How I see myself in my dreams

Mom and Dad were browsing through Flickr with me and I found this picture of a lion leaping across a pool of water and I said, "Wait, wait ... that's me! When I close my eyes that's exactly what I look like!" but I think all they heard was the rumble of a deep purr that represents the lion inside me.

Floofy Friday

Question: Do all moms think they are funny? My mom sure thinks she's funny. Look what she did to my beautiful fur. I was up in bed with her, and she was giving me my morning brushes, and then all of a sudden she was brushing me the wrong way! And then she started laughing and taking pictures. Let me tell you something, I was not happy, not happy at all! My beautiful ginger fur sticking up all over the place like that. What will kittens think???

Well she did brush it back down and gave me lots of snuggles afterwards, but that's not the point. So I'll ask again, do all moms think they are funny? Let me know.

Thursday Thirteen #5 -- Answers and thoughts

We got so many great comments and questions about Josie's Wordless Wednesday yesterday that I thought I'd to a Thursday Thirteen of answers (and a few thoughts, too)...
1. Josie was helping Mom bake a cake for Thanksgiving at Dad's work.
2. This is an old Williams-Sonoma recipe from one of the cookbooks that Mom has been making for about 14 years now.
3. It's one of those recipes where when you go to open the cookbook it opens straight to that page.
4. Josie didn't get to eat any of the cake, but Mom did let us taste the icing and let's just say YUM!
5. The cake didn't last long enough to share, but I'll ask Mom to post it on her kitchen blog soon, because I know she took pictures of it.
6. Dad said it was one of the best ones she's ever made, and the raspberries were some of the best raspberries we've found since moving to South Carolina.
7. The cake has raspberry jelly between the layers, which brings me to a funny story...
8. ... Once, when Mom was first making this cake, before we were around, Mom had another cat named Fluffy who was helping in the kitchen...
9. ... Mom was melting the jelly for the in-between layers when she touched some metal on the pan and burned her hand ...
10. ... as she burned her hand, she dropped the pan and melted raspberry jelly went all over the place, and all over Fluffy...
11. ... fortunately, Fluffy was very fluffy and did not get burned, but Mom rushed him to the bathroom and he licked and licked and licked the jelly off before Mom could get him cleaned.
12. (I bet it tasted good, but I don't know if I want jelly splattered on me...)
13. And a totally random thought ... Mom and Dad watch Lost, and really enjoyed reading Hurley's blog (OK, the actor's blog) ... it's very fun, and there's a post about them feeding the cats that they find in a parking lot near Roy's.

PS We got our Secret Paws' names! We are so excited!! And as always...Thank you, thank you, thank you to DKM!

Wordless Wednesday

Sandy Paws List

With all this Christmas talk lately, I think I know what I'm asking Sandy Paws for....THIS!

Tabby Tuesday

Warming Tracey and Clay's bed
Originally uploaded by jenianddean

When company comes it means we have increased responsibility. Maggie's job was one of the high-demand jobs around the house -- warming up the guest bed. Mom and Dad try to stop us from doing this when Aunt Tiff comes (something about allergies) but Maggie was all over this job before Tracey and Clay and Garrett came for Thanksgiving. You can see how hard she's concentrating on her nap here. That's dedication.

Mancat Monday

So whatcha thinking about Huggy Bear?
Originally uploaded by jenianddean

We had company for Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad's friends Tracey and Clay flew in from Iowa and brought their two-and-a-half-year-old son Garrett with them. Garrett was fascinated with us, but Huggy Bear (Huddy Bear to Garrett, whose nose was stuffed up) was the one who was Mancat enough to dare to be near Garrett. Maybe it was because HB weighed the draw of the turkey scent over the fear of sticky fingers, maybe he was drawn in by someone who wanted to play feathers-on-a-stick with him, but by the end of the weekend Garrett was sitting in Dad's lap watching Conjunction Junction over and over again (he liked trains a lot) and HB was laying pressed up against Dad's leg letting Garrett gently pat him. Although we were a little out of sorts with the little guy around, it's only been a day and we miss him already.

Thanksgiving Thursday

Thanksgiving means getting a little extra down time around the house, but it also means company and the oh so wonderful smell of turkey wafting through the house. We have friends of Mom and Dad's visiting from frozen Iowa (our windows are open right now...) and their little soon-to-be-three-years-old son Garrett visiting. Garrett has been playing with us a lot (and wearing us out so we will sleep hard, and hide under beds). (The smell of turkey is currently overriding Huggy Bear's misgivings about Garrett and he's spending a lot of time snoopervising in the kitchen...)

Since this is Thanksgiving, it is time for us to give thanks.
Maggie said she is thankful for her orange blanket that she loves to sleep on and nuzzle, for treats, and her high napping spot in the garage.
Huggy Bear is thankful for morning treats when Dad first goes downstairs, for Maggie who always wants to hang out with him, and for not getting fussed at when he begs for turkey.
Josie is thankful for brushes under her chin, and the coat closet hiding place, and special Mom time when Josie gets under the covers and snuggles against Mom's leg at night.
I am thankful for my sink to nap in, my catstand to nap in, and brushes on the corner of my mouth.
We are all thankful for our family, our wonderful blogging friends and the good health of everyone.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and I hope everyone gets some turkey today!

