Last Days at Lake

 Summer is rapidly coming to an end.

In my all out attempt to enjoy it to max, I went to the lake yesterday.  Usually I don't go on Saturdays, its so busy.   I tried to get up there early but after doing all the cat chores, I didn't get off til almost 9:30.  So I got up there a bit after 10:00.

To my surprise, I got a parking spot.

There were already a lot of motor boats out on the lake, pulling people and kids on various big blow up type tow toys.    You don't see water skiis anymore or even wake boards rarely.  It's all the puffy blow up tow toys.

They look like great fun.

I paddled across the lake and around the shoreline, for a couple of hours.    I was looking for ripe blackberries and finally found a huge patch I could pick from the water.   I picked a quart into an empty cat treat plastic jar.  I like those treat jars.  They have screw on lids and handles.  I use them for lunch buckets too.

These are the sandals I've repaired over and over.   But the bottoms are coming loose again at the edges I found out yesterday when the loose edge caught and nearly sent me onto my head.  More super glue is in order.

Huge wall of ripe blackberries at the lake!

By 2:00 I was back at the boat launch to go home.  That was delayed by the endless stream of big boats launching and pulling out.  I didn't mind.  I just hung out on my kayak and also swimming.   Finally there was a break and was able to get my kayak out and into my car.

Today til Tuesday it will be near 100 degrees.   

The lady in Sweet Home trying to help the neighbor's cats, its breaking her heart.   The neighbors house burned twice and property owner living now elsewhere.  Someone lives at the property in an RV or small trailer but isn't seen. Property owner gave permission for the cats to be fixed and would like the kittens to find homes.  Easier said than done though.  The shelters and rescues are full.  The ones not full seem to be importing kittens from out of state.   Why?   No clue.  Why not help Oregon cats and kittens and dogs.  

 None of their cats were fixed and all live outside the RV.  Nine kittens and three adult females, at least.  By now, we've got the three adult females fixed and two of the girl kittens.  But after surgery one of the girl kittens suffered a terrible leg injury.  She's going back to vet tomorrow.  And one kitten was found dead in the front of the RV, probably hit by car on the street, which made the lady helping cry.  They kittens are crawling in fleas too and anemic from flea bites.

This is Morning, a kitten fixed last tuesday, that lower leg--swollen with something protruding.  Kneecap?  Bone end?   Large abscess? We don't know but the vet tomorrow will figure it out.

So last night her husband said he'd built a cage to keep the kittens comfy in their garage until they're fixed.  Then another neighbor is going to help find them homes.  That's a really nice husband.  Also last night they caught a pregnant black cat that comes out of the berry vines middle of night to eat.  I will guess she at some point too was associated with the neighbors who don't fix their cats but who knows.   There are two more adult females, she thinks to catch too.

Meanwhile, Happy Cat Club, our nonprofit, that pays for all these fixes, is struggling to keep up financially.   We are trying because its desperately needed, the help.   Thanks so much to all who donate.