Clowder 9 Ranch, Buhl, ID (2026)

06/19/2026

🦆✨ SURPRISE! ✨🦆

Today, Pond District got a little bigger.

For the past few weeks, our semi-wild Muscovy hen, Ritz, had been spending less and less time around the pond. She would stop by for food and water, then disappear again. For the last couple of days, she was nowhere to be found, and we were starting to wonder what she had been up to.

Well...

Today she answered that question.

She arrived with SEVEN ducklings. 🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥

Apparently while we were going about our daily lives, Ritz had been busy becoming a mother.

As it turns out, she chose the neighbor's horse barn as her maternity ward, where she safely hatched and raised her little brood under the watchful eye of Moe the horse, who has graciously given the duck family all the space they need.

This evening, Ritz brought the ducklings over to introduce them and they all got to enjoy some food and water, and meet the locals. The ducklings quickly discovered food, water, and a little adventure, while Graham was both watchful over them and slightly territorial over food. We solved that by setting out multiple food and water dishes.

When the visit was over, Ritz gathered her seven little followers and proudly waddled them right back to the horse barn for the night.

We certainly weren't expecting this, but we couldn't be more excited to welcome the newest members of Pond District.

Welcome to the world, little ones. ❤️

06/16/2026

Yesterday morning, we were blessed with three unexpected visitors on our pond — three beautiful white pelicans who stopped by for breakfast.

I’ve always loved seeing wildlife pause here, but this one felt different.

Pelicans have a long spiritual history, especially in Christian symbolism. For centuries, the pelican was seen as a symbol of self-sacrifice, mercy, and provision — even used as an image of Christ’s love because of the old belief that a pelican would give of itself to nourish its young.

Whether taken as symbolism, blessing, or simply one of God’s quiet little reminders, seeing these three white pelicans glide across our pond felt like peace arriving on wings.

After everything we’ve been walking through with T***k — the unknowns, the exhaustion, the dead ends, the prayers for answers — this felt like a small sign from heaven. A reminder that God still sees, still provides, and still sends encouragement in the gentlest ways.

And today, we are at a new vet with a doctor who is enthusiastic about T***k’s care, willing to listen, and willing to explore the unknown with us.

That alone feels like answered prayer.

So I’m choosing to receive these pelicans as a beautiful reminder: keep going, keep hoping, keep trusting. Sometimes grace shows up quietly. Sometimes God sends encouragement through people. Sometimes through open doors. And sometimes, apparently, through three white pelicans stopping for breakfast. 🤍

06/14/2026

Princess T***kle Toes update 💜

I’ve been putting this update off because I honestly haven’t known what to say...and saying it out loud makes it hurt more.

In April and most of May, T***k was doing so well. She was brighter, playful, more engaged, and it felt like we were finally getting ahead of her complicated neurologic/GI issues.

Then at the end of May, she went into another flare....and this one has been the longest one to date.

T***k’s symptoms don’t fit neatly into one box, making diagnostics and treatment difficult to navigate. Nerve dysfunction? GI dysbiosis? Metabolic disorder? Structural damage from her injury? All of the above? None of the above?

But one thing we know, she is still very much T***k.

She still wants Churu. She still tries to play. She still wants to be in the catio. She still seeks out her friends. She still has moments where she looks at me and I think, “There you are.”

T***k is now officially a Clowder 9 kitty. We kind of knew it would go that direction, but we made it official last week. This allows us more options in seeking second and third opinions, and we have an appointment Tuesday with a new veterinarian to help us look at the whole picture and decide what is fair and reasonable for her.

Please do not take this as pointing fingers or assigning blame or doubting the care she has already received...there is no room for that. This is the reality of managing a very complicated cat, and knowing when to not push beyond comfort zones.

Right now, T***k still has spark. So we are taking this one step at a time.

