This time next week . . .

This time next week, we will be in Paris—where the weather forecast says it will be in the 60s and rainy!

And this time next week, I will be worrying about my girls.  Even though I love to travel, it is not only hard to leave my girls but sometimes hard to get them taken care of while I am gone.  For many years, my next-door neighbor Patti and I traded taking care of each other’s dogs.  Then we started to travel together occasionally.  Then came the cats.  Until 5 years ago, I just had dogs who could go in and out of a pet door. Then came the cats.  I live at the top of a canyon that is filled with wildlife:  coyote, hawks, rabbits, rats, possum, skunk.  I have seen quail, orioles, goldfinches, scrub jay, mockingbirds, phoebes, bushtits, and towees among the doves.  Did I say coyote?  Two weeks ago, a nursing mother coyote jumped into my yard to do her business as well as some exploring.  In the 20-some years I have lived here, I have never seen a coyote in my yard, even though I have heard stories about them doing so from others.

I saw her again this morning while I was working out in the yard.  Hmmm.

So my cats are, of course, inside cats, and cats, of course, are curioius.  One in particular, Claire de Lune, who jumps on my shoulder, hoping to get a trip out the door.

                                                      Isis, who I swear is part meerkat!

Claire de Lune on an excursion

The Cat Bastet, the watcher-hunter!

Then came the dogs.  The pet door is blocked, and I have to let the dogs in, let the dogs out, let the dogs in, let the dogs out.  None of my 5 girls are really outdoorsy.  Marley, at 7, will lay in the sun a little, then wants back in.  Bella, however, is another story.  At 4, she is still very puppy.  She has a spot she sits in under a tree where she has a good vantage point to see what’s going on in the yards and canyon.  Marley and Bella are allowed on the furniture and are my cuddle buddies at night.  Sometimes a cat or two joins us. A friend of a friend of my sister Tracy’s knew someone who “dog sat”—well, really more than that—and Bella and Marley have spent time at Our House Dog Camp, which they just love and which is not an option this year.

This past year, I have hosted a young man from Taiwan who has come to learn English.  The girls have bonded with him, and I know they will be sorry to see him go—which is in about two weeks!  I had hoped he would stay long enough to oversee the menagerie, but alas, no.  My sister Tracy has been hosting students as well, and one whom we have adopted into the family because he has been here for over 2 years (and will be here a bit longer), said that he would be glad to take over.  Naturally, everything doesn’t work out peachy-keen, so neighbor Patti and sister Tracy will be drawn into duty.  My sister asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I said help with the girls while I am gone!