anaisninja (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
anaisninja) wrote2025-07-30 09:20 pm
anaisninja) wrote2025-07-30 09:20 pm(no subject)
So filled out the shelter application again, and after hitting send, realized that I had neglected to count myself under the adults living in the household, therefore leaving out my goddamn age lol. I rattled off a quick email correcting and apologizing for my error. A couple hours later and I get a call from said shelter, wanting to arrange a meeting for me and the kitty I had seen on the website. Turns out she's at the Petsmart near me. No time like the present, I decided to meet up with a shelter employee and the cat N.
N was as lovely a cat as one could wish for, affectionate, curious, and playful. She even gave me a nice nose bump when she climbed up on the scratch pad near me. But at no time did she make enough eye contact for me to slow blink or get an idea of what she thought of me. She tagteamed me and the other woman, being polite and sociable. I said I'd sleep on it, which she the woman said they encouraged, to make sure the fit was right for both parties involved. A lovely cat, for sure. But she didn't need me.
Am I looking for something I'm not going to be able to actively seek out? Should I give a perfectly fine cat a chance to work her magic on me? Am I a goddamn monster turning down such a great cat? But for real now, she just wasn't that into me.
I don't know if it's possible to me to feel any worse about the situation, but I feel like I'm not going to find the cat I want in the near future, and it's probably for the best, because I'm not anywhere over losing Qua. I'm not crying every day, but I still cry pretty regularly. I still sing his little song every day, and visit his body in the walkin when I'm at work. I need to do something about that particular situation, too.
Qua actually came to visit me in a dream the other night; I can't remember exactly how it happened, but I woke up with the impression that Qua had been there with me. Goddamn it I miss him so much. If there was one thing I knew down to my bones, it was that Qua needed me. He didn't ask for much, he just wanted my love, and because of him, I finally figured how to offer that without strings or reservations or escape hatches.
I asked the shelter lady if they ever had borderline feral cats come in that needed extra TLC, she said it was mainly feral kittens who still had a decent chance of chilling enough to be regular housecats. I feel like maybe I do need to start volunteering to see if I can find a cat who needed me like Bunny in Summit County did. I'll always regret that I wasn't able to take her in. Maybe things would have turned out differently for her. Maybe not, though. At least I got to be there with her at the end.
Earlier today I grabbed some live prey for the hawks and owls at work, and attended a training presesntation from some amazing folks from Natural Encounters. I had a few questions about Armando, and if I'm asking him too much or confusing him by trying to train him to identify different objects. They said that caracaras are some of the smartest raptors, and great to work with, and that I wasn't asking too much of him, that it should be very much doable. That was very encouraging to hear. Before I left for the day, and walked past the bird of prey area, I could hear him chattering, so I took a moment to swing by and say hello. He had his dinner with him, happy to show it off to me. C had said it was obvious to her that Armando loves me more than anyone else there, and while I'm not sure if he actually can love me, it feels really nice to hear.
Another bullshit thing on my radar of goddamn things I need to do; the roof on my mew has caved in again. It doesn't look like the hardy panel failed, it looks like the center beam rotted through. I don't know what all is necessary to fix it, all I know is it's going to take way more expertise than I have. Which means I'm gonna have to ask someone for help. I wish my bro was here, he could fix this shit up with the quickness. But it's not the only thing that needs fixed on there. Part of me is tempted to just say fuck it and tear it down, part of me says I should fix it and make the most of it this season since I don't have a cat to contend with around a hawk. I just don't fucking know anymore. Spinning my wheels for awhile now, and in a goddamn tailspin since losing Qua. If I could just jump on a plane to Australia and start over from scratch down there, that would be fucking nice.
N was as lovely a cat as one could wish for, affectionate, curious, and playful. She even gave me a nice nose bump when she climbed up on the scratch pad near me. But at no time did she make enough eye contact for me to slow blink or get an idea of what she thought of me. She tagteamed me and the other woman, being polite and sociable. I said I'd sleep on it, which she the woman said they encouraged, to make sure the fit was right for both parties involved. A lovely cat, for sure. But she didn't need me.
Am I looking for something I'm not going to be able to actively seek out? Should I give a perfectly fine cat a chance to work her magic on me? Am I a goddamn monster turning down such a great cat? But for real now, she just wasn't that into me.
