Coyotes

By Uncle Hans

You never know what will appear out the big windows overlooking Cable Lake.  This early morning it was a pair of coyotes.  I think they were looking for the roadrunner.  The pictures were bad, out the window in poor light with a poor camera.........

 

 

 





.....after a while, we let Sam out to investigate.  There was a lot of curiosity, some playing, then Sam ran them off.


By Uncle Hans

LAS VEGAS

WHILE WE WERE IN LAS VEGAS WE STAYED DOWNTOWN ON FREEMONT STREET AT THE FITZ.  I MADE RESERVATIONS ON THE INTERNET FOR A ROOM AT $32.77 FOR THE NIGHT.  THE SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER NEW YEARS EVE AND THE CASINO WAS DEAD.

I GAVE THE CHECK-IN CLERK A GOOD MEASURE OF BS AND HE DECIDED TO PUT US IN A CORNER ROOM ON THE 31ST FLOOR.

AT THE CORNER OF THE BUILDING ALL OF ONE OUTSIDE WALL WAS A GLASS WINDOW AND ABOUT HALF OF THE AJOINING WALL WAS WINDOW.  BEING ON THE 31ST FLOOR, THE VIEW WAS FANTASTIC.

NICE ROOM FOR $32.77!!!

WE WATCHED THE PACKERS AND THE BEARS AT THE CALIFORNIA CLUB CASINO AT THE LITTLE BAR BY THE THE SPORTS BOOK, BOTTLES OF BEER WERE $2.75, UNLIKE THE $8 PRICES ON THE STRIP.

SITTING NEXT TO ME WAS A LITTLE OLE ASIAN LADY FROM CHICAGO.  HER DAUGHTER MARRIED A GUY FROM GREEN BAY AND SHE WAS FULL OF PACKER ZINGERS WHICH SHE HAD NO TROUBLE USING ON ME AS WE CHEERED ON OUR FAVORITE TEAM.

AFTER THE GAME WE HIT THE GAMBLING AND MARY HAD HER FUR COAT ON AND HER “GRANDMA JACK” SMILE.

 

MARY TURNED HER $10 IN FREE PLAY INTO $18 CASH MONEY AND I TALKED HER INTO BETTING IT ALL ON THE CRAPS TABLE.  I TOLD HER IF SHE WON, WE WOULD PULL THE OLE ESCARGOT TRICK.

THE ESCARGOT TRICK IS WHEN WE WALK INTO A FANCY RESTUARANT EXPLAIN TO THE MATRA DI’ WE’D LIKE TO BUY A DRINK AND SPLIT AN ORDER OF ESCARGOT.  IF THE TRICK WORKS WE ARE USUALLY SEATED AT THE BAR.  ONE NIGHT YEARS AGO WE WERE SEATED AT THE BAR IN A FRENCH RESTRAUNT AT THE PARIS CASINO RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS. WE HAD TWO DRINKS, ENJOYED THE FOOD, ENJOYED THE FOUNTAIN SHOW, AND WATCHED THE RICH AND FAMOUS EATING IN  CLASSY FRENCH STYLE.

WE WENT TO THE TOP OF BINIONS CASINO TO THE STEAK HOUSE TO PULL THE TRICK.  I DON’T KNOW IF WAS JUST SLOW, OR WAS IT MARY’S FUR COAT?  WE WERE SEATED AT A WINDOW TABLE OVER LOOKING VEGAS.

YUMM !!!!!

 

OH MY, IT WAS GOOD, MUCH BETTER THAN THE MC DONALDS QUARTER POUNDER I ATE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT IN THE ELEVATOR ON THE WAY TO MY ROOM.

WHILE WALKING THE STREET I BENT OVER AND PICKED UP A FREE SHOW TICKET OFF THE SIDEWALK.  IT’S AN OLD VEGAS SCAM, WHERE YOU BUY A DRINK FOR $9.95 PLUS TAX AND SEE THE SHOW. IT WAS THE LA COMEDY CLUB AND ALL THREE COMEDIANS SUCKED.  YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THOUGH, WHILE YOU’RE SITTING THERE YAWNING OVER $23 WORTH OF DRINKS THAT YOU ARE NOT OUT IN THE CASINO FOR AN HOUR AND HALF LOSING YOUR MONEY.

