Shilgiah the Huntress

Ten Minutes to the House Wren

2010-11-07T16:50:00.003-07:00

My mom is a bit nuts, if you ask me. She had the day off Friday so she went through the house moving the arms of all the clocks around. She told me that time would change on Saturday night but she wanted to give us a head start so we wouldn't wake her up so early in the morning if we got used to getting up later for breakfast!?

But Mom!! It's ten minutes to the House Wren and we are starving and want our breakfast!!

Hope you all have a good week...in spite of the silly time changing and messing up food times.

Tommy the Spooky Halloween Cat

2010-10-31T17:06:00.004-06:00

Although we refused to wear costumes, Tommy decided he'd practice for Halloween.

Ooooh! Tommy the Halloween Cat looks so big and spooky!!!

He was actually just practicing holding his fat belly in so mom would think he's losing weight and give him more kibble.

Almost Fall

2010-10-17T16:38:00.002-06:00

I think it's Fall but here in the high desert it still feels quite toasty in the afternoon to us.

However, every morning mom opens the balcony for us and we breath in the lovely Fall morning smells. Lately, it's been in the low 50's in the morning and high 70's in the afternoon but during the week to come Mom says the weather man thinks it may get down to the low 70's and if we are lucky there might be some rain. We need lots and lots of rain and then lots and lots of snow so our mom will be happy during the winter and be able to ski nearby.

Remember the pictures of the baby doves this summer? If not, this is their neighborhood. Their tree was just to the south-west of this picture. This is the quad where there is kind of a park and lots of trees at our apartment complex. The trees are turning from green to yellowish and pretty soon to orangish then to redish then to brownish and then they will fall off the trees. I think that's why it's called "fall".

We all hope you have a wonderful week to come.

Princess Hope

2010-10-10T16:59:00.002-06:00

Shilgiah isn't the only Princess in our home. I am Princess of the bedroom.

Mom got new sheets and I got up on the bed so quickly that she couldn't even finish making the bed. Very nice napping place.

We all hope your week is a happy one!

Were have all the sunflowers gone...long time passing

2010-10-03T15:14:00.005-06:00

I can't believe we haven't posted for two months! I wish I could say we've all been having a marvelous adventure in Greece or Turkey (Mmmm!Turkey)but...we haven't. We have just been doing our ordinary things like napping and sunning ourselves on our balcony. Mom has been coming home from "work" all grumbly like Hope gets when Tommy annoys her. I guess someone must be annoying her at her "work". Anyway, here are some pictures of Tommy, and Hope and finally Me that were taken during the last two months.

The sunflowers were wonderful and we didn't even nibble them. Of course, mom moved them to a high location during the day when she was gone and at night so we only got to sniff them in the afternoons.

Hope is much more interested in what is outside the window than in sniffing sunflowers.

As for me, napping is my favorite hobby. I have such wonderful dreams! Who needs sunflowers to sniff when you can romp through a whole field of them in your dreams?

Have a wonderful week to all of you! I'll try to visit soon.

Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

2010-08-01T15:57:00.003-06:00

Not a very creative title for this post but mom was humming this while I was helping her make the bed and it got stuck in my head and I've been purring the tune all day while I napped.

It's been a nice quiet weekend. A little rain...a little sun...and a little more rain...and a little more sun. All in all, a great weekend for napping.

A special present just for me!

2010-07-25T18:40:00.004-06:00

On the way home from having breakfast with Aunt A this morning mom stopped and bought me a special present. See!!

It's fresh nip! Mmmmmm...Nom, Nom, Nom. I'll share some with Tommy and Hope later...maybe.

Tommy the Helper

2010-07-18T16:57:00.005-06:00

I love my brother Tommy, and he tries to be a helper whenever he can. Mom had brought some work home and Tommy thought he should emphasize what is much more important than work. Petting us and playing with us and feeding us of course!

Here is Tommy cleverly getting mom to take a break from working by sitting on the papers she brought home. It worked! Good job bro!

Have a great week everyone.

Beautiful Me

2010-07-11T16:38:00.004-06:00

Hi...Hope here. Everybody else in the family seems too lazy to blog so I thought I'd at least post a picture of my gorgeous self for you all to see.

When this was taken I was actually deep in thought but that flashy thing made me forget what I was thinking...but I think it was something profound.

Have a happy week my friends!

Chicken for Dinner!

2010-06-27T17:05:00.004-06:00

Last week mom had to go to her annual retreat. The neighbor lady said she would be happy to watch us and feed us and clean our litter while mom was gone. She has helped mom with our toenail clipping from time to time. In spite of this, we like her. So, mom invited the lady and her family up for supper a few days before the retreat and she made my very favoritest food. Chicken!

I thought since she had put so many chairs around the table that I was invited too. After all, who appreciates her chicken more than me, right? So, I picked out the seat I wanted and politely waited for the food to be served.

Soon, mom got the camera out and the guests were laughing and said how cute I looked and then...the indignity! Mom asked me to get down and told me if I was "a good girl" she would give me some chicken later after dinner was over!! Don't you think that was really rude?

We did have a very good time with our neighbor lady friend while mom was gone. She even gave us treats.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Two Baby Doves!

2010-06-20T17:29:00.002-06:00

Our mom has been watching our Dove family all week before and after work. She has taken eleventy-seven pictures, most of which didn't come out very well. But looky!

See! Two babies with the momma dove! It's kind of hard to see the little sister but she is right beside her big brother. I think their names are Sam and Emma.

Doesn't the momma dove have pretty blue eyeshadow. The babies change positions from time to time. So, here Sam is where Emma was in the last picture. You can only see the momma and Sam but Emma is the little lump in the foreground taking a nap.

Both kids look like they are almost ready to fledge.

Just now, the wind has come up again and our mom is a little worried that Sam and Emma will think it might be fun to fly in the wind. Hopefully, they will listen to their mom and dad, who take turns watching the kids, and hang on tightly to their nest.

We hope you all have a happy week.

Home in a Tree

2010-06-13T15:57:00.003-06:00

Yesterday when mom went out to check the mail she saw this in one of our trees. We can't see it from our windows but we looked at the pictures mom took. Can you see the momma bird in the tree?

It's a Dove! It's about thirty feet up in the air. Mom took these pictures from the third floor walkway.

Here's the momma dove up closer. It's kind of blurry so you can't see the wonderful stick nest she built. The wind was beginning to pick up when this picture was taken and our mom kept going back to check on the momma dove and make sure she was O.K. in all that wind. Then, one time in the midst of the branches swaying and the wind blowing pretty fiercely, there was a little head that peeked up! A baby dove's tiny head! The momma dove was hovering over it and pushing it down with her wing and body so it would be safe in all the wind.

This morning mom checked again and the little family survived the wind storm!

Have a happy week all!

Almost Too Hot

2010-06-06T17:01:00.006-06:00

It's been almost too hot to open the east window blinds in the morning. It's been almost too hot to go out on the balcony in the evening. It's been almost too hot to chase each other around. It's been almost too hot to wrestle. The only thing it hasn't been too hot to do is...

have suppertime together! TGFAC (thank G-d for air conditioning)

Have a wonderful week and stay cool everyone.

Excitement

2010-05-23T17:46:00.003-06:00

Well, right after breakfast Friday morning mom opened the balcony to let us sniff the cool morning air. This is a pretty normal thing and not the exciting thing that happened.

The birds were chirping and Tommy and I watched as someone took their woofie for an early morning stroll. Hope isn't much of a balcony sitter so she was just watching from the study while mom was on the computer checking her e-mail.

Then a moth came zooming in toward the lamp next to the computer and all three of us were up on the desk knocking things over and tripping over each other trying to get to it. Then it flew into the living room with us in hot pursuit. Hope caught it and mom said "Spit that moth out!" but it was too late. Good going little sis!

Have a great week everybody! Shhh...don't tell anyone but there is another moth and maybe two hiding inside. Can't wait till we can chase them around.

Spring has Sprung...finally!

2010-05-16T15:43:00.003-06:00

Tommy, Hope and I are so happy that it's springtime. We really like the cool mornings and warmer afternoons.

This is our eastern view from our front window.

Tommy loves watching neighbor's woofies when they walk by down below on the sidewalk.

Hope likes to watch the birdies land in the swaying branches of the funky tree right outside the front window. In this picture you can't see any birds but if you look carefully, you can see the nose smudge marks on the window. We have each contributed several nose marks each. (Hint: Mom it's time to get the glass cleaner out).

I prefer the the western view from the balcony where I can let my beautiful floofy tummy get all nice and warm in the afternoon sun.

May you all have a good week to come!

Purrs and Kitty Kisses

2010-05-09T17:40:00.004-06:00

Happy Mother's day to all the human moms of the cats in the blogosphere!

I love you mom! Happy Mother's Day! Oh, and Tommy and Hope love you too but I was your first so I get to be the spokes-princess...besides this is my blog after all.

Have a great week everyone!

What the...?

2010-05-02T16:15:00.002-06:00

Yesterday it was so cold that off and on it snowed! Today it rained and then it sunshined and then it thundered and then it snowed!?!?
I am very confused. When mom got up this morning she said she hoped it had snowed this much...

but it didn't really snow this much. This is what our picnic area looked like in winter a couple years ago.

P.S. Mom finally got done with the excessive amount of work and promptly got sick. Friday, I looked out the window and saw mom's car driving in mid-day, only someone else was driving and mom got out the other side. Then another car came and mom and the two ladies walked to our place. One of the ladies loves cats and told us she has cats of her own and that we should take good care of mom until she gets better. Mom got really sick all of a sudden at work and the ladies said it was probably "flu". The ladies left but before mom went to bed for about 36 hours, she fixed us fancy feast and filled kibble in our bowls and made sure we had lots of water. We took turns purring in her ear and sending healing thoughts.

Today mom feels much better. I think our purring really helped.

Hope you all have a wonderful week to come.

Drowsy Day

2010-04-26T17:13:00.003-06:00

Mom's been working so much lately we haven't had any quality time with her so all we can do is....

snooze and dream of one day getting some play time with her.

At least she never forgets to feed us. Sorry we haven't visited much...it's the mom's fault.

My Mousie

2010-04-18T17:59:00.002-06:00

I was just sitting around on my chair when I noticed my mousie right next to me and I said...

Hey Mousie...Have you been in my bag-o-nip? Mind if I kiss you and lick you and slobber all over you?

Have a Happy Week Everyone!

