Our dearling Precious went to kitty heaven a week and a half ago. She was my indoor-outdoor cat, then our indoor-only for 17 years collectively. She became the traveling companion, enjoying the sights when we'd hook up, once in a while making a quick escape out the door only to return as fast as she could; she'd lost any desire to explore new outdoorsy places. We thought we could live without a feline presence, but we were both at a loss for that special cat "thing." We should probably have our heads examined, as we'd said "no more pets" not terribly long ago. But, we're cat people; it's just difficult to be without a cat underfoot at our kitchen or by the front door while we're trying to get in or out and the cat's doing the opposite... and definitely in bed where one of us (moi) might prefer no more fur up the nose while attempting to snuggle with a human rather than having a kitty in the middle. I mean, the kitty messiness isn't really a problem in itself. Duuuuhhhhhhhhhhh. So Gary went online to the McPaws shelter just outside McCall, so many cats and kittens from which to choose! We went for a visit and enjoyed meeting a couple of longhairs that would have turned the RV into a rolling fur ball rather than home, beautiful and affectionate as they both were. Then we found Eartha, a 4-year-old (best guess) part Siamese girl. We can't figure out why Eartha has no home, as she'd been declawed and spayed. She enjoyed our attention, petting and chin rubbies, but didn't like being around other cats/kittens. She has a wicked lioness growl, the loudest and most sincere that either of us have ever heard from a house cat when we brought her into the "playroom" at the shelter with another interesting kitty. We brought her home last Saturday. It took just a couple of minutes for her to try to find a way out of a bedroom corner at the edge of a slide-out. She did a bit of poking around and then discovered the awesome air bed. She loves the water "fountain" dish where the water's filtered constantly; terribly thirsty, she's drinking all the time it seems. We think she may have gotten a bit dehydrated at the shelter where she also picked up a cold, so we hope that passes soon. Having had an accident the first evening, she spent that night enclosed with the litter box in the bathroom. She meowed a few times and was quite for the night. We thought she'd be bursting (meowing and full bladder), but no pawprints or "gifts" in the litter box. Next morning she finally decided using the litter box was a good idea. Yay! Out came the treats, and she's had the run of the house since. She loves to be close to either of us, sleeping between us, and is napping a lot... extra since she's not feeling too spiffy. She reminds us a bit of Precious, almost as if Kitty-1 sent us to get Kitty-2. She has a quiet purr that starts the instant you touch her, happy to be immersed in love. She seems very well-behaved, waiting nicely for a bit of chicken or salmon, yum! Many thanks to everyone for their kind words of concern for our loss of Precious and congratulations on our gain with Eartha. Happy campers again, we are. See Precious and Eartha in these two little albums:
Remembering Precious: http://picasaweb.google.com/NotesOnWings/RememberingPrecious#
Eartha Kitt-y: http://picasaweb.google.com/NotesOnWings/EarthaKittY#
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
McCall, ID July and August, 2009
We're enjoying summer this year not roaming around a lot, but staying put a month here, a couple months there. We arrived at the McCall RV Resort early in July, having left Clarkston, WA, before it started to heat up too much. We love being able to move to where the weather's more moderate than not. We had stayed here for a week our first summer "out" when we were going everywhere we could throughout the summer, meeting friends, seeing as many National Parks and Monuments as Gary planned into our adventures.
We're parked in a sunny setting right on the North Fork of the Payette River. The scenery is fantastic, and we have late afternoon shade from huge pines that provide a wonderful place to sit and read, watch birds, enjoy the river movement. We always have good neighbors, always.
When we arrived, the meadow across the river was filled with wildflowers that are now fading, although it's not a dreary view by any stretch of the imagination. There's a small bridge frequented by fisher people (men, boys, women, girls, dogs, birds) and walkers (myself included) who cross to follow paths throughout the meadow. Glance into the river to enjoy the colors of the rocks and emerald green algae, fish, and various other critters. The tree swallows and violet green swallows work the area for small bugs while osprey and kingfishers are checking from loftier heights for their next meal. A couple of osprey chicks call out as they fish or land in a huge pine, something to the effect of "feed me, I'm hungry." It's not long before an adult (not much different in size or coloring) joins the fledgeling to help direct the activity or request. Western bluebirds abound, and we see yellow birds, presumably lesser goldfinches, along with others. From time to time I see the floaters and bobbers, actually cormorants that float along and then dive under the water, swim a while, then pop up like bobbers. The hatchlings were particularly amusing, reminding me of the yellow rubber duckies we've all enjoyed (maybe still do?).
