Happy New Year!

I can't believe today is New Year's Eve ... where has the year gone? So much has happened in one year, and much too much to try to recollect, but to say we've had ups and downs, but more ups than downs. Thank you all for bringing that special something to our lives that we never knew we were missing until we had it.

I know I've been lax on visiting and commenting lately with the holidays and such, and I promise to get back on track in the new year (no, not a resolution -- those you break, this I won't). To make up for not visiting as much as I should be, I offer you the following photos of us watching squirrels:


We all got very excited -- the yard was full of birds and a squirrel was digging in the flower bed just in front of the dining room window. It takes a special event to get us all in one window.


Maggie was very intrigued by the activity of the squirrel, who was either burying or digging for dinner.


Look at him giving us the business! Sassy squirrel!


I decided to give him the business right back.


Look at him, Bear!


Bear found another squirrel on the back porch. (The dead plant isn't really there, and is just a figment of your imagination. It's Dad's fault...)


Mom's sister-in-law said we had a lot of squirrels. Dad said he thinks it's just two squirrels, over-and-over again. Either way, it's fun for us to watch.


He's even taunting us from the tree!

OK, enough squirrel pics for now, I guess ... it was a busy day of squirrel watching, really, and not a bad way to kick off the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Be safe and watch out for the fireworks!

Tummy Tuesday

Some days it just wears me out blogging with no thumbs and I just need to lie back and take a nap mid-sentenzzzz...

Christmas gift from Santa

Santa left us a Christmas gift ... a crinkle hat. I guess this is like what his elves wear.


At first, we weren't real sure about it.


Maggie was the first to go in and explore it. I think she was really after the fresh cat nip inside.


Initially, Josie was satisfied to just study the bell at the tip of the hat. The crinkling made her a little nervous.


Eventually she did go in the hat. She was trying to sneak up on the bell, I think. She ended up pushing the hat around the kitchen for a few minutes. We're still trying to figure out this thing, and decide if we like it or not. (I think the hammock from Secret Paws is winning, right now.)

Our house is our house again

Our company is gone ... they left this morning and we are now snuggling with Mom and Dad. It was nice having visitors. We got lots of garage time because they needed the outside fridge for overflow food and drinks, so the door was opened a lot. And Brittany, the 16-year-old niece, would play feather on a stick a lot. But there was a lot of feet and movement, which made us just a little nervous. On the other hand, because we were a little unsettled, we got a lot of treats (and ham) for being good.

Merry Christmas to all ...

... and to all a good night (of thundering herd of elephants, and snuggles with Santa). I hope Santa brings you everything you wished for and more.




This is Maggie in the other tree. Our bigger tree is in the living room, but not visible to the street, so Mom put one in the entryway by the stairs. Of course Maggie had to try out both trees to see which is best. (I don't think she's decided yet, and we expect more tree testing soon.)

Secret Paws is here!

Our Secret Paws package arrived today and our Secret Paw is Forty Paws! It is such an honor to be Secret Paws with someone we've been following for so long, and they really spoiled us.


Maggie and Huggy Bear helped empty the box.


Josie inspected the empty box very closely.


Look at all this stuff!


How did it all fit in this box?


Huggy Bear picks which one he wants to open, then opened it with his teeth! It was the hammock.


Temptations ... worth licking your lips over, for sure!


I was very excited about the fresh nip and the orange bag of Temptations.


Nip is good!


"Where's this end go?" Maggie helped Dad assemble the hammock.


Maggie modeled with the collection of presents.


But then got so tuckered out she needed to nap on the hammock.


I think Maggie thinks these are all hers.


We were told to share, but someone didn't listen too good.


Once Maggie agreed to share Josie hasn't gotten out. Josie loves the hammock I think even more than Maggie.

Thanks everyone at Forty Paws for our amazing Secret Paws package -- we love it!

[On a side note, you may notice a little blue line on some of the pictures. Our camera is goofing up with one week left on the warranty, so we'll be sending it off and going low res on our pics for a few weeks. Bummer!]

Tuxie Tabby Tuesday

We had a visitor on Sunday. Mom and Dad were making themselves busy around the house when all of a sudden they turned around and saw this...


