Florida

I have admitted that I am a Snow Lover.  I think it’s beautiful.  I’ve always loved snow, but it’s especially gorgeous when it coats the landscape out here in the countryside.  This year the weather had been mild, mild, mild all the way to Christmas.  Then on Christmas Day, the weather people started throwing the word “blizzard” around.  We were to get said blizzard over night and wake up to a white After-Christmas.  And that is exactly what happened.  It’s not often that the words “blizzard” and “Southern Illinois” get used in the same sentence.  But by 10pm on Christmas Night, the snow had started, the North wind was howling, and the temperature was dropping.  We spent the day after Christmas digging out.  A couple of days later, we got another dump of snow.  By New’s Year’s Eve, we’d had three snows and varying amounts of flurries and sleet in between.

Do you remember the feral cat colony in the abandoned hotel that my family and I discovered when we were on vacation in Florida?  I met a wonderful woman named A who loaned us a trap while we were there because we had seen a crippled tuxedo cat (we named him Domino) and didn’t want to leave him in those conditions.  We were unsuccessful, but my connection to A is ongoing.  She lives in the neighboring county to the one where this particular colony is.  She started asking publicly for help in that county - someone to begin looking out for the cats in this colony we had discovered.  Back in the Fall, I received a phone call from a woman named C.  She lived in that county and would start feeding at “our” colony.  I was thrilled.  She would also be on the lookout for Domino.

She has given hours and hours, weeks and months, going to the abandoned hotel, feeding, watering, and looking for Domino.  There has been no sign of him.  I’m not sure what that means.  Maybe his condition was an injury and he recovered on his own.  (This is the view I try to take.)  In the meantime, C is hoping to eventually get help in her county and start the TNR that is desperately needed for this colony.  (At some point, I want to tell the story of a little crippled kitten C discovered in this colony.  It’s a heart-warming story - for another time.)  Anyway . . .   I mention C and Florida for this reason.  She had I are in regular contact now.  She texts me the latest on the colony and other info as well.  She has connected me to two of her sisters on Facebook who are “sharing” info about Winnie’s Wish adoptables.

A couple of days ago I got a text from her about how she spent New Year’s Day.  I was shoveling snow when her text came in.  She had spent the day with friends at the beach.  She included a picture of the ocean.   Yes, I am a Snow Lover.   But staring at that ocean pic on my phone, I could almost smell the salt in the air and feel the warm breeze. 

Florida.  I was there in May and even brought a bit of it back with me (you might recall).  Now I’m surrounded by snow.  It’s hard to imagine the things of Florida.  A picture of the ocean, a delicious glass of fresh Orange Juice, that warm Florida Sunshine.       


. . . .    see you Monday. 

Comments

[Bellen]

Though you may think Canada is always covered with snow, here in southern Alberta, that's not always the case, even in winter. Last Christmas, the temperature was 10° Celsius (50° Fahrenheit), dry and snowless. It was discouraging. This year, we had a light fall of snow two days before Christmas Day. It made everything white and clean. I too love snow, despite having to shovel it. Beaches are nice, too, but snow for Christmas, please.

[Random Felines]

snow is nice - so long as I don't have to go out in it. It was 9 degrees this morning - brrrrrr

[The Poupounette]

We have had a really mild winter so far in our corner of France, with only 2-3 overnight frosts and one very minor snowfall. Last year, it suddenly got very cold in mid-January, so we're just waiting to see. We would like a bit more sunshine, though. We have had far too much rain.

[Mindy Slimmer]

Hi Chrystal!
I wish I was in Florida now...never been, but I'm not a huge fan of ice and snow...especially ICE. I love orange juice and sunshine. We all could use of little of those!!
Much Love,
Mindy

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Those orange Florida boys are the cutest things. I wonder what they think of the snow. Of course, they were too young to have gone through a Florida winter, so they wouldnt know the difference I guess. Boy oh boy do I hope they get a nice forever home before the snow is gone! Anyone want some warm furry love this winter??
Spread the word, the cathouse needs to be emptied before kitten season! (Thank you Kat, for that new mission!)

Donate, buy a book, spread the word about the adorable kitties needing home!

[ginny & The fur family]

Tell us more about the little Florida crippled kat..those Florida friends of the Furries sound like our kind of people. Maybe you will get back there this summer.If you do it would be nice to see A & C and hear how the colonies are doing. I too hope Juice and Sunshine get wonderful forever homes. PRAYERS for some one to adopt Frosting. The snow looks like marsh mello frosting on a cake. I love snow and think it is so pretty but I have to try extra hard to have lots of warm soft covers in my on the porch cat houss. If they will go inside the houses they can stay warm. - remember to adopt and donate... Warm wishes for a cold day here in the heart land. Ginny & The Fur Family

[Sweet Purrfections]

Our mom just left Florida where it was a warm 75 degrees.

[meowmeowmans]

We were in Florida over Christmas (visiting Tracey's Mom). It sure was a shock to the system to leave 80 degrees and sunny, and come to 20 degrees and windy. ;)

We're so thankful compassionate people like you, C, and A!

Hugs to you (and stay warm)!