The Summer We Rescued 4 Baby Kittens
All summer my brother Taylor had worked at Texas Refinery Corporation in the stock yards. While working there he took care of a mother cat that had just had her four healthy baby kittens. Soon after she gave birth to her precious litter the mama cat, weak and delirious from having her kittens wandered into the middle of the street. Cars rushing passed her swerved around determined not to hit the mother cat! She rushed to get out of the way of the dangerous traffic when one cherry red volts wagon beetle failed to see her. The mother cat was soon taken from this world and all that she loved. Mama cat was made into a perfectly flattened pancake in the middle of the road by that careless maniac…a lonely tail waving in the breeze. The new born kittens had no way to care for themselves in order to survive.
When my brother realized the mother cat had been killed he rushed to her kittens side in hope of being their guardian angel. Knowing the other workers wanted to just put the kittens in the dumpster; he gently put all four of them into a box with a towel and took them home hoping to save them. My mother was not too happy about the little surprises but yet could not turn them away. We were not sure how our over weight chocolate Labrador would treat these new babies. But he warmed up to the little sweethearts fast and was soon acting like their mother. We quickly called the vet once my brother got home from work and rushed to Petco to get all the materials needed to save the four baby kittens lives. Not knowing what we had gotten ourselves into, we filled our basket full of kitten supplies. We bought a green blow-up kiddy pool for all the kittens to sleep in and poop in.
The kittens were only days old and did not know how to use the litter box yet. The newborns didn’t even have their eyes open. They would poop all over themselves; we had to scrub them down by hand daily in the sink to get the entire liquid kitty poop off. They would whine during the bath and rapidly scratch at our skin trying to break free from the mean warm water. Some of the kittens got sick from not drinking their mothers milk and started to poop bloody poop all over. We quickly called the vet and get directions on what to do to care for the poor baby kittens.
My oldest sister was in town with her two toddlers, who were of great use in this time of kitten rescue; even though when they picked them up they squeezed the living day lights out of them. The active kittens would meow constantly when they were hungry and they were hungry a lot. We had to feed them every three to four hours, so we took turns waking up at night to feed them. The four kittens grew fast and within a week they were using a litter box. After another week they could drink their baby kitty formula from a small dish.
Soon enough a bond had grown between my family and the four baby kittens. We named them Krull the Warrior King, Krunk, Ezma, and Princess Sophia! They were brave little fighters and all pulled through after the death of their loving mother. We wanted to keep them all but knew we couldn’t, so my brother pled with his friends, who came to the rescue. We gave three of the four kittens away to loving homes. But kept one who we renamed to Jemma, we still have her today and she is as active as ever, but as plump as ever too. Jemma is loved very much and will always be loved even when she wakes up from her daily naps and goes into crazy cat mode. Or mysteriously sits RIGHT on whatever we are doing, be it laundry, or reports. She sits on it. We loved all the kittens and even though we could not save their mothers life, we saved four other lives that summer.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
HEY family!
I hope everyone is doing ok. Dran I hope so see some awesome fatty pictures of you soon! while driving around in the mission car we past an advertisement for Posterity Pictures..... It was creepy to say the least. Marina, be safe with your car! lol. Thanks mom for keeping my blog and stuff up to date ^_^ One less thing to worry about worrying about is extremely helpful.
My address is... lets see if I remember...
1101 NW 39th Avenue Apt. F-50
Gainesville, FL 32609
Yeah! If you send any extremely large packages... like, 2feetx2feet, send them to the mission office.
8663 Baypine Rd # 102
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7530
Just be mindful that food sent to the mission office may not last long enough for me to get it. The new mission president changed things so we now have Zone conferences every 3 months. so Every 3 months I'll get whatever mail sent to the mission office that's in my name.
Times going by pretty quick already. When I do the math it does make it seem like a short time I'm here. Kind of scary, but hope giving at the same time. lol. I'm learning so much. I love it. My companions name is Elder Taylor, and he's from Taylorsville, Utah. And I'm Taylor Rhodes from Rhome, Texas. =P I thought it was funny. Makes it very confusing sometimes though. A lot of missionaries only say elders last names like "Smith!" instead of "Elder Smith!" So every time people yell Taylor I get all confused why people I don't know are yelling at me.