My Favorite

2010-04-11T18:27:00.006-06:00

Mom worked for 11 hours straight today! Finally, she came to a stopping place and remembered she hadn't let me blog so she told me I could pick my favorite picture and post it. I was thinking about my old best dog friend Raven who went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2007.

This is me kissing Raven when I was just about a year old. She was such a sweet natured good buddy. I have lots of happy memories of times she would come over we would play.

Hope you all have a good week to come!

Easter Basket

2010-04-04T15:32:00.003-06:00

This morning while we were eating our breakfast mom put kitty treats in our little eggs and put it out where we would see and smell it.

Mmmm! Smells like Temptations!

I helped Tommy open one of his eggs.

Then, I opened two of mine.

Finally, Tommy got the hang of opening them. Hope was hiding during this fun because she was afraid mom would try to put the bunny ears on her again! We saved her some treats though.

We hope you all had a Happy Easter! We had a Happy Passover too but finding the afikomen is not as tasty or as much fun.

Have a wonderful week!

Nutty for Feathers

2010-03-28T15:09:00.003-06:00

Tommy is nutty for feathers. However, he is not very good at sharing. These feathers on a stick belong to Tommy, Hope and me. Mom can't leave these out for very long because he will slobber all over all three of them and drag them around the house. Hope and I have more dignity and play nicely with our feathers...when Tommy gives us a chance.

These are all mine...Bwahahahaha!!

Have a great week everyone!

Nothin' to Do but Talk to You

2010-03-21T16:51:00.003-06:00

Well, mom has been busy doing tax stuff and papers were strung all over the floor in piles for most of the day. Tommy is the official paper weight in our family and really enjoys helping mom by laying on top of stacks of papers. So, with nothing left for us to do, Hope and I decided to have a chat.

So, what's up Hope?
Nothing much...why does mom have this great big giant purse?
I don't know, but she takes it with her when she goes hunting. She calls it her office-in-a-bag.
Oh. I like bags! How do we get inside?
I think someone with thumbs has to unzipper it.
Oh...Wanna play chase instead?
Sure! Tag you're it!

Have a happy week everyone!

The Nip Mouse Did It...Honest

2010-03-14T16:03:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, our mom went skiing at Sandia Peak just for the morning and got home about 1PM. It had been about 26 degrees on the mountain. This mountian is a fifteen minute tram ride in addition to the ten minute car drive back to our place. So, when she got home she changed to shorts. Why? Because it was about 60 degrees. Then, she opened up our balcony for us to smell all the good smells of the impending spring...

Ahhh...the sweet smells of spring...

For just a minute, mom went into the kitchen to get a drink of water. When she came back she said very loudly..."Tommy and Shilgiah which one of you did this to the weatherstripping?"

Don't blame us! It was Hope's Nip Mouse that the Kitty Tooth Fairy brought her! Can't you see it there under the weatherstripping! If you look carefully, I think you can see it move!

It is a funny looking Nip Mouse but it is very clever and we'd better watch out so it doesn't get us in trouble again.

Funny weather we're having...yesterday was warm in ABQ but today it snowed off and on and was about 35ish. Go figure?

Have a happy week all you cats and your people.

Water Dish Golf

2010-03-07T17:51:00.004-07:00

Hi Everycat! Tommy here. Shilgiah seems to be busy napping, so I thought I'd do the posting this evening.

It was a busy weekend, what with naps and eating and wrestling and playing water dish golf.

However, we hardly got a chance to interact with our Mom. She was off skiing yesterday and today worked all day on some sort of report for work. Luckily, she was able to do it from home and that meant every once in awhile Hope or I got a chance to jump up near the computer and walk in front of the screen...just so she'd remember we were there and could use a treat or ten.

Later today, I played a round of water dish golf. I went pretty well. I even got a "bowl-in-one". This is a picture from a week or so ago but this is pretty much what it looked like today.

This is not a water hazard...it's my "bowl-in-one"!

Do any of the rest of you like to play with foam golf balls? Let me know if you have discovered any other cool games to play with them. O.K.

I hope you all have great fun this week!

Sometimes

2010-02-28T15:06:00.002-07:00

Sometimes for no particular reason at all...

I like to sit and stare at my shadow.

Have a Happy Week Everyone!

My Obsession With Q-Tips

2010-02-21T15:24:00.002-07:00

Hope is doing fine and the Kitty Tooth Fairy did come and leave her a nip laced mousie and more of her favorite Gerber's meat baby food. She is soooo spoiled! But enough of her shenanigans, it's my turn to brag about my prowess with playing ever so carefully with Q-Tips.

I have loved Q-Tips from the first time I set eyes on them when I first found my mom. It didn't take her long to realize she could not leave them in plain sight if she didn't want me to slobber all over them and try to play "pick up sticks" with them.

I enjoy sitting up by the bathroom sink while mom is getting ready for work. I know there are Q-Tips inside a mirrored medicine cabinet with other things mom gets out of there but I have never had the chance to get my paws on them long enough to play.

Finally, just the other day mom didn't quite close the medicine cabinet tightly enough and when she went to the kitchen for a moment to get filtered water for her vitamins and other stuff she takes to keep her healthy, I saw my chance. I pulled, ever so gently, on the cabinet door and voila! it came open and quick as a bunny I grabbed the Q-Tip container with my paw and...well...it fell down on the little red stool and floor.

I was very excited and ready to play but mom was not so thrilled! Hey, all this time while Hope has been recuperating I have been so so so good. You'd think mom would be happy to see me being playful. Really all you cats...Q-Tips are great fun to play with!!! You should try them sometime.

May the week to come bring every cat great fun playing whatever you like to play best!

Where is the Kitty Tooth Fairy?

2010-02-14T16:28:00.002-07:00

Well, Hope came home from the vet almost a week ago on Monday the 8th. She was all wobbly from the anesthetic, but we were kind to her and didn't hiss or act troll-like. She kind of looked like a drunken sailor. It would have been funny if we hadn't felt so sorry for her. You see, the vet had indeed stolen a tooth from the back of her mouth. However, he gave it back to mom in a little plastic bag. I was wondering why he would give the tooth back to mom. Then, I overheard Aunt A telling mom that maybe she could put it under Hope's pillow for the tooth fairy!

Hope was on pain medication most of the week and so mom forgot all about putting the tooth out for the kitty tooth fairy to take and leave some wonderful treat. During the week when she had to have the pain medication, right after that mom would give me Gerber Baby Food...Beef and Chicken and Turkey!!

Hope, now that you are feeling better why don't you demand that mom put the tooth out under the pillows on the bed so the tooth fairy can find it and leave you something?

Oh, that's a good idea Shilgiah...Mom...oh, Mom...

Mom said I have to be asleep before the tooth fairy comes. O.K. I'm asleep now and waiting for the tooth fairy to come. I would like her to bring me more Gerber Baby Food...especially turkey and beef and chicken!

Hope's Dental Appointment

2010-02-07T17:42:00.004-07:00

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 Hope has an appointment to get some dental work done. She needs her teeth cleaned but also Dr. Jeff thinks she may need a tooth removed that looks infected. This means that she can't have any food after 9PM and no water after 7AM. Her appointment is at 7:30AM. Of course, since she has to go foodless after nine, so do we. Mom told me that at 7AM she will put Tommy and Me in the back room and put our kibble and water there. Then she will take Hope to the Vet. She will be there all day but we hope Hope will come home when mom comes home from work.

Hope is happily oblivious about her upcoming ordeal.

Have a great week everyone...and try to snuggle with your people and stay warm!

The Old Mom of the Mountain

2010-02-03T17:25:00.009-07:00

Mom turned another year older today. For an old lady she still gets around pretty well. In fact she really loves skiing. She took the day off today but didn't go skiing because it was snowing. Now that she is kind of old, she only likes to ski when the snow has stopped falling and the sun comes out. Here is a picture of the view of Sandia Peak as seen from our apartment. The ski area is on the other side of the mountain. It's about 10 minutes to the tram and then she rides up the tram (another 15 minutes) and is at the top of the cool little ski area!

This picture of the mountain was taken a few weeks ago.

Look at how mom dresses when she goes skiing! When Hope first saw her in this getup she ran and hid. Mom does look kind of scary with the helmet and goggles on.

But really, we think she'd look better without the ugly orange helmet. Her response is that she'd just as soon keep her head warm and her brains intact if she were to fall.

Mom is more scared of driving in the snow than skiing in it. Tomorrow she has to drive up to Northern New Mexico for work...not pleasure. She won't be back till Friday evening. So, our Cat Sitter Robyn is coming to take care of us until she gets back.

She kind of hopes her boss will cancel the trip but there is only a slim chance the trip may be canceled but only if the highway to Santa Fe is closed at La Bajada hill tomorrow morning.

Hope all of you have a great last couple of days in your week.

Update: Mom's boss did cancel the trip Thursday morning because there were very treacherous roads filled with slippery ice where she was going to go. Mom is very happy the trip was canceled. We will miss having Robyn but she will come another time.

Grooming in Tandem

2010-01-24T18:16:00.002-07:00

While mom was skiing, Tommy and I decided to have a grooming session. Usually, we begin by Tommy grooming me which quickly ends in a wrestling session. However, this time we decided to groom ourselves. This may not be as exciting as skiing, but we keep very clean.

Tommy checks between his toes to make sure there is no schmutz there.

We clean our faces next.

I began cleaning my tummy while Tommy who has a big head finishes his face.

That was exhausting! How 'bout a nap? Zzzzzzzzzz

Have a warm and wonderful week to come!

We got Hope a Year Ago

2010-01-17T17:02:00.004-07:00

My sister Hope became a member of our family last year on January 20, 2009. It has been a very interesting year for all of us but one thing for sure our lives have been enriched by Hope being part of our family.

This is a picture of Hope the first day she came to our house. She was looking out the doors to the balcony. She'd been abandoned and was very very very hungry! She had her first vet visit later that afternoon.

This is Hope now. She's become a pretty nice sister. She and I sometimes hiss at each other and sometimes bat the air between us when we are trying to play "I'm the prettiest princess!"..."No! I'm the prettiest princess!"

We will have a Gotcha Day Party on Wednesday Evening after mom gets home from work. Then, on Friday (don't tell Hope) she goes to see Dr. Jeff for her check-up and shots.

Have a wonderful and happy week everyone!

Bag-O-Cat

2010-01-10T14:17:00.002-07:00

Mom went shopping and when she came home...

she left the bags on the floor.

Zzzz...Zzzz. What's in the bag?

Eeeek! Hisssssssss!!

I'm outta here!

