Looks like we won't live in Mixie after all...

Our land deal fell through - on a remarkably ridiculous point. According to our lawyer, and his, the seller should have put a certain clause in the deed, but refused to do so, and would not explain himself. He put an ultimatum to us, we called it. We're looking for another piece of land.

We may be nice Minnesotans, but we're not being backed into anything that looks like a trap.

As a sulking/get our mind off it, our boss offered for us all to go to Jackson yesterday, and get some supplies for the office (as well as pulp sci-fi mags for Mr.J and yarn and books for me - almost like Christmas, actually) so, we feel a little better.

I'll leave you with a happy picture of Squint.

Opportunity Knocks when you Haven't Unpacked your Suitcase

I woke up this morning to a rousing game of Kitty Suitcase Antics. Squint is both ethused and scared that our girls now consider him healthy enough to fight back, instead of just ignoring him or running away.

Here he is cruising for a bruising...

Squint shows off his Kung Fu
looks familiar, huh?

Kitty Suitcase Antics includes: jumping in and out of suitcase, dragging items that were still folded out of suitcase (larger players only) and making a remarkably loud noise most of the time.

Sally and Willow used to play Suitcase Game all the time when they were little. I know if Sally had wanted to be mean she could have knocked Squint a lot further, and a lot more often than she did. She deliberately avoided smacking him on the hurt side (at least while I was watching). She was definitely playing and getting a kick out of the 'tiny fighter.'

Yarny stuff and Squintastic

Brace Yourself: Up until now, I've never actually shown the 'bad side' of Squint's face. He has no ear whatsoever, now, on the bad side. Just a long sealed up scar.

If you have a strong stomach, here is the latest picture of Squint. Know that although his looks are unsettling, he is completely oblivious of it, and a happy active kitten. *He will look better when all that 'fuzzy gray skin' is once again covered with gray kitty fur. That might take a little while though.* We know that he will live a long happy life, if someone gives him a chance. Mr.J has given him the hopeful nickname of 'Squintastic.'

Two 'nicer', non-close-up pictures of Squint in action :o)
We had a 'cone' on his head, but took it off tonight.
This masking tape 'boot' is to keep him
from scratching the wound open.
So far, it is working well.
Update: Little Red went to a good home with a grandfather and a little boy at the flea market. Smoke went with a lady who has many barn cats in her horse barn and said she could take good care of him.

If you don't have a strong stomach, here are some yarny stuff pictures :o)

I received my prize from Knittymama's contest!
Thank you Knittymama!

And, *gasp* I've began the second vacation sock... just barely.
Do you see the stealth pawprints on my computer bag?

Vacated and Squint's late-night emergency

Remember Craftylilly's Knitflix sign-ups for Yarn and a Movie swapping! She needs a few more sign-ups, or at least an even number!

Some knitting did occur.
I taught my niece (Mr.J's niece) to bind off her knitting, and a few more stitches. I didn't even know she could knit :o) She said I knit 'upside-down'... hmm...anyway what works, works.. right? She was able to translate the idea to her kind of knitting :o)

Click here for
My Minnesota Wilderness pictures
I think the Prairie River Dam is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Willow is thoroughly 'vacated.' ;o)
Sally has to rest up after all the noisy meowing

Squint

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For travel, Squint received an 'E' for effort, as he had to stay in a box most of the time we were moving. I couldn't really blame him for what whining and messmaking he did, because if I were trapped in an 8" by 14" cat carrier for most of 18 hours, well.. I'd be cranky too. He did impress everyone who met him in Minnesota though, with his sweet disposition and plucky attitude.

HORROR

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The worst part of it was that on Sunday night, after we arrived, Squint had an emergency. We had put him in the bathroom for only a few minutes, to unload our luggage, and then I heard a tiny kitten yowl from behind the door. *FREAK* He had ripped off his scab, and a bit more of his bad ear in the process. He was bleeding, and Mr.J luckily was able to attend to him while I froze up and hyperventilated. It looked worse than it was - but I was certain we were going to lose him right there. I'm not good with other people's/creature's blood.. I'd never have made a good nurse or vet!

By the next day he had clotted up and seemed livley and ferocious as usual. We put an oil funnel from a local gas station around his neck for a 'cone', to keep him from scratching his ear. I took him to the vet on Wednesday for a check-up and to clean out what was left of his poor ear as he had been crawling around under the beds in the house. He is almost completely recovered again and giving both of our girls good reasons to smack him once in a while (biting at back of legs etc).

The vet ladies at North Country vet clinic in Grand Rapids, MN did a wonderful job with him. He was sweet and sat still for them while they examined and treated his ear. They were amazed at his survival and said his ear was healing 'as best as could be expected' for all he had been through. They said he was remarkably active, well-fed and that the antibiotic and salve treatements we've been giving him were right on the money.

Tennessee State Line - Take me Home!

First off- a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to CarrieK!
Happy Birthday to you!

I am so glad to be home! I've missed EVERYONE! As soon as we hit Murray, KY, Willow and Sally were up and active, as if their internal compasses kicked back in and once again they could locate 'home.'

For half of the trip - they were curled up behind Mr. J's seat together.

Note plenty of cat hair on the seats.

Cats in Cars

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The girls took the trip much better than last year, with no real problems. (last year, Sally ran away at a wayside rest and we barely caught her.. that was a problem!) Overalll, Willow gets a B, for being a generally good 'Car Cat.' I would have given her a higher grade, but she did get on the dash twice during the trip, and once tried to get under Mr.J's brake foot - a big no-no! Sally gets a D+ for being extremely Noisy halfway through Illinois, refusing water the entire 18 hours and general grumpiness.

Little Squint is back in TN with us too. He is doing well, after a slight emergency vet visit earlier in the week. The vet ladies in Grand Rapids, MN were so very kind and gentle with him, and he sat still and was a good kitten for them too! He is roaring with ferocious kitten energy, and beginning to get on the girls' nerves badly!

All this week, I will have pictures from what I consider to be some of the most beautiful places in my hometown's region. I'll try to space them out though :o)

Can you believe I did not TOUCH any computer at all this week? Anyone else fainting over that? ;o) I'll have to catch up with everyone after a good night's sleep!

I Wanna Be a Kitten Too!

My original kitten girl, Willow, hams it up.
The girls still have no clue we are leaving tomorrow.
When I start packing furiously, they'll be worried!
Willow was extra cute this morning, this is the crate I keep my computer up and away from kittens on. She wanted a lot of playing and scratching behind the ears, and she definitely got it!

But, lo and behold, not a finger's breadth away... sleeps Squint.
Willow: You're going to use this photo to blackmail me, right?

Willow has been nose-to-nose with all of the kittens more and more lately - I wish they all had another week to get to know each other and for the kittens to get more used to their dry food. Doria's owner(Doria was the kitten's mom) says he will take Red and Smoke out on Saturday and, if necessary, Tuesday morning to try to give them away. They'll be just fine, as they know him already. He has two other cats though, and also cannot keep them. His offer takes some of the urgency out of all of this 'leaving for Minnesota' bit, but I will miss them!

I have a TON of cleaning to do, laundry to wash, bags to pack - which is what put me in such a bad mood yesterday. This is usually all my part of the job, then Mr.J drives the whole way non-stop (except waystations). That's why I was grumpy.. and I still need to do most of it.. so why am I at the computer? ;o)