The Front Porch Swing

[Cearbhael]

My bathroom smells like every Tom in the county lives here.  But ironically I don't OWN a cat - never have!  I like cats.  If I wanted one I'd get one.  People who have them seem to think that it's okay to let them out and leave them to their own devices. That's how the toms end up under my house, spraying, until my bathroom reeks.  That's how the ladies end up under my house, having kittens.  That's how I get hair-balls on the cushions of my deck furniture.   I'm not a cat hater - but I could very easily become one.  Don't know why folks who would never think of letting their dogs wander all over town, getting into trash because they're hungry or because it smells good, and trying to find whatever warmth they can on the hood of cars, think that it's fine if it's a cat.  

When I worked for the animal hospitals in Mississippi and Chicago, we treated more cats for cat fight infections, frostbite, poisoning, feline leukemia, and hit-by-cars than any one person should have to see.  But, it's cruel to keep cats confined, right?  

Sorry, not intending to offend any of my fellow porch sitters.  But it sure gets frustrating to have cats under my house, sitting on top of my chicken run, and using my garden plot for a cat box.  Like I said, if I wanted a cat, I'd get one.

I stopped putting my cats out back in the early 1970s. I lost my favorite, a Russian Blue I simply called Blu. A pack of coyotes decided to hunt through our yard. Our black Tom made it up the Magnolia Tree but Blu didn't! I realized then that it was not safe enough for cats to wander free. All kitties since then have been indoor for life kitties. They live a lot longer that way.

 

[Tomtommom]

I stopped putting my cats out back in the early 1970s. I lost my favorite, a Russian Blue I simply called Blu. A pack of coyotes decided to hunt through our yard. Our black Tom made it up the Magnolia Tree but Blu didn't! I realized then that it was not safe enough for cats to wander free. All kitties since then have been indoor for life kitties. They live a lot longer that way.

As a teen I argued that with my mother, who let our cats out. Not long after one was killed by a motorcycle and that same weekend my other cat ran away (he was ill and had to go the vet).. He probably knew he was dying.

In the US my cats used to be indoor cats, but life happens. We're now 5 people in a tiny 2 bedroom and the cats have moved themselves outdoors to get away from the kids. If/when a cat wants outside, there's little you can do to stop them. Trust me on that one

 

[wyoDreamer]

I trained my cats to stay inside when they were just kittens. I can block the doors open and they will not cross the threshold. In Wyoming, my male cat decided that the back porch was still "inside" so he would go out on the porch - but it was off the back of the house with a walkout basement, so quite a ways up; he would not go down the stairs to ground level. 17 years later, my female cat will still freak out if you pick her up and go to the door.

 

[Tomtommom]

I trained my cats to stay inside when they were just kittens. I can block the doors open and they will not cross the threshold. In Wyoming, my male cat decided that the back porch was still "inside" so he would go out on the porch - but it was off the back of the house with a walkout basement, so quite a ways up; he would not go down the stairs to ground level. 17 years later, my female cat will still freak out if you pick her up and go to the door.

My cats.. well.

Cat 1, Scooter, was adopted from a rescue. He lived in a field for the first 10 months of his life. He came around nicely, but that hunter habit you can't get out of them.

Cat 2, Binky, was born under a building... he's more of an indoor lover, but Scooter has a bad influence on him. Poor thing is like a fat kid at boot camp... he can barely get over a fence. Hunting? Uh...

 

[perchie.girl]

NO MORE cats for me..... they last five to ten minutes here outside. I love cats but will not have an indoor only cat ever again.

deb

 

[lazy gardener]

I grew up on lamb. Loved a good lamb roast with mint jelly. Cats... life is not complete without one or two, never more. I'd love to have indoor only, but had one who would squirt out through a door cracked open just 1/4" and I'd be chasing him through the woods, over stone walls, through vernal ponds, through poison ivy thickets. He'd lead me on a merry chase, most often either just as I was heading to the car to go to work, or just getting ready to go to bed. So, he goes out to play now, and I'm blessed if I can keep him inside every night.

 

[LBejaran]

Speaking of cats, you guys couldn't believe the crazy weekend I've had. Once I sell a couple more chairs, I'm going to buy myself a congratulatory cocktail as a reward for not snapping at anyone.

First off, the good news: We have nearly completed the garage, purchased the window unit (it was way cheaper and more efficient than the portable units), and I am nearly done painting the walls. I wish I could move faster but I swear to you, lately the garage has been a toasty 100 F and it is super humid. I'm pretty sure I could hatch some chicks in there, haha!

Hopefully my sister's boyfriend will be coming in this week to set us up with a 220 outlet fitted for the A/C unit. We have some boxes left in the garage that we need to sift through, but the humidity makes it hard for my mom to concentrate and most of it is her stuff. Other than that, mostly everything is up in storage or is where it needs to be (whether that be the garbage, goodwill or in a place where it can serve a purpose).

Now for the cat-crazy news:

Wouldn't you know that the day after my little brother comes home, pops decided to create a hooplah. He made a bunch of my family cry by accusing my mom of these awful things that weren't true and he made Mom cry and he's just been awful. And of course I had to explain to my little brother that my dad has been bag-of-cats-crazy for ages and that my mom was innocent of any of these indiscretions because Mom was totally horrified and in shock. Needless to say, Stevie (little bro) hasn't talked to Mom since he came home and didn't even say "Happy Mother's Day" yesterday.

So yeah, this weekend has been crazy. I'm pretty exhausted and have been trying to chill out a bit before I have to finish the garage.

 

[Cearbhael]

You are a braver woman than I am...I've never in my entire life cooked a leg of lamb. And I've had a lot of long to my life! I'll bet she tries it and likes it, and even if she doesn't don't let your confidence take a hit - you got this! I have total confidence in you!

My father got sick of MUTTON when he was in England in WWII. He was part of a Bomber squadron. He did eat lamb and never complained. You did good with the garlic and Rosemary, but I would hold off from the sage in future. My brother fell in love with lamb first time he tried it. To get lamb here, I have to buy a lamb from the local shepherd and have it slaughtered. We have 3 meat packers/butcher shops in a town of 1,500 peeps but we have LOTS of farmers so they keep busy!!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Um the sage was pretty good in there.... Why not sage? does it conflict with the flavor profile?

deb

 

[Cearbhael]

Um the sage was pretty good in there....  Why not sage?  does it conflict with the flavor profile?

deb

Simply a personal preference! If you like it, go ahead but I always think "Bird" and stuffing. Also my mother accidentally spilled the sage when making stuffing once and it was inedible! Can't believe she still served it. My grandmother was the first to comment then suddenly everyone was complaining at once. She didn't screw up food often but her few failures were spectacularly BAD!!!
Needless to say,I haven't used it much!