The Cat's Meow

 

The newest residents of The County Line are the cat's meow. Literally.

On November 3, Randy added two new kitties to our farmstead. While we've sometimes been overrun with cats, the population had been severely depleted. Randy spent some time on area humane society websites, looking for new feline friends.

Randy has a particular affinity for yellow kitties. You might remember Big Cat, who was a favorite around here for a long time. 

Big Cat - May he rest in peace.

Randy's newest yellow kitties were adopted from the Golden Belt Humane Society in Great Bend on November 3.

 

 They are Carat ...

 

And A Boy Named Sue. As you might suspect, there's a story behind Sue's name. Susan and Brent gave Randy money to adopt a kitty for his 70th birthday. Hence - A Boy Named Sue.

The girls got to meet them during Christmas.

They are fitting right in ... at least, in Randy's estimation.

Sue

 Most days, they are good for some evening TV viewing ... at least, for awhile.

Carat & Randy

Randy was glad to welcome them to the menagerie, but one of the older cats was less welcoming. 

That cat decided that there was no vacancy in the Igloo Inn.

As the weather got colder, the kitties discovered the area between the back steps and the house.

 

They certainly aren't the first ones to find that cozy sleeping spot. Randy even purchased a cozy rug for the space. 

Kitties from the past - Salt and Pepper

We had done some looking in pet stores and farm stores for another igloo or small cat abode, but they were more expensive than Randy wanted to spend.

But I decided that I'd buy one for a Christmas gift for Randy. Unfortunately, the box that arrived on the back porch was clearly marked "Cat House." So I skipped the wrapping paper, and Randy put it together before Christmas.

 

 We texted the kids with our new cat apartment complex.

 Little did I know at the time that Brent and Susan had the same gift idea for Randy. 

 

As the kids say, we now have a cat compound.  

Word on the street must have spread among the cat community that the County Line now has deluxe apartments. On Friday, January 2, one of our long-lost cats showed back up. 

We're not sure whether it's Will or Avery. Since it was the day that the NCAA portal opened up again, Eric said we should say it's Avery, in hopes that K-State's quarterback Avery Johnson would stay put. (He did!) However, Randy's pretty sure it's Will.

Will seemed to be in great shape. We can't believe how big he's gotten. Randy says he either found another family to mooch from or he's an excellent hunter.  

 

Will definitely remembered the routine. Randy would let him in the back door and he'd immediately go to the loveseat in the living room, where he'd curl up with his favorite human to do things like watch Jeopardy!

The text thread with the kids gave us lots of laughs. Brent said:

"Would pay for a ticket to a documentary that tracked Will's actions for the months he's been away and what made him do a Homeward Bound." 

 It came complete with a snippet of Homeward Bound, one of Brent's favorite childhood movies.

But, Will was gone again on Sunday. As Randy said:

"I guess Will hit the transfer portal."

Well ... the saga continues. On Monday, Will returned. 

I need a scorecard ... kind of like college sports these days.

60 Reasons to Love the Halloween Weekend

60 reasons to love the Halloween weekend:  I could easily share 60 photos from the Halloween weekend. I could share double that number. I took 138 photos, to be exact. But loading 60 photos into the blog would make everyone's computer run too slowly. And, let's face it. With a 3 year old and a 14 month old involved, there were a fair number of outtakes anyway.

But there were definitely 60 reasons to celebrate!

1. First of all, we got to celebrate Randy's 60 years on October 30.

 

2. The kids and granddaughters were home for an extended weekend.

3. We got 0.75" of rain on Randy's birthday. It was the best present possible.

Nephew Derek, son-in-law Eric, niece Abby, Jill, Randy & Brent

Randy & his "much younger" sister, as Kathy would like everyone to know!

4 through 44 or so. We celebrated with lots of friends and family.

45. There were party hats and noisemakers, two essential party ingredients, according to the 3 year old, who helped me shop for decorations.

46. There were balloons, a hit with the 14 month old.

47. We had family photos taken bright and early Saturday morning. (Let's hope for good results despite an overcast, chilly morning.)

48. Grandpa had expert help feeding the "livestock" on the farm.

49. Kinley made a new friend and christened her Cozy. The name seems appropriate when you look at the two new friends together. That kitty was patient!

50. Listening to Kinley talk to Cozy, saying, "Kitty, kitty! You're so pretty!"

51. Listening to Brooke talk to the kitties. I have no idea what she was saying.

52. Discovering yet another musical prodigy.

 

53. Having the cutest Ariel around stay for trick or treating in Stafford.

Trick or treating is serious business!

54. Having her sidekick, Flounder, stay, too!

 

 55. Watching the girls play together and seeing Kinley watch out for her little sister.

56. Going to church with the whole family.

57. Watching Kinley during children's time at church and helping her take communion.

58. Having a snooze after everyone departed (after getting things sort of, kind of back in order). Kinley wasn't the only one with a power nap this weekend.

59. Having plenty of leftovers for Sunday supper - no cooking required!

60. Watching the Royals win ... even if they kept me up way past my bedtime after a full weekend and a time change.

Hide and Seek

As I dashed out of the house to run an errand for Randy, I glanced to my left and saw four little kittens nestled in the crevice between the house and the back steps.

And when I got back there were 11. YES, 11!

I texted a photo to the kids and sent it in an email to my Mom, but by the next time I looked, not a single one remained. Two litters of kittens are playing hide and seek. Or maybe it's their mothers. I need a scorecard!

I found some hiding in the window well.

 A few were more clever at hiding behind the screen mesh for a little camouflage.

Some had moved by their mom for a snack.

Others were hanging out by the cat food bowl. Maybe they were waiting on their mother, too.

Randy's mission is to tame some of these kitties so they can make their way to my parents' farm in Pratt County. It's a mission he is always glad to accept.

He already had a good start with a kitty we named Fluffy. (Or maybe it was Fuzzy. It depends on which one of us you ask.)

At this time, Fluffy (AKA Fuzzy) is nowhere to be found.

And this big guy isn't talking.