Ten Things I'm Thankful For

 

Time for another installment of Ten Things Tuesday! Here's ten things I'm thankful for. In no certain order of importance.

1. My hubby - There's so many reasons to be thankful...he works hard so I can stay home and write, he supports me in whatever crazy thing I'm doing, and is always there for me or the kids.

2. My kids -  I've got great kids, even if they aren't really kids any longer. They are smart, caring, giving, responsible and I'm so proud of each of them.

3. My church - I don't normally post anything of religious nature here but I'm very thankful for my church and church family.

4. Friends - There are several special friends who mean a lot to me. One who I've known for many years, that went through some hard times with me and one who is a new friend I'm looking forward to getting to know better.

5. Music - I love music.  All kinds...except hip hop and rap. Country, rock, blues, classical, gothic...I even like the occasional techno thing.

6. Mom - I left home for the Air Force when I was seventeen. And until about nine months ago, I haven't been home with mom, except for the occasional visit. In March of this year, we moved her to Longview with us.  Now, I get to see her several times a week.  It's fun reconnecting.

7. Purring Cats - I love a purring cat. Baggins thinks he needs to sleep right under my chin or be held. It's a good thing he purrs or he'd be out of luck.

8. Great Books - I'm thankful for books that let me escape 'reality' for just a bit and get away from what's going on in the real world.

9. Chocolate - especially Nutella on whole grain toast. YUM!!!  Chocolate chip cookies, hot cocoa, chocolate ice cream.  There's no such thing as too much chocolate.

10. Heroes - I'm thankful for the men and women who serve in Police and Fire departments and the military risking their lives for strangers and those who don't appreciate the sacrifice. For those who rush in to save a stranger without thinking of the cost.

And a bonus...

11.  Puppies - I love puppies...all kinds. But especially for Dobermann puppies which I'll be acquiring some time next year, early summer I hope.  I've got my name on a list with a breeder.  Can hardly wait!

Cat Training 101

Yes, you can train a cat.  It takes lots of patience, time and treats but it can be done. There's just a couple things you must remember.

First, cats are all about what's in it for them. You have to find something your cat really, really wants.  So much that he's willing to perform to get it. Mine love turkey from the deli. I tried the normal cat treats but those were turned down flat.

Second, this is not an over night thing. It may takes weeks of daily practice to get your cat to do these things.

Third, stop on a positive note. Stop before you or your cat become frustrated. Just a few minutes, several times a day is enough.

Fourth, cats are cats and just when you think you have them trained, they'll let you know you don't.

Lastly, this is just for fun. For you and him.Don't force your cat.

After you have that special item your cat will work for, find a place you both are comfortable.  I'm using the kitchen table for these pictures but I don't normally let them on the table. (Not that they care where they are or aren't allowed.) With your cat standing, show him the treat. Let him have a taste.

This is Rumple.

I started with "Sit." It's something they do on their own, don't mind doing and is an easy behavior to link to getting a treat.

Once he's interested in what you're offering, raise it higher so he has to stretch a bit. You'll notice his backside is getting lower. Tell him to "sit" in a firm tone.

This is Skittles.  As you can see, he's seated nicely, checking out his treat.

I like to reinforce the connection between the behavior (sitting) and the command (sit) by saying "Good sit" as he's eating his reward.

Again, this may take many repetitions before they obey reliably. And sometimes, depending on mood of cat, they may not no matter what you entice them with.

Once you have "sit" down, you can raise the treat higher and have them sit up.  I use the command "up" and repeat the process of teaching the sit.

Remember, this is just for fun and spending some time with your pet. I'm not a "cat whisperer" by any means, just someone who likes a challenge.

Next time, teaching your cat to "come" when called.

C is for Cats!

Today I'm giving a shout out to the critters that share our home. First up, is Skittles.  Skittles came to us from a neighbor who'd found him when he was just a couple weeks old.  He was just a bare handful at the time but now has grown in to quite a big lapful. My hubby belongs to him.

Here's a recent picture.  The above was taken the day we got him.

Next came Scamper.  She took a ride under a car hood to Walmart one day when she was about 5 weeks old and we just happened to be the ones who chased her across the parking lot several times, and ended up bringing her home. My oldest daughter belongs to her.

 This was taken shortly after we brought her home.  She's a bit shy but has a pretty color.

Our most recent addition is Rumple, short for Rumplestiltskin. He showed up at the church on New Year's Eve, spent the night and most of the next day, which just happened to be Sunday. Rumple seems to have claimed me but likes to share his love among the whole family.

So, that's the felines that live here. What about you, got a special cat?

Writing & Cats

I know cats aren't what you usually think of when it comes to writing but have you ever paid attention to cats? I mean they're aloof, independent and sometimes demanding. They don't come when called, unless they want something you have. Generally it's not worth the trouble to train them and they tend to scratch and bite when annoyed. Other times, they are loving and wonderful to be around.

Writing is like that too. Most of the time we get stories that demand to be written. They bounce around and let you think of nothing else until you set down and put them on paper. But other days the story is aloof and won't act like you think it should. The more you work at it the less it cooperates.

Then you have days when the story just flows from your fingers onto the page. Like a cat rubbing on your leg and purring, (I just love a purring cat!!!) your story's dialogue sounds natural, the transitions flow from one scene to another without being noticed all is right in the world.

Today, my story is a cranky cat. It's laying there on the window ledge sunning itself, twitching it's tale, daring me to disturb it.

I've had my chocolate, gathered my courage and opened the document. Hopefully, I won't get bitten:--)