March 14, 2013
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Grumpy
There used to be a cartoon show called “Here Comes the Grump.” Bet you didn’t know it was about me. Just kidding. However, I am pretty grumpy right now.
The day started off okay. Walter went to buy parts for the plumbing and then when he returned Lucy, Ilse, Spencer, Jasper and I started off for the farm. Lucy had talked Spencer into coming so he could finally experience riding a horse.
Lucy, Ilse and Spencer went riding and Jasper went off with his friends Ethan and Iver. Kim and I were visiting in the house when her youngest son came in and announced that the cat was having kittens in the goat barn. So Kim and I went out there and sure enough—the cat was in labor and before long she gave birth to a scrawny orange kitten.
We were a little worried about the kitten because it seemed weak and had no interest in nursing, despite our efforts to help it. When there were no more kittens immediately forthcoming, we went back into the house, only to have the cat abandon her kitten and follow us shortly afterwards.
It seemed that the cat was not willing to give birth without moral support, so various family members and I took turns sitting with her. During my shift she kept getting up as if to leave, but as soon as I started petting her she would lie back down and then I’d try to get the kitten to latch on again. No more kittens were forthcoming, it seemed, despite the cat’s very swollen belly.
Kim finally got the kitten to latch on, which was a huge relief to us all, but by the time we left there were still no new kittens after over two hours! I still haven’t heard what the, uh, “outcome” was.
From the farm we went on to my friend Robin’s house, where I visited with her and the kids hung out together. It was so good to have even a short visit. Then it was on home, with a very quick detour to the yarn store for one skein of yarn.
After that the day went downhill fast. I don’t want to talk about it. Suffice it to say that it’s been a rough few hours and I am very grumpy. I hope tomorrow is better.
