Happy Holidays to All Our Friends

Our itty bitty kitty tree

Our front door with garland and birds

A little peppermint bark

Angel kitty cookies

We want to share our Christmas with you and wish you a joyous holiday and blessings now and into the New Year.

Chopin, though shy, would like me to share a "Night Before Christmas" that has him in it.

'Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
There was catnip and kibble
And an occasional mouse.

All stockings were hung
By the chimney with care
In hopes that St. (Cat)Nipolas
Soon would be there.

Anastasia in her kerchief
Tinker in his cap
With Chopin, they settled
For a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter
They sent Chopin
To see what was the matter.

It was a jolly old elf
A merry old soul
Filling stockings with goodies
And saying hello.

With paw to his lips,
Chopin pointed to where
They could hide extra yummies
So he wouldn't have to share.

"Clever lad," the gent said
As he flew out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all
And to all a good night.

Love,
Mom Julie, Chopin, Tinker, Anastasia and Angel Tom xx

Gotcha Day in November

Tinker: There she is behind me, my beautiful sisfur.

We had a Gotcha Day for the four-legged lady of the house (not to be confused with the two-legged).

Anastasia is our Gotcha Day girl for the month of November and we're thankful we were able to give her a good home, sweeten up her disposition and make her happy to be where she can be spoiled rotten and remain beautiful as she enters her dowager queen years. She is now 12.

Mom Julie doesn't think she could get any cuter.

A little bit about her. This past year, she was a great traveler. Give her a rest stop and she gets out of her carrier, stretches her legs, looks around at everybody, uses the bathroom--all like people do--then returns to her blanket and settles down for another nap. She'll settle in anywhere, sleep through anything, way on top of a mountain if she has to and is so cool about it.

Nothing disturbs her slumber-not locusts, an apocalypse or an invasion of zombies..

We've written a little kitty ditty just for her..


Anastasia...can't replace ya
Love your face, yeah!

She's super cool about vacuum cleaners, too. They roar right on by and she doesn't blink an eye..

That's our Stasia..
Nothing fazes ya

Happy Gotcha Day, pretty lady! And look for her again in the new Cat Blogosphere 2014 calendar during the month of February. That's Heart Month and she sure has all ours!!

~Tinker, Chopin, the Mom and Angel Tom

More Sadness

Ages ago it seems like now, we had a new friend who encouraged us to join a wonderful cat loving group, and we did. Whicky Wuudler was his name and he introduced us to his Everycat family, too.

When we lost Whicky to the Bridge, we were devastated. Now his brother, Gerry, has gone on to be with Whicky and our hearts are breaking over this.

Just recently, we found this beautiful picture and are thinking how much like Gerry this kitty looks.

If the Bridge has perches bathed in moonlight, then Gerry is there.

We send our love and deepest condolences to a family that has shown over and over how much their cats are loved. Unfortunately, the greater the love, the deeper the loss, as we all know only too well.

http://www.everycat.blogspot.com

At their blog, there is a wonderful tribute to a kitty whose time on this earth, like Tom's, was too painfully short. But, in that brief time, they give us a precious gift that we will carry in our hearts until we meet again.

This is my favorite of all the photos taken of Gerry, if we may. We wanted to include it in our own tribute today to a special cat and a special family.

All our love,

Mom Julie, Tinker, Anastasia and Angel Tom xx

Paws to Fill

Hi, everybody, Tinker here--

Boy, I think we might be making our way out of the blues big-time, finally. Mom Julie starts to cry and I hear her and run to her, figuring a cuddle or making her scratch behind my ears might help. I can't be Tom. I won't even try, but I can be cat, Tinker cat, and I can be kittenish, too. She holds Tom's wooden box and the tears start.

I can't even begin to tell you how I feel when I look around for my buddy and all I see is Anastasia..sheesh, Tom, how could you!?

Anyway, Stasia and I are getting along much better. Mom Julie makes us play together and she can't play and hiss at the same time, thank goodness (that's Stasia, not the mom)

So, we're trying to get our lives back together, settle in to our new home and I need my teeth cleaned. Mom Julie doesn't want to let me out of her sight, hemming and hawing over which vet to go to. She's getting clingy, my friends and, you know what? The other day, I almost jumped out of my skin. See for yourself..

Tom? Is that you?

I don't know if it was him or not, but I'd like to think it was.

