Barn Cats

Ok, this is my final post for the day.  I think four are enough.  On my way out this morning I set out a scoop of cat food for the barn cats.  I stood real still and the little babies came out to get some food.  They are still quite skittish.  This one didn't seem to mind me though.  It gave a big stretch and proceeded to play for a while in the grass.  

His brother is the chunky one in the group and headed straight for the food.  "Grey" is their Uncle and was also up this morning to get some.  Grey is one of the friendlier ones and I am quite fond of him.
An after-breakfast drink from the bird bath.  He it too cute, don't you think?

And here is a photo of one of the babies after I set out some tuna salad that Charlie didn't want (it got outdated).  He put his head down in that tuna and ate and ate.  You could actually watch the kitten getting fat.  He needs to pack on some weight though before the snow starts flying.

Some Autumn Photos

Some seed pods.  I love my macro setting lately!

Some lawn art.  Aunt Mary loves her lawn art.  I happen to like this rooster and how it looks among the dying plants.

This is a sassafras tree across the street and over the train tracks from the house.  A couple of barn cats followed me over there and almost got hit by a car.

Can you guess where I went this morning.  Yup, the local farmer's market.  I bought some Kapow soap and some squash.  I love the texture on some of these squash.

Sassafras

I don't think I've ever really introduced Sassafras in this blog.  She is my beautiful blue eyed siamese mix cat.  She is 7 years old - give or take.  She is the only indoor cat I have.  She is a chunky cat - weighs over 15 pounds now.  She loves her cat nip and laying on her back in the middle of the living room.  She is terrified of strangers so most people don't ever get to see her.  I won custody of her after my first marriage failed.  Charlie sometimes pretends he doesn't like her -- but he spoils her just like I do.  

So, I came home from work on Monday and found her laying motionless on the bed.  She wouldn't purr and was breathing funny.  I was able to get her up but she was still acting very peculiar so I ended up taking her in to the emergency vet.  They checked her out and did some blood tests but the only thing that came up was elevated glucose.  I have a follow up appointment at our own vet (much cheaper than emergency care) to do some more blood work.  They think she may have diabetes.  They also said it is easy to control in cats with just a change in diet (to canned food only).  

The day after she was acting a bit better and by Wednesday you would never have known she had been acting like she was going to die - other than the patches of fur they shaved off to get the blood.  I'm just happy that it wasn't anything too serious.  

Here is another photo of that dahlia.  Sassy helped me with this photo shoot.  She made sure to get in the way and rub up against me.  She sniffed the flower and even tasted a petal or two.  She gave me her approval of the shot and then chilled out in the center of the room while I took a few photos.  

Catching up

I have several different things to write about today so I think I will do a couple of new posts.  I'm trying to catch up a bit.

Shortly after posting my last blog with the dahlia photo I was contacted by a friend from highschool -- Melissa.  She gave me the tragic news that our mutual friend Michelle had passed away the day before and that it was suicide.  I was absolutely shocked that Michelle was gone, but not as shocked about how she left us.  Michelle had always struggled with thoughts of suicide, for as long as I've know her.  I spent many afternoons after school on the phone with her trying to tell her the reasons to keep living.  We had lots of joyful times too though.  Melissa told me Michelle was bi-polar.  I had lost track of Michelle a few years ago and only recently had found her on facebook.  We were catching up with each other and even planning on getting together in November (Michelle, Melissa, Heidi and me - just like old times).  Now she is gone and we won't get that chance. 

 I was quite upset about it at first but it is starting to feel less painful now.  I am trying to focus on the good times we had together and not on the times we could have had in the future.  I'm trying not to beat myself up for the should haves and could haves (should have called her more, could have made more time for her, etc).  If Michelle only knew how much everybody loved her...

Macro

Aunt Mary gave me a beautiful dahlia out of the garden last night.  She was cutting them all because it was supposed to frost over last night.  I don't know if it actually did or not.  I got to sleep in 'til 6:30 AM today.  May not seem like much but it sure felt good.  I had to work a couple of hours today even though it is my day off.  After that I went to my chiropractor, then the laundromat, got an oil change for my car and went to the grocery store (phew!).  I'm home again and took a few photos of my dahlia.  I will have to explore the macro setting on my little point and shoot more in the future.  My first try with it didn't work out right - I had focusing issues.  This time it worked.  I like the results.  

