Sometimes I feel like Noah

There is nothing as cute as a box of kittens. Friday night we were just settling down to relax by the pool when our daughter Kass had a text from one of her friends that they found a litter of kittens with no mommy around. I got that, come on Dad lets go save them look from her and off we went, with quick stop at McDonalds because, how can you save some helpless animals on an empty stomach. We drove to King of Prussia were her friends had the kittens in a box. One had already died and the four left were very cold and hungry. They still had their umbilical cords attached. A women there took one and we took the other three. We have been bottle feeding them for the last few days every four hours.
On another note I found a Jefferson's Salamander near the pig pen. I have never found one before and understand they can grow to about 6 inches or so. Very cool. 

Jefferson’s Salamander

Scientific Name: Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Size: 4.75-8.25 inches (12.1-21 cm) in length

PA Status: Species of special concern

Click on the photos to make them larger.

Another beautiful day

There's nothing like a beautiful morning to make you feel good. I shot a few photos during this mornings wonderful light and thought I would pass them along. I guess you could say I took time to stop and smell the roses, but in this case is was grape vines and little kids and animals that I took time to appreciate. Look around you and be thankful for what you have, whatever it may be.

Don't let sucky people ruin your day

When you reach a certain age you feel you no longer need to take any crap from sucky people. Some times you run into people during your daily activities that just make you crazy, like the receptionist at the doctors office that gives you the sit down and I'll get to you when I'm ready speech, or the rude person at the checkout. Well, this is my take on those folks that ruin your day. First of all don't let them, second have fun with it. When I have the chance to encounter with one of these wonderful folks my first response would have been anger, but now I turn that into calm and deliberateness. If I am treated poorly or rude, my verbal response is two words, excuse me? I say it in a manner that has no implied tone or attitude. I say it as if I have not heard what the person assaulting me has said. Their response is often very interesting. Often they question their own attitude and recognize that they have been rude and didn't mean it and all seems a bit better with their next response. Sometimes they come back with the same type of rude behavior that prompted my initial comment. If that is the case then I have been given the green light to seek satisfaction in any way I desire. I am often content to just enjoy that fact that I have pointed out the rude behavior and be on my way, but if I feel the need to take it a little farther I deffinately tell their boss. He'll want to know this stuff. After an encounter I forget about it. 

Back to Growing Girls

You know the kids had a good day of playing hard when they fall asleep on the couch in the evening while watching one of their favorite shows. The weekend was beautiful and they played outside all day. How often do you hear that, "played outside all day." That's what we did when we were kids! That's what I try to do for my kids. We only came home when the fire horn uptown went off at 6:00 p.m., like it did every night. If the horn went off you got home fast because dinner was on the table and there was trouble if you were late. Anyway, the girls played all kinds of games outside, road bikes, played make believe that they were spies, hide and seek..., and the topper is, all while wearing their bathing suits. They think I don't see all the things their doing, because I'm cutting the grass or working on a project, but the fact is I'm watching them, wishing I was nine years old, and loving them for teaching me how to be young at heart. Thanks girls!

Rain, rain and more rain. About 1:30 last night Suzanne and I decided to fix the roof on the pigs barn because it was raining so hard. There we were putting the metal roofing on the barn in the poring rain while the pigs slept soundly, like nothing was going on. I hope we didn't bother them with all our antics on their roof. 

Learning the Ropes

Well, the pigs are much happier now that their sunburn has started to subside. Did you ever have a dog or a cat that does one of those spaz runs around the house or yard? That is exactly what pigs do when they feel good and get excited. One of our pigs, Tomacina (named after one of my friends, Tom Knarr) can be a real maniac around the barnyard.  She won't leave you alone when you go in the pen, nibbling at your feet and clothing. Trying to get your attention... Suzanne bought them some dog toys to play with since they seemed a bit bored.