Yesterday's Post About Pictures and Their Stories

You see Emerald here; this was yesterday, July 7th. She slept all day! So much so that Winston was growing concerned enough to come check on her and meow at her to see if she'd respond.

Friday, she was outside all day; I always get my cats in for the night just because, in the rural area where we live, there are night predators like eagles and foxes. There are also a few dogs that go after cats... So I get them in whether they want to or not. Occasionally they will insist on remaining outside if the house is too hot or after a particularly hot day.  Generally, they are indoors for the night. 

Emerald decided on Friday to remain out of doors all night. It was apparently not enough to go gallivanting all day; but the night was cool and she was off across the road in the bush. She's quite careful in going across the road, she stops, looks both ways and darts! She doesn't stick around for cars, she's just gone. Anyway, by 7 and 8 am Saturday morning, I was getting worried. The night before I had called and called ~ No Emmy ~ and she still wasn't responding to my calls by the night morning. My husband came in from work at 9 am and shortly after he spotted her trotting up the drive!! 

Finally she'd decided to come home from wherever she was. She was both hungry and tired. So tired that she spend the entire Saturday slumbering indoors; actually because of the rain and threat of thunderstorm, all the cats stayed inside. When they wanted to go out in the mid-evening, they weren't allowed. The pictures in yesterdays blog show Molly greeting and looking after Em! I thought it was so cute because Molly is holding her head down... not that she had too, Emmy was passed out! 

Catspaw

Every Picture Has A Story To Tell...

...and this pair certainly have a Tall tail to tell. Can you imagine what kind of story?

Look at the pictures and try to guess. 

I will tell you the story tomorrow.

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

How Extraordinary! Once Sailor made his decision to return to the castle his mind suddenly perceived a clarity which had, before now, eluded him and the peculiar dank vapor over the town seemed to unexpectedly lift, while the rain began receding back into the dark clouds above. The day cleared as they broke and scudded across the sky; driven by the wind. It was so sudden, as if on cue and was it triggered by Sailor's decision? Sailor thought to himself 'So. It was true.' The apprehension he'd been experiencing for a week now, the vague feelings of unwanted and unlooked for change... all leading to this decisive moment in his life. The fog indeed, had come for him. It had found him and it was driving him, inexorably, towards the ruined castle on the hill above the village. Now, to find out why!

Catspaw

Sailor Story In Chapter Two Phase

This is to let my readers and guests who have been faithfully following Sailor through his adventures know, that the story I began on February 24th, 2012 is now in the Chapter Two phase and events in the story are speeding toward some very interesting turns which will begin leading to a bizarre twist.

I had begun this story as a short term project but now the story is developing in a different direction then anticipated and taking on a life of its own. I am just following it but to what conclusion, I don't know. Nor do I know whether the story will end with the second chapter. There are still a few paragraphs in Chapter One that I will publish in the coming days while I begin developing Chapter Two.

I hope you will become a fan of Sailor and read all of his adventures. Turns out, he's not the cat you, or I, thought he was!!

In the meantime...  I will work on continuing his story and he will let me know what will come next. For those interested in reading his story from the beginning, it starts in my February 26th post. 

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Sailor started violently awake, frightening several seagulls into sudden flight who were fighting over the contents of the gutting bucket. Half sitting he stared about him wondering where he was. The heat of the day had past into a cooler early evening sunshine; the slop bucket was half full again, thanks in part to the sea birds. He had missed the day on the fishing boat! Still somewhat disoriented from his strange dream he climbed out of his nook and wandered the streets of the village. After a time he turned down a whitewashed byway and past a fisherman mending his lines. His mind was still preoccupied by the dream to really notice what the man was doing. His dream town and castle were so different from this place, how could that be and why was he dreaming about them more often? Questions, always questions.

What's coming in the next few parts of this story is really unbelievable. Stay tuned. 

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

 

It was hot and Sailor napped in his shaded recess. As he slipped into dream a different village came into view, one that seemed somehow older than the one he presently called home. This town had a castle on a hill above it and the houses were mostly tan and brown with occasional whitewashed buildings and a wider breakaway rampart that ended at the sea. There was more beach area too. What was most odd about this environment was the fact that there was something oddly familiar about the castle in particular; Sailor's mind wandered up the hill towards it in his dream. As he neared the structure he turned in a direction that felt almost native to him, it brought him through thick trees and grasses to a side gate. As Sailor approached, with extreme caution and his heart thumping against his chest... Was that the sound of trumpets and cheering people coming from within?

