Neighbor Cat is Back

I wrote about this particular cat here. I have seen her in my yard every so often, and she had kittens in the spring.

After speaking with neighbors, I found out that she used to belong to a family who lived on the left side of my house about five years ago. When they moved, they abandoned her and left her to roam. My neighbors used to leave food for her outside. By the time we bought this house almost four years ago, the woman who lives on the right side of my house had been taking care of her.

Well, she got rid of all her stuff and bought a bus ticket to California. And, unfortunately left this cat behind. I didn't realize, until seeing her a few months back. Someone must have been feeding her as she didn't look thin or sick.

Last evening I was taking the trash to the trash cans. I saw her laying behind on of my cans. It's a very sheltered area. She didn't move, run or even look at me. She's such a skittish cat that I became worried. I spoke to her. All she did was look up. She was skin and bones, and look just plain sick.

I was afraid she was dying. So, just in case, I brought her water and food. When I placed it in front of her she got up and was scared. I spoke again to her, she relaxed and started eating and drinking. She was starving. I left some more food and water for her overnight. I checked this morning and could not find her. I would be reassured that the food was eaten, except I live in Florida. Who knows what could have eaten it. I am hoping it was her.

I'm not sure what to do. If I find her today, I'm calling our vet to see what she recommends. Poor kitty. She must feel abandoned and alone.

The Boy's Thoughts

We've been having rain here quite a bit lately, which made us decide to head out and get the Boy some rain galoshes. He has been wearing them non-stop. Sometimes he calls them his work boots. Either way, I'm considering getting myself a pair for gardening. Especially after seeing how many weeds are running rampant on my patio and IN my raised garden!





A new family moved in a few months ago, and the woman was pregnant. We don't know them very well, although the Boy speaks to their daughter on occasion. Friday there was suddenly a ton of decoration all over the outside yard and house. The Boy was very excited when we came home and saw them. I told him the woman must be having a baby shower or she might have had her baby. He was extremely excited.

While outside later, the Boy turned to my husband and said "You know, the new neighbors either had their baby or were having a baby bath!!!"

How to Catch a Rooster

It's been a rough week around here. We were awakened a little over a week ago to breaking glass, smoke and fire trucks. Our next door neighbors house was on fire. Thankfully, no one was at home even their new puppy. No one was hurt, but their house is a disaster. The home can be salvaged, but there is a lot of work to be done.

They aren't staying at the house obviously, but have been coming every day to work on it and take care of their bunnies and chickens. They also have a rooster. While out in my lanai this morning I heard him crowing, as usual. Except, no only did I see him crowing....he was also running around. I walked over, but the neighbors weren't there.

We have helped when the puppy and bunnies got loose. But, a rooster? I don't know the first thing about catching a rooster. Once he realized he was free of his corral, he was very excited. I took a few pictures, and am anxiously awaiting my neighbors arrival. He doesn't seem like he can get out of their fenced in yard, unless he realizes he actually is able to. He sure is cute though.

Unexpected

I'd say about one half of my neighborhood is vacant and for sale. It's pretty much like that in the majority or my area. The economy has not been kind. I really don't know too many of my neighbors even though we've been in this house 3 years.

We've been doing some major gardening and transplanting the last few days. I can't even remember when we did what. We had just finished planting a new tree in our front yard and were getting ready to water. At some point, someone had left us a beautiful pot with a very sad looking plant in it. The plant is definitely alive, but needs some care. No one was around, and there was no note. I'm not sure if we even were home when they came, or perhaps they didn't want to speak and just left it by the front door.

Either way I do not know what it is. But, I'm going to try to find out and get it to bloom again. It really made me smile that someone left it for us. I just wish I could thank them.

My garden can cause trouble

My poor plants are fighting during this dry weather we've been having. And, I follow our water restrictions which in turn has caused some of my plants to look pretty wilted.

I can water today, and I looked forward to giving the old plants a good soak. Until I realized while watering my yellow hibiscus tree, that my hose is great for watering neighbors too. First I heard a mumble, then a yell and I briefly saw my neighbor in the back jump up above the privacy fence. I guess he was working on his machinery back there and I got him and the machinery wet.

