1...

Getting kinda artsy on us, aren't you, Faraday?

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"Just siiiiiinging in the rain...." 

"Hi there! Folks around here call me Miss Sparkles, but you can just call me Sparkle. I think I got that name because of the sparkling little white locket on my chest. It sets me apart and makes me a little more special, don't you think?"



"I also hear that I might have a bit to live up to, having been named for such a Grand Star in the Feline Blogging World! I'll do everything I can to live up to the name, I promise!

I'm a friendly girl who loves meeting new people and I'm just looking for a new family to hang with. My previous family and I got along great! We were together for years. There were kids and a dog and we were as happy as could be.

But then they got a new dog and it scared me. A lot. So it was decided it would be in my best interest to look for a new place that wasn't so scary for me."


"Things have been looking brighter every day since I arrived here at Great Plains! I'm fairly laid back and would love to spend some time lounging with you. I love, love, love getting pets!

I don't really like other kitties too much so I would be happiest in a home where I can be the recipient of ALLLLL your love and affection. It's not too much to ask, wouldn't you agree? Come on down and say hi to me today.
Can't wait to meet you!
Purrs, Sparkle"

Sparkle is available at the Merriam Campus of Great Plains SPCA today!

Allie: Who knew Mother was such a stickler about bringing dirt inside the house???

Allie: *sniff* Ahhhh, don't you just love the smell of fresh earth?
 

Wait. What's this I spy...?


ooooooh you lovely earth you.....

Maxwell: I'm home! I rode shotgun all the way and was (relatively) nice to everyone, considering they made me skip breakfast and all.


(And I did get scritches, lots of them)


But I'm home!  And the specialist says we are going to watch and wait to see if I heal, during the next few weeks. If not, Momma says he'll take me on a trip down the Root Canal.

That must be an awfully long trip, though, 'cuz there aren't any canals near us. I got out a map and showed Momma and everything.

I didn't see any called "Root," either.


Mom: Root Canal?? Yep. That's the treatment the specialist had planned to do today.

He'd file Maxie's lower canines, shortening them by several millimeters so his upper lip would no longer catch on them. However, this would expose the pulp of the tooth, which is basically its nerve center (ouch).

That's where the root canal comes in, removing the nerves, then filling and sealing each fang. This is less invasive than extraction - and a lot less painful (win-win!).

But after he examined Maxie - who demonstrated a lot of fang-hanging while there, showing his skill in hooking that upper lip - he thought it was possible Maxie might finally be healing.

And if that happens then the only reason for a root canal would be cosmetic - which we won't do.

So... loads of drama (we apologize for that!) - and one hungry kitty - all for naught!

  
Maxwell: And I may forgive Momma sometime in the next 6 months. Or not.

Maxwell gets to ride shotgun in the car this morning with Momma (which he loves), but he does wonder why he was asked to skip his breakfast (which he did not love).

And he also wonders what "Companion Animal Dentistry" spells out (good thing he can't read).


He skipped breakfast because he'll be anesthetized while they determine the best solution for this:


Yup. It all started when they removed his upper fangs back in February.
Although it made for some adorable photos when those lower fangs kept hooking on his upper lip, it turns out that action has rubbed his face raw. We had hoped it would heal given enough time, but that has not happened, and our veterinarian recommended we see a specialist.

So today, one way or another, that dental specialist will find a solution. We have no idea what it might entail, but we do know how badly he reacted to the anesthesia in February... so we're a bit worried.

Please keep our blue boy in your thoughts today! We'll post updates, we promise.

"Why would you want an average house cat when you could have a gorgeous, Lynx Point, miniature white tiger like me?"


 "Gaze into my majestic blue eyes-- how can you resist?

Because of my natural charisma, they call my personality type the "Executive." I'm a born leader, which means I'll show you the way when it comes to playtime, snuggle time, nap time, and the all-important feeding time.

You'll never have to guess what I'm thinking! I'll let you know when I need your services as a warm lap, toy dangler, ear scratcher, or can opener.

As a modern, forward thinking exec, I'm multi-media savvy, too. I communicate with purrs, chirps, head butts, and nuzzles when I'm satisfied with your performance, and I'll use my expressive tail swish to let you know about any area for improvement. I

f you need some feline leadership in your life, ask for Little Blue!"

Little Blue is available at Allie's Alma Mater, Wayside Waifs!



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I got my eye on you, Mister Wand Toy.

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Yes, it's actually a "day". It's an opportunity for teachers to promote learning about how the sense of smell works.


Did you know the domestic cat's sense of smell is about 14 times that of a human?


We kitties would like to take this opportunity to remind you humans to scoop out our litterboxes.
(Frequently, please! It smells much worse to us than it does to you!)

Maxwell: I thought I'd take my #SundaySelfie today while hangin' out on mah Lounger.


How'm I doing?


Ahhhh, there's nothing quite like a good sunpuddle. Nothing at all.... *sighhhh*


Hope you're having an Easy Sunday, too!

"hello there! I just arrived at Great Plains, and I'm still a teensy bit nervous about all these strange humans.
And Cats! There are cats - strange cats - EVERYwhere!!

Of course, bring a Tortie-Point Siamese, I'm stout hearted. I'm not going to hide quivering in the corner, oh no, not me!"


"(But, uhm...well...I might - might - get a bit snippy with you if you try to pet me too soon after we meet. A girl's got to be careful around strangers, after all!)

I would dearly love a forever home, though, so please be patient with me. I wantto be cuddled, but when we first meet, I'm just not quite sure I can trust you . You know, up-front and all.

Would you be willing to give me a little time? And to be honest, I'm a girl with strong opinions, a girl who knows her own mind. So I'm not going to be all clingy and mushy and all. You need your space every once in a while? I get that; I do too!

If you're interested in a strong, intelligent and independent female who will travel faithfully with you doen the road of life, then I'm your girl!

What say we try this "family" thing - today. I'm at the Merriam Campus of Great Plains SPCA. I'll be the drop-dead gorgeous one, hanging out in the back kennel.

Or just ask for Juniper!"

Maxwell: This is me, looking quizzical.


And this is me looking skeptical after you answered my quizzical look.


Any questions?

Alive, and yet not ---
Flipping, flying through the air,
The mouse entices.

So how'd we do
with our first Haiku?
;-)

Did you know today is National High-Five Day?

(we didn't either)

 Allie: Oh Mother, I'd dearly love to give our visitor a high five - do you think he'd mind?


 Uh, yeah. Probably....


Look! It's a woodpecker! Mother heard it knock-knock-kocing on a dead branch up in our huge oak tree. Waaaay up.


As in, with her normal zoom lens, this was as close as she could get to it, while fully zoomed in. He's circled in red, and you can see by the long rectangle we've highlighted, this guy's been busy drilling! Mommy wanted to play connect-the-dots with the photo!


So she ran inside and grabbed her manual 200mm prime lens (no autofocus, eep!).


He's really good at camoflage, isn't he?


Allie thinks he looks delecta--- uh, very nice.


And in this last photo you can see the top of his red head! 

(Or were there two woodpeckers?? These were taken about half an hour apart, in two 'sessions'.
Mommy set her shutter way fast to remove any shaking, but they're still a tad blurry, and she wasn't about to run in and get the tripod for fear he'd leave!)

Well, hello, Mister Mouse.


You're gonna be the star of the show on Friday, did you know that?
But until then...