Finally

Hello again every furry friend and acquaintance! I hope everyone has been having a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. My mom says there is one more holiday left in the season and it's when we change the year to 2008 from 2007. So, if my mom gets lazy and doesn't let me blog for another whole week I just want to say Happy New Year to everyone! May we all have a year filled with good things like lots of snuggles from our people, lots of naps, lots of treats, lots of nip, lots of toys, lots of salmon fancy feast and lots of warm laundry on which to curl up.

Warm laundry right out of the dryer!

Mom Day Thursday

We got to sleep late today! Usually, mom gets up early-thirty in the morning and drinks a little coffee and then lets me blog. But last night she told us she has the day off and we can all sleep late. Tommy forgot and woke mom up at three am which is usually the time Tommy and I play chase through the house. Mom reminded us that we were not getting up early but sleeping in. So, I curled up with her and eventually Tommy came back to bed and curled up too.

This is my bed (ah...our bed) where we slept late with mom. Only this picture was taken in the late afternoon one day not long ago when I was catching the last afternoon sunspot.

Mancat Monday

I'm pretty sure this is my quilt that Aunt A gave to me. Yet, mom put it up on the wall out of reach. She says it's so pretty she wants it up on the wall for awhile anyway.

Just because I like to suck and slobber on things made of cloth doesn't mean I'll do it to the pretty quilt. Well, probably I would but still...it's mine!

Hiding in Plain Sight

Mom always does what she calls a "kitty check" before she leaves the house to go do whatever it is she does when she's not with us at home. She says she checks to make sure we haven't sneaked into a closet or someplace else we could get ourselves stuck. So anyway, the other day she was getting ready to go someplace and she did her kitty check and found Tommy napping in the study and she looked in all the usual places for me...behind the living room bookcase, under the table with the skirt on it, behind the floor painting, in the closets and so forth. She couldn't find me anywhere and began, as is her habit, to panic. She called for me and called for me and still couldn't find me. Well, I was napping too in a place I hadn't napped for awhile.

I'm right here! I was just napping between the pillows on the bed. Can I go back to sleep now?

My Nip Pillow is Pink

This is my very wonderful pink nip pillow. Last night my brother decided to slobber all over it and it made me very mad so I pounced on him. What he does with his own nip pillow is up to him but he'd better not mess with mine!

Mmmm it smells so good!


Tommy likes to slobber on his nip pillow but he'd better not mess with mine or I'll put the bitey on him again.

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah began last Tuesday evening and last night was the fourth candle. Since Hanukkah began we have had quite a bit of fun. Tommy and I played dreydle and Aunt A came over and gave us presents the very very bestest nip pillows and nip mice to play with and a quilt that mom hasn't let us play with yet cause she's afraid Tommy with slobber all over it. I don't have pictures of everything yet. Tonight mom says we have to stay in the bedroom because she is having a latke fest and she doesn't want us getting fur all over the latkes.

This is my mom's favorite Hanukkah Card.


This is Tommy taking a turn at dreydle. I'm better at winning.

Mancat Monday Early

Hi! Tommy here. Shilgiah said I could post a Mancat Monday on Sunday since mom has been having some problems with her computer and said she probably won't be able to let me blog early-thirty in the morning like Shilgiah usually gets to do.

Don't I look handsome sitting near my multicolored play-ball. It used to be Shilgiah's ball but she didn't really like it and I love to knock it around the house.


It's especially fun to play soccer in the hall and bedroom although mom gets a tad upset if she gets up in the middle of the night and trips on my ball. She really needs to watch where she's going.

Thirsty Thursday

I prefer my water running from the faucet but this is the next best thing.

Mmmm, this water tastes so good!

Tommy Caught Sniffing Shoes

Tommy got caught sniffing shoes. Mom always takes her shoes off when she walks in so that the rug won't get schmutz on it. I'm usually the one who plays with shoes and hugs them and sniffs them but this time Tommy beat me to it.

Where have you been in those shoes?

Reminiscences

This is a picture taken at Thanksgiving a couple of years ago when we lived at our old place. Nobody was paying attention so I thought I'd check out the turkey they left on the counter for me.