Hope be nibble - Hope be quick - Hope jump over the Bag-o-Tommy.

O.K. it doesn't rhyme but it was funny to watch!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Mixed Feelings

2010-01-03T17:12:00.003-07:00

Hi Hope here. Our mom is going back to work tomorrow after having been off for a long long long time. Shilgiah says it has been 11 days. She was off that long because her company makes people take "use it or lose it" time before each new year happens. Soooo...we have been getting lots of mom time and some of our other people friends have been by from time to time to say hi and pet us.

I prefer napping during the day so I can wake mom up bright and early-thirty each morning. But since she has been home she seems to get upset when I get her up in the morning. I can't understand why?

That's why I have mixed feelings. I like it when mom is home but I don't like it that she doesn't want to get up at her normally early hour. Oh well, I guess it will be fun to wake her up tomorrow and she won't push me off the bed and grumble that she needs to sleep more.

Have a great week everyone! Oh, and Happy Twenty-Ten!!

My New Collar

2009-12-25T09:37:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas to all the kitties who are celebrating Christmas today! Hope you all got everything you wanted. We watched The Nutcracker on PBS this morning. Mom said I could post my favorite picture of my Hanukkah Collar that Aunt A made for me. I think it makes my white fur look especially dazzling...don't you?

I feel pretty...oh, so pretty...I feel pretty and witty and wise...

Tired Tommy

2009-12-20T16:50:00.004-07:00

Hanukkah was over Saturday and now Tommy is really tired.

Tommy dreaming of all the fun he had during Hanukkah

We had a great time with Aunt A on Friday evening when she came over. She brought us really wonderful handmade Hanukkah Collars and Hanukkah earrings for our mom and we got some really good pictures of them but....mom had a glitch in the picture department so we will get those pictures up soon. Hope and I looked very beautiful in our collars and Tommy looked mighty handsome and mom's earrings were stunningly cute! Thanks Aunt A!

May you all have a wonderful week to come!

Hopes First Hanukah

2009-12-13T19:41:00.006-07:00

We would have posted sooner but someone has been "busy"? Hint: Three letters--starts with "M" then an "O" and then another "m". Anyway, tonight I thought I would let Hope tell you about her experiences with yet another first in her life called Hanukah. She's had a lot since Jan. 20th when she found mom and us and decided to adopt us .

Hi, Hope here. At first, this first didn't seem like that big of a deal. I've seen mom light candles almost every friday night...but this was different. First, she lit candles and then she had this big candelabra she called a "Menorah" near the usual friday candles.

Mom lit one candle and said it was the "helper candle" that lights the other candles. Then she only lit one more. But the menorah could hold so many more candles...why just one? Mom said it's because we will add one light each night until all eight (plus the helper candle) are lit. Below is a picture of the candles on the first night when they were almost burned out.

O.K. So then I found out that watching the candles burn all down is not all there is to this holiday. Which is a good thing...cuz that would be pretty pitiful and boring. There are also some smells that come with the holiday. Mom makes something called Latkes. Basically they are "fried round greasy things" that any cat in its right mind would never want to even think about eating.

But, there is something else that is sort of fascinating. It's called a driedle. According to mom, children and sometimes grownups play a game with it. A driedle is a top that spins but when Tommy and Shilgiah showed me how they said the best way to play with it (since we don't have opposible thumbs) is to bat it.

I have to look real close to make sure it's on the side to give me "gimmel" so I can win.

O.K. I think I have it now! Here I go...whap! (Driedle zooms across the table and whacks the wall) I win!!

Hope you all have a wonderful and winning week!

My Favorite Flowers

2009-11-30T16:29:00.002-07:00

My goodness! It's been two weeks and a day since I posted last! Anyway, this picture was taken on Thanksgiving morning. There was a smell of turkey and stuffing in the air and the temperature at our place was considerably warmer than normal. Our mom keeps the thermostat at 65 degrees in the winter and with the oven making extra heat it was toasty warm instead of icicle cold.

Mom took this picture of me while the turkey was cooking and before guests arrived. I was thinking about Thanksgivings I've spent with mom since I adopted her back in 2001. I am a very lucky little girl and am very thankful that I have mom and Tommy and even Hope too!

Have a wonderful rest of your week everyone!

Up Close and Personal

2009-11-15T17:20:00.002-07:00

Winter is finally here. Cold and rainy and windy and then a dusting of snow. Not many rays of sun. So mom decided to practice taking close ups. She's not very good at it and it was a bit annoying.

It's hard to smile when that camera is practically looking up my nose.

Ahhh...now that's just a bit too close mom!

May you all stay toasty warm this week! Have a good one!

Weekend on the Balcony

2009-11-08T17:54:00.002-07:00

This weekend we mostly hung out on or near the balcony. It was mostly autumn weather right now. About two weeks ago we had a teaser day with lots of snowflakes...but then it got all warm again. So, with the warm autumnal weather back, we spent a lot of time smelling things outside. Hope doesn't like the balcony as much as Tommy and I but I think that may be because she almost starved to death out in the big cold outside when she was young. Hope likes to smell the autumn...but prefers to be inside doing so.

Tommy, what is that you see?

Don't worry I'll catch the intruder! Oh, it's a leaf! Well, I killed it anyway.

Have a wonderful week my furry friends!

Cooking Lesson

2009-11-03T17:12:00.004-07:00

Hi my furry friends! This is Shilgiah and I am feeling great! I am all better and only had to have two doses of the chicken flavored medicine before my appetite came back.

Anyway, in honor of my appetite coming back I thought I would share my mom's favorite supper she likes to make for friends or even just for herself. First, we have chicken! This is no ordinary chicken!

This is chicken that is made as follows: take skinless boneless breast of chicken (in this picture it is chicken breast cut into three pieces each (sometimes called "chicken tenders"). Use three spices--tarragon, garlic powder (or garlic salt if you prefer) and paprika (the red looking hue to the chicken). Saute in butter (or olive oil or parve margarine)...do this on each side until it's kind of golden. Then add 3/4 cup of white wine and when it begins to boil turn the temp down to simmer. Put the lid on and go visit with your guests or your cats for about 30 to 45 minutes (a little longer if it's not the chicken breasts cut into smaller pieces). Then...

when the chicken is almost done, turn the burner on under the asparagus and steam it for a few minutes until it is al dente (or really soggy if you prefer). Then, when everything is ready...

tell Tommy he is not supposed to be sitting at the table.

When mom made this wonderful dinner, she told Tommy to get down from the table...he did...but then when she put the chicken and asparagus on her plate and turned around for a minute he grabbed one of the small chicken pieces, jumped down and when mom turned back around she found him eating the chicken on the floor! She was NOT happy! She had to use the "throw-up bar towels" to clean the mess Tommy made getting the chicken off the plate and down on the floor and dragging it over to a nice nomming spot.

Needless to say, mom learned a very important cooking lesson...never avert your gaze when there is chicken on a plate!

Well Wednesday

2009-10-28T17:54:00.003-06:00

Mom took me back to Dr. Jeff on Monday afternoon because she was so worried that I still couldn't eat or drink. He said my hydration was good since the treatment on Saturday but that we needed to get my appetite back so he called in a prescription for chicken flavored medicine that was supposed to stimulate my appetite...and it did! I'm still not sure what made me sick...I wonder if it was that spider I ate last week?

Mom didn't feed us right away when she got home tonight and I was so hungry I almost ate her walking shoes!

I don't think I need anymore of that chicken medicine squirted in my mouth...thank you very much.

Kinda Sick

2009-10-25T18:22:00.002-06:00

Hi Furry Friends. This is Shilgiah and my mom says I've been "a little bit under the weather". I'm not sure what that means. Anyway, about Tuesday, I started yakking up at night and then during the day while mom was at work. So, every day mom was cleaning up yak ups and worrying about me.

Also, I just didn't feel much like eating or drinking water or chasing Tommy through the house and playing "thundering herd of elephants" at night anymore. So, after not eating for two days on Thursday mid-day mom called Dr. Jeff my v.e.t. and she brought me in to him on Friday. By then I had quit eating entirely and just couldn't get myself to lap up even faucet water that I love.

I think I'll be fine with lots of rest.

So, when I went to see Dr. Jeff he pushed my tummy and looked up my nose and stuck a thermometer up my "Eeeuw"! I had lost a pound since my annual visit a month ago (which is not good) but Dr. Jeff said I didn't have a fever and didn't seem to be constipated. Then, he said it would be wise to get a blood sample and make sure my liver and kidneys and other stuff was o.k. Dr. Jeff said he would call mom back on Saturday morning and let her know the results of the blood test. Dr. Jeff also gave me a shot to help me stop throwing up.

The phone rang at 8:30 on Saturday morning and Dr. Jeff said that my liver and kidneys and other stuff was normal but that (not surprisingly, since I had been yakking up and not eating or drinking) I was dehydrated and that if mom could bring me in they would give me some sub-cutaneous fluid stuff to hydrate me and also another shot of the "anti-throw-up" medicine. So, once again she picked me up and put me in the cage to go "you-know-where"!!

Since yesterday, I think I'm doing a bit better. I'm still having trouble eating much but I've eaten a bit of fancy feast kitten food (mom thought it might be easier on my digestion), I've lapped up two servings of tuna juice, and sipped a little water from my favorite facet this morning. Oh, and on Saturday after I got home she made some turkey bacon, which she almost never makes and I got all interested and munched on a whole half a piece of it! It was very good!!

Mom is still kind of worried and will be talking to Dr. Jeff tomorrow morning. I think I'll be o.k. it's just that I still feel kind of yucky.

If you have any advice to help me help mom feel less anxious please let me know. I really just don't feel very interested in food or water.

Hope's Strange Days

2009-10-18T16:07:00.004-06:00

Hi Every Cat! Hope Here! Shilgiah and Tommy and Mom think I have been acting kind of strangely of late. They just don't understand that I am having more fun than I used to when I was all scared and hissy. Now, I'm more comfy even though sometimes I still hiss. I only hiss now because being so much smaller than my sibs, I have to show them that nobody messes with Little Miss Hope!!

I can even make myself invisible when I hide behind the curtain in the bedroom.

Occasionally, I peek out and look cute for mom.

At night-time my mom kind of gets exasperated with me. I can't understand why. You see, recently for a couple of weeks I have really needed some reassurance that my mom loves me. This urgent need for reassurance usually happens at about 2 a.m. in the morning. So, this is what I do...