It feels good to be back posting again. I don't know how often we'll be here, but we'll do our best. Meanwhile, those of you on Facebook, look for us..we're always good for a quick word or two..

Hugs to all of you who have cared so much.

Kisses..

From Julie ~

This is one of my favorite pictures of him, eyes closed, content, knowing with every inch of his being that he was loved.

For those of you who don't know, Tom lost his battle yesterday afternoon. The initial diagnosis was hepatic lipidosis, but there were underlying complications which compromised his life. Because of the holiday, the lab wasn't open, so liver aspiration cells weren't yet tested, but will be. I still have a lot of questions. Right now, I'm trying to come to terms with his leaving us all so soon. 

After having trouble breathing yesterday afternoon and crying out in pain, I helped him to the bridge. He was lying in my arms and I told him how everyone was praying, sending positive thoughts and healing light to help him. The love and caring of our friends we could feel all around us.

He sends kisses..

xx

The World Through the Haze of Floof

Hi, efurryone..Anastasia here,

We had an eventful week. These calla lilies are right on our neighbors' doorstep. Aren't they pretty?

Our baby birds are gone, flown off to begin new lives. Here is the last photo we have of them.

Even though their name is swallow, and I must admit, seeing them did stir up my appetite, I never had any intention of taking them up on their name. They were too much fun to watch for that.

We're counting the days to our permanent home. It's now 27 and getting closer! I can't wait--Mom and I will move in, I will get to claim my turf first, and then we'll head north to pick up the boys and the last of our things. We're still waiting for the movers to come up with a date close to settlement where they can bring our things down and arrange for a load somewhere on the way back. This saves everybody money!

Dear furriends, that's all for now. In between my poufings, floofings, preenings, snoozings, filling in for Tom, and everyone singing my praises, I'm plum worn out.

xxoo~A.

Excuses: Anastasia-1 Tom-0

Anastasia here--

My friends, there has been a big to-do about my being derelict in my duties. Tom's blog here I was supposed to take over, but my FB audience has been much more flattering and receptive to my beauty. After all, I did put the "face" in Facebook.

TOM:  Anastasia, you egotistical wench! I have handsomeness to the ends of my whiskers, not to mention connections to the big Dude. See the sun halo-ing my furs?

Such a body carries a soul unblemished and unbesmirched.

ANASTASIA:  Un-bewhat? Sounds goofy to me.

TOM:  Ubesmirched. Means unsullied. Another one of my favorite words.

ANASTASIA:  That nobody understands or cares about.

TOM: (draws himself up, all 9 3/4 inches with four feet on the ground) I'll have you know, I like saying big words. It helps my digestion, clears my sinuses and moves my bowels.

ANASTASIA:  You don't say.

TOM:  Let's get to the matter at hand. Why have you not kept up with my blog in my absence?

ANASTASIA:  I told you. My Facebook audience keeps me busy.

TOM:  Well, I'll be back soon and I'll have to apologize for you, you know.

ANASTASIA:  Go ahead. And, don't forget to throw in one of your big words.

On the Road with Old Thelma and Louise

Since the Tink and I are holed up in Maine and our sisfur has gone from a satin-pillowed diva to a travelin' road hag, we thought we'd turn over this post to her and Mom Julie's adventures.

Like spotting a mouth-watering bird hood ornament on an old Ford Model A..

Or, telling the story about a bicycle rider who sneaked up on Mom Julie while she was trying to tend to Stasia after a little highway horking. After a few dips and runs on the back roads of Virginia, that old familiar sound brought the car over to the side of the road. While the mom was trying to clean off the PTUs bedding, a man came up and started talking in a dialect neither of them could understand. Figuring the guy was one sneaker short of a shoelace, they both got out of there and in about five hours were in Maryland.

It hasn't been all hair and fur-raising. On a quiet hotel evening, Stasia's been caught watching TV.

Duck what??

Back at the ranch, it's spring window whiffies for Tinker and me while Anastasia and Mom Julie are high-fiving truckers and stuffing themselves on biscuits and gravy.

I can't wait for usl to get back together in our forever home.

Hope you're all doing okay. We miss you.

Til next time,

Tom, Tinker, Mom Julie and Anastasia


Pee ess:  Mom Julie here--just discovered that today is National Hairball Awareness Day. Glad we could share the above story! Tom says to please excuse his calling Stasia a hag. He's been wanting to bring her down to earth for a long time..:) Have a great day!

Left - One, Two, Three..

