Newly Adopted Cats in Our House

Lately the kids have really been after me to get some sort of pet. We lost our little dog Rolly almost a year ago but I don’t feel ready to have another dog. It’s been nice to not be tied down with a dog and Rolly was old- 16- and very needy and tempermental.
I have never gone this long without a pet, so we talked about having a cat.
Well, it ended up being two cats and we adopted them from the
“Friends of Manchester Animal Shelter”.

two black cats
Richie and Fontana

My daughter went by the FMAS (shelter) and of course wanted every animal there – mostly they had cats, but she settled on “Richie” because he was so friendly. Then my son wanted one too and I thought, what’s the difference as long as they get along.
So we put Richie and Fontana (their shelter names) in a closed room together and they didn’t fight so we thought they would be fine together and it has worked out very well. They sleep together on the front window ledge, eat side by side, and have recently begun to roughhouse play together too.

cats
Watching the Squirrels

For $75 we got two nice cats who are spayed and neutered and have had all their shots. A friend of ours recently found a stray kitten and after taking it to the vet – one cat- the cost was over $200.
So Fontana and Richie have a new home and I think they are pretty happy.

two black cats
Their Favorite Spot to Rest

Wooden Santa Count Down Calendar

Each year my son loves to open the little drawers to this wooden Santa calendar. And I always have trouble finding little things to fill all 24 draws with! They are tiny and not much will fit inside so I usually put coins, chocolate bits, and other small pieces of some kind of candy in there. A couple of them will hold a note with a message like “I love You” or something. But I am always at a loss for adding items and don’t get around to finish filling it until the month is just about over!

Santa advent calendar
Santa Advent Calendar

Snowfall and Metal Roofs

We got a bunch of snow last Wednesday. I shoveled off and on all day between digging out the cars (I don’t have a garage) and clearing the deck and steps.

The house I rent has a new metal roof, which my landlord loves becuase now the snow just slides right off…and it did. Overnight the entire load of about a foot of snow slid off the roof – it’s loud too! So I woke up to find that my cleared deck was loaded with a couple of feet of firmly packed snow.

My son helped me clear it, since my back was aching from the day before, but my wood pile is half burried as well and there is no more using the front door – just the back. But the roof is clear!

snow from the roof
Snow From the Roof

Playing With Cosmos

Cosmos flowers are one of my favorites to photograph. These grew in my yard over the summer – I started them from seeds in early spring and they grew into small trees!
I love the look of the petals and the white ones are my favorites.
The seeds are easy to collect and use the next year too. See more of my floral photography at Big Blooms

Pink Cosmos
Pretty Cosmos
red cosmos
A different look