Summer Distractions

I am still alive! I haven't been turning on my computer much lately...summer has me distracted!

When I'm not at work or napping in the sun I am crouching in the garden looking for grasshoppers. I am a little obsessed with grasshoppers.

And I've been around some pretty flowers too.

And this oh so adorable sawfly & pretty butterfly!

Look who is turning into a cat!! We made her Pet of the Week at the shelter to try and get her story some more coverage. Unfortunately her little write up doesn't really talk about her medical issues to the fullest extent and people who are interested quickly become uninterested once the hear she will probably have more vet costs than your run of the mill kitten. For now she is still hanging out and enjoying life here at Kaulback Farm.

I also haven't done an "Introducing.." post lately so that will have to be next! Keep an eye out to see who from our critter crew is introduced next!

Famous Foster Kitten?!

Not going to lie...This kind of made my day!

My Everyday...Yard Work?

With spring comes weeds. Lots and lots of weeds. Weeds of every variety...

Thorny weeds, creeping weeds, vine-ie weeds, grassy weeds, big weeds, little weeds.. .you get the idea.


I have been trying to stay on top of the weeding this year, something that hasn't really been done since we moved in.
Once I get started on yard work there is no stopping me, it is just the getting started part that is hard. So my days off and afternoons I get home early have been dedicated to ripping up every weed I can get my hands on. I should have gotten some before photos but I didn't, and I am totally kicking myself for it. I could take a picture of the every growing pile of weeds, leaves, and brush but that just wont do it justice. 

Yesterday I put down a bunch of wild flower seeds, hopefully the yard will soon be covered in flowers of every color, size, and shape!

Even with all most of my focus on yard work there has still been time to capture some cute!

Warmer weather means we get to open the house up and every four legged creature spends most of their time in front of the screen door. They like to keep an eye on the bugs, birds, squirrels, and chipmunks that hang out in the yard. The chipmunks even get brave enough to pay them a visit sometimes!

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring time is finally here! Even though it is still a little on the cool side most days the sun was shining today and I was able to open the house up a bit so all the kitties could get some fresh air.

Wylee and I hung out in the yard and I tried to track down some bugs so I could play with my macro lens a little. Since I have to use manual mode with this lens it was a little tricky to get the lighting right and everything focused before the bugs skuttled away.

This little bee was quite cooperative! I was able to take a bunch of photos and he was too lazy to fly away... he was even crawling from flower to flower instead of flying. It isn't perfect...but there will be lots and lots of bees over the summer for me to take a million pictures of!

This little spider didn't move a tiny little muscle...which is good since I hate spiders and being close to them and seeing them move makes me want to throw up.

Since there wasn't a whole lot of bug action I mostly took pictures of Wylee and some plants.


And this is what Wylee does when she has had about enough of me...

Kitten TLC

After lots of love, medicine, and TLC look who is finally reached the two pound mark!

I have to admit, I was really worried about her for a few days. She was very lethargic, not eating well, and her lungs were so full of gunk that she had very labored breathing.

Lots of internet searching later I learned that kitties can actually get Robitussin. The vet ok'ed it and helped to figure out a dosage. Lets just say Hearts was less than pleased when I gave it to her, kittens do not like Robitussin. Once the medicine started to work its magic she finally started to breath a little easier and was able to get some good sleeping in.

I also ordered her some holistic medicine from HAMPL. I had gotten Daffodil some medication from there when she had the tumor in her mouth removed and they helped her so much. 24 hours after Hearts started the holistic medicine she started turning back into a real kitten! She is now running around, chasing toys, eating everything I put in front of her, and purring up a storm. At her vet check up today she weighed in at two pounds (finally!) and the vet said that her lungs are sounding great; she kept her on her antibiotics for at least another week to help protect against any infection. I am so relieved she turned a corner and is doing so well, I will be sure to keep you update as she continues to grow!

In Other News...

Spring is finally springing up in the garden!

The daffodils are poking up through the ground and starting to bloom!

I am trying hard to stay on top of garden work this year and have already done a bunch of spring cleaning outside. I wish I had taken before and after pictures of everything because it all looks so much better after a good raking and trimming back all the horrible woody vine weeds we have (with prickers...ouch!)

