Thankful Thursday

 Today, I am thankful for the tall wooden fence around the backyard.

OK, that's an old pic before the underbrush grew back and I improved the yard a lot.  But it's the best pic I have.

I built it myself.  Had some fence interns to drill holes and cement in posts, but I did all the rest of it.  And I had a good reason to build it.

A couple of years after I moved here, a couple walked their dog along the street.  We struck up a conversation and they seemed friendly enough.  Then my cat Tinkerbelle came out front.  The guy immediately unleashed the dog and said "sic her".  I was stunned.  I wanted to beat the guy to a pulp, but Tinkerbelle's safety was more important.  I ran to the tree she climbed up, kicked the dog a couple times (just enough to drive it away).

When I ran back to the front yard, the couple had vanished and I didn't see the dog around either.  So I calmed Tinkerbelle enough to climb down the tree and get inside.  But there were other larger and meaner dogs loose in the neighborhood.

So I decided to build the fence. My yard slopes slightly, so I decided on a 6' tall step-down fence.  That means every 8' section was level at the top but a diffent height from the adjacent sections.  And it was a shadow-box fence.  Which means boards alternating on each side so that wind could pass through.  This a clearer example of one...

Took all Summer...  400' feet of it.  But it meant a place where the cats could wander, free of threats from dogs.  I have always been glad I built it.  Some of The Mews have been able to get on the top.  All have recognized it as the border of our territory.  Very infrequently, some have hopped over, but they didn't stay out for long.  They knew where "safe" was.  Mostly, just sat on top.

Sad but sort of funny story.  The first time my parents visited after that, Dad (mechanical engineer and wood-worker) looked at the fence for a few minutes.  He finally pointed to one section and said "That one isn't level".  No comment about the effort to build it.  No "nice work".  Just a single criticism. 

He was always like that.  I suppose he thought that a word of approval would have discouraged me from "trying hard".  Oh well, he's gone now and I'm still here.  😄

Anyway, I'm thankful for the fence.  I've seen large dogs up against it barking at The Mews.  But they can't get in at them, so it was worth the effort.

Caturday Saturday

LAZ:   Lori and I went fence-walking.  TBT has sometimes seen one or the other of us doing it...

But never both together!

Its the evil skwerls.  They are chasin each other around the trees (trying to make little skwerls) and they are a bit distracted.  We are hoping ta surprize one!

Flashback Friday

This week in  2011 was an Ayla week.  She was "almost 4" then.

A skilled huntress.

No mousies were safe when she was outside.

She found them anywhere,

The least twig-rustle and she homed in...

And she always found one.

Wearing her favorite bloo collar.

Sometimes she caught several.

But when she didn't, she ruled the yard!

And kept sniffing,

She got one!  And then levitated to the top of the 6' fence.

Enjoyed her snack

And settled down to watch the world,

It takes an agile cat to settle down on the 2 of a 2x4 fencetop.

But she loved it.

She loved watching the neighbor's yard.

More skwerrals  there.

And the fencetop was her sanctuary then.  

Now it is the bathroom windowsill.

Saturday Introoder

LAZ:   I am brave!  I was outside and saw an introoder cat walking OUR fence.  And Ive learned that the fence means "our yard".  Marley protects our yard, so I do too.  I jumped up behind it and "escorted" it along until it went out of our yard!  

TBT saw, but hesitated to run out with the camera in case I went the wrong way over the fence.  So no pics.  An I almost did.  Thats when he called me.  I REALLY didnt wanna come in but I did.  His call has a strange demand on me.

I came running in.  He is amazed watching me run.  I crash into stuff on the way, slide around on the deck, and bounce off the deck deck side move the door mat feet away, and stop in the bedroom!

My tail was in full poof, but I kept pacing around inside the house and TBT couldn't get a pic of that until I had unpoofed.  

Marley had been out on the deck watching.  It may have been a test, but I KNOW he would have run out if I had had a problem.  He followed me inside and licked my head when I finally stopped trotting around the house.  

And he said I did good!  That meant a lot.  I love my Big Brother Marley.  He teaches me a lot of things.  Like the other day when I jumped off the fence into a shrub.  I thought it would slow down the fall (Im not used ta jumping off the fence) and he said there are pointy parts of them and I could get stabbed.  I hadn't thought of that.

So this time I jumped down to an open spot.  Well, I've only been outside before fer 2 moons.  So I pay attention to Marley.  He's 10!

Annyway, I got lots of crunchies and all the wet Stinky Tuna Goodness I wanted!

Twofur Tuesday

LAZ:   I'm allowed out more often lately.  Apparently, it matters if Marley goes out too.

TBT likes it when Marley goes out at the same time.

I don't mind that.  Marey is good ta be around.  He really knows where the yard is and I'm still learning.  Apparently the big wood fence matters.  I went over it and couldn't get back recently.  Marley yelled at me until TBT realized I was "over".  I may have mentioned that before, but being  on the wrong side on the wood fence meant I was in strange territory and TBT had ta take a piece off so I could return.  

I mean, all the smells were wrong people.  And I sure don't want ta be around wrong people again.

So I stay around Marley, usually. 

There is plenty to explore where he says is "ours".

Still explorin "ours".

Flashback Friday

Today is from today 2010.  I did some outside.

I had a desire for mousies...  And not stepping on those sweet gumball pricklies.  They were everywhere.

I didnt find any, but enjoyed sitting on the fence looking around.

It was still too cold for mousies in daytime...

Flashback Friday

MARLEY:  OK we are today in 2012, 6 years ago.  I was looking at the fence.

The other side was "interesting".

But that IS a long way up and I'm standing on something.   TBT was telling me it would be harder getting back.  That I would have to come in from the FRONT yard.  And that is a scary place even if TBT is standing there with the door open.  I did that once and dint like it.  My tail was all poofified. which is never good

And he said he had treats inside.  Well, maybe I would try the fence some other time...

Werdless Wensday

Fence Fun

MARLEY:  First, we wanna thank evryone who came to our belated Bologoversary Pawty.  It was a huge success - TBT is STILL cleanin up from it!

Second, I got up on the fence today.  I CAN easily enough, I just dont very often.  Its more Ayla's territory than mine.

Fergive the blurry pictures.  TBT was takin them from far away an I was running some.

I have ta think about jumpin down from these posts.  Thats a pretty skinny top.  Ayla goes up an over them like a skwerl.  I dont know how she does it!

In fact, I dont even wanna go over that next one.  I think I'll just sit here an enjoy the view into the woods...

Although, there is something about that tree that makes me want ta jump over onto it.  But Ive never climbed a tree and it probly isnt the best idea ta start from UP on one.  Ayla says gettin DOWN is trickier than getting up.

Mebbe some OTHER time...

Friday Fence Fun

AYLA:  I had a nice time up on the fence again yesserday.

Alone, this time...

But it was a bit cold.  And windy!

So I went back in after about 10 minnits.

Mancat Monday

MARLEY:    With added Ayla...

Ayla doesnt go outside all that often anymore.  But when she does, I like to  chase her.  Its OK, I know she is just going to the top of the fence and I dont actally try to CATCH her.  Its just that she is a bit small, and I cant help feeling like I should chase small things when outside.

Um, that isnt making me look too good here, is it?

OK, let me put this another way.  When Ayla DOES go out these days, she makes a beeline fer the top of the fence whether anyone chases her or not.  Thats just where she likes to sit.  She may not climb the trees annymore, but she still likes high places.  An iffen the top of the fence is now her "high place" thats fine with me too.

Cuz I can join her there...

BTW, iffen Ayla looks in an odd position, thats cuz she has this odd habit of sittin with her back legs up high on somethin and the rest of her lower.  She does the same thing on TBT at night.

Annyway, I was keepin her company on the top of the fence and she sad she dint mind.  So there we are.

Sorry it wasnt a great picture, but TBT was about a mile away an using the maximum zoomie, and at evening.

AYLA:  I am seriously annoyed that Marley can get up on the top of the fence, but at least its not Iza.  Marley is a good brofur.  We talked about TBT together in front of his back.  We both chuckled.

But Id still rather be up here by myself...    I MAY have to start lookin at climbin those big trees again.

Caturday Saturday

The Big Thing here:  Funny story but no pictures...  Ayla went out (as she rarely does)  and went straight up the west side fence (as she does WHEN she goes out).  I was going in and out, so I generally knew where she was sitting.  But then I lost track of her.

Well, the tricorner back yard with the neighbors is kind of wild and she does like to prowl around in there sometimes.  She always comes back over the west fence when I call her.

So I called her.  Imagine my surprise when I saw her on the east fence!  She was up on the top of the fence and COULD have just hopped down and come into the house from there.  But NO!  Apparently habits matter to her. 

She had to hop down outside the yard, run around the front of the house (which she usually HATES), climb UP the west fence side and THEN hop down and run into the house...

I'm still laughing...