Quint’s fort for the fireworks – © Colehauscats.com
This fort was pre-approved by Quint who hates fireworks more than anyone.
We survived the horrendous night of fireworks, but just barely, by cramming ourselves and most of the cats in an extensive, multi-annex fort built under our bed, containing various depth boxes, ham-micks, toy boxes, blankets, and a big scratcher. Some cats decided to hide under the covers on the bed, while the rest of us listened to stories read by flashlight underneath, and nibbled on treats.
It is illegal to shoot off fireworks in our town. Our housing development is less than a quarter-mile outside of official town limits. While illegal to shoot fireworks off in town, most major intersections in town sport signs pointing toward huge tents selling fireworks of all sizes and kinds. The rule seems to be, “Buy ’em here. Take ’em elsewhere to light off.”
This means EVERYONE buys fireworks and shoots them off twenty feet over the town line. Our housing development gets the brunt of all that noise and debris. We had no idea how many big, powerful, and professional-looking fireworks are now available for purchase to the general public, and sure, those huge multi-colored chrysanthemum blossom fireworks are pretty, but really, do they need to come with thunderous explosions, too? Need they be so loud they, literally, rattle windows? Over and over and over again for six straight hours?
None of the cats bought our promise the explosions would end soon. We’re just thankful nothing nearby caught fire (across town was another story altogether) and that we have five months and twenty-three days until we need to construct another anti-fireworks fort.
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Rose Ears and 2 of her babies, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
We’ve got bee-bees! Rose Ears brought her babies to visit last weekend and we were happy to see no one seemed to get separated during the 4th of July noise. Oh, those babies are so round and fluffy and adorable, but if you recall us telling you about how our neighborhood is now overrun with people who hate, hate, HATE raccoons, we’re keeping ourselves away from all raccoon babies so they will truly be wild and not used to our voices squeee-ing over their cuteness.
Rose Ears and her 3 babies, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
Rose Ears seems to understand why we’re not actively leaving food out anymore and is fiercely protective of her three kits. Just as we were aiming the camera, hoping to get all three of her babies in the shot, she turned and hissed, “RUN!” And they skee-daddled like their tails were on fire! Good babies!
Joe Frog, still kicking in 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
Joe the frog was probably happy to see them go. Raccoons eat frogs. Honestly, we figured Joe had become a raccoon snack last year. Good to see him around, even if we’re pretty sure he’s eaten all the smaller frogs we once enjoyed seeing.
Summer Flowers, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
For the first time ever, Mom followed Dad’s advice and overplanted the flower pots this year. And they are gorgeous. No more hoping one or two plants will fill in over the summer. That kind of thinking NEVER worked out.
A breakfast with Wally Winston – © Colehauscats.com
Almost every morning, Wally Winston stops by for a light breakfast while Mom pulls weeds. He’s a great garden cat.
Blueberries, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
The blueberries are ripening. We grow three kinds – one tart, one sweet, and one very juicy and sweet. Two of the three are celebrating a heavy berry year, while the tart bush is enjoying a light harvest. It’ll see a heavy berry output next summer.
Cherry Tomatoes, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
The cherry tomatoes are finally coming on, though the raccoons keep knocking some of them off while trying to climb the tomato cage setup. Oh well.
Dianthus, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
Finally, a dianthus that came back! We usually have horrible luck with getting these perennials to survive our mild winters. Too much rain, or something. This one didn’t seem to mind.
Mystery Cat, 2018 – © Colehauscats.com
Again, that neighborhood mystery cat checking out everything Colehaus. No food in the feeding station? Okay, let’s see what this fountain thing is all about. Of course, the moment Mom tapped on the window, that cat was tail lights!
Mmmm, life is good – © Colehauscats.com
Have we mentioned what a great garden cat Wally Winston is? Because he is. A great garden cat, that is. What a sweetheart!
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Here’s an online jigsaw puzzle of Wally Winston’s Life is Good photo above. We know he’d want you to have fun with it!
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A Colehaus Cats flashback:
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015 – No post
2014 – Wordless Wednesday
2013 – Ruby Tuesday
2012 – Sleepy Little Kitten
Such a wonderful bunch of photos and we’re sure happy the firework booms are over…for now!
We escaped with mere pops. And the flowers are lovely!
