That up there is Stella. Formerly known as Krumkhaka. Two June's ago, while living in the flatlands, some friends of ours found 2 tiny kittens, whose mama had been hit by a car and killed. They took home one of the kittens. We took the other one. Stella/Krumkhaka is that kitten..... all growed up! When Stella (We, in this house, still call her Krumy, but since she is officially now Stella, I will call her that during this blog.) was just a year old, she gave birth to 6 kittens. 6 of them. In our house. We found homes for all of those kittens. We kept one (who later died). Amy and Chris took their pick of the litter early on, and took their kitten home with them when they moved into their apartment last August. That kitten was named "Amis", which is a combo of Amy and Chris.
Amis had a fine time in Iowa City with Chris and Amy, but Amis was used to a lot of animals! Besides her, there were 3 other cats and 2 dogs in the house when she lived with us in Bode. Amy was worried that Amis was being left alone too often and was lonely. So, when we moved from the flatlands to river hills area of Keokuk, Stella was reunited with her daughter, Amis, and went to live with the Iowa City branch of our wacky family!
As you can tell by the pictures of Stella... above... and Amis... below... these cats are quite spoiled living with Chris and Amy. Stella likes to go outside now and then, so Amy puts her on the leash and harness and lets her play with bugs in the great outdoors. Amis gets to play dress up! No one knows if Amis likes to play dress up, but she does get to play! : )
Now, we fast forward to yesterday. Amy and Chris are leaving Iowa City for a while. They are heading to Des Moines for 3 months, while Chris does an internship with a large accounting firm and Amy does and internship with the United Way. Since it's hard to find an apartment for 3 months, let alone one that will allow pets, Stella and Amis didn't get to go to Des Moines. Poor babies!
So, as we all know, I am pretty much a sucker when it comes to animals. And my kids. And my grand-animals. Yesterday, Amis and Stella came to spend a little over 3 months with us! : ) That means that there is a grand total of 4 cats.... and 2 dogs.... living in our house.
Everyone seems to be adjusting fairly well. We kept everyone separated last night and today, until I got home from work. Now, everyone is going everywhere. Stella is by far the most comfortable of the cats, as far as dealing with us all.
JoJo, on the other hand, seems to think that just because she showed up here as a stray, she should get special privileges, I guess! She sits on my shoulder and hisses at the 2 new cats. They ignore her. JoJo will adjust and I'm sure that she and Amis will end up playing endlessly! They both love to play! And Taltos will love the fact that there is another cat around for JoJo to bother, rather than him!
JoJo, above, hanging out in a basket. Taltos, below, chilling on a chair.
Then, there are the dogs! Buddy is still guarding that precious toy of his from the cats! He also is very good at stealing Amis and Stella's toys that they brought along. He doesn't seem to mind the additional cats. He will most likely be relieved, like Taltos, that JoJo will have another cat to pick on. I'm sure he's hoping for Amis to give him a break from JoJo! C'mon Amis, get into the play with JoJo mode!!! : )
Poor Chester. Poor, poor Chester. Old, lovable, wonderful Chester! He loves to just lie around and enjoy life. He doesn't like to play with cats. When one of them approaches him, he gets up and wanders to a new place to relax. Poor Chester is having to do a lot of wandering and moving today. He's not mean to the cats. Not at all. He wouldn't be mean to them, no matter how much they pester him. But, he does get up and go away from them. Which sometimes makes JoJo go after his tail. Poor Chester. I'm sure he's rooting for Amis and JoJo to hook up for some playtime very soon, too!
So, we are living in our own version of Animal House. 4 cats. 2 dogs. 2 teenage boys. A 3 day weekend. As long as there isn't a food fight over the weekend..... .and I can enjoy that Iowa game..... I might survive! However, I sure hope that there is a weeeee bit of relaxing time for the Mama, too! I'd hate to have to abandon everyone, just to get a bit of peace and quiet! (After I yell at the tv during the Iowa game, of course!)
Enjoy your long, holiday weekend. If you are in the market for extra dog or cat hair, let me know. I can hook you up!!!! : )
Have fun with all those animals! Oh I wish we had more around here!
ReplyDeletePraying hard right now!
Psalms 130:5-7 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let [us] hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
The Lord is with you right now, lifting you up, giving you strength! Always praying!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I want an animal house! ;o)
ReplyDeleteThe Lord will always be there to get you through whatever you have to face. Praying!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.