Mittens 2008-2023

 This is one of the hardest posts to share. The Friday after my return from MN, Mittens downed a can of tuna juice...and that was all. Mittens often had short spots of not eating, probably because of all the plastic she was fond of ingesting. She'd throw up and be fine again! But, now, she was having trouble swallowing, so I took her to a vet on Tuesday. The young lady told me Mittens had tumors and should be put down. The vet felt Mittens was uncomfortable and unhappy. I refused and brought her back to her home. Upon returning, Mittens was let out of the carrier and completely thankful to be on grass or house linoleum and rug. She meowed, purred, and reclined gracefully upon her turf. Unfortunately, she may have wanted real food, but could only eat cat treats and almost liquid foods. By the next Saturday, I wished vets made house calls. She was so hungry, but not interested in more than water. I wasn't going to take her back to a vet. Mittens detested carriers and traveling and the stress was not something I wanted to allow her last minutes to experience. She took the concerns from my hands and crossed the rainbow bridge on her own sometime in the early hours of June 25. 

There are a lot of photos in this Mittens Montage, but I don't care! We constantly hear her collar bell and are always waiting for her to show up from wherever she might be hiding. Mittens LOVED to hide in the oddest places. Mittens was good tempered and a bit of a princess. We miss this lovely one a great deal, I'm incredibly thankful I brought her back from mum's house. These pictures start in 2014. I probably have some mom took in earlier years, but I didn't do a search for them. 

June 20, 2023. She was pretty tired of being held, so she looks a bit grumpy! Steve said goodbye first, Jon was last-the photos are in the wrong order! The very last photo is from June 22. 

Eastern Oregon June (Jon's pix) Contains snakes

While I was in the Midwest, Jon found some great critters!! This Polyphemus male is a bit worse for wear, but he did fly off. (they don't really fly, as such. They seem to stagger in the air!) 

Jon also spent several hours up at the ranch, both lower and upper. This time of year is very pretty. 

After church, he found an fun surprise. Adolphe (from We're No Angels) is a Western Terrestrial Garter Snake. He lived with us for more than a week. We finally had to release it because, although these are considered a 'starter' snake, he was difficult to feed. There were tadpoles in the water, which we assume it ate, and worms in the soil. Adolphe preferred both places to hang out in. And we really weren't positive he ate. The tadpoles could have been splashed out and trying to find an earthworm in dirt is not easy! 

Adolphe was a very pretty lively snake. Not a bit cuddly. 

Jon also found a white lined sphinx, ours at this time hadn't emerged. 

This is a super pretty butterfly. We think it is a Great Spangled Fritillary. 

This little bird we believe is a fly catcher. 

Jon took Friday off for Hodaka Days and set himself up near the trail at the Upper Place. The riders often waved to him as they passed and he helped load a wrecked bike into a truck. He took a LOT of photos all weekend, these are the only ones I chose...for now! 

Lorquin's admiral is one he has seen often. It is a striking butterfly that often hovers around wet spots. 

This one we had trouble identifying. It is rather tattered and is most likely an Eastern Tailed Blue. 

Jon said this butterfly was hard to photograph, it was constantly on the move. A very shy butterfly, but I reckon a Common Wood Nymph might be! 

Jon said this Western Meadowlark was busy and loud!! 

On his way down from the hills, Jon was surprised to find a rubber boa in the road. He's only seen three in all the time we've lived here. One was when we first moved to the area, one had been run over, and this one. It is a very docile, even tempered, cuddly til it warms up smaller snake.