IN THE MORNING WE AWOKE TO A FREAK SNOWSTORM ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE VALLEY.  HOW CRUEL IS THAT TO A COUPLE OF FUN LOVING HAPPY CAMPERS LOOKING FOR “SUNNY & 80”?

LAS VEGAS !!!

SPOTTED CATS

OK, NOW FOR SPOTTED CATS.  THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT PUREBRED BREEDS I’VE DISCOVERED.  MY INTERNET SEARCH WAS INSPIRED LAST SUMMER ON A LIBRARY TRIP WHEN I PICKED UP A COPY OF THE CAT FANCY MAGAZINE AND THE FEATURED BREED WAS SAVANNAH CATS.

SAVANNAH CATS

Savannah cats are the name given to the offspring of a domestic cat and a serval — a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. The unusual cross became popular among breeders at the end of the 20th century, and in 2001 the International Cat Association accepted it as a new registered breed. Savannahs are much more social than typical domestic cats, and they are often compared to dogs in their loyalty. They can be trained to walk on a leash and even taught to play fetch.

F1 generation Savannahs are very difficult to produce, due to the significant difference in gestation periods between the Serval and a domestic cat (75 days for a Serval and 65 days for a domestic cat), and sex chromosomes. Pregnancies are often absorbed or aborted, or kittens are born prematurely. Servals can be very picky in choosing mates, and often will not mate with a domestic cat.

Owners of Savannahs say that they are very impressed with the intelligence of this breed of cat. An often noted trait of the Savannah is its jumping ability. Savannahs are known to jump up on top of doors, refrigerators and high cabinets. Some Savannahs can leap about 8 feet (2.5 m) high from a standing position. Savannahs are very inquisitive, and have been known to get into all sorts of things. They often learn how to open doors and cupboards, and anyone buying a Savannah will likely need to take special precautions to prevent the cat from getting into things.

Many Savannah cats do not fear water, and will play or even immerse themselves in water. Some owners even shower with their Savannah cats. Presenting a water bowl to a Savannah may also prove a challenge, as some will promptly begin to "bat" all the water out of the bowl until it is empty, using their front paws.

BENGAL CATS

The Bengal is a medium to large domestic feline that originates from crossings of the small Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) to the domestic cat in an attempt to create a companion with an "exotic" look but a domestic temperament. After four to five generations of Bengal-to-Bengal breeding, the breed is recognized for championship competition by most international domestic cat associations.

The energetic Bengal is not for people who just want a leopard print cat for decoration. Whether they are fishing in the aquarium or playing in their water-bowls, fetching balls for their families, taking walks on a leash or climbing to the top of the highest cupboards, Bengals are constantly on the move and are perfect for anyone who wants to interact and play with their cat daily. The Bengal cat, like many other pets, demands a good deal of attention and affection and enjoys being an integral part of the family.

OCICAT CATS

The Ocicat is an all-domestic breed of cat which resembles a 'wild' cat but has no wild blood. The breed is unusual in that it is spotted like a wild cat but has the temperament of a domestic animal. It is named for its resemblance to the ocelot.

Despite its appearance, there is no 'wild' DNA in the Ocicat's gene pool. The species is actually a mixture of Siamese and Abyssinian, and later American Shorthairs (silver tabbies) were added to the mix and gave the breed their silver color, bone structure and distinct markings.

 

ABOVE IS THE SHORT STORY ON THE THREE BREEDS FROM WIKIPEIA.  BESIDES THE BEAUTIFUL SPOTS I’M ATTRACTED TO THE DOG TYPE QUALITES OF THE BREEDS, INSTEAD OF THE INDEPENDENT, ALOOF, SCARDY CAT WAYS OF THE TYPICAL BARN CAT LIKE SUSIE-Q.

UNFORTUNATELY THE CAT SHOW IN LAS VEGAS WAS A CFA (CAT FANCIERS ASSOCIATION) SHOW WHERE THEY DO NOT ALLOW OR RECOGNIZE ANY CATS WITH WILD DNA.  IT WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT AS I WAS HOPING TO SEE THESE CATS LIVE AND IN ACTION.  BENGALS IN PARTICULAR ARE VERY POPULAR.

