from my kitchen window...

Someone mentioned at some point how much they enjoy their 'kitchen window'... and I remember thinking... "Yes! a kitchen window is a must for me too!" So much can be watched, observed, and enjoyed from one's kitchen window. I never mind washing dishes as my eyes are always entertained by the goings on outside.

One of my cousins once told me that she has her sink opened to the living area where she can watch TV while doing dishes. This while  expedient in her case, would never work for me.

Our backyard is just too fascinating to choose TV over the wonders of the outside world.  Watching kittens chase each other or mama raccoons and their babies splash and play in the large water dish is much more interesting. Sometimes the kittens, raccoons, possums, and turtles interact in the funniest ways. Watching a kitten follow a box turtle around the yard or watching 3 young cats circle around a tiny lizard that jumps at them is hysterical.  The fat squirrel that shimmies down the chain to the bird feeder makes us laugh... and the blue jays are the bullies in the backyard bird world (until the crows show up). Nothing bothers the possums... I read that they have both poor eyesight and poor hearing, so unless something is right on top of them, they don't back off. 

Anyway, on the list of *musts* when it comes to housing, it would have to be a kitchen window that opens to the yard. 

Happy Saturday!

our backyard...

Our backyard is a a constant source of entertainment... whether it be feral cats and their kittens, wild birds, raccoons, possums, etc.   And I have to say that we are a constant source of entertainment for them also... as the outside critters enjoy looking in through the windows and french doors at us.  Not a day goes by that there isn't a little face staring in through the glass watching what 'life on the inside' is like. And I'll be truthful that I'm not sure who have the better life.  One may offset the other.  Our inside cats are safe from predators, disease, and cars... but they don't have the freedom and the joy of mingling with nature that the outside critters have.  However, they generally live longer lives... but possibly not as full. Which is best? I wouldn't begin to guess.

handsome crow

raccoons coming out of 'magic rabbit hole'

You need to click on this second picture to see what we call *the magic rabbit hole* from which all critters emerge.  My grand daughter once crawled down this herself and said it was pretty neat down there.

This particular mama raccoon has 5 babies and one is a runt.  He was so-oo tiny for a while, but seems to be getting bigger each day now.

the runt

She brings her kits up at least twice a day to eat, play around in the kitty pool or water bucket, and relax.  The youngsters want to play with the black and white kittens, but the mama cat won't allow it.  She hustles her kittens off to the side or steps in between them if the raccoon babies or mama get too close.

Now on to another subject.  When I got up this morning, it is my normal daily routine to say good morning to all the cats that have gathered in the kitchen by the Aga awaiting breakfast.  I sit on the floor with them, pet them, and give them all a little attention. Then I get up, give them each a treat, and make my coffee. DH will feed them in a few minutes. So I then take my coffee and head for one of 3 places; the den to watch the news (weather mostly), the front porch to sit out there and drink my coffee while watching 'the joggers' and 'walkers', or the computer room where I catch up on my blog reading.

This morning I happened to turn on the TV (it being Sunday) in order to "record" the Sunday night BBC Comedies that I enjoy (As Time Goes By and Goodnight Sweetheart). I record them since they come on so late... that on occasion I fall asleep and miss them.  Anyway, this morning when I turned on Public Television, Dr. Wayne Dyers was on giving a talk.  I don't generally listen to talks on TV, but I have read a few of Dr. Dyers books and do like his way of thinking, so I listened.

It was definitely interesting.  He talked about the importance of our *imagination*.  Something I strongly agree with. And he said something that I will remember... even though my subconscious mind is aware of this, my conscious mind tends to forget... "Don't let any one's good intentions or opinions affect your imagination."

He also said (and I'm paraphrasing) to use imagination like 'currency'.... to purchase what you want from life. Assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled. Feel it!

  Feel the *I am's*.

I am WELL!

I am CONTENT!

I am GRATEFUL!

I am LOVED!

So I will leave you with this thought.  Have a wonderful Sunday! And Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there!

Our backyard sanctuary



Looking through our backyard arbor into the greenback beyond...

 

We don't go back there much anymore.  We did once when we first moved here and the kids were young.  We spent a lot of time down on the lower patio by the creek, lying in the hammock, talking,  and drinking wine.  But now it's pretty overgrown, and English Ivy covers everything (which is pretty, but can also hide copperheads and water moccasins).  The feral cats, raccoons, possums, and box turtles love it!  I keep thinking that one day we will reclaim the yard... but so far, we haven't.  (Another big problem that keeps us from enjoying the area is West Nile Virus, which is prevalent here in Texas.)




One of the box turtles that live in our yard.  He comes up to eat the catfood and figs




This pic is of one of our Mama coons and her 5 kits having supper

We do enjoy watching the wildlife. Like our cats, they make us laugh... and sometimes cry.  But we do what we can for them and look upon it as a way to 'give back'.  But I do worry that one day as we get further into our retirement years, we won't be able to maintain them.  And I do believe that if you can't 'maintain' an animal (give it the food, shelter, and health care it needs), then you shouldn't have it.  I read the question on another's blog once (and I think it was meant to be rhetorical), "Is there such a thing as too many cats?" And I have to say, "Yes!"  We now have 6 inside and a host of ferals outside, and for the moment we are able to maintain all of them.  But there will come a time in the future where it may not be possible financially (or even physically as we age). This does worry me.