Huggy Bear was right by the door, too, but had his back to the window and missed all the excitement. (Please pretend there isn't a dead plant out back ... it was an annual and got shocked by the cold and Dad has been lazy.)


This is little Bella from two doors down. Every once in a while she will come over for a brief visit, but usually gets spooked by Mom and Dad ooh-ing and goo-ing all over her through the window. HB and I think she's coming over because she knows there are two stunning Mancats in this house. (Josie and Maggie laugh at this, though.)

On Monday, one of Dad's patients who works for Chick-fil-a brought them all stuffed cows. Dad shared the cow with us.


Josie likes the cow's message: Eat Mor Chikin'.

Mancat Monday

Sweet Praline asked where I was during the packing of the Secret Paws package ... well, I was in my favorite computer snoopervising spot.


Remember Friday's picture? Ironically, Dad caught me in the same spot, looking at the picture.

Company starts showing up today, so we'll all be busy trying to put our hair back from where Mom and Dad removed it. Otherwise how will they know this is a cat house?

Secret Paws is in the mail!

Mom and Dad mailed off our package to our Secret Paws friends yesterday. It should get there just in time for Christmas, hopefully.


We helped Mom and Dad pack up the Secret Paws gifts so we knew that they were packed right. Maggie liked this wand toy, and really didn't want it to go. Maybe Mom and Dad will go back to World Market and get her one for Christmas.


There were some dog chews in with everything, too. Josie was a little confused by this, and tried to separate the dog stuff from the cat stuff, but Mom explained that this family has cats and a dog, and we couldn't leave the dog out.


Huggy Bear inspected the packing, making sure that everything fit in the box just right.

So Secret Paws friends, you don't know who you are yet, but your stuff is heading your way right now! I hope you like it...

Finally Friday

It seems that Mom and Dad are requiring quite a bit of snoopervision lately. We've been doing all kinds of snoopervising lately ... wrapping presents (especially the ribbon), putting the tree up, making treats and party snacks ... you know, all the important stuff this time of year.


Here I am snoopervising Mom on the computer. See how I'm only partly blocking the monitor? That's me being good so that I can get some Christmas treats.

Mom and Dad will be doing a whole lot of cleaning and straightening in between a Christmas party and the Nutcracker ballet. We get visitors Monday, and more on Wednesday, including possibly two droolers (yikes!). I can't believe this time next week Christmas will be over. (And cold cats, don't be mad at me, but our windows are open today and we've been sniffing the air...)

Playing Christmas card catch-up

Mom and Dad have been chasing their tails for the last month or so, but are finally settling down to get things done that they should have done before. That includes sending out some Christmas cards. We had some addresses from last year, so those are going out today, but we have some cards still and want to send out some more Christmas wishes. So if you'd like to receive a Christmas card from us, please email us at jenianddean(at)gmail.com.

The Christmas tree is up!

Finally, after one excuse or another, Mom and Dad have our Christmas tree up -- the first one, at least. Dad says he's putting another one up tomorrow and putting ornaments up.


We all helped snoopervise, and Huggy Bear did some serious investigating of the box the tree came in. Here he is just starting to leap onto the box (he didn't go through the lid, although it looks like he could). Although he doesn't show it too often, HB does have an athletic side.


Huggy Bear liked lounging on the box while Dad strung some extra lights on the tree.


Josie liked the box too, and was trying to relax under the flap when Dad insisted on flashing the camera at her. (Yeah, Dad, what's up with using the flash and making her squint?)


This will be a familiar sight for the next few weeks ... Maggie up in the Christmas tree. This was her first climb. Later on, when the camera wasn't around, she climbed almost to the very top of the tree.

Mancat Monday

Dad was being lazy about putting the luggage away so I turned it into a bed and started putting my hairs on it. Then, and only then, did he decide to put it away. Really, I think I was putting it to good use -- at least better use than to help Mom and Dad take off again.


This was much more comfortable than it looks to the untrained eye.

Mom and Dad were mumbling and grumbling about wanting just one day to spend at home to get caught up and decorated. They were so busy with the annual volunteer dinner at the theatre that the tree is still not up. I'm not giving up home quite yet. Maybe since the tree is going up late, they should leave it up further into January.

[Update: This dog looks like he's having fun in the snow, but that video just reminds me why I'm an indoor cat.]

