Week 2 and life with implings in an RV

I've been here two weeks almost but left Santa Fe two weeks ago today. It has been quite the journey with my fur babies. 

We are adjusting and settling in this past week with new routines as I have started my new job. They have all been so good about the whole thing and adapting well to life out here. Although I must say that working on time change has not been with the best results. I rarely get to sleep beyond 4:30 in the morning this week. 

Watching their changes has been fun and a little annoying at times. But mostly fun and keeps me smiling and living in the moment. They have also been my sanity keepers as I have had my share of challenges this past week.

The dogs who had never really experienced grass under their feet before moving here are loving being outdoors. Abby simply loves to lay in it and watch the world. Although she would like to meet the birds running around the campsite. But mostly she is very content to lay there and enjoy the sunshine we have had this week and being outside in the grass. I have seen new confidence in Brody over this time, he is less afraid of new things and likes to explore a bit and walk with me all over. 

As we settle into routines a bit more they both have become more playful. And Punkin and Binx encourage play. For the first time since I have gotten the dogs, they are both able to sleep in the bed with me at nights. Abby particularly LOVES the bed. I think it was the second morning I awoke to her snoring next to me and I turned and opened an eye to find her snuggled next to me sharing my pillow. She in turn opened her eyes and smiled at me, so happy to be with me in bed. This made my day and was a good way to start the day. Bedtime for them brings a bit of playtime on the bed for them both and she is all over the place, bouncing and rooting around and being silly. They both enjoy a little play with me, then we all snuggle in and hit the hay. Which then brings the kitties in to join us. Its very snug with all of us in a little double bed! But then again, who needs heat with all that fur? 

Punkin's new habit is to play in the water with his paw. Which is a total surprise for me as he hates water. Now hes always getting his foot soaked and lapping the water off of it. 

The cats' favorite pasttime and way to spend the evening is to sit at the door when its open and watch the birds and the world go by. I think they feel like this is the best kitty TV ever! Though it can be quite the challenge to take the dogs outside when the kitties don't want to leave their best viewing spot. Creates quite the traffic jam! I love to watch them watching the world, whether from inside like the picture above or their faces from outside. Makes me smile every time! And they are quite content to sit there for as long as I have the outer door open and just watch all the happenings and especially the birds who are brash enough to come right up to the RV. Though the afternoon that a bird walked on the roof the length of the RV caused quite the mayhem inside as they could hear it, but couldn't see it and were frantic to get to it! Hilarious, glad I wasn't up trying to cook at the time, I just stayed out of their way. 

Today I have tentative plans to go to the coast and beach for a little bit with the dogs after the movers are done delivering my stuff. I cannot wait to see how they react to the ocean and sand! If we get there, I will take plenty of pictures and share. It will be their very first time experiencing the water or large body of water! Although I believe i need to find a little portable wagon for Abby so she can enjoy more with us as she cannot walk as much or as long as we can. 

more adventures....

Yesterday's rains brought us all much needed downtime and relaxation. Overall it was a quiet day. We snoozed and cuddled and watched the television.

I realized that Punkin, one of my troublemaker kittens has decided on a new habit. I originally thought he was pawng in the waterbowl to let me know it was empty. However, I find I was mistaken. He's playing in the water! Or rather I think he is perhaps stirring it up before he drinks. For a cat who previously abhorred water except to drink, he loves to paw at it and purposely get his foot wet. I find I am amused and puzzled at these newer behaviors from him.

For the most part, both Jasmine and Binx love to find comfy secluded spots in the pillows on the top bunk over the cab. Usually at a window so they can keep an eye on wildlife. They all about went crazy yesterday when a bird walked on top down the length of the RV. They could certainly hear it but couldn't see it. Much hilarity ensued on my part watching them haul ass down the middle of the RV trying to follow the progress of the bird and trying to gracefully get up on the top bunk. The only one with any grace was Jasmine.

They are enthralled with watching the world outside when I have the door open and they can look out the screen door or if the blinds are up and they can see and hear everything. So much wonder on their expressions! Like right now, I am watching Binx with so much curiosity and enjoyment in his body expression as he sits on the front passenger seat and watches the morning birds outside. And his best buddy Punkin joins him briefly. Dearest Yummy, the old man of the group, seems blase about it all. He is more interested in beauty sleep, unless the door is open. I have to give them credit, not a one of them is interested in going outside, they are just enjoying the kitty TV show that changes constantly and has smells galore!

The dogs are happy snoozing inside or out. Abby loves to stretch out on her belly in the grass in the sun. Brody seems to always be up for exploration and a walk. He has even become more playful as he settles in.

