Sunday, October 25, 2009

Naming the new family pet.

Our neighbors from across the road knocked at our door about a week ago. As soon as I pulled the door open, even before it was more than a few inches ajar, I saw it. It was a small kitten cradled gently in Christine's hands. Thinking quickly, but futilely, I slammed the door and turned both locks securely. But it was not to be, "Who is it?" said the love of my life - Julia. And soon the kitten was in the hands of the bane of my life - Julia. The kitten, maybe two weeks old, was, it is true, cute. But, it was still a kitten, and as such would need nurturing, feeding in the middle of the night, expensive food, doctoring and toys. But even more importantly it would distract Julia from me. I would become 'second fiddle', actually 'third fiddle' - I am already second in line for her affections to our number one cat, Rascal.

But, as all our friends know, I can deny Julia nothing. So, we now have number two cat - xxxx - (No name).

The naming process continues, it has been more than a week now and no consensus has appeared. The ritual for selecting a new Pope's name is long, but surely not as long as this?

I led off with what I thought was an ideal, surely never before used name for a cat , Gordon Bennett, but Julia immediately vetoed it, with a brisk, "It's a female." So I quickly countered with, "OK, how about Mrs Gordon Bennett?" This did not even garner a reply, merely a scornful look.

Over the next few days a selection of insipid names was suggested, mostly by Julia. Names like Emma. I had a 'Certainty' I thought, with Riley - seeing as she was living the life of Riley, but this again was firmly turned down with an undeniable, "There was an obnoxious boy at Gibson Island School - Sarah's first school - named Riley." The search continues.

Lake update.

There is a lot happening at The Lake. The Cormorants arrived over a period of two days, and left just as quickly. I think there is a dearth of fish in The Lake, I am catching very very few, so I suspect the Cormorants had the same problem. The Great Blue Heron continues with its presence, I see it - or them - frequently, and if I go outside at night, as often as not I will hear it honking as it takes off and flies off in the dark. It must have very sensitive hearing or sight, because it honks and takes off as soon as I get down the steps onto the lawn.
The two big beautiful white Swans have returned. We have missed them for some weeks now and wondered what had happened to them. Maybe they went away for their annual vacation? Or maybe not! Anyway they are back and a very welcome addition to our daily bird sightings. Also spotted lately are some Vultures, Osprey and the usual LBJ's - Little Brown Jobs - that are abundant in our little copse of trees and bushes right outside of our bedroom windows. They include, but are definitely not limited to, Blue Jays, Robins, Wood Doves, Wrens, Sparrows and a mess of other birds that I don't recognise.
The trees of course are an absolute picture, I can hardly believe the colors. Julia and I regularly go to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to see the Fall leaves, often taking grandson Bradley with us, but we really don't need to this year, I think that the colors here as just as breathtaking as any that Virginia has to offer, plus we have the water as well. In the mornings, and sometimes during the day, if the water is very still, we get a "double dip" when we see the trees in their wonderful colorful mantles not once but twice! The second time of course is when they appear upside down reflected in the mirror like surface of The Lake. Well I have to go and look at the view again - I cannot bear to be away from it for too long, in case I miss something.
Wish you would visit us.