Happy New Year's Eve

On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Second Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Third Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Fourth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Fifth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Five Giant Feathers

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Sixth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Six Fleecey Blankets

Five Giant Feathers

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Seventh Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Seven Sheets A’playing

Six Fleecey Blankets

Five Giant Feathers

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

I’ve been meaning to take pictures of my favorite ornaments to show, and I finally got around to it. I couldn’t find one of them even though I know it’s on that tree somewhere! Unless Leo stole it... but as he’s been so good about the tree I hate to cast dispersions on him!

I'm not terribly fond of cats in clothes, but Kitty Cucumber is an exception. I think she's just adorable. I have three Kitty Cucumber ornaments, but could only find two on the tree.

I love this one and I dont know why. Love the candy cane, the little mousey, but mostly the fact that the kitty is comfortably hanging swinging on the cane that captures my imagination.

My mother in law made this fan, it's full of potpourri and even after, gosh, has to be more than ten years, it still smells good.

This last one kind of commemorates the first Christmas we got our artificial tree. We used our wedding money to get it and I was just so happy that it looked so real but didn't make me break out in spots! We had three adult cats and two half grown kittens and I was worried all the time that they were going to destroy my new beautiful tree..

I was also quite sick that year and the medicine I was on made me seriously loopy... I didn't know at that time that if you had these reactions you are supposed to tell the doctor and let him change the meds. Please use that young naive, sick, loopy state of mind to temper your feelings on what happened next..

Christmas Eve, while taking my time to get ready after sleeping really late, I called Greg at work and told him that the cats were out, and I hadn't heard any problems from downstairs. We would keep them locked in the laundry/cat room at night so they couldnt get into trouble. After I hung up, I went downstairs and, to my horror, and through my drug fogged brain, I saw my beautiful tree on the ground surrounded by broken ornaments..

I'm not a hundred percent sure what happened next, but when Greg got home, he heard, from the drive way, horse incoherent screaming. Instead of coming in, he went to the window and looked in. He saw me beating on the cat room door, screaming and crying and not making any sense. He rushed in, saw the tree, dragged me to a seat and tried to get something coherent from me, even though he kind of figured what my problem was. The cats were all cowering in the cat room, untouched, unharmed, but I'm sure with ears ringing.

I don't remember locking them in there. I don't remember much about that year really.. I do know that the rest of the night, at a family party, I sat in a corner, holding my 3 month old nephew, away from my face so I didnt breath on him, as I stared off into space for heaven only knows how long.

Anyway, the next year, we saw that ornament and just laughed, figuring that was the cats having fun before the drugged loony started catterwalling at them. Had to get it!

Sixth Day of Christmas and Feathers!

On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Second Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Third Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Fourth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Fifth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Five Giant Feathers

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Sixth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Six Fleecey Blankets

Five Giant Feathers

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

New feather toys! I cant choose!

Ok, I pick you!

Flippity flip the toy!

*chomp*

We Got An Award!

You know what? I decided that even though I'm starting late, (the fifth day of Christmas), and even though someone else is doing the same song (with different lyrics), I'm still gonna post my Christmas Kitty Song.
So for your viewing enjoyment, here's the first five days of The Twelve Days of Kitty Christmas!

On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Second Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Third Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Fourth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

On the Fifth Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me

Five Giant Feathers

Four Jingly Balls

Three Furry Mice

Two Kitty Loves

And A Warm Lap in Front of the TV

And now, as the title says, on to our new award!

Abby at Manx Mnews gave us an award!

"Liebster" means favorite or beloved in German, and this award helps to draw attention to blogs that aren't too well known. Here are the rules for this award:

Upon receipt of the award, one is to:

1) Link back to the blogger who gave it
     That would be Abby at Manx Mnews!

2) Paste the award on the blog

3) Choose 5 blogs to pass this award to (they must have fewer than 200 followers)

4) Let the recipients know about their nomination by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Here are the five blogs we are passing the award on to:


Daily Dose of Dogs (AKA Cats With Your Coffee)   This is the private rescue that saved my Leo and then adopted him out to me! Chrystal is amazing and she still needs adopters! Lots of cute kitties looking for their forever homes!

Love and hisses  Who I cannot believe only have 22 followers because they have that many comments some days! Then again, I’ve never figured out how to be added as a follower so maybe others have the same issue..

Sometimes, cats herd you  An adorable bunch of rescued kitties!

Whisker Messages From A Church Cat  Author, Priest kitty, Blogger, altogether adorable!

The Adventures of Space Paws While she hasn't been posting a lot lately, it's a blog worth watching. It's looking like she's back a bit more now, so yay!

Thank you again Abby!


Merry Fifth Day of Christmas Everyone!

Late Boxing Day

Finally got a picture of Star in the box full of boxes! I think she knew I was trying to get a picture, she posed so well. For a moment..

Boxes to the right of me..

Boxes to the left of me..

Camera in front, so I'm outta here!

Well, at least I got a few...

