Saturday, December 18, 2010

Christmas Kittens, Oh My!


Back in late October (or early November), our smallest cat Fiona got out while we visited our friend Mar ... when we got home, it was a dark, moonless night -- and only 3 cats greeted us. We went through the house, calling her name, no answering mews. I went out the front, Joy went out the back, and we called again. She said she heard Fiona, so I came out back with a flashlight -- and spotted two orange eyes waaay up the tree, near the roof. Now it was tuna time order to lure her down ... and, a month later, Fiona looked like she'd swallowed a melon ... and the melon was growing larger and larger.

(pictured -- Fiona's outside cousin)
We eventally started putting her in the big cat carrier to sleep ... but Friday morning Joy took a nap without locking Fiona in the box ... and she woke up to -- you guessed it!! A wet spot and 2 little "meeps." I called at noon, and all 6 were in the box. One tuxedo, 3 red and whites, 1 grey with white socks, and (maybe) a Siamese cross. None are calicos like their mother ... I suspect that every male cat -- well, at least the 2-3 that I know hang around -- mated with her. If they survive, we must ask friends, family, and faire folk: anyone want a kitty?
These kitties will be fur folk, since their two-legged caregivers have handled them since they were less than 24 hours old ... and Fiona seems to have taken to motherhood, unlike Pitti-sing who ignored her offspring. Sadly, the beautiful Lady Orchid is not alive to become their "aunt." She loved taking care of kittens, whether her own or another's. The rest of the cats -- Skittles, Margot, and Bojangles -- aren't sure how to react to this noisy sextet.
On a different note -- I'm done with school for 2010!! Amazingly, I did not kill or put the beatdown on any students, even my annoying males. (Believe me, I have some silly boys who wanna be men in my classes!) 8th period got candy, even though they didn't deserve it ... well, to quote Hamlet, "If we got what we deserved, which one of us would escape whipping?" The fire alarm wailed at 4 o'clock ... and we escorted the kids out. They're getting accustomed to the routine, so they knew the drill. It's a legal way to force everyone out of the building without arguments ... those come when kids want to get back inside. (They'd better have a pass!)
This morning is the last ballet class for 2010 ... I'm behind in tuition, so I'll find the DVD-player TV for a down payment ... House taxes, alas, come first. "Mundane matters are such a bother!!" she declares in a very posh accent. Then, I get to work on thank you gifts for a doll donation and Joy's Christmas owls. Later, when we set up the printer, I get to print off the minac for a tiny fantasy APA that we've rejoined. Those NaNoWriMo novels can be dusted off and others can read them.
Have a blessed Christmas -- and enjoy the holidays if you don't celebrate Christmas itself.


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