On being a former pacifist

Our cat Frenchie spent the night at the vets last night.


I'll let her explain the situation:

You know that place in the Bible where Jesus say "Turn the other cheek"?

Well the other day the cat up the street Missy came through my yard and when I told him/her to leave, he/she just didn't.

I got up a little closer to him/her and made my point again.

When his/her claws came out and my face got a smack, I decided to "turn the other cheek" and run.

Apparently Missy isn't a good Christian.

He/she nailed me on my "other" cheek too.
The last few days I've been feeling pretty low, and my fur has been falling out 'cuz I have had a fever.
Jill noticed that I was swelling around the base of my tail too.

Jill and Bernie finally took me to see the vet.

The vet's nurse understood what had happened to me.
As she put it: "You turned the other cheek and that one got bit too, didn't it?"

I think this pacifist thing is for the birds.

At least for us cat types.
Turn the other cheek, my butt!


We'll be picking Frenchie up from the vet this morning. She had to be put under so the vet could clean out her abscess, and give her an injection of antibiotics.
I'm sure I will be writing a check that will have at least three numbers in front of the dot.
Looks like Missy managed to take a chunk out of us too, money wise.


PS: Special Happy Birthday greeting to Cessa, my grandgirlie cat, from us and all the cats here!
Can't believe you are already TWO years old!

Summer Days are so blissful...or not.

Frenchie:  "Ah, summer.  Time to relax, nap, and enjoy life."

Frenchie: "Life just doesn't get better than this for an old fat cat like me."

Jill:  "Um, Frenchie?  You might want to take a quick look behind you."

Frenchie:  "What the...how did HE get on the bird feeder?  You told me it was a squirrel proof bird feeder! 
Squirrel...git! Git right now!"

Squirrel:  "Hee hee hee....stupid cat..."

Frenchie: "You listen to me Squirrel.  You had better take off or I am coming to get you!"

Squirrel:  "Yeah?  You and what army?"

Squirrel: "I am fine right where I am. In fact I think I will take a little nap".

Frenchie:  "Oh no you won't.  I will come and get you..."

Frenchie:  "Any minute now, I am going to leap over there and get you".

Squirrel: "Fat chance Fatty".

Frenchie:  "I'm not kidding..."

Squirrel:  "I'd like to see you try!"

Squirrel:  "Ppbbbtttthhhh!"
Frenchie:  "Oh you are making me SO mad!"

Squirrel: "See ya later, Sucker!"

Frenchie: "Wow...that little buggah can really move".

(Frenchie makes a mental note to speak to the neighbor with an airgun who enjoys popping squirrels as needed. Having successfully chased off the squirrel with minimal effort, Frenchie blissfully returns to her nap).

Frenchie takes a walk

Frenchie!  Get OFF the table!

Oh wait a minute...

She's walking on the outside of the second story window, on the ledge, which is a scant two inches wide.

"I'd like to come inside now please."

(Now how the heck did she manage to walk from the deck across the window, then turn around on the two inch ledge and walk back?  I didn't notice that part.  It must have been pretty interesting to see, a chubby cat doing a 180 degree turn around on a small ledge. Sorry I missed seeing that!)

"Ask me no questions please.  Just accept that cats have mad skills that humans will never understand."

Sunday: A Day of Rest

Frenchie (with her slight wall eye) is getting drowsy.

It was nine degrees out there this morning...she took a quick spin around the deck and came right back inside.

Out in the cold...then out cold.

Hart stayed inside, downstairs on the electric warming throw blanket.

He can't think of anything that needs to be done.

Maybe Bernie will come downstairs and watch some TV later with Hart.

Right now he is out CC skiing in Mill Creek.

Later Bernie needs to sand and stain some base mouldings for our hallway.

Hart may be out of luck for a lap to sleep in today.

Tate was scootering around early-early this morning, playing pounce on anything and everything.

It may be cold outside but the sun is shining into the office window where a perfect nap spot has been claimed.

ZZzzzzz.....

Bitsy is soooo tired she can't even work up enough energy to tuck in her pink tongue.

She doesn't like to close her eyes either.

When her eyes are closed, no one can admire her beautiful blue eyes.

A "movie star in day dream" pose works for her napping right now.

The next time I look around, naps are being taken in new places.

Frenchie is cuddling up against Bitsy's favorite frog feet.

(Are you starting to feel just a tad sleepy too after looking at these pictures?)

I sure am....

I think Frenchie's white spot between her eyes is like an Indian jeweled bindi.  Someday while she is asleep I am going to stick a sticky backed jewel on her right there.

Our very own version of The Princess and the Frog.

Bitsy loves to cuddle up with the Christmas frog.

I don't think she is going to ever kiss him though. 

She thinks the Frog is perfect just the way he is.

Taking a nap with the Frog watching out for you...now that is just the thing for real relaxing sleep.

A Sunday nap: A truly fine way to spend the first Sunday afternoon of the New Years.

A day of rest...and cats have deep belief in the importance of taking Sabbath rest.

Along with taking a rest every other day of the week too.

Decking Outdoors: Done!

Mr. B and me donned our down jackets, hats and gloves and finished the outside decorating last night.
He had put the lights up on the eaves and lamp post last weekend; together added lights to the ground level areas.

I do believe we have the most festive abode in the neighborhood.

The snow on the front lawn helps with the whole holiday cheer effect.

The basket by the front door has cinnamon scented pine cones, some gilded and sparkled with white glitter.

It is a full on multi-sensory experience outside my house.

Added fun: Color changing LED tea lights tucked into snow igloos along the walkway.

I've always wanted to try this idea, but it had always been suggested on decorating sites as having a real candle inside the snowballs. 

That would be a bit trickier to manage each evening; the LED tea lights will last longer with no heat, are safer, and change colors too!

Love it!  

(I found them at the Orange big box store while we were getting a few more light strands.)

Rudy the Regular Nosed Iron Reindeer is barely up to his ankles in snow right now.
You might recall seeing him up to his nose in snow last year in April... 
(You can also see the lighted igloos behind the lamp if you look carefully.)

Inside: FOCIT Tate is polishing his posing skills. 
I traditionally place a red basket with green trim out on our hearth to fill with Christmas cards and letters.
He took one look at it and decided that this was just the perfect napping place.

He's going to outgrow this basket in another day or two.

Actually I think he is a tad too big for it now.

(Us grown up kitties enjoyed a ruby red Cosmo. Such a pretty drink.)
Hmmm....I sure hope I don't have to fight Frenchie for my drink.  Last thing I need is a Lynx Point Snowshoe Siamese lush in the house.

Yup, I think Tate has got "Posing" down pat.

 

I'm giving him an "A+" in posing in fact.

Bernie had taken him outside for a bit, and we had let him touch snow for the very first time. 
Snuggling by the fire made him a lot more happy.

Snoozing on the electric warming throws with Bitsy works good too.