Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter R

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 8 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

R is for Renovations...

Several years ago, we had our house completely renovated. The cats that were living with us at the time were completely discombobulated. They never knew from one day to another what room(s) would be off limits and what scary noises they would have to listen to for hours. The stairs were completely missing for several days and we had to block the opening with a baby gate. While this work was taking place, it reminded me of one of my favorite poems- by A. A. Milne.

Halfway Down

Halfway down the stairs
Is a stair
Where I sit.
There isn't any
Other stair
Quite like

Trouble was the first one on the partially completed stairs. Meghan at the top.

It.
I'm not at the bottom,
I'm not at the top:
So this is the stair
Where
I always
Stop.

Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up,
And isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery,
It isn't in the town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head:
"It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead!"

Gracie and JJ on the steps, Fiona hiding between wall and steps.

Lucy playing ball on completed steps with my grandson. DJ throws a ball in the basket, she runs over to investigate.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter Q

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 9 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

Q is for Quantum Collection of Quaint Cat Knickknacks...

 

"Paws" to smell the catnip.

These are actual puzzles.

This is the poetry book I mentioned on another day- authored by Francesco Marciuliano.

A drawer full of cat stamps.

My friend, Melissa, gave me this feline music box.

 Besides all my live kitties, I have all sorts of collectables that friends and family have given me over the years. I am also teaching myself to draw cats. Not easy, they always move just as you begin to capture their likeness.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter P

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 10 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

 P is for Patrol...
 We share our yard with deer, opossums, raccoons, fox, coyotes, skunks, wild turkeys, groundhogs, mice, voles and other assorted four footed critters. Our yard is surrounded by farms with sheep. cows and horses. Our skies are crowded with regular back yard birds along with hawks, falcons, pigeons and turkey buzzards. There is always something for outdoor and indoor cats to watch. Sometimes the outdoor cats persue, sometimes they are pursued.

 

Feline Fall Yard Patrol

Wind blowing across the yard swirls leaves in the grass.
A long, low striped shape slinks from under the chair;
Other less brave souls follow, tails twitching in the air.

Eight amber eyes are watching yellow leaves falling to the ground.
What a cause this is for rolling, prancing, wiggling and pouncing;
At last the leaves lie still in surrender, no longer crunching.

Tussles break out among the ranks of these fierce warriors.

The play fights start with mutual grooming galore
And only end with belly bites, to even up the score.

A Ringed-neck Pheasant family.

A beautiful bird.

Mom, not so much.

A vixen.

Her kits.

They make a lovely family who will eat cats when they are hungry

 

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014 

.

Then crickets chirp under flower pots in the garden.
The troops dash off like Keystone cops in a comedy
Climbing over pots and pumpkins and themselves, to find the common enemy.

Tiredly, the mini guards climb up the front porch steps.
Content with today’s lessons in yard patrol cat
They nap on Mom, a fluffy mass upon the sun lit mat.

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter O

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 11 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

O is for Oh, Boy...

 

Fred is our alpha-male. Even though he has lived inside for over 6 years, he still rules the outside world. When he goes outside several times a day to check the perimeter, the male cats sink right down to the ground as he walks by. They do not want to be considered a threat.

Lion-a-gator, a much younger male who travels the neighborhood, has had several run-ins with Fred. And, although Fred always wins the challenges, sometimes there are consequences to winning.

After a certain run-in, Fred ended up with a large abscess in his shoulder. He had to visit the vet for treatment and then Fred had to wear the "Cone of Shame" for 2 weeks so he wouldn't lick off the medicine.

 

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014 

 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter N

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 12 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

N is for Nice Face...

This was Face Cat. We so wished she had been friendly. Wanted to pet this sweet face.

Fiona loves to hide and then peek out at us.

Linus' face may never grow into his ears.

What a contented face. Gracie loved this bunny to pieces, literally. Slept on it for years. She now sleeps between my husband and I just about every night.

This is Fiona's "Ugh, what is that smell face." She is not fond of sharing the house with other cats so she wears this face often.

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter M

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 13 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

M is for the Massacre, the Great Gerbil...

 Many years ago, Peter, my middle son, brought home from school a pair of "male" gerbils, which soon proved to be male and female. Now, you all know what  happens with gerbils- they multiply. For several years, we kept our growing family in a 40 gallon fish tank that had a lid with a light in it. It was great to watch the gerbils create nests from paper towels and tissue boxes. We found that gerbils made great entertainment for the family and the cats. The cats would line up and watch the little critters run around their tank.

One of our cats, Tipperary Tail, was especially fascinated by these little racy rats and he would hit the front of the tank and then put the other paw under the tank to catch the gerbil that he thought would fall out. Always a disappointment for the cat.

One morning, when we came down stairs, we noticed that the lid on the gerbil tank was sitting at a funny angle. As we came closer to the tank, we saw that Tipperary Tail was sleeping in the tank. Apparently, during the night he had climbed up on the lid and it had given way, dumping him in the tank. He must have thought he had won the Lottery. A gazillion gerbils and no people to stop him.

There were no signs of a gerbil in the tank, I am sure they made a wonderful midnight snack for him. Tipperary slept off his gluttonous attack and we put away the 40 gallon tank, thus ending our foray into raising gerbils.

From then on, when we have told our cat stories, we have called this chapter, The Great Gerbil Massacre.

A well fed kitty.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter L

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 14 blog days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

L is for the Love of Boxes, Bags and Birdhouses...

 

Mom, while you were asleep, I killed this box for you.

Mom, this box is a little drafty.

Mom, I just love Vera Bradley.

Lady Jane found Baby Bear's Box to be too small.

Lady Jane said Mama Bear's box was just right. Sigh.

Fred says he looks good in Vera.

Who do you think lives in this birdhouse?

I do.

Tomorrow I'll be telling you about the Massacre.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014