I don't know if it's possible to me to feel any worse about the situation, but I feel like I'm not going to find the cat I want in the near future, and it's probably for the best, because I'm not anywhere over losing Qua. I'm not crying every day, but I still cry pretty regularly. I still sing his little song every day, and visit his body in the walkin when I'm at work. I need to do something about that particular situation, too.
Qua actually came to visit me in a dream the other night; I can't remember exactly how it happened, but I woke up with the impression that Qua had been there with me. Goddamn it I miss him so much. If there was one thing I knew down to my bones, it was that Qua needed me. He didn't ask for much, he just wanted my love, and because of him, I finally figured how to offer that without strings or reservations or escape hatches.
I asked the shelter lady if they ever had borderline feral cats come in that needed extra TLC, she said it was mainly feral kittens who still had a decent chance of chilling enough to be regular housecats. I feel like maybe I do need to start volunteering to see if I can find a cat who needed me like Bunny in Summit County did. I'll always regret that I wasn't able to take her in. Maybe things would have turned out differently for her. Maybe not, though. At least I got to be there with her at the end.
Earlier today I grabbed some live prey for the hawks and owls at work, and attended a training presesntation from some amazing folks from Natural Encounters. I had a few questions about Armando, and if I'm asking him too much or confusing him by trying to train him to identify different objects. They said that caracaras are some of the smartest raptors, and great to work with, and that I wasn't asking too much of him, that it should be very much doable. That was very encouraging to hear. Before I left for the day, and walked past the bird of prey area, I could hear him chattering, so I took a moment to swing by and say hello. He had his dinner with him, happy to show it off to me. C had said it was obvious to her that Armando loves me more than anyone else there, and while I'm not sure if he actually can love me, it feels really nice to hear.
Another bullshit thing on my radar of goddamn things I need to do; the roof on my mew has caved in again. It doesn't look like the hardy panel failed, it looks like the center beam rotted through. I don't know what all is necessary to fix it, all I know is it's going to take way more expertise than I have. Which means I'm gonna have to ask someone for help. I wish my bro was here, he could fix this shit up with the quickness. But it's not the only thing that needs fixed on there. Part of me is tempted to just say fuck it and tear it down, part of me says I should fix it and make the most of it this season since I don't have a cat to contend with around a hawk. I just don't fucking know anymore. Spinning my wheels for awhile now, and in a goddamn tailspin since losing Qua. If I could just jump on a plane to Australia and start over from scratch down there, that would be fucking nice.
Rafi Winters (rafiwinters) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
gardening2025-07-26 05:26 pm
rafiwinters) wrote in gardening2025-07-26 05:26 pmthoughts about accessible gardening?
Hello lovely gardener friends. I have various physical limitations which frustrate me when trying to do traditional gardening--you know, in the ground, where you have to bend, kneel, squat, use heavy long-handled tools, etc. My wife and I managed a few tomato plants and one cucumber plant this year but I want to do more, yet to do it without hurting myself. So I'm doing research for next year. If it helps to know, I'm in New England in the U.S.
What are your favorite ways to make gardening easier on your body?
So far I've come across the following ideas: planter boxes on legs, and vertical gardening. Any further ideas are welcome, as are any elaborations on the raised boxes and the vertical gardening.
Mostly my interests are in growing vegetables, stawberries, and herbs. We get lots of sun in our yard.
Thanks!
What are your favorite ways to make gardening easier on your body?
So far I've come across the following ideas: planter boxes on legs, and vertical gardening. Any further ideas are welcome, as are any elaborations on the raised boxes and the vertical gardening.
Mostly my interests are in growing vegetables, stawberries, and herbs. We get lots of sun in our yard.
Thanks!
cmcmck (cmcmck) wrote in common_nature2025-07-26 12:35 pm
cmcmck) wrote in common_nature2025-07-26 12:35 pmA walk to Dothill
Dothill is on the moorland side of town and is an interesting combo of marshland, wetland and lakes.
