StrangeRanger

Helene

It has been really sobering to see the scale of the disaster unfolding in the mountain areas of North Carolina and Tennessee.  Helene has done massive damage, people are without clean water or power, and there are severe limitations on contact with the outside world.  All interstates into and out of the area were, at least, blocked, and in some areas the roadbed was carried away by the flooding.  As of yesterday, and I can't believe I am saying this, ALL ROADS IN WESTERN NC were to be considered closed.  Here's a link to a local news page with links to relief organizations if anyone is able to lend a hand. Just terrifying.

Helene sideswiped our fair town.  We were too far to the east to really catch it, and ChezRanger came through entirely unscathed, but there was some local storm drama. 

The tree across the street came down across the street!  We heard the thump about 9 a.m. and were quite surprised to see our favorite neighborhood tree on the pavement!  We've know this tree since it was a sapling and are quite sad to see it go.  There was no damage to anything, and it just missed taking down powerlines.  We called the city and they had a crew there in about 20 minutes.  The guys worked their timber truck/arm in the gusty wind and driving rain and got the street clear in about 10 minutes.  I was grateful and really, really impressed

There was a great deal of excitement immediately after the big thump, as the three rangers here tried to discover what had occurred!  As usual, Daisy was the first to figure things out.

what the hell....

whoa!

that wasn't me!

Daisy did not get in trouble...we knew she wasn't at fault for this one!

We hope the situation in the mountains improves rapidly, but it looks like it is going to be a long haul for people.

We hope you all have a great week ahead!


 

Chores

Daisy has kept up her cheerfully helpful attitude recently.  She's adopted a full roster of daily chores.

She has recently discovered the old trick of having a plastic bag full of plastic bags.

get in there, you!

are you in there??

it's in there.

Don't worry, Daisy fans.  She only has access to the bag of bags while we're awake and in supervisory mode.  At night, they're shut in the pantry.  We have no idea why she's suddenly developed an interest in it, but she does seem to want to play with them while we make meals.  

Daisy also functions as our Chef de Cuisine.  She takes up residence on the Supervisory Stool and gives us the benefit of her years of experience.

well, the garlic is acceptable, but you should have had a finer dice on the onion.  now, grate the cheese and be sure to drop a bunch on the floor for me.

She even checks that the table has been well set.

no no no...the salad fork goes to the OUTSIDE of the dinner fork and the DESSERT fork goes across the top of the setting!  heathens......

After all this work?  a quick lie-down.

good lord this is exhausting....

We're thankful for all of her labors!

Have a great week ahead, all!

 

I reiterate: A Very Helpful Cat

  Daisy is a font of energy.  She often puts that energy into helping her humans with important human tasks.  Daisy helps LadyRanger do her homework.

I can proofread with my butt!

She is a hard but fair editor.

Her favorite human task is, it seems, bed making.  She throws herself into the job with abandon.

I'M HELPING!

She makes sure we haven't forgotten any small details.

The pillows.  NOW.

When the task is done, she has a bit of R&R.

Work, work, work...it's so tiring....

Once she's recovered her energy, which does not take very long at all, she's off to the open window to sniff the good air through the screen.

She usually spends the bed-making time in the window, keeping an eye out for intruders that would disrupt the process.  Today though, the coast must have been clear and I got the full benefit of her able assistance.  Lucky me!  And I say that unironically!

Have a great week ahead, all!

Fairness Doctrine

Last week I featured Maddie, the original cat at ChezRanger.  After checking in with the FCC, I realized that I would be required to (read:  be delighted to) give the second ChezRanger cat some equal time in the public eye.  Hooray for Ivy!!

'bout time!

This is Ivy in what Dr G called her "...almost fat!" stage.  Please note, Dr G said this with undisguised delight.  Ivy at just a wee over 10 pounds was at almost twice her weight as when we found her.  She'd pretty much given up on serious grooming, which would explain the obvious lion trim, but she still loved flopping in random sunpuddles.

Ivy was always an interested cat, and tried to help the humans in all their tasks.

You're doin' it wrong.

She did love a well-made bed.  Preferably one without a Maddie lounging on it.

Another job well done!

Had an appetite, too.

...burp...

Even with her ravenous appetite and "almost fat" stage, she always retained her natural beauty.  She was even a banner model for the old Carnival of the Cats.

True beauty comes from within.

And she was a rare beauty!

Have a great week ahead, all!

Cat reactions

Whenever I bring out the camera, I get this reaction from the resident cat (in this instance exemplified by Maddie)

What's that noise?!?  

