Archive for June, 2008

So, Niobe, who is only about 10 months or so old but is still our oldest cat at this point, has taken it upon herself to train Tanis, who is only about 12 weeks. One of her regular training methods is to go into the back yard, sit still like a statue until something interesting comes along, then pounce on said something interesting, then bring it in the house and give it to Tanis. By now, Tanis is well trained such that any time he hears Niobe come in the doggie door, he immediately runs to see what she brought him back from the hunt. If she brings in something small like a cricket or a spider, I just let them keep it (it eventually disappears as one or the other of them eats it). On the other hand, big items like lizards and snakes they just play with until they kill and then leave the carcass on the floor. So, I tend to rescue those before they die. The other day, in just one day, I rescued two lizards, two snakes, and a tree frog.

It’s worth nothing that Niobe occasionally captures things like moths as well. And one day, while we were in the back yard working, she tried to capture another flying insect only to end up letting out the most pathetic yelp and then go running off and spend the next 10 minutes licking the pad of her paw. I haven’t seen her try to capture a wasp since then.

Had fun white water rafting today. Hope to go to the top of Mount Mitchell (highest peak east of the Mississippi) tomorrow, plus maybe a couple other things. Having fun. Sore from paddling. Enjoying family time. Later!

I could totally see building something like this in the mountains for the occasional getaway trip:

http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm