Our Microwaved Water Experiment

During the spring, we tried to repeat an experiment we saw online. Snopes had dubbed the microwaved water experiment an urban legend, but we figured we could play Mythbusters and try to figure out if it actually worked. The original experiment used two plants that were given either microwave boiled or stove boiled water. The plant that received microwaved water appeared to be stunted at the end of the experiment, while the plant that received the stove boiled water flourished.

The setup:
Three identical containers, the same dirt, parsley seeds from the same packet. Spray bottles would be filled with either stove boiled or microwave boiled water. As a control, I used a third spray bottle filled with filtered water. Marina created a double blind for us by secretly filling the boiled water spray bottles. Sierra and I only knew which was the filtered water, because I also use that spray bottle to spritz the lizards.

Here is the experiment all pretty and set up.














After ten days, we had sprouts showing in the pot that used the purple spray bottle. This was very exciting because I thought the experiment had been ruined several times before those sprouts appeared. I am not very patient, so when we didn't see sprouts within a few days, I tried setting the pots in the window. This resulted in a series of issues, also known as mishaps, also known as cats. As you can see below, the issue didn't go away after the parsley began to emerge.

You have a huge window sill. You have to lay right there?

They say parsley seed goes nine times to the devil before sprouting. I can vouch for the trips my seeds took.

Our experiment ended on account of too much cat interference. If it is worth anything, the boiled water sprouted first. The microwaved water sprouted second and the filtered water never did anything. After we ended the experiment, I watered everything with tap water and every pot sprouted until the final feline tipping that put an end to all the seedlings. I need a cat-proof shelf.

Sad Cat

Hobgoblin had an ear infection. His ear blew up like a balloon. I took him to the vet earlier this month and he ended up in surgery to drain his ear. Since then I have had to give him pills and ear drops. Ever give a pill to a cat? Lots of fun. Drops can be worse, since we often lose our grip and he shakes like an out of control sprinkler. Ten days of daily medicine and now give him pills every other day. Ten more days of ear drops. It's very hard to look at this face with one flopped ear knowing I will have to force his mouth open and push a pill down his throat. Especially when that face is ringed with a plastic cone collar. He is our sad little conehead.

Stitches come out next week. In the meantime, we try to give him lots of love to make up for the medicine. The happy side effect of his experience is that he has been much more cuddly. When we are hurting, we can all use a good hug.

Why do we Even HAVE Cats?

Our cats have been making us nuts lately. They sit in our houseplants, tear around the house, climb the Christmas tree, and one of them managed to knock down a tin of cookies, turning them into crumbs. Things always seem worse around the holidays, as I'm sure other pet owners can attest to. I will often cry out in exasperation, "Why do we even HAVE cats? So I wanted to take a moment to think about why we keep these fuzzy menaces...

Rosie is our cozy cuddler.


Hobgoblin flattens the boxes for recycling.


Merlin begs on command.


Dusty is a wonderful neck warmer.


Romeo sleeps on his back. (He's using Dusty as a pillow here.)


And if any of this has caused you to chuckle, you know we keep them around for the laughs as well!

How to Enjoy Christmas like a Cat

Our tree is up. Sierra gets credit for doing most of the decorating this year. I think she did a great job.



We had to make sure the angel was very secure. You might remember the antics of a certain kitten last year. Well, he still thinks the tree is the most awesome cat toy ever. And since he is now the largest of our cats, the tree topper has been clamped to the tree with large clips.



This year, Merlin has also decided to be an ornament.



Some may wonder at us allowing our cats in the tree. They would be the readers who don't have cats. (I'm kidding!) My husband notes that at least with this tree, we don't have to climb up after them! The truth is, I do get frustrated from time to time. Things get broken or lost in the excitement of having that tree. It's not unlike having a toddler in the house. In fact, I think we lost more ornaments to enthusiastic young children than to cats. We keep the breakable ornaments securely tied at the top of the tree and I try to make sure I don't leave any food unattended, lest it get knocked over or nibbled. I really do enjoy watching our feline friends run through the house. They bring laughter and cuddles when we most need it. A house that is beautifully decorated might look nice in the pages of a magazine, but decorations are just things. Replaceable things, at that. Children and pets show what is truly important this time of year: the restless joy of the season and the love of family and friends.

Hope

Nothing can bring furry rivals together like a common cause. We can learn so much from their example. There comes a time when we should all lay aside our differences, sheath our claws and consider the simple needs that unite us all.



In this case, chipmunk watching.

Cat Tonic

The kids have been feeling under the weather lately....



So they've been getting some rest.



Which doesn't really stop the cabin fever.



The cats have been doing their best to take care of them.

Except Dusty. She escaped again.