I was going to start posting my kitty Christmas song, but then I noticed someone else was doing the same one and doing a much better job. So I might not post it. I was going to do it one day at a time, but I havent started yet and we're already on the fourth day of Christmas. Wow it goes fast!

Third Day of Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Today, as the title says, is the third day of Christmas! We hope you all are having as merry a time as we have been! The kitties have been enjoying lots of Christmasy things. Unfortunately, they know that Sandy Paws has already come so they don't have to behave any more so every time I try to take a picture of their cuteness and playfullness and Christmas joy, they stop. Dead in their tracks sometimes! Little brats...

Star tried to steal other kitties presents as I was wrapping. She tried to chew bows off several packages. She tried to steal her own present toys before they were off the cardboard. And the second they were off, she went nuts and flipped around like a kitten! Then I got the camera out and she just sat there..

Leo was an especially good boy with packages and ribbons and the tree. I opened and removed new feather toys from the cardboard and tossed them at him and he caught them in mid air and flipped them around! Then I got the camera out and he just sat there...

Monday was not only the second day of Christmas, it was also boxing day, and Star celebrated by jumping into every box, even boxes with boxes in them! She even balanced all four paws on the edge of a box full of boxes! Then I got the camera out and she jumped down and just sat there.. I mean, her toes were even splayed, half on each side of the cardboard side! It was amazing! But camera.. no cuteness.. *sigh*

The only pictures I have are of them NOT doing anything cute, but since it’s all I have that’s what I’m going to share with you.

Star the Sly

Camera! I'm outta here!

Yup, I was just flipping this thing like a kitten, but, sorry, camera!

Leo the Loony Lion

I know I had it airborn, but that was before you got out the camera.

Can't trick me, ma, two toys does not mean twice as likely to get me on camera with one. See how neatly I lined them up, too bad you couldn't capture that moment!

Nice try trying to sneak a picture hiding behind the chair, but uh.. I can see through that just as easily as you can! Sorry

The ONLY toy I could capture either of them with.. Star playing with her old Kong Kick-A-Roo!

Love my kick-a-roo, but the second you put that camera away, I'm back at the new feather toys! Gotta get my licks in before Leo chews all the feathers off them!

So there’s my ornery kitties! I hope yours are letting you get better pictures than mine are!

Merry Christmas wishes for hearts of Gold, Common Sense and Purr!!

Merry Christmas!

Not everyone is lucky enough to have Santa personally put the candy canes on their tree!

We sure love him, and there's the enticing scent of nip under that tree now.. Hope Star can resist for a little while yet!

All the presents are wrapped and waiting for.. well, for just a few more hours!

We all wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you have lots of furry love to sustain you through the day!

Andrea, Greg, Star and Leo the Chinese Lion

Leo and the Tree

Well, we wondered what he would do, how he would react once the tree was decorated. Especially after pretty much ignoring it undecorated. Would he bat at it? Would he knock it down?
(Hmm, perhaps one day I'll tell about that poor tree's first Christmas..)

The tree got decorated and we sat back to see what Leo would do.

This is the first thing he did once he was able to get at the decorated tree. Nothing.

Hey, you covered the parts I was gnawing on.. and what happened to my bent down back scratchy branch?

 Here's the tree in all it's un-lighted glory (where DID that extension cord go?!) Can you tell I like butterflies? There are plenty of cats in there too, and I do plan on highlightnig a few of my favorites eventually.. once I get the dang thing turned on!

This is the orneriest place Leo got, not even regestering on the ornery scale really. And he's only given bows a cursory examination.

And now you're putting all these boxes under here so I cant get there? After you put down a soft blankey just right for sleeping on?? You people crazy..

Star, on the other hand, a veteran of the tree and bow experience... has suddenly found some of the bows and ribbons irrestible! Naughty girl..

In case I don't see you again before the First Day of Christmas, (the 25th) Have yourself a very Merry Christmas!!

I have a kitty song just about ready to post, just a little more polish!

He figured it out!

Well, it happened and you all predicted it! Leo has discovered the joys of, not just playing with the sheets, but of getting under them! We had a furry lump under the sheets for over half an hour last night. He was not very happy to be disturbed to have his picture taken, but I had to do it anyway.

Star has taken a trip or two under the sheets, but she never stays long and isn't interested in going under more than once every few months. Leo on the other hand, didn't want to come out! And was back under again the first chance he got. He's always been a big silly, which is something I love about him! It's just a wonder that it's taken him so long to discover this fun new playtime.

Hey! Stop lettin' in the light! I was havin' fun under here!

Alright, got yer flashy pictures? Put the sheet down, I got wrinkles ta grab at! And maybe fantom fingers and toes to attack! Wiggle them toes now, daddy, I'll show ya who's boss!

Tree Time!

Leo got a look at his first Christmas Tree a few days ago! I know he was alive last Christmas, but he was in the Cathouse at Chrystal's and I'm pretty sure she doesnt put a tree up.. I could be wrong I suppose. So lets say for sure that this is his first Christmas tree HERE!

