Shaggy's Feeling Poorly

I'm a bit down & out these last couple days.
I have wet, runny poopies and my tummy hurts.
We've been eating our new foods for about 3 weeks now so mom doesn't think that's what causing it.

Scooby had the sneezes for a few days earlier this week, so maybe I caught something from him.
Isn't it great when brothers share?
I'm gonna rest & take it easy and try to avoid going to the v-e-t!

Zolie Emerges

Well who's this?
It's our outside feral cat Miss Zolie a few days ago, after winter came back, emerging from our garage where she spends the winter.
She has food and water in the garage but now that the weather is getting milder and melting she has started coming around to the back deck where we feed her, and her kittens when she has them, the rest of the year.

She's so beautiful, and mom longs to pet her, but she just will not allow it. Any move in her direction has her scampering for a hiding spot.
Dad can get a little closer but not mom. He thinks it's because mom steals her babies and Zolie doesn't trust her. She feeds her twice a day, but trust her???? No way!
We're glad this hard winter is over and she can enjoy the weather, but it also means she will be "taking walks" and coming home packing kittens in her belly, and mom will have to capture them when they are old enough to be taken to the shelter.
Isn't she beautiful?!

Our Friend Edsel and his Mom Sue

Many of you long time bloggers will remember our dear friend Edsel in the mitten state of Michigan. Several of you have been wondering if they are ok, leaving comments on Edsel's final blog post of last June.

If you remember, his momma, Sue, had a brain tumor that was removed in June of 2006.
Last spring a couple black spots showed up on her brain x-rays and it was thought the tumor was trying to re-grow. She endured much chemotherapy with the terrible side effects that go along with it. She also took another IV drug that stops blood flow to the fast growing tumor cells.

Our mom and Sue were friends, emailing back & forth nearly every day. Then last fall Sue suddenly stopped communicating. In November her husband contacted us with the news that she has developed Alzhiemer's disease and has had a rapid decline into dementia. It is thought the radiation to her head prior to her surgery and/or the IV drug triggered it.
Currently she is in the mid-to-late second stage of Alzheimer's. She is only 58.
Her husband tells mom that Edsel is taking good care of her. He always was the anchor in her life, and now he is by her side constantly. Edsel also has a sister-kitty named Casey and together their purr therapy is very important to her.

Please join us in offering your purrs for Susan, her husband Steven, and Edsel & Casey.
What a horrible disease, robbing people of their lives as it does.
Their caregivers are truly heroic.

Mom can provide details for those friends who want to know more. Leave us a message in the comments and she will contact you.

More Storm Pictures

The snow was so deep at the end of the driveway after the plow went through mom couldn't pull in. Seriously. It was up to her knees.
And not fluffy stuff either. Heavy & wet.



Here's our nice neighbor Glen snowblowing us out.





And the best picture of all!
Scout tried to sneak out while mom was taking a picture and he left cute little kitty prints before he turned tail and ran inside!

What the He-double hockey sticks!

Well, it IS March.
It can actually be the snowiest month here in Minnesota with spring snowstorms not an uncommon event. Everyone here has heard of "tournament snowstorms."
What with 80+ inches getting in the record books this winter, two days ago the weather people said the snowcover was officially down to "zero". Finally.
Our area got hit a bit heavier and we still had piles of it here & there, but the middle of the yard was open.
Today.
This.
Again.
Mom says her trip last month to Phoenix is a distant memory.
Except for her tan she can hardly believe she was there. It must have been a dream.

All Melty

Everything is getting all soft and melty outside and the snow is disappearing fast. But when you get 80+inches it takes awhile.
Especially in the back yard which faces north.

We are disappointed in our people.
They have been running all hither and yon this week and suppertime has ended up being 9 or 10pm some nights! Unacceptable!
She says we can well afford to skip some meals because apparently we are fat! That woman is always talking about diets!
She is interested in looking into a raw food diet, but she's not sure how we'll go for it since we totally ignored it a few years ago when she tried. She says she didn't do the transition right and gave up too easily back then, and will be more patient this time around. We've been eating grain free for the last two weeks, and if raw doesn't work she will for sure stick to that. Scooby's coat is flaky & itchy and she suspects allergies.
She is studying the videos and info on our friend Attie Cattie and Audrey's bloggie. They just made the transition to raw medallions.
Sigh.
-Shaggy

Sink Time

I love drinking from the faucet.
I'll try to lead mom down the hall and jump up on the counter so she will turn it on for me.




Shaggy likes to try but he isn't an expert at it like I am and he leaves me alone with it after a short time.

-Scooby

V-E-T Visit

What do you mean I can't get back into it?
When we were at home I didn't want to get in and you made me!
Now that I actually want to go in, you won't let me!!

Yes, that's me at the v-e-t office.
My yearly check up was overdue and I thought she'd forget about it but they send out these reminder cards to make sure she remembers so I had to go today.

Actually it went ok. The worst part was sitting on mom's lap trembling because I was pretty nervous and there were woofies in the next room.
They didn't probe my spot 13 but stole my bloods. And I got shot too.
Dr. Rich (his name not his financial status) squeezed me and looked at my choppers and they are fine.
Mom said I've been slowing down now that I am ten and seem a bit sore when walking and going down on my haunches so they talked about arthritis supplements. I'm not going to take any now (hooray) but she's going to keep an eye on me and see how I do. If I need them and they help, well, that's ok.
-Scooby

The People Are Back

Mom & Dad are home from a very nice vacation in Phoenix.
The first couple days were chilly enough for jackets but the rest of the 10 days was 75/78 every day. They are relaxed and tanned. Dad played lots of golf and mom spent much time by the pool at the resort with her books having beautiful retreat time. She loaded her Kindle before leaving but also took some regular books she'd been saving for vacation. She reports that the Kindle is perfect for the plane.
While we were unable to blog, she followed your blogs on her smartphone which by the way is well named because it is waaayyy smarter than she is!

Mom missed us terribly, and while we have forgiven her absence now, we were a bit standoffish towards them when they got home. Mom's all "cuddle cuddle" and we're "where the heck have you been." After 10 days we thought we were having to deal with a new reality with no people and food once a day from the sitter.

While mom is glad to be home with us, she is happy to get back to routine and so relaxed that the snow isn't bothering her (at least for the time being!)