Hearts hasn't been doing as well the last day or so. She isn't coughing as much but her breathing just sounds terrible. My heart breaks every time I hear her little lungs try and catch a breath. Her appetite isn't as great, she ate yesterday morning and afternoon but not much of anything in the evening and has only picked at her breakfast this morning. I have started to use a nebulizer more and it seems to help a little - I am really hoping this is the 'worse' before she gets better. 


Through it all I feel so very lucky to have a hubby that understands and accepts that my life is totally revolving around this bitty kitten right now and is also ok with the fact that I turn our bathroom into a steamy rain forest for her multiple times a day.

Here's to hoping she gets over this hump quickly and can go back to being a kitten again. ...we are off to steam up the bathroom now, keep sending Hearts your positive vibes.

Hearts & Spades

See what I did there with the title..huh huh, I know - I'm too clever for my own good.
.....Unfortunately this update on little Hearts isn't the happiest one.

She had finally put on the weight she needed and was scheduled to be spayed last Thursday. Still a pipsqueak, weighing in at 1.9 pounds at around 3 months old, she had been doing well enough that we felt it was time for her to get prepared for her new home.

While most cats and dogs have their food with held before a surgery kittens are allowed to eat a little because they need the calories and can be at risk of becoming hypoglycemic if you restrict their food intake. Pediatric spays and neuters are not something that everyone agrees on, not only do members of the general public debate it but it is also subject to debate between veterinarians. Our shelter has been doing surgery on kittens for years and we have never once had an issue, shelters and rescues all over the country perform pediatric spays and neuters and the benefits are huge - the biggest being fewer litters of unwanted pets being born.

Hearts had a harder time, and she never even got to the surgery part. The medication/anesthesia caused her to vomit after her mask was already in place and she was getting ready to be prepped for surgery. Since she was laying on her back she was breathing in her vomit and getting it in her lungs; the medical team worked quickly to get as much fluid out of the lungs as the could, it was a scary, stressful situation for everyone (I am so glad I was not in the room for that!). An IV catheter was put in so she could get IV antibiotics for five days. She is now on oral antibiotics and subQ injectable antibiotics.

She has been having her ok days and not so ok days but through it all she has been eating, been fever free, and gets bouts of energy when she wants to play. She is battling with some aspirate pneumonia but this little girl is a fighter and has been fighting to stay alive and well for here whole short kitten life.

Hearts seems to be trying to work her way through some of her nine lives but we will not give up on her and I know she won't stop fighting. Keep my sweet girl in your thoughts, I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on her status.


*Update: I saw Hearts' two siblings today and they are both doing so well and are so big! They weighed in at 3.7 pounds and 4.4 pounds! It is so hard to believe that they share a birthday...Hearts will get there, she is just taking her time - she must just really love her foster home ;)

Sunbeams & Kittens

During what seems to have been the longest, coldest winter ever the cats have been looking for any bit of sunshine they can get. They are all following any sunshine they can find throughout the house, I think that they are as done with winter weather as I am.

Soaking up the rays! 

Munster wants a piece of the action!

Hearts continues to grow, she has had a bit of a growth spurt but is still too small for adoption. Both of her littermates have already been spayed and gone off to their forever homes...and Hearts is only 1.4 pounds - a pipsqueak! But look how far she has come: same bed, taken about 5 weeks apart.

Spending the day curled up on the couch with the kitties, not a bad way to spend my Monday!

Introducing: Kim Chee!

Shortly after Aurora joined the family the next member came along, he isn't fluffy but that doesn't mean he isn't cute!

A coworker of mine had told me about this adorable mini turtle she had gotten in China Town. So of course I instantly wanted one, without any thought to whether or not there was actually such a thing as a "mini turtle" (there is not). Our next trip to Boston we stopped by China town and scoured every shop tying to find one. Shop after shop and no luck, we then found one that looked like it could be an aquarium type store so in we went. We asked the woman behind the counter and I cannot even think how to type the sounds that came out of her mouth...China Town is a strange place. But we were in luck! A bucket of little turtles appeared from a back room, they were so little and so cute. I was pretty overwhelmed with excitement, these babies were about the size of a quarter.

After I got home with our newest little baby, Kim Chee, I looked into turtle care information...something I should have done beforehand, I know. Turns out there is no such thing as a "mini turtle". A mini turtle is just a baby turtle and baby turtles that little are actually illegal to sell. Oops.

