The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-Farm Life Series 9, The Crop Market, Friday, September 24, 2021

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Dayphoto

MOM!!! MMMMMEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

“Come in, TLC Cai-Cai,” Mom invited. “Come sit with me for a spell and have your head rubbed.

So, I did.

So, she did. It was so peaceful, just sitting with Mom, purring.

Maybe you could tell me more about Farm Living, Mom. I purred.

“Well, let’s see…the Crop market. I don’t think I’ve told you about the crop market. You see this is the PRICE Dad gets when he sells something. That price is set by a thing called “Supply and Demand.” Mom explained, as she gently rubbed under my chin.

AHHHHH….so nice. Purrr.

“What that means is, if there is a lot of something, then the price for that something is low, but if there isn’t a lot of something then the price rises higher.” I stretched out my full length so Mom would rub on my backbone.

“So, you see, if the market is down, then the whole season’s work (March through November) can make it so a farmer doesn’t get anything for all his effort.

That is why a farmer tries to grow lots and lots of different crops. There is corn for silage/ensilage, corn for people to eat all summer long called sweet corn, corn for animals, and corn for people called corn flakes, cornmeal, lots of corn things. This is why corn is such a big crop. At least around our part of the world.” Mom petted me all the way down my side and clear over to the tip of my tail.

Lovely….sigh….purrrrrrrrr

“Some farmers grow onions, and pinto beans, and pumpkins, and well just lots and lots of different products so people and animals can eat.”

“Oh, yes, Mom said scratching my ears OH MY THAT FEELS GOOD—and hay. Hay can be alfalfa and it can be grass. We grow alfalfa here. This way farmers try to have different types of crops so there is always some money coming in.”

In, I thought dreamily to myself. I understand about wanting and needing to come in.

Suddenly Dad was in the house getting a drink of water. I jumped up and headed toward the door.

I’ve had enough of In…

Out I go with Dad.

TLC Cai-Cai

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-Farm Life Series 6, Other Big Equipment, Friday, September 3, 2021

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Dayphoto

“TLC Cai-Cai, what are you doing?” Mom said as I jumped up to grab her foot.

Just Playing, I said.

Mom reached down a picked me up. “Oh, good, Sweet Little Kitty. I’ve been thinking I had better tell you about some other BIG noisy and dangerous pieces of equipment Dad has on the farm. Equipment you need to stay far, far away from.”

There is the swather— this is the thing Dad uses to cut down all the standing alfalfa, to let it dry turning into hay.

STAY away…it will swath you right up, then there won’t be a TLC Cai-Cai anymore!” Mom admonished.

Mom put me on her shoulder and walked over to the outside chairs and sat down.

“Then there is the combine.

The combine will move through the corn and chop down all the corn stalks, separate the corn cobs from the stalks, then shell the corn from the cobs, flinging the stalks, and cobs out onto the ground and the corn kernels into the hoper in the back.

If you were to get in the way of the combine, you would come out just like those tiny pieces of corn cobs and stalks, so you MUST stay out the cornfield during harvest.”

Mom started scratching my head, my ears, hum puuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

“Then the big truck will come through the yard, taking all the corn kernels to town.”

Purrrrrr, hummm, purrrr

“So, TLC Cai-Cai, when anything like this is going on, you have to RUN to the House! And stay IN the HOUSE where Dad and I know you are safe.”

I looked at Mom. Then I looked around and realized I WANT DOWN.

So I squirmed off Moms’ lap and headed over to the water tub—that fountain is intriguing!

Bye Mom, Gota Go!

TLC Cai-Cai

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-RAIN, Friday, August 20, 2021

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Dayphoto

Mom says we will get back to all about ‘Running a Farm’ next week, but for right now, there is REJOICING in the House and on the Farm.

It started raining and

it hasn’t really stopped.

As for me—

I’m not sure about this rain stuff.

TLC Cai-Cai

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-It’s Just Me, Friday, August 6, 2021

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Dayphoto

When I woke up one morning, I realized Mindy was missing.

She didn’t come in for her regular spend the night and eat some kitty candy

Nor was she anyplace I could find her on the farm.

I meowed out at the barn,

I called by the Grain Bins,

I meowed and called and squalled in the hay stackyard.