This path takes you in once you walk through Donnerville Spinney to get there:
( More pics! )
This path takes you in once you walk through Donnerville Spinney to get there:
( More pics! )
yourlibrarian (yourlibrarian) wrote in common_nature2025-07-25 05:36 pm
yourlibrarian) wrote in common_nature2025-07-25 05:36 pmEntry tags:
Starvation Falls
Our last waterfall of the trip, Starvation Falls. Smaller than the others with a little creek running down near the parking lot.
( Read more... )
Ursula (ursula) wrote2025-07-23 06:06 pm
ursula) wrote2025-07-23 06:06 pmEntry tags:
(no subject)
My local library interviewed me about North Continent Ribbon!
It was an interesting conversation because the interviewer isn't a habitual science fiction reader. I'm always curious about what non-genre readers focus on.
It was an interesting conversation because the interviewer isn't a habitual science fiction reader. I'm always curious about what non-genre readers focus on.
pauraque (pauraque) wrote in common_nature2025-07-23 12:00 pm
pauraque) wrote in common_nature2025-07-23 12:00 pmEntry tags:
carnivorous pitcher plant
While hiking in a conserved wetland, I saw an informational sign about native pitcher plants. I had no idea we had these in New England; I always thought of carnivorous plants as a tropical thing. But I took a look around and they were certainly there!
This appears to be Sarracenia purpurea which has a lot of names in English, including Common Pitcher Plant. The specialized leaves form cup-shaped traps with nectar at the bottom that attracts bugs, which can't escape and are digested to provide nutrition for the plant. In this species the traps sit on the ground, and I don't know if I would have noticed them if I hadn't been looking.
( pitcher plant flower and habitat (2 photos) )
This appears to be Sarracenia purpurea which has a lot of names in English, including Common Pitcher Plant. The specialized leaves form cup-shaped traps with nectar at the bottom that attracts bugs, which can't escape and are digested to provide nutrition for the plant. In this species the traps sit on the ground, and I don't know if I would have noticed them if I hadn't been looking.
( pitcher plant flower and habitat (2 photos) )
turlough (turlough) wrote in common_nature2025-07-22 08:22 pm
turlough) wrote in common_nature2025-07-22 08:22 pm
Entry tags:
kites in the sky
The only birds of prey I see here in my tiny town in south-eastern Sweden are Red Kites (Milvus milvus). They're usually soaring far too high up and away over the forest to get acceptable photos of. This morning however a pair was kind enough to come down low enough I could take ( these... )
anaisninja (anaisninja) wrote2025-07-21 08:01 pm
anaisninja) wrote2025-07-21 08:01 pm(no subject)
Still no call from Cat Depot. Joke's on them, I found another shelter called Satchel's Last Resort, and they have a bunch of cats there. One of whom I am steadily thinking about. She's built like Cleo was, slim and slinky with big eyes and a pointed face. The pictures of her on the website suggest the potential for big personality. She's over a year old, so hopefully past the psycho kitten stage. YOu have to fill out an application just to meet a cat, and they encourage people to meet with them more than once, so I might just do that. I want a cat that likes me. If she's not my cat, she's not my cat.
Also thinking about getting a second cat, as a friend for the first, if she's a cat that has a friend. Cleo wasn't much for companionship, and Qua was much happier as a singleton, so if that's a better idea, I can go for that, too. I just feel bad with them being at home all day with me at work. I leave early in the AM, but I also get home much sooner, too. I should get a cat tree.
I think I will if I get this ancient history bank situation straightened out to satisfaction. ADHD brain strikes again, turns out that I have an orphan account with money for me that I lost track of in the middle of the warranty refund from hell, the car accident, and insurance hubbubbery. It was aan unexpected refund that I think came after the accident, and while I may have lost track of it, I've got a bead on it now, and after all, it's still mine. I want that money.
Second dumb grownup situation at work involving backordered crane chow, a new vendor that's not cutting it, and a potential new vendor who is actually a former vendor who was made of absolute fail. Mercury's in haterade again apparently. That's some stupid shit.
Last Friday I got off work and decided to take a walk through the mangroves to see if the Cat Distribution System might have someone waiting for me. One of the local shelters used to dump cats there, and feed them once a day in the park. There's so much wrong with that, I don't even know where to start. Anyway, it turned out the boardwalk was blocked off due to damage from what had to be Milton or Helene - still not repaired? I figured I would walk around the outside of the park to see if I could access some of the trail from the other side.