Dearest little Abby has become quite the bed addict. She gets so excited about bedtime and snuggling! I am quite becoming used to her gentle snoring on my pillow next to me. But heaven help me if I dont' pay attention getting into bed, she quickly takes over the bed if she can, and then lays there smiling at me with her goofy smile and seems to be saying ha ha, its mine now!

Feeding times has become creative. If ai feed the kitties first, thr dogs think they should help themselves to it, if I feed the dogs first, well the kitties all horn in. So I am trying to feed kitties first on the top bunk and one of the bench seats for the dinette, then the dogs.  It seems to work so far. Although I will be happy to be back in a house where I can set down a routine again and have more space for us all.

And I will say that cooking is quite the challenge as is eating as the cats feel they ,ust supervise or assist in food tasting.

Moving with pets and the silliness that can ensue....

At some point within the last couple of months I finally decided it was time to leave the city I have lived in for the last 30+ years and strike out for Oregon. I interviewed and was offered a position which started so many changes in a relatively short time.

I long ago knew that my fur babies are my partners and share my like for their lifetime, sooooo . . .  There was no way I was leaving without them. And planning a move with their stress levels and comforta in mind made a huge impact on how I moved.

I currently have the two corgis, and four kitties, one who is over 14 yrs old. So I put on my creative thinking cap!

Long story short, this is what I did. I bought an RV to move myself and the critters in with the basic things, and to live in until I purchase a new home. My thinking was that it would be less stressful on them as a whole, as they would be around our things and not moving in cramped quarters in a crate or car. And it is far cheaper to live in an RV short term than in an Apartment.

Actually, this turned out to be a great idea. The cats arent keen on riding and I wasn't sure how they would ride, so I set up the large dog crate for them to ride in while I was driving. Or at least I did that the first two days, I probably didn't need to do it at all. They rode in the back when they were loose and never got in the way.

By the second day, the dogs settled down more and rode well. And my dear Abby has finally been able to sleep in bed with Brody and myself. And she is loving it! Up until a couple of nights ago, she was content to sleep at my feet and let Brody share my pillow. When I woke yesterday morning, it was to open my eyes to a smiling and snoring Abby facing me on my pillow! It surprised me and I couldn't stop giggling! She really has become the cuddler. It is quite the challenge to get up in the mornings or in a hurry when you're under a mound of furry children. They ALL want to sleep with me in that tiny double bed, at least I'm not cold at nights!

A little history on my kids, the dogs are puppy mill rescues, and really never experienced real green grass to roll in, walk on, or just lay on. The kitties are all kitties from the southwest, no real grass or water or the abundance of interesting wildlife. Do, you can imagine what a change this is for them!

When we arrived, the dogs got a quick walk before bedtime, so grass introductions were short and sweet. But in the morning, it was such fun to watch them sniff, kick it up, roll in it, and just simply live in the moment and enjoy the feel, smell, and joy of it all. What a change this simple vegetation and the move has wrought in them!

Now they want to be outside almost all the time. Abby's favorite thing is to roll a bit, then lay in it and watch the world go by. And as most of the birds around the campground here are not all that concerned with us, they will come within 3-4 feet of you and Abby wants so badly to check them out and say hello!  Brody wants to go exploring now and be outside all the time. He has become more confident and inquisitive. He no linger seems as terrified of new things and things flying overhead or people talking, etc. This includes a biplane crop dusting not far from us yesterday and flying over us. While he didn't care for the noise, he seemed merely curious about it. They both want to play more too.

On the Kitty side of things, our last fuel stop on the way up the I-5 it was after dark. After getting back onto the road, I looked up in my rearview mirror to see Punkin (who is the most adventurous) sitting on the built in night stand in the back watching the world go by out of the huge back window. Not once did I notice him being alarmed, only fascinated and curious about all going on out there. It certainly made me smile. Jasmine on the other hand is most curious when we are stopped, otherwise, she prefers to be under the covers when she can be. Though to the kittens, this is quite the adventure. Yummy is rather blase about it all.

The first time several flocks of Canadian Geese flew over, honking, the kitties were like, WOW! What is that? Their expressions were priceless. They love the birds that flock into the trees on either side of the campsite. I am positive they would say that the kitty TV here has far better  channels and smells out here. I am waiting for them to see their first deer, raccoon, or opossum.

Right now, they think the RV is a cool place and it challenges Punkin's tree dwelling skills in their play time and what he can get into. It hasn't been a dull trip, and I know I made the right decisions to come here and do the move the way I did. It is certainly entertaining this way! But I do have to say, that to see them experience and find sheer joy in new things and experiences, like grass, is priceless. And it reminds me once again to live in the moment and stop and revel in the little things in life, for they can bring the most pleasure!