Halloween collar

Mom and Dad were at Michael's Crafts the other day and saw a jester-style Halloween cat collar. They probably would have passed on it, but it was 60 percent off, which I guess in their minds makes it a wonderful idea to torture is with. So they brought it home, and fortunately decided to try it out on Maggie, who always seems to be the one to get the clothes and ridiculous outfits.


Here's one of the few pictures where Maggie isn't blurry because she was trying to eat the bells off the collar. She wore it for a few minutes, and even settled down a little bit. But then Dad was nice and took it off of her so she could hunt it properly. It makes a much better toy than a collar, if you ask us.

Happy Blogoversary to me!

Today is my Ninth Blogoversary! I am truly amazed that I have been blogging for nine years. I never imagined that this simple, humble little blog would sustain beyond a month or two. It started as a way for Dad to see pictures of me during the day, and to have a little fun. Well, we're still having fun, but with a lot more friends.

My first post was very simple, just a little "hello" to introduce myself. What I think really helped me keep going, even before I met other blogging cats, was Josie and Huggy Bear. Back when we were living in our apartment, right around the time I started the blog, I met Josie and Huggy Bear. They were tee-tiny kittens at the time, of course. But it helped to give me motivation to blog. Then came visits from William, and Timothy Dickens, and Ginger, (and I even learned later that Scooby, Shaggy and Scout's Mom was an early visitor even before their blog). The community just continued to grow and grow into a wonderfully supportive family. I'm so happy to be a part of the Cat Blogosphere.

My posts and visits are less frequent than they used to be, and that disappoints me that we've gotten so busy. But even if I'm not coming around as much and commenting, know that I cherish each and every one of you.

This is the first picture I posted, and still one of my favorites and my profile picture.

Just a few more of my favorite pictures of me...

My extreme close-up

Showing off my soccer goalie skills. Nothing gets past me.

My neck curls.

Of course, a kitten picture!

And this is the picture of me that you'll see in the Cats of the Cat Blogosphere calendar.

And just so they don't feel left out -- here's a rarity, all four of us in one picture!

Thanks for following me all these years, and keeping me motivated to continue to blog. I am excited to see what comes in the next nine years. I plan on being a 20-year-old blogging cat!

African Serval kitten

Mom and Dad went up to Knoxville, TN last weekend for the UT-South Carolina football game. Mom and Dad went to the University of Tennessee back in the day, and live in Columbia, SC near USC now. So they were pulling for UT and feeling bad for Mom Paula when the Vols beat the Gamecocks on a last second field goal 23-21.

On the way home, Mom and Dad took the scenic drive through the Smoky Mountains. They stopped at one of their favorite pumpkin stands along the way to get some pumpkins for the front porch, and look what they saw there:


This is one of three African Serval kittens that were by the goat petting area. They hadn't had any shots yet so no one was allowed to hold them, which is probably a good thing because I think Mom would have brought it home if she could have. Of course, that breed gets as big as a small dog, so it's a good thing Mom didn't.


This is a panoramic of the Newfound Gap that Dad took on his phone. This is where North Carolina and Tennessee meet in the Smokies. The leaves looked amazing. The white twiggy dead trees you see are the hemlocks that were killed by a non-indigenous wooly bug.


This is the view of the creek (or Little River) that goes through part of the Smokies. The shortcut they take to avoid the traffic in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg takes them along this creek for a while.


Coming out of the National Park on the North Carolina side there is a field where a herd of about 15 elk have migrated away from the larger herd of about 300. The rack on the male here is about 50 pounds, according to the ranger Dad talked to. This was a picture on Dad's phone that was easy to upload. The good pictures are on the big camera.


This is another pretty view. This is of the Chimney Tops, the peaks on the left side.

Even though Mom and Dad were eager to get home to see us, they stopped a lot on the ride through the mountains to take in the views. It is always so pretty, especially in October.

Indexed about cats

Dad enjoys the website Indexed, which commentates on life through Venn diagrams and charts. This one about cats and lasers is funny, and fitting.

Snoopervising Mom on the deck

It was really nice today so Mom spent some time on the deck doing some research for a friend's engagement party. The windows were open and Huggy Bear was doing a little snoopervising. Dad was trying to get a picture of HB and Mom when, in classic Maggie fashion, she popped around the corner and totally photobombed the shot. Sisters...

Not exactly a cat bed

We had a monstrosity of a cabinet in our garage that we were keeping for a friend who got transferred and moved quickly. It stayed in the garage longer than expected, until a few weekends ago when they were back in town and picked it up. So while the garage is still cluttered, there's one big thing no longer there. But when it moved, the pool float that our friends the twins use ended up on the garage floor. Needless to say, I had to try it out as a cat bed.


It actually was OK, although this is one time it's probably best I am declawed in the front, since it is still inflated.

But what really makes this picture special is that I am matching Mom's original cat Fluffy from one of Mom's favorite pictures.


Here he is curled up in the inner tube for the beach. He was a pretty cool cat, from what I understand. He definitely had style. So I'm honored that I was able to do a tribute shot.

Figuring out their game

So we're starting to figure out Mom and Dad's game. You see, the temperatures are dropping a little here. Not to the frigid temps that a lot of you are used to , but cool for South Carolina. And Mom and Dad have been sleeping with the windows open. Well, we start to get cool, so we end up snuggling with Mom and Dad in bed. I feel a little manipulated, like they're making it cool so we'll snuggle more. But it's also a bit of a win-win-win -- we get open windows and fresh air, we get to snuggle, and they get to love on us. So maybe it is a bit of a trick, but the intention is good, so I won't make a fuss today.

Big helper

Mom and Dad went apple picking this past weekend. While they were washing the apples and taking inventory Josie made sure the Target bag that the apples were in didn't go anywhere. We really like to snoopervise.

Special delivery!

Look who showed up at Dad's office with our Cats of the Cat Blogosphere calendar -- Mom Paula! Talk about your special deliveries! The calendar looks amazing. I'm not wishing my days away, but 2014 will extra special with this calendar.