...ah spring, AH-CHOO !! (2012)

On March 22, I had several stalks of iris about to bloom,

the creeper was leafing-out,

and the weeping cherry was in full bloom.Of course, they were not the only flora in seasonal mode...

the oak tree in my back yard was blooming. It takes a perfect combination of rain and wind to prevent this blooming season from making me miserable for weeks, if it stays sunny and the blooms can have their full time on the tree, allowing the pollen to cover everything.

This is not a small problem for me because this is not a small tree anymore.

The leaves and branches seem almost yellow from the blooms, which as they dry up and fall off about 2 to 3 weeks later, cover everything with brittle, spent blossoms that pile up all over the place. If there are windy storms with soaking rains at just the right time, the pollen is washed off the blossoms quickly, so the spent ones are not so deadly, allergy-wise, even in their piles of dried, crunchy blooms.

If left to their own happy plans,[no storms to wash or blow away the pollen], I get a couple of weeks of this, along with horrible sneezing, asthma attacks and if I'm not proactive, a nasty upper-respiratory congestion.

This year, thank the Lord, we had the perfect series of cool cloudy days, retarding the blooming and release of pollen, beginning almost the day after these shots were taken. Then we had windy rain, on and off for several days, washing away the nasty stuff.

The allergy season will continue into May, but then I should be able to back-off the asthma medications a bit. I haven't said much about the horrible asthma attack I had on February 11, sending me to Urgent Care on February 12, my Dr. on February 28, then to an Immediate Care on 3/28 with spiking blood pressure, back on 3/29 with a bad reaction to the HBP meds, back on 4/1 for a BP check which showed it the highest yet and finally back to my Dr. of 30 years on 4/6. He took my BP, it was 35 pts lower than on 4/1, so we removed all decongestants from my regime, he gave me a steroidal nasal spray, HBP meds that seem to not "bother" me and a non-statin cholesterol med that has to be OKed by the HMO. Since I'm allergic to statins, that shouldn't be a problem.

I have an appointment with my "new" pcp doctor on Thurday. My long-time Dr. is not in the HMO system, so I hope that the new doctor will work-out.

Perhaps someday soon, I'll have the time to explain my health insurance issues. Of course, this assumes that soon, everything will work through the mega state employees service that manages my health insurance.

...rest easy, sweet Lacy

Monday, I got up, took the dog out and fed the starving horde of kitties. While I was in the bathroom, Lace came in and meowed one, LOUD, extremely distressed cry. I picked her up. Both nostrils were closed with dried mucus, which I removed. I took her into the bedroom to give her some antibiotic drops that the vet said to use for colds.

When I put down after the drops, I noticed that her diaphragm was heaving, besides the fact that she just lay there, not running away as she always did when I gave her those drops.

I put her into a carrier, threw on my clothes and we rushed to the vet.

The vet was on his biannual 2 week visit to Argentina, but fortunately, he had gotten a very nice lady to take his patients while he was gone, unlike other times when he had a retired vet sitting in who needed to stay in retirement.

She examined Lacy and told me that she'd need an x-ray to confirm, but she was sure that her chest was full of fluid, which probably meant cancer. Lacy was 13 and had been getting steroid shots for years due to the lesions in her mouth, which had also come back. The vet took the x-ray and the test confirmed the worst. They gave her a sedative, then as I held her, she slipped away, no longer struggling for each breath.

Then I had a couple of problems to deal with. I was not able to bury her. The last kitty grave I dug, still had my elbows and back messed-up and I had to be directing the choir on Thursday, Friday, Saturday night and Easter Sunday. A normal service would make me stiff for a day or so. All these services involved a lot of standing, as well as rehearsing. The high blood pressure issues had me off my usual Excedrin, as it has caffeine and was creating problems. So I bit the bullet and asked them to have her cremated. There are no budget packages there, $240. Added to the cost of the visit, x-ray and euthanasia, that meant I owe them $320... which I'll have to pay in installments.

I know I made the only choice. I physically couldn't bury her and I couldn't just "throw her body away".

When her ashes are ready, I'll scatter them in the garden, so her remains will be with the others who've gone before her.

I can't remember the last time that I had only 6 kitties...

...farewell sweet Lucyfur

She stopped eating on Friday, drinking too, though she still pestered me for food, but seemed totally uninterested, even in the tuna. By Friday evening, she seemed to have become more shaky and spent the evening curled up next to my pillow. She responded to being petted, but wasn't enjoying the attention, so I knew that it was, "time"...