No catbeasts were waiting for me, but under the boardwalk by the damaged bridge, there was a young turniphead GBH derping around. "Little blue!" I said, and before I could correct myself, an actual little blue heron jumped out onto the railing "Here I am!" looking very pleased to have been noticed for a change. I immediately turned to fussing over the little blue, and while I did, I heard the annoyed cough of a green heron not far from the shoreline. I watched them fly off like a dart into the mangroves, displeased at the interruption, and once again I had the occasion to observe how much more gravitas the little green herons have compared to the great blues and great egrets. They're so compact and ready to zoop, the color palette is muted, but insanely detailed. Such an underrated bird.
The little blue had some kind of acrobatics thing going on the handrail. It looked similar to something I'd seen one do when they were balancing on some signage a while back. Their sense of balance seems about as good as mine. This one looked like they looked like they had practiced a lot. Good job, little blue.
Also thinking about getting a second cat, as a friend for the first, if she's a cat that has a friend. Cleo wasn't much for companionship, and Qua was much happier as a singleton, so if that's a better idea, I can go for that, too. I just feel bad with them being at home all day with me at work. I leave early in the AM, but I also get home much sooner, too. I should get a cat tree.
I think I will if I get this ancient history bank situation straightened out to satisfaction. ADHD brain strikes again, turns out that I have an orphan account with money for me that I lost track of in the middle of the warranty refund from hell, the car accident, and insurance hubbubbery. It was aan unexpected refund that I think came after the accident, and while I may have lost track of it, I've got a bead on it now, and after all, it's still mine. I want that money.
Second dumb grownup situation at work involving backordered crane chow, a new vendor that's not cutting it, and a potential new vendor who is actually a former vendor who was made of absolute fail. Mercury's in haterade again apparently. That's some stupid shit.
Last Friday I got off work and decided to take a walk through the mangroves to see if the Cat Distribution System might have someone waiting for me. One of the local shelters used to dump cats there, and feed them once a day in the park. There's so much wrong with that, I don't even know where to start. Anyway, it turned out the boardwalk was blocked off due to damage from what had to be Milton or Helene - still not repaired? I figured I would walk around the outside of the park to see if I could access some of the trail from the other side.
No catbeasts were waiting for me, but under the boardwalk by the damaged bridge, there was a young turniphead GBH derping around. "Little blue!" I said, and before I could correct myself, an actual little blue heron jumped out onto the railing "Here I am!" looking very pleased to have been noticed for a change. I immediately turned to fussing over the little blue, and while I did, I heard the annoyed cough of a green heron not far from the shoreline. I watched them fly off like a dart into the mangroves, displeased at the interruption, and once again I had the occasion to observe how much more gravitas the little green herons have compared to the great blues and great egrets. They're so compact and ready to zoop, the color palette is muted, but insanely detailed. Such an underrated bird.
The little blue had some kind of acrobatics thing going on the handrail. It looked similar to something I'd seen one do when they were balancing on some signage a while back. Their sense of balance seems about as good as mine. This one looked like they looked like they had practiced a lot. Good job, little blue.
yourlibrarian (yourlibrarian) wrote in common_nature2025-07-21 06:13 pm
yourlibrarian) wrote in common_nature2025-07-21 06:13 pmEntry tags:
Birds in Flight
I interrupt my travel series to share some photos from the last months of birds. This barn swallow was caught almost by accident as it headed off, coming towards us in the parking lot.
( Read more... )
yourlibrarian (yourlibrarian) wrote in common_nature2025-07-18 08:06 pm
yourlibrarian) wrote in common_nature2025-07-18 08:06 pmEntry tags:
Hood River
Our destination for day 2 was Hood River. We loved this spot, both because of the view and the convenience of its location, parking and our rooms over the breakfast area.
This photo was the view from one of our rooms. It was not only a pretty view but one that changed all day long, as people at the inlet end point took kayaking, paddleboard and canoeing classes. I'd never seen a motorized paddleboard before but they were in use too, along with jet skis out on the river and parasailers.
We also got to watch birds diving for food, and trains and cargo barges go by on the river. We even saw a cruise ship once!
( Read more... )