More views of trees

Here are two farther-out views of the Linehan house with their new trees in the front yard. They're less visible from a distance, but it won't be long before they show up well. There is also a nice big planting bed around them in case Anne wants to put some flowering plants in there or whatever.

Camera

I'm sure glad I got the digital camera when I did -- and took as many pictures of Indy as I did. Actually, I wish I had gotten more, but often, when she was doing something interesting, I didn't move fast enough. There are still lots of good ones I did get, though, including the movies I made of her playing with the mechanical mouse. I wish I knew how to post those short movies here.

Anne's new trees make good camera-learning exercises. Here is a photo with Kira showing off the new trees. Eventually, these four trees (two loblolly pines, a live oak, and a Drummond red maple) should make wonderful shade for the front of their house (which faces southwest), especially in summer.

My next picture-taking foray will be to try to capture some of the incredible wildflowers that have appeared in The Woodlands in the past couple of weeks. It's just wonderful -- especially when we are driving and come across a whole swath of bluebonnets.

Sad day

Indy's gone. I can't express how sad that makes me, but at least I had the presence of mind not to let it all drag out too long. It's so tempting to try to make them feel better and keep them with us longer, but in the end, that's just not right.

She was an amazing cat, and I'll miss her forever. =(

Geriatric cats

Pluto and Indy are the longest-lived cats I've ever had. Both were born in 1991, Indy in April and Pluto in August. Pluto was such a happy, funny guy -- all he wanted Indy to do was to play with him, but she (Miss Priss that she was) wouldn't have anything to do with him. Lots of hissing and growling on her part in those days. Pluto's normal weight during his adulthood was around 16-17 pounds. And I have to repeat that he was funny! Such a kick most of the time.

Then he got sick sometime during February or March, 2003. I wasn't aware of it at first because it was so subtle, but I should have been paying attention to the weight loss. By April, he had lost ¼th of his normal weight, and by August he was down to about 8 pounds. After umpteen dollars at two veterinarians' offices, and precious few answers, I finally had to decide to euthanize him. Thankfully, my friend Midge bailed me out. I knew what needed to be done, but just couldn't do it myself. He did live 12 years, though, and had great fun the whole time, even (for a while) after he was clearly not a healthy boy.

These pictures were all taken in California -- Indy's classic portrait photo that I just love. Two of Pluto -- on the table as a healthy cat and one taken in July, 2003, when he was really sick and had lost almost half his normal weight.

To go through this again is awful, but I'm not letting months go by before having Indy checked out. Of course, she has never weighed much over 10 pounds in her whole life. So we're off to the vet this morning to see what we can learn. I hope it's something simple (but I'm afraid it's not). I want us to be able to celebrate her 15th birthday this coming April.

Indy and her toys

Indy went for several weeks without being too interested in her peacock feathers. The toy mouse that has been shaken around in the catnip bag has been MUCH more fun! Also, I moved the mechanical mouse into the computer room, and she will even play with it when it's turned off. Silly baby!

But a new peacock feather piqued her interest a few nights ago. The old ones were in terrible shape -- all bitten and bent and broken. The new one is still in decent shape, but I think she'll need another new one in about two or three more days.

On with the play ...