I felt bad because this isn't the first instance. I'm not sure why he has tons of machinery behind that fence, but it is basically holding his fence up. I have wet both him and his elderly father. Actually, my husband has too. We are irresponsible water people.

Time to get myself a better watering handle for the house. Possibly, a longer hose that actually reaches the plants I'm trying to water. Home depot has been calling me actually. Ever since I saw those beautiful plants on sale yesterday. If I purchase them, we have a perfect spot.

For the record, he's not mad. Just a tad....watered.

Flame Throwing

It's pretty strange to walk into your backyard and see children playing there. Especially when you only have one child, and he's next to you. I almost had that feeling you get when you are confused about your whereabouts in a dream. It was surreal for a moment.

They all are quick to be friendly and say "Hi!!!!!" in unison. I don't actually know these children, but they are from my neighborhood. I've seen them around. They were all between ten and thirteen years old.

I say "Hi" once I realize it is my yard they are in. One immediately covers something, and the girl starts complimenting uncontrollably. "Your yard is SOOO pretty! The flowers here are SOOOO pretty! You are SOOOO pretty!!!" I smile, but I know something is up. So, I tell them I'm heading in maybe they should head on home. They jump down from the tree, and head back through my neighbors broken fence. I say before they disappear "You might want to put out that cigarette guys." They all suck in their breath and run in shock.

I'm inside and not even five minutes later I see flames coming through my trees in the back corner. Then I see even more flames, and I can see a lot of kids there. I run out with images of just plain disaster to be found. I yell to them to stop for a minute, but they obviously all ran away. All except the two youngest, who are three and six.

I talked to them and they were more than willing to tell me everything. Apparently the older kids were babysitting and no parents were home. The kids took two lighters, kerosene(which I could smell immediately), rags and aerosol cans. They were making fire as well as homemade flame throwers. I guess part of the fence caught on fire too. I explained that I wasn't mad but didn't want anyone to get hurt. They seemed fine, but I was shaken.

I hosed everything down with water. We have a lot of brush back there, plus a natural fence that would be quick to catch on fire. I don't want anything to happen to anyone, and I also don't want a fire in my yard. We shall see.

And then the grass was covered

We woke up this morning to a strange site in the back yard. Randomly splattered across the yard were orange balls. Small tiny fruit like balls, that were indeed oranges. I couldn't count how many were there. Twenty seems like a good guess, but there may have been more.

There are many theories as to what happened. I figured some of our young squirrel friends had knocked them down, or maybe some birds. The boy figured it was the wind. Although, there hasn't really been too much wind these days. My husband has placed blame on the neighbor kids. Probably since our neighbors next door have an orange tree as well, and they enjoy throwing things into our yard.

My husband may be right, although I can't figure out what they'd be doing outside throwing oranges past 11pm. Maybe it was early morning? Either way, our tree actually looks like it's only missing a couple oranges.

The neighbor kids are young, and I believe the oldest are 7. They are twins with mischievous grins. We rarely see them, but they were trying to chop one of our palm trees down one afternoon.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this entry, so I shall end it. But, I'm watching for flying oranges tonight because we already have a big enough mess to clean up tomorrow.

Dear Neighbor(s)

I realize that when you are angry about something it is very important for you to jump into your truck, grind all the grass off your lawn(where you enjoy parking), squeal out onto the street AND my driveway, leave skid marks that are oh so long, etc. I am personally not someone who shows anger in that way, but I have noticed you enjoy it. To each his own. But could you be a bit more aware of backing up so fast into my driveway? I was standing there with my son as he rode his bike. He's 4 you know.

And to my other neighbor. While we are at our mailboxes, and my son is jumping up and down screaming "The mailman has brought us mail!!!", I know you could hear us. I feel kind of strange when you keep your head turned completely the other way, so as not to make any type of eye contact with me. I have no idea how you found the way back to your house, with your head turned and all.

Thanks, your friendly(REALLY!)neighbor