Thanks mom! There's plenty left for me.

Oh, guess what? I just realized that today is my one year blogoversary. It has been so much fun getting to know other kitties and visiting sites. Special thanks goes to Aunt A because if she hadn't helped my mom get brave and let me blog and help show us how to put pictures on my blog then it wouldn't be my blogoversary. I think I deserve some more left over turkey and maybe a new toy or two from my mom.

Not good at Hiding

As you can tell from my last post, sometimes Tommy and I cross the line from having fun chasing each other to the get-out-of-my-face-or-I'll-scratch-you mode of interaction. The next two pictures were taken shortly after we had the little argument pictured in the last post.

Tommy, are you hiding from me?

Well, you aren't hiding very well.

Wordless Wednesday

Old Toys Lost and Found

It was a very nice weekend. One of my favorite toys that I had lost about a hundred years ago, or at least a month ago, magically reappeared under the livingroom couch! I was so excited and I took my little paw and scooped it out and then threw it around and played hide and seek by buring it under the little red rug and then pouncing on top and reaching under the rug and catching it again. What fun!

Little yellow mousie I love you.

Friday Flowers

Hurrah for Friday. Mom days coming.

Hope your weekend is delightful.

Making Friends

I'm beginning to make friends with the big golden intruder mom brought home a while ago.

At first he scared me but then I discovered he is quite soft and furry. Daisy had suggested that he might make a soft nap partner, and he does. Tommy is still a bit scared of him. So, if I'm tired of being groomed or having my ears cleaned by Tommy I can go take a break near my new furry friend.

I think his name is Leon. At least I think that's what he said but he is very soft spoken.

Mancat Monday

This is one way to freak out your human. Shilgiah and I were napping on the nice warm laundry and mom was doing something else in the other room. I thought it would be nice to groom Shilgiah's face and ears.

Then mom walked in and thought I was eating her head. See I'm just licking her ear. They really needed a good cleaning.

All Better

A few days ago when mom got her auntie biotic she stopped and got some flowers too. She said auntie biotic, rest, pretty flowers to look at and us snuggling her would make her well soon. I think mostly it's been Tommy and me who have made her all better.

Pretty flowers to make mom better and we didn't even try to eat them.

Last week Rabbie Burns tagged me to do a fun meme. Here is how it works:
1. Your Rock Star Name (favorite stuffie + tail characteristic)
D.K. Stumpy
2. Gangster Name (favorite toy filler + favorite cookie)
Nip Animal Cracker
3. Detective Name (favorite color + favorite animal species)
Lavender Bird
4. Star Wars Name (Pick 2 letters of first name + 3 letters of last name)
Gatres
5. Super Hero Name (2nd favorite color + favorite drink)
Periwinkle Tuna Juice
6. Nascar Name (grandfathers names)
Unk Unk
7. Stripper Name (Favorite scent + favorite treat)
Salmon Temptations
8. Witness Protection Name (Mother and Fathers middle names)
Unk Unk
9. Spy Name (favorite season/holiday/flower)
Winter Festivus Daisy
10. Cartoon Name (favorite fruit + article of clothing + "ie" or "y")
None-noney!
11. Hippy Name (favorite breakfast + favorite plant)
Fancy Feast Kitty Grass
12. Your Rock Star Tour Name ("The" + your favorite hobby + favorite weather element + "Tour")
The Pouncing Snow Storm Tour

That was really fun. Since it has been so long since I first received this meme I'm not sure who hasn't been tagged yet...so if you are reading this and want to play and haven't...you are officially tagged.

Cherish Meme for Miss Peach

We wish Miss Peach, a very pretty peach colored curly kitty, a speedy recovery and to let her and her human mom and dad that there are lots of kitties and beans in the blogosphere who are sending lots of purrs and love your way.

This meme came to Tommy and me from William. It is a meme to show how much we Cherish our people and they cherish us. Here are the rules depending on who is writing:
1. Tell what is the sweetest thing you do to your mom (what is the sweetest thing your kitty will do to you).
2. Now, hug your mommy tightly (and hug your kitty tightly).
3. Tag your good friend
4. Leave your computer and continue to hug each other.