Kim Chee didn't eat or grow much for awhile, but once he started to grow he grew like a weed. He has finally slowed down and I think he is just about done, finally! He hasn't ever tried to bite and recognizes his food container - he lets me know when he is hungry or not, he is one smart cookie!

Having a turtle may be more work than I anticipated, I have yet to find a filter that can handle dirty turtle water, but I wouldn't give him up for anything.

Turtle Tubby Time!

Stay tuned for the next member of our four legged family!

New Toy!

Yup. That's me, with my brand new toy.

Kevin and his parents got me the best gift ever. Not only because I've been wanting a fancy camera but because they got it for me because they are so supportive and believe in me. Just because I want conquer the world of photography doesn't mean that I always believe that I can. Having people in my life that offer so much love, support, and belief make it so much easier to believe in myself as well. So, thank you!
Enough sappy stuff, go hug someone who believes in you and lets move on to the fun stuff!

...Not only did I get the camera with standard lens I also got so many fun accessories! The kit came with a telephoto lens, a bunch of different filters, some sort of fancy extra flash, two different sized tripods, two little lens things that screw on to a regular lens (one for fish eye and one for telephoto), and a bunch of other little add on. In addition to all of that we have an old Nikon from Kevin's dad and the lenses from that fit on my new camera - thank you Nikon! So I also have a macro lens and a portrait lens...both of which can only be used while the camera is in manual mode. Basically....I have a lot to learn!

I have been watching YouTube tutorials and taking notes all about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and how to put that all together. Lets just say, it can be a tad overwhelming at times. But then I remind myself, there is no rush, I don't have to learn everything at once, I just have to practice with all my fun new toys and try as I might that just isn't going to happen in one weekend. What is going to happen in one weekend? I am going to take pictures of my pets while trying out different settings and different lenses.


I can't wait till summer...so many bug pictures to come!

Introducing: Aurora!

The next addition to our four legged family came in 2005, and wasn't exactly planned. I went to the Manchester Animal Shelter with my mom because she was looking to adopt a kitten. So, when I say it wasn't 'planned' I am not sure if I could have ever expected to go to the shelter and not adopt a kitty... There were two 12 week old kittens caged together, both fluffy, one black and one tiger. They of course were calling them 'sisters' and how could we possibly take one and not the other (something I now say to adopters as well! Two kittens are always better, right?!).

I called Kevin to see what he thought about getting another cat, and though he wasn't instantly sold on the idea he eventually said ok (perhaps this about the time he realized he was dating a crazy cat lady?). Aurora was a shy little thing, her and her sister, Jinx, were part of the Shelter's Trap Neuter Release (TNR) Program. They had a colony of cats that they cared for, feral cats are trapped, vetted, and released back to the colony. Cats that are trapped and deemed friendly enough for adoption are kept by the Shelter and adopted out. Lacking early socialization with people sometimes these cats can be on the timid side, Aurora spent a good amount of time sleeping on the top shelf of my closet at first. 

With a little bit of time, patience, and love she started to open up and her and Bonx became the best snuggle buddies.

Aurora never became the most outgoing cat, she spends her time upstairs avoiding any commotion that may go on downstairs, but that's ok with me (there are many jokes that she is goth or that she doesn't actually exist).
She may not love to snuggle but sleeps next to my pillow every night and has the cutest little chirp meows. I have to admit, I may be a little obsessed with how pretty she is, she has the prettiest eyes, is so petite, and has the most perfect little profile. 

Coming up next up in the Kaulback Crew: Kim Chee!

Kitten High Fives

Hearts is growing up so fast!

She spends so much time zipping around the house, chasing her tail, and snuggling with the other kitties...it's hard to imagine she was ever a sickly little kitten! I have started to be able to leave her at home while I am at work, which is a lot less stressful for her but also a little sad for me because that means she will soon be old enough to fly the nest. Luckily she has a potential home lined up already so she won't have to spend any time back at the shelter.

....and I have been teaching her lots of tricks to impress her new family...

Yes, that is how I spend my evenings - and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Keep checking back for more foster kitten updates!

Introducing: Bonx!

Since I have already introduced myself I thought it would be a good idea to introduce the rest of the Kaulback Crew. It may take a little while since there is quite a few four legged family members, but everyone is special and deserves their own post.