First, I am very quiet so she won't wake up completely. Second, I come real close to her face and purr. Third, I butt my head on her forehead. Then, I rub my face against her hand until she pets me on my head. Finally, when she hides her hand under the covers, I tap it with my little front paw to let her know I still need some petting and love. I don't think that is so strange. All mom has to do is to be available to me for about an hour or so and then I will all be fine!

Oh, and it wasn't my fault the yellow dish washing gloves got all torn up. I saw a yellow monster hiding by the sink and dragged it to the floor and killed it. It wasn't my fault that the yellow dish washing gloves got holes in them while I was saving us from the Yellow Monster!

Taos Again

2009-10-11T16:51:00.007-06:00

Mom's going to Taos again...and she had better not come back smelling like Shadow the Inn Cat from The Sagebrush Inn! This summer when mom had to go up there for three days she came back with grey fur on some of her cloths and we didn't like it!

Although Shadow is a pretty girl and I don't mind if mom pets her just once, we had better get special treats when she comes home.

It's just a day trip and mom is presenting a "workshop" but I've told her that she'd better not come back smelling like alien cats from Taos!

Hope your week is filled with treats and happiness!

Shilgiah is Nine!

2009-10-04T16:50:00.005-06:00

I turned 9 on Thursday October 1st but we didn't celebrate my birthday until Saturday evening October 3rd. It was driving me crazy too because I knew that something was hidden in the study closet and I was sure if I tried really hard I could get the closet open and find out what it was.

If I could just push a little harder I was sure I could get it open...if only mom hadn't wedged the door shut with the stick we use to get our play mouses out from under the couch and the refrigerator!

Finally! Last night the mystery gift came out and Tommy helped me unwrap it. It was a corrugated cardboard kitty couch just for me.

Mom said I was the good kitty who never scratched the furniture. So, she thought I deserved my own scratchy couch to scratch on. I love it and enjoyed scratching and lounging! Thanks mom!

After I got my scratchy couch, mom opened the can of mac-n-jack (the special favorite birthday mackerel and skip jack food) and lit my birthday candle and sang to me. And after eating I got more presents...a feathers on a stick toy, a special high grade cat nip and a new halter. Mom says she is going to see if this year we can begin to take little walks outside like we did before we moved here.

Then, Mom put my red tiara on me for a picture but I quickly took it off in order to inspect it...

Humm, nice quality plastic...but where are the diamonds?

Have a wonderful week every cat and cat family!

Our Balcony is Open!

2009-09-29T17:09:00.002-06:00

Ahhh! The sweet smell of night! As of Sunday our balcony is now officially open. See the new sun shade? Aunt A, our favorite aunt in the whole world, came over Sunday morning and spent a long time making sure our shade was safe for us and that we wouldn't be able to jump up and fall down three stories. You are the best Aunt A!!

This is a picture of the first evening in a long long time that we got to go out and say goodnight to the moon and stars and smell the nice nighttime smells.

Earlier in the day, this was taken from inside looking out toward the balcony. I think mom should just leave the door open all the time but she says sometimes it's too hot and sometimes it's too cold to leave it open all the time. Sheesh...we've waited long enough! It should be our call, don't you think?

This was midday Sunday. Right after Aunt A finished making our balcony cat safe. Oh, we are just so so so so happy!!!

Six is Awesome!

2009-09-20T15:48:00.002-06:00

My birthday on the 17th was awesome! I got a feathery bird.

And I licked and licked the feathers till they were all soggy.

I got a sack full of fun things and my favorite Mac-n-Jack with a candle in it and mom sang to me. Then I shared my Mac-n-Jack with my sisters.

In the sack full of fun things was the funnest thing of all...blue tissue paper! Mmmm...I love how it crinkles and tears up so well.

Here is the sack full of fun things and the feather birdie before I made the bird soggy and before I tore into the sack.

And last but not least mom bought me a big bunch of fresh cat nip! Mmmmmm! Nip makes me happy.

Now, a neighbor also gave me a really nice shade that pulls up and down to put on the balcony and it will look beautiful there. Aunt A is gonna come over sometime this next weekend and help mom put it up because mom is hopelessly stupid when it comes to fix-it and build it stuff. All we have to do is put four or five hooks to hold the shade up and voila I will get my balcony back!!

And whether or not you are Jewish like mom, we want to wish you...L'Shanah Tovah...May you have a good and sweet New Year...Happy 5770!

Almost

2009-09-13T15:54:00.006-06:00

Hi Tommy here. I am almost six years old! This Thursday is my birthday. Well, actually it's my gotcha day but since we really don't know my real birthday we celebrate it on my gotcha day.

A couple of days ago on Friday, mom took the day off and I thought it was so she could play and nap with us. Mid-morning she gave Shilgiah and Hope a special treat in the bedroom and closed the door. I thought that was pretty unfair but then what happened next was even more unfair. I haven't had reason to get in the carrier/torture chamber for quite awhile and I refused to go in so mom lifted me up in her arms and held my feet in one hand while she tilted the torture chamber up on an angle and lowered me into it. I didn't know what to do so I let out a chirp...not a twitter but a loud baby chicken sort of PEEP!! I had never done that before and my mom almost let go of me in her surprise...but she somehow got me in and closed the door.

All the way to Dr. Jeff's I pleaded and cried but to no avail. Anyway, I got stuck with a needle and then Dr. Jeff said what a handsome cat I was and looked in my eyes with his eye-looking-in-to-thing and then listened to my heart and chest and then palpated my tummy and patted me and let me get back in my carrier. I am in great shape except that I gained a little weight. Last year I weighed 20.60 lbs and this year I weigh 20.80 lbs.

Mom says I need more exercise but I think I'll just lay here and dream about my birthday. I want Tuna Juice and my favorite "Mac and Jack" which is Mackerel and Skipjack...and I don't want to wear a Party Hat but I would like Shilgiah and Hope to wear them.

But I want most of all for mom to get my balcony fixed, screened in so I can go out there and won't fall off the balcony and down three stories!

This is a picture from last year in September near my birthday. Then, we had screening on top and I loved my balcony! Mom says it's not her fault the owners won't put up new screening but she has some shade material that she is planning with some help to get up. Mom, how about Thursday Night! You could have a party for me and put up the shades. Please! Please!!

Cat Sitting the Cousins

2009-08-30T16:36:00.005-06:00

If you read William's blog, you know that his mom has gone on a vacation to see Russell's favorite Aunt L and while William's mom is gone Aunt M is going to Cat Sit the family.

Guess What?! Our mom is Aunt M. Actually, our mom and William's mom aren't really sisters like Aunt L and William's mom but they were very close neighbors who became good friends a long time ago when William was a very tiny boy. So, we call William's mom Aunt A and William and his cat sibs call our mom Aunt M.

Anyway, this week mom told us that she will be spending some extra time over at William's place making sure he and Olivia and Caroline and Russell and Gracie have fresh litter and tummy rubs and brushies and extra lap time and lots of food and water and that the birdie friends are fed and so forth.

This is a picture of Tommy and me enjoying the summer sun. As long as mom gives us tummy rubs and brushies and clean litter and food too we are very happy cats.

William's mom left this morning and our mom went over to check in on William et.al. from about 1:30 to 3:30 this afternoon and then came back here to do a few things like to feed us. Mom is going back over this evening for two or three more hours. Aunt A gets back next weekend so maybe we will get to see her after she has had a chance to love on her own fur babies for awhile.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

My Blue Birdie

2009-08-23T17:15:00.002-06:00

This weekend mom brought out my old Blue Birdie feather toy and played with me for a long time in the living room while Tommy and Hope were snoozing in the study. It was a lot of fun and looked almost like this...

except this picture was taken about a year and a half ago but I look my same beautiful self. The blue birdie has lost a couple of the long white feathers but other than that my blue birdie looks the same now as then.

Have a wonderful week everyone...and may your people treat you to feather toy play as frequently as you wish.

Sleeping Arrangements

2009-08-16T15:03:00.004-06:00

Hope is still enjoying being in the whole house 24/7 but we have discovered that we prefer a variety of sleeping arrangements depending with whom we are napping.

Tommy and I prefer to sleep near each other most of the time but if he starts stretching his big body out and hogging the bed I go elsewhere.

When Hope wants to sleep near me she prefers the "top bunk bed" style of napping. I don't mind if she naps above me as long as she doesn't decide to play "pounce on the sister". If Hope does that, I have to go and find another place to nap with a bit more solitude. That's when I usually go under the bed. It's too dark under there for mom to get a good picture of me.

Have a wonderfully nappy week everyone!

Happy Hope

2009-08-09T16:42:00.004-06:00

Hi! Hope Here...It's my turn to blog today and I have a lot to tell you!

As most of you know, I used to be semi-feral. I'm not sure what that means but Shilgiah told me it means I had to grow myself up and didn't have very many people or cats I could count on. But now, since I found my true and forever mom on January 20th 2009, I have a forever home and I am becoming quite socially adept. I've learned to play with my siblings without hissing very much and also I know how to play alone when they are busy snoozing.

The biggest news is that for the past 10 days I have been given nighttime privileges in the whole house! Used to be, I felt more secure being alone in my study at nighttime but on Friday the 31st of July mom asked if I wanted to try to stay together with Tommy, Shilgiah and her and I nodded and made myself comfy on the bed. It was fun being out with Tommy and Shilgiah. Sometimes they would play chase in the middle of the night but I, being the good girl of the family, didn't want to wake mom up so I would just watch...wink,wink. Then, last Sunday morning I almost got blamed for this!!!

Alright! Hope did you knock this down playing chase with your brother and sister?

Now Mom, how could I possibly knock down that vase with the good tasting leaves in it? I'm much too little. Perhaps you should inquire of my big (20lb) brother. He might have some ideas.

Then, I gave mom my best cutest sweet princess expression and purred. Whew! got away with that one...heeheehee.

I am such a happy little girl. And...I am a princess too...just like my big sister Shilgiah!

Nothing Much Going On

2009-08-02T17:53:00.003-06:00

It's not that we lead a boring life...but it's just been so hot around here lately that there is just nothing much going on. Take for example, this weekend. We slept late. We had breakfast...then a snack...then we had supper. Mom went out and came back, once with nothing and once with the usual groceries. The only thing that happened that was out of the ordinary was...

New Kitty Grass! Thanks Mom!

On Saturday afternoon the lady that lives downstairs came upstairs to help mom give each of us pedicures and manicures. Then we got special treats for being so good. Mom also got us new kitty grass. Of course, Tommy tends to prefer plastic plants (see the last entry), so mostly the kitty grass is for me and Hope.

