Pet Time at the Farm

News 2007

Peanut Butter Pleads - August, 2007

"Please be more careful in our parking lot. Some of us are old, part blind, and part deaf."

Two bones, each broken in three places. She'll be in a cast for two months. Thank goodness she didn't shatter her pelvis - this story would be very different.

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Pontious Farm Says Hello and Goodbye - August, 2007

Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious welcomed two new four-leggers to the Pontious Farm:

• Thumbelina - Pontious Farm's first llama, Thumbelina is five months old and a sweetheart.
• Oscar - Obviously not Pontious Farm's first cat, Oscar is eleven years old and a she!

Sweet dreams, Squirt and Scotch.

Ginger, Buddy, Louise, and Mike: Please look out for them and show them the ropes.

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He's Got a Ticket to Ride - July, 2007

Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious discovered Scruffy likes to ride the moment they picked him up from the Vermilion County Animal Shelter last December. He jumped right into the back seat (but later moved to Nancee's lap in the front seat - and we're not talking about a small dog here!).

Whenever Rick or Nancee left a car or truck door open, Scruffy just hopped right in.

But Rick and Nancee didn't know Scruffy likes to ride on anything with four wheels - they had to see it to believe it!

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Pontious Farm's Guard Kitty - July, 2007

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Pontious Farm's Newest Media Star - June 20, 2007

For those of you who caught WCIA's 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. news broadcast: Diana Pontious Orberson is Rick Pontious's sister. She and her family live on the lane between the ball field and the farm.

Next time you see Diana at the farm, please tell her what a wonderful job she did explaining how the Pontious family Is using Neem oil to keep Japanese beetles on the run this year.

Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree, an evergreen native to southeast Asia. For more information, see http://www.neemfoundation.org/ and Word of Mouth/Nature's Way, Inc.

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Sweet Dreams, Peaches - June, 2007

Shelley and John, your adoptive parents, and Jelly Bean miss you terribly. Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious, your original parents, miss you too. Shelley's and John's Memories of Peaches Peach Rule #1: Be sure the chairs are pushed under the kitchen table (or she could jump on the table).

Peach Rule #2: Don't leave the dishwasher door open (or she could jump up to the counter). Her sweet face and "delicate" nature Her constant vocalization, more like a  conversation with her many, varied voice inflections Her one brown eye and one half-blue eye The way she waddled going down the stairs Waking Shelley up every morning at 5:30 Always sprawling over John’s desk Lying on her stomach with her back legs stretched out flat behind her, or lying flat on her back, legs in the air Being out in the "Peach patio" Crawling across Shelley's keyboard to sit and watch the fish Being curled up in the smallest box in my office Sleeping on the back of the living room sofa Taking up half the bed on Shelley's side, or sleeping curled up at Shelley's head, snoring peacefully The "Peach Poop" song, and how, for many months, Shelley's and John's lives revolved around where Peaches pooped How her little spirit persevered through so many maladies We will remember her always, and she will remain with us always. Back to News Library

Congratulations, Alicia and Mark - May, 2007

When Alicia managed Pontious Farm for two seasons, Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious never worried about a thing - she ran the farm like it was her own!

So when Alicia asked if she could have her wedding reception at the farm, Rick immediately responded, "Of course!" (Nancee was a tad concerned about restroom facilities, cats getting into cakes, etc., but hey -- that's how women think!)

Rick and Nancee were too busy serving guests to take many pictures - including one of the groom! Sorry about that, Mark.

Click a picture to see a larger image.

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Sweet Dreams, Mikey - April, 2007

Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious miss you terribly. Ginger, Buddy, and Louise -- please give him a big hug when you see him. Back to News Library

Spring has Sprung - March, 2007

Spring has sprung. The grass is riz. I wonder where the... catnip is! No need to wonder. Just follow the cats!

Place your cursor over each picture to discover who's who.

How about early chives?

Hey -- that's not a cat!

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Spring Means Kittens. Not! - March, 2007

It was a traumatic week for Pizza Pie, Serene, Magellan, Polka Dot 1, Polka Dot 2, Scotch, and Twill. Thanks to the generosity of Monticello Animal Hospital, seven of Pontious Farm's eight kittens born in 2006 -- amazingly all males! -- became its. Butter, the eighth kitten, refused to participate.

Place your cursor over each picture to discover who's who.

Mr. DeMille, Tweedle (not sure if it's --Dee or -Dum) is ready for his close-up. Closer... Closer... Hey -- who invited them? Serene (used to be Serena) is such a scene stealer! Magellan and one of the Polka Dot Quartet don't mind sharing the limelight. By the way, Tweedle and his brother were neutered last fall.

Twill, although hiding out here, did not evade capture. Butter did, so Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious still don't know if Butter is male or female. Scotch took his medicine like the man he used to be!

Serene and Pizza Pie duke it out.

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Sweet Dreams, Magellan - February, 2007

Nancee Moster Pontious, your unofficial godmother, Leslie, Bob, Kathy, Leif, Laura, Tim, and countless others miss you terribly. Sparky, please give your Texas playmate a giant hug when you see him.

How Many Cats? - January, 2007

If Rick Pontious had a nickel for every time someone asks him, "Just how many cats do you have?"

The outdoor cat population at Pontious Farm varies. Both Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious have a difficult time turning away a cat that needs a home; however, the seasons of multiple kitten litters are long gone now that Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious work with the Prairieland Anti-Cruelty Society to spay and neuter new additions.

On the other hand, the indoor cat population has remained fairly constant. Bang, Boom, and Shazam were born on Pontious Farm in the spring of 1994, and immediately moved to Texas with Nancee to enjoy a life of indoor luxury (away from the hustle and bustle of Dallas/Ft. Worth traffic). When Nancee moved to the Pontious Farm to marry Rick in 1998, Rick said, "The cats go outside." Nancee responded, "No way, Jose!"

So that's how it stayed -- three indoor cats -- until 2004, when it became apparent that Moonbeam, a stunning white kitten with one blue eye and one brown eye, couldn't hear. Nancee moved her inside to ensure a chance at survival.

Rick protested. A week later, you couldn't separate him from that cat! Her favorite spot to this day: Curled up in his arms.

In fact, Rick came to Nancee and complained, "Moonbeam is lonely because Bang, Boom, and Shazam won't have anything to do with her." Nancee responded, "I can solve that!" Enter Beauty, one of Moonbeam's litter mates.

And for the record: The concept of indoor/outdoor cats (who accompany the dogs as they move indoors for the evening and return to the huge, warm-in-winter/cool-in-summer picking shed before lights out) originated with Rick.

Place your cursor over each picture to discover who's who.

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Rick "Cowboy" Pontious - January, 2007

Although born and raised in east central Illinois, Rick Pontious's favorite attire is western. Needless to say, this confused many of his customers and colleagues during the 30 years he traveled the globe in the telecom industry. In fact, Rick delights in telling people about a telecom installation in Paris, France, when his train commute from hotel to work site never failed to elicit squeals of "Cowboy!" from surrounding children. Rick rarely takes the opportunity to dress up these days. So Nancee Moster Pontious couldn't resist taking this snapshot before Rick departed for the Home Builders Association/East Central Illinois - Annual Installation of Officers Dinner. (He's serving his second year on the Board of Directors.)

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