Fireworks are illegal in our city too, though it seems not to be enforced because they have been going off for a WEEK now. It is terrible! We hope you have some quieter times now.
I think we need fireworks parks just like we have dog parks!
Your garden is lovely, so nice you can enjoy the peace and company of animals and plants there.
Wally Winston look like such a great garden cat. Hopefully, the loud fireworks weren’t too scary. You have some beautiful flowers in your garden and have plenty of visitors coming around on a daily basis. Thanks for the share. Have a great day.
Lovely photos and ohhhhh those hot pink dianthus….
Hugs madi and mom
guyz….nice ta see ya bak thiz way N everee one made it thru de noize which is still goin on heer ~~~~~~~~~~~ faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….de fotoz twoday iz 984 paws up kinda awesum !!! and extree wavez two ewe MC and WW 🙂 ♥♥
Were glad you survived the boomies!!
The Florida Furkids
I am honored to vicariously roll in the grass for your enjoyment. ~ Marley
Italy has silent fireworks, why can’t we?
We enjoyed reading your update, and we always enjoy your photos. They are always great! We didn’t do very well with fireworks this year, and for some reason they were worse than ever! Lexy was out of sorts, and I was being mean to her. It was a horrible night. Thank you for your comment on our post – we’re glad you liked it!
Those are pawsome pics. Fireworks had been illegal around here but our last gov Chrispie Creme made some of them legal. There were big displays in all the supermarkets and Big Lots. Being on the 4th floor with double paned windows, we didn’t hear too many of them.
Re: your tip about my tree. TW actually selected last night putting a pillow or blankie over that hole so I can lay there. First she’s gonna let me climb through it until I get tired.
Seriously, this whole fireworks thing is out of control. They CAN make them silent; the boom is added. Manny and Chili Bruce could have cared less, but Angel hid so well that I never found her. Wally Winston is adorbs; who does he belong to? Looks like he wants to be a Colehaus Cat!
We don’t know who, exactly, Wally Winston belongs to but think it’s someone farther down the block. And he looks and feels like he is very well cared for so no extra Colehaus Cat there!
Wonderful gardent tour, and we love to hear the last news about your furry neighbors ! Purrs
Your garden is amazing. Mom is very fond of rocks and stone work too. Fireworks… Not enough description to describe how much we all hate them here. Just evil things.
Lots going on at the Colehaus. So glad you guys survived the barrage of fireworks. We had some…and with all the windows and doors closed, it wasn’t too bad.
What a cool fort set up under the bed! Hope you get to keep it set up year round!
OMC those raccoon babies are so precious!!! We were very lucky that our neighborhood was extremely quiet this year…I think the heat got to everybody!
That sounds awful with fireworks for so long. All your flowers are beautiful. Thanks for the puzzle- it took me 11 minutes and 48 seconds. XO
I love your sweet Wally. Those arms he has! They are so muscular and furry! That face with the closed eyes. Oh my GOODNESS!
WE detest fireworks and wish they would all go to the next planet.
Your yard and wildlife are all gorgeous, and Mom wants to give your Wally garden cat a huge kiss. We have a raccoon that comes around almost every night and climbs to the upper deck and then comes down to the catio looking for noms. We never leave any out. He even uses the catio litter boxes. We continue to add more and more screening to the upper deck to try to keep Houdini (Sawyer) in. Pretty soon, the raccoon will have no way to get in. People in our neighborhood were shooting off huge and noisy fireworks. Mom was afraid someone would set the neighborhood on fire. Thankfully that didn’t happen. Have a great week. XOCK, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer
Someone was shooting off fireworks in the neighborhood too, first time since we came to live here. We too ran upstairs and stayed under the bed while all the noise was going on.
We love Wally, love your garden (we have blueberries coming along, too) and just feel really good after reading your post. We didn’t have a problem with loud fireworks, but our friends did. You did hunker down in style, I must say!- Tom x
I just don’t understand why people set off fireworks for hours on end. They’re illegal in our county – so that means anyone who wants cover from the road will set off fireworks in our courtyard. It’s a miracle the buildings are still standing! And how cute are those ‘coon babies?
The Raccoons are so lovely and you are so cute in your last picture. We’re totally in Aww <3 We hope there will be a time without fireworks! Pawkisses for a Happy Day 🙂 <3