I got up Saturday morning and wasn't surprised to see that she was huddled, head down, in the sunniest spot on the cat tree, soaking up the early morning sun. She came over when I took the dog out, but when I got back inside, she was back in the warm spot and not interested in food. I went back outside and dug a place for her in the garden. Then I came inside, got her to come to me and, after telling the others to say their good-byes, we left for the vets'.

The vet wasn't busy, unusual for Saturday morning, so we didn't have to wait long.
He examined her and agreed with me that she was in the final stage and any further waiting would probably cause her to suffer and I didn't want that for her.

As I held her and told her what a good and sweet kitty she was, that we would miss her but that she'd soon have her brother, Bubba, who died 5 years ago, to boss around again, he gave her the injection and she slipped away...

I brought her home and took her inside, but the others all knew and didn't come from their napping places to say any farewells... so I took her around back to the garden,
where her resting place was prepared...

I buried her with the first purple iris between her paws, thankful that she was no longer in any discomfort and at peace...

In the several days since, the others have become relaxed again. Her illness, since she was,"Queen of Everything", had created some real stress in the other kitties. Even the dog had been much more on edge... Now that she's at peace, things are much more,"normal",[whatever that is...], with Murphy Brown finally becoming the Diva that I always knew she was...

The creeper is showing signs of leafing-out. Trees all over are blooming, including my cherry tree in back, though the camellias in my yard are still not. All around, you see daffodils, tulips, camellias, quince... blooming in the face of the stiff March breezes.

This, however, was quite a surprise ! Just a few days after covering my tomato plants against a couple of frosty nights, I find this !

Now "blooming" is not, "setting", and we'll need warmer nights before any tomatoes actually set, but Spring has definitely Sprung !

...further update

Lucyfur stopped eating on Sunday night and didn't eat on Monday, even when I offered her tuna. So, on Tuesday morning, I rook her back to see the vet. The jaundice was back in her ears and mouth, but she still seemed strong and was coming to eat, even though she ultimately wasn't eating. He gave her a steroid shot that he said should stimulate her appetite and thirst.

It seems to have worked, as since late Tuesday afternoon, she has been in to drink several times and has pestered me for food, actually eating when she gets it.

I don't know how long this will last, but it's good to see her eating again, even though the inevitable end will come... I just don't want her to suffer.

In my continuing battle with finances, my health insurance has disallowed all my SG Immediate Care charges from 2/12, so now I owe Sutter Gould $500+. I suppose next, they'll disallow the Dr visit I had yesterday & the routine labwork he scheduled.
Fortunately, I'm getting my taxes done on 3/9 & am due the same refund as last year, which will be enough to pay for having the taxes done, my property taxes AND the medical bills the insurance won't cover.

It's always something...

"Holy Michael, the Archangel, surround me with your holy angels...
protect me from the enemy and all his minions...
by the grace and power of God, consign them all to hell"...

...lucyfur update

Mz Lucyfur is slowly getting used to being back home. She avoided me the first day or so, since I was putting salve in her right eye and she was NOT amused, even though her eye is almost well now.

She was showing up at mealtime, but not really eating much and the vet had warned that if she stopped eating, she would relapse quickly.

She has a history of periods of finickyness, [issues with the "Turkey & Giblets"...]
which has not long persisted, but now is NOT the time, she needs to eat & regain her strength, so I considered getting different flavors to tempt her.

Then, it hit me... tuna...

I had several cans of chunk white or albacore tuna, canned in water in my pantry.

Years ago, when I had a bunch of kitties who would go outside to play, I used to buy tuna by the case at Costco and when I called them in from outside, they always got tuna... not nasty, smelly, cat-food tuna, but nice, people-food tuna... just enough for a taste for everyone, [with quality protein, a little goes a long ways...].

They would all come running... eager for their reward...

So I opened a can and offered it to Lucyfur... she started eating right away...

Of course, so did Cagney, who pushed her way in, while Mac & Sneaky Pie, noticing the enticing aroma, began to "circle".

Understanding that the "jig was up", I put the can, with lots of tasty bits still inside near their dish. Then I opened another can and gave the beggars most of it.
Lucy fur was still nibbling at hers[on top of the TV cabinet]. Later, I gave Lucy some more. She didn't eat as much, but she did come into the bedroom to drink and visit later on.

This morning, she came onto my bed, announcing that it was time to eat, then she came for cat-food, licked some of the gravy, nibbled a bit then retired to the TV cabinet, where I got her to eat a bit more tuna. She seems more alert, but getting her back to her normal weight may take some time. When her eyes are all well, that may help as I think they affect her sense of smell which always is linked to appetite.

So I hope that she's on the mend... she seems better...