I know..


You're wondering what the old parish boys are up to this time.


With the title of the post being what it is


It could be only one thing

Tinker is trying to teach me how to dance.

I know, I know..

It looks like he's doing more holding me up than anything else.

He's very patient, but we're going nowhere fast

Finally, I give up and we call it a day.

My favorite grampie's blanket

So, furriends

I guess if I'm invited to a cat-illion,

you'll see me by the punchbowl instead of on the dance floor

since it appears I have two left (hind) feet.

Cheers!

A Fairy Tail: Catpunzel

Once upon a time in a kingdom not that far away


Lived a cat..a boy cat.


Because he was so fair of face and fair of fur,


His pawrents kept him locked away (sorry, we couldn't find a tower)

One fair maiden was determined to see him


To be with him, keep him company


But, she couldn't reach him.


Then, an idea struck


He turned around and


waaa-laaa...

She climbed up


They exchanged nosekisses and ran away.


Last we heard, they were living their happily ever after.


THE END.

~

Thanks, Tinker for being such a good Catpunzel!

Nosekisses to all!

Shadow Giant

We're baaaaack!

We took a week off 'cause Mom Julie was out of town and now, with camera ever-handy, she's taking pictures of us without missing a beat.


Here is an interesting shot that makes Tinker look like a giant..his ears come up to her waist..!

Isn't it cool when the sun makes us look larger than life?

I still couldn't understand how it was happening, so I gave it the old sniff test.

Didn't learn a darn thing, really.

Tinker snickered and said it was magic, or something about sunspots and gravity.

That scientific nincompoop. (I like saying that word, esp. since the word poop is in it)

It's the angle of the sun is my conclusion, but I go along.

Out loud, I say, "Whatever floats your boat, bro."

Julie here~

You guys make a terrific shot, both of you. And, Tom, don't look so pitiful. You'd be just as tall if you were in Tinker's place, I guarantee it!


Have a great weekend everybody.

Enjoy your own time in the sun if you can!

A Rest Nest

I love my toy basket

Such a good place to rest

With nip under tail

And bells under nail

Dreams here...


Are the absolute best!

Have a happy weekend, everybody!

High Beams

 Mom Julie has decided to contribute to my post today by writing a poem. She is no Edna St. Vincent Mewlett or Henry Wadsfurrth Longfurrlow, but she'll do:

 There's a new creature
 In town girls and boys
And he's making 
Way too much noise
He's scaring the nip 
Out of all of us, too
With such a big fuss
And the hullabaloo.

They say he possesses
A power scary
Making us all
In awe and wary
His lasers are like ours
It's true
But his are stronger
I'll prove it to you.

Just look at this
And be amazed
Although to some
He does look crazed
Have no fear
As I hear him explain
"It's just my reflection 
No power, no pain."

A little kitty ditty inspired by none other than just some shiny wood floor, but look at my reflection.

Even my toys are afraid to move!

~~~

Thanks to everyone for your patience as we are so busy right now..we'll visit when we can. Know we're always thinking of you..

Have a wonderful weekend!

Purrs,
Tom

Inspiration for Cat Transport?

Okay, here's a question for you:



Do you know what a DDPTU is?



You have thirty seconds to answer.



Da-da-da-da-da-da-da...da-di-da-di-dup-de-da-da-da...
(I borrowed the Jeopardy theme)



Give up?



It stands for Double Decker Pet Transport Unit!

Have a great weekend, everybody!

--Tom (I'm on top) and Tinker (bottom bunk)

Adder Girl: Beauty Only Fur Deep

Some people think that my sisfur Anastasia would win Miss Congeniality in any Feline beauty contest, paws down. Between you and me, Miss Moody would be more like it.

You'd never know she was anything but sweet.

Her bites are playful, her little whisker pouches so cute.

Sometimes she'll grab hold of the dangly toy and sometimes she'll just watch it swing back and forth.

That's the sweet side of her.  She's fun to watch because she's so fluffernuttery pretty and funny.

But, hold onto your nip nanners, folks, because the ladycat has a dark side. Actually her dark side is connected to her backside. If you have any ideas of messing with the aft end of this cat, there is hell to pay, I kid you not.

(sorry, no combat pics)

This is what happened: Mom Julie was crouched down helping Anastasia with her toilette and all of a sudden, ears pinned back and--snake strike! It all happened so fast! She had never done it before, even tho she's known to give a love bite or two. Mom Julie shrieked and I ran. I think Tinker was sleeping.

Maybe it was because she had received a hygiene trim at the vet just last week and hadn't recovered. There, she raised holy hell, screaming like a banshee when they went to shave her nether regions, or so I heard..::ahem::

Anyway, it turns out she doesn't like anything coming at her from behind.

Uh-oh. Check out the ears..

I wonder who's
sneaking up on her now..
(can you see me?)

Shhhh...don't tell her!

Have a great weekend, furriends and don't let anybody sneak up on you!

Hugs,
Tom

Talking to Plants

Sure...the plant isn't saying anything now, but it had a few choice words when I sat down, worse when I actually asked to share the pot! Why are plants such sun hogs?

Especially since we have much in common--we both are cared for, talked to, and fed. No, they don't have fur any more than I have leaves. Such a silly thought! Imagine a cat covered in leaves..

I'd rather look through leaves like I'm doing here. I forgot the name of this plant, but we checked it out when we bought it years ago and it's harmless for kitties. Oh, I forgot..plants are given names like we are. Another thing in common!

Now, mind you, I'm never naughty or do anything inappropriate in the pot since it's my cozy place to curl up and all. Of course, right now, you're wondering where I'm going with all of this.

Today, after I was done with the sun, I jumped out and guess what?

The plant had dropped a leaf right into Tinker's shadow. Between that and the full wolf moon, spring must be right around the corner!