So, I am looking to get a real camera within the next 6 months (hopefully).  I have a good Nikon that got me through all of my photography classes -- but it is a film camera.  Although I love film, I am lacking a darkroom.  Two years ago I got a Canon PowerShot A530.  All of the images on this blog have come from that camera - it does a nice job I think.  I'm just growing out of it.  I want a REAL digital camera -- with a couple good lenses.  Actually, I'd really love one of those medium format cameras with the option of film, digital or polaroid backs -- but now I'm dreaming.  So, any of my photo-taking readers have any suggestions for a good camera?  How about a good photo lab that will still process my black and white film or my medium format color film (shot with my Holga)?  I have a pile of film that needs to be developed by can't find a place around here that can do it.  I'll have to mail it somewhere I guess.  

Much needed change of scenery

Mom and I took a vacation together this past week and I'd like to share a bit about it.  We had a marvelous time!  We went to the Traverse City, Michigan area and stayed in a quaint bed and breakfast near Torch Lake.  Most of our time was spent cruising around in Mom's convertible.  The weather was awesome staying mostly sunny and in the mid 70's.  I even got a little suntan on my face -- not bad for late September.  

The first image is of a little dirt road we took.  We love exploring -- especially in Mom's convertible.  

We spent some time wading in Torch Lake at this little beach.  It is supposed to be the third most beautiful lake in the world (I wonder where the 1st and 2nd place lakes are).  It was nice, but Lake Michigan is still my favorite.

We drove out on Old Mission Peninsula (just North of Traverse City).  It is one the most scenic drives I have ever been on.  It is covered in apple and cherry orchards and numerous vineyards all over the rolling hills.  Beyond that you have a great view of the bay.  

We stopped at a few wineries and sampled plenty of amazing wines.  In fact, besides one piece of artwork that I couldn't pass up, the only things I bought on vacation were fancy foodstuffs.  I got 2 bottles of wine and a bottle of cherry port, a local cheese, chocolate covered dried cherries, pear preserves, pumpkin butter, and hot masala (indian spice) chocolate.

We did much more than that, but I think you get the idea of how pleasant and relaxing our vacation together was.  I'm so happy that Mom and I have such a good relationship with each other.  

Officially Autumn

I guess it is official now.  Autumn is here.  Fall is my favorite season.  I love harvest time and the beautiful colors on the trees.  I like a cup of hot cider and a warm sweatshirt.  The only thing I dislike about Autumn is that Winter comes too quickly after it.  I got up this morning and took a few photos around the farm again.  Here are some soybeans...

And there goes Uncle Dave to pick some corn.  In the front of the image are decorative squash and pumpkins.  Then tomatoes and corn.  Then beyond that soybeans.
If the pigs only knew what was in store for them, they would figure out a way to hop the short fence.  They are getting big and it won't be long... : (  
And here is Mama cat (notice her extra toes - so cute) and her three babies.  They are still very shy.  They didn't know I had snuck up on them while they were eating the food I set out for them.  Mama seems to trust me quite a bit.  She went on the walk with me this morning around the farm - meowing the whole way.  She just wanted me to give her some real meat.  She persuaded me to give her something good.  I grabbed a bag of frozen shrimp that Charlie wasn't going to eat and thawed them and tossed them down to her and the babies.
Now I am going to clean the apartment up a bit.  Then the fun part of my day.  I have to pack my bags and get ready to go on vacation.  Charlie and I are taking separate vacations this year.  They just didn't line up right.  He went with his family to Minnesota for their family reunion (and a few casinos along the way).  I miss him and feel awfully lonely right now.  He gets back tomorrow night and then I leave Tuesday morning (after working 7AM-8PM on Monday - yuck).  I am going up north to Traverse City and Petoskey with my Mom.  We used to do these trips every summer when my Dad and brother went to Oshkosh, WI for an air show.  Since I got married, we haven't really done anything like that so this ought to be fun.  I will take lots of photos and blog when we get back.  

By the way, thanks to everyone who leaves comments on my blog.  I always appreciate your feedback on my photos or what I write about, even if I don't always reply to your comments.  Sometimes it is just nice to know who is reading this.  I hope you all enjoy Autumn as much as I do.  Have a great week!