I’m a touch melancholy today. It’s the 7th anniversary of Chewy’s last day, so a bunch of pictures and the post I wrote a year later popped up in my memories https://jessicasettergren.com/2018/10/03/pets-not-for-the-faint-hearted/ which got me teary-eyed.
He was a good boy, with a big strong warrior’s heart, and I miss him extra today. None of this helps my horrendous fall allergy induced headache.
Minerva’s booping me on the leg right now to remind me she has successfully taken up the mantle of valiant protection duties for the household. She stalks and chases fat squirrels off the deck railing, repeatedly, because they’re so busy squeak-fighting each other they don’t notice she’s coming for them until she’s nearly upon their chubby wrestling bodies. But they always get away because squirrels are freaking insane and will DIVE off the bird feeders, the roof, or the deck railing. I suspect they have no actual bones inside: if they don’t land on the closest tree they just superhero-crouch on the ground and scurry up the nearest tree before any dog gets to them. None of that is bad (while I don’t appreciate them eating ALL the bird seed, I don’t actually want Minerva killing them, so thankfully she’s way too slow), it’s just hilariously noisy.
The other invader she and Ragnar have been on HIGH ALERT about lately: owls. We seem to have a variety judging by the different calls we can hear in the darkness, both far away in the woods or golf course and way too near for comfort. One was definitely in one of the trees in our yard hollering at Minerva the other night. She barked her high pitched howly staccato hollering bark, the equivalent of “INTRUDER! GET OFF MY LAWN!” while throwing herself at the fence as the owl hooted down at her. That owl did NOT care about her fussing. Nor did the three other owls we could hear with varying proximity, some with the same hootiness, some with other creepier cackling sounds that 100% fit with spooky season. Excellent.
Not to be outdone, Ragnar barked at it for a while, but he’s old and only has the energy for a limited amount of arguing before he gets tired of it and finds a comfy spot to lie down and watch the show. I suspect his philosophy is to let the young’uns fight until it’s necessary to provide backup.
fAngus was STRONGLY encouraged* to stay in overnight that night so he didn’t become an owl pellet.
*physically brought back in the house under meowy protest, provided with treats and catnip while the sliding door was closed and locked before he could sneak back out.
No Pithy Phrase 