Here are our responses:
Tommy: The sweetest thing I do is to politely ask if I can curl up next to mom's face during the night. I make sure I wake her first by jumping up on the bed, since I weigh 20 lbs, this usually wakes her. When she opens at least one eye, I tilt my head and gesture toward her head with a nod...then she says "it's alright, you can come snuggle up"...and I do and then I purr really loudly...I think this makes her feel good.
Shilgiah: The sweetest thing I do is to make my mom laugh by doing something called "antics". I'm not entirely sure what that means but I think it means when I do somersaults or pounce on my brother or do acrobatics or sneak into closets or...well, lots of things it makes her laugh and feel good. She always tells me I'm so sweet and cute when I do my "antics".
Mom: I want to add that I believe my two wonderful cats as well as all cats in the world provide humans with a chance to view a pure soul and the love that can exist within us all if we could just manage to see things from this cat-wise perspective.

Miss Peach we all hope you get well soon...and that love and purrs will at least make the healing process speedier.

Now, I want to tag Brandi from Catitude for the Cherish meme. Brandi, I haven't visited enough but I consider you a friend too.

No Work Until Wednesday

Mom went to the people v.e.t. on Friday because she was still sick after a week and a half. During that time she was dragging herself to work every day and then going to bed practically as soon as she got home. Once she even almost forgot our supper but Tommy jumped up on the bed and sat on her till she got up and gave us our Fancy Feast (a.k.a. Stinky Goodness). So when mom went to the people v.e.t. her doctor gave her a note that says she isn't to come back to work until Wednesday.

Mom says I can spend some time on the balcony and some time catching up on visiting blogging friends and doing the two meme's I got and snuggling with mom and making sure she gets well soon.

Thank you Rabbie Burns of the Fluffy Tribe for giving me a meme. I was going to do it this weekend but mom kept going to sleep and coughing and hacking up hairballs.

Also,Thank You William for giving me another meme yesterday. I feel so popular! Mom says she will make sure I do these memes in the next couple of days.

Mom says she wants me to finish now cuz she wants to go back to bed. So I guess I need to finish and take a nap with her. Hope everyone has a happy week.

Who is That?

Alright I don't think I like this new intruder in our study. He takes up a lot of space and doesn't leave me any room to nap in my favorite chair in my study and he has a really good view of the balcony too.

Excuse me, but would you mind finding somewhere else to sit? I asked very politely and then he moved away from my chair but I'm not sure where he went. Maybe he'll sit across the room in Tommy's chair.

Hey, Tommy someone is looking at you. Better make sure he isn't about to pounce on you.

Nothing Much Happened

It was a kind of quiet weekend. Mom came home midday Friday and got into bed. She'd been coughing and hacking up hairballs or something for a few days prior to taking off sick time. Mostly we all just slept during the weekend.

Mom finally washed some clothes and let me lay on the warm sheets for a little while.


Tommy likes to curl up when he sleeps. Mom is going back to work today but she still isn't through hacking up hairballs. I wish she'd stay home again so we could just snuggle and sleep with her.

Wishing for Winter

Last night I was dreaming about winter which is my favorite season. A year ago during winter it looked like this in Albuquerque.

I love snow. Yes I do. I want snow right here! I want snow right now!

Dusk on the Balcony

As soon as mom gets home every evening she opens the balcony door and lets us go out and sniff the cool autumn air. Sometimes we get really pretty sunsets but even when it's just dusk with a little color it is so nice.

Aah...crisp evening air.

ManCat Monday

My brother Tommy likes to get inside the laundry basket and take a nap. So Sunday after mom had put a load of clothes in to be washed...guess what I did...I told mom...

Hey Mom! You forgot to wash something in the laundry basket. Hahahahahaha...I make myself laugh.

Proof

This is my purple tiara that proves I am a princess.

As the princess I am supposed to get all my wishes granted. Right?

