Arnie is home

The alarm had gone off this morning and I had hit the snooze button when I heard a cat meow outside.  Both Jake and Chloe took off down stairs so I went to investigate and there was Arnie on the deck.  I picked him up and cudlled him then Stuart arrived to see if it was really Arnie too.  I fed him and had breakfast.  He went outside and walked around the deck meowing.  I brought him inside again and when I left for work he was curling up on the bed.
When I got home this evening, Stuart told me Arnie had been following him about all day.  He has given the dogs heaps of cuddles and is currently curled up on the sofa with Stuart and the kittens.
He has been gone 10 days and has come home fit and healthy.  Where has he been?
We have lost some chickens and now have 4 light and 3 black chicks.

Arnie is still missing

Arnie is still missing.  Stuart went to a couple of vets today and then to the pound but no sign of him.  None of the neighbours have ever seen him.  It is coming up a week and we don't know what to think anymore.  In the past both him and his brother have gone missing so I haven't given up hope yet.  Please come home Arnie, we miss you.

Three of the black chickens have died so we now have 4 of each colour. 

Arnie has gone missing

Our adult cat Arnie has been missing since Tuesday night and we are getting worried now.  Both him and his brother Forrest have disappeared for a few days before.  Since Forrest died last September, Arnie has been very attentive.  He has been great with the kittens and plays with them.  I am still hopeful he will turn up but as each day passes, it is harder to be positive.

Chickens and other livestock

Last week we lost both our duck Mildred and our gold silkie rooster, Goldie.  They drowned in the duck bath as the water level had gone down with the dry weather and they couldn't get out.  Yesterday Stuart found one of the black silkie hens had been crafty and hidden her nest in a half round barrel underneath the Chook house.  We now have 4 light coloured chicks and 7 black chicks.  It looks like Goldie left his mark afterall.

Agility

It was our show this weekend and I was helping out as Show manager.  Shilo had some lovely runs this weekend which shows she is improving all the time.  We came 11th in Starters 1 and got a lovely North Shore ribbon for the effort.  I was pleased with her novice run as she got all her contacts and her only fault was the last jump down.  Not bad for no training.  Rocky had a good run in Senior but was D'd when he went to go through the tunnel.  I was pleased as he didn't knock any jumps down.  It was terribly hot so we were all exhausted at the end of the day.

Sunday was at Orewa and Shilo really went clear in both starters but due to an interpretation error by the judge we were given 5 faults in one of the runs.  As the judge was consistent and couldn't remember who was affected the faults had to stay.  I was alright about it since it won't happen again.  The tide came in at about 1pm and I gave the dogs a swim.  Rocky really enjoyed that as he was very hot in his big coat.  Another hot, tiring day so pleased Monday was my day off.  So looking forward to my holiday starting next week.

RSA

We went to the RSA for dinner tonight.  Stuart is suffering from cabin fever so it was good to have a trip out.  My car went to West City Holden today to have some work done to get it's warrant of fitness.  It has been an expensive exercise at a time when we can least afford it.

The kitties are growing up far too quickly.  Chloe and Jake were both resting with Stuart this afternoon.  It was so cute.  Kathleen cam for her pullets and managed to cuddle Jake.  Chloe was elusive so she could only look at her.  Shilo had a great time playing in the duck bath and came out a horrible brown and black colour.  She had a great time.  I hate to think how she will go at agility tomorrow as we haven't had time to train.

Ethan had his operation yesterday and is doing well.  I went and sat with Heather after work as he was pretty groggy and she had a long night ahead of her.  One more week and I am on holiday.  I can't wait.

The temperature dropped today but the humidity is still high.  May get a decent sleep tonight.

Humidity

The humidity is high at the moment which makes sleeping hard.  The garden pixie misses Stuart and has started giving me cuddles.  He is worried she has forgotten him.  Poor Stuart was doing really well after his surgery but has had a set back with bowel and bladder problems.  Hopefully they are sorted now and he can come home on Tuesday.

Jake has come to visit and has that big tail of his bolt upright.  He smells very earthy so I think has been under the house.  We have had a bit of rain which cooled things a little but it heating up again.  We have Roxy staying for the week.  She is a border collie/ retriever cross and has been coming to stay since she was a pup.  She is a bit older than Rocky.