Weekend Wanderings - Bat Cave

 
The mountains in our area above 4000 feet are peak color this week but here in town not so much. Since our color here is not quite there yet we went to the town of Bat Cave just below us in Hickory Nut Gorge for a quick pumpkin series.  This shop, situated in a historic home, is very touristy but they do decorate the exterior very nicely for the season with pumpkins and apples and cabbages for  sale from local farmers.  The Broad River runs through the gorge across the street from the shop and was full from the rain this week.  Enjoy and hope you have a wonderful weekend.

JOEY UPDATE - Still waiting for the biopsy results from the vet.  We went on Tues so we are not sure what is taking so long.  Will keep you posted.  He is feeling fine other than the lumps so he is not in any distress.  Thank you all for your concern for my boy.

Fly Free Jasmine

Jasmine Aug 2012

We wanted to bid a sad farewell to Marg's sweet dog Jasmine who left for the Rainbow Bridge this morning.  We share her sadness because we actually met Jasmine twice - once last fall and then again this summer.  She was a lovely, friendly, happy dog and will be missed.  If you haven't already stopped by, please visit Marg's Pets.  We would like to end this post with a poem about a Bridge....

Thanks to Ann of Zoolatry

A Bridge Called Love

It takes us back to brighter years,
to happier sunlit days
and to precious moments
that will be with us always.
And these fond recollections
are treasured in the heart
to bring us always close to those
from whom we had to part.

There is a bridge of memories
from earth to Heaven above...
It keeps our dear ones near us

It's the bridge that we call love.

          Author Unknown

So Very Grateful!

Me Joey!

Joey here today.  We are so very grateful to all of you who forwarded our info for my Chip In, those who reposted on Facebook and especially to those of you who donated.  Besides me we have had a lot of expenses here and Mom is struggling to keep up.

I am feeling fine basically.  Mom took me to the vet last week because I have lost weight and have a lump on my neck.  I also have a wound from a cyst that opened and drained but  I keep licking and scratching it so it won't heal.  We need to find out what is going on here.  My blood work showed I am in the early stages of Chronic Renal Failure which would account for the weight loss. I also have a little asthma going on too with coughing.  I am 13 so these things will come up.

Mom gives me  Tripsy now with Chica and Yoko for the CRF along with Standard Process Renal Support.  I get a homeopathic remedy for the asthma.  As for the lump, we will get it aspirated and then go from there.  If it is cancer then it will be removed.  The wound needs to be cared for either way and they have a laser treatment that might help that if it is not cancer.  Mom is taking very good care of me and trying to choose a vet who will be able to do the surgery on a older cat without problems.  Some of the vets here are old fashioned country ones with minimal equipment in the office.  Our vet does not do surgery.

We are going to leave the Chip in up for a bit since we have lots of other issues we can use help with. Along with me, several of our other kitties have health issues so Mom has been very busy caring for them.  Only, Rosa and Snowball have FLUTD and get herbs, calming treats and special food.  Chica and Yoko both need subcutaneous fluids daily requiring an ongoing supply of fluids and needles.  Al is the cause of the issues with Snowball and Only  so Pop built a special room for him - we do not have enough space to work with what we have already.

Yoko after her cut.

Yoko has long since stopped grooming herself so Mom hired a mobile groomer to give her a version of the lion cut - she looks cute and feels so much better.

Mom writes all our treatments down on  pad and crosses them off each day as she does them - it is the only way to remember who got what when.  Mom will keep you updated with me and what is going on.  At least now I can get things taken care of the way they should be and be around for a long time to come!

Weekend Wanderings - Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska

 A couple of weeks back Mom and Pop took a scenic drive to the next county over  to see Lake Junaluska, a 200 acre lake in the mountains.

 It is the home of the World Methodist Council and they have retreats and conferences there year round.  It is also a lakeside community of about 2500 people.

Wood bridge over the dam

It is a dammed lake and this old wood bridge goes over the dam - makes a lot of noise when cars drive over the boards.

 Some homes on the lake are new like this one and others date from 1913 when they first built the lake and community.  This side of the lake is very steep and the homes have many steps up or like the one below - an outdoor elevator to get up!

Home with an outdoor elevator

The town offers a 3 mile walkway around the lake over two bridges.  One bridge cuts off the last mile making it a 2 mile walk - this is the one the beans took.  The last leg of the walk is a rose garden with flowers of all colors and sizes.  They were still blooming in late September when they visited but probably are not  now.

Rose garden

Memorial chapel

There are many ducks, geese and water fowl that live here too - and all pretty used to people.  Bet they get fed well.

Bridge cutting off the last mile.

One of many feathered residents.

Hope you enjoyed this week's trip.  Next week we may be seeing some fall foliage so check back in!  Have a great weekend - are your beans doing anything special?

Our 13 year old Joey has some health issues to be treated - asthma, early CRF and a couple of lumps on his neck.  Check out our sale blog Wildcat Woods Vintage Treasures for some great gift ideas and help raise money for Joey.  Oh and please share the blog link!

Tock - Tober and Joey's Surgery

 Today is Tock - Tober!  Time to show off our tocks!  Snowball has some hefty tocks!

 While Two Spot's are slim and athletic!

 Minnie's tocks are sleek and shiny!

Darby's tocks are cute and chubby!  we got lots more but we will save them for next time!  Happy Tock-Tober!

Our Joey has to have surgery on his neck to remove two growths there.  They look suspicious so we need to do this ASAP.  Friends told us to put up a Chip-in to help us pay for the surgery.  With all our cats getting older - and needing sub c fluids and medicine, it is getting more than we can handle on a regular basis.  We are offering a Two for One Sale on our Wildcat Woods Vintage Treasures blog to help with costs -  for every dollar you donate, you get two dollars credit toward anything in our online store.  Please share the link for the store - Mom is adding more stuff daily now.  Thanks for your help!

http://wildcatwoodsvintagetreasures.blogspot.com