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat -Toesies Tuesday

Since mom was so rudely gone all day Monday and I didn't get to post a Mancat Monday picture, I decided to do a two for one today. Here is a picture of my giant mancat paw on my mom's leg. I'm giving her the business for not being home all day yesterday. Please note my winter floof coming out from between my toes.Here is a side of my giant paw. Look at all that winter toesie floof!

Easy Like Sunday

We all nap like pros, but Maggie has been the big cuddler. We suspect that Mom and Dad are keeping the heat set low so that we'll be more apt to snuggle with them. So far, it's working with Maggie who has been sleeping pressed up against Mom all night, every night. Here she's tucked deep into the comforter that Mom was resting under downstairs while watching some football.

Mom and Dad just love how she rests her chin on her little paw. I guess as sisters go I could have done worse...

Floofy Friday

Dad says we are starting to get our winter floof. What do you all think? Is anyone else getting their winter floof? I have tons of extra floof between my toesies. I guess I'm supposed to go outside in the snow or something. I don't think so. We are indoor cats. It's nice and cozy in here. (Also we don't get much, if any, snow here in South Carolina.)
PS Aunt Tiffy - I will trim my toesies before you come and visit for Christmas. I know how my toesie floof bothers you. But if I trim my toesie floof for you, what are you going to do for me? I hope whatever it is it comes in the shape of catnip or a new mousie. Thanks!!

Tattle Tail Thursday

Well I unfortunately don't have time to give all the details, but dad locked Maggie in the linen closet all night. He says it was an accident. Maggie is fine. The funny thing is I don't think she cried or anything to get out.

I'll tell the rest of the story this afternoon.
As Paul Harvey would say, and now for the rest of the story...

You see, Mom and Dad have company coming for Thanksgiving (well, I guess technically we all have company coming, but Mom and Dad are doing all the prep work for the visitors), and Dad was putting the towels away last night. As he did this, Huggy Bear rushed into the linen closet and curled up in the bottom. Well, Dad saw HB there and left the linen closet open until HB decided he was done. It was late and Dad did a quick check (obviously too quick) and thought the closet was empty and shut the door and went to sleep. There were no audible protests from Maggie, and Mom and Dad didn't even notice us come to her rescue and camp out at the door as we sometimes do when one of us is locked in somewhere.

Fast forward to morning, to top things off, Dad overslept by almost an hour. So poor Maggie wasn't just stuck in the linen closet, she was stuck in the linen closet for an extra hour. Dad woke to realize that his carpool ride was sitting in the driveway. He called her to say to go on without him and he went to the linen closet to get a clean towel and wash cloth (good thing he's dirty and showers every day!) and when he opened the linen closet there was little Maggie, curled up in the bottom of the linen closet in a nest of wash clothes she had pulled down. She had picked at the carpet some like she had tried to dig her way out, but there were no "accidents" (although Dad may get an "accident" on his pillow if he does this again...). Maggie got some "we're so sorry" treats from Mom and now she's acting OK, hanging out with Mom and cleaning her a little.

Widebody Wednesday

Does this tiny Maggie cat make me look big??

What'cha lookin' at dad?

peek-a-boo
Originally uploaded by jenianddean

Maggie loves to smack her toys under the couch. The way she tells mom and dad that her favorites are under there is she gets down really low, and stares under the couch like there is a bug under there. Then dad or mom gets down and looks under the couch. It's really hard to tell what you are going to find under there. This day it was a green crinkle ball, an orange ball, a green mouse, and a Dots candy box from Halloween. Maggie loves to play with candy wrappers. Silly sister!

Mancat Monday

Since the weather has started getting colder, Mom has had to bring some of her plants into the garage so the frost wouldn't bite them. Well I thought I would help that frost guy out. I gave some of mom's plants the toothy death and then licked my chops after I was done.

7 Weird or Random Facts Tag

I was tagged by Puddy over at a Byootaful Life. She's a pretty House Panther from Australia. The tag is to share seven random or weird facts about myself. Here goes...
1. I snore.
2. I like to sleep in the bathroom sink in the summer when it's hot outside.
3. When I'm snoring in the sink upstairs Mom and Dad can hear it from the living room downstairs just below the bathroom ... I guess the sink becomes an amplifier.
4. When my brother Huggy Bear chases me and we're running around upstairs sometimes Mom and Dad wonder if a person is running around because it sounds so loud.
5. When I was a kitten Mom and Dad put the harness on me and took me out in the snow ... still can't figure out what that was all about!
6. There's a hidden storage room over the garage that I really want to explore but Dad just won't let me in, even though I sit by the door and stare at it. Something about it "not being safe."
7. When none of the other cats are around, I like to play ball with Dad like a kitten, but when they come around I act like a mature grown cat who doesn't have time for that foolishness (although I do really like smacking the ball out of the air!).

Feel free to pick up the tag and carry it on (I'm sorry, I'm bad about passing these things along...) but if you want to do it, take it and run!