I'm doing my best to learn so i can teach others and help them realize that this gospel will bring happiness and order to their lives. It's really hard when people don't have cars though. So far the only people willing to Really listen, don't have cars. I think they're humbled because they're stuck at home all day every day. which isn't bad, but if we get them to come to church members will be driving them every single Sunday until they can get a car a job and money to support themselves... This is gonna be a hard mission. Not to mention we have No one to teach and don't know anyone. My companion and I were white-washed into the area, and the elders that were here previously didn't do a good job keeping track of those they taught. And they were dumb, to be honest. I've torn apart and thrown away quite a few records of doors they tracked and the persons response was "I'm no interested"... Why make a Teaching record if you didn't teach and they didn't listen?! It's crazy. I am glad I have a car though.. The companionship sharing the apartment with us are on bikes, and 4 sister missionaries were transferred to the University of Florida Campus, and don't have bikes Or a car. They aren't very happy right now... and when the sisters aren't happy, no one seems to be happy. lol. maybe that's why sisters only serve 18 months.......
Went shopping today! Forgot my mission debit card... My comp was nice enough to pay for me though. next week I just have to buy his stuff.. :P Being here I've notice I have a drawl. or h/e you spell it. an Accent. Which is more prominent when I'm talking to someone else with an accent. lol.
And one thing will never change about me(companionship wise), i dislike people who think they know everything who are intent on teaching me what I'm doing wrong according to their standard, and me being extremely sarcastic and in opposition to what they're saying as if I think there's nothing wrong with it.... when I type it out like that is sounds bad... kinda like that, but not. This elder in our apartment keeps trying to correct my grammar when I purposely talk with a southern drawl. And it the laundry room there's a sign on the wall that says "If it don't belong to you, Don't take it", and he was upset that they put Don't Belong instead of Doesn't Belong. I was very enthusiastic that it Was spelled correctly and he had it wrong... lol. just dumb little things like that. that don't matter about Anything important, but he feels like he was to point every single one of them out.
well I'm sure they're all ready to leave the library. I'm not actually sure where they are... i should go look. lol. Bye love you!
Your Missionary,
Elder Rhodes
I hope everyone is doing ok. Dran I hope so see some awesome fatty pictures of you soon! while driving around in the mission car we past an advertisement for Posterity Pictures..... It was creepy to say the least. Marina, be safe with your car! lol. Thanks mom for keeping my blog and stuff up to date ^_^ One less thing to worry about worrying about is extremely helpful.
My address is... lets see if I remember...
1101 NW 39th Avenue Apt. F-50
Gainesville, FL 32609
Yeah! If you send any extremely large packages... like, 2feetx2feet, send them to the mission office.
8663 Baypine Rd # 102
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7530
Just be mindful that food sent to the mission office may not last long enough for me to get it. The new mission president changed things so we now have Zone conferences every 3 months. so Every 3 months I'll get whatever mail sent to the mission office that's in my name.
Times going by pretty quick already. When I do the math it does make it seem like a short time I'm here. Kind of scary, but hope giving at the same time. lol. I'm learning so much. I love it. My companions name is Elder Taylor, and he's from Taylorsville, Utah. And I'm Taylor Rhodes from Rhome, Texas. =P I thought it was funny. Makes it very confusing sometimes though. A lot of missionaries only say elders last names like "Smith!" instead of "Elder Smith!" So every time people yell Taylor I get all confused why people I don't know are yelling at me.
I'm doing my best to learn so i can teach others and help them realize that this gospel will bring happiness and order to their lives. It's really hard when people don't have cars though. So far the only people willing to Really listen, don't have cars. I think they're humbled because they're stuck at home all day every day. which isn't bad, but if we get them to come to church members will be driving them every single Sunday until they can get a car a job and money to support themselves... This is gonna be a hard mission. Not to mention we have No one to teach and don't know anyone. My companion and I were white-washed into the area, and the elders that were here previously didn't do a good job keeping track of those they taught. And they were dumb, to be honest. I've torn apart and thrown away quite a few records of doors they tracked and the persons response was "I'm no interested"... Why make a Teaching record if you didn't teach and they didn't listen?! It's crazy. I am glad I have a car though.. The companionship sharing the apartment with us are on bikes, and 4 sister missionaries were transferred to the University of Florida Campus, and don't have bikes Or a car. They aren't very happy right now... and when the sisters aren't happy, no one seems to be happy. lol. maybe that's why sisters only serve 18 months.......
Went shopping today! Forgot my mission debit card... My comp was nice enough to pay for me though. next week I just have to buy his stuff.. :P Being here I've notice I have a drawl. or h/e you spell it. an Accent. Which is more prominent when I'm talking to someone else with an accent. lol.