Waiting Patiently

Our diet has changed somewhat. We are now getting some of the good Evo crunchy food we love left in our bowls all day long so in case we get hungry during the day we can nibble on something. But now mom says we only will get our soft food (a.k.a. stinky goodness) once a day in the evening when she gets home. I think we will just have to sit here and not let mom in for her breakfast and eventually she will give in and feed us soft food in the morning too.

We want our stinky goodness for breakfast!

My Birthday present from Tommy

On Monday, in addition to getting a big bag of organic catnip, Tommy gave me a great big hug. Well, it was more like a hug that turned into a wrestling match...but he let me win. He is such a thoughtful brother.

Thanks Tommy!

Today I am Seven

Seven years ago my v.e.t. Dr. Jeff and my mom decided my birthday was October 1, 2000. So, last night, starting the festivities early, I got to play "dunk the duckies". It's so much fun. Here's how it works. Mom puts the duckies in the big blue lake by the file cabinet and then I push the duckies around with my paw. Then, I shake my paw and pluck the duckies out with my teethies. Then mom arranges them beside the big blue lake by the file cabinet. This is now my favorite game.

I love to dunk the duckies!

Friday Foliage

Look at this! A friend gave this to Tommy for his birthday and he shares it with me. It is a huge container of kitty grass and in the middle is live catnip. I love kitty grass but had never seen live nip before. Interestingly, I don't really care for it fresh but love it in its dried form especially when on mousie toys and other play things. Tommy loves the fresh catnip.

Ummm! Very Tasty.

Have a wonderful and restful weekend!

Mostly Sunny Sunday

Yesterday was mostly sunny and my brother and I mostly lounged around out on the balcony. Then mid afternoon mom had us come in and wait out a kind of brief but loud thunderstorm.

The view from the reading chair.

Mom's been off for a few days although we haven't seen her much until yesterday. Today she has to go back to work.

Time Flys

I was just trying to be helpful. Mom frequently misplaces her watch so I thought I would help her find it. I'm so helpful. Don't you think?

Does anybody know what time it is?


Does anybody really care?

Tommy's Gotcha Birthday

My brother Tommy came to live with us last year on September 16th and so that is now his official Gotcha and Birthday Day. We think Tommy is 4 years old now. So, on Saturday evening mom had a little Gotcha Birthday party for Tommy. Mom invited a few of our human friends and they brought presents for Tommy. I'm sure they meant for Tommy to share with me also. It was great fun and we got tuna juice as a bonus during the party.

Tommy does not like wearing party hats.


O.K. I'll be festive and try to be a good sport.

So, when Tommy had chewed up his birthday hat mom thought it would be cute to put one on me. The things we do for our people. Sheesh!

Is it suppertime yet?

A few words about our diet. Actually, I kind of like it. I love the Mackerel and Skipjack and we get "all we can eat" in one sitting. Of course, mom is the one who says "This is all you can eat".

Shilgiah you aren't supposed to sit on the table.

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions. Mom is going to work closely with our Dr. Jeff and periodically weigh us so that we aren't losing too fast...or gaining too fast.

Yesterday at the Cat Fix-It-Place

Good morning everyone. Tommy here. Shilgiah said I could post today because of my adventures yesterday. I didn't need to have anything fixed and I'm not sick so this is what happened.

Yesterday while I was napping in my favorite chair in the study, mom came in petted me and kissed me on the head and told me what a sweet boy I am. Nothing unusual there. She frequently does this sort of thing. Then she picked me up hugged me and put my face and front paws into the front of the cat carrier. This was unusual. I have only been in this cat carrier one other time a year ago when I first found my mom and she took me to a place where they shot me and took my temperature and poked around on my tummy and then gave me awful tasting stuff that made me foam at the mouth and drool for awhile! So, you can imagine that I was not really thrilled with returning to that carrier. Finally, I went in and my mom carried me down to the car and we began driving somewhere.

It took ten hours to get there but mom said it was ten minutes. Being a brave boy, I didn't let on how scared I was but in no uncertain terms I yelled at the top of my lungs for mom to take me back home! Mom told me it was going to be O.K. and that I would meet Dr. Jeff who was Shilgiah's vet. Last year, Mom had taken me to an Animal Hospital which is very close but she said that we should both have the same vet now that I was her Forever Big Boy. Mom told me on the way the see Dr. Jeff that I would be getting booster shots but she didn't think Dr. Jeff would give me icky tasting stuff that would make me foam or drool.

