Happy Halloween! As is tradition at our house, Viola has her trebuchet at the ready as she has done as a wee kitten, ready to fend off any trick or tricksters that might come looking for trouble (that’s not a typo; we don’t have many treaters, mostly plain ol’ vandals).
Kittens and Trebuchets. What could possibly go wrong? – 2013 © Colehauscats.com
Viola and her little trebuchet – 2018 © Colehauscats.com
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Around Colehaus, the autumn season is in full swing. Mom’s covered most of the patio furniture and tucked it away for the winter. Dad sold his hardly-ever-used BBQ, freeing up space in the little storage shed for patio chair pillows, empty garden pots and more spiders to move in.
Mom cleaned out the two feral shelters, filled them with fresh straw and plugged in the warming mats. Almost immediately, one of the neighbor’s cats claimed one shelter for her own and last week, Mom thought she saw a young raccoon coming from the other shelter, or at least, from that general area. The feral shelters are now both located against the back of the house, one being under the wooden back steps, and both having an outdoor electrical outlet close by.
Ditto for Geoffrey’s house. Though it doesn’t have a warming mat (no electricity nearby), it is lined with reflective mat material, is overstuffed with fresh straw and its roof has a secure cover tied over it. We don’t know who, but someone has spent every night in it since October 1st.
Maybe it was neighbor cat W!
Neighbor visitor W © Colehauscats.com
We haven’t seen any new cats in the neighborhood since Mac last year around this time and we’re more than happy that’s been the case. Either way, any wanderer will find warm shelter and morning food awaiting for as long as we’re here.
Scruffy, 2018 © Colehauscats.com
Another neighbor’s cat, Scruffy, who has been visiting us fairly regularly since 2005, comes around nearly every afternoon on nice days looking for some tasty kibble to round out his day. He lives just up the street a bit and has a warm place to spend cold winter nights. We’ve never seen him interested in our feral shelters, but we know he knows they are there just in case.
Scruffy still visits, 2018 © Colehauscats.com
We saw Rose Ears, the mama raccoon, last week with five teen babies, all frolicking in the fountain. We know three of the babies are hers and we’re assuming two were Peek-a-boo’s since they all used to hang out together.
One of Rose Ear’s babies, 2018 © Colehauscats.com
Last weekend, after this one raided the near-empty squirrel feeder, Mom took the feeder down. With so many new housing developments going up around us, the squirrels have found better feeding grounds, with what we hope are more regular feedings. Squirrels eat a LOT and raccoons even more!
The last flowers are blooming outside and the hummingbirds are thankful for these bright red tubular blooms.
Pineapple sage © Colehauscats.com
Hardy Fuchsia © Colehauscats.com
The last of the cherry tomatoes are ready to be picked for Mom’s work lunch.
Last Cherry Tomatoes © Colehauscats.com
Leaves are changing color and falling everywhere. We’re cold at night but not yet down to freezing.
Fall Blueberry color © Colehauscats.com
The fountain in autumn © Colehauscats.com
Our Autumn mantle © Colehauscats.com
Inside, we’ve decorated for autumn, one of our favorite seasons. Dad is still looking for a job. Mom is still working long weekend hours and trying to get enough sleep to keep from going crazy worrying about Dad. All the Colehaus Cats are happy she’s finally jumped aboard the cat nap train and afternoon snuggle time has been epic! (Shhh, don’t tell the cats Mom isn’t really napping. Mom’s never been a day napper but she’s willing to humor Olivia and Pia by acting like one.)
Autumn door wreath © Colehauscats.com
Thank you for all your well wishes that Dad finds work soon and everything gets back on track. We’ll keep your thoughts close and we’ll hope for the best. Have a safe and happy Halloween! See you in a few weeks!
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A Colehaus Cats flashback:
2017 – No post
2016 – Happy Halloween!
2015 – No post
2014 – Happy Halloween!
2013 – No post
2012 – Does this make me look…
