This past weekend was the women's retreat for our church. We had a GREAT time! It was just north of here about 25 minutes (still on Lake Shasta though - the lake is HUGE! - and now that the water level is so high, it's even bigger).
Kayaking was clearly my favorite part...well, it had been raining for a couple days so I didn't even remember I had brought my camera until we had free time and we had to take turns on the kayaks. I am very good at taking pictures when I have nothing else to do. :-)
Those of us kayaking may have gotten a little goofy at one point.
This was a lot of the crew. Many had already left to be back for Sunday, but it was a good group.
I am not sure if visibly you can see the difference in the water level, but they have been letting the river run high to keep it down. Keep it down! Eight months ago we were in such a severe drought that we were limiting showers and the like. Amazing! We have gotten so much rain this winter, praise the Lord!
The back side of the dam shows the water level a little better.
Well, she did it, Coco had her kittens! The girls are thrilled!!! Especially since two weeks ago we thought she had lost them. She was hanging around us and not taking us to her babies. We had even told the girls that she probably lost them. Then the vet was here and his dog sniffed them out. We put them in the groom's quarters and have been feeding mama some salmon and good food. There are five babies, so I will introduce you to them.
The black and white is "Storm" since she looks like the sky when there are dark clouds and lightning.
The white one with dark on his nose is "Moonlight".
The gray and white is "Fluffy".
The other white one is "Cloud".
Today was the first time we have seen any eyes so we think they are coming into their second week of life, but Cloud is the only one showing them.
The black one is "Shadow".
So far the girls haven't balked at going down to the barn to take care of Coco three times a day (we can't leave the door open for fear another animal will find them, so we go down and let Coco out for a while a couple times a day). The girls say they understand that they get the kittens for eight weeks and then we will give them away, but they are hoping no one wants them. In fact, when I told K we were putting them on the blog, she cried, "No!! Then people will want them!" To which I said, "No one up here reads our blog, it's everyone down south." So she thought for a moment, calming down, and then said, "What about Zoe and Andrew? They are coming up still, right? What if they want one????"
Oh, and on the milk suckers, Emily did a re-examination after we found the kittens and declared, "Mom, I recounted and Coco has FIVE milk suckers. There really is one for each kitten!"
Well, that is the story of our lives right now. Spring means lots of work around the ranch and gardens and finishing up school. Planning summer has been stressful, but I am looking forward to it because that means we have lots of plans and that means lots of FUN!
I hope this finds you well and if you are in Redding or passing through, I know some kittens that need a home! :-) God Bless!!
