MINERVA

     We do not know what killed Minerva, the veterinarian on duty explained Minerva did not appear to have suffered from trauma of a vehicle hitting her; however,  she was exhibiting  signs of  having maybe drink some antifreeze common among feral cats and some dogs. Sally and I soaked in this knowledge, my mind, thoughts, feelings did not want to go beyond the possibilities of just that. Minerva in her wondering found a puddle of coolant under a vehicle and lapped some up; unknowingly, poisoning herself. And we had two kittens, Wilburforce (aka Furr Ball) and Runt, our favorites, unaccounted for. 

     A deep sadness sank in our hearts when we gave the vet permission to euthanize Minerva. Sally and I stayed with her in a quiet office, stroking her soft fur, when it dawned on me this was the first time Minerva had anyone hold and pet her. And even now as I type this, it tears, rips, and crushes my heart to think about. Knowing especially, I felt,  Sally and I were so close to domesticating Wilburforce and Runt for possible adoption.

     That has been our goal ever since our six black cats had moved onto our front porch and made a home of our home. Yavapai Humane Society would not take them as feral cats; nevertheless, they had an awesome program called ‘Barn Cat’.

http://www.yavapaihumane.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1099

In short, after Sally and I discussed it, she set her sights with some help to catch and have our  black cats spayed or neuter and released back at our home. A win, win. We didn’t have to worry about new kittens and our six black cats could stay with us. We would take responsibilities for them. Sally worked so hard to catch them and at this time we still have one, Houdini, that needs to be caught. He’s the wily slick one. In addition, elderly friends of ours down the street have been working with Sally with their crop of feral cats.

     Having said all this, I  want to share that over the last several months our family of black cats have become our family members, each with different personalities and antics, all with the lust for life. We lost four of the six and now we have another one, a gnarly, battled scared, one eye black cat we named Moshe (aka Ghost).  And so I want to close by saying have your family pets spayed or neutered. Keep your area cleared of anything that is poison. And have fun with them.     

Please visit;

http://chuckables.artistwebsites.com/

http://jeromeartists-davidson.blogspot.com/

      

GOODBYE MINERVA

MINERVA

GOODBYE MINERVA

No human kindness 

has ever touched or pet you

until today when

I picked you up from the street

dying from maybe poison

And we held you at

the vet's one last time stroking

your head and ears sad

beyond belief of what is 

happening to you dying

You died peaceful  in

 my arms and though you never

shared the warmth of our

home we hope you leave knowing

human kindness we loved you

LATE WINTER BLOOM

     In our back yard we have two plum trees and a apricot tree. They are blooming! In Arizona’s late winter. Over the past couple of weeks Sally and I have watched our fruit trees; in addition to, the trees in and around our neighborhood coming out and blooming. I do admit, I am concerned about this mild winter of ours this year.
     However, this morning with the temperature around 38 degrees, and just before the sun popped over the horizon, I took this picture. Enjoy.        

ARRIVED UNINVITED

Runt

          They arrived uninvited around Halloween, and at first I ignore them;  hopeful they would not set  up camp, make their selves at home, just simply move on  as a band of nomad's to a better place, and I would forget about their passing through. They did not! Instead, the six black cats, three kittens and three adults set up residence at our home.

     Who could blame them. Clearly, they are as sharp as a tack when I come home from work and they would scatter in all four direction under our large front porch. They found the perfect home to suit them, their needs, desires and wants. With bird feeder and bird bath nearby just in our front yard and cover below our porch they found a home that offered food, water, and shelter. So during the first couple of weeks, I was so hoping they would move on to greener pasture in the neighborhood. Still, I observed them with interest; akin to that of being a zoologist. 

     Sally and I talked about our uninvited guests often and so she began her research. As an animal lover with allergies, she wanted to see what she could do to find them homes and who could blame her.  It soon became clear our front yard was not only their playground scaring all the birds away, it is their toilet as well. And this put a tremendous damper on Sally's plans to landscape our front yard and now spending more time cleaning up after them.     

     As in any clan, family, pack of animals there seems to always be a runt. And in this tribe of black cats they had theirs. One day I watched as two of the stronger kittens hopped up the bird bath to drink the water. The runt, skinny, slow, but trying, could not achieve what his siblings could do. It tugged at my heart strings and with Sally's blessing, I began to bring some water out to them and not long after hard cat food. I named the first of six cats. 'Runt'. 

     And so welcome to my blog where today I opened the 'Pets and Shadows Gallery' of photographs with our pets and the world of shadows, feral cats and maybe a stray dog or two at  http://chuckables.artistwebsites.com/   Please browse through my galleries , enjoy, and don't forget half the sales from “Pets and Shadows' I will donate to the Yavapai Humane Society and The Humane Society.

Thanks

Chuck

A HAIKU

‘Smell of life giving

Moisture teasing the dry senses

Bringing desert hope’

LOST LITTLE ONE

                                                                 LOST LITTLE ONE

     I titled this photograph 'Lost Little One' and she has inspired me to create the gallery 'Pets and Shadows' coming soon to my site at   http://chuckables.artistwebsites.com/  with http://fineartamerica.com/.  Her wide eye expression tells her story. Scared, uncertain, resigned about her fate as a shadow of life around her. And starving; she ate a small plate of sardine Sally had set in a trap. Not to catch this little one, but another one in a family of six feral black cats who set up residence on our front porch. However, the black cats is another story for later.

    This little one was a complete surprise when we open the cage in the garage to have  look see and she shot out, around, back deep into the garage under boxes in the corner. After carefully digging in and around the boxes I found her, all fur and bones when I dug her out and picked her up. My heart went out to this 'Lost Little One' I held in both hands carefully. Frail and frightened, she was resigned when I placed her in a cat carrier we had borrowed from a neighbor a while ago. And though I wanted to keep her, I knew I had to put that notion out of my mind; Sally has allergies to critters and having another one running around in the house, well you can imagine.

     Which brings me to the reason why I have created this gallery. Sally took the little one to the Yavapai Humane Society and after reviewing their site on line, I have decided I wanted to help out a bit. And so I will give 50 % of the sales from 'Pets and Shadow' to the Yavapai Humane Society and The Humane Society.

      All I ask is, when I open the gallery soon; please enjoy, laugh, smile, wonder, purchase if you wish. Try and read my blogs every once in a while, I will endeavor to improve on my writing skills. And please share this with family and friends.

Thanks
Chuck  

CANON T3I

Finally did it! Step over the edge and purchased my first DSLR camera. After the moon shoot last Friday evening in Jerome, reading Scott Kelby’s digital photography books, working on a photo project soon coming to Fine Art America, and the generous support from my wife, Sally; I decided to take the plunge and purchase a Canon EOS Rebel t3i. Whew! It was a spontaneous, overwhelming, silly, need, want, desire to achieve, reach, grab the best photograph of whatever subject I am taking. I hope in the future, many of you will enjoy.