~~~

Mom Julie's birthday really brought to mind all the thoughts about aging. Reminds me of the time a purrfect stranger came up to me and asked, "How old are you?" I replied, " As old as Methuselah and as young as a kitten on my good days." He looked at me kinda strange, then said, "I don't know who this Methtthzzzzzzloooshelahala guy is, but if you can act like a kitten any time you feel like, then it doesn't matter how old you are."

Good thinking.

Hugs,
Tom

Easy Like Sunday

This was an easy like Sunday birthday for Mom Julie. Thought we would all post this together, Mitty, Tinker, Anastasia and I since she's never posted a youtube video before and it was obvious she needed our help. Here's one of her all-time favorite songs from the Beatles..

Have a good week and thanks to all of you sweet friends for your birthday wishes!

A Little Talk

We're really beginning to miss green leaves, grass and warm breezes. There's been so much of the white stuff lately that I wanted to go back to this past summer and share with you Mitty and Tinker deep in conversation as they're enjoying the view....let's listen in..

Mitty:  Why is it kitties like to watch birds?
Tinker: Because they have wings and we don't.
Mitty: Why don't we?
Tinker: I dunno. Maybe it's 'cause nobody ever thought to give us any.

Mitty: I'd like to be able to fly someday.
Tinker: Nah, too much trouble. Besides little buddy, we're housecats, what would we do with wings? We'd just fly into walls.
Mitty: Yeah, I guess you're right.
Tinker: When you're like we are, all we need to do is eat, sleep, play and enjoy spectator sports like birdwatching..

Hey, will you look at that!
Mitty: I didn't see anything.
Tinker: That was a big old blue jay. Boy, he's so noisy!
Mitty: Maybe he's thirsty. We ought to fill the birdbath, don't you think?

Such a sweet pair as they look out the window together. Just to the right of the birdbath grow lilies of the valley just like these.

Mom Julie has a birthday this Sunday, January 20th. I promised I wouldn't blab her age, but I didn't promise I wouldn't hint. Let's put it this way, both numbers added up come to 10 and it's not 37!!

Hugs,
Tom

Sweater Theater

::The sound of the orchestra tuning up::

Tom: The stage is empty. The audience is beginning to fidget, waiting for the star of the show.

 Why, it's our Inspector Von Tink, outsmarting criminal minds once again.

 Sniffing out clues

 Possessing the keen eye of the finest gumshoe

OMC!

YOU'RE WASHING YOURSELF??

NOW???

THAT'S NOT IN THE SCRIPT!

This is embarrassing..

Or, maybe it's some kind of clue..

Like maybe the show's over???

::music up::
::applaws::

~~~~Last week's Year of the Paw received rave remews. We'll see if we can scratch up a graphic for everybody's sidebar who wants one. Mmmm...paw fetishes, huh? Is that what they call it when your human sneaks up on you and kisses your paws?  I thought so. We kinda like that. It's another way humans express their adoration and I wouldn't have it any other way, furriends!

--Tom