Heidi Chronicles: March Mayhem

That pic of dennis's nose and says, My Mommy love s me. LOL

Here's one more quick pic while I'm getting ready for my follow up Dr's appt and then work.

This is Bast. One of our regulars here on the Heidi threads had a great idea. She doesn't eat the jelly that comes with her breakfast, so she saved the little packets and sent them to the raccoons. What a great idea for repurposing.

So here is Bast showing her appreciation.


(Just a quick note to say that we would never want to encourage anyone to take extra condiments, but we think this is a great use of the ones that restaurants and fast food stores put on the plate and in the bag automatically.)

Hahahahha. Boy talk abotu being to lazy to pick up her food. bast outt atry out for arobics class. Thansk for pick.

Hoep all goe s well at yoru docs appointment and still able to be mroe or less pain free.

starlight,

They are some very flexible critters. I guess you noticed how she has her back foot up there by her face and hands. She was really concentrating all her efforts on getting the last drop of jelly out of the packet.

Lately I've mentioned that there are quite a few raccoons out there - too many. I've also mentioned lately that we are out of treats. I wanted to clarify what I mean by that. There are some 15+ of them now, and they do eat like a swarm of locusts. I tell you these things because they are part of the color and flavor of the story.

The last few days I've been straining my brain harder and harder to figure out what to take out for treats for that crowd, but that's because (1) I pass the treats out too freely when I have them and (2) I've been too lazy to go to the grocery store lately. Heck, we are out of people food, too, at least the good stuff. For days now I've been picking something up for dinner on the way home, but there is no drive through window for grapes, peanuts, and marshmallows - believe me I've thought about it. : )

Anyhow, I just want everyone to know that I tell you these things as part of the story not to get you to think you need to send food to the raccoons. They do eat a lot this time of year. That, too, is part of the story. But the lack of treats right now is more a laziness issue than a funding one. So now and in the future, I'd like you to know that no matter what I say about the food, there is no between the lines message, just a story, a true story.

We appreciate anything you do send or have sent, but we don't want anyone to feel the need to send anything and certainly not to send anything that they may need for their families, and above all we don't want you to feel that these aspects of the story contain some implicit request for help.

Honestly, like all of us, the raccoon appreciate their treats more when they get fewer of them. As for food, I'm not going to try to feed all of them all they can eat. I think we can all see where this will lead - to infinity. I'm doing my best to limit the food to the just a bit more than the regular amount I've always used. Then the raccoons can figure it out the way nature intended.

They can each eat less and then supplement their meal the old fashioned way - by hunting and scavenging. They can decide among themselves on a way to decrease their numbers. They can have fewer kits to help with future overcrowding.

I'd like all of you to enjoy the story without worrying about these things, and I'd like to be able to tell the story w/o worrying about what unintended hidden messages I may be sending.

Anyhow, now we are out of cat food so I have to go to the store. : -)

Edited to fix type


This message was edited Mar 25, 2009 1:31 PM

It never crossed my mind that you were telling us how much they eat for any reason other than the fact that it's true! I think if somebody sends food it's a small way to say thank you for keeping us part of your wonderful experiences.

Bast looks like quite the contortionist trying to get the jelly out.

Ok, here is another picture of Bast enjoying the jelly. I had difficulty getting pics because she was up under the edge of me. I had to stick the camera down by my leg and shoot under me blindly hoping for the best. I'm not even sure about the proper orientation of this...

goldfinch,

I just wanted to be sure. Sometimes I guess I get a little neurotic. It's the human condition, right?

Now before I continue, I should preface this by reminding everyone that I am an Electrical Engineer by degree and a software engineer by profession (notice the unintentional difference in capitalization. lol) What could that possibly have to do with the subject, you ask? Clearly, I have a major geek component to my personality, and we geeks are not known for our ability to express ourselves well when dealing with other humans. There is a subtle but big difference between telling a story and interacting with others. So, if I stumble terribly over what I'm trying to say here, and end up with my foot in my mouth now and again, please take this into consideration and make allowances for the geek factor. :-)

I guess my timing may have been a little off with the above post. In no way did I mean to imply that I thought those who sent food and supplies did so for any reason other than the joy of giving and the desire to give something back to the raccoons - and such.

When I write the story and mention that there are lots of raccoons and they are arguing, etc and when I mention (like lately) that we out of treats - and, lol, I'm trying to manufacture some out of thin air, I just worry that it may be taken wrong. I just wanted to clear the air to make sure everyone understood.