Continue to follow Sailor and his story to its shocking conclusion.

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

This store could be anywhere on the street. Join the story and choose where for yourself.

Before the dawn could light the harbour, Sailor was still curled into a ball in the rigging sound asleep. Hunting seagulls circling and crying out woke him from his long slumber and he stretched before cleaning his coat. The day was calm and soon the sky lightened into a deep shade of blue while the sun sent her warmth towards the awakening town. A rat caught Sailor's attention and held it for several seconds but the cat had other plans for his morning meal. He wanted fish and he knew just where to get it so he set off for the fish monger's shop again. As Sailor dropped to the deck the rat made a mad scramble to secure the dock and safety, but the feline past him by. Climbing the step and gaining the breakaway, Sailor meandered past the houses where people were rising to greet the day and shops were being opened for business. He stopped before the door of the fish monger shop, sat and waited patiently to be noticed. Midday found Sailor resting in a shaded corner across from the shop. 

Catspaw 

Photo from:  Fishmonger Stock Photo Images. 619 fishmonger royalty free ...   www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/fishmonger.html

We feature 11100000 royalty free photos, 95000 stock footage clips, digital videos, vector clip art images, clipart pictures, ... The World's Stock Photography - One Website ™ ... Fishmonger behind counter in shop, holding out fish, portrait ..

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

The harbour neighbored the hamlet closely enough to catch the swish and slap of the waves as they struck against the sides of fishing boats and small skiffs that bobbed on the tide. Sailor took to his paws and bolted along the cobblestones until he reached the edge of town, then out towards the harbour along the stone breakaway that separated the village proper from the rest of the sea. Silently he crept down the stone steps and carefully walked the dock below until he reached the first moored fishing boat; here he was welcomed aboard by the skipper and deckhands as a member of their crew. As he gained the vessel and dropped over the side the coiled rigging that was his special place loomed into view. He took his place and stared out over the glowing water as the vessel gently undulated on the undercurrent. All that could be seen was the outline of a cat on the deck of the fishing boat. 

Revisit Sailor's story from February 21st

Catspaw 

An Island Blizzard for Easter

It started yesterday evening and continued through the long, dark and cold night. We finally managed to get rid of the snow just to have a blizzard of it come back. Significant snow fall of 10 to 15 cm and winds above 90 km. 


I had 4 barn cats in overnight, 3 grey and 1 black ~ that I finally tamed enough to pick up and bring in; she won't come in any other way. I doubt I'll be seeing any of the other farm cats unless they venture out my way. So, of course, nobody is going out today in this nasty blizzard. 

Sheltered from the Blizzard that hit Prince Edward Island last night and today ~ Easter weather!!


Catspaw

Cat Feed ~ Rural Farm Style

Anyone who has cats, or dogs for that matter, knows how expensive it is to maintain pets. Whether you have one kitty or four like I have, when it comes to those 8 kg bags that cost $15 on the low end and up to $27 on the high end ~~ and what's the point of buying the high or middle ground stuff in smaller bags when you pay virtually the same price for them and they last a quarter as long?  You tell me. So with our 4 cats and putting food out in winter to help the barn and stray cats that land here, we just can't afford to keep them all in cat food. I buy the 8 kg large bag of low end food; sometimes, when its on sale, I will purchase the higher end. But that's a rare occasion. 


What to do?!  What I do, when I get the chance... 

 ... and hubby brings home some meat...

Since meat is the primary ingredient in their food, it gets ground up in our grinder...

and cracked barely gets added. Granted, it looks less than desirable to us but to them...  

I usually cook it a little bit just to soften the barely some...



 
You'd be surprised at how fast it disappears. 


Years ago, when we first moved to Alberta from BC, we lived on a feedlot farm; they had tons of cats. I would make up a batch of something akin to oatmeal that they'd eat like crazy over the winter, when prey was scarce. Its one reason they didn't go hungry... and they don't around here in winter either.

Catspaw

New Cat Tree Needed, Buuuuuut...

Winston took the cat tree to a whole new level, literally speaking, by creating a new sitting/sleeping spot! Check it:

New highrise level! Discovered by Winston!!

Cats do like to be in HIGH places. Winny discovered this new spot and its been his favorite ever since. Now that the cats love their cat tree, its going to be pretty hard to take it away from them without replacing it with a better built one.

Winston, Emerald and on the other side, Sassy.