Crap, he's got the camera out again.  Well, this nap is shot to hell.....

I always tried to get in, do the paparazzi thing and get out without disturbing the subject too much.  Most of the time, I think I did okay.  Maddie was always very patient with me.

Well, I suppose I'll let him....he does hand-feed me after all.  And doesn't cry too much when I accidentally punch a fang through a finger....

She was benevolent.

And I've always loved this pic for some reason...

Loved that cat.

Have a great week ahead all!

Standing Watch

Well, sitting watch, really, I suppose, but the practical result is the same.

Daisy keeps a weather eye on the neighborhood, front yard, back yard and both side yards.  She protects us from all dangers that could possibly eventuate in our small corner of the world.  Although, I don't think she's managed to spot the chipmunk who moved into the side yard last week.  Be that as it may, Daisy keeps a better watch over things that we ever could.

That's for sure!  I leave you to stand guard while I take a well-deserved nap and look what I find when I am back on post!  Birds!  Birds everywhere!  You are hopeless, human!

I'm sure Daisy will have this all sorted out sooner rather than later.  We're lucky to have her on our side!

Have a great week ahead, all!

 

Fortress of Solitude...

...and toys.

Daisy has toys.  Like, a lot of toys.  So many that there are only a few that are in favor at any one time.  After tripping over them, and sliding upon them accidentally (whilst carrying heavy objects), LadyRanger finally decided to corral them.  Smart lady that she is, she realized that the papa-san chair (often referred to in our home as the cat-nest) had another potential use as the toy-bin.

Daisy then realized that the toy-bin/papa-san-cat-nest had a Third Use!  A toy-stuffed Fortress of Solitude!

Superman never had it so good.

Apparently, all this cat luxury needs is a bit tighter proximity to the sun puddle!

Hey!  Could ya grab the sunpuddle and slide it over this way a bit?  No?!?  How about some mirrors or somethin' then?  Slacker.

I gotta go buy some mirrors now.  Have a great week ahead, all!

 

EDIT:  for some reason, Typepad refuses to display the 2nd pic I had ready to go.  It was much like the first, but different.  I suppose Typepad wants you to exercise your imaginations....?  Sorry.  I'll get it fixed (I hope) soonish.  Thanks!

Spring

Spring is here!  A time of new growth.  The wild-ish back garden has come in strong!

Here you see our Solomon's Seal and our Woodland Phlox.

And here you have 2 kinds of Trillium, some Virginia Bluebells, more Phlox and a couple of Wood Poppies.  The back garden is really lovely this time of year.  

Of course, we know what you really come here for:  Daisy!  And, no, not the flower....

well.....duh!

Daisy has taken to sitting in that spot on the seat of the couch recently, instead of her usual stretch across the back.  Not sure why, but it's certainly okay with us.

oh, it's comfy enough.  and I'm in easy paw's reach of the good reading material.

We're happy you're happy, dear!

Have a great week ahead, all!

Claimed!

Hoss has been claimed!  

Hoss came by the house yesterday and sat in our window like she usually does and I noticed that she HAD A COLLAR. WITH A TAG!  Someone has claimed Hoss!  YAY!  She had trundled on by the time I was ready to go read the tag, so no update on what it says, but I'll let you know any pertinent details if I ever get them.

I don't have a new pic of Hoss because I was too slow, so have  one from the original series:

This collar is especially good news for us because we've been feeling guilty.  We have cut back on the feedings for Hoss.  Daisy had been getting more and more agitated when Hoss came by.  She'd throw herself against the window glass, she'd charge across counters, knocking things all ahoo.  What was more alarming was that Daisy went off her feed.  She was so worked up about this other cat that she was only eating about half of her usual, and Daisy is *not a big ol' cat.  

Anyways, Hoss has someone who thought enough of her to give her a collar and is, we hope, taking good care of this champion of a cat.  

We do love Hoss, as we hope she has a long and happy life.  She's welcome here anytime she wants to visit.  As far as the humans are concerned.

yeah, well....you're stupid.

Have a great week ahead all!

Action! ...or...Action?

I'm not really good at getting action shots of my cats.  I'm a wee bit better since I got a nice camera, but really, I'm still not too good.  Below are some action shots of each cat.  Daisy first.

The Lunge!

 

The Grab!

Now for Maddie.

(the beginning of...) The Lunge!

The Grab!

And now for Ivy!

The Lun....um...The lu....ummm.....the nap?

Well, Ivy was an old girl when she came to us.  She knew how important a good nap was.  

Have a great week ahead, all, some good play, and many a good nap!