Finally Friday

Yes, finally Friday! Mom and Dad are running up to Atlanta for a quick overnight to see Aunt Tiff. Aunt Tiff just graduated from nursing school and we are all very excited for her, and Mom and Dad are going up to celebrate with her. But they'll be back tomorrow and then we get our Christmas trees!

Sixth photo meme and Sassy explanation

Well, I guess it was a little wrong to put a picture of Sassy up on Wordless Wednesday without an explanation. Sassy is Aunt Kelly's dog (but we all know she's really Dad's dad's dog). She has always been a big fan of Mom, and Mom and Dad got to spend some time with Sassy last weekend when they were up in Cincinnati. (She really liked Mom when Mom was cutting up some turkey...)


Here's Sassy out in the snow. She's a 14-year-old papillon and although she has arthritis and gray hair and moves a little slower than she used to, she's still full of spunk and will get out in the snow and explore all around.

Sweet Praline tagged us a little while back with the Sixth Photo Meme. We have a lot of photo folders, but this is about us cats, really, so I'm bypassing all the human stuff and going to the good pictures.


This is from February 2006. Josie is apparently bathing by the sink in a very dimly lit picture. This is back in the old apartment in the guest bathroom. Looks like Josie might be licking some water off her paw, but I'm not too sure.

Wordless Wednesday

Mom's new laptop

Just because we don't sit on her lap doesn't mean she can replace us with one of these things...


You can see Huggy Bear's strategy -- get as close to her as he can and distract her from the new laptop. On the other hand, if she can take her computer around the house with her, maybe she'll let us visit more blogs!

Mom and Dad are home ... late, but home

Mom and Dad came home, finally! Their plane was delayed in Charlotte so their one and a half hour layover became a five hour layover and they got home around 11:45. But we know they love us because first thing they did was give us love, change our water and scoop our poop. Now it's time to get some more love. I promise a better post Tuesday...

Very belated Blogoversary post, and a false start on a template update

October 25 was our four year blogoversary, and somewhere, somehow, it all got lost in the shuffle of life. I can't believe I've been a blogging cat for four years now. This community continues to grow and evolve in so many wonderful ways. I know in stressful times we can turn to the cat blogosphere and find a picture or video or story to brighten our days. Thank you all so much for this little unexpected nugget of joy you have contributed to our lives. I just can't imagine being a cat without a blog and blogging friends.

After four years it's about time for me to update the blog. Blogger has new customize features and I know there are things I'm not taking advantage of. Plus somewhere in the back of my mind I feel like eventually I will be forced to upgrade, and that the upgrade will be more stable.

I know William lost a bunch of links when he did the update. Also, for a while now Mom has been saying we need to alphabetize the blogroll. So I'm putting my old list here in case I lose any links. This list does have a reason why it is the way it is ... with the exception of Ginger, Timothy and William, all the others are listed in the order they were added, which for the first half is essentially the order I met them. (Ginger, Timothy and William are alphabetical, but I first met William, then Ginger, then The Fluffy Tribe, then Timothy, then Scooby, Shaggy and Scout (pre-blog), then the list gets in order of visits... if you really wanted to know.)

[Dad messed with it for a while, but we lost our Haloscan comments, even though they have an auto-setup and are supposed to work. I know I could go with Blogger comments, but I hate to lose four years of comments in the switch. (Any tips?)

Until Dad figures out the comment thing, I think I'll be sticking with the old template, but maybe alphabetizing the blogroll. In the meantime, and more for reference than anything else, the old blogroll and some links...]

Cats with blogs

Ginger the Cat

Timothy Dickens

William the Cat

The Fluffy Tribe (aka Poi Rats and Cats)

The PsychoKitty Speaks Out

Cat Tails by Mia & Ghost

Stumpy Kitty

Edsel/The Pooch

Scooby, Shaggy & Scout

Oreo

The Adventures of Buddah Pest

Timothy's Wildlife Watch

Oscar and friends

Mattingly

meep & Twizzler & Bear (and Buzzerbee)

Derby, The Sassy Cat

Crew's Views

Diva Kitty, Fiona Bun, and Orlando Bun

Four Furry Cats

The Calico Girls

Victor Tabbycat and Nina the Torbie (and Bonnie Underfoot)

2Carolina Cats

Fat Eric and Friends

Gigolokitty!

