Denny & the Dove

Every year - several times a year - this dove and her mate build a nest in the rain gutter off the balcony. She's somewhat protected since most of the weather moves in from the northwest this time of year and she gets a little protection from the eave of the balcony roof.

At least once a year, the eggs are lost to a big storm that prevents her from warming the eggs & ultimately washes the nest out. It's heartbreaking to watch because she is one tough dove and endures some difficulties to keep her eggs safe. I've seen her sitting on those eggs in terrible rain storms.

So Toni & Ray made me some special "dove gables" to place under the eave of the balcony, but I didn't get them hung in time for this hatching. Here she is back in the rain gutter.

Since she's out there in the elements, I was worried about the rain/sleet/snow on Tuesday so that morning I took some bird seed and cotton nest liner and hung it in easy reach of her nest. Denny goes out on that balcony every morning when I make the bed, so of course he went outside.

I went about my business and maybe 3 or 4 hours later I'm working away in my office and keep hearing a faint meowing. So I did a "cat count" and realized that I hadn't seen Denny in a while. Looked all over and then it hit me ... he had been locked out on the 2nd floor balcony IN THE COLD ... for hours!

He was like a little kitty Popsicle when I let him in, but seemingly no worse for the wear! Ms. Dove is still sitting on her eggs ... I'll post pictures of the baby doves if I can catch a shot of them.

How the Old Cats Roll

When you're 22 years old - 105 in human years - but still have an independent streak, you need your own set of "chair stairs". Little uses his stairs every morning when he climbs up to nap in the big chair or on the ottoman with Elvis.

Easing down ...

Almost there ...

Kick it at the end! The fur hasn't grown back yet on his little shaved foot.

The "Good Cat"

Everyone knows about Elvis ... he is our "Kramer" ... the hipster-dufus of the cat world. Then there's Denny - smart, determined, a rule following good cat.

Look at this sweet face ...

So I'm on the phone a week or two ago and walk into the kitchen and see THIS ...

I'm telling him to get down, I'm yelling. I guess the camera in my hand was a clue that I couldn't do anything to him - he's clearly unconcerned.

He's on his way down in this shot ... onto the refrigerator ... onto the cabinet ... down to the floor. I hate to even think about what goes on in this house when I'm not here!

Friday Night Lights

... uh ... sort of.

Jeff coaches girls varsity soccer at Clear Brook in addition to teaching and heading up the math department. His team is (was) undefeated and played a big game against Clear Lake on Friday night.

Jerry and I bundled up and headed for Friendswood to F-R-E-E-Z-E in the damp and windy weather and support the team. I think we might have put the big kibosh on the season by just showing up - the lady Wolverines lost 4-0. They played hard but were up against a very athletic team and one deaf, dumb & blind official.

Brady had a blast, playing on the bleachers and eating the M&Ms his Grandpa bought him at the concession stand. Here they are discussing game strategy. Or M&Ms.

On a Lighter Note ...

Here are some photos of my little goof-balls hanging around the house this week. Needless to say, the new gas logs are appreciated by the felines! Denny thinks this is almost a good as baking his brains out on the balcony in Galveston in the heat of the summer.

You have to look closely to see what's happening in this photo - it's kind of spooky. Elvis is playing with one of his toy mice and you can see his glowing eyes reflecting off the floor. He gets a little wild when he plays "mousy"!

Ike is enjoying an afternoon in the living room. The other boys are cruising around, but they don't bother each other. Of course, we do not leave them unsupervised.

This is actually Ike's "pack 'n play" kennel. When I'm going to be home all day, I set it up in my office so he can come down and hang out with us while I work. Elvis - who believes that the world revolves around him - thinks this is HIS kennel and HIS bed so he makes himself at home the second Ike goes back to his room. If I had put him in this "cage" he would be throwing a fit, but since it's his idea he goes in there every chance he gets!

Here is my beautiful, sweet (at the moment) Elvis.

"Smile When You Say That"

This is a very long post and I'll start by saying that my vet - Dr. Carlye Rose at Memorial 610 Animal Hospital - is a wonderful vet. When Jim, my vet of about 16 years, had to move his clinic to make way for the freeway construction we switched to Memorial 610 and met Dr. Rose. She treats all types of animals but sort of specializes in cats - she's very open and offers honest assessments of your situation and we've been through a few "situations".

She set-up the thyroid treatment for Little at the Gulf Coast Vet Specialists (a 10 day extravaganza where they "nuked" his thyroid and he couldn't come home until he was no longer radioactive) and she coached me through the last months of Big's life. On his last day, she was the third corner of our "triangle hug" as we ushered Big onto the rainbow bridge. She treated the Maine Coon boys through their crazy-kitten related injuries (Elvis "crispy-paw" Brewer, the hematoma on his ribs, etc.) and agreed to take in Ike during the storm.