...late breaking good news

The good news is that Lucyfur, who gave us a real scare on Wednesday, is responding to the IV treatment at the vet. She is eating, drinking and up & about, so I get to bring her home this afternoon.
I took her in for irritated eyes and on closer inspection, the vet showed me the jaundice. Her eyes, [beyond the inflammation], ears, tummy and gums were yellow. We decided to give her,"a chance", because she hadn't given up yet, [she kept fighting to get back into her carrier] and even though I knew that she'd lost weight, this had just happened over a couple of days since I thought that she had a kitty cold.
This is costing $355, [that's the most I could justify spending], but I consider it worth it since she has responded so well. We don't know how long it'll be before the liver starts to have problems again, but at least she has this time, now...

Time to snooze in front of the fire with her buddies who have missed her...


On other fronts, spring seems to be "springing" rather early this year.

The Meyer lemons have finally gotten enough water to get the right size...
and there are even a few blossoms starting to open. Trees everywhere around are blooming, making my allergies bloom too.

I found these cherry tomato seedlings at OSH. A "Sunsweet" and "Sweet 100"...
just what I wanted to put into my front porch container. They seem to like it there and I get a lot of tomatoes for the water & effort. I tried a smaller regular garden last year. It was a waste of effort, since I can no longer afford to water enough and the big oak shades the yard most of the day. So a small container of tomatoes is about my speed. I also have some herbs on the porch that do well. I may expand the front garden if I get so inclined.

Of course, I couldn't resist these "johnny jump-ups"[violas]. They will do well here until it gets into the 80's regularly, then I replace them with portulacas which take even the hottest days. I was hoping to plant the "johnny jump-ups" in December, as they don't mind cold, but didn't go looking for any since I was having to be so careful with money. To fill these 2 big containers cost about $11.

I never got around to cutting back the roses and they are all showing new growth. The creeper is still "asleep", however...

As you can see, it still has quite a ways to go before its buds even begin to swell.

...kitty roll call

It's been a nice holiday season for me & the kitties. They've feasted on kitty treats from their benefactor, scarfed their favorite canned & dry food, had roast beef scraps, chicken from my New Years' Chinese food treat[chow mein with chicken, shrimp & Chinese sausage, fried shrimp & almond chicken... got 3 good meals from the one order...] and soon, more turkey bits, after I cook the turkey I have in the 'fridge. The dog has also shared in the bounty, including beef rib bones, but this isn't about the dog...

Since opening my bedroom to all kitties after losing Fluff & Piglet last January, several things have happened. I found that I need to keep the dog in her crate when she's inside, because she will be aggressive towards any cat moving past her lair, especially when she's chewing on a bone. This has resulted in cats moving less fearfully through the house, though she still barks at them when they scamper past her den, often in the middle of the night, waking me up.

Another habit they have established is taking over my bed. I try to keep the thermostat around 67/66˚ day or night, otherwise they surround me, pinning me down, opportunistic heat seekers that they are, and I wake up stiff from being immobile.

Their crunchies and water dish are on my old dresser, so I can monitor their individual health situations more closely. This is also a good way to have frequent interaction with those who need medication as well as the three who don't spend the day or night on my bed.

MJ,[Midnight, Junior], is the last of a family of 5, all with short black hair, who were raised in my back yard by their Mom, who was a neighborhood cat with long black hair that came regularly for food and I had spayed after the kittens were weaned. The Dad, [Midnight], was a short-haired black, neighborhood cat who also came for food, that I found sleeping peacefully on the foot of my bed one summer night. He was never aggressive with any of my kitties or the kittens after they were born, quite an unusual demeanor for an intact tomcat. I had him neutered after I realized that he was the daddy of the kittens. I remember one really nice late spring morning, when I saw he and the momcat, sitting together in my driveway, watching the 5 black kittens play and frolic. Shortly after that morning, I captured the kittens and took them inside so they wouldn't get hurt outside, and took both "parents" to the vet to be neutered.

Here you see him with the treat ball he loved, until the dog took it. These days, I really enjoy watching him search for the treats I hide on my bedspread and dresser. Whenever I sit on my bed, he is instantly there, snuggling-in on my left side, wanting to be petted, to have his tummy scratched and purring, with the tip of his pink tongue showing, his eyes closed in pure bliss. He is the sweetest of the 5 kittens and was named for his sweet daddy, who also loved a good snuggle.

Lacy spends much of her day & night snoozing in a front window. She does come in to eat and drink often, which is good since she has tongue lesions and needs monitoring.

She recently had a steroid shot and is almost done with her antibiotic drops, so she seems to be lesion-free at the moment. It is a reoccurring problem though, so I watch her closely, which is not hard, since she joins me, hoping to drink from the faucet, every time I go into the bathroom for any reason. She also loves to be petted, but will complain loudly if I try to check for fleas.