We finally got to Dr. Jeff's Cat Fix-It-Place (mom says he fixes woofies too) and then a deep voiced person said they were ready for me. First they weighed me in my cage and then they subtract the 4 pounds the cage weighs to get my weight I didn't want to come out of my cage so mom and Dr. Jeff talked to me for a little and I came out. I tried not to act nervous but I really was scared. I got booster shots and then while Dr. Jeff petted me he talked with mom and said I weigh 20 pounds and we needed to begin a diet! Dr. Jeff says when big boys like me get too big there is the worry that they may get diabetes so Dr. Jeff and mom discussed the options and I heard her say that both me and Shilgiah need to lose some weight so we would both be on the diet. At least I don't have to do this alone.

When I got home, I was pretty tired from the excitement and all and mom said that both Shilgiah and I would begin having only canned food. She reassured us that we wouldn't starve and that we can have as much canned food as we want twice a day within reason. What does "within reason" mean? So, no more of the really good tasting Evo crunchy food but lots of the really good "Mac and Jack" (Mackerel and SkipJack) which comes from the same healthy cat food place mom got the Evo.

Mom got up at five this morning without too much prompting to give us morning Mac and Jack and I ate a half a can but Shilgiah only wanted about a third of a can.

Have any of you cats been on diets? Please tell me about them. I could use all the advice I can get. Thanks.

Last Lazy Days of Summer

It was a nice long weekend with lots of times on the balcony sniffing the air and listening to the birdies while mom read a book and lots of times sleeping late and taking naps with mom. She has to go back to work today. Guess we'll have to nap without her.

Napping on my favorite quilt.

Wordless Wednesday

Me on Nip

It's been extra hectic for mom lately so this is my first chance to blog for a while. Lux tagged me to do a Me-Me about me and nip behavior and then tag other friends. Here are the rules:
"All you catsters out there have to list five things you do whenever you're on the nip and tag some other kitties afterward. Let's find out how wacked out some of us get!"


Nip dancing with my yellow mousie

I especially love it when mom puts furry mousies in a plastic baggie with nip in it and shakes it up and then gets the nipped up toys out for me to play with.

1. While mom is shaking the plastic bag with the nip and toys in it I stand up on my hind legs and touch mom's leg and meow politely for her to hurry up and get the mousie out of the bag.

2. When mom gives me the nip covered mousie I pick it up by it's tail (or feathers if it's a feather butt mousie) and throw it in the air.

3. I repeat step two throwing it in the air several times more until my mom laughs out loud.

4. Then I run through the house and chase the mousie whom I am sure is running though the house taunting me.

5. Then, finally, I begin dancing with the mousie and seeing how long I can keep him up in mid-air.

Now, since I have taken so long to do this me-me probably most of all the other cats have been tagged, if not I am tagging YOU. Yes, if you are reading this and want to "fess up" about your nip behavior you are tagged.

Oh, mom says the picture isn't very good cuz the rug came out maroon rather than red like it is. Oops!

Tuesday Tummy

I was going to post a picture of me being beautiful but decided to put one of Tommy doing his usual full Monty because it is a good picture of the kokopeli skiers by the window. The other day Lux commented that he could see them in the background. They are really downhill skiers but mom hasn't put them up on the wall yet so for now they are cross country kokopeli skiers.

Kokopeli skiers with Tommy.

Hiding

It's kind of hard for a 16 pound cat to hide, but my brother Tommy is doing a pretty good job here. This is our living room kitty grass he is hiding behind. We also have bedroom kitty grass and study kitty grass too. The study kitty grass is looking kind of pitiful and I think it's time for mom to pot some more.

We love kitty grass. Thanks mom.

Wordless Wednesday

Touching Toes with Tommy

Rainbows

It was sunny this weekend but since this is monsoon season we have been weather watching a lot. Not long ago after lots of rain we saw a beautiful double rainbow.

Hope there are lots of rainbows in your week.

Wordless Wednesday