I say all this because she's been with us through thick and thin and I trust her. So Little hadn't felt well for a week or so and last Tuesday - Groundhog Day - we went to Dr. Rose for his 6 month check-up. I was expecting pretty bad news and got some. He'd had several accidents outside his box in the last week and, sure enough, had another bladder/kidney infection. She explained this is a normal course of events for old people and cats because as the kidneys are less efficient, the environment becomes more conducive for infection. We've been through this off and on for years - nothing new except there is a fantastic new antibiotic shot that lasts for 10 - 14 days and requires no follow-up meds for basic infections.

The new issue for Little is high blood pressure. Good BP for a cat is 124 (they only use the "top number" in cats) and Little's was 200. Not good. They said this high blood pressure was likely causing bad headaches, nausea, and diminished vision. She checked his eyes and said she couldn't see any permanent damage, but time would tell. Damage to other organs can happen with BP of 180. She prescribed BP meds - 1/4 of a tablet that humans take.

I told her that I needed to understand WHY I was going with this treatment ... was I keeping him comfortable or dragging out the inevitable? She said, just like with the SubQ fluids, I was keeping him comfortable on the natural march toward the inevitable. With tears in my eyes, I reminded her that he turned TWENTY TWO years old in January. Without missing a beat, she looked at me (tears in her eyes) and said "smile when you say that ... it's an accomplishment." And she is right.

So off we went. Sad about the new turn of events. Not knowing how Little would respond to the medicine - or IF he would respond. And trying to smile when I think about all the days in 22 years that Little has been a part of our lives. I prayed that God's will - and Little's will - be done. This sounds bad, but I stopped praying "let him live" a few years ago because I thought it was selfish. I'm in it for him at this point - it's between Little and God.

Since this was the anniversary of Ruth's death, Jerry and I decided to head to the east end and eat dinner at the Dinner Bell on Lawndale. Meatloaf, black-eyed peas & fried okra with a piece of Chocolate cream pie in honor of Ruth! We drove around the neighborhoods where Jerry lived as a child. Some of the places were still there and some had been torn down ... interesting evolution of the neighborhoods.

When we got back to the house, Little was sleeping in his heated bed in my office. Looking at him it seemed he already felt better from the antibiotic shot, but the complete lab work wouldn't be ready for several days. First dose of BP meds went well and he ate his late dinner like a champ. Wednesday morning, Jerry said "he's walking better" and it did seem he was staging yet another come-back. I had meetings that day and when I returned to the house I couldn't find him. Mild panic after searching the entire downstairs. Went to the bedroom to change out of my suit and saw him napping comfortably in his bed. Could not believe he had gone up the stairs by himself.

Next two days he continued to improve, but I was waiting on the complete lab work to learn the TRUE condition of his internal working parts. Dr. Rose reported in on Friday morning that she was very pleased with his blood work. Once again, he has defied the odds. Everything normal except he's slightly anemic and there's a slight decrease in kidney function - which we already knew about. God and Little are a strong team!

Here he is drinking from his fountain ... a favorite activity.

Jealous Denny watching out the window ...

Ditto for Elvis ... "why does he get to go out?"

Little surveying the freeze damage in the front flowerbed. Enjoying the sunshine and getting a little exercise.

Heading back inside ...

Cruising around the house.

Remembering Ruth

One year ago today, my mother-in-law Ruth Brewer passed away at the age of 94. She was an amazing woman who enjoyed great health until the last few weeks of her life and was always surrounded by a loving family. It's comforting to know that she's at peace - in her version of heaven ... Winnsboro, Texas.

Ruth loved sunflowers & they were a good match for her sunny personality.

The Brewer clan at Shady Grove (2/05/09)

The Brewer/Jarred Family cousins (2/05/09)

My favorite photo of Ruth, Jerry & Norma - taken at her 90th Birthday party (5/02/04)

Jerry & Ruth - outside the little church at Shady Grove - taken during one of our many HOT journeys to Winnsboro to participate in the annual "memorial service" tradition. (8/10/03)

Another shot from Shady Grove with Ruth, Jerry and nieces Kathy & Betty and nephew Don Ray (8/10/03)

No tribute would be complete without including a photo of her constant companion during the years she lived with the Luther's. She and Cutler became fast friends and spent lots of time together outside in the sunshine!

So today, raise a glass of Dr. Pepper - with LOTS of ice - and celebrate Ruth Brewer and a life well lived. Godspeed Ruth.