I feel like I lave already lived a full day’s worth of activity – and it’s not quite 9:30am as I sit down to write this.
Anyone who has tried to get two stranger-cats, especially older ones at 11 and 19 years old know how hard this can be.
Lola, having lost Dresden -her life long companion – went through the upheaval of having us bodily remove her and all of her cat life items from the QPO, transplanting her into our cabin and finding she was now sharing her life in this strange place with not only Zoey Jo, but this OTHER ancient and persnickety cat, Emmy Lou.
And Lola became the aggressor. After a week, we’ve had enough. And so had Emmy Lou. She was terrified. She started peeing on everything, and thinking that Lola was around every corner, would even growl and hiss from behind a closed door even when Lola was nowhere around.
It came to a head this morning when once again Emmy Lou’s bed had once again been peed – and her litter box was in the same room!
I spent this morning gathering up all of Lola’s cat things – put Lola back in her carrier and hauled it all back to the QPO.
She loves her catnip banana -
And all seems to be okay back in her post office world.
I guess my hopes of “can’t we all just get along” (in my home pet life as well as the world in general) only works if all parties involved wish for the same and help each other make that change.
And back at home – we are hoping that Emmy Lou will go back to being her old senile self – the one who still uses the litter box, because if this becomes a permanent behavior, we fear a decision will have to be made.
And this is my Friday so far!
Yesterday morning Zoey and I enjoyed a morning 4 mile hike, and I settled in to the QPO to get mail out, and finish up the quilting on Casden’s quilt so I could get the binding on for some evening hand stitching.
And it wasn’t much later that the plot twist happened!
I was sitting down to my lunch and thumbing through facebook marketplace and there it was – a patio dining table that had just been posted 3 hours before. It didn’t have chairs – but chairs can be acquired. I have enough chairs around to make it work for now.
I can now seat 12 on the back porch!
The table acquisition included a drive down to Elkin, NC – an hour drive away. In conversation with Mary, the seller, I told her that I would come wearing a mask and we could observe social distancing. It went swimmingly. What a nice lady – and so great to meet a kind stranger through all of this turmoil.
I was also informed that Costco has some great patio chairs if I wanted a matching set. But I think this hodge podge will do just fine for now.
At some point – a huge table that could fit all 12 together would be great – but also – this makes it easy for folks to cut between the two tables to get to their places on the back side without having to go all the way around and behind everyone while getting there.
This is waiting for me this morning!
The quilting pattern is Deb’s Swirls.
And I do love how it turned out on the back!
Binding application to happen later today.
My mama is 79 today!
Have a wonderful birthday, mama. I sure wish I could be there with you this year but we will celebrate big next time!
(Photo taken last year when her flight landed in Minneapolis.)
Quiltville Quote of the Day
Our journeys are not just our own, they are enhanced and altered by others who come into our lives and walk with us awhile, or simply cross our paths as they go their own way.
I've met some amazing creative people through this life we share and you have added much more to my life than you will ever know.
Today we try again to do the best we can to make this world a better place.
Enjoy your Friday!
43 comments:
My 17 year old kitty wore diapers. We were spared a lot of accidents. I lost her Tuesdayv and have a partial package I will send if you would like.
You sharing your quilting journey with all of us have helped so many grow and lighten a heavy load they may be carrying. I love reading your blog and maybe even getting to virtually know some of the Quiltvillan's. I do appreciate you and all the hard work you put into sharing all of it with us! You have made this world a better place!!
Susan, I am so sorry. It hurts so much when they leave us. As for the diapers, hold off for now. Let's see what she does. If I don't need them, perhaps if you donated them to your vet they may help another kitty mama.
Happy Birthday to your Mom.��. Hopefully things will quiet down with Emmy Lou now that Lola is back in the QPO. Also having younger and older pet cats, I also have to deal with personality conflicts. Sometimes they work themselves out other times you have to separate them. Keep telling Emmy Lou the invader is gone and I am sure she will calm down. She is a elder. As my vet says"my older cat has to deal with the young punk's. No wonder they bug her". Sending good vibes and prayers �� your way in the hopes that the pet antics calm down.
Happy birthday to your mama! I see the resemblance, especially your smiles. Poor Emmy Lou - it's tough being old and having to share with a young gal. I don't think our 19 year old cat would be happy with it either. But we love the cranky old souls anyway.