Today mom and some friends took the tram to the top of Sandia Peak and they hiked around on some pretty trails for a few miles and enjoyed the flora and fauna. When mom came home she ironed clothes for work and fed us. That's about it. Like I said...Nothing much going on...think I'll take a nap...ZZzzzzzzzz...yawn...and don't forget to have a great week!...yawn again...ZZzzzzzzzzz

Time for Tommy

2009-07-26T13:30:00.003-06:00

Hi, Tommy here. Shilgiah said I could blog today since she wanted to take an extra long nap. It's been a pretty lazy weekend. Mom mostly stayed home except when she went out to get us more kitty food and kitty litter and some people food for herself.

Tommy, please don't eat the plastic fern. Why don't you nibble on the kitty grass?

May you all have a peaceful and happy week!

Beauty Secrets from Shilgiah

2009-07-19T17:09:00.003-06:00

My friend Delilah of the Monkeys gave me this wonderful "Seu blog e um sonho" Award. In English it means "Your blog is a dream"

The rules of this award are to share seven beauty secrets and then give the award to seven bloggers whom you think are deserving of this wonderful award.

My first beauty secret is whenever possible lay on some green grass and take in the beauty of the world...it makes you beautiful too.

My second beauty secret is make friends with other species as well as your own. Friendship always makes you look prettier.

My third beauty secret is to request Tuna Juice from your mom at least once a week. It helps you keep your girlish figure.

My fourth beauty secret is to be sure to maintain an exercise regimen. I find the most fulfilling exercise involves chasing my brother through the house and/or wrestling with him at least twice a day (chasing through the house at 3 AM is especially fulfilling).

My fifth beauty secret is to nap with your mom at least once each weekend and purr in her ear. This may not make you instantly more beautiful but it often leads to beauty tip #3 (tuna juice).

My sixth beauty secret is to dream sweet dreams whenever and wherever you nap.

And my last beauty secret is to find a forever home that is safe and loving and wonderful. Then you will always have all the love you will need to keep you beautiful your whole life.

Now, I think all of the kitties in the blogosphere are beautiful and I would like to know their beauty secrets. So, I am passing this award on to any cat and all cats (even beautiful man cats) who would like to share their beauty secrets.

Have a beautiful week everyone!!

Balcony Screen Thief

2009-07-12T14:41:00.005-06:00

Up until mid-week last week we still had our balcony privileges. Seems like it has been months since mom told us we would not be able to go out anymore. The painters and people who were going to rob us of our screened in balcony have been working v..e..r..y s..l..o..w..l..y. Every morning when mom would let us out on the balcony she would say, "This may be the last time you three get to enjoy the fresh morning air like this". We actually had begun to think that maybe the management had a change of heart and would let us keep our wonderful screened in balcony.

Then Thursday while mom was out working, we heard and saw a man climb up a ladder and steal our screen right off the balcony! We tried to tell mom about it when she got home from work but she said she wasn't feeling well and went took a nap. She even forgot to feed us until after she woke up!

On Friday, mom stayed home because she was still not feeling very well. So, she slept late, dragged herself out of bed and fed us and then laid on the couch and went back to sleep.

Hope and I chatted for awhile in the living room. Hope thought it might be nice to go and sit on top of mom and purr on her some. I thought we should be quiet so she could rest and get better.

Then we heard a noise outside the bedroom window. It sounded like the ladder that the man who stole our balcony screen had used! Both Hope and I were scared but Tommy said he'd protect us and he wouldn't let any balcony-screen-thief take anything else of ours. Hope and I and Tommy walked toward the bedroom. The window looked strange. It was weird. Some light was coming in but we couldn't see through it.

See! We couldn't see out and there was a strange hissing sound from something outside. We were scared but mom woke up, came in and said not to worry and the reason we couldn't see out was because there was plastic covering up the window to protect it while the painters were painting. Hope and I were still scared but Tommy said he would go and investigate and if it was that balcony-screen-thief he would growl at him and scare him off the ladder.

When Tommy got up to try to look out a very loud and scary hissing sound happened! Tommy turned around, jumped straight up in the air and leaped through the air and half way across the room. I know we shouldn't have laughed but he did look very funny leaping across the bedroom!

The hissing sound was really just the spray paint hose thing the man was using to paint around the windows. It sounded like Hope with a megaphone...pretty scary!

Hope your week is happy and hiss free!

Alien Cat from Taos

2009-07-05T15:30:00.002-06:00

The Sagebrush Inn in Taos where mom stayed when she was away for her work retreat has always been friendly toward travelers' pets but it turns out they have acquired an Inn cat named "Shadow". Mom confessed to us that she had spent some time petting this little girl.

Turns out, one day about a year ago, this little bitty kitty walked into the Inn came around the check-in counter curled up under the front desk and promptly began purring and snoozing. The owner fell in love with her, took her to the vet for all the necessary shots and fixing and gave her a home at the Inn. According to staff, Shadow pretty much has the run of the place and enjoys being petted by just about every one. Mom said petting this little girl helped her not miss us so much during her absence. As long as she didn't bring the little girl home, petting is fine with me.

This is Shadow looking through the sagebrush at the Prairie Dog village behind the Inn. She does not eat or try to catch the Prairie Dogs but enjoys pouncing at lizards and other little things around the grounds. I think she has a pretty purple flea collar.

I'm a little jealous that I couldn't come and play with her and romp through the Prairie Dog village while mom was there.

May your week be filled with joyful things to do!

Our Vacation at Home

2009-06-28T14:55:00.003-06:00

Before my mom left on Wednesday, I spent a little time with her while she fixed her hair and make-up. She told me that I was her very special little girl and that she knew I would have a great time with the sitter.

This is my favorite morning place to spend with my mom.

While she was gone I spent some time in my favorite nap place. I really liked the cat sitter. Turns out her name was Robyn not Robin. It's pronounced the same so maybe Hope would have been confused either way.

Hope had such fun playing! The arm in the picture is Robyn's little sister. She was so so fun and knew just how to get Hope to play!

Hope had so much fun playing that she asked mom if she could go away again sometime soon so Robyn could come back and be our cat sitter and bring her sister sometimes to play with us too!

When mom got home, she said she was too tired to unpack and that she would unpack "tomorrow". Well, Tommy was taking no chances and just in case mom thought she might go on another trip he decided to sleep on her suitcase all night to make sure she didn't go anywhere without him! He really liked our sitter but he likes mom best.

Hope all of you cats and people have a wonderful week to come!

Hide and Seek

2009-06-21T15:26:00.002-06:00

Hi! This is Hope. It's been an interesting week. We each got new collars made of hemp with gold colored name tags with our name and phone number. I have never had a collar before.

Then, a couple of days ago Aunt A came over and held me so mom could do a pedicure/manicure. She also held Tommy and Shilgiah. Aunt A is a very nice cat holder and she has a reassuring voice. Mom did the clipping.

Another time, Mom was talking on the phone with someone and I overheard her say that she thought that Robin was going to work out well taking care of us. I got all excited and told Tommy and Shilgiah that the bird family from outside was coming into our house! You know what they did?! They laughed at me and said that Robin was the nice lady who came to visit and play with us recently and that she was coming to stay for a few days while mom was away. Well, I liked that Robin...but I think it would have been fun to have that whole Robin family from outside come and visit.

Anyway, mom has written down all of our favorite hiding places and other things for our cat sitter to know about us. So, today we decided to play hide and seek with each other. I found Shilgiah in all the places she hid and She found Tommy in all the places he hid but both of them couldn't find me in one place I hid...because I am very clever...can you see me?

Nope, You will never find me....Heeheeheeheehee *giggle...giggle*

Oops, I must have giggled a bit too loudly. You found me!

Hope you all have a great week!

Hope Plays Without Hissing

2009-06-14T17:40:00.005-06:00

I can hardly believe it! This morning Hope decided to let me play a game of "Boo" and then we both played "Chase the Green Spongy Golf Ball"!!

Hope didn't see me at first so I sneaked over and pounced out in front of her next to the green golf ball. Then she chased me down the hall. Then she batted the golf ball in my direction. All this and no hissing from anyone!

May you all have a wonderful fun filled week!

The Balcony is Closing Soon!!!

2009-06-07T18:21:00.004-06:00

A little more than a week ago we got a note on our door from our apartment management that said they will be painting the complex. In the process, they will be taking the screening off of all patios and balconies. The management also said the owners would not allow screened in balconies anymore! Now, we cats wouldn't really mind. There would be more buggies and flies coming in to say hi...and without the screen, the birds who build their nest under the eaves just outside the screen would be able to take a rest on our balcony.

We live on the third floor and mom says she worries that we would get all excited about some bird and hop up on the railing of the balcony trying to catch it and then she would have a heart attack because we could fall off!! So, until she can think of a way enclose the balcony that will be acceptable to the management, we won't be allowed out there. At this moment, our screening is still on and the painters who will be taking off the screening seem to be going rather slowly. Mom says she suspects it will be taken down sometime this coming week.

A couple of weeks ago we were all three on the balcony enjoying the afternoon sun and breezes. You can't see much of Tommy except his white foot with the black pads.

The management said everyone with things on their patios/balconies should take it inside. Hope is sitting on the green runner rug that was outside with the plants to the right.

Now mom has put a beach towel outside so we can lay on it in the morning before she goes to work and the evening when she gets home. Well, we are pretty sure no one will come by today and take away our screen. So, that means tomorrow morning early thirty we will be able to go out there and enjoy the birdies waking up.

We are all sad about the balcony closing but mom will figure out a way for us to safely get our balcony privileges back.

Hope your week is a happy one!

Mancat Monday

2009-06-01T20:11:00.003-06:00

Hi, Tommy here. It's about time I got a chance to say a word or two. I'm kind of liking being the mancat of the house. Now that Hope is much more civilized, I don't have to be as vigilant as to her whereabouts or whether she will walk around the corner and hiss at me or whap me in the face.

Napping near the kitty grass is so nice when you don't have to worry about cranky sisters. Ahh, I feel so relaxed...ZZZZzzzzzzzz.

Hope you all have a great rest of your week!

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T14:40:00.002-06:00

Today is Memorial Day when we should remember all the young men and women who have gone to war and died. I'm a little confused as to why people have picnics and such on a day that seems to me kind of a sad one. Mom says it's because the young men and women went to war because they wanted to help ensure our freedom, so we should do things that remind us that we are free. I guess people find cooking meat over burning coals makes them feel free. As for me...