And one thing will never change about me(companionship wise), i dislike people who think they know everything who are intent on teaching me what I'm doing wrong according to their standard, and me being extremely sarcastic and in opposition to what they're saying as if I think there's nothing wrong with it.... when I type it out like that is sounds bad... kinda like that, but not. This elder in our apartment keeps trying to correct my grammar when I purposely talk with a southern drawl. And it the laundry room there's a sign on the wall that says "If it don't belong to you, Don't take it", and he was upset that they put Don't Belong instead of Doesn't Belong. I was very enthusiastic that it Was spelled correctly and he had it wrong... lol. just dumb little things like that. that don't matter about Anything important, but he feels like he was to point every single one of them out.
well I'm sure they're all ready to leave the library. I'm not actually sure where they are... i should go look. lol. Bye love you!
Your Missionary,
Elder Rhodes
Friday, September 17, 2010
Pig Fact 7
OLD YORKSHIRE
An original English pig of the Large variety, closely related to pigs from Lancashire and Linconlnshire - colouring was variable, but basically white - it was in fact the forerunner of the Large White. In 1858, the winning boar at Chester weighed in at 1,148 lbs. The Old Yorkshire was used almost exclusively for bacon.
"No man should be allowed to be President, who does not understand hogs." ~Harrt Truman
An original English pig of the Large variety, closely related to pigs from Lancashire and Linconlnshire - colouring was variable, but basically white - it was in fact the forerunner of the Large White. In 1858, the winning boar at Chester weighed in at 1,148 lbs. The Old Yorkshire was used almost exclusively for bacon.
"No man should be allowed to be President, who does not understand hogs." ~Harrt Truman
Monday, September 13, 2010
Pig Fact 6
OLD CHESHIRE
Acknowledged by most authorities to be the largest pig breed, the Cheshire could weigh in at around 1,000 obs when two years old, and in 1740 one was recorded at 1,605 lbs. they were originally bred in Cheshire, and belonged to the 'Old English' late-maturing type of animal, used almost exclusively for bacon production. The meat from such pigs would have had a very high fat content, 'fat bacon' being a much sought-after commodity in former times. The Old Cheshire was clearly declining in numbers by the end of the nineteenth century, and it is now sadly extinct.
"Whose three hogs are these,
Whose three hogs are these:
They are John Cooke's, I know
them by their looks
I found them in the pease
Go pound them, go pound them,
I dare not for my life,
No, for thou know'st John Cooke
very well,
But better thou know'st his wife
~Traditional
Acknowledged by most authorities to be the largest pig breed, the Cheshire could weigh in at around 1,000 obs when two years old, and in 1740 one was recorded at 1,605 lbs. they were originally bred in Cheshire, and belonged to the 'Old English' late-maturing type of animal, used almost exclusively for bacon production. The meat from such pigs would have had a very high fat content, 'fat bacon' being a much sought-after commodity in former times. The Old Cheshire was clearly declining in numbers by the end of the nineteenth century, and it is now sadly extinct.
"Whose three hogs are these,
Whose three hogs are these:
They are John Cooke's, I know
them by their looks
I found them in the pease
Go pound them, go pound them,
I dare not for my life,
No, for thou know'st John Cooke
very well,
But better thou know'st his wife
~Traditional
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Pig Fact 5
DORSET BLACK
Both the Dorset Black and later the Imporved Dorset, were bred by Fredrick and John Coates, from Sturminster Newton in Dorset, in the nineteenth century. These small breeds were prone to become over-fat, and the Black Dorset was described as 'roly-poly', and was said to be so obese that it could scarcely walk-- young pigs sometimes suffocated through over feeding. When the taste for leaner pork began to make itself felt these breeds quickly died out.
"To market, to market,
To buy a fat pig
Home again, home again,
Jiggety jig!
To market, to market,
To buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again,
Jiggety jog!
Both the Dorset Black and later the Imporved Dorset, were bred by Fredrick and John Coates, from Sturminster Newton in Dorset, in the nineteenth century. These small breeds were prone to become over-fat, and the Black Dorset was described as 'roly-poly', and was said to be so obese that it could scarcely walk-- young pigs sometimes suffocated through over feeding. When the taste for leaner pork began to make itself felt these breeds quickly died out.
"To market, to market,
To buy a fat pig
Home again, home again,
Jiggety jig!
To market, to market,
To buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again,
Jiggety jog!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Pig Fact 4
BAKEWELL'S PIG
Named after Robert Bakewell, who became famous for his experiments in pig breeding, this is one of the earliest recorded attempts to produce an 'improved' pig. Bakewell crossed the dark chestnut with a rusty red, then brought in a celebrated black boar, to sire a pig of mixed colouring. This pig may have been the source of the old-fashioned 'plum pudding' type once common in Leicestershire.