When I mentioned above that I thought those jelly packets were an excellent idea, my neurotic side (which I usually do a better job of keeping under wraps but occasionally it gets out) said, "Oh, great, now everyone will think you are asking them to do the same and send all of their packets." So that is why my 'disclaimer' post came on the heals of the pic of Bast enjoying jelly.

All that said, that box of jelly could not have arrived at a better moment. I had already robbed the candy jar and fed them the Mary Janes, the carmels, and the mini choc marshmallow bars. I had given them almost all of Widgets yogurt drops - and he expects one of those everytime he comes in from doing his outside job. I have another jar of jelly and several cans of frosting but no bread to put them on until I get back to the store. When I opened that box and saw all of those little packets of jelly, the light bulb came on in my head because I knew those dextrous and crafty raccoons could handle the packets if I just took the tops off - well, they could do that, too, but I would have a bigger mess to clean up. The jelly saved the day (er, night) last night, and as you can see, the raccoons were very happy. (And there is still oodles of jelly left for other nights.)

So, I know that all who sent things, did so from the bottom of their hearts - and that's the only reason I was willing to give out my address.

Here is Bast again after she finished her 2 jelly packets. She went around licking everybody else's already clean packets just to be sure nothing got left behind.

LOL, Bast doesn't look like she's suffering any food shortage! I love your pictures, and I have so enjoyed reading your story! I still need to go back and catch a few of the middle threads--I think I read the start and the end, and lost a few in between!

You have a heart of gold, I just had to say that.

LOL, Bookerc1!

Thank you! Wow, Glad you are enjoying the story. The Heidi story began in spring of 2006. By now there are many dozens of threads, so if you only read two, you missed more than a few. : )

If you want to read the whole story, I think you can start at the 1st thread (link at the top of this thread) and follow follow from one thread to the next by following the link at (or near) the end of each thread. Folks sometimes add posts at the end of the threads (below the link to the next one), so you may have to go up a few posts from the end of some threads to find the link, but I believe they all have one (link that takes you to the next thread in the series). In my opinion, some of the best stuff occurs in the spring and summer of 2007, so you don't want to miss that part.

According to Bast, who has been a bit grumpy these past few days - pregnancy, no doubt - she thinks she is starving, but I think you are right. By comparison to other wild raccoons, she is quite well fed as are all 15 or so of them.

Looking at those Bast pixs (and allowing for the contorted body positions), I'm guessing that the lady is expecting; the midsection isn't that big yet, but you can see the extra weight in her rump and rear legs. Either that or she's eating waaay too many sweets (lol).

Ruth,

I totally agree about Bast being "in the family way". Lately, since we said all those good things about her temperament, she has become very grumpy about her food. Now she is waiting at the door (used to arrive mid meal but now the competition for food is getting stiff. one night she arrived after the meal was over. I guess she's not making that mistake anymore). Used to be that Dennis would walk me to the buffet with Heidi a few feet away. (Heidi being older and wiser tries to walk near and under shrubs and such for cover just in case.) The past few days Bast has been walking me out and adamantly telling everyone else, Dennis included, to stay back. When we get to the bench where I had been putting down a quick handful of food for Dennis by the bench on my way to feed Heidi, now Bast grabs it, after she and Dennis fight. It doesn't matter that I quickly toss a handful on either side of the bench. They still have to fight over the 1st handful that falls.

Last night when the food got down to tidbits and crumbs - after Bast had already eaten 2 handfuls of puppy food and 6 vanilla s/w cookies - she started walking around me looking for crumbs and growling/grumbling in a low tone more or less constantly to let the others know that she was in a testy mood and they should keep a wide berth. She lunged at a few who got too close to her area. Finally, I fussed at her when she was growling at one of the youngsters nearby. I had to repeat the fussing a time or two, but she did listen to me. She stopped growling and walked off - with a sullen attitude.

Then she kept trying to look in (and turn over) my empty bucket which had the empty cookie bag in it. I kept telling her "NO!" She would listen for a second and then come back and try again. Over and over and over before she finally stopped.

I'm afraid Bast may run Dennis off, and I don't want that.

As for sweets, doesn't eat a lot of sweets. I was surprised when she ate the cookies last night and wanted more of them.

Oh, and it did occur to me that I used to think Bast looked catlike from a distance, but these days I never see her from a distance as she is always beside me, so that may be the difference there.

Cheryl -- how was the DR apt?

I just got caught up, I don't know how I lost my Heidi threads!

You sure are busy. I was at Walmart, saw all of the new "peeps" out and thought of you. So many different kinds this year. LOL

Those new babies are going to be climbing all over soon.

