SUMMER BREEZES

I returned from the cat barn a few minutes ago but was tempted to stay outside to enjoy the cooler breezes. Glenn opened windows and doors this evening and the air felt refreshing. Allergies and asthma make breathing difficult at times in the hot and humid August weather. Breathing is easier when cooler breezes begin to blow. I'm grateful for a little break from the heat, though I'm sure we haven't yet seen the last of summer.

We've been toting gallon jugs of water to the barn so I'll have plenty for the cats. There is no water source out there and although that's on the project list, it will be some time before Glenn is ready to tackle that big of a job. He took  six water-filled jugs out there tonight and I brought some more empty ones inside a few minutes ago and filled them. Glenn had the strangest look on his face when he saw the empty jugs and asked, "Exactly how much water do you GIVE the cats each day?" I had to explain that I keep LOTS of jugs on hand so I don't have to fetch and tote water every time I go to the cat barn.   

I spent quite a bit of time with the cats tonight and was shocked when one of the feral kitties (Riley) came up to me for some petting. She was a bit skittish at first but didn't run or hide when I reached out my hand to her. She responded by head-butting me (an endearment from a cat) and allowing me to pet and then hold her for a short time.

Here are three of my feral cats:

 GRACIE (ANNIE'S SISTER) - SHY, BUT LETS ME PET HER

 RILEY - ALLOWED ME TO PET AND HOLD HER TONIGHT 

ANNIE (GRACIE'S SISTER) - HAS STOPPED HIDING - PROGRESS!

We temporarily closed off the smaller of the cat rooms so Glenn could work on the door that leads to what will eventually be the outdoor cat enclosure. Rain comes in under that door when we have storms. He thought he'd repaired it, and he painted it so it looks very nice, but the rain and wind that came two nights ago proved the door still needed some work. We intend to also paint a couple old cabinets from that room and spruce things up a bit before we let the cats back in there. My friend, Chris, gave me a nice couch for that room, which the cats and I love, but some of them hide under it, making it almost impossible for me to even attempt to socialize the wilder furry ones. Being together in the big room has apparently been good for some of the cats. One by one the ferals are learning to trust me. It just takes time and I'm willing to give them all the time they need.