...watching the mom and dad birds teaching their baby fledglings to fly makes me feel free. Knowing I could probably sneak out of the house and catch one but choose not to because I'm a civilized cat makes me feel free. Finally, chasing my brother through the house and napping near my sister makes me feel free. All of these things together make me happy too!

We will all be quiet now for awhile while we remember those who are no longer with us except in our hearts.

Hope Speaks Softly

2009-05-17T17:28:00.003-06:00

Hello all you cats out there. This is Hope and while you have heard about me quite a bit from my big sister Shilgiah, I haven't really talked for myself so since Shilgiah and Tommy are sleeping, this seemed like a good opportunity to chat.

I really like my balcony and share it with my brother and sister who think it is theirs.

As you know, January 20th 2009 was the day I found my true and real mom and so she named me Hope. Never in my life was I able to trust people or other cats much...until recently. So, I was kind of scared for a few months and when I get scared I scream and growl and use my lethal claws to try to protect myself.

During the past month, I have really begun to feel so comfortable that I rarely feel like doing those things and even enjoy napping in the same room with my sibs. I still like to have my study to myself at night. Food is always there when I need a nibble. Still, I do like to stand in the kitchen on my back legs and stretch up to where mom is getting our soft supper and meow politely (o.k. well almost politely). I'm happy now and not scared anymore. I even curl up on my mom's lap and purr 'cause I am so content.

I hope all of you kitties and your human moms and dads have a really nice week to come!

Our Present

2009-05-10T17:17:00.002-06:00

Our present to our Mom was to let her sleep late today. Normally, Tommy and I play "thundering herd of elephants" almost every morning before the sun comes up. However, last night before bedtime Tommy, me and Hope talked about what to do for mother's day and decided it would be nice to let mom sleep late even if it meant we had to wait longer for breakfast. I think it was a very kind thing to do...

We appreciate all you do for us Mom!

I think mom was very pleased with our present of extra sleep. When she woke up and got her coffee, she opened the balcony just for us to enjoy the warm mid-morning.

We hope all you Moms had a very Happy Mothers Day!

Fourteen Snowflakes, Hail and Thunder!

2009-05-03T15:46:00.007-06:00

What a strange weekend! Yesterday, I was awakened from a nice nap when suddenly there was this rumbling sound and then loud thunder boomies came and then I stared out the window and counted fourteen snow flakes and then pea sized hail came down too fast for me to count! Well, that pretty much eliminated (before it had begun) our afternoon time on the balcony. So, we each found ways to keep ourselves busy.

Hope is learning to play ball. Mom doesn't think she ever had toys before but we are trying to teach her how to play and I think she's catching on quite well.

It was really scary when the thunder boomies fell but it was kind of fun counting the snow flakes and watching the hail.

Tommy busied himself playing with Mom's shoes. Don't tell but he kind of has a shoe fetish. Sometimes he sticks his face inside mom's shoes and actually sniffs them. Eeeew!

We got an award this week! We've gotten awards before but our mom (even though she is not feeble minded) has never been able to figure out how to post the award from someplace else other than "My Pictures" on her computer. Honestly, the woman needs to read a few instructions and use her head! Sheesh! Anyway, this time she e-mailed the award to herself and then saved it to "My Pictures". So, with due apologies to everyone who has sent us awards before for mom not getting them posted, we want to thank Cliff and Olivia for giving us the Zombie Chicken Award.

What an honor! This is what the Zombie Chicken Award is about:
"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken--excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens to read their inspiring words."

If I ran into a raving pack of zombie chickens I think I'd ask Tommy and Hope to help me herd them toward a big pot full of boiling water. Yum Yum. Thanks so much for the award Cliff and Olivia.

Now, the rule says I need to pass this on to five other blogs. If you get this and you are the type of blogger who would rather walk across shards of glass rather than post awards and stuff like that it's o.k. we'll send some zombie chickens your way for supper.

O.K. Here are some of our friends to whom we want to send the Zombie Award:

Lucy and Trixie
Twizz and Jack
Edgar Allen Bun
Scooby, Shaggy and Scout
William, Olivia, Caroline, Russell and Gracie

Have a really great week everyone!

Lost and Found Sunday

2009-04-26T15:07:00.004-06:00

It's been kind of a lazy day for me and my sibs Tommy and Hope. Mom, on the other hand, got up so early this morning I thought the weekend had zoomed past already. She explained that she was going to meet some work friends and do a 5 mile walk called Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and she got to wear a bright pink T-Shirt. We live on the North East side of Albuquerque and mom had to go way far to the North West Side of town.

When she got back she said she was pretty tired but needed to do some house cleaning that she had put off. So, wanting to be helpful, I assisted her by looking under the rug by the dressing area and I found something I had lost two weeks ago! I was so happy I had to play with it some more.

Hello little yellow egg! Are there any kitty treats left inside you?

We hope all of you have a wonderful week to come!

It Only Took 90 Days!

2009-04-19T17:01:00.002-06:00

It only took 90 Days! I am quite amazed and while both Tommy and I are cautiously optimistic, there she is...Hope snoozing in the same room with us...and not even hissing! Thank you Mr. Sun...if you hadn't come out again then my sis might have been grouchy and hissy all weekend.

Shilgiah, Tommy and Hope enjoy the sun.

Hope has been our forever sister for 90 days now and I, for one, am feeling more hopeful. I think Tommy is too. Mom, is still holding on to her supply of bandaids as well as the purple squirt bottle just in case Hope decides to become Little Miss Hissy Fit again and swat at her.

Easter Bunnies and Passover Peeps

2009-04-12T14:29:00.006-06:00

Mom thought I would look cute dressed as the Easter Bunny. She said I would get treats inside little plastic eggs if I let her take pictures of me like this. So, Happy Easter Everyone! And Mom, thanks for the treats! Tommy and Hope got treats in little eggs too but I'm the only one who knows how to open the plastic treat eggs and get the treats out...and I'm not telling...Bwahahahahahaha!

I'm really not too thrilled being the Easter Bunny.

You probably know that we celebrate Passover at our house. Some people don't know that Passover lasts for a whole week. There is a Seder on the first night of Passover and some people go to a second night Seder on the second night. Passover always begins on the 15th day of the Jewish Month of Nissan. Since Jewish months are lunar months, which are shorter than our regular solar calendar months, Passover is in the Spring but doesn't always coincide with Easter day. Here is the dilemma mom faces when Passover and Easter fall at the same time:

If one keeps kosher for the whole week of Passover then one must not possess anything that is considered chametz (which includes products with wheat, rye, corn, spelt (whatever that is) and additionally basically anything that puffs up (like rice). Ha ha...I just thought of something else...my sister Hope puffs up when she's upset...guess she has to go away till Passover is over!
Well, back to the topic. The prohibition on corn also includes corn syrup...which means...no PEEPS!!!! My mom LOVES PEEPS! Is there any solution? Of course there is...

Mom just cut out a "Kosher for Pesach" symbol (you can't quite see it in the picture) and taped it to her favorite purple PEEPS. What could be more kosher?

Our friend Quasi did a wonderful blog posting on "The Cat Version of Passover (Purr-Over)". It is a quite thorough and entertaining piece. However, there was one part that was left out. For the past two thousand years or so cats have had a very important part to play at the Seder.

Generally, with humans, the youngest human at the Seder asks "The Four Questions" known as "Mah Nishtanah". For the youngest cat, there is a special version of The Four Questions. It's called the "Meow Nishtanah" and it goes like this:

Why is this night different from all other nights?

On all other nights we eat kibble and soft yummy fancy feast. Why on this night only dry kibble?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of kitty grasses and cat-nip. Why on this night do we eat only bitter grasses?
On all other nights people tell us not to dip our paws in our water bowls. Why on this night do we dip our paws and splash the water as much as we want?
On all other nights we recline near our people at the table while they are eating. Why on this night do we get banished to the back bedroom while our people and many guests talk, sing, laugh, eat and drink four cups of wine?

The answers? Well, we were banished to the back bedroom and fell asleep before we could hear the answers.

May this week bring you all lots of joy and happiness!

Springtime

2009-04-05T14:10:00.003-06:00

We've had some blustery days but plenty of sun for three cats to find sunny spots around the house. Hope is all better. Well, at least she is well enough to give me and Tommy an occasional hiss. I have given up on the prospect that she will eventually grow into a warm cuddly sister. At least she tolerates us (and we her) better each week that goes by.

Hope snoozing sitting up on the window sill.

It's going to be a busy week. Mom's finishing her taxes and also is running around like a crazy lady getting all ready for Passover which begins Wednesday evening.

So, whether you are getting ready for Taxes, getting ready for Passover, getting ready for Easter or just getting ready for the new week to come...we wish you a wonderful week ahead!

Hope's Ordeal

2009-03-29T15:52:00.002-06:00

Hi Everycat! This is Hope and I got permission from Shilgiah to blog today. It's been a week now since the big ordeal and I'm much better. In checking out the pictures, I decided to leave out the really gross ones. This first picture was taken when I first got home from the vet last weekend and had the awful torture cone around my neck! I was not happy...not one bit.

The stupid plastic head cone was heavier than it looked because I couldn't hold my head up right when I tried to walk. So, I had to back up everywhere in order not to scare myself silly.

Below is a picture of the study that mom converted into a recuperation room. If you look carefully, you can see me with the torture head dress on. In all fairness, mom took it off for short periods of time that first night in order for me to eat a little and do my business in my litter box. But if I begin to lick at the abscess she put it right back on. But, I only had to wear the awful plastic cone for two days. Then, she put it back on me when she had give me a pill because I would spit it out and run! Then she would stick the plastic cone on and stuff the pill down my throat!

I was able to scratch her hands up pretty good during pill time for most of the week. Finally, on Friday mom came home with something Shilgiah told me was "not kosher" but that mom said might prevent her hands from being assaulted further.

So, anyway mom cut my evening pill into quarters and opened the little jar and put a little of the contents on a spoon and stuck a pill chip in the squishy-heavenly-smelling-stuff-on-the-spoon! It is the Yummiest Stuff I ever tasted and in no time flat, the four pill chips magically were gone and I even got an extra spoonful or three! I have to continue the pills until Tuesday evening. Mom, you'd better buy some more jars of that yummy stuff. I don't want to run out. Can you guess what that stuff is, my friends?

It's HAM! Baby Food HAM! Mom remembered reading that many of the blogging kitties liked HAM but since we're Jewish she had never thought to get any for Tommy or Shilgiah. It took my hand shredding for her to get the stuff. Mom even let Tommy and Shilgiah have a taste. Forget the kosher bit mom we all want HAM in the morning, HAM in the evening and HAM for snacks all the time!!!