LUCKY FOR ME THERE WAS ONE EXHIBITOR WITH OCIATS. HE HAD TWO BEAUTIFUL MALE KITTENS TO SHOW.

THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL KITTENS CAME RACING OUT OF THEIR CAGE AND WERE QUITE A HANDFUL TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL.  JUST LOOK AT THOSE SPOTS.

ARE THEY COOL OR WHAT?  MY HEART MELTED……..

HOW COULD I NOT COME HOME WITHOUT ONE OF THESE BEAUTIES?

AH, THEY’RE $700 A PIECE, THAT’S HOW I CAME HOME WITHOUT ONE.

Grandma Jean’s Room

By Uncle Hans

It took us a while, but we have finally settled Grandma into her new quarters.  Neil and Kathy helped by bringing some pictures and mementos from her condo to make it more homey..........





..........her church at home helped out by sending a cassette tape of the service each week.  Try to find a cassette player to buy, however.  Like looking for a record player..........





 .........We pulled in the TV from the guest house.  But moving a TV is simple compared to moving a TV signal.  That took some bad language, stringing wire, and replacing the ceiling tiles in the basement..........





...........to watch TV, you need a comfy chair.  While at the second hand store looking for a cassette player, we found this beauty for $20.............





....we also found some puzzles, which Grandmas has conquered, one by one............





..........a couple of her mementos are noteworthy.  These are actual family crests that she crocheted from an ancient catalogue of Swiss family crests that Grandma Rechsteiner had years ago.  On the bottom are the family name, the Swiss crest, and the Canton crest for each family..........






.....We had to buy lots of groceries for Grandma.  Here Annie helps us at the store.  Grandma has enjoyed her time were with us.  Still, she wants to go home to her condo.  She has recovered from her fracture and a bout of nasty flu requiring hospitalization in  late Oct.  Neil and I have successfully wrestled with her ling term insurance company (we think), so she is nearly ready to move back into her condo to see how well that works.  The trial starts on January 8th.  Stay tuned.............




By Uncle Hans

CAT SHOW

WE MADE IT TO THE CAT SHOW IN LAS VEGAS.  THE SHOW WAS HELD IN A LARGE CONVENTION CENTER.  ONE ROOM WAS SET UP WITH FIVE JUDGING RINGS, SURROUNDED BY CAGES.  THERE WERE FIVE JUDGES, AND AT LEAST THREE RINGS WERE GOING ALL THE TIME.

THE SECOND ROOM WAS WHERE THE CAT OWNERS HAD THEIR CAT KENNELS SET UP ON LONG ROWS OF TABLES.

THE CATS ARE JUDGED ON CONFIRMATION.  DID I REALLY THINK THEY WOULD HAVE THEM LEASHED AND TROTTING AROUND A SHOW RING?  OR JUMPING THRU HOOPS?

AFTER WATCHING THE JUDGES DO THEIR THING AWHILE, WE TOURED THE OTHER ROOM AND THE WAITING CATS.  IT WAS FUN TO SEE THE DIFFERENT PURBRED CAT BREEDS, LIKE SELKIRK REX, RAGDOLLS, MAIN COONS, SIAMESE, PERSIANS, ETC.  WE SAW HAIRLESS CATS, CAT WITH SO MUCH HAIR THEY LOOKED LIKE GRANDMAS DUST MOP, AND CATS SO SKINNY THEY LOOKED LIKE YOUR SWIFFER MOP.

WITH THE PACKERS AND BEARS GAME ON OUR MIND WE PICKED OUR PERSONAL “BEST OF SHOW”.

THIS BEAUTIFUL RED CAT AND IT’S FLUFFLY TAIL REMINDED US OF A RED FOX. WITH KICK-OFF AT 1:15 LOCAL TIME WE DIDN’T EVEN FIND OUT WHAT BREED IT WAS.  TIME TO HEAD OFF THE STRIP, THE LAND OF $8 BUDWEISERS, AND HIT FREMONT STREET.

WAIT… WAIT….. WHAT ABOUT YOUR QUEST FOR SPOTTED CATS?  MORE ON THAT IN THE NEXT BLOG.