I'll be the first to admit, we've got some real critter characters on the ranch. In addition to the six horses we've got two dogs - Murphy and Gaia.
Murphy joined the family in September of 1998, the vet guesstimated that he was probably about 6 months old and that he is part collie and "something". Murphy showed up on the front yard at the house in San Antonio and despite my best efforts NOT to add another dog to a three dog household, Murphy stayed. He is such a good boy. He is a TALKER!! Murphy has an opinion about darn near everything! This is a picture of Murphy telling me that while having his picture taken is nice, he'd rather have a biscuit..... - March 2010
Not only is he a talker, he is a big "cheezeball" .... Murphy doesn't just scratch his back, he makes a production out of rolling around AND gives a play by play of what he is doing and what he thinks about what he is doing.
One of his favorite pasttimes, and something that since we've moved to the ranch he can actually DO ... is laying on the deck keeping tabs on his kingdom, or napping. I went out the other morning after we'd had a bit of a frost and there on the walkway was the perfect outline or Murphy -- he'd stayed in one spot long enough that he'd melted the frost.
At the top of the picture are his front legs, and the bottom his tail and off to the left and just above his tail, his hind feet. He cracks me up ... he loves the cooler weather and he loves lying on HIS deck and in HIS yard.
Then there is Gaia. We got Gaia in 1998 when she was 6 weeks old. Her mother was a Great Dane and her father remains a mystery. Part of the reason Murphy fit into the family so well is that he is head over heels in love with Gaia. She is his girl and in his eyes can do no wrong. They are funny together -- Murphy loves to play with toys that squeak, Gaia loves to play with her basketball. She gets very attached to one particular ball and don't even try to switch the old one out for a new one ... not happening, she can tell the difference and for some reason has incredible loyalty to one ball and one ball only. The only way we've been able to upgrade her basketballs is when the current one falls to pieces and the pieces are too small to play with properly. Even then there are several anguish filled days while she comes to terms with the fact she has a new ball. The basketball in the picture below is only her third basketball ever -- it is getting close to replacement time ....
Gaia and Murphy share the house with Zeke and Maggie. Zeke thinks he is one of the dogs and Maggie thinks (and acts) like she is the invisible cat. Pictures of Maggie to follow as soon as I can get her to stay out in the open for a photo or two.
Zeke doesn't have a cat bed per se, he has a cat "bear" and whatever end of the couch he can steal from the dogs. The bear is where he does his best napping, although on occasion he likes to get into the cabinet where the rugs and critter towels are stored -- I think he thinks it is his "secret" nap spot. How it can be secret I have no idea, I always know when he's been in the cabinet a) the door is open and b) towels and rugs are pulled out and dumped on the floor ... Hellloooo, Zeke I know if you're not still there, you were. Silly boy.
Zeke and his bear - March 202
Zeke waking up from a "bear" nap - March 2010
Zeke napping in the cupboard - March 2010
The barn kitties are a riot. Where one goes ... another usually follows.
We brought back some deadfall to cut up for firewood and next thing I know this lovely pile of firewood has turned into a lovely sunshade/jungle gym for the kittens.
From left to right: Kitt, Mama Emma, Cali and down in front- Fritzy - March 2010
Tiggsgrr pretending to be a piece of wood, "if I sit still enough you can't see me...." - March 2010
I think it was a hard day playing in the sunshine ....
Emma and Kitt in the top picture
Fritzy in the bottom picture - March 2010
And then there is Elliott. We're not exactly sure when Elliott arrived on the ranch or where he came from. He was sighted in the creek by a couple of people and then one day walked up the road from the creek to the barn, moved into the barn and has been a part of the family ever since. He's a good boy and I don't know where he gets the patience for Emma and the kittens, bless his heart. It is nice to see them all under one roof and I think he considers them family. The kitts and Emma, will try to play with him and he kind of sort of responds, although not so much so -- then it is almost like he remembers that playing is good and Elliott will try to start up play with either Emma or Kitt or Cali. The minute he tries to play with them (v. them playing with him -- I know, a fine line it just depends on who starts it) and those girls yowl like he ripped their tail off ... he isn't even close to them, he's just kind of feeling them out to see if they are interested in a game and there they go screaming like they are being murdered. They are without question, the biggest drama queen cats I've ever met.
Elliott takes ranch security very seriously ... rest assured we are safe from any and all rodent invasions. Elliott on guard - March 2010
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