Tuesday, July 12, 2011

saying goodbye.



Besides the photos a few days ago, it's been a while since I've updated you on the status of the kittens.  Now seems like the ideal time to fill you in on the goings ons, as we recently said our first goodbyes to two of our little ones.

When Momma Cat happened into our lives in May, we weren't exactly thrilled.  We were greeted (or chosen, shall we say) by a cat with a bulging tummy and, quite honestly, we weren't terribly excited about the prospect of having kittens.  Our negative perspectives changed, however, a few days later whilst the kittens arrived into the world.  Suddenly there were all these small, cute, mysterious little creatures with eyes closed and ears not yet opened.  What interesting little beings.



Watching them develop over the next few weeks was incredibly fascinating.  During the first four weeks of their lives, our jobs as humans were insanely easy.  We really didn't have to do anything besides feed the mom and clean the bedding every-other day.  Momma Cat took care of everything else herself, but we watched and celebrated as their eyes opened up, and later as they took their first daring steps out of the box.



Once we reached the four week point, that's when things really started to change.  Potty-training incurred, wet food became the new primary food source and the furniture became subject to anxious claws....  As the weeks progressed, I've done mass loads of laundry as some devilish culprit continues to pee on the couch and bathroom rug without witness.   It's been an interesting ride.





Last week, we discovered we actually had 2 boys--not just one, like we had thought.  Who knows how that flew under the radar for so long...



On Sunday, the kittens reached 10 weeks of age and we said goodbye to both boy kitties at once.  Our neighbor Caroline took one for herself, which she named "Keçi," which I believe is Turkish, meaning "Goat."  "Ned", the other boy kitty, is moving to Connecticut with Caroline's mom.  One by one, our little babies will be leaving us over the next few weeks.  There's one little girl without a promised home, which we're tenatively planning on keeping ourselves.

It's such a bittersweet time for us, having said our first good-byes.  Momma Cat has been meowing for her little boy kitties incessantly since they left.  Searching the house over and over.  Calling for them to come out of their hiding places.  I shed a few tears immediately after closing the door as Caroline carried Ned & Keçi out in their crates.  It feels like the house is a little emptier now without their crazy kitty personalities around.  Soon enough two more of them will be leaving us and I can only imagine how difficult that is going to be.  But, I'm truly happy that they're going to good homes with people who will love them and give them happy lives.


They grow up so fast, don't they.....



Monday, July 11, 2011

in living color.


After a pleasant and la-di-da Sunday spent eating out and exploring Valley Forge National Park with Christopher, the week seems to be getting off to a busy start.  Busy, that is, compared to my normal schedule.  I have three new piano students starting lessons this week and, as it's been a few months since I've had any new students, I find myself with lots of anxious feelings this morning.  As I spent my morning hours preparing, photo-copying sheets and trying to organize my thoughts and ideas on what constitutes a "good" first lesson, I feel those same anxious feelings that I always have when I'm preparing to meet new people.  People are always such a mystery.  How am I supposed to prepare materials for a piano lesson when I don't even know who the person is yet?  This is always a conundrum for me.

Anyway, we had a great Sunday afternoon yesterday.  These photos aren't from yesterday, but rather from recent explorations.  The first one is an "outtake" from a recent photo shoot I did for Cuddle Magic, who has a new (AMAZING) album coming out in a few months.  The second photo is from the street behind our house, which always seems to have interesting little things to take photos of.  It's where I took this photo in the fall.  And I have a few more from this very street to share with you sometime soon.


I have another kitty blog post in the works for tomorrow.  The excessive kitty posts will be coming to a sort-of close over these next few weeks as we begin to say our good-byes and pass them on to their new homes.  As a courtesy, and as a means of avoiding two kitty posts in a row, I thought I'd throw this post in the midst of it.  I was trying to come up with a recipe post for today instead, but since we ate out twice yesterday (gasp!) there weren't any recipes or food photos to share.... ha!

Well, here's hoping that everyone has nice week ahead.  Thanks for your patience with this assortment of thoughts I've shared with you today.