pet connection

Update: Not only did Clara accept Ilario back post-op, but for the first time she is allowing him to share the top deck of the cat tree.

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Ilario is home, neutered. Happy, purring and playing. Doesn’t seem to much miss what he wasn’t yet old enough to realize he had. Much to my surprise, Clara accepted him again immediately. I’d guessed she’d spend a day or two in a hissy snit because he smelled like the veterinary hospital.

I love my animals. I’ve been off from the “Day Job” for about a week to finish these books, and I have to say it is such a great pleasure to work at home (despite the deadline stress) with my animals around me.

I also love being able to visit the chickens a few times a day. Now I realize that the khaki/light brown eggs are from two of the Americunas, and apparently only one of those three hens lays the gorgeous pastel green eggs the breed is known for. The small dark brown egg is from the Rhode Island Red, and the larger dark browns are from the Delaware or the Barred Plymouth Rock (the latter being Charlotte, my absolute favorite chicken of the lot, what a sweetie!).

First egg of the day today was a gift: One of the prettiest pastel green eggs. I think Paloma is the one who lays them, but I’m not yet sure. Whichever one is the “green egg” hen, she’s not a prolific layer: I get a green egg about once a week.

Good things are worth the wait. Beautiful green eggs might get old hat if I collected a couple every day. (Here’s a picture of a previous green treasure.)

Also … regular reader A.C. sends along this picture of Allen, who looks just Ilario! Allen’s story:

I rescued a feral litter of four about 18 months ago and ended up keeping the kittens, instead of socializing and adopting them out as originally anticipated. The primary cause of my change of plans is a goofy, lovable, utterly adorable (even before he became a drooling, purring, puddle of lapcat) orange and white furball eventually named Allen. I thought you might enjoy some of his pictures, as he looks a LOT like your kitty.

That he does! Separated at birth? Sure looks it!

Finally: Pet Connection BFF Dr. Patty Khuly gives veterinarianhorse-racing mouthpiece Dr. Larry Bramlage a good kick in the fanny for choosing industry protection over horse protection. A must read.