Yaffa and Sebastian

Meezer Tails

MacVet's Pets (formerly 5-Cat Style & The Flyer)

Les Trois Chats

Luna

Caturday

Prince Diaper

Princess Mia

Feline Oligarchy

Flock O' Fuzzies

Manx Mnews

Grr, Midnight & Cocoa

Random Drift

Forty Paws

The Cats Stephens

HRH Yao-Lin

Eric and Flynn

Daisy the Curly Cat

Chey's Place (Cheysuli and Gemini)

Kaze, Latte and Chase

Chase

Kaze

Latte

Dragonheart and Merlin

Jimmy Joe

Captain Jack and Dante

Kellie the Orange Cat

Cat Banter with Kimo and Sabi

Riley & Tiki (& sometimes Kesey)

Henry Helton and Clyde

P,B,&J (Pearl, Bert, & Jake)

Fat Cat Muffin

Vincent and Mike

Kashim & Othello

Lyra & Caesar

Gandalf & Grayson

Zippy, Sadie & Speedy

Churchill

Hendrix the Kitty

Sultanfus & Guy

Samantha & Tigger

Wrigley & Cobalt

Castor & Pollux

Perfectly Parker

House of the (Mostly) Black Cats

Sweet Praline

Tybalt

Monty, Survival of the furriest

The Cat Blogosphere

Pet Prayer & Praise

"This blog is full of crap"

Our affiliations

The Gorgeous Gingers -- Jasper

Tuxedo Gang -- Josie

House Panthers -- Huggy Bear

Attack of the Tabbies -- Maggie

Secret Paws

Other links

Pets Inc.

Project Pet

Low cost spay and neuter programs

Disapproving Rabbits!

Kitty Cat Dance

If you haven't seen the Kitty Cat Dance on Albino Black Sheep, I highly recommend it.

PhotoHunt: Breakfast

Today's PhotoHunt theme is Breakfast, and this theme is just too perfect to let pass, because breakfast is one of our favorite meals. I searched and can't believe I couldn't find a picture of Maggie stalking Dad's cereal bowl. I did find one of Huggy Bear and I surrounding Dad as he ate some cereal, but it just wasn't a good picture. (It lacked "sticky person" cuteness...)

So I went into the vault and pulled some of my favorite breakfast snack pictures. This is from a while back, when Gracie visited and spent the night. Gracie is probably our favorite sticky person (because her little sister hasn't learned how to feed us yet).


Here's gracie giving Huggy Bear a treat. Look at her concentration.


And then Gracie's showing Maggie how to open her mouth to get her treat. Although Gracie makes us work for it, the Temptations are worth it in the end.

Finally Friday: Flying out on Friday

Mom and Dad got up very early and flew out to Cincinnati to watch Aunt Kelly play the tuba in her senior recital at The University of Miami at Ohio. We're excited about them coming home, not just because we don't like when they are gone, but because when they come home they are putting up the Christmas trees. Yes, that's right, trees. Three of them! That's three times the tree-terror from Maggie. So even though we're not happy about them leaving, it means we're that much closer to having an indoor forest.


Unfortunately, we won't get garage time with Mom and Dad gone. This was a rare moment the other day, when I allowed Maggie to snuggle with me on an old comforter in the garage. I'm realizing that I am a cold weather cat, and I really like to hang out in the cool garage this time of year, even though Mom and Dad insist I'm nuts and that a warm blanket is better.

I guess Dragonheart and Merlin are still having some computer issues because they haven't updated in almost a month. I hope they get the issues resolved because I miss those guys.

Tattle tail Thursday

Well, this looks like where Josie will be spending most of her weekend, resting on the couch, wondering where Mom and Dad are -- they're heading up to Cincinnati to visit with Dad's family. It's going to be cold up there, I'm sure, and they have to fly, so I'm happy to be waiting here. Huggy Bear was acting out this morning, chewing on whatever he could just to get attention. And Maggie was snuggling with Mom and making it hard for her to get out of bed.

(Oh, and in yesterday's Wordless Wednesday Josie was looking at a piece of trash that had blown out of a recycling bin and ended up in our bushes.)