On Friday, July 30th, after my dad’s (Deane Gunderson) private memorial service, the rest of my family hung out at the farm, including “touring” the out-buildings. To our surprise, three little kittens were discovered nestled in a big open box in my dad’s shop. The little kittens were obviously offspring of Janie who has taken up residence at Gunderland (the farm) along with my dad’s adopted cat, Mouser.
Since July 30th no one had seen the kitties, although Janie is always around for a handout of food. I was beginning to wonder if something unpleasant had happened to the kittens; however a week ago, by accident I discovered that they are safe and sound.
While at the farm last week, I walked out to my dad’s shop. As I walked, I kept looking down at my feet to avoid tripping over scrap metal. In my “looking down” state I raised my gaze just a tad, maybe due to sensing some movement? Right there were Janie’s three kittens. “Oh! You sweeties! You’re alive, you’re alive, you’re alive!!!!!”
Janie and her three kittens outside of my dad's shop. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
One of Janie's three kittens. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Not only did I spy the three kittens and Janie; I also spied one of the metal rounded rectangles like those my dad used for feathers for his 11 1/2-foot statue of Cy.
In the photo immediately below, it’s difficult to see the “feather.” Because of that, I attempted to outline it with four arrows all pointing to the edges of the piece of metal.
Janie, her three kittens, and the metal "feather" like those my dad used for Cy's feathers. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
This next photo is of one of the “feather” pieces that my dad gave to me a few years ago.
Several years ago my dad gave to me this "feather" metal piece. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
Sometime I’ll post more about the pieces of metal that my dad used for Cy’s feathers. A hint is that he found them at Art’s Way Manufacturing in Armstrong, Iowa.
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For the next few days I’m with Jackson, my grandson. After Labor Day I should be back to posting more regularly.
(Click here to go to Louise Shimon’s blog’s homepage.)
Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter) 
August 26, 2010 at 10:04 pm |
Oh I am so glad they are okay. We have looked for them, but never found them. Plus, a couple weeks ago we kept seeing a strange tomcat. We were worried he got the kittens. But I told Joe last night that I thought she was still nursing. Janie is here right now waiting for a meal 🙂 But the big, bad dog is guarding the food dish.
September 4, 2010 at 8:22 am |
Yeah, the kitties are safe. I’ve told some people at work about the kittens being found while we were at the farm for Daddy’s memorial service. The people wanted to know if we found them a home – to which I said, “Well…. no,” and then explained how things go in our neck of the woods.
September 4, 2010 at 12:56 pm |
Yes, we farm natives (cats or otherwise!) have our own type of “Survivor” reality!