How to fall in love and break your heart in 24 hours

This post looks back to a hike I did last fall.

I was taking a break from hiking and eating lunch halfway through my hike in a trail head parking lot. An SVU was idling with a man inside the driver's seat and two middle aged women standing outside by the trail informations board. I wasn't sure what they were up to; I thought maybe they just arrived back from the bike trails in the area and were resting. I took the last bites of my lunch, stretched and started to head in the oppose direction towards the trail. The women then head back to the car and the man gets out of the vehicle. He is bald and heavyset. He yells out to me, "Hey, you want a kitten?" hm I reply "What'd you say?" Upon a closer approach I see that neither of the three appear to be in outdoor garb. My first thought is this man must think I'm 16 and trying to kidnap me. Asking if I want a kitten? But indeed when I turn back around and approach, I see not one but two kittens. Then I say "I'm sorry I wish I could, but I really can't." The man throws some leftover pizza crusts to the kittens. Then he says well I guess they need some water too and takes out a pizzeria paper cup cut in half and fills it with water. He asks where I'm hiking to and if I've seen any deer. They don't say much else and then they get in the car and leave. Then I conclude they must have dropped the kittens here unable to care for them. Unsure of what to do I hike back the 5 miles to my car and ponder. I decide to drive back to the parking lot on the way out and feed the kittens a can of sardines I had with me as they seemed pretty hungry going after the pizza crusts. So I drove back and they were still there.

I feed them and give them some water. I start to wonder if they'll survive out there. My cell had drained it's battery just after my first encounter with the kittens so once it recharged at my car I call my boyfriend Jesse who confirms they won't survive alone in the woods and agrees I should bring them to a shelter. My dad is the type of person who doesn't like pets and would flip out if I bring one home so that isn't an option. I've had a pet cat and dog as a child. But nowadays the only pet we have is a stuffed animal in the form of a life sized dog. Cuteness doesn't tug at my dad's heartstrings. But Jesse volunteers to call the shelter, as I drive them home, to see if they're open.

At first they jump and crawl and hide under the seat in fear. Halfway home they finally settle down and even start purring.

I end up bringing the kittens home for the night and plan on bringing them to the shelter the following day. I keep them in the bathroom as I'm not sure if they carry any fleas or ticks on them and run to the store to buy a travel litter box and cat food.

When my parents return home from dinner, my dad has the expected reaction when he discovers the kittens in the house. But it is his house. I myself am like the kittens living in someone else's shelter so  I'm sorry that I can't provide them with a safe place to stay. The people abandoning them in the park left me with an impossible dilemma, especially considering that most shelters here are full to capacity.

They spend one night at the house and in that time they are a joy to play with. It is clear that they are house tamed and not wild at all, extremely friendly and playful. The smaller cat is feisty and aggressive and I name it Rocky. The larger kitten is more calm and relaxed and I name it Sweetie. They purr non-stop. They fight with each other. They clean each other.

Looking in the mirror

The next day I first bring them to a no-kill shelter who is unable to take them but checks them over and weighs them. They must be a certain weight to be taken in to be able to spay and neuter. They are still too small and am told they are just a couple months old. The woman was very generous though and gave me a cat carrier and de-wormed the kittens for free. She tells me the larger kitten is male and the smaller feisty one is female. I think she assumes I can keep them no problem until they are old enough. After checking all the no-kill shelters I bring them to the town shelter who is able to take them in and they assure me kittens are often adopted fast and they'll be fine. So I leave them there, grateful they are able to take them as I don't know what I would've done if not. I couldn't bring them back home with me. And I cry and feel my heart break because in that short span of getting to know the kittens I grew to love and care for them. I don't know why I cried so much, but I did. I checked in a few weeks later with the shelter to confirm that they've been adopted and they said they were placed. I was happy to hear that.

I questioned whether it is better to die in freedom in the woods with a short, but joyous lifespan or to be given the requirements to sustain a long life with food and water and shelter but under someone else's dictation. I hope Rocky and Sweetie got to stay together and that the home that found them was worthy of giving up the few days of freedom they would've had in the woods for the many years long rule-adorned comforts of a human home. I hope their new home gives them the comforts of shelter and food as well as the freedom of the outdoors to play in.

P.S....not sure why the videos upload at such high speed. I will post to vimeo as well.

An Artsy and Crafty Winter

Spring has finally arrived, albeit with snow on our very first day. It seemed to be a long winter with lots of snow accumulation in the first three months of the year. I finally took my first hike of the year on Long Island this past weekend, which will be in a future post. I am still piecing together bits and pieces of the Paumanok Path slowly. With the snow and hunting season this year hiking wasn't very feasible.

