The newest Museville residents

Because of the crazy weather here in what used to be constant sunny southern California, I have moved my work inside over at the studio for the time being. On nice days, which used to be most days of the year, I work under the pergola off the back of the studio, but with how unpredictable it's been, inside seemed better for now.

While inside, I keep the doors and windows open for ventilation because soldering isn't the healthiest of things - and sometimes I forget to to close the french door that leads to the pergola area out back, and it sometimes stays open all night... (I know, I know....)

So, the other day, I go into the studio and hear this low, very scary growling coming from under the sofa, or at least that general vicinity... followed by some faint, what seemed to be, mewing... I stopped in my tracks. My heart raced and I quickly backed up, and immediately exited stage left. WHY did I leave that door open?! Heaven knows what snuck in during the night! I went into auto-pilot and went to the house for some back up, a broom and some boots. (I had no idea what was going to jump out from under there and attack my leg!) I get brave in these situations that force you to act before thinking... when I have time to think, I am the world's biggest chicken!!

Poor Tired Husband and I quietly crept back into the studio, thinking we're going to be facing off with a raccoon - or worse... and then we see a pair of pointed ears in the far corner peeking out from behind a stack of wicker baskets.... moving in a little closer, we catch a glimpse of a beautiful face --that of a small, very young, mostly white calico cat - that sweet moment soon passed. what was touching for a fleeting moment, returned to what initially made the hair on the back of my neck stand up - that horrifying snarling and low, loud, threatening growling - the ears when back - the hair went up... and we stood there, frozen- hoping it was all the tricks of a puffer fish, and that she really wasn't going to attack us... she wouldn't ... would she?

Thankfully, the hissing, spitting, fur puffing, snarling and growling was, indeed all posturing. PTH lead the forward motion (I wanted to flee, but wasn't about to relinquish my studio to a 5 lb wild thing! We inched our way towards the feral acting feline. The poor thing was rail thin and scared. More inching and peeking revealed what she was guarding -- A pile of brand new kittens... Oh, boy. PTH, being a deprived cat person, and me, a total dog person, and never wanting cats had polar opposite reactions. He just found treasure, while I knew who was going to be the one that everything would fall on to take care of... and it wasn't the cat lover.

Momma cat let us closer and we tentatively reached out and surprisingly she let us pet her. (whew) I say we... but I was really a spectator. So, not feral - but perhaps a stray. A very beautiful, young, and painfully thin stray - with six... yes six... kittens.

What to do... well, first things first, we have to get them out of that crammed corner, give them safe housing, some food and clean water and then figure this out. I might not be a cat fan, but I am certainly not devoid of compassion.

PTH is put on house building duties while I run for emergency supplies. So at the end of Thursday, Momma and babies are in a clean box with soft flannel baby sheets - mom has much needed food and water and a house call from our neighbor the vet who came over to check her out. Diagnosis - surprisingly good health, but way too thin and dehydrated. We're on the case.

My two Huskies - Thing 1 and Thing 2 are very curious, and thankfully have no access to the studio unless we leave the yard gate of the main house and one of the doors of the studio open over there - I padlocked the gate so there will be no chance of an accidental meeting - leaving nothing to chance.

Here are a few shots of our new residents and latest distraction...




If it's not one thing... it's your mother. ... or a mother cat, in this case.

The story will continue.

xo Isa