Did I mention the fragrance in the air? There's a mix of the crisp pine and spruce along with wildflowers that are impossible to pinpoint, but would be an encouraging mix for a perfumer! Kevin, the owner of the RV park described the orange-y fragrance of engleman spruce which I have yet to find. The wildflowers are abundant and changing. New ones show up continually. It's no wonder it's difficult to pin down any specific fragrance.
McCall is central to all sorts of outdoor sports from skiing and snowmobiling in the winter to hiking, boating, rafting, fishing in the summer. The town is small, on the edge of Payette Lake where you'll find a nice beach and boating opportunities galore. The two grocery stores offer sporting goods, clothing and shoes, and all manner of things you wouldn't find in grocery stores back East! There are interesting specialty shops and dining opportunities, our favorites being The Pancake House (great breakfasts and terrific homemade soups) and Ruperts (wonderful lunches) at the McCall Hotel where you can sit on the patio and enjoy the lake view.
More soon. Time for a bit of a walk for me. Visit our photo album showing some of the sights, including magnificent homes, at http://picasaweb.google.com/NotesOnWings/McCallIDSummer2009
Cheers then...
We're parked in a sunny setting right on the North Fork of the Payette River. The scenery is fantastic, and we have late afternoon shade from huge pines that provide a wonderful place to sit and read, watch birds, enjoy the river movement. We always have good neighbors, always.
When we arrived, the meadow across the river was filled with wildflowers that are now fading, although it's not a dreary view by any stretch of the imagination. There's a small bridge frequented by fisher people (men, boys, women, girls, dogs, birds) and walkers (myself included) who cross to follow paths throughout the meadow. Glance into the river to enjoy the colors of the rocks and emerald green algae, fish, and various other critters. The tree swallows and violet green swallows work the area for small bugs while osprey and kingfishers are checking from loftier heights for their next meal. A couple of osprey chicks call out as they fish or land in a huge pine, something to the effect of "feed me, I'm hungry." It's not long before an adult (not much different in size or coloring) joins the fledgeling to help direct the activity or request. Western bluebirds abound, and we see yellow birds, presumably lesser goldfinches, along with others. From time to time I see the floaters and bobbers, actually cormorants that float along and then dive under the water, swim a while, then pop up like bobbers. The hatchlings were particularly amusing, reminding me of the yellow rubber duckies we've all enjoyed (maybe still do?).
Did I mention the fragrance in the air? There's a mix of the crisp pine and spruce along with wildflowers that are impossible to pinpoint, but would be an encouraging mix for a perfumer! Kevin, the owner of the RV park described the orange-y fragrance of engleman spruce which I have yet to find. The wildflowers are abundant and changing. New ones show up continually. It's no wonder it's difficult to pin down any specific fragrance.
McCall is central to all sorts of outdoor sports from skiing and snowmobiling in the winter to hiking, boating, rafting, fishing in the summer. The town is small, on the edge of Payette Lake where you'll find a nice beach and boating opportunities galore. The two grocery stores offer sporting goods, clothing and shoes, and all manner of things you wouldn't find in grocery stores back East! There are interesting specialty shops and dining opportunities, our favorites being The Pancake House (great breakfasts and terrific homemade soups) and Ruperts (wonderful lunches) at the McCall Hotel where you can sit on the patio and enjoy the lake view.
More soon. Time for a bit of a walk for me. Visit our photo album showing some of the sights, including magnificent homes, at http://picasaweb.google.com/NotesOnWings/McCallIDSummer2009
Cheers then...
Getting off the ground
Memories on the go, it's long past time to share with family and friends the places we've been, things we've seen, experiences we've had. Lengthy newsy-letters are no longer happening, thus a bit of a blog. Since I didn't start this when we first went "on the road" almost three years ago, it won't be in any sequential order. That said... Enjoy!
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