We have some ideas mapped out for her upcoming visit, and if you’re able to help with monetary donations for her appointment and diagnostics, we would be deeply grateful. But please know that prayers, good thoughts, and encouragement mean a lot, too!

T***k has always been our little unicorn — fragile, complicated, stubborn, and somehow still full of life. We're not sure what Tuesday will bring, but since she is still in the fight, we owe her the chance to keep fighting for answers.💜🐾

06/05/2026

One would think that with the last three weeks being dedicated full-time to my internship, my time dedicated to C9R might have shifted.

And honestly? It has.

But it definitely has not stopped.

It has looked like early morning messages, late night updates, kitten photos, glucose readings, spay/neuter scheduling, foster check-ins, and a whole lot of “okay, let’s think through this together.”

Over the past few weeks, C9R has helped with three tiny kittens working through feeding and tummy troubles, my new diabetic consult Ebbie, many spay/neuter grant recipients, Jana’s ten little nuggets who are currently riding the struggle bus through weaning, and a solo rescuer caring for a kitten with a possible spinal defect or injury.

And then, of course, there is T***k.

My unicorn case.

My “what on earth are we even dealing with?” case.

She continues to humble me, confuse me, worry me, and remind me that sometimes rescue medicine is not about having a neat diagnosis or a perfect treatment plan. Sometimes it is about watching patterns, supporting the body, managing the hard days, and choosing to keep fighting as long as there are still more good moments than bad ones.

That is where we are with her. We do not have all the answers. We may never have all the answers. But for now, she is still T***k, and we are still fighting for her.

The biggest thing these last few weeks have reminded me is that C9R is not only about helping cats and kittens. It is also about supporting the people who are helping them.

The fosters. The owners. The rescuers. The people who are scared, tired, overwhelmed, learning as they go, and still showing up anyway.

So thank you to the people who trust me with their animals, their questions, their fears, and their hard cases. That trust is not something I take lightly.

We cannot save them all. We cannot fix everything. But we can show up with compassion, honesty, encouragement, and whatever help we are able to give.

And sometimes, that is exactly what both the animals and their people need most.

06/05/2026

Really? It's been more then 10 days since my last post...where DID the time go? Since there's been a lot, I'll keep it brief.

The internship is going very well...just finishing 3 weeks, 7 to go. But the time is flying and I have already learned and done so much. Weighing various soil samples for different extraction experiments. Collecting dirt and plant samples from the field, drying them, grinding them, weighing them. Lots of physical movement in the sunshine which is good for the body and brain.

I have also submitted my first draft outline for my research poster, and due to some delays and changes we're shifting gears to study biomass yield of forage quality rye and trit under different nutrient management at two different harvest stages.

What i love about this is it combines my LOVE for animal nutrition with how we can integrate this with crop management. I can't wait to share more when we have all the data collected.

In the meantime, you're all invited to CSI on Monday, July 13 at 2 PM to get a sneak peek of our posters and presentations.

Since this got longer than I wanted, I'll close this out here and check in with some updates on C9R in another post.

05/25/2026

Thinking of my mom today, and how it would have been her 68th birthday. And while the earthly, human emotions are just as raw as they were 2 years ago, God's word inspires and reminds me that there is so much more waiting for us after this life. Peace, joy, and eternal happiness with God. In reading scripture about heaven, a passage from Revelation 18 made me smile...and if you knew my mom, you know she had a "thing" for stones and gems. So how fitting that God would make heaven out of all her favorites. I imagine she is collecting all the stones and gems (while grandpa polishes and cuts them) and she is making jewelry for everyone. 😸

I am also reminded that, until we are called home, we are here on earth with a purpose and a calling. Sometimes we hide from, run from, or deny that calling, thinking we're too old or too late, or maybe it means having to sacrifice or let go of comforts. Maybe we think it's too expensive or time consuming. But in these moments of doubt and uncertainty, we are called to give it to God. Let go, and let God.

