Homeland Security

Chukar
Originally uploaded by sasadler.

Security in Wallingford was noticeably heightened after the London bombing last week. No one was taking the subways of Seattle and the whole Monorail seems to be stalled. All suspicious packages found in the neighborhood were reported and properly disposed of. Mosques are again being fire bombed and vandalized. Brown people of all ilk are watched closely. I have personally been keeping a keen eye on our neighbors. They say they are Mexican and Filipino respectively, but you can never be too sure.

Even Sue, who is Canadian and moving to Germany, is keeping a close eye out on anything out of the ordinary. We use our cell phones to keep in contact at all critical times. I was talking to Bev and Chris in their front yard when she called from her front yard, 4 houses down looking at the roof of her house. I ran down and got my handbook to ID such anomalies and a pair of binoculars. Sure enough, Sibley's guide had the bird under the section of Exotics (read: FOREIGN.) The creature was of Middle Eastern origin to be sure, though probably born here in the Northwest. Whether it had recieved training abroad is anyone's guess.

Prodigal Cat

Well...After not seeing the cat for two days, driving to Seattle to return Thomas the nearly perfect dog, I found the cat 'tree'd' up a Doug fir at about 18 feet. Ellie stood below with food coaxing it down to no avail. I woke up this morning and he was not in the tree anymore, but again, nowhere to be found.

Jean showed up at about noon today, having ridden her bike, the strong soul. After much meowing, calling, making kitty sounds, Merlin responded. Out from under the house came the Lion Cat. I picked him up after a lot of begging. He weighs about 15 pounds. When I was walking toward the house, he resisted. He is strong. He came inside and was happy to see no dog. He hung around the house for a couple hours and after eating a modest dinner, has disappeared again.

Ellie likes to get dirty

mud 1
Originally uploaded by sasadler.

Nothing to say about it, just wanted to show you a picture of my muddy girl.

Me and Ellie

Ellie is the one in the blue regalia.

Me and Ellie
Originally uploaded by sasadler.

Critters

Really bad animal week. A dog Thomas was playing with came in and mauled Mr Rabbit. Who seemed okay, then died on the way to the vet. The baby chickens mauled one of their ranks. She continues to hang in. Now I am in Port Townsend and the cat that is in my care won't show his face. Last night, I dreamt he showed up, but was a naked 2 year old boy.

As much as Thomas is enjoying the freedom of being here, I think I am going to bring him to Seattle today. Ellie and the dog and me to a lesser degree, make the stand-offish giant (The largest Main Coon cat ever) extra stand-offish.

Yesterday's critter report: One young buck in the garden, 3 sea lions, two of them pups. The highlight for me was listening to a hermit thrush. Haunting song. Sounds like it is being echoed through a steel drum with some water in it. Beautiful.