We went into Staples today and turned in the paperwork to get the kids signed up for school. We have another meeting later this week to get classes picked for the two oldest that will be in high school.
Then we took a long drive down to Long Prairie to turn in the paperwork to get the house officially homesteaded, and bought the swing-post for the mailbox.
After lunch back at the house, we set off to Brainerd to do some grocery shopping and picking up random essentials. On the way we picked up something a little extra...
I was admittedly a little surprised to arrive at the barn to find all three available kittens nursing from momma. They're small, maybe 4-5 weeks old. While they have teeth and are eating hard food, they are also still nursing. But if the barn is actively seeking homes for them, I figure we'd go ahead and snag one. We only want girls, so a quick gender check eliminated the tabby with clear eyes, and the fluffy grey kitten. It was tabby with a goopy eye or nothing. #5 had his heart set on the fluffy grey kitten, but after some discussion (we really can't have a boy cat if we're having girl cats or we will end up with too many cats), he gave up and accepted the little tabby girl.
She cried the entire time we ran errands and all the way home.
For those wondering, kitten was never left alone in the car. We made a couple stops (Costco, Menards, Fleet Farm, and our old house) and I or one of the older kids were always in the car holding the kitten.
We are considering several names, among them Tigerlily, Arya, Gypsy, Ivy, and Violet.
Introductions went well.
According to my research, she (and the two coming Friday) will need to be confined to the bunny barn for a month or so before being allowed outside to explore the property. I'm not terribly worried about the older cat coming on Friday, as she is around two years old and has always been a barn cat. I do worry about this kitten and the one coming, because they're young, and while they were born and raised as barn cats, they're not proven survivors yet. They haven't made it through a winter, they have no mousing history, and I have no way to prevent them from getting hit by cars if they wander off the property. There are always predators too - owls and hawks, eagles and foxes, even raccoons and stray dogs. I will do everything I can to give them a safe home, with shelter from the elements, food and water, regular veterinary care, and love and affection should they want it.
Another beautiful sunset tonight.