Nike is now Pluto

Well, we've decided that fostering kitties, especially little scared black kitties, is a bad idea. Nike is going to take lots of time and patience to socialize. He is so cute and other than being afraid of people, he isn't afraid of much. When we got Neptune and Jupiter, they hid under the bed for 2 weeks before they ventured out. Nike was roaming the house the second day he was with us. We changed his name - Nike is the Greek goddess of Victory, so we thought he needed a new name. Since he is smaller than Neptune and Jupiter, we named him Pluto. So here is the newest member of the Hallman household.

Nike

We are fostering a kitten named Nike. He is a black scaredy kitty who was rescued from an apartment rooftop during a hail storm. He was at the PetSmart adoption center, but no one ever saw him because he was always hiding under his bed. We are fostering him hoping that our younger kitties will help him be less afraid, so that maybe he will be adopted.

Raccoons

The raccoons stopped by again...I put out cat food for them.

Nocturnal Visitors

I have been keeping a birdfeeder on the back porch so the kitties can watch the birds. Yesterday morning, I noticed that the feeder was knocked over and the container with the extra birdseed was also knocked over and the feed strewn all over. I thought that was unusual, and sure enough, tonight I heard noises on the porch and when I turned on the light to look out, there were 4 young raccoons on the porch. I don't yet have pictures, but I will post them when I have some.

Julia C Frazier Elementary School

A few years ago I tutored (through TI) kids at Julia C Frazier Elementary School. This school is in a poor area in Dallas (Fairpark), 100% minority and 98% poor, and yet they have managed to accomplish something special with their kids - passing the TAAS test. When I quit working for TI, I stopped tutoring, but decided that was the school I wanted to get my donate school supplies. In years past, it has been a nearby school, but I decided my small amount of supplies would have a bigger impact at JCF. I am so impressed with this school and these teachers for what they have accomplished. Here are some statistics from the Dallas Morning News about the school:

School (District)	Percent passing	Percent poor
Kerr Elementary (Allen)	98.6%	3.8%
Bowie Elementary (Richardson)	97.8%	7.3%
Julia Frazier Elementary (Dallas)	97.6%	97.9%
Hyer Elementary (Highland Park)	97.4%	0.0%
Aldridge Elementary (Plano)	97.3%	8.3%
Austin Elementary (Coppell)	96.2%	5.6%
Anderson Elementary (Frisco)	95.8%	2.4%

http://www.leapsandbounds.org/dallasnews.htm

It seems that if you show these kids (grades 1-3) that they are loved, they belong and someone cares if they do well, then they will do well. Will someone please tell that to the new Secretary of Education?

New Beginnings Cat Rescue

I've started volunteering at a local cat shelter. I clean cages and give the kitties love. This shelter, New Beginnings Cat Rescue, is a no kill organization, which is very important to me. I just can't believe that any healthy pet has to be put to sleep. Can you imagine killing this cute kitten? She was a day away from being put down when NBCR got her. Thankfully, she has been adopted along with another kitten by a wonderful family in the Garland area. And no, it is not us!

Ragweed! Oh No!!!

Ragweed season has started! Oh no! All outdoor activities stop now!