Navigating the Cats In the Barn - by Lee

Well, in spite of the fact that there are cats living under the barn, and now the neighbours are feeding them, I am still getting access to the field. We have worked out a compromise. We enter the field on leash. Instead of passing the barn at the end of our walk, we walk past it first. We stay on leash. Once we get past the barn (and I saw a different cat their a few nights ago), we get to be off leash.

Can you tell I am in hunt mode as we approach the barn? 

It isn't perfect and it has put a damper in my cat hunting, but I can live with this compromise.

Living almost her best life, Lee

Mischief Monday - Nighttime Troubles - by Phod

 Dear pals,

The most horrible thing has been happening in the night. My people bought the very loud machine for the bedroom. Lady said it is to keep us cool. Lady also says Angel Gemi loves this. They had one in their old house and as soon as it was turned on, she would run, jump on the bed and lay right in front of it, and wouldn't move.

Gemi may have liked it, but I am very scared of the "loud fan" when it is running. On Thursday night, I was pacing and pacing. Then I saw flashing lights and was sure it was lightning. Lady said it was just the new Christmas lights but since I was keeping them up at 1:45 am she went out and turned them off.

It has been fairly hot for us (in the 30sC and high 80s, low 90sF) so the people are doing the following - start the scary machine about an hour before they think Lady will go to bed. I don't get to go to bed with her as I am too scared. The bad machine runs until Man comes to bed and then he turns it off and opens the windows. It has been cooling down enough so this is working. They also only run it in nights they really need it. Lady says they got it to help them sleep and me pacing around doesn't help improve sleep.

As for the lightning solar lights, Lady went out after dark last night and figured out how to change the setting to not flash. This made them less scary. 

Lady says I am getting soft in my old age. I think she is just introducing horrible things. 

Your very brave pal, Phod

Nature Friday - The Field Spot It and A Celebration

The grass is really long in the field now in places it is nearly as tall as Lady. This means the wildlife can hid.

Lady and Man play spot it before we are allowed in. Sometimes they do spot things like the next 2 pictures show.

For Bertie - see we have the same burrs on this side of the pond too! 

Thanks to Rosy for hosting Nature Friday!

------------------

Now for the Man of the Hour. Happy 9th Gotcha Day Dear Phod!

WTF - by Zaphod

 We had people over last week because we can do that now. At first I was scared but soon I enjoyed them,

One went into the bathroom and came out with . . . 

Then the worst thing happened. They went to my beach without me. They were gone for 87 million hours. I wonder what they were doing?

I see there is a box with a dragon in it. It has been too cold for the dragon to come out yet. I don't think I will like it.

Wordless Wednesday - The Many Roll Faces of Phod

 

Trouble on a Tuesday - Field Explorer - by Lee

 First we start by acknowledging this: 

Now on to the tale.

It started as a nice walk around the field. I was being the best listener. Then Lady called me back because Phod was being pokey.

I caught the scent of something and next thing I knew I was in the field behind the field I am allowed in. This is a farmers field and let me tell you, it has some good deer poop. The Man slide through the fence and got me.

The walk continued well until we got to the barn. I have known something was living there and imagine my surprise when I saw 2 kittens. Man was tying his shoe. Lady, uncharacteristically froze (she says thank you PTSD - you are really inconvenient). Anyway, there was running and yelling and a very angry mother cat, and a kitten in my mouth, who I did not shake or appear to hurt, I just held it. 

Me waiting with Lady

The Man was angry and gave me to Lady while he went to see if he could see the kitten. He couldn't find it. Lady was upset and she thanked me for the opportunity to live with PTSD again. Phod had no idea what was going on and me, I was living my best life.

The field owners, who also own the barn, and Callie's people been told. They are all on alert for kittens. If some of Callie's people have their way, Callie will have a kitty sibling soon. I may not have the same off leash privileges in the field.

Mischief Monday - BANG - A Dramatic Recreation

 Last week we were all sitting downstairs enjoying our shows while a thunderstorm raged outside.

Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and a huge bang which causes us all to jump as we were plunged into darkness.

From the sound, it was clear something behind our house had been hit by lightning. If you have never experienced that type of bang, just know it is something. Man checked for fire out the window and checked with Callie's people who were also in the dark. It turned out it was just our house and their house that had no power. Valium was passed out in our house and then we went to bed.

At about 4:15 am, our yard was illuminated with headlights and men walking around with flashlights. We barked, a lot. Callie's people said they could hear us. Lady and Man weren't angry because it is our job to bark at strangers in the yard in the middle of the night, even if it is the Hydro crew.

About 20 minutes later, the power was restored and instead of calming us, some of us, who are brown and a boy, were very stressed and paced around for an hour. Needless to say we were all a little tired that day, and grateful to have the power back on and that there was no serious damage from the lightning.