Waiting For Snow (Again)

Overcast with an occasional glimpse of sun has been our weather so far today. I've placed peanuts and pecans out for the squirrels and all of them are gone. The patio door is open, it's 40 degrees out, and the kits are playing tag in the back yard. I've got dried beans in soak so I can make Ham and 3-Bean soup tomorrow to counter the high temperature of 24... I'll start them in the Crock Pot early in the morning - they will be edible by lunch, but wonderful by supper time. I also stocked up on kitty food and treats plus nuts for the squirrels and shredded wheat for the ravens and crows. (I don't know why, but those birds just love shredded wheat when it snows...) The weather folks are saying we'll get between 4 and 10 inches of snow. Heck, I'd like 2 or 3 feet of the stuff. Our water tables are horribly low for this time of year, and any moisture is welcome. It's been so cool this past week that snow from last Tuesday's fall is still on the ground in shaded areas. One of the cars I saw come down from Nederland this morning had more than three inches of snow already on the top and hood...
  Rosie and Remy were eager to go out for their walk and play period this morning. Once Mona and Boo came outside, Rosie gave up possession of her blue bone to Mona, so I had to chase Mona around for several minutes - Mona runs in figure 8s around me when she gets any one of Rosie's toys. Rosie likes soft toys that squeak; Mona is a guaranteed destroyer of squeaky toys. Once she finishes making it squeak, she rips out the squeaker, and then she shreds the toy and any stuffing. She is quite gleeful about it, so I found a box of 94-cent toys at Wal-Mart that are soft and squeaky, and I got five of them for her Christmas present...
  If it snows and it's less than 30 degrees outside tomorrow, then I'm staying at home. I have reading material, research material, TV and the Internet; plenty to eat and drink; a warm roof over my head and my cats for company - what more could one want on a cold, snowy day?

Cats and Colors

I was finally able to find some of Lovey's favorite toys - after fruitlessly searching for 18 months. I used to buy her "Midnight Madness" balls at the local Safeway store; then I could only find them as one of a set of 4 balls sold for ferrets to play with (but not in the colors that Lovey prefers). While visiting a Wal-Mart to find the sunglasses I prefer (they fit over your regular glasses - not clip-ons), I wandered into the pet section and there were Lovey's favorite toys! I bought four sets of them.

Scientists say that cats do not perceive colors (and have used - shudder! - brain implants to prove it), so perhaps my various cats have chosen toys of certain colors due only to smell - I really don't know. Lovey loves to chase these "Midnight Madness" balls that are neon yellow and neon green - but she completely ignores the hot pink and dark purple ones. Booger, one of my earlier cats, would play with a sock - but it had to be blue in color. QuiPu would fetch mice with rattling beans inside them, but they had to be yellow - he would not chase the grey or pink or blue ones.

All I know is that each cat has been an individual, with very specific likes and dislikes concerning food, water, toys and the type of love they wanted. Some cats had to be near me at all times - WhoDat used to sit on my foot when I stood still, he was in my lap when I sat down, and slept either across my chest or on top of my head in bed. Others have been extremely independent and came to me only when they wanted to be caressed, petted, or scratched - and then left my presence once they had enough attention. All I can say is - I love them!