Squeak

Rick decided that Squeak should come inside for the next week because of the frigid cold.  The temperatures are dropping to a wind chill this week to -20 degrees below zero.  Tonight it's -3 degrees below zero right now.  The last time we brought Squeak inside was  because of Winter frigid temps, several years ago, it took her about 3 days of hiding before she came out to greet us.  Today it only took her a couple of hours to make her appearance and now she is here laying beside me on the love seat all cuddled up with my warm, fuzzy housecoat.

This picture on the right is of Squeak when she was younger.

The picture below is a more recent picture.  It's only around 10 years old tho, so it's not that recent.

Squeak must be around 16 years old now.  I would have to check my records.

Squeak and Jybow were put outside around 2016 by Rick.  He doesn't like animals in the house.  Jybow was an indoor/outdoor cat so she loved it, but it took Squeak some time to get used to being outside since she had been a cat that never liked going outside.  Being with Jybow helped and she soon got used to it.  Jybow at 21 years of age was killed by a pitbull that had gotten loose.  She was caught by surprise because she could no longer see very well, smell or hear, so the dog snuck up on her.  We all were very upset that this happened to Jybow, especially Squeak who stood right by her side as she was laid to rest near P.J. and Daisy's graves in the backyard.

After the death of Jybow, Squeak was lonely.  After about a year she got to be buddies with a young kitten and I quit worrying so much about her having someone to snuggle with on those cold winter nights, but then the kitten decided to cross the road one day, and there went her buddy.  

Squeak is a kind of a strange cat.  She doesn't much trust anyone.  She took up with Jimmy and she loved Brian.  She just kind of tolerated me and after Jimmy and Brian were gone, she was forced to be my friend.  Now Squeak completely trusts Rick because he feeds her twice a day, and chases away any predators that might come around to harm her.  Rick can burst loudly out the front door, to scare away tomcats and Squeak just stands there.  When Rick first started doing this, Squeak would run away frightened, but she has learned to trust Rick now and she realizes what he's really doing and just sits right there until Rick is finished and then she'll go to the edge of the porch and take the credit for chasing away the toms.

Anyway, Squeak is inside tonight, and she hasn't forgotten anything about the good ole days when she once inhabited the house.  She'd rather be outside now, and would probably survive the cold just fine in her heated cathouse, but it just makes us feel safer to bring her inside for now.  She's such a good kitty, and we want to keep her safe.

UPDATE:

Here is a recent picture of Squeak.  In fact this picture was taken today, Wednesday.  She is loving being all cuddled up in my warm housecoat. She really doesn't look much older than the first picture above, but she is.  She's much older. 

We're having a bit of trouble with her and the litter box, so today Rick went to the store and bought her some new cat litter.  Hopefully we'll have better luck tomorrow.  We're going to place the litter box over the spot she has chosen as her personal bathroom.  Wish us luck....

Keep those we love in your prayers

I haven't been here in a couple of months it seems, but I'm still writing in a journal on my cell phone.  I love blogging but I need a new laptop because mine has gotten outdated and no longer loads up any new pictures, and I love using pictures when I blog.

A wonderful thing that has happened since I've been here is that my grandson Brandon and his little family of three have stopped by to visit twice.  It is so, so nice seeing them and I really miss not seeing Ody.  The next time that I see Ody he will probably be one year old.  Four visits in one year is unacceptable, but it's my fault because I don't get out much.

I've become a couch potato.  I go out to my front porch twice a day to feed my kitty cat Squeak and that's it.  I haven't been anywhere to speak of in nine years and since my total hip replacement a year after Brian died, I have hardly been out of the house.  I did go fishing a few times, but walking on uneven banks is pretty risky for me.  I tend to lose my balance very easily and being out on a lake bank hurt, all alone,  does not sound good and especially when there is no cell phone service there.  I'd have to wait until some fisherman stumbled up on me.

We've had some really pretty Spring days lately.  It rained last night and everything looks green.  Rick mowed my backyard a few days ago, but this rain has shot it up again and it looks like it needs mowing again.

My sweet little granddaughter Megan is in need of prayer today, God knows the reason.  Delores Powell is also in need of prayer.  I'm also going to keep Brandon H. and Kathy Agee in my prayers.  We are all still mourning the recent loss of Harold Grant and Callie Hayes, and the rest of our sweet angels in heaven. 

Rick has been taking really good care of me.  He insists on doing all the cooking, so I get a nice hot breakfast/brunch and supper.  He keeps himself busy with projects and when he has free time he goes to visit his brothers, Tommy at McDonald's and Bubby (Robert) at his home.  Bubby is doing very well with his Stage IV cancer.  The chemo has shrunk the cancer and maybe some surgery may be scheduled after Cat & Pet Scans are completed.  Bubby is doing great and keeps himself busy with many projects around his home.  He's even gained a little weight back.  Rick told me that Bubby was keeping busy by making fishing lures out of wood, and is looking forward to going fishing soon.  Keep Bubby in your prayers, that he continues to do well.   They seem to have come a long way with chemo since Jimmy.  Even tho I have moved on with Rick, I still miss Jimmy.  He was one of a kind.

Rick has finished working on his project for today and just left to go to McDonald's to visit with Tommy and whoever else might be there.  Men like to loaf there and talk about whatever men talk about.  I'm getting ready to watch The Resident on Netflix before I take my shower.  This evening, instead of cooking, Rick is bringing home supper for us.  Don't know what it will be yet.

Everyone have a nice enjoyable day, pray for those who need prayer, and stay safe.  Don't forget to hug your pets too. 

UPDATE:  Please add Ray Powell to your prayers     

Feeling bad for my Squeak

 This is about the third cold day and we have about 3 inches of snow on the ground and extremely frigid temperatures outside.  It was 9 degrees F. outside last night.  My sweet Squeak has a heated cat house with many blankets inside for her to bundle up with, but I still worry about her being alone outside in these temps without Jybow snuggling up to her anymore.  Jybow was around last winter, but was killed by a pit bull early last year, so Squeak is alone to brave the elements.  If it gets too cold I won't hesitate to bring her inside, but I still worry about these cold temps.  Today the high is only around 12 degrees, and she hasn't come out of her heated house.  She has stayed in all snuggled in her blankets and heated floor.  I really don't blame her.

We let a little Spring female kitten stay here last Spring and finally in the Fall, the kitten and Squeak had become friends.  We had hoped that the kitten and Squeak would nuzzle together in the heated cat house for this winter, but right before winter the kitten got run over and we found her dead on the road one morning.  That was kind of a blow to us because now we realized that Squeak would bed down alone in the cold winter nights.

As I previously said, I worry about Squeak, but I don't have a litter box or litter to put in the house and right now I'm still not over whatever sickness I am just getting over with.  In early December 2023 both Rick and I got sick.  Rick was tested and had Covid.  He was very sick and a week later I was tested and did not have Covid, nor the flu, nor RSV, but I did have an infection in my left lung.  We both were treated with prescription medications and are slowly getting better, but not well enough to go out and buy litter or a litter box.  Whether Squeak would use it is another matter.  But if the temps fall below zero I won't hesitate to bring her inside for the rest of the winter.  I do realize that once I bring her in I cannot put her back out again.  That would be cruel.  Squeak never volunteers to come inside the house even when the door is propped open, as when we are carrying in groceries, so I know she doesn't want to come in, but for her own safety I will bring her in if necessary.