I do think it is a bit unfair that during the best time to hike the trails here, the land is being used by hunters. It would be nicer if it could be shared and hikers could use on weekends and hunters use weekdays. It leaves only a month or two of the entire year for hiking when the ticks aren't as problematic. To hike the entire Paumanok Path at once, it seems the best time to do it would be late September/early October or late March. Weather-wise, November would be ideal. To hike it in summer isn't worth the risk of lyme disease.

With hiking sidelined and many snowy days indoors due to unsafe road conditions, I have been working on a hobby that does involve the nature side of this blog. I've posted some photos below of projects I have been working on. These are just a few and I'm still working on some other designs and ideas. I will eventually be using my own photos for Decoupage (wiki), but for now I am learning with card stock.

A flower and bird box

A fall theme box

A lucky ladybug and leaf box

A beach theme

Many other boxes in non-nature themes as well.

A larger multi-drawer jewelry box

Gold Leaf Earrings

Keychains :)

And lastly, some bracelets for the three major thru-hiking trails, the Appalachian Trail (AT), Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

Some items I've made for myself and others can be found on my Etsy site for purchase. If you like any of these check them out on Etsy - Walk and Be Happy

FYI...I've learned how to create all these items using YouTube only. It seems you can learn anything nowadays on the internet.

One glimpse from my last hike....The thing I love about the Pine Barrens here is how beautiful looking up at the tall standing trees can be.

Thanks as always for reading!

Dune Road, Long Island NY

There are many parts of Long Island I've never explored in my 29 years of living here, especially on the east end. With miles of coastline that are largely uninhabited and bare in the winter months, it is a good time to explore the landscape and wildlife. Most of the county parks would require a resident permit in the summer months which is also why winter is a good time to explore. After researching some good spots on Long Island I came upon Dune Road so we will venture out here.

Dune Road Driving Map

I checked out most of the spots on the above site. Some places you forget you've been before, but they refocus in your memory once you travel them again. This time I am traveling in winter and scouting for snowy owls and birding.

You'll start by driving over the bridge that leads from Jessup Lane in Westhampton and turning left. The first stop was in Quogue with a beautiful scenic boardwalk. There were lots of birds here including the first sighting of a Great Blue Heron. It flew across the boardwalk and landed in the field to the left side.

A few photos of the Great Blue Heron below.

Below a woodpecker catches my attention. They are usually easy to spot as they are easy to hear.

A few deer dance out into the field.

Most of the locations listed on the website link are pull offs into a small parking lot that leads to the beach. If you wander off any of these you'll be sure to spot some sea gulls. 

Birds of the ocean eat lunch.

Driving along the road I spot another Great Blue Heron sitting in the field. I'm surprised I spotted it and hope my eye is getting better at wildlife scoping.

The Great Blue Heron doesn't stay and takes off towards the Ponquogue Bridge.

Dune Road is picturesque and a nice drive overall. I'd recommend it if you have the time opportunity. I haven't found the secret spots of the snowy owls on Long Island yet, but sighting other birds and identifying them is also fun.

On a different wintry day I bring my parents with me and travel westward on Dune Road to Cupsogue Beach County Park for a Seal Walk Outing. It is a lot chillier than expected. I feel as if we are walking the tundra.

With a recent snow day 2 days prior there is still snow along the beach. The wind blows strong as we stand huddled in a group of people listening to a naturalist speak on his research of the seals that occupy the Moriches Inlet. To see the seals, it is best to visit at low tide so you will want to check the tide schedules online. The seals are generally there from November until April. On the Seal Walk website you can also check out some good quality photos posted by the naturalist. The walk is not too long, less than a half mile. You'll want to look towards the north part of the island into the inlet and the seals will all be hanging out along the sand bar. It's not necessary to go on a seal walk to view them, but it does add the benefit of being able to view the seals through a spotting scope. The viewing area is a bit far and so it is a bit more difficult to appreciate their qualities until you look through the scope. From afar they look more like stationary blobs. But up close, they exude lots of personality and playfulness.

Lots of seals hanging out in the sun

My mom looks out from the viewing area. This is as close as you should venture so as not to scare the seals and avoid intruding on their habitat.

A bird in flight as we leave the beach.

There are many scenic vistas to see all over the world. No view holds a chance against the most beautiful thing you'll ever find in life, the heart of a family, like the depths of a deep forest. And to share a view and the beauty of nature with those you love is the most cherished of all.


Links:
Seal Walks
Wildlife On Dune Road