece of Newfie steak (aka a piece of baloney). Then you drink like a Newfie and take a shot of screech (the name given to the local rum because it use to be over 100 proof and when Americans were stationed in St. John's during WWII and tried it, they would screech). [They do offer a alcoholic alternative as well]. Then you have to kiss like a Newfie, which means kissing a frozen cod. 

After this fun, we went to the cat cafe and hung out with some kittens who were awaiting their forever homes. 

Dakota

Tommy

We ended our day with a nice dinner at our hotel.

Our last morning, as our flight was early afternoon, happened to be Regatta Day. Regatta Day is a flexible holiday in St. John's. If the weather cooperates it is the first Wednesday of August, if not it is the next week. All non-essential businesses must be closed. At Quidi Vidi Lake, amateur teams race up and down the lake, surrounded by food trucks and a carnival. 50 000 people visit the oldest consecutive sporting event in North America. 2026 was the 208th. 

I hope you enjoyed our visit to St. John's. I am excited to write that I will be going back for a few days at the end of September with some friends for a girls trip. Should be fun!

Lanie's Log - New Tricks

It has been 310 days since my imprisonment Since we have more prisoners, I have learned some new things.

First, I am out and about more during the day. I have learned I need to keep a closer eye on my Wardens.

Second, I have decided to join the family at night and I sleep under the Wardens bed. Tigris tends to sleep on it, and Styx has a little bed he loves in the room. 

If you are looking at me, you should be playing with me

Life is not too bad in this cell. 

Lanie -Prisoner #3

Wordless Wednesday - The Watering Hole

 

Tuesdays with Tigris - Always Sleep with One Eye Opened

Readers,

Today I would like to impart a little life lesson. I believe you should always sleep with one eye open.

The advantages:

• It creeps your people out - they wonder if you are awake or asleep
• It allows you to be on the look out for the garbage cat coming too clos.
• It also allows you to keep an eye on your people and see if they are doing stupid things like bringing in more garbage cats. 

Tigris
 

Mischief Monday - Not Enough Pictures of Me - by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends, hi friends,

This week was fine, fine, fine, EXCEPT, I got a peak at the Lady's phone and there are 87 million new kitten pictures and no new ones of me. I let her know my displeasure by giving her the stink eye, which she captured on film.

Who would want pictures of kittens when they have the most handsome guy in the world here!

your very handsome friend, Stysy

Caturday - Foster 4 - Week 2

It has been almost 2 weeks since the fosters arrived. Hopefully, as you read this, all 4 kittens will be available for adoption. Friendly had her follow up yesterday and once she is healthy enough  to get her first vaccine, she will be ready. Her sneezing has improved. Austin was neutered this week and is doing great. 

People have asked why we decided to foster.  First, Man, has been bullied into this. This is not his dream. My dream is actually to foster old dogs, but this was not something Man wanted as I need a co-foster parent for when she works late etc I pivoted to cats. I also have the dream of becoming a crazy cat lady, and this allows me to do so in a more reasonable way. I know I am going to be sad to see them go, but also joyful. How lucky am I to get to be a small part of these wonderful cats lives, even for a short time. 

Here are some of the fun pictures for this week.

When vacuum came out

Nature Friday - St. John's Day 2

On our second day in St. John's we took advantage of the two day hop on/hop off bus and went back out to Cape Spear. 

Cape Spears, which is about 12 km/8miles from downtown St. John's is the Easternmost point in North America.

The original lighthouse was built in 1836 and it is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland and Labrador. For 5 generations one family lived in and operated the house. 

Here are some pictures from Cape Spear. 

Looking up at the original lighthouse

Marking the most Easternmost part

During World War Two, Cape Spear was a critical defence battery. Built by Canadian and American's, soldiers were stationed here to watch for German U-Boats.  The battery, which is built into the hill is still there for people to visit. 

Looking out at the fog

The new lighthouse built in 1955

After our time in Cape Spear, we took the bus back to the city and spent time at the Rooms. The Rooms is the province's largest museum, art gallery and archives. It is named the rooms as it is designed to look like traditional fishing rooms, where people gathered to process their catches.

I have been to hundreds of museums and historical sites in my life, and the Rooms World War I exhibit, is one of the best I have seen. Newfoundland was not part of Canada during the war and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 801 of it's members of July 1, 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. In total Newfoundland lost 1700 individuals, giving it the sad distinction of having the most losses per capital of any British colony. The stories of many of those lost and survivors is beautifully told.  I highly recommend this stop. 

They also have a nature section. Here is a whale skull from it. 

After several hours in the museum, we took the steep walk back to our hotel. 

Next week we will finish our trip to Newfoundland on the ocean.