On 6-10-17, Wanda and I and Connie Phillis and Anne Myles went to Waterloo for the Cedar Valley Roller Derby last home game of the season. The Brawlers and their Junior team, the Mad Catters, are all animal lovers and particularly cat lovers. Part of the team visited R. Hollow in May and spent a long afternoon loving on the cats. We were the organization chosen for their last home game fund raiser and we truly appreciate the invite and the wonderful donations we received from their raffle and from the spectators who enjoyed the night. The Brawlers won big on their last home game against a Wisconsin team. And the Mad Catters debuted during half time. It was a 'fun' "Fun"draiser for Rustic Hollow. Pictured below from Left: Volunteer Connie Phillis, Anne Myles, supporter and volunteer who joined us for the evening, and Wanda Orric, the "W" in C& W's Rustic Hollow Shelter.

Our Kat Barn flooded in September 2016 when a deluge of rain proved too much for our tiny creek that runs through the property. Never in the history of this acreage had we ever had any flooding into one of our buildings. But we had wanted to update the Kat Barn for some time. This just gave us the incentive to get it done sooner.
A room in the upper level of Bradley's House was built to  house the displaced Kat Barn cats. Then the hard work began. Staff worked hard to tear out the wood and linoleum flooring and get the area cleaned. This spring the old concrete floor was resurfaced and the work on ceiling and walls began. Here are some photos of a work in progress. Yes, the cats are back in their home and love helping the crew. 

Pictured middle photo above: 'Dave' and Angie Minnaert working on the Kat Barn ceiling with some kitty helpers. Also helping with the ceiling work is Russell (Rusty) VanBrocklin pictured below getting some love from a Kat Barn kitty. Liz Wegner, Left and Volunteer Connie Phillis admiring the floor and work in progress.

Wow! It's December 28th, 2016 and our first real snow storm. We had one in November but it all melted away very quicky. All 8 inches of it. And that is unusual for snow to melt in Iowa once it blankets the earth. Since then we  have had rain, rain, mud, warm weather in the 60's & 70's a couple times. All very unusual for Iowa in the winter too. Our first lasting snow (I think) came Christmas Eve afternoon. Not much, but enough to make it a 'white Christmas' in Iowa which always puts everyone in the Christmas spirit. 
Today their prediction for a big snow came. Not sue how much we will end up with but it is still snowing steadily and blowing. It's nice to be inside today. 
I want to thank the staff who braved the morning weather and came in to care for the furs. And we even had company today!!! They drove down from Minnesota and thanks to one of our staff members they got the grand tour. They will be heading into Illinois and back to their state, New York. I imagine they probably think this 'winter storm' is nothing since they are from New York. Just a little snow.....
Some of the staff is still here in the mid afternoon. I am grateful to them for being here for the furs.
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It is December 25, 2015 and after a month of rain, mud, water in our basement, and more rain...On December 24th, we got snow. Not a lot, but we are having a 'White Christmas at C & W. Today is a good time to reflect on the past year, and also a good time to get some Christmas photos of the furs (which I will be doing later today). Check out the Facebook albums posted on December 25, 2015 on our Rustic Hollow Shelter Facebook page.
​Wanda and I so appreciate the staff who come in on Christmas and all holidays to care for the felines needs and daily care and cleaning. We appreciate our staff very much. We gathered on the 22nd to celebrate November and December birthdays at a potluck in Bradley's House. We try to have birthday potlucks several times a year, another way to honor our staff and show our appreciation for their tireless and hard work. We also have volunteers who came to our party as well. We have a good team now and that is very important to Wanda and I.

​ Well, a first happened at Rustic Hollow just before Christmas, December 22nd, 2015. A wedding was held at Rustic Hollow.. not the FIRST wedding, as one was held in the upper room in Bradley's House in 2013. But the FIRST 'kitty' wedding was held. Let me telly ou the story of Woody & Alice.
Alice was rescued by a kind man in Virginia. She was found near death with maggots in both eyes. While Alice was at the veterinary hospital, a home was being looked for. Alice was going to be totally blind and her rescuers and Sharon's Critter Action Team' (S.C.A.t) went to work. They asked if Rustic Hollow would take little Alice, who was only 12 weeks old. We agreed. And we started our search for the purrfect companion for little Alice. Since we have no other kittens at C & W, we called a rescue friend Vicky at Whispurring Hope Rescue in Dubuque Iowa. We said we wanted a 12 week old kitten who was very mellow and laid back.  Well, she could not have chosen a  more perfect kitten than little Woody, who also had a rough start in life. They came to Rustic Hollow just a week apart. Woody waited for his little lady friend and right away, Alice established herself as 'the boss' and Woody said, "OK." And their relationship blossomed in just a couple of days. When Alice said "You need a bath," Woody would just lay down and let her give him a complete bath. A special room was built for them in The Kat Barn and moving day was exciting for them. They had many toys to play with and much to explore. 
Now, back to the wedding..... Their friends in Virginia decided that these two were such a special couple, they should be married. One of the S.C.A.T. volunteers made Woody a top hat, a veil for Alice, and a tiny satin pillow with two rings. And an engagement Amazon wedding registry went out. The newly engaged couple received many gifts for themselves and for their pals too. What better time to have a wedding......at Christmastime.
So here are the photos from that special day.. For two very special Rustic Hollow furs.

