Be Thankful

Butterscotch

Butterscotch - Oh, the indignity of it all!

"Why are you forcing me to pose for a picture Janine?"

I often think about not writing this blog - sometimes its hard to come up with something new and interesting, sometimes I ask for advice, and I don't get any - which makes me think that people aren't reading it, or don't want to bother.  Its odd, but since the news story aired, I have less people looking at this blog.  I thought it would be the other way around.  I do get down occasionally, I have so much on my plate, and sometimes feel unappreciated.  But that's just my own stuff.  There are others that I know are reading this, because they e-mail me personally, and comment there.  I thank them for that.  I drove home this morning just plain feeling sorry for myself, and sorry for these cats out there.  At each spot, as I get close, they can hear the rickety vehicle I pull up in, its making all sorts of noises as it gets closer to the 100,000 mile marker.  I have an average of 4 cats at each location, at each of the what....  15 spots?  And its taking me longer, and its not even snowing yet.  I left the house at 4:30 this morning, and didn't get back until 5:50.  I then have to rinse out my wet food containers - refill those, refill the 20 pounds of dry food into the bags, all ready for the next morning.  I then sit here and think of something to say, until its time to begin getting ready for work. 

Many folks have commented on shelters.  I thank you for your wise advice.  I've been sheltering these animals for years now, and its only the few spots that people trash my shelters year after year that I have trouble with rebuilding.  I try to make them as obscure to the eye as possible.  I have made many a shelters in the past, and lately have had a friend make them for me out of styrofoam, when we are lucky enough to find styrofoam, and with the plastic totes.   I was also donated two wooden huts, but those will need to be waterproofed first, although too late, they are out in the elements as we speak.  They were too clunky to remove and place back in the vehicle, so I just brought them to the areas where needed after sticking some straw in them.  I just don't have the time or energy lately to make things perfect.   Every shelter I have the openings face the east, because its a well known fact that not only do we get lake effect snow from the north, but we get most of our storms coming in from the west.  Rarely do we get storms from the east, or south, but we do occasionally.  And the reason why I ask for boards is so that I can place them against the openings, which helps to deter the wind and snow and rain from getting inside. I think my point in mentioning the shelters not being up to snuff for me is that most of the tarps I have are either too small, or are not weatherproof.  If they are too small, they won't cover the backs of the shelters so that when we get a big storm, and snow is coming from EVERY direction, there is not enough security from the tarp to hold the snow out.  Its complicated. You must come see them for yourself. This is also why I need bricks and concrete blocks, to hold the tarps down.  All survived the winds yesterday.  Nothing was too damaged.

I will leave this post with the following poem - I thank all of you who have supported me in one way or another - you have touched my life  - I simply could not do it without you.  I hope you know that.: 

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown