Bird Watcher

When you left the Rascal and Lil Bear in my care, you were probably hoping I would keep up your tradition of dressing them up. I just can't. But I am keeping Lil Bear healthy and flea free and spoiling her with wet food (only a little!). She doesn't know how ridiculous she looks with the infamous lion cut so we won't tell her when we get it again this summer.  Rascal is gone and can't hiss at the haircut cat she didn't recognize.
When you brought them here with Baby Kitty, they were all such indoor, stay out of the snow and away from the bears and eagle talons, pets. But Rascal took to the outdoors in this beautiful weather immediately. Not so much with Baby Kitty and Lil Bear.
Remember how long it took for Lil Bear to even go outside and walk in the grass? She put her paw on the grass one step per day for weeks. Now she loves the yard and goes out to meander. She stalks birds and squirrels all the time but never is successful in catching either. I thought she was too old to out run them.
Well, today, Lil Bear, at the grand old age of 12, caught her first bird!

Lil Bear on my lap! 

She was sleeping on my lap when, out of nowhere, a small bird flew across the room, banged into one window, then another. Lil Bear leaped off my lap and into the air and took the bird down in the corner by your hope chest in less than 4 seconds. I really didn't know she could move that fast!  I'm yelling and telling her to let go, (she didn't seem to hear me over her guttural growling), Kenton came running, picked her up right off that little bird and put her in time out. We both ran around looking for an open door or window or some way the bird got in the house. Nothing. Maybe she was hiding in here for awhile as the screen door was open for a bit yesterday.
There were a few little feathers around but the bird seems fine, although I can't pick her up. She moved under the hope chest so I am hoping she'll come out soon. She's probably terrified. I know it got my heart racing!
Lil Bear is now banished to the kitchen and is crying to come back in the back room.
So, where are you when I need my little animal whisperer?
Lil Bear will probably have a renewed interest in trying to catch those little birds at the feeder outside the window.

Update:
The tiny bird finally came hopping out this evening. I sat and quietly watched to make sure it was okay, then I slid open the window and knocked out the screen so it could fly out. Well, it hopped up onto one of my planters with the large ficus tree where a small ceramic bird sat on the edge. The bird cocked it's head from side to side as if to ask it how to get out of this place. Not getting a response, it jumped over to the other planter and, of course, there was another little wooden bird perched on that one. Again, it tried to communicate but didn't get anywhere. I thought I was torturing this poor little creature and he must have thought he landed in Bizzaro World amid all the bird decor. Finally, I moved over near the little bird and it jumped onto the windowsill where there were, yep, three little bird statues. After a few seconds of looking at them and getting no response, it flew out the window.
I let Lil Ber back in the room and she is still hunting for her catch of the day.

Don't Dress Your Cat in an Apron
by Dan Greenberg

Don't dress your cat in a apron
Just 'cause he's learning to bake.
Don't put your horse on a nightgown
Just 'cause he can't stay awake.
Don't dress your snake in a muu-muu
Just 'cause he's off on a cruise.
Don't dress your whale in galoshes
If she really prefers overshoes.

A person should wear what they want to
And not just what other folks say.
A person should wear what she likes to-
A person's a person that way.