Floofy Friday

Maggie is doing her best to be as floofy as she can be in this picture. Unfortunately, I am the king of floof in this house. Just look at my floofy tail.

PS Josie would like to thank all the kitties for their kind words yesterday. Mom and dad are looking for a new pink mousie. Pink mousie did have a twin, Orange mousie, but he's been MIA for about 3 weeks.

RIP Pink Mousie October 2007 - November 2007

Josie's dear friend pink mousie passed last night. He and Josie spent many hours playing and having a good time. Unfortunately he suffered a fatal seam blowout, and then Josie's dad stepped on him. He will be missed. Rest in peace little pink one.

Dona Nobis Pacem

I am so excited to be part of the BlogBlast for Peace. (I missed the first one.)

Tabby Tuesday

Don't tell mom, but I do bite Jasper's butt just to make him cry like a baby. hehehehe

Mancat Monday

To be honest...I did get into a smidge of trouble for this incident. Mom was taking pictures of me, and Maggie, the attention piggie, jumped up and decided she needed to be the pictures too. Well I decided to lay the smackdown on her. She bites my butt all the time and makes me cry out like a little baby, so I thought I would get her first. But after I smacked her in the head, Mom had a few words for me...like you're bigger than her, be nice to your sister, don't smack your sister in her tiny head. I said ok, but I still think she had it coming to her.

Anastasia's Dare answers

Some of you have asked how we convinced Mom and Dad to dress up, and this answer is actually easy ... they'd already done it! Mom and Dad dressed up like this for Mom's 30th birthday four years ago (she's 34 now, Dad's 35) and since they already had funny pictures it was just a matter of us picking out some glasses for them and jumping out of some of our favorite pictures and into this one. Thankfully Mom got Photoshop Elements with the new computer last month and Dad played with it a little so we could join in on the fun. (BTW, Dad did wear this outfit again on Halloween for his patients enjoyment and won a contest at work.)

It's been a lot of fun seeing everyone else dressed up too ... keep up the good work!

Anastasia's Dare

Mom and Dad decided to add some glasses to their picture in honor of Anastasia for Anastasia's Challenge. This picture is from Mom's 30th birthday ... they held a retro prom for her birthday complete with cheesy backdrop! We weren't there for the party, but we decided to hang out in the picture this time.

Floofy Friday

Puffy shirt
Originally uploaded by jenianddean

Mom decided to floof up Josie the other night. As you can tell Josie is not amused. The rest of us thought it was funny. Mom said it looks like she is wearing a puffy shirt.

Thursday Thirteen #4 -- snake

Last night, after all the trick-or-treaters had come and gone, Mom and Dad were sitting back, relaxing, watching a little tv. Mom had left the door open so we could play in the garage while the ghosts and goblins came around. So late into the night, Dad looked in to check on us and maybe wrangle us in, which leads me to this week's Thursday Thirteen...
1. We had a frost warning the other night, so Dad had brought all our potted plants in from the deck, front porch and back yard.
2. When he looked out to check on us, only Huggy Bear and Maggie were in the garage.
3. They were huddled around one of the bigger plants. The leaves and branches hang down to the ground.
4. Dad thought they were getting some leaves, or maybe the string of a folding camp chair in a bag.
5. But when Dad moved the chair, the string was still there -- and it was black with yellow bands.
6. It wasn't a string at all. It was an S-N-A-K-E! (About as big around as a pencil and maybe six to eight inches long.)
7. Dad scooped up Maggie and slid her inside, shutting the door behind her. Then grabbed Huggy Bear (twice, he wiggled out of Dad's hands the first time). When he went to put HB in, Maggie flew back out into the garage and straight to the snake. Maggie was ejected again (this time he used Maggie to block HB coming out).
8. Dad had Mom check for Josie and me to make sure we were inside and not hiding in the garage somewhere. (At this point, Mom didn't know what was going on.)
9. When the coast was clear Dad opened the big door and, using the broom, invited the snake to go explore somewhere else. The snake headed out into the side yard toward the neighbor's house. (Dad was torn between his respect for all creatures and the sanctity of his house, and left the snake with the warning that next time he gets the shovel instead of the broom.)
10. When Dad came in and told Mom it gave her the heebie-jeebies (although I looked hard and couldn't see any heebies or jeebies).
11. To give Mom peace of mind Dad went back into the garage (had to fight HB and Maggie back again) and swept out the garage, inspected plants, shook out sheets and comforters lying around to check for a nest or other freeloaders. (The sheets and comforters are to cover the storage stuff in the garage, and for us to nap on -- we're not slobs, really, we're not.)
12. Dad found nothing, but cleaned out some leaves and mulch from some of the plants to make sure everything was clear.
13. Mom says no more garage time for us for a while. She's afraid the snake could have come inside, but we've assured her that we'd hunt it for her and protect her if it tried to get sneaky.

[Update: Dad thinks it is a non-venomous Eastern King Snake. He found pictures of what it kinda looked like, and pictures of what it might grow into. Mom saw these and said, "YIKES! That might eat kittens!" But Dad assured her that it wouldn't.]