Guilt

2009-03-23T14:35:00.003-06:00

It's all my fault that Hope had to go to the Vet Hospital and that they had to shave her back leg and fix the abscess that happened because we were playing one day and I accidentally batted her on her thigh. I'm so sorry Hope! Mom said the nice lady vet at the VCA gave Hope pain medicine and some for mom to bring home along with antibiotics and instructions for doing warm compresses so the abscess would continue to drain. Mom stayed up all night with her in the study. Hope had to wear this cone around her neck that made her very unhappy. Today mom stayed home because she didn't feel so good herself (I'm guessing exhaustion) and to continue caring for Hope.

I feel so guilty! I really like my new sister and would never hurt her on purpose.

Hope is much better today and got to take the icky collar off and run around the study and the living room and she got Tuna Juice and all the soft canned Salmon Kitty Food she wanted. Mom took a long nap and feels better too. I feel better because I talked to Hope through the door to the study and told her how sorry I was for making her hurt and she said she understood and knew I didn't mean to hurt her. She also said I shouldn't give mom a hard time when she wants to trim my nails. I'll try not to...really I will.

Grey Kitty

2009-03-15T17:39:00.005-06:00

So, maybe Hope has been known as "Little Miss Hissy Fit" but for the last nearly two and a half weeks she has been doing much much better. Hardly ever a Hiss. Occasionally, there will be this sound coming from deep in her throat. It sounds like she's a tad exasperated but the hissing has generally gotten way better...or so I thought until today.

Tommy and I and Hope were resting in the living room catching some rays coming in the front window. Hope was lying up in her favorite spot on top of the little couch when all of a sudden she started hissing and hissing and growling. It made my fur stand up on end and get all puffy. She wasn't looking at us so we didn't know what she was so upset about. Then, I saw it. A Big Grey Kitty...sitting right on my favorite floor painting.

Oh no! A Grey Kitty in our house!!

Hope kept hissing at the Grey Kitty until mom came out from the study and said "Why are you hissing at your shadow Hope!"

Whew! We were all so glad it was just a shadow and not a new sibling!!

Have a wonderful week my friends!

Happy Purim

2009-03-08T18:14:00.002-06:00

Happy Purim! Mom spent most of the day helping to run the Purim Carnival at the Synagogue. So, while she was gone I decided to explain to Hope all about Purim. It boils down to it's a time to dress up in masquerade costumes and eat lots of triangular shaped cookies called Hamentashen and to make Noise Noise Noise! Interestingly, mom was in charge of the "Silent Auction". Go Figure?

Who is this masked beauty?

Hehehehe...It's Me!

I like my blue boa but unfortunately I need people to help me make noise with the grogger.

A grogger is a much more pleasant noise than my sister's suppertime imitation of a screaming banshee.

Have a great week everyone!

Shilgiah's Sunday

2009-03-01T16:01:00.002-07:00

I had fun this weekend. Tommy and I played chase through the house several times. Hope hasn't joined in that fun yet, but she is beginning to play chase with foam kitty golf balls. Then, mom put up my favorite toy. It's a feather-butt mousie on an elastic string that hangs from a thing attached to the top of the door. It is so so so so fun!! It's kind of hard to see in the picture below but you can take it from me, it is ever so relaxing and entertaining.

I can really get that mousie swinging if I bat it just right.

Then, just when I was getting all tired out, mom brought in some warm clothes from the dryer.

The best napping ever is on warm clothes just out of the dryer. Ahhh...zzzzzzz.

May you all have a wonderfully happy week to come.

The First Thirty Days of Hope

2009-02-22T10:12:00.002-07:00

Hope came into our lives on January 20th 2009. So, Tommy and I thought it was time we reviewed and analyzed these first thirty days. This way, perhaps we can gain perspective on the achievements more than the pitfalls that have happened during this time.

By the end of the first thirty days of Hope, most of her accomplishments can be seen as decreases or increases in frequency, intensity and duration of the following behaviors:

Hissing is considerably diminished and spitting is almost nonexistent
Screaming and Growling at us is less frequent but just as intense especially when any of us is near the kitchen at the same time as she.
She continues to appear frightened that every meal may be her last and so tends to get really weird and cranky when it is food time. She is not yet comfortable enough to eat with us. That may take months.
Her appetite remains the same intensity...she eats like a horse.
She has gained a little weight.
Hitting at us and mom is less frequent, mostly because we kind of know what will set her off and avoid those things.
She is becoming more polite when she smacks us with her paw. That is, she keeps her claws retracted when she bats at us and so doesn't scratch (much).
Her purring has intensified in frequency and duration but not intensity. She still has a very soft but audible purr.

Hope in the living room catching some sun strips.
As you can see, she is becoming more comfortable and as she is getting calmer so are we. Don't get us wrong, she can still frighten us when she starts screaming like a banshee.

Here Hope is during her first visit to our beloved balcony. At first, it seemed like a good thing but later when she tried to take the space over for herself we decided it would be awhile more before she gets balcony privileges again.

Hope and Tommy chatting. He told her that even though she is a troll sometimes, she is now our forever sister and we want her to feel safe and have more fun because that will be more fun for us too.

We've got high hopes that Hope will continue to make progress over the months to come.

Tired Tuesday

2009-02-17T18:01:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone. Tommy here. Having two sisters really can wear a guy out. Shilgiah needs my reassurance and Hope...well, she is a piece of work. She acts so tough but I know she is just really scared. This evening she was being all troll like and she had just smacked me on the arm. So I reached out and whopped her on the head. I did it gently...really I did!

Can you believe it, mom got all mad at me for hitting her back! Mom said I had to be the more mature one and show good manners. O.K. I'll be mature...till mom isn't looking. This little girl needs to be taught a lesson or ten about good manners!

In the meantime, I think I'll just take a nap and dream of better days to come.

Dizzy

2009-02-15T14:54:00.004-07:00

My little sister Hope makes me dizzy sometimes. Just when it seems she is becoming progressively sweeter, her personality changes and she goes from purring to pouncing! Eeeek!!

I am getting used to her and am not nearly as scared of her as I used to be. To tell you the truth, I've actually been downright nice to her and I sometimes even think I like her. However, today she really tested my patience.

I tried really hard not to be peeved about her taking a nap in my favorite napping place on mom's bed up between the pillows. However, this afternoon she was napping there and at first I didn't see her and started to climb up on the pillows and the little troll screamed and pounced on me!

The only good thing to come out of that was that mom made her take a time out in the study so we could all cool down. She didn't even say "I'm sorry" when mom let her out after calm down time. Sheesh!

Quiet Weekend

2009-02-08T14:27:00.002-07:00

It has been a mellow weekend. We all just spent time together. But mom also made sure each of us got some alone time with her. She brushed me and talked to me about how sweet I was and let me know that eventually Little Miss Hissy Fit (a.k.a. Hope) will realize that she is safe and will get all the food she wants and will never have to be cold or hungry again and then she will turn into a wonderful sister. I wonder how long that will take?

Of course, I will always be the prettiest sister. I'll let Hope be the second prettiest sister once she quits hissing at me.

Have a wonderful week to come everyone!

Alone and Together

2009-02-06T17:53:00.002-07:00

What an interesting week it has been. Here are a few of the things that happened. I'll tell you more later. Mom suddenly got older and had a birthday on Tuesday. Tommy and I got to spend some time alone on the balcony in the moderately warm winter sun which mom hates because it means her favorite skiing place (because it is just 10 minutes away from home) has too much melting snow.

I enjoyed sniffing the air from the study. Hope got to explore the rest of the house while we were in the study and on the balcony with mom.

Hope has alternatively become 1. more friendly and 2. more troll like...go figure? For no reason whatsoever, sometimes Hope will purr and act happy to see me and Tommy. Then, in the flash of a millisecond, she hisses, growls and sometimes even screams at us!!! She is really taxing my patience. This evening when she walked by and batted at me...I couldn't help myself and just batted right back at her. And can you believe it, she screamed at me!!! How Rude!!!!!!!

Hope Snoozes

2009-02-01T16:30:00.003-07:00

Hope found a perfect place to hide and snooze. It's just her size and we are too big to fit into that spot so I think she feels safe there.

Nice warm carpety cubby space just Hope sized.

She even got comfortable enough to allow Tommy to nap nearby on his favorite chair. I'm still a bit too apprehensive around her.

We all hope all of you have a wonderful week! I hope Hope quiets down a lot more this week. We shall see.

Hope

2009-01-27T19:54:00.003-07:00

This is my new little sister. She came to us on Inauguration Day. That was a week ago today. Her name is Hope.

I think Hope is very cute and I'm starting to get used to the hissy fits she throws. She still scares me, a little. However, this evening I just sat very still under the glass topped dining table and watched her hiss and growl at Tommy. A nice change and kind of funny.

This is Hope looking out onto the cold balcony from the warm inside. Even though she's kind of a pain, I'm glad she found mom and asked to come in out of the cold. Tonight, I even think she hissed a little less.

Aunt A you are the absolute best for helping my mom get the CD thing working again! It's o.k. if you pet Hope as long as you still think I'm the prettiest little girl in the world.

She Scares Me

2009-01-26T17:47:00.002-07:00

I'm twice her size and yet she scares me so much! When my new little sister hisses and growls it makes me all jumpy and I have to run away and hide. It's embarrassing. I want to like her but I just wish she would quit growling. Mom says she probably does that because she is still feeling scared herself and so she has to act tough. She probably encountered some not so nice kitties out in the cold.

O.K. I'll just wait here until she quits scaring me.

My mom is having terrible trouble loading the apparently unloadable Walgreen's CD with the pictures of my new sister. Probably by the time she finally figures it out my new sister will have become civilized and quit scaring me.

New Things Happening...Old Picture to Remember

2009-01-24T16:20:00.003-07:00

A long long long time ago, way back in 2006 Tommy came into my life. He is my brother now and I love him very much but it wasn't always that way. When he first came to my house he had to stay in the study for two weeks until he finished taking some icky medicine and could come out and play with me. We sniffed and played hot paws between the space under the double doors to the study. From a distance it was fine but when he finally got to come out into the rest of the house...well, I wasn't very happy. I hissed. I growled. I hid under my little blanket. I hid under other stuff. Anyway, eventually we became best friends. Well, occasionally we still like to have a wrestling match. Below is a picture of the first day Tommy came out into the rest of the house.