Happy Birthday 🎊🎉
Poor kitties! Some don't like change similar to some of us adults. Hope all will be better now. Happy Birthday to your Mom. She always looks so happy! Love the pic of the two of you. Love the smiles!
Oh poor Emmy Lou. I've been wondering how she was getting along with Lola. Kitties can be tough - especially when they are older. Our Daisy is only 3 and it has taken her 8 months to go back to her sweet self after Finley arrived on the scene! She still hisses and growls at him some, but at least she is back to being nice to me! Hope both of your kitties go back to their normal selves soon.
Our persnickety old lady cat is why we haven't adopted another cat. We figure she was #4 when she came to our house, so she deserves her peace. She is a bad ass cat and will still chase other cats from our yard! I hope Emmy Lou can get back to her old self.
BTW, I love Debs Swirls too.
Sorry to hear Emmy Lou got so scared. Hopefully in a few days she will be back to her old self. I am sure Lola will be very happy to get back to her post office retreat. WE had to bring home an injured barn cat to the house one time and things seemed to be going OK till a few weeks in one of the house cats decided to not let the ex barn cat use the litter box. She was pretty much healed up so she had to go back to being a barn cat which she loved anyway.
Hope your Mom has a great day. You have her smile!
I look forward every morning to reading your blog. It brings back many fond memories of me living in Virginia for over 20 years. We lived righ at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Madison County. I miss it terribly.
We all make so very many concessions for our pets. Hoping things improve now. Love the new furniture and dining option.
It is wonderful that you found a good solution for Lola. Maybe she just wants your company and not other full time friends. Cats are a little more solitary than most pets.
The table is very nice and dividing the group helps with conversation too. It is hard to hear and talk all at one table.
And I love Casden's quilt. He will have such fun with it.
Oh, Bonnie I've been there with cat peeing. Vinegar and Borax are you friends right now for getting rid of the smell. Hugs - hope it gets better soon
try calming collars, Sentry brand, I ordered them on Amazon. They did seem to help with our cat - she's still a grumpy old cat, but calmer (she's 15 - and going strong)
Hello, I originally had six cats and a Jack Russell. Some of the cats were pre-existing before the Jack Russell arrived and some of the cats afterwards. We use baby talcum powder on the rear ends of all of them, and then had sessions with them all for about 30 minutes and gradually they have all accepted each other. Putting the talcum on their rear ends makes them smell the same and cuts the pheromone levels down. The cats tend to live together downstairs whereas the Jack Russell is with us most of the time. Even so when we take her down the cats often nuzzle her in greeting. Occasionally the wild animal comes out with either the cats or the Jack Russell but for the best part they get on pretty well, they know I don't like any bad behaviour and they don't like me telling them off either. Hope it helps kind regards Tricia
Happy Birthday to your Mom. She must be amazing because she raised a beautiful daughter in you, Bonnie.
Happy Birthday to your momma. You have been busy today. Me just laundry and a walk with my dog Belle.Here's hoping things settle down in your pet world, each furry one with their own domain!Scooby Doo looks great, that little person is going to love it!
Happy Birthday to your mom. She's one day older than I. I do get to celebrate with my son and granddaughters so I feel blessed.
Happy birthday mom! We had the same issue - my 19 year old with the old cat we got from my mom's "estate". One would stay upstairs and one downstairs. Old fuddyduddies get set in their ways!
Wish your mom a Happy Birthday!! Your smiles tell it all!! Think Lola will like living back at the QPO. She probably still smells her friends scents that may comfort her and not to deal with Emmy Lou!!
Happy birthday to your momma! It is a treasure to still have her. Don't worry about Lola being by herself at QPO, you are there enough that she will know you still care, my poor cat basically sees me to sleep and change clothes between jobs, he does okay.
Love the Casden quilt!!! It's the best!
You may certainly feel differently, but I would suggest you try the two smaller tables for a good long time. When we used to go out to lunch with a group after church regularly, we discovered the "island" that is the person in the middle of the long table. It frequently happens that they get stranded without a conversation partner as the people on the ends all get turned towards one another. Your best hope at that point is that the person across from you is interesting as they're your only hope. Also, two tables can be butted up next to each other if the group wants the "big table". Of course, you should do as you please, just another perspective.
Happy Birthday Mama! Please give her a hug for me!
Happy Birthday to your Mom. She has a wonderful daughter!!
What a morning. It is hot and humid in Nebraska. I am so glad you could visit with your mom and aunts last year. Happy Birthday wishes to her!!