Her sister Cagney, is the loner of the group. She has, "issues", with MJ, who loves to chase her,[his only bad habit...], Lucyfur and Sneaky Pie, and spends most of her time on the mantel, the TV cabinet or in a sunny window when it's warm. Sneaky Pie will ambush her after a food or water visit and chase her until she returns to her "spot". Lucy will confront her at the food or water dish, exerting her dominance.

Cagney is also a frequent bathroom visitor, as she has had a "thing" for drinking from the faucet since she was a kitten. I intervene when I can, letting Cagney know that she is safe near me, but the control mavens persist. So far there have been no bloody physical altercations, just a lot of nasty name-calling and boxing.

Mz Sneaky Pie, is also ,"bossed", by Lucyfur, so her aggression towards Cagney is probably some of the frustrations she can't show to Lucyfur.

"SPie", as she is also known, can be very sweet... but if she gets too "stimulated" by petting or grooming, she will bite or swipe at me with claws extended. She was raised for the first 6 months, by someone who played too roughly with her. So I have to be on my guard not to arouse her catly ire... She is a very loving and companionable kitty when she's in the mood, which is most of the time and being the youngest by about 5 years, she often will go on a mad dash about the upper reaches of the house, especially when the moon is full.

Murphy Brown, [Murph] and her brother Mack, [Mackie], are like most siblings, they can be together quite peacefully, and then, suddenly, for no apparent reason, will stand up and one will smack the other, with a full-fledged boxing match breaking-out, complete with loud catly insults.

Then, as quickly as it began, it's over and they are snuggled next to me, washing each others' faces.

Mackie has gray/black accents and is the ultimate cuddle cat. I can shoo him off of my bed, climb in and there he is, snuggled next to my left arm wanting to be petted.
If I don't move him back to his spot, he will climb on top of me. From the first time I looked into his green eyes, with the direct, pet-me, gaze, I was toast.

Murph is more golden brown, though they both have big white paws with very sharp claws. She was always much more aloof, but since the bedroom door was opened, she has become a super cuddler too. Mackie will meow for attention, but Murph is like Fluff was. She has paws with claws that she knows how to use to her best advantage, all the while purring so loudly in my ear that I've been known to have to turn up the volume if I was watching something. She also mews from time to time and after being petted a satisfactory amount of time, [somewhere between 3 minutes and infinity...], she will settle down, generally just above Mackie, claiming my left shoulder. If Lucyfur is on the bed to the right of my pillow, she may settle there, giving my right shoulder the same treatment and purring, loudly. She was sick in early December, but is fine now.

Lucyfur considers herself "Queen"... no further modifiers needed, she is simply that, queen...

She assumes her position to the right of my pillow nearly all the time, but she has her moments of camping-out on my feet, a practice I always discourage. She is the Alpha, therefore, she eats first, etc., and bosses everyone. Mackie doesn't always appreciate her bossiness and will swat her if she gets too pushy. Murph stays out of her way, as does Lacy, but Murph will curl up with her and Lacy will not. Sneaky Pie generally gives her her "due", and stays clear. Cagney is completely cowed and is always submissive when confronted. MJ is one of Lucyfurs',"boys",[Charlie is the other...]. Both MJ and Charlie curl up with Lucyfur and she will groom them both. They both are small, having been rather shy all their lives.

Charlie was adopted along with Lucyfur and her brother Bubba, from my vet after the death of Dexter. From the beginning, Lucyfur "mothered" Bubba and Charlie. MJ was just a young kitten when he came into her sphere and as a result, became "hers" too.

Charlie is quite shy, so the bedroom opening has been good for him. He and Sneaky Pie were the 2 that stayed with me when all the others went to stay at the vets during the bathroom rebuild in Jan, 2009, because they would not be caught. I captured them both, several times, but could get neither to stay in the cat carrier long enough to secure it. Scratched and bleeding, I gave up. They lived in the bedroom with the door closed, but got to go into the rest of the house at night when the workmen were gone and it was safe.

Since last January, Charlie has been becoming more secure in coming into the bedroom. He makes daily appearances near mealtime and I often awake from a nap to find him standing on top of me, purring and angling to be petted. As long as I'm laying down, or sitting, he'll approach. The moment I stand or move around, he's a ghost... But if I let him lay on me, he'll purr happily while I pet him or scratch his ears for quite a while. As a result, I have discovered that he has something in common with every red cat I've ever been owned by, and that is that if I scritch his tummy, he'll grasp my hand with all his might and kick scratch me until I can extricate myself. I know... not all red cats do this, but all I've known well have...