I had the pleasure this weekend to use my gifts given and directed by God, for His glory. And in those blessings of service, I realize how much more blessing I have been given.

I know when I get to heaven and see all those I love, we will rejoice and celebrate. In the meantime, I will continue to honor God's calling on my life thru the service to others. Such as helping a foster and these sweet little nuggets, Little Joy, Callie, and Bear navigate the bumpy road of raising neonate kittens. ❤️😺

05/17/2026

Ever feel like you're always chasing your tail, spinning in circles, feeling like you'll never reach your goal? There will always be distractions and interferences, but when you keep your eye on the prize...success can be caught!

These last few weeks have been some of the most "tail-chasing" I've experienced in a while. Sickness, loss, mysterious cases, final exams, and little fires to extinguish around every corner.

But sometimes all it takes is sitting down, sitting still, letting go, and letting God! When we are always on the move, spinning in circles, we get disoriented, confused, lost, and frustrated. God does not want that for us...He wants us to sit still and seek Him.

I wanted to share some pieces of good news and blessings that have come our way, and also say THANK YOU to everyone for all your continued support and encouragement.

1) Finals are finished, and so is the semester! I did very well on all the finals and finished Chemistry, Biology, and Humanities with all A's! (I did NOT have to retake my Humanities final...the testing center manually recorded my responses and saved my life!).

2) PTT (as seen in this video) is doing VERY well!!!! We may have identified a key issue (but likely not the sole one), and for the past 4 weeks, we have been treating her with some unconventional therapies that seem to be working. She had a very mild flare Thursday/Friday/Saturday, but NOTHING like the past, so I think we identified a key component. We willl do a full post here soon when we have more treatment time under our belts.

3) In light of all that has happened in "May" (2-years since my mom died, Mother's Day, her birthday, kitten losses, school struggles, etc.) I am giving glory to God for keeping me sober through it all. May 16, 2026, marked 7 years sober and alcohol free.

Again, thank you to everyone for everything...support, encouragement, love, and prayers.

05/10/2026

This confirms it....if I were a cat, I would surely be feral. 😸😸

05/09/2026

I only knew you for a moment. 😿

I held you until you said goodbye. 🌈

I will love you forever. 💔

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support...Sadly we lost both kittens within an hour of each other just after midnight and at 1 am. This hurts more than words or tears can say. But no matter my pain, I will never let them be alone at the end. They left this world warm, safe, and loved. I know they are in good hands on the other side 🌈👼

05/08/2026

Hi all...we need a few prayers if you have a moment.

A week ago we vaccinated and dewormed some super healthy kittens, only to get a call early this morning thay they have had many symptoms of panleuk for a couple days now. Related? Maybe. Cause? Unknown.

All that matters now is that we give them a fighting chance. That means fluids up to 4x a day to counteract dehydration from the diarrhea and vomiting. Assisted feedings to help the liver keep doing what it needs to do. B vitamins to help immune and GI function, and anti nausea meds to help ease their upset tummy. Think norovirus on crack 😿😿

All this while the end of the semester winds up and finals are here. Things is, I was prepared and planning ahead for all sorts of things, so I took my Humanities final yesterday since it fit with my schedule. It was online at the testing center.. I started at 12:00 pm, finished a little after 2pm. Felt GREAT about it. And as I'm walking out the door of the testing center a gal asks me, "did you have any problems?" I was confused and then she said that the platform that hosts our Canvas platform had been hacked...and Canvas was "down."

So all my work...gone. and now I I have to do it all over again. You could say, oh well at least I'm prepared now. Sure,but this was 10 multiple choice questions, 4 short answer (100 word) questions, and THREE full essays.

Anyway, I will be using the time this weekend to cram for Chem and Bio and try to sneak in some extra credit.

So, if you could, send some prayers up for these kittens and me. 💔😿

Clowder 9 Ranch

06/19/2026

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06/14/2026

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

05/25/2026

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05/08/2026

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