Keeping the Backyard Neighborhood Safe

We've noticed an interesting phenomenon this summer. Dustbunny, the escape artist cat, has caused a stir in the bird community. Dusty has a habit of sneaking out because she has the uncanny ability of knowing when we are thinking about getting up and turning the doorknob. We've always tried to keep her in because she has an incredible talent for catching shrews in our garden, which upsets our nature loving family immensely. It's one thing to see death happen in the wild, but to have your overfed, pampered tabby cause death is a great burden of responsibility.

And then it got worse. No longer content with shrews, Dusty began setting her sights on the birds and chipmunks. A definite no-no. We've saved many chipmunks (or the same chipmunk over and over again?) from the jaws of death. Last year, I saved an ungrateful fledgling cardinal. But this year we were not in time to save a small bird I later identified as a Yellow-rumped Warbler. We were all heartbroken. Dusty was trying the patience of all of us.

By "all" I include the birds. I think that was the last straw for them as well. I began to notice that when I couldn't find Dusty after an escape, I could usually "hear" where she was. Not because she was making noise, but because every bird in the area had begun chirping, in strong short tones. At first it was just the chickadees, robins and jays, but it soon developed into a full scale Avian Early Warning Emergency Alert System. I'm always amazed at the diversity of birds that keep their eyes on her under the trees. Along with the birds I've mentioned, I've seen: catbirds, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, flickers, titmice, and house wrens. All raise their voices in a unison to let the cat know she's being watched. It works well, too. Now that Hobgoblin, our young orange cat, has been taking escape lessons, the alert system helps us quickly locate him before he can get too far. Birds and people, working together to keep the backyard safe from feline predation.

And so another lesson from watching animals:
For community security, organize a good neighborhood watch program.

May is Almost Over...

I've been a basket case this month. Happily, my busy days are winding down now and I'm taking some time to relax.

The Hippy Kitty

You know, cats love nature!

Picture Time!

I thought you might enjoy our Official Holiday Family Photo, complete with the 4 furballs who think they own us.



And I know you are all wondering how long it took to get this amazing picture. Does life imitate comic strips in our humble home? Let me tell you. It took at least 7 shots and about 3 band-aids. And a little bit of cropping magic. Note to self: Make sure all surfaces are clean and clear when taking family photos, and make sure dirty socks are not visible.
But you really want to see one of the before shots, don't you? I'll give you one.



In this picture, we just lost Merlin, who was on Chase's lap and fled in terror when he realized Rosie was behind him on my lap. Sierra decided to move to the couch so that Hobgoblin would be in the picture (He got cut off in the only other good picture.) I'm not quite sure why Marina is standing.

One more photo. This is what I call Yoga Humor.

The Tree Climber

For those of you who were wondering...





Yes, we did have a cat in the Christmas tree. Do you think I could just pour some glitter on him and say he's an ornament?

Kitten Cabinets

Last night around midnight, I heard one of the kittens mewing in the kitchen. I went in to see what the problem was. I saw one kitten, sitting in front of the counter cabinet drawers, and I heard the other, scrabbling INSIDE the cabinet drawers.
OK, someone caught a kitten in the drawer. I open the drawer. No kitten. I can still hear the kitten, but I can't see him. Thoughts of poltergeist, now. Hubby comes in. He pulls out the bottom drawer. No kitten. He pulled out everything from underneath the sink next to the drawer. We had done some work back there, so there was a hole, which was the only place we figured he could get in from. No luck. We wake my 14yo because she's thinner and could get farther under to see if she can find him with a mirror and flashlight. In the meantime, hubby runs down to the basement to see if there is any way the kitten could have squeezed through a hole down into there.
At this point, I'm trying to herd the three adult cats to keep them from going under the sink, the kitten has stopped mewing, and I'm panicking with visions of trying to explain a dead kitten to my younger children.
Around 2am, I tell my husband to come out, because the kitten is either huddling in fear from all the noise or passed out from whatever is under the cabinet. (It's an old house, we've had a lot of what were they thinking moments.) A minute later, we hear scrabbling and the kitten pops out from behind the counter drawers.
Which is good, because hubby was about to get the saw.
It's a good thing he's cute. When he's sleeping.

May Day! May Day!

This is our busy month. You’ll understand why as the month progresses. (Blatant attempt to keep everyone coming back to my blog.)

Last weekend had its share of trials. Friday night, we noticed our cat Merlin kept hacking. Not hairball hacking exactly, but definitely a “boy, I wish I could get this hairy feeling out of my mouth” kind of sound. I went to pet his side and it was sticky, as if he rolled in something. “Did someone put something on the cat?” I asked, eyes trained on my youngest and most adventurous child.

“Nope! Wasn’t me!” was her response. No one else owned up to the deed.

I tried to wipe the foreign substance from his fur. No luck. Still making odd hacking noises whenever he licked his fur. “Are you SURE no one put anything on the cat? It would be sad if he got sick because I didn’t know how to clean off whatever got on him.”

Off Sierra went to her room and returned with a capped tube of Chapstick (with conditioning lotion). “I think maybe he rubbed against this.”

“I see. He repeatedly rubbed up against the Chapstick and then thoughtfully capped it after.”

“Yep! That’s what happened!” Hmmm…

FYI, doing a Google search of “cat ate Chapstick” will only yield sites of babies that eat Chapstick. Until now. I suggest washing it out in dish soap and water. Luckily, Merlin is a pretty docile cat, which is why she was able to rub Chapstick on him in the first place, so it wasn’t a big deal to clean him up.

On Sunday, I told my parents about what had happened. When I showed the tube of Chapstick, Sierra took it from me and rubbed some on her lips. Then she picked the cat hairs off her lips.

Is it any wonder that I never run out of comic strip material?

In Memoriam--Guru

Guru died yesterday, as quietly and unobtrusively as he lived. He passed away in Marina's lap, which was fitting since he spent most of his time there. I am thankful that he did not have to suffer a lot. I think the homeopathic remedies we used help to ease the discomfort of his condition immensely. He really only took a turn for the worse on his final day. Before that, he was eating and drinking, climbing onto the couch or Marina's bed, and even ran out the door once or twice after Dusty. The only thing was that he could not seem to poop, possibly because of a blockage, it is hard to say, since fluid in his abdomen obstructed the x-ray view. Also, his enlarged heart was not conducive to surgery even if we had found a blockage.



Lord, we bring you our grief in the loss of Guru and ask for courage to bear it. We bring you our thanks for Guru, who lived among us and gave us freely of his love. We commit our friend and companion into your loving hands. Give us eyes to see how your love embraces all creatures and every living thing speaks to us of your love. Amen.

Our pets have always brought us so much love. Whether they were with us briefly or for years, they each gave us something and we learned from them. I don't know why we keep revisiting pet death these past few years. I know that I do not regret adopting my cats and investing my love. I guess that's the thing with pet owners. We willingly put ourselves in our animals' service-- feeding them, cleaning up after them, grooming them--giving them our time, our energy. There is so much more I want to say but my brain feels all muddled and tired right now. I think I'll need to go back to the intimacy of my pen and paper and I'll write an entry on this once I get my thoughts in order. Thank you all for your comments and support.

P.S.-These pictures don't really do justice to his playful nature. I guess we never thought to capture the fun loving moments, focusing instead on his cuddly moments.

Odds and Ends

I've had Vivaldi's "Spring" stuck in my head for a week now. My son won't stop humming it, singing it (lyrics by "Beethoven's Wig 2), and practicing playing it on the keyboard. Now I know some of you think this is great, but I'm starting to feel like George Bailey ("Will you stop playing that? Haven't you learned it yet?") Please, I need an off switch in my brain.

Sierra has been behaving herself in ballet. That doesn't mean she's over her "fearsome fours," only that we've gotten the temper tantrums back into the privacy of our own home. If I deal with the teen attitude now, does that mean I get credits for later, when she really is a teen?

Marina showed me the next section of her Singapore Math book. Trigonometry. I'm scared. Can I let her use a calculator now?

We are continuing caring for Guru. In my homeopathic research, I came across a homeopathic for blood poisoning that I'd never tried before. I could only find it in a combination for inflammation at our local health food store, but it seems to be at least stabilizing him (translation: he's no worse.) Thanks to all who have sent their prayers our way. I will be the first to shout from the rooftops if a miracle is in the making.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

I know I haven't written a lot since I took Guru to the vet on Tuesday. I've been doing a lot of research, familiarizing myself again with remedies we had tried on our last cat, Thor. I really think we could have saved Thor with the homeopathic regimen we were using, except that he had already reached the point of liver failure and we had to hand feed him to get him to eat anything. In comparison, Guru has a healthy appetite and doesn't have the breathing problems Thor did. I started Guru on some of the homeopathic remedies I had used before, Moducare (brand name of plant sterols--used for immune boosting), and raw meat added to his diet (all three cats have been very enthusiastic about this). Marina and I have started a notebook to keep track of his symptoms and the remedies we use. I figure whatever we do, however long we increase his life, our experience could prove valuable to the next person faced with this.
Homeopathy is based on the theory of like cures like. If a certain element, say rhus tox (poison ivy) can cause itchy rashes, then a molecule of rhus tox can stimulate the body's immune system to heal a similar itchy rash. I've been using homeopathics and some herbal remedies since Marina was a baby. Over the years, I've bought several books on Homeopathic medicine and read several more from the library. They are user friendly and I have gotten good results from using them for colds, injury, asthma, pica, and other family ailments. They are also less toxic, which is good since we had one incident of a busybody 2 y.o. downing half a bottle of one remedy (she was fine, not even a proving--symptoms that the remedy can cause in large amounts) I don't use the herbals as much unless I've thoroughly researched what I am considering using, since there is a higher risk of adverse effects from misuse.I started using remedies on the cats with Thor, last year.

I think this will be a good lesson for my animal loving daughter. One of the careers she's considering is animal behavior, so I've given her the job of listing Guru's behavior and physical characteristics each day so that we can figure out what direction to go in for treatment. Whatever the outcome, I plan to share our notes and thoughts with our vet. Maybe we'll be able to convince her to expand to alternative veterinary medicine.

Waxing Philosophical (again)

My son is waltzing to the beat of Mississippi. Ever try to spell it out loud? It's very rhythmic. Think of the M as a starting And beat. And 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1.

We may have some rough days ahead of us. I'll apologize now if I fall behind on my blogs. Apparently, we have another sick kitty. I think there is some reason why this keeps happening. Either I'm really bad at picking shelter cats or I'm just drawn to the ones who are destined to have a short life. Over the past few years, we've lost 4 cats--2 simply to complications due to old age, 1 to sudden illness, and 1 (our favorite) to Feline Infectious Peritonitis. That's a long word that simply means "fatal."
This time it's Guru that's been stricken. Marina's cat. The two others who died of sickness were also hers. I took him in to the vet yesterday after worrying about him for over a week. It looks like FIP might rear its ugly head again, that's inconclusive right now, but the main problem this time is an enlarged heart and a murmur.
I almost don't want to talk about this with family and friends. We're starting to look like tragic pet owners, always succumbing to these cute fuzzy faces and then being left broken-hearted. But for all of our suffering through feline illnesses, I feel so blessed to have had these critters in our life. Each has had its own personality, likes and dislikes, tiny souls who win our hearts in spite of all the pawprints, knocked over plants and scratches. If you've ever loved a pet, you probably know what I mean. I think there is a lesson to be learned in all of this. I spent a lot of time praying and meditating over this through the deaths of the last two cats, especially Thor. I wrote extensively about Thor. I read about other pet lovers and their experiences. The one thing I have learned is that opening our hearts to love involves baring them to the pain of loss. That's why it's important to appreciate each moment we are given, each opportunity we have to love another soul, even the furry (feathery and scaly) ones. Love is the soul's adventure. Like the climbers of Everest, we do it because it's there, and even though I may return bruised and battered, I hope to always be ready to scale the next mountain.

Song Lyrics and Leaf Chips

I had the radio on during cookie making the other day. Marina was singing along to "Maneater" by Hall and Oates. Here are her lyrics:
Whoa-oh here she comes,
Watch out boy, she'll chew you up,
Whoa-oh here she comes,
She's a Mad Beaver....
And here I was worried about the effects of certain song lyrics on her impressionable young mind...
Our older kitten, Guru (guess he's a cat now) has taken to pulling dead leaves and flowers off my plants and eating. They're so crunchy, it sounds like he's eating potato chips. I haven't decided whether I should discourage him or not. At least it's less plant maintenance for me. If anyone who has animals knows of ill side effects from eating dried up plant matter, please let me know. Oddly, he doesn't go after the greens like the other two cats. I guess he doesn't like the chewy texture.

Kittens and Clay

I think Dusty (our 3 y.o. cat) has finally adapted to the kittens. The other day she was laying on a rug mat with a kitten on either side, looking for all the world like Cleopatra with her attendants. Merlin and Guru took turns licking her cheek and paws. Later that night, we were settled in bed with the kittens at our feet when Dusty called out in her high trill, "Mrow?" Both kittens got up to rush to her side! I wish someone would come that fast when I call.

It was a beautiful sunny day today. We went to nature class and the kids worked on clay using Native American methods. Last week they had gathered the clay along the banks of the park. This week they gathered oyster shells, rocks and gravel that they pounded into powder with rocks and mixed it into the clay along with sand. This will help strengthen the clay when it's baked. Then they got to play with their clay, modelling it into bowls, plates, sculptures, anything they wanted. Now our park ranger is going to figure out how to fire them. Fun! I'll post pictures when I get a chance. Busy, busy, busy lately!

Dino Shrimp!

Here is a very cool shot of the underside of one of the triops. Chase, the man with the steady hand, took the picture. Believe me, I tried several times to get a picture and had no such luck. They move too much and I have no patience.
She is about an inch long here. We know this is a girl because she gets egg sacs on the sides of her body. Also, we only have two girls left. They ate the male when we misplaced their food.