Yea for binding time. Casden will know he is loved ❤
Happy birthday to your Mama! I'm always amazed when I look in the mirror and see how well we've aged in our 79 years! Your posts go hand-in-hand with my morning coffee! Always a good start to the day. Something I saw in the picture of your long-arm triggered a thought and I followed through. I set up my clotheshorse and filled the lines with my strips and future strips! Now I can select the strips that play together much easier! Thank you for all you give of yourself and your world!
When a brought A young Pomeranian into a house with 3 yeAr old cat she scratched me when I tried to introduce them, moved up stairs and made that her home.
So sorry about the kitty wars. Emmy Lou is really too old to expect to change easily, and poor Lola has gone through a trauma. You are at the QPO enough that Lola won't be lonely. Some cats just never accept other cats - my tuxedo male hates all other cats on sight, so I do what we call "cat-zoning" for him and my adopted feral male. No pee marking but a lot of hissing and fights to break up if one charges a door gap and they come face to face. Before we lost Molly (the calico in my picture) there were three cat zones. Sigh.
I will. Thanks for your response. We love our babies!
Thanks for your reply. I will donate them. Anything for our babies!
I am very sorry to hear about the kitty drama. If you ever decide to try again, my suggestion is keep the kitties separated by a door for at least 2 days. They get curious about the animal on the other side of the door...and get accustomed to their smell. They can get upset if they feel the new furbaby is getting too much attention...so that is what I got. Of course, some pets will never get along...and some fall in love instantly. You might have better luck with a kitten... .. hope things look up on the furbaby front! Yeah about the table score!
I am so sorry about Emmy Lou - hopefully she will be able to settle back down again. As for Lola I'm sure she'll adjust - she gets to see Zoey quite often and they don't seem to be great together. Time is on her side, not so for Emmy Lou, so you have done the right thing once again.
The more I see the quilt, the more I want it! LOL! Lucky Casden!
Happy birthday to your mum, may this blooming virus be over with so we can all get together again.
So sorry it didn’t work out with EmmyLou and Lola, but on the plus side you have your post office caretaker back. I hope EmmyLou will settle back down it was all you could do you can’t have her frightened. Lola looks content with her catnip banana.
You and your mum both have the same friendly warm smiles, I hope she has a lovely birthday and you’ll really have a lovely visit next time you see her this isolation can’t go on forever. We are luck living on a small island we are now covid free and are just heading into stage 4. Which means the children are now going back to school on Monday. But a lot of safety measures have been put in place, each class must remain in their class bubble and the desks have been spread out so each pupil has a distancing space and their own personal equipment. Things will slowly get back to normal but for now it’s baby steps and prayers that all will be well.
Keep safe
Love and quilty hugs
Anne xxx
I don't hear the expression "swimmingly" used very often. It was my father-in-law's favorite. He said it with a British accent, so I thought he picked it up during his stay in England during WWII. Miss him every day. I live with his minni-me. So, Unity is finished. On to Easy Street.
Thank you for being part of our journey! Such a bright spot of my day as I sip my morning coffee and check in with Quiltville and Bonnie. Of all the speakers that came to our little quilt guild,you were the best. I still look at fabric from your eyes as if the fabric is ugly,it only means it is not cut small enough. Have a great day!
Reading the comments this morning everyone already said what I wanted to say. LOL However I agree that 2 tables are best, they can always be pushed together but will be easier to move separately as they won't be as heavy as a very large table. If there are only a few, a smaller table is more intimate as well.
Bonnie, try Feliway cat calming diffuser. We had a nervous cat who started urinating everywhere. No medical problems, so tried this. Worked like a charm. No odor. Just plug in diffuser where cat hangs out. Refillable. Order online. Linda Smith
Rochester, NY
I love this picture of you and your mom.
I appreciate your efforts to write a diary of your adventures and thoughts.
I think most of us have these things ruminating and marinating in our heads, we just do not have a moment to type it out.
God Bless you Bonnie, and your family and loved ones
I once tried to introduce a new cat and old cat turned into
Psycho cat! Not good.
Critters are just like people: some get along, some don't. Oddly enough, I've got a suggestion for you, Bonnie. When our older cat had a very bad response to moving into a new home, she started peeing everywhere but the litterbox. To make sure she didn't have an undiagnosed urinary tract infection, I took her to our vet. No infection, which was great. And ... he put her on a low dose of Prozac. It really did help her. So keep that possibility in mind, too. In the meantime, peace out!
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