Rustic Hollow would like to thank the following businesses who sponsored our Cruisin' for the Claws & Paws of Rustic Hollow Shelter held Saturday, September 12th, 2015. It was a very successful event and raised money we truly needed to help the CW furs.

Jerry K. Ask Investment Services~Cedar Rapids, Iowa
ZOETIS~Charles City
Jodie A. Buehler, DDS LLC Family Dentristy~Charles City
Lou's LP Co., Nashua~Lou & Shelley Harrington 
First State Bank~401 Main Street, Nashua~Glenn McMichael
Tangled Root Cafe & Catering~322A Main Street~Nashua
Pederson Plumbing~Nashua~Al Pederson
Cronin, Skilton & Skilton P.L.L.C. 'Attorneys at Law'~Nashua
Schueth ACE Hardware~Charles City & New Hampton

Our Sunday, June 14th open house was a beautiful day and we met many new faces and some always welcome and familiar faces as well who return each year to spend time with the Rustic Hollow felines. I also want to thank our staff and all the volunteers who shared in getting things ready before open house and also during the day. Our staff show a lot of pride in our organization and what our mission is for the felines and I am very proud of them. They work hard every day caring for their feline furry charges and they are appreciated. And as you can see the felines needed a much needed rest from their busy day of entertaining. Of course every day is a busy day at Rustic Hollow. We get visitors often during the summertime.

 (SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH) IS 0PEN HOUSE at Rustic Hollow. Everyone is welcome to attend if you are in Iowa or traveling through. We have a terrific staff, and some terrific felines who will greet you in their own fun, funny, quirky and happy ways. The felines love company and now that the weather is nicer we are getting lots of visitors stopping by and a couple special volunteers came by this week:
Shaun Reisner and Sue Jurgensen. 
Sue interned for us for a year during her classes to become a Vet Assistant. And assist us she did. She still comes when she can to help with a spay neuter clinic, or general nail trims for the furs and helps in any way she can. Well, Sue is a wonderful artist as well. She is friends with Shaun Reisner, a Fredericksburg, Iowa artist who also is extremely talented.
Sue volunteered herself and Shaun as she knew we needed a 'cloud' 'fix' in The Kitty Kottage on the ceiling. An attempt at putting clouds on the ceiling did not turn out to actually look like clouds, though the attempt was very much appreciated. Shaun and Sue 'fixed' our clouds and made our ceiling complete. They also spent time with the felines and are planning on coming back for open house this year too.
We really appreciate all of our volunteers who help out in so many ways!
And we appreciate our staff for all the work they do day in and day out to make our facility cleaner and brighter for the furs. And for their attention to details when it comes to keeping an eye on their small charges and bringing any health needs immediately to our Vet Tech and shelter veterinarian. 
Come see what we are about first hand. We think you'll like the experience. 

Shaun Reisner gets some help with his painting project at C & W

Sue Jurgensen working on one of the clouds

Our annual Open House will be held on Sunday, June 14th, 2015 from 10 AM-5 PM. It is a great day to sit under the furs, spend as long as you like in each of our buildings and get acquainted with our wonderful staff. After all, it IS our staff of 11+ and our volunteers who 'are' Rustic Hollow. They are the ones who create the quality of living the felines at Rustic Hollow are accustomed to and they are the ones who keep the cat areas clean and neat. They are the ones who help with repairs and some of the remodeling. They are the ones who paint, spend extra time with the kitties, tend to their health care needs and so much more.  I merely am in the shadows with minor guidance and checking in to visit the felines myself occasionally. Oh, and I am the Fund Raiser at this point til someone steps up and says...."I can write grants."....

Our Open House is just a great day to visit, meet other cat lovers, have some light refreshments and you are welcome to bring donations for the furs. We welcome treats, food, supplies, cat trees, cat beds..... just about anything cat related.   If you can't make it on June 14th, you are welcome to visit any time, any day of the year. Just email us in advance.