July 11, 2010

IDC Update & Kitten Pics

I don't reckon these two topics go together, except that these are our future mousers; very necessary on any homestead!
Firstly, here's my Independence Day Challenge update for last week, July 4 - 10:

1. Plant Something - nothing this week
2. Harvest something -
  • broccoli
  • Swiss chard
  • strawberries
  • watermelon
  • eggs
  • blueberries
  • chamomile flowers
  • cucumbers
  • tomatoes
  • yellow summer squash
  • sweet basil
  • okra
  • tomatoes
3. Preserve something -
  • froze blueberries
  • canned Swiss chard
  • dried chamomile flowers
  • dried sweet basil
4. Waste Not
  • the usual
  • Canning water - I let it cool and use it to water plants
  • reuse soaking & cooking water
5. Want Not
  • saved lettuce seeds
  • bought 3 more dozen regular pint canning jars & 5 dozen more lids
6. Build Community Food Systems
  • blogging about it
  • gave away watermelon, tomatoes, & summer squash
7. Eat the Food
  • blueberries, strawberries, & yogurt on morning cereal
  • leftover whey to replace 1/3 water in reconstituting orange juice
  • blueberry pancakes
  • watermelon for lunch
  • cole slaw
  • scrambled eggs with sourdough toast & canned strawberry jam
  • sauerkraut & Swiss chard "kimchi". Interesting.
  • cold cooked green bean & tomato salad
  • sautéed onions & okra (yum)
And here are photos of Katy and Riley. They're growing fast!

Katy is shy, curious, affectionate, and afraid of her own shadow. If she thinks she's alone in the house, she cries piteously, and comes flying when she hears me call her.

Her coloring is lighter than Riley's, but when they're in action, I still have to check the tips of their tails to tell who's who (the tip of Katy's is white).

These photos don't do her coloring justice, but she's definitely a torbi. From the bird's eye, she looks like a dilute tortoiseshell. Her tummy and legs though, are definitely tabby.

This first photo of Riley was taken several weeks ago, so he still looks a bit kittenish, but I think it's a cute pic. He still loves shoes BTW ...

As you can see below though, at 3 months old, he looks like a little cat!

Snoozin' RileyHe's definitely a food monster. In the little video clip, he's the one in fast forward, while Katy is in slow mo being patient....



That's it for now.

For more Independence Days Challengers, click here.

IDC Update & Kitten Pics text, photos 
(except for the IDC image above), 
& video copyright July 2010 by 
Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

11 comments:

Theresa said...

Way, WAY too cute. Love the slipper shot and both have beautiful and unique coloring. I'm not sure I've seen many cats with that dilute type coat other than my parents cat Foxy. Enjoy the picture taking, they stay little for such a short time.

Anonymous said...

Love your list - you do so much in a week. And the kittens are so sweet - esp. in the slipper!

Razzberry Corner said...

The kittens are oh so cute! What are you feeding them? It looks like raw scrambled eggs??? Your lists always motivate me.

Woolly Bits said...

that video is funny - it looks like riley is on fast forward:)) whatever it takes to get fed! though I am not sure about being "mousers" - our mr schindler hasn't caught a single one yet, or at least we haven't seen results!

Leigh said...

Theresa, I was really happy that Katy has some of the tortoiseshell in her. Dan likes gray tabbies, so that was the ad I responded to, but was excited when I saw her. The tortie coloring seems more pronounced as she gets older.

Evelyn, I have another shot after he fell asleep right where he was. It was hard to choose which one!

Lynn, yes, I beat up a raw egg every morning and give it to them. They get one a day, plus unsweetened yogurt from non-homogenized milk, and raw meat: chicken, fish, ground beef, etc. After Rascal's illness, I started to switch to a raw diet. We know that in humans, diet is a major factor in health and diseases like cancer, so I'm sure it is with cats too. The kittens do kitten chow, but no canned cat food. Is it more expensive? Well, I figured that at 50 cents per 5 oz can of catfood, I'd spend $1.60 per pound. I can get raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts at Aldi for $1.66 per pound. Not a big difference in price, but I think it will make a big difference in their health.

Bettina, Riley's a hoot. He has caught (and eaten) several bugs!

I think there's a difference in the hunting habits of male and female cats. Rascal was a good hunter, but I knew that because I would find remnants around the yard of the things he caught. Catzee on the other hand, always left her kills on the back porch, as is common with many feline females. Mr. Schindler may be catching more than you realize.

Sara said...

Love the video of the kittens! They are so cute...

Good list this week!!

Janet said...

I didn't realize you were along a road with other houses nearby. Keep that hedge growing.
Janet

Leigh said...

Thank you Sara!

Janet, unfortunately yes. We looked in the area for over three years, and there just wasn't any isolated property in our price range. At least the homes on our street are nice and nicely kept. Most of the properties we looked at were surrounded by rundown mobile homes with poorly kept yards. I think though, that once the hedges are grown in, we will have all the privacy we need.

bspinner said...

As usual you've been very busy. I love the pictures of the kittens!!!Are't they great entertainment?

Julie said...

You just gotta love the picture in the shoes!

I have been so busy with yard work that I missed seeing your dining room done, its just so pretty!

I'm still in the planting stage!

Leigh said...

Barb, they're better than TV!

Julie, you guys have done an incredible amount of work on your yard and it's looking great!