Winston is pretty happy about his discovery. Now more cats can fit up there thanks to his ingenuity. 

Here's looking at us from their new perches!

This weekend we have off so we'll see about building a new cat tree. If not over the next two days, then a little later. 

Think they are enjoying the views...

Can you see three cats here?

1. Winston

2. Emerald

3. Sassy

How 'bout now....

Catspaw

Homemade Cat Tree UPdate

Yes, our cat tree made from well, a tree; has served us and our kitties well. They have loved it and used it a great deal. But just the other day I noticed something ~ odd ~ was happening to our beloved cat tree... Remember this from March 21st?

You may recall from my March 21st and 22nd blogs that Merrill cut a tree, lugged it in from the great outdoors and set it up as our indoor sit-and-watch, sleep-and-watch tree, with boxes included for the comfort of our four cats. 

He has been planning to make an even better one, an improvement on this current version and I think this coming weekend of April 7-8th will be the time to do it.

 
Because...

Well, it kinda began, uh, leaning on March 31st. 

Since then I've had to 'prop' it up against the window frame to make it more secure. 

To solve this problem I did the following:


Keep in mind these are temporary fixes and another will be built soon.

Secured against window frame, temporarily

With the end table and sofa holding it in place there won't be any incidents of falling over.


Its a good thing to note that while building a cat climber from a live tree is as cheap as getting it from your backyard, some other steps are necessary to keep it from drying out and losing its strength once its brought indoors for use.

It has served us fairly well for half a month now and although I have a little research to do as to just how to keep it strong, I will share that information with you once I get it figured out myself.


Once version two is build I will share pictures of that one as well.

For now, its 'Molly' approved for use. 


But I maintain that its a wonderful alternative to putting a lot of money out of pocket, to purchase a store bought cat tree when you want one for your indoor cats but can't afford to spend a few hundred dollars. It may be a cheap way to go, however our cats have certainly used it and enjoyed having a special place just for themselves, that they can go to get away from having to share absolutely everything, all the time. After all, only one cat can fit in a box at a time. Our next cat tree will be quite a bit different and will have more boxes. 


Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't ~~~

The town sloped down the hillside and sat in a lurid mixture of moonlight and town lamps. Many of the windows were lit from within and cast yellow pools just outside on the cobblestones. A small wharf opened itself to the sea in the middle of town.

On the darkest of nights the patchwork buildings became indistinct shadows so it was only by day could you appreciate the pretty village with its different colored and shaped buildings, some of which operated as both residence and shop for many of the denizens. 

 

As he neared an unlit house Sailor could hear other night wandering felines making their own rounds of the village. He waited till they past his hiding place before quickly moving down the wet road to the local fish monger shop. If you arrived in time, there was always something to be had that would quiet the noises in your belly. After a quick meal gained from a recent gutting bucket that had been left out for the night, Sailor continued his way through town till he reached the harbor.

Sailor

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Sailor snapped fully awake and reared in a defensive posture, growling. The summery daylight had vanished and he was alone in the night. It had been a dream. Guardedly he edged forward and glanced about, he seemed to be quite alone. There was a full moon riding high above the ruins illuminating the castle and a light gust now sent a chill through the darkness that surrounded him. Sailor crouched just behind the entrance and peered out over the the enclosure. Something moved! 

Catspaw 

Cat Collar With Bell Antics

Since I am planning to get some cat collars with bells for my cats this spring, if it ever comes, I have a few recent pics to share on their recent antics... 

What is it with cats and sunshine? Can you see all four of my cats?
Emerald is the one actually 'in' the sunshine on almost the only day that we had sun and blue sky. It was great, during these two days most of the snow melted and the promise of Spring was in the air. I live on an island in the Atlantic so I know better than to trust that!

Story Alert! - I had to kick Winston outside on our last day of decent spring weather...
He's checking for dogs.

A week ago a pair of dogs from up the road 'visited'. Winston didn't care to get further acquainted so he high-tailed it into the shed on the dairy and flatly refused to come out, even after the dogs left. That meant my hubby had to go looking for him and that's the only reason he came in. Since then, Winny hasn't wanted to venture outdoors. CATS!

I think Emerald is smiling here, but I can't be sure. She could just be miffed to wake from her nap to find a camera in her face!

Now this is Prime!!
This improvised cat tree has been here a month and its the first time Sassy has ventured onto it - it met with her approval.


The light behind her is the full moon.