The Bakewell was described by John M. Wilson, as having 'its belly nearly touching the ground and its eyes and snout looking as if they were almost absorbed into the body.'
"The pig has about him a natural, pleasant, bail-fellow well-met air, devoid of servility or insolence, which endears him to the English sensibility." ~W.H. Hudson, naturalist
Named after Robert Bakewell, who became famous for his experiments in pig breeding, this is one of the earliest recorded attempts to produce an 'improved' pig. Bakewell crossed the dark chestnut with a rusty red, then brought in a celebrated black boar, to sire a pig of mixed colouring. This pig may have been the source of the old-fashioned 'plum pudding' type once common in Leicestershire.
The Bakewell was described by John M. Wilson, as having 'its belly nearly touching the ground and its eyes and snout looking as if they were almost absorbed into the body.'
"The pig has about him a natural, pleasant, bail-fellow well-met air, devoid of servility or insolence, which endears him to the English sensibility." ~W.H. Hudson, naturalist
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Pig Fact 3
THE MIDDLE WHITE
This pig has a very Oriental look about him and arose from the Yorkshire variety, along with the Large and Small White. Pigs of this type were first exhibited by Joseph Tuley, in 1852. In the 1930's three Middle Whites were exported to Japan, where more than 3,000 of their progeny were registered, and a memorial erected to them. The Emperor declared that he would never eat any other pork than the Middle White.
The breed enjoyed a long period of popularity up until the middle of the twentieth century, but is now quite rare.
"The pig if I am not mistaken
Supplies us sausage, ham and bacon
Let others say his heart is big
I call it stupid of the pig."
~Odgen Nash
This pig has a very Oriental look about him and arose from the Yorkshire variety, along with the Large and Small White. Pigs of this type were first exhibited by Joseph Tuley, in 1852. In the 1930's three Middle Whites were exported to Japan, where more than 3,000 of their progeny were registered, and a memorial erected to them. The Emperor declared that he would never eat any other pork than the Middle White.
The breed enjoyed a long period of popularity up until the middle of the twentieth century, but is now quite rare.
"The pig if I am not mistaken
Supplies us sausage, ham and bacon
Let others say his heart is big
I call it stupid of the pig."
~Odgen Nash
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Pig Fact 2
CLOUCESTER OLD SPOT
Very popular with the farmers and smallholders from the Vale of Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, these spotted pigs were kept in paddocks and orchards, and sometimes referred to as 'the Orchard Pig'. Officially knows as Gloucester Old Spots, This pig has had a short history, the breed society first being formed in 1914. In recent times it has been fashionable to breed these pigs with just one or two spots and it should nowadays have lop ears.
"Man is more nearly like the pig, then the pig would like to admit." ~Anonymous
Very popular with the farmers and smallholders from the Vale of Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, these spotted pigs were kept in paddocks and orchards, and sometimes referred to as 'the Orchard Pig'. Officially knows as Gloucester Old Spots, This pig has had a short history, the breed society first being formed in 1914. In recent times it has been fashionable to breed these pigs with just one or two spots and it should nowadays have lop ears.
"Man is more nearly like the pig, then the pig would like to admit." ~Anonymous
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Pig Fact 1
THE CUMBERLAND:
The Cumberland, a lop-eared, coarse-boned pig, slow to mature like the Old English variety, finally died out in the 1960's although it had become very scarce early in the century. It was almost always a white pig, but as always there were other regional varieties. This very fat, heavy-shouldered pig had been greatly valued for the excellence of its hams, bacon and sausages - many recipes for these popular products still bear the Cumberland name today.
"The sight of pigs with their noses in the trough does a man more good than any Methodist sermon." ~Augustus Whiffle
(THE OLD PIG, A WITTY AND TRADITIONAL VIEW, Martin Wiscombe)
The Cumberland, a lop-eared, coarse-boned pig, slow to mature like the Old English variety, finally died out in the 1960's although it had become very scarce early in the century. It was almost always a white pig, but as always there were other regional varieties. This very fat, heavy-shouldered pig had been greatly valued for the excellence of its hams, bacon and sausages - many recipes for these popular products still bear the Cumberland name today.
"The sight of pigs with their noses in the trough does a man more good than any Methodist sermon." ~Augustus Whiffle
(THE OLD PIG, A WITTY AND TRADITIONAL VIEW, Martin Wiscombe)
Friday, September 3, 2010
more news
We each received letters from Elder Rhodes today. Marina actually got TWO!!! He is doing well and is very anxious to be in Florida. He was discouraged by other missionaries telling naughty jokes and not being serious about what they were there for. He is determined to be a good example of the gospel regardless of whether he gets any baptisms.
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