Bonx was our very first addition so she gets the very first post, plus she is Queen Bee so she wouldn't have it any other way.

I adopted Bonx in 2004 from the Concord SPCA as a birthday gift for Kevin. Neither of us were supposed to have pets in our apartment - so naughty, I know - but we made it work and she lived as contraband for a year in Kevin's basement apartment.Bonx was your typical little hellion of a kitten; she would attack your feet while you were sleeping, attack the window blinds, chew on shoelaces...and take the most epic-ally stinky kitten poops.

Being all grey with just one patch of white on her lower belly she obtained the classy nickname, Albino Vagino - she even had her own MySpace page (but her internet career died when MySpace became obsolete).

Cutest. Little. Kitten. Ever.

As Bonx got older she became the guard/attack cat of the house hold. When we moved to Ashland she would sit in the window and growl at the people who walked by; she would also find the perfect places to sit in the house, where guest just had to walk by, so she could corner you and give you a good swat. It is like she is always reminding people that this is her house and you better keep yourself in line. These days she lures people in with her pretty looks, sweet purr, and a coy flop over as to say 'Pet me! Rub my belly!' Then as soon as you are close enough, you may even get a quick pat in, she strikes. 

Bonx loves the strangest things, anything with a menthol smell, bleach smell, or strong minty smell. Teeth brushing time is her favorite, and if you need an icy hot patch she will be all over you. She also tries to consume most forms of plastic and tape, and of course she then promptly throws it up. Don't get the wrong idea, Bonx isn't all grump and sass. She can be sweet and loving too...when she feels like it...a snuggle session can quickly turn into a game of 'lets attack your hair'.

There is no denying that Bonx is one of the prettiest kitties around, and this little Queen Bee won't let you forget it.

Check back soon for more Kaulback Crew profiles. Next up, Princess Aurora.

Kitten Update

Look who is finally hit the one pound mark! 

When I first took her home on February 13th she weighed only 12 ounces. That is a four ounce weight gain in just a little over two weeks. When her and her litter mates first arrived at the shelter we estimated them to be about two weeks old, which would put them at about 6-7 weeks old now, and little Hearts is about the size of a four week old kitten.

She is doing wonderfully, eating well, toddling all around the house, climbing on and off the couch (to go use her litter box!), and even starting to explore the stairs!

I couldn't be happier with her progress, she is so sweet and loves to snuggle - I am sure she will have no problem finding a home when she is ready for adoption. I always miss the clumsy pitter pat of kitten feet when they are gone... but I'm not going to think about her leaving us yet, we are just going to continue to snuggle the days away.

Foster Kitten Love

Lately my days have been filled with this adorable little face:

 


This is my foster kitten, Hearts, on the day I took her home. She had been in a foster home with her three siblings and their mom. Mommy Kitty was not doing a very good job taking care of them so when they came in for a check up Hearts was underweight, dehydrated, hypothermic, and malnourished. We later found out Mommy Kitty was not feeling well herself and was in need of an emergency blood transfusion, she is feeling much better now and is recuperating comfortably at the shelter.

After some R&R time spent snuggled up on a heating pad, warm fluids, an iron supplement, and messy KMR feeding times, Hearts is also feeling much better.

And of course lots and lots of TLC snuggles from the best kitty foster mom, Rugnecklace! And, of course, the best pup foster mom Wylee! I am so luck to have such loving and accepting pets, it makes bringing home fosters so much easier.


I cannot get enough of this face!



Hearts is currently snuggled up on my shoulder purring away, Rugnecklace is napping on my lap, Daffodil is sleeping by my side, and Fat Munster is sitting on the edge of the couch, staring me down...meowing loudly for his dinner. Life is good! 

Here I am world!

I am finally taking the leap into the blogging world. I have been thinking about it for a while now but couldn't help thinking, "What would I write about? Who would even read it? Would I actually keep up with it?" 

 ... So I just took the plunge and I am hoping for the best. All the 'how to start a blog' sites say to write about something relevant to you, and I can't think of anything more relevant to me than all my cute pets. My days are spent surrounded by animals, at work and at home, and most of my time is spent taking photos of them. 


While documenting my cute and adorable days I want to explore the world of photography more and move past my iPhone camera. So please bear with me while I get the ball rolling - I really hope you will join me in my blogging adventure!