PURRFECT SPOTS - The story continues...

The Cat - Life with Casey...........

We drove to Enterprise AL where we had called ahead to make hotel reservations for us and veterinarian reservations for our cats. I am so glad we did. We were part of the lucky ones as we had evacuated very early and gotten ahead of the crowd on the roads. This is a very smart idea, particularly when you are traveling with pets.

People begin showing up all day long at the motel as we were all trying to escape the wrath of this horrible hurricane. That afternoon the rain started, then the winds kicked in and howled all night long. We lost power in the motel around 5:30pm. It was awful! We were over 100 miles inland and it was absolutely unbelievable. You can imagine what I thought about Casey being there all by himself  right on the coast where it was coming ashore. I was frantic as there was absolutely nothing I could do except pray and I sure did a lot of that. It was a very long night.

The next morning it was still rainy and windy. No power in the city of Enterprise. All the trees around the motel were down. Power lines down, damage to structures. It wasn't a pretty sight. We all wondered what we would find when we arrived home. I called the Sheriff's department in our county and actually got through. I told him where we lived and could he give us any information regarding that area. He said most of the houses had been destroyed and the gulf had come over the highway in several areas - even washed a house in the middle of the road. My heart sank. What about Casey?

We headed home just to assess the damage later that morning and these are some of the sights we saw as we were coming into our neighborhood.

The local gas station a couple of miles from our house!

 The remains of a house about a mile from our house.

Another house in the same area!

I was very upset. What would I find when I returned home? That will be in the next chapter.

Keep Your Pets Safe during the Holidays!

	Lights, decorations, good food... every year, as we celebrate the holidays, we fill our homes with seasonal cheer for ourselves and our families. However, what may seem beautiful and harmless to us may pose hidden dangers to our pets. Don't let an emergency spoil the festivities! Below are some common holiday hazards for dogs and cats and ways to prevent them.
		Holiday Hazard			How to keep your pet safe
		Dangerous Foods			The following can be toxic to pets: chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, garlic, onion, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, bread dough, and sugar-free candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.
		Regular Foods			Despite tradition, bones should never be given to pets. Even beef, ham, and other "regular" foods that are not considered toxic can cause illness in pets. If your pet is a moocher, keep a saucer of his regular treats on the table to offer when he asks. He probably won't know the difference!
		New Treats and Toys			Even a pet-safe treat can cause stomach upset if it is new to your pet. Offer only one of these at a time (ideally, separated by a few days). If your pet becomes ill after eating a holiday treat, it will be easier to trace the source and discontinue it. Also, check new toys for sharp edges, pieces that can be chewed off, or other potential hazards.
		Plants			Hazardous plants include mistletoe, some evergreens (including some types of pine), and holly bushes and berries. Try to keep these plants away from pets, or at least supervise pets when dangerous plants are nearby.
		Decorations			Tinsel, tree ornaments, ribbons, string, and garlands are some items that can be dangerous if eaten by pets. Keep these items away from pets — especially when pets are unattended. Don't forget to cover any electrical cords or keep them out of reach.
		Fire and Carbon Monoxide			Monitor pets near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles, and portable heaters. Also, don't forget to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. Space heaters, furnaces, and idling cars (in a garage) can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in pets and humans.
		Christmas Trees			Monitor your pets when they are around your holiday tree. Pets may eat the needles (even from artificial trees) or drink water from the base of the tree, which can be toxic (especially if there are preservatives in it). Keep electrical cords and decorative lights out of reach, too.
		In many cases, if your pet has eaten or drunk something toxic, warning signs will include gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Other signs may include tiredness and lack of appetite, especially in cats that have eaten lilies. If your pet shows any of these signs, or if you think he or she has eaten something dangerous but is not showing any signs yet, please call your veterinarian right away. Treating your pet as soon as possible is essential!

Congratulations to My Blog Hop Party Winners!

The Blog Hop Party is over and I have 2 winners. Before I announce the winners, I want to thank everyone for stopping by and commenting. I also wish to thank those of you who became followers! I had a great time and I hope you did too.

Now for the winners - using Random.org - the two winners selected were Connie & Sharon Pernes. I have contacted both of you by email and I look forward to hearing from you.

Meanwhile, thank you again for joining me at the party and I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

PURRFECT SPOTS - The story will continue next week...

For all who are following the story of PURRFECT SPOTS - we have taken a break this week due to the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party Tour! (Check that out in the post below.) Next week starting December 19 - the PURRFECT SPOTS story will continue! Please join me next week as the "tail" unfolds!!!!

Join me in the Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party!

Be sure to join me in the Quilting Gallery's Blog Hop Party starting December 10th and lasting until December 17th! This is their 4th Birthday and we are helping them celebrate. There will be lots of wonderful Give-Aways available by "hopping" to all the particpant's blogs!







PURRFECT SPOTS will be giving away two quilt patterns during the Blog Hop Party in a random drawing. But you need to make a comment and let me know which you prefer - applique or hand piecing. Then become a follower of my blog and a fan on my facebook page. The lucky winners will be selected in a random drawing once the Blog Hop Party is over so be sure I have your email address.

Once you finish at my blog - click on the Blog Hop Party picture on the side of my blog (in the margin) to see other bloggers in the party!

 Blue Plate Special

and

Memphis Ribbon & Blues

PURRFECT SPOTS - The story continues...

 The Cat - Life with Casey

Casey was a little black feral cat. He would run when I would approach, but not too far as he knew that I had food. I could see him peeking at me through the bushes, but not too close. He would wait and make sure I was gone before he would come to the porch to eat.This went on for several weeks. Each week I would stand closer and closer to the porch until I was almost beside him. It was interesting to watch how he would get braver and braver each week. Plus he was beginning to fill out and grow. He was finally getting the food that he needed.

When my cats would be out, he would come and try to play with them, but they would hiss and spit at him. They didn't want him in their territory. (Bamboo is on the attack in this picture.) I imagine he would have done the same if they had gone in Karen's yard which was essentially his yard! One day I was in his yard getting ready for feeding and he came towards me. What a step of faith! I thought I have finally earned his trust. I reached down to touch him and he swiped my hand with his paw and hissed. Well, maybe we need a little more time. However, each day I could get closer and closer. I was thrilled. He knew his name and would come when I called if it was around feeding time. I tried to find where he spent his days, but he did a great job of eluding me (most of the time)!

I never expected what came next – Hurricane Opal! On Sunday, this tropical disturbance was wandering around the Bay of Campache near the Yucatan Peninsula. The forecasters said it needs to be watched! This was October and the weather was cooler, so we thought that we had made it through the summer ok. Tropical Storm Erin had passed through in August, but was just a very heavy rain storm so we felt blessed. But Opal was different. By Sunday night it was getting stronger and moving and it was heading right for our coast. It continued to strengthen and became a Category 1 hurricane on Monday, and by Tuesday at 2:00am it was a Category 3 hurricane and law enforcement was ordering evacuation of our area.

We got on the road at 4:00am and headed north. We had all our cats with us except for that little black feral cat, Casey. I had no idea where he was. I called and called before we left, but no sign of him. I left lots of food and water bowls for him as I had no idea when we would be back. This was a bad storm coming – it was now a Category 5 – the worst of the worst. I knew he had been in the wild and had survived so far, but a hurricane was a different story because of storm surge and high winds. My heart was heavy, but I prayed for his safety. We had no idea what we would find facing us upon our return.

To be continued………….

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