Thursday, March 3, 2011

Bits & Pieces: Mostly Cats


Tropicanna Canna Lily
It won't be long until I see this, again!

It has been a beautiful day here, today. The sun is shining, the air is balmy, and if there is movement in the air, it's very gentle; no blustery winds this third day of March.

It is 71 degrees (F) as I write this. Earlier this afternoon, I worked for a few minutes clearing dead leaves and newly-grown weeds from the flower bed that contains my Tropicanna Canna Lilies. The lilies appear to have multiplied like rabbits over the winter; new shoots are springing up all over the bed. The corms must divide themselves by running underground, for there is new growth where I know, absolutely, I did not plant. It appears that I need to be thinking seriously about an expansion bed. I'll consult Gardening Daughter about the most proper place.

It was such a lovely afternoon that I let my cats come out into the yard with me while I raked up the debris generated from cleaning the flower bed. Squeak, Missy and Sweetie Pie are, for 99.9% of their time, strictly indoor cats. I live on a residential street that is not "a busy thoroughfare," but much of the traffic does not obey the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour. I too often see the corpses of squirrels and birds who were not fast enough to get out of the way. It saddens me to see them; I don't think I could stand for the victim of a careless driver to be one of my cats. They are allowed outside only when I can keep a close eye on them.

Sweetie Pie appears to have designated herself my ‘yard guard.’ She accidently, I think, discovered the neighbor's cat, Maggie, hiding under the storage shed. Much hissing and yowling (from Sweetie Pie) ensued, and with her tail bushed out to ten times its normal size, she chased Maggie until she (Maggie) jumped the fence, then waited, hissing, until she disappeared around the corner of her own house. Quite satisfied with herself, Sweetie Pie made a quick dash up a large tree that stands on my side of the fence line. She rested in a large crook about 8 or 9 feet above ground, the Queen of All She Surveyed. I kept a close eye on her, for she easily could have gone from her perch into the neighbor's yard, which is not fenced, and might have led me on a merry chase to recapture her.

Eventually, I herded the other two cats back into the house, but had to entice Sweetie to within range of my grasp; she was not cooperative.

The three of them are now resting from all the excitement. I'm resting by composing my blog post.

Tomorrow is also a day.

11 comments:

Hilary said...

I know what that's like with cats. One of my two felines likes to be out when the weather is decent but is not an outdoors cat. I keep close watch on him but he's becoming more bold as the years progress - wandering farther, and encountering other neighbourhood cats. It makes me nervous for the same traffic concerns. Still, they need to be "real" cats every now and then.

The flowers are beautiful and oh how gorgeous those leaves are. You're enjoying wonderful weather. We're still in a bit of a deep freeze, though it's supposed to be warmer (but wet) over the next couple of days.

Tracy said...

Ohhh, those lilies are beautiful...I like all the texture in the leaves. Very pretty!
That is a sound that just pierces my ears...cats howling and hissing. When I was a little girl we lived in the country and it seemed as if in the summer, this was a typical occurance and it always scared me.

Janie B said...

That canna reminds me of my mother. We always had colorful canna in our yard.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, I knew you had cats --but didn't realize that you have 3 of them... Wow--that's amazing! Glad you got them all back in the house... I remember that my dog Duchess was an indoor dog --and a leash dog when she was outside. Once she got away, and it scared me to death thinking that she was going to run out in the street and get killed...

Our weather was nice today also--but we were cooler (60's) and there was a brisk wind blowing all day which made it feel colder...

Love your Canna lily... They are so gorgeous.
Hugs,
Betsy

StitchinByTheLake said...

My husband cleaned out a flower bed day before yesterday and already the peonies were coming through today! This sun is encouraging all the spring things to show their colors. The tulip trees and the plums are in full bloom here and are breathtaking. I'm so glad to be able to get back outside and walk the neighborhood. Winter keeps me in...I don't do well in the cold. blessings, marlene

George said...

We've been enjoy some balmy March weather as well, and I have managed to get some work done in the yard. I'm sure this beautiful weather won't last, but I can hope. We have drivers who ignore the speed limits on our street as well.

Arkansas Patti said...

Herding cats is a real chore. I think it is wonderful that you can take them out. My two only mind me in the house cause they have no choice. I really am scared to let them out, considering my neighbors pit bulls.
This weather is so tempting. I want to try asparagus this year and am trying to find a suitable place to form a bed. Guess I'd better hurry.

rhymeswithplague said...

I know I'm thinking of calla lilies and not canna lilies, but Katherine Hepburn comes to mind ("The calla lilies are in bloom again..." from Stage Door).

Our area finally has a few jonquils here and there, and we spotted some forsythia, a couple of tulip trees in full splendor, and even some cherry blossoms hereabouts.

I do hope the winter is over.

NitWit1 said...

Nothing is more fun than chores with your favorite animal(s). It is like family fare.

Luckie thinks she helps by following one of us around almost at heel. I've almost fallen over her. She polices the kitchen and the known eating areas scrounging for crumbs. I would not need a housekeeper if she could dust!

Reader Wil said...

Yes,it's good to take care of your cats! we lost several cats due to the traffic. Last week there was a strange cat sitting in front of my frontdoor. It was raining so I opened the door. she came in and miaowed that she was cold and wet. She inspected my room and jumped on my lap. She slept for a while and stayed with me for several hours. It was lovely company!

Marvin said...

Pets and traffic just don't mix. Fortunately, traffic is something we don't have to worry about.

We have friends who live in rural Lonoke county. They've always had indoor/outdoor cats that come and go as they please via a cat door. During the time we've know them, the road next to our friends' house has gone from dirt to paved, and many people have learned it can be used as a shortcut to I-40. It's sad that our friends have lost many cats to that road in recent years.