It’s true that Tessa, a.k.a. Danger Cat has turned into a purring, attention-seeking snuggle bug. But that was yesterday. Today, after Mom dropped info about Tessa’s upcoming vet visit tomorrow, that snuggle bug is more of a stink-eye bug. It’s anyone’s guess which version of Tessa will show up at the new vet tomorrow. Mom hopes they have their Kevlar gloves handy.
Just a quick pop-in today. This is Mom’s super busy time of year with her job and mandatory overtime in May, and trying to get the spring yards and gardens in shape before hot weather arrives.
Things Mom did on her days off last week:
Took Dad to be “test fitted” for a wheelchair. He was not happy. The time is coming, perhaps as soon as the end of this year. Oh, the changes to come.
Pulled out tubs of gravel from the fountain to track down a leak. Found it. Easy fix – the liner had been pushed down allowing water to slowly trickle over the top, down the arbor bed that has drainage pipe underneath and out and across a back cement walkway to run off, potentially, into someone else’s yard. Nope. Cannot let that happen.
Scheduled a backflow sprinkler test, an oil change, and a Chewy order.
Verified Tessa’s vet appointment for the 10th.
Saw Millie the skinny raccoon and noted that 1) she looks better with some weight on her, and 2) she had a female friend alongside who seemed very much a wild raccoon and who’s surely teaching Millie how to be a wild raccoon herself. Millie did not touch Mom’s shoe. Good girl!
Spread 14 cubic feet of bark mulch after all transplanting and seeding was done. Another 12 to go next weekend will finish the job, weather permitting.
Hand cut a wide strip of sod and freed a sprinkler head out of the overgrown grass.
Moved a big boulder (because someone had to) and pulled/pried out an old rusting bird feeder pole to be replaced next month with a sturdy wood beam. Next will be removing 20-30 bricks and digging a big, deep hole.
Touched up paint on the arbor.
Countless loads of laundry because someone named Mom forgot that a treat of turkey luncheon meat gives a certain orange and white boy the poops.
And wouldn’t you know, Mom only has 20 more things to do on her list. But hey! She says she’s already ahead of where she was last year at this time. You go, Mom!
As we mentioned, last week Quint had a new vet visit checkup. He was a brave boy, snuggling under the blanket Mom brought originally meant to cover the carrier against the strong, cold wind of the day. Mom and the new vet chatted for 5 minutes, each getting a feel of one another before turning to Quint, his personality and his love of blanket forts.
Quint’s always been a lean, lanky boy and we were surprised to learn he’s under 9 pounds now. At one point some 8 or 9 years ago, during the heyday of nothing but kibble and French fries (his weakness), he was up over 14 pounds. Now, at almost 14 years old, he’s much more svelte and distinguished-looking.
Mom talked about his switch to wet food a few years ago after he started experiencing constipation every January, and about how he finally settled on Fancy Feast after months of experimenting with outrageously expensive varieties of food Dad was convinced would win his boy over (none did).
Still, the vet would like to see a bit more weight on him. We’ll work on that with an extra can of food a day.
Perhaps wisely and because, well, Mom didn’t want anyone to think just yet she and/or Quint were odd, Mom didn’t tell the vet about Quint’s painting past, his occasional bouts of gas that frighten him as it would any gentlemanly cat or his unnatural love of the corner of the kitchen microwave.
He’s now up to date on his vaccines and had a senior panel run to get baseline numbers which all turned up great for his age. He didn’t mind being held by the vet assistant and didn’t seem overly bothered by some dog rudely barking in the exam room next door. All in all, Quint was a very good boy and is a healthy one, too.
Many, many thank yous to our Friend of Colehaus angel who generously donates to our Colehaus Cats vet emergency fund. Quint sends squinty eyes of love to you.