Here you can appreciate the reason why, in medieval times, people believed that cats were reciprocals for devils. Check out Molly's eyes! If you were totally uneducated, lived in squaller and rampant poverty and were only able to hear God's word in Latin; how would you react if this suddenly jumped on your window sill?


Isn't education and science a wonderful thing!


Catspaw

Cat Muse

I decided to start a blog that was about cats, everything cat, in fact because I have four and was raised with them for as long as I can remember. Cats and their mews seemed to me appropriate and in a way they are my muses. Cat collar with bell was suggested to me so I incorporated it into the name of my blog and it finally evolved and became cat collar with bell, cats and their mews.blogspot.com. So Stephanie Stewart's blog changed yet again. Bare with me I'm new at this. 

Do I LOOK Impressed to you??

I enjoyed researching and writing the Fort Mcallister Tom Cat blog. It was a pretty fascinating history. I could only imagine the battle and Tom Cat tearing across the mounds that the men lived inside of, underground no less; as the bullets and cannon balls flew. Many times, while I'm working on a blog, one muse in particular, a female; she would jealously watch as I sat typing out something about cats spring flowers or some such thing. I have done so many things with cats as a child and have learned something from them each and every time. I must be the only blogger that re-reads my own blogs from way back when I first started, just to remember the neat stories I have shared with you along the way and to be reminded that each of my muses are unique and different. I wonder sometimes while watching them play, do cats enjoy their bell on collar?

What a pretty Cat Collar With Bell !

I hope you have enjoyed and found some value in what I have shared with you so far. I am very open to suggestions of what you would like me to talk about. This particular blog incorporates some of the keyword searches my blog has been found by so far. 


Catspaw

*~~* Future Plans for the Cat Collar With Bell Blog *~~*

The 'Over the Horizon' Future of My Blog

Originally my blog was intended to share different aspects of living with cats, as pets, as friends and as companions. To share with my readers and visitors cat stories, pictures and products; links, poems, videos; the humor and the pitfalls; recipes. Helping articles, commentary, information and... something more. The something more was to be encouragement, bravery to face life's tougher moments and situations, inspiration and spiritual mews. So far I think I'm doing fairly well though its taken a bit of time to find my way...


I'm looking at expanding on these aspects and adding to them as I grow into my blog so you can expect the occasional writing that has little to do with my topic and I hope you will forgive the diversion as I explore 'something more' along the way. Please be advised that I would never post a blog concerning something or about a product that I don't, myself, believe in; nor would I offer a link or ad that would mislead my faithful readers and visitors. 


The future of my blog is to become an expert in the eyes of my readers/visitors and become known for my love and respect of all animals. To share the knowledge and occasionally, the wisdom of what I have learned over my lifetime. This will include the occasional 'somethings more'. If there is a topic, subject or idea that you have that you'd like to see expanded on my blog, please let me know by leaving a comment.


Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Old memories of mom

The midday sun was high and the air was balmy in the little shelter they called home. He was pretending to stalk along the bulwarks, playing. Abruptly his attention was violently snatched and driven toward the sound of soft yowlings of kittens; Sailor's eye grew extremely wide and he froze in midstep as his mother crossed the dilapidated cloister and tenderly cuddled her offspring. Sailor was riveted to the spot, scarcely able to draw breath as he watched himself nuzzling his only parent's soft, warm belly for food. 

Sailor's siblings?

 Catspaw

Drawings of My Cats

These are a few pics I drew of my cats, I hope you enjoy them.

Winston & Em on the cat tree, Em's in the box

Emerald on top of the fridge

Molly, on the box; Emmy beside & Sassy are watching the Ravens

Ok, technically I drew them, first as pictures then as drawings with my picture software. What do you think of them?


Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Fleet of foot, the dark, striped tabby dashed along the perimeter of the once mighty facade of the fortress and quickly gained its lowest rampart. Sailor leaped up the side and over; he was inside the ruined castle. Night was falling, it was already dusk when Sailor reached the enclosure that had once been his home. The odor was old but still present, a vague recollection of his matriarch still rested in the air. Infiltrating the quadrangle Sailor made a cursory search of the area, having being satisfied that all was well he curled into a ball and relaxed as the sun began its decent. He felt himself waiting, waiting for an answer; perhaps the sudden reappearance of his mother who was so long gone from him or a comforting sign from the 'something' that seemed to live here... As he waited, dusk deepened into evening and still there was no disturbance. Sailor slipped into sleep as night approached. 

Catspaw