Debbie

Terese,

Thanks for asking. It was just a checkup mainly for me to tell the Dr how incredibly well I am doing. Yay! Since the last shots I've been almost 100% pain free. I was thinking about it this weekend as I was rushing about the house doing things. It feels SO good to be able to move freely without needing to sit down every few yards or minutes to relieve excruciating pain.

He also gave me (last time) a Cox2 to take for a while to help w/the inflammation. I had been taking Aleve 4/day for years now since my 1st knee injury/surgery as recommended by my knee surgeon. The pain Dr was mortified to learn that I was taking so much Aleve. Oddly enough he seemed convinced that the Cox2 prescription med would be safer as well as more effective. I love the Cox2 (mobic). It not only helps with my hip/back but also eliminated all traces of knee/arthritis pain. I had never heard of mobic, but when I saw the generic name I recognized it as the same medication the vet specialist prescribed for Widget back when he had that severe neck/back pain. Remember when he was in so much pain that he wouldn't eat or even play? That medication made him like a normal puppy again. He doesn't need it any more, but he still has a bottle and open prescrip just in case. The pain Dr. says for some odd reason the company never did much of a marketing campaign to push mobic as a Cox2, so it isn't well known, but he thinks it is better than the more well known brands - and cheaper because it's avail as generic.

Anyhow, he said the pain may return at some point, and he urged me to come back at the earliest sign of pain as it is better to catch it earlier before it becomes a raging inflammation. He said for now I'm on my own as in don't need him, but he discussed some additional options in case it returns - just to reassure me that there are options and I should never walk around in pain as I had been doing before I saw him. I'm SO glad my Dr sent me to him (and so glad I changed Dr's last year as my other Dr (the quack) would have told me to suck it up and take more Aleve.)

It has been a LONG time since I have felt this good. I awoke early (for me. as in before the alarm went off) this morning and got out of bed feeling enthusiastic about the day. (I usually drag around hating the morning. I hadn't realized how much of that was due to the pain. It is hard to be excited about a day filled with excruciating pain. When you are in pain, everything is a challenge to figure out how to get things done w/o more pain.) Yesterday when I asked for the location of the drink machine, and was told to 'go here, turn there, go to the end of that hall, turn..." I walked w/o pain all the way there and back. Before, I would have said, 'never mind, I'll wait.'

So, long story, LONGER, I'm feeling fabulous! I just figured those of you who have been with me for a while would know that if I'm not whining that means I'm doing ok. ;-)

Thanks for asking!

(starlight, I didn't forget you. I meant to respond earlier when you asked but I got so busy and then fell asleep.)

Edited to change what was "Away!" (spellcheck boo boo) back to the intended "Yay!". You really have to watch that spellchecker closely as it will make some funny sentences for you sometimes.

This message was edited Mar 26, 2009 5:41 PM

Hi Debbie,

I was just thinking of you this morning. Figured you were reading but just not commenting. We need to ask Dave if we can have a 'sign up for all threads in the series' feature so people don't get lost between threads. (Kidding!) LOL

We had peeps one night a few weeks back, and I picked up 4 boxes last night. They love them. I have to break them in half so everybody gets 2 instead of 1. ;-)

Oops, better get to work. more later

That's great news that your medicine is working so well! Congrats!

The pictures are just darling! Thanks for posting them. I also hope Blast doesn't run Dennis off. That would be just terrible.

The other night I was late in getting some food behind the fence(9:PM)for my group and as I was walking back up the pathway of already dog food filled containers putting MM's in each dish I was joined by a raccoon that evidently didn't want to wait til I left the area. It unnerves me abit to be so close to one but he/she could have cared less about me as long as I had finally filled the dishes. This is the third time in the last two years one has came that close to me to eat. It is such a neat thing to see one so close.

Its wonderful that you are pain free now! The fact that you have finally gotten a great doctor that understands the pain you were going through and willing to work with you to get relief is a dream come true I imagine.

I can't believe I lost you! I think I have missed two threads before this?? That will take me awhile to catch up on.

Someone needs to notify me when a new thread is posted. Someone has to take care of me or I won't know what is going on over here.


Now I have to go back and catch up.

Susan
=^..^=

OK Kitty, I just put you down on my to do list.

Thank you Sharon!
:-D

=^..^=

Man, it would be the pits if Bast chases Dennis away. Instead of tossing two handfuls of food in quick succession at the bench en route to feeding Heidi, would it work better to just scatter a big handful all over the bench area? Or would they still argue over the first bit of kibble to hit the ground?

Ruth,

That's an interesting idea. I think I'll give it a try. May even try it for everyone except Heidi to see if it helps with other problems. The issue with who gets food 1st is bordering on comical - and tragic. While Heidi was willing to look the other way when I dropped that inconspicuous handful of food to deter Dennis, she isn't at all happy to see me now feeding 2 of the others ahead of her. What next, three, then four? Or at least, that's what Heidi seems to be saying. Scattering a handful may actually solve the 'Heidi problem' as well - or not. Who knows, but it's worth a try.

Sub-Title: Is Bast the New Dennis?

I continue to be amazed at this creature, the raccoon, and at what is has to teach me. I am amazed at what it has to teach me not only about raccoons but about wildlife in general and about our own species particularly about our prejudices and fiercely held but erroneous beliefs and even at times about myself.

Raccoons are mean. Raccoons are vicious. They will tear you limb from limb if they get the chance. I hear this and similar things all the time. Even people who know that I have spent years feeding and interacting with wild raccoons feel compelled to share this information with me. Is it true? I don't know. My experience with raccoons is limited to the past 3 years and to the small group in my backyard, too small a sample population to constitute a meaningful scientific study. Still, I can tell you that the raccoons who visit my backyard could hardly be recognized by their ominous reputation..

As previously alluded to Bast has recently - since I complimented her (don't you hate it when that happens?) - become a bit pushy. I can pinpoint the moment when it began and the incident which precipitated it. One night recently, Bast, now obviously pregnant, hungry, and hormonal, arrived too late to find anything more than a handful of crumbs for dinner. Since then she has been careful to be here early and tell everyone around her to "BACK OFF!" less they should gobble up all of the food and she should be forced to leave hungry again like she did that night.

Tonight (and by that I really mean last night), much like the night before, Bast was quite annoying, so much so that she made Dennis seem like a model raccoon by comparison. When she wasn't climbing my leg, she was trying to turn over my bucket to help herself to its contents. She had puppy food, but she wanted the marshmallows from the bag I'd put in the now empty bucket. I'd given her a marshmallow, or two or three, but she wanted them all, and she certainly did not want to be made to wait while I gave one to Dennis much less while I passed them out to all of the others.

Bast was making things more than a little difficult. It was like having a toddler at my feet while trying to pass out candy, teddy bears, and brightly colored objects, a toddler that would be pulling them out of the boxes faster than I could take them from her. Several times Bast had taken hold of the bucket and briefly engaged me in a tug of war for it as if to see if this time she could rip it from my hand. Several times I had told her to cut it out but to no avail.

Finally, having had enough of this behavior, in a moment of frustration and without forethought, acting purely on instinct, I reached over and smacked her right on the top of the head just like I used to do with Dennis - and then I smacked her again for good measure - and hard, not hard enough to hurt her but certainly hard enough that she knew I was serious. But Bast is not Dennis. Dennis was practically raised at my knee. Dennis is about as close as one can get to a wild pet while Bast is a wild raccoon who met me after she was already an adult. Moreover, Bast is no pushover. Second only to Heidi, Bast is one of the toughest of the group. She takes no static from anyone in the group, and for the most part, everyone knows to stay out of her way.

Quite to my amazement, Bast did not react in any predictable manner, did not react in the manner predicted by her temperament or by the ominous reputation of her species. Here I had just attacked a wild raccoon on what Ruth so amusingly referred to as "the pointy end", yet my assault did not meet with the response one might expect from an animal so often described as vicious. In fact, Bast did not react at all except to stand there for a moment looking back at me before settling down to eat kibble from the ground beside me and behave herself.

Make no mistake, Bast could have slashed my arm so fast I wouldn't even have seen it coming nor known what was happening until it was over, yet amazingly she didn't. She just stopped misbehaving, stopped messing with the bucket, stopped climbing on me, stopped being pushy, and went back to eating her puppy food. These are very intelligent creatures, and it actually appeared as though Bast recognized that I was not trying to hurt her but was only defending my space and my things, only laying down some very reasonable ground rules. She reacted by saying, "oh, ok, well I guess I'll leave your stuff alone then". She didn't strike back. She didn't run away. She didn't even walk over to the other side of the yard as she had done with the yogurt that time. She just stopped testing me and went back to eating her food. When she was thus behaving properly, eating her food, and ignoring me I gave her the marshmallow she had been seeking. For the remainder of the evening she behaved nicely.

I think I will go back to limiting treats to just the handful I keep in my pocket for Dennis. I find, for now at least, that I can usually slip Dennis a treat or two on the side w/o exciting the group to riot as long as I don't arrive with a bag of something and start crinkling plastic.

I would like to add that I don't recommend hitting wild raccoons or any other animal. It isn't something I do often or of conscious thought. It's a gut reaction made in an instant and born, I imagine, of my years working with horses. I don't recommend hitting horses either, but one cannot work effectively or safely with such a massive and powerful creature w/o taking a firm stand and refusing to tolerate certain types of behavior. One cannot back down and allow the animal to assume the dominant role or, as was said previously, "there be dragons".

When I struck Bast, I looked up at Heidi who was eating just 2-3ft away. She was looking right at me. I looked up at her because Heidi watches everything, and, unless I preempt things by speaking to her, she often runs away when I start speaking harshly to the raccoons around me. I guess she figures if the human is going on the war path, she's getting the heck out of the area. So as soon as I hit Bast right there in front of her, I thought, "Oh, no! Now Heidi will think I'm mean and dangerous for sure."

When I looked up at Heidi she was watching for sure, but rather than looking frightened and running away, she just gave me a look that said, "I know exactly how you feel. Bast has been quite witchy lately, and I've felt like smacking her a time or two myself." Then she calmly resumed eating.

Thursday night I went out early and took along so much stuff I thought myself a bit ridiculous and out of control. I had just returned from shopping, and it was all I could do to restrain the child inside of me who wanted to give them everything at once. The night before I had bought a quart size container of cubed watermelon (product of Mexico) and found it to be unbelievably crisp, sweet, and perfect. As you may know by now, I am a watermelon eating fool but only good watermelon. The watermelon was so awesome as to send me back on Thursday evening seeking more. On Thursday, I bought several such containers all of which turned out to be of inferior quality. Thus it was that I had a quart size container of cubed watermelon to take out to the raccoons along with a bag of vanilla s/w cookies (because Dennis doesn't like watermelon), a large 2ft x 10in bag of cheese popcorn (just for good measure), a rock hard loaf of french bread (about 2ft long broken - by whacking it on my leg - into several sections), 10 cups of puppy food, and 3 date expired boxed meals (chicken breast).

I was so early that I actually got there before the 1st raccoon arrived for the evening. Within about 5-10 min they started filtering in though. I tossed the bread on the bank where the timid ones like to grab it and take it with them. I also put the boxed meals back there although I know from experience that the raccoon generally will not touch that stuff until everything else is 'off the table'. And just like my locust analogy, the raccoons came through and devoured everything (except those chicken meals) w/in minutes. In no time at all I was out of puppy food, and the raccoons were arguing among themselves over the limited food remaining. As I tossed watermelon cubes they practically caught them in mid air and gulped them down. I would estimate that the whole bowl of watermelon was gone in under 2 min, maybe 1. Likewise, the cookies were gone in the blink of an eye. The popcorn while less popular was quickly eaten once these other items were gone. The speed with which they eliminated all traces of all that food was incredible. This time of year, they are an eating machine.

Thanks, KyWoods,

It really is wonderful to be able to walk again!

Thanks, Judy,

Glad you enjoyed the pics.

I think raccoons are good judges of character. They have a feel for who is and isn't a threat, and they get used to us when they see us a time or two. If you've read the early threads you know that I, too, was quite uncomfortable letting them get near me at 1st. I always say that it took them a while to tame me. So far, at least, none of the ones here, and that includes that band of mean ones led by Cruella, has shown any inclination to attack me - ever. The one rule I live by, however, is to never, ever put them in a position where they feel trapped. Now that I know them better, I realize that is hard to do. Early on I though it important not to get between them and the forest. These days they go around behind me all of the time, but with plenty of space all around me, they always know they can get back to the forest. As long as they have an escape route, I find that will choose to run rather than fight - at least, that is what the ones in my yard do.

Judy,

My bought with back pain has been quite a learning experience. I have tended to act as though all Drs were more or less equal. I have been amazed at the difference in treatment betweent he 2 Drs. The one had me walking around quite literally gritting my teeth, taking Aleve, and bearing it. I was miserable pretty much any time that I wasn't lying down and many times when I was. I was led to believe that this was my only option. Now, under the care of a different Dr, I have learned that there are numerous options. Not only am I currently pain free with the present treatment but am told that there are additional options should the pain come back and that the one thing I should not do is try to go it alone.

The one thing I have learned from this and hope to tell everyone else is if you aren't getting relief from your Dr, don't assume that is all there is. Get another opinion and another one and maybe even another one. It is worth the trouble.

Hi Susan,

Good to have you back with us. Well, that is an interesting idea. Maybe I need to make a dmail group list to which people can sign up for notification when I start a new thread in the series?

Ok, hurry back (from catching up). We would hate to have moved on to yet another thread before you return - and risk loosing you all over again. : )


Edited to change email to dmail above. oops again.

This message was edited Mar 28, 2009 8:37 AM

Forgot to mention.

Incredibly, before I left last night Bast came back up and put her paws on my knee very gently. She wasn't pushy or anything, just asking nicely. I was surprised considering that only moments earlier I had whacked her on the head. Still, it did not seem to hurt our relationship at all.

Note: above I changed email to dmail on the post where I meantioned the possibility of a group list for notification of new thead in the series. That's what I originally meant, but I don't always think well at that time of the morning.

As promised, I still have quite a few pics left from the other day. Here is another. This isn't a very good quality pic. This is Bast, and she is way too close to the lens for the camera settings. She had stood up between my two legs. You can see my charcoal grey pants on the left and part of my red print garden boot. There is a bit of my other pants leg in the lower right corner, but it's difficult to see in the dark. This doesn't really look like Bast. She's too close and is over exposed. She's so close that the camera cast a shadow over her obscuring her nose, but despite all of that I present the pic to show her behavior.

Ever since someone asked to see this type of pic, I keep trying to capture disputes. It's not easy though. These things are often over in a flash such that in many cases by the time the shutter closes the two combatants are walking away. Here I have managed to catch Bast (left) and one of the youngsters in a bit of a tiff. The youngster had come to close to what Bast considered her area causing her to lunge toward the youngster in mock attack.

The image is not what it appears. While it looks like a still shot of Bast posing in a defensive (or offensive) posture, it is actually an instant in the lunging action frozen in time. This is one instant in the action of Bast lunging towards the youngster and the youngster defensively pulling back from the mock attack.

Notice how Bast's head is positioned low to the ground with ears back as she leaps toward the offender. This is the classic attack position for raccoons. In the past some people have expressed concern about whether raccoons standing upright, fearing this to be an aggressive position. From all that I have seen that simply does not appear to be the case. Every time that I have seen the raccoons stand upright (except at my knee looking for treats) it has been to get a better view of something. The sometimes do this when they hear a sound next door and stand upright to look in that direction apparently availing themselves of the best possible position to see over the plants, shrubs, and such. I have never witnessed a raccoon standing upright to fight.

They have a variety of growls and grumbles and postures, but from what I have seen the most 'deadly' serious sign that attack is eminent is when they put their heads and upper bodies low to the ground, ears back, and make a clicking sound that I liken to a rattlesnake rattling his tail. In the warning position the head and upper body will be lower than see here (but similar, remember this is midway through the action) with the head almost flat to the ground and ears flat against the body. If you see that position and especially if you hear the clicking sound with it, then it's time to get back away from that raccoon as that is the raccoon equivalent of a dog growling at you with teeth showing.

These pics were all take the same day, several days ago. I took several to show how close Bast was these days - that was before the last few nights when she was climbing all over me. Here she is eating by my foot. It looks like she might have a tick or two on her head and ears. Not sure as the dots may also be fallen bits of food. If this were Dennis, I would pull them off, but I don't feel that Bast and I are that well acquainted yet.

Here is Bast again. I was trying to take real pictures of her, but she was so close that her face kept getting obscured by my clothing (my coat here) and such. Here she is litterally right up 'under' me.

Bast again. These pics just show how close she was. Here she is on the left side of my little 1 person bench. You can see a little of the white 'wicker' arm. The berry colored thing is my jacket and my arm. Bast is snooping around in search of treats. I had those dog yogurt candies in my pocket earlier. She probably still smells them.

This is one of the youngsters. This one is very sweet. This is another one of those shots that is not what it looks like. She appears to be pulling back an away from us. Actually, she is doing something that I think is very cute to watch. I've tried to describe it many times and have always wanted to get a picture, but the picture doesn't capture the action. For this I need video. Anyhow, she is actually sort of squatting in one spot and then reaching forward to gather food and eat it. Normally, they are looking down at the food for this, but she looked up at the camera when the flashes went off. Seen in motion, this is an adorable move. I love the way they sit back slightly and reach forward with arms out straight to sweep the food towards them. They remind me of a poker player grabbing the pot.

same kit putting kibble to her mouth.