The point of all of this is to tell you that something is happening that I don't understand and don't really like. Tommy and I have been banished from the study and the double doors are closed and our balcony is out there on the other side of the double doors and through the study.

On the 20th of January 2009 ,(something called Inauguration Day), mom took the day off to watch TV. So, we had some mom time with her. Then, she put us in the back room which was O.K. because mom's bed is there and that is a favorite place we like to nap. Then when she let us out again the double doors to our study were closed!

Sometime later, we heard suspicious sounds coming from the study. Mom seemed to spend a lot of time in there making sweet soft talk with someone. Then, she told us we had a new sister that we would meet after she had time to adjust. The vet said she didn't have any contagious diseases but that she needed to gain some weight. Mom told us that this little kitty was a stray like we had been before we found mom. But that this little girl hadn't found enough nice people to feed her while she was trying to find a real forever mom.

Last night our Aunt A. came to say hello to us. She and mom also went into the study and closed the double doors.

Today mom put us back in the bedroom place again. Then, we hear her open the big double doors. Later, after the double doors were closed again she let us out. Still later, she let the new kitty sister out of the double doors while we were in the living room and you know what? That little cat, part tabby striped and part tortie, came right out and hissed at us! And you know what else? She growled at us! So, after a little--not so fun-- visit, mom said our new sister needed a little more time to get used to us...and she put her back in our study!!

O.K. I'm trying to be calm but I'm not so sure I like this at all. Then, mom showed me the picture of me and Tommy when we first met and I had to admit that perhaps first impressions are not always the best indicator of future friendship.

Anyway, we will keep you posted on how well this new little sister is coming with regard to our training of her. One thing in her favor is that she has a name that is apropos of the day she came to live with us. So, that's all we can do. Wait and ...

P.S. Mom can't get the CD from Walgreens to load into the "My Pictures" place where all our other pictures are...but she got some good pictures of little miss hissy fit.

Thirsty Thursday

2009-01-15T07:04:00.003-07:00

The water in my bowl needed changing. It was all schmutzie because I had been sticking my paws in it because it's fun to do that. Mom said she'd change the water in just a minute.

So, I decided to take a drink out of her water glass. What's so wrong about that? If she had changed my water when I needed it, I wouldn't have had to drink hers. Sheesh!

Ski Season...Need I Say More?

2009-01-11T16:03:00.002-07:00

Skiing! This is her excuse for not allowing me to blog or visit friends as much as I would like. Mom says the stresses of work just melt away when she is on the ski slopes. I don't understand. It freezing on the ski slopes. How can anything melt away?

Mom does take the fake sunflowers out before she heads up to the mountain.

Sunset

2009-01-07T06:28:00.003-07:00

The winter sunset is really quite pretty.

Don't you think so Tommy?

Fur Lined Sweater

2009-01-05T06:55:00.003-07:00

I'm pretty sure I heard mom say she wished she had a fur lined sweater. So, I made one for her.

She can have it as soon as I finish my nap.

The Year Of The Nap

2009-01-02T15:07:00.003-07:00

Tommy and I have decided that 2009 should be declared the Year Of The Nap.

We both love to nap almost more than anything else. So when Mom went off to go skiing we just napped and napped and napped some more.

I really like my purple blankie.

Just because you are dieting...we should suffer!

2008-12-30T12:23:00.004-07:00

Hanukkah is over. The menorah has been put away. The dreidles have gone back to the driedle bag where they stay until next year. Mom told us last night that Hanukkah is now over and it's time to diet. I went and hid under the bed. You see, every year our mom goes back to her healthy (pronounced "Yucky") eating habits right after the Cholesterol Festival of Hanukkah.

You won't believe what mom did to Tommy. She opened the refrigerator and Tommy was right there waiting for something good to eat. We had already had our supper but sometimes during Holiday's we get other treats and sometimes people food. But Tommy had forgotten that the Holiday was over now(short term memory problems, I guess). Mom got a little pyrex dish down from the cupboard and put a spoonful or two of some white stuff in there. I, being the smarter sister, wasn't buying into the trick. I came out to take a peak and tried to warn Tommy...

Hey, Tommy! Do you know what that is?!

Tommy was half way done before I could get it out..."It's Cottage Cheese!!" Yucky...Yucky...Yucky!!! Guess my brother will eat anything!?

Happy Almost New Year Every One!!

Dreidle Games

2008-12-23T17:28:00.003-07:00

Here is a picture of me coaching Tommy on the finer points of playing dreidle. It's very important to get gimmel (a letter on one of the four sides) because then you win.

People usually play for chocolate gelt but we play for temptations treats! I, Shilgiah the Huntress, am the gimmel champ of the cat kingdom!!

The Second Night of Hanukkah

2008-12-22T17:39:00.002-07:00

Every night we add one more candle and watch from a safe distance of course. Tommy and I both like to watch the candles when we are not busy playing dreidle. Really, we play dreidle...maybe we'll show you tomorrow.

Mom, why are there three candles when it's only the second night?

That's a very good question, Tommy! That's because the taller candle is the Shamash, the helper candle we use to light all the other candles.

Tommy's Turn

2008-12-20T15:50:00.002-07:00

Hi! Tommy here. I want to clarify my sister's misrepresentation of my grocery sack adventure that occurred a couple of weeks ago. My sister seems to think it was very funny, however; if I wasn't such a manly cat I might well have become traumatized. Oh, and the evil grocery sack that caught me around the neck was one of those green cloth grocery sacks like the one shown a few entries ago. I'm way too scared (but in a manly way) of plastic sacks to ever attempt to get into one of them...Eeeek!

The other day I was resting in one of the dresser drawers because mom had left it open and it was there just waiting for someone my size to climb in. Mom turned around from looking in the closet and laughed at me! She said I was too big to fit. I beg to differ! I fit just fine...Thank you very much!

Oh, and then I got up on the kitchen table so I could have a better look at my inanimate bird friend Woody. After petting him on the beak mom walked in and said "You are not allowed to play up on the table, Tommy". Huh? Who's house is this anyway? I'm pretty sure my sister and I own the place.

Mom has been busy getting ready for Hanukkah and sewing nip pillows for some of our friends, so, we still haven't had enough time to come and visit all our blogging buddies. We asked mom if she could make enough nip pillows for all the cats in the blogosphere and she said that we have to limit our gift giving to relatives and special in town friends and mom wants to give some nip pillows to foster cats and to cats who are at the shelter.

I'm Back!!!

2008-12-18T18:57:00.003-07:00

Wow! Aunt A fixed mom's computer just for me so that I could start blogging again. She's the most wonderful Aunt in the entire world!

There are about a million things that have happened since I last posted but I'll just tell you about a couple of them.
1. It's been very cold and it's snowed and mom is all happy because it means she might get to ski sometime before too long. As for me, I much prefer snuggling up in between the pillows on mom's bed.
2. Two weeks ago Tommy was trying to climb into one of the empty grocery sacks and got the handle caught around his neck and got scared and started running through the house with the grocery sack flying behind him like a parachute and mom "calmly" trying to slow him down so she could extricate him from the sack. I just sat there and laughed he looked so silly.

Tommy and I will try to stop by your blogs as soon as we can and catch up on all the things you folks have been up to lately. See you soon.

We Haven't Vanished

2008-11-03T07:35:00.002-07:00

Unfortunately, mom isn't nearly as smart as we thought. Since we last posted stating that mom had fixed our problem with Mozilla Firefox we have had nothing but more and more and more troubles. Sooooooo, until mom decides to bring in someone with actual technological expertise, we will be unable to blog much if at all.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Late Afternoon Sunstripes

2008-10-21T17:22:00.004-06:00

Well, for the past several days mom has been trying to get my computer to work and was told at one point that Mozilla Firefox had crashed. Then she thought that she would have to call a repair man or get me a new computer or worst of all go without...Eeeek! So, this afternoon when mom got home from doing whatever it is she does when she is not catering to my needs, I went into my playroom (a.k.a. mom's study) and jumped up next to the computer and asked as sweetly as possible for mom to keep trying to fix my computer. And you know what! She fixed it! I am so proud of her...she did a good job. Apparently, Mozilla Firefox just needed to be told to update and then it got fixed. Now, mind you we are still on dial up and I don't think I can talk my mom into the 21st century until next July. She's promised to think about it then.

This is Tommy looking out the balcony door one afternoon. I'm out on the balcony where you can't see me...catching a fly. I'm very helpful.

Sunday Shopping

2008-10-12T15:40:00.002-06:00

Our mom goes grocery shopping on Sunday. That's usually when she brings home extra treats for us and every once in awhile she brings us a big box with a white kitty on the outside and inside it is filled with Fancy Feast cans. The crunchy Wellness Indoor formula designed to "build lean muscle mass" she gets from our special cat food and toy place. We have yet to develop that "lean muscle mass".

Hey Tommy, have you found any treats in there yet?

Evidently, there weren't any good treats in there but it is quite a comfy napping spot.

Let me in there! I'm pretty sure I smell Temptations Treats.

Hope you all have a wonderful week to come!

Pictures... Way After My Birthday

2008-10-06T18:54:00.003-06:00

Wow! My Mom just spent 35 minutes getting two of my birthday pictures to this point. I think mom should have gotten me a new operating system or a really good technical person to help me do this blog rather than the toys and stuff I got!

O.k. Now, I really do love the toys mom got me. And I even share with Tommy who especially seems to like the funky looking dog face with the funny floppy blue ears. Nevertheless, I'm really getting tired of not being able to blog much cuz it takes mom fifty thousand hours to put a post up for me!!!

One present I would not want to trade for a computer technician or a new operating system is this! Know what it is? It fresh CATNIP!!! Both Tommy and I love love love it! Hum...I wonder if in our nipped out state we accidentally screwed up our blog site stuff...Naaah...It's mom...she needs to hire a technical assistant or five.

Got to go now before this thing implodes...eeeek!!

Birthdays... Birthdays... Birthdays

2008-09-29T15:44:00.003-06:00

September 17th was my brother Tommy's 5th Birthday. October 1st, this Wednesday, will be my 8th Birthday. Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which according to our mom is by legend called "The Birthday of the World". When I asked how old the world was mom said the Jewish Calendar says this year begins 5769 but really the world is billions of years old. I had started to feel very old the last few days but now that I know the world is very very very very much older, I feel like a young kitty again.

Happy Birthday World! Happy New Year!

And to all cats and people everywhere, L'Shanah Tovah U'Metukah, which means May you have a Good and Sweet New Year.

Your friends,
Shilgiah, Tommy and our Mom