Hello Kitty

According to Wikipedia, Hello Kitty is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio.  She is depicted as a female anthropomorphic white Japanese Bobtail cat with a red bow and, notably, no mouth.  I guess we just get to imagine what she is thinking.

I am assuming you can figure out why I went with this blog title.  Hello new kitty.  With all of my new kitty photos, you are going to see a lot of her.  This past week my life has really been focused around her and her care.  She still needs a name, but for now I refer to her as little kitty.

Saturday morning I hustled to get all my pet duties done, including forcing medicine down little kitty's throat.

I quickly headed out the door to work at 8:35, not having time to complete and post last week's blog.  I was slow to get motivated at the pool, but once I went into cleaning mode I kept at it for much of my shift.





There were bugs to skim off the pool, algae to scrub off the sides and bottom, suntan oil adhering to the tile, grass and leaves to sweep off the deck... and then there are also the chairs that get moved out of position, tables with crumbs or drink drips on or under them, and the restrooms to keep up with... the usual.



I walked Maggie as soon as I got home, played with Stevie a few minutes, and then went out on the back screened porch to check on the little kitty.  She was very playful (video), but spent much time sneezing and sniffling, scratching her ears, and shaking her head.  Dead mites and gunk came out and I helped her, using a Kleenex, to clean out her ears.  With the use of a flea comb I removed more than 20 of the dead adults.  I also trimmed her front nails that kept getting caught in things, like the rug and my pants.

I finally laid on the chair pad and read and pet the little kitty when she flopped down by me for some loving.
 
Maggie and Stevie were very curious and maybe a tad jealous.

The cat and dog have only met the kitty through the glass doors because the kitten is in isolation.  I don't want her getting Stevie sick.  For now, they like watching each other.  Stevie growled at first , but now just watches the kitten.

I did take an hour of time to water everything down back.  A bunch of little gnat like bugs kept flying in my face and driving me crazy.  And I think I acquired even more bug bites.

I had been watching to be sure the kitten got the hang of the litter box, which she did with no problem.  Her first two bowel movements had been diarrhea, but late in the day she had a big ole normal looking poop, except it had a bunch of thin spaghetti size worms wiggling in it.  Ewwh, what have I gotten myself into.  I cleaned the litter box so re-infestation wouldn't occur.

So why another cat you might ask, well I wanted another one to keep Stevie company.

When we are gone during the day, Maggie is shut in the mancave or when we are on vacation, Maggie is at the kennel.  I was also looking for a lap cat, but am not sure this new one is going to fit the bill.  She is super affectionate, I think she will greet me when I walk in the door, but she doesn't particularly like to be held, just scratched and petted and to follow others around, a lot like Stevie.


To end the night Saturday, Shirley picked me up and we joined Cheryl and Dan at Legends for dinner and a little bit of dancing.  This 'sock hop' was not near as lively as the one the night before.


Sunday I finished and posted last week's blog.  After Church with Shirley I decided to spend some time hanging out on the porch with kitty, playing, reading, and napping.



I was trying to get her to cuddle with me, but she was more interested in playing.





Eventually she went into her box bed in the dog crate and fell asleep.  I decided the dog and I both needed to walk.  Not five minutes after Maggie and I went out, it started raining.  So we came right back, getting a little wet. 


I went to the gym for an hour to get my exercise.  Home hungry and tired, I ate an early dinner and then, since it had cleared off, took a 90 minute walk with the dog.



I re-vamped the kitten's cage, making an upper level by putting the lid on the litter box and suspending her shoe box bed.  This gives her more play space up top and below.




I slept (camped out) on the back porch for the night.  Again, little kitty wanted to play, not snuggle, while I read.  She ended up going back in her cage to sleep in her cozy bed while I slept near by, listening to the sounds of the woods and pond, and sometimes her sneezing.

Monday I woke with a gentle rain falling on the porch roof.  I wanted to get this blog well under way and spend time with little kitty, so sat with my computer out here, where I ended up moving somewhat permanently for the whole week.

Mamma deer, with her three fawn soon came to visit, sampling some of my shrubbery (video) on the way to the corn.  Once they were done munching on various things, they moved down to the creek for a drink and to romp and play (video).

Because it was a rainy day I had no intention of doing anything outside, but I couldn't even get motivated to go to the gym.  I just watched little kitty play and tried to get her to sit in my lap.  Stevie and Maggie continued to watch from inside the house.


Since little kitty had been on antibiotics for four days, I decided (hoped) her aliments were not contagious to dogs.  She was still scratching at ear mites and fleas, but everything that came off of her was dead.  I still couldn't be sure about some infectious and deadly cat viruses so wouldn't let Stevie near her.


But,  I decided to let Maggie onto the back porch.  Little kitty was immediately interested in the dog.  She had  several kitties and a dog back in the yard where she came from, so I think she was missing animal friends.










They each got acquainted through sniffing (video) and then little kitty wanted to play with Maggie.


For fear that Maggie might get too rough, I told her to lay down and she immediately complied.  She is such a good dog.




Once I was sure Maggie wouldn't get little kitty mixed up with her skunker toy that she repeatedly kills, I allowed her to get up and move about and play gently. 







Little kitty really likes Maggie and wants to be by her... but she is not a fan of sitting on my lap, which I tried to get her to do when she got tired. 😕  She ended up following Maggie around (video), trying to stay close to her, wanting to lie with and play with her.

At times the kitten even tried to boss Maggie around (video).

We three spent most of the day on the back porch together.  I took breaks to walk Maggie when it wasn't sprinkling, got snacks and lunch when hungry, and even took a nap on the porch swing, with little kitty sleeping in her box nearby.




Monday afternoon, Sherri, Michele, and I went to the fair.  We got sprinkled on once but then the rain finally let up for the rest of the night.  Seen left, Sherri and I with Donna and DJ.








We walked around and looked at all the exhibits.  Seen right, this lady was pulling the shedding under coat off this angora rabbit and spinning it into thread.







Then we walked the rides section, looking at and sizing them up.  Michele was interested in trying some out, but Sherri and I, not so much.

Grabbing dinner at an oh - so greasy food booth, we then headed into the grand stands for the Phil Dirt & The Bulldozers concert.  We had heard they played great dancing music and we were ready to rock + roll.


The band wasn't what we expected.  Only a few dancing songs were played and they did a lot of talking and joke telling.  We watched the crowd behind us (seen left) when the band wasn't very entertaining.








The band actually put on more of a show than a concert.  At least they were good musicians and singers.


Joe was home when I arrived, back from his weekend in Iowa.  He shared some photos of the Villhauer reunion.

Tuesday I had considered riding with Jan, but she was leaving so early I just couldn't commit.  Instead, I spent the morning on the porch with little kitty and Maggie.












They are a lot of fun to watch.
I wanted the kitten to bond with me, but she was more interested in the dog.

Maggie was actually trying to stay out of trouble by ignoring little kitty but the kitten was persistent.  I was trying to get little kitty to nap on my lap, but the best I could do was get her in the chair next to me.  I listened to her labored breathing and hoped, wished, and prayed we will get this upper respiratory infection (URI) cleared up, and that it isn't anything more serious.











I worked at the pool from 1:45 - 7:15. 
Once home, I continued reading a Janet Evanovich novel I have been enjoying, while sitting out on the back porch.

I was feeling sorry for Stevie Wednesday morning because I have not spent much time with her.  She continues to watch the action occurring out on the back porch.  And now with Maggie out there with me much of the time, I think Stevie is feeling a bit lonely.  I can't wait for her and the new kitten to meet.  It needs to be at least 10 to 14 days I read, assuming the kitten has nothing worse than a URI.


I finally got the little kitten to sit in my lap!


She was a little squirmy, playful, and rambunctious.  But she did finally, actually settle in and take a nap.




















I love that she fell asleep but hate that her breathing was so labored, and still is (video).

It was well past time to go do something other than sit here with little kitty and Maggie, so I went to the barn.  I collected and tacked Amiga and we hit the trail for the Glade.

We met up with Jan and Cash and had a great ride together.  We ended at Terry's and then I rode Amiga back to Wildwood.  I had been in the saddle almost three hours and could feel the effects when I dismounted.


I replenished with a late lunch and nap on the porch.  Maggie wanted to snuggle with me, but not little kitty.  I continued reading my book and then decided to go to the gym, where I spent 45 minutes lifting and an hour on the elliptical.  I left at the 7 pm closing time.  Joe had driven his motorcycle on the back roads to the fix-it shop to have a broken part replaced.  Then he walked to the poker game.  Frank brought him home, so he was earlier than usual.  I was eating my late dinner of beer and popcorn out on the back porch when he got home.

Thursday the rain from Hurrican Harvey started moving in to the area.











In the morning I took this series of photos of Maggie sharing her ball with little kitty.

The rain and clouds were persistent enough that both outdoor pools were closed at 1 pm, so I did not have to go in for the afternoon shift.



























Maggie is such a good puppy to share with this little brat.
We got a break in the rain so I took Maggie for an hour walk, cutting it close because more precipitation came just as we got home.




Next I went to the gym for the stretch class, which I really needed after all the exercise the day before.

Joe and I ended our day with a tasty, light dinner and a beer outside at the Stonehenge Grill.  It was lovely sitting by the fire pit while waiting for our meal to come. 

Friday the first of September came in like a lion.  Hurricane Harvey's wind hit, the temperature dropped (68 when I got up and it continued to plummet all day) and the rains came down stronger and more persistent.


I was concerned that the cold, damp air would not help with kitty's URI, but did not want to move her inside where her germs might spread.  Stevie would love to get a closer look / smell / contact with this kitten.  But I can't allow it yet.







I thought the kitten could stay warm snuggling with Maggie, 





but she just can't resist playing with the dog.








It was the first day of the (month long) hiking marathon so once there was a break in the rain, Joe, Maggie and I headed out.  But it started sprinkling before we got a half mile down the road.

We did the Seven Bridges trail which included the Library Trail.  Luckily the rain stopped after about ten minutes.  














It is amazing how the moisture really greens up the moss.  When I asked Joe to stop so I could take a photo of this rocky cliff, Maggie jumped (about five feet) up onto it, and I quick snapped this photo.



We had lunch once we got home and then I started on a project, revamping the kitty cage.  I better insulated her bed, added another play box, moved the wood ramp, and added a light to keep her warm.


The kitten was busy playing and inspecting my building materials and work while I labored away.  Maggie also came over to check it out, with the hopes of grabbing a bite of kitten chow while I wasn't looking.


Finally when I was all done, I sat back here at my computer and little kitty fell asleep (for a long time) on my lap.








The temperature was 63 degrees with a strong breeze blowing into the porch when Joe and I left for town.  I had feed kitty the can food with medicine that she always gobbles right up and then tucked her in for the night.

We ate at a hole in the wall place (Joe wanted to show me where one of his games is at).  The atmosphere was not great but the food was good.  Then we went to the theater and watched Sister Act.  Our seats were in the second row.  The show was very enjoyable.










It was 62 degrees and little kitty was asleep under the heat lamp when we got home at 11 pm.  Fall is in the air.