I looked in Dad’s collector ‘parts’ cars,

I looked in all the grain trucks (there are three of them)

I walked down the corral fence and hollered constantly.

Then I went over into the orchard and meowed,

When I got back into the farmyard,

Mom was outside looking for Mindy also.

So, we both called.

After all that I knew.

But Mom kept calling for her for days and days,

Even going out at night (which she would NOT let go with her)

and called for Mindy

Sigh!

It’s lonely here without Mindy.

TLC Cai-Cai

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-I’m a Big Kid Now, Friday, July 16, 2021

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Dayphoto

I like to go for rides! In the Pick-Up with Mom and Dad.

I get to see lots and lots of stuff. I like learning about STUFF!

Mom makes me wear my harness; as soon as she puts it on, I KNOW! WHEEEEE! Off we get to go!

I don’t whine or meow or anything. When I get tired, I curl up on Mom’s lap and sleep.

I have, also, figured out MICE! I watched Mindy bring Mice to Mom and get lots and lots of pets for bringing Mom mice. So I got Mom a mouse also.

That Mouse was LOTS of FUN! I played with it here and there and, well, gosh everywhere.

No, I didn’t eat it. I only eat cereal and yummy stuff in a can. The eating mouse thing, Mindy does I just don’t get.

Anyway…I AM A BIG KID NOW!

TLC Cai-Cai

The Adventures of Mindy on Friday—-Farm Life Series 1, We are a Farm, Friday, July 9, 2021

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Dayphoto

Well, since you don’t really listen to me, or take my advice—yes,

I have seen you clear out by the Butler Bins—-you need to get this through your fluffy head…

RUN! RUNNNN! GET OUT OF THERE!

TLC CAI-CAI!!!!!!

there is a fox out there!

Fox EAT CATS!!!!

Let that sink in…STAY. AT. The. Butler BINS!!!

Huff, huff.

Well, on with your lesson. We live on a farm. We don’t live in town, or in a clump of houses called a sub-division, or on a ranch.

We live where Dad works the land—plowing, planting, marking, watering, growing, and then harvesting.

Farms grow foodstuffs.

A Ranch grows Grass. Grass called Pasture. Pasture lands for animals.

Not us…yes, I know we are animals.

Big animals, cows, horses, sheep, goats, those sorts of animals.

Oh! Just so you know. Come winter, after the crops are gone from the farm, then cows come. They eat up all the dried-up grasses and weeds and alfalfa, and left-over corn stalks.

“Are we a ranch then?”

“No, we are a guest hotel for a rancher and all his cows” I replied.

So, now you know, we live on a farm. We grow pasture grasses, alfalfa; three big fields of alfalfa, which Dad and Mom turn into hay, and corn. The corn is field corn, not sweet corn. Although, the cows think it is pretty sweet and yummy.

Our corn is the kind of corn that goes for food like cereal, and food for animals; like chickens, cows, goats, etc.”

Okay, so now you know…we live on a farm.

Next time I will teach you more about the farm.

Until then you stay out of the cornfield, there are foxes in there!

Mindy Lou-Sue, or as Mom calls me, Min-Min

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-A FRIEND! A FRIEND! YAY! —- Friday, July 2, 2021

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Dayphoto

I have new friends.

Loki-ta-Moki

Came to visit!

I got to play with his TAIL!

Loki LIKES ME!!!

LIKES ME!!

YAY! Another FRIEND!

TLC Cai-Cai

The Adventures of Mindy on Friday—-Farm Life Series 1, Friday, June 25, 2021

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Dayphoto

Okay.

Since you are going to be outside with me—sigh.

You need to learn some things:

We, that means, you, me, Mom and Dad, live on a farm.

You live in the house…. where I wish you would stay 24-7.

But since YOU don’t WANT to stay inside, I guess I can say you live in the house and outside just like Mom, Dad, and Me.

We live and work on several acres of ground that belong to Mom and Dad and You and I.

Mostly you and I will hang around the Farm House and the Farm Yard. That means you and I take care of the house and yards, the chicken pen, and the two tractor sheds, plus the equipment building, and Dad’s shop.

I (I NOT YOU) will take care of the equipment parking area and the hay stackyard. (And go on walks with Mom and Dad, but I won’t let you know that.)