We have an artificail tree because real ones give me spots. I don't like spots. Spots are not a nice fashion accessory, they don't look good on anyone... So we have a nice artificial tree. That's been through the wars. You might notice tinsel on the tree. That tinsel has been on there for more than.. Oh boy.. I don't want to age myself, but it's been on there since the first year we got the tree, 24 years ago. Oh boy, I sound old.. Anyway, that tinsel is so thoroughly wrapped around and embedded on those branches that it would take a dedicated lumberjack five years to remove it! And yet, every year there seems to be some just hanging delicately off a branch or two... Those, I remove. Someday I'll understand tinsel logic. Maybe

So Leo! And his first look at the tree! I had the camera ready! And missed every shot where he was nibbling on a branch. *sigh*

What the heck... What is this?

Tastes... plastic-y... Scratches the back nice though.

Is this what you meant by 'lights on the tree'??

I not biting it, honest! Ok... not honest, don't want sandy paws thinkin' I'm a liar! But I didn't bite it much!

Ok, I'm being good now, I'm away from the tree... I'll bat it later heh heh

Star got her look at the tree too.

Oh this thing again. Why's it in a box this year? Is that MY box??

It is! It IS my box! You broked it!

You shall pay for this, you have stolen the throne of the Queen of the Box and she is displeased. Prepare to be scratched in your sleep!

In my defense, the box is to keep the old metal legs off my new carpet in case there's any chance of rusting, it will be on the cardboard instead. And I think she actually likes the box like that because she has sat in it more than once. We will flatten it once the tree is decorated and in the spot we want. And then yes, we'll get her another good box to play in.

Videos!

I got video of Leo doing the sheet bitey! I really wish my phone had a better camera though... It was the only thing handy when he started playing. The snoring in the background is Greg. And that's his foot Leo's laying next to. You might note that 'daddy' is laying way over on the side, that's so he doesn't accidentally kick Leo who prefers to sleep in that exact spot. Occasionally he will come over and lean on my feet, but mostly, there is where he is.

 I know these look very similar, but my phone only takes video up to 24 seconds so I kept turning it back on and it broke up into sections.

This last one I think is really funny because he's playing all around daddy's feet! Greg watched it and said it's no wonder he wakes up and feels like he's been through the war. Leo sure enjoys himself!

Tomorrow I am hoping to post pictures of Leo discovering the tree, undecorated so far!

Fast Friday Freakout

Leo has recently learned the joys of getting under the sheets. He discovered this by accident the other day. He plays with the sheets by grabbing, biting and pulling on folds and wrinkles. He will sometimes run and dive onto the sheet and slide across it a little, gathering it up and putting the bitey on it.
It was during one of these jump and slides that he got the edge rather than a fold and his paws slid under the sheets. He looked at his suddenly pawless arms in amazement! Where did they go! So I picked up the sheet and fluffed it, getting some air under it and he thought that was the bees knees!

Without hesitation Leo dove under the sheet and as it settled down on him he wriggled and scooted around. I thought he was looking for the way out so I lifted it again. The look he gave me! You’d think I just stole his best toy.. and in a way I guess I did. So I dropped it back on him again!

He only stayed under there for a few moments that first time. But since then he’s been back under his sheet cave more and more to play. He’s so silly, he always gets there by diving, no matter how high I hold the sheet for him! I think he likes sliding..

Then today I had a jean skirt hanging in the bathroom and bouncy boy bounced in. He saw that hanging there, not a normal occurrence around here, and he looked puzzled. After pacing, read bouncing, back and forth for a while, he suddenly dived on the skirt! He got under part and on part until he was hidden inside. Then an adorable little head poked out and looked around like he was proud of himself.

With his ears still under, he looked like a little woman in a head scarf! By the time a camera could be had, he’d bounced his whole head out, but oh my gosh, he’s still adorable there!

Peek-a-boo! I see you!

Ok, I called this a Fast Friday Freakout, maybe it wasn’t as fast as I thought, and the freakout part isn’t obvious.. But that’s what I call it when he goes bouncing in and out of rooms being a big silly goofball! Which is how this whole thing started tonight!

Presents and Play

A couple of my cousins stopped over this week. One of them brought me an unexpected gift. Her mother, my aunt, passed away this year. I memorialized her on Livestrong Day. My aunt was very crafty and one of her talents is painting. She painted me a beautiful statuette of a mailbox one Christmas. It was supposed to have, I think, four birds on it, but she knew how much I liked cats, so she replaced one with a kitty. She told me though, that the kitty never gets to catch the birds!

It seems she’d been doing paint by numbers for a long time. I’m not talking the little ones you give to children, but the larger, complicated ones. Like anything, depending on the talent of the artist, these can be really sloppy and badly done, or beautifully rendered. My aunt, as I said, was talented.

My cousin found three of the paintings with kitties on them and she decided to give them to me. She had a frame in one, and she showed me that one first. It was a kitty sitting on a birdhouse and I loved it. The second one was three kittens looking out a window at a birdie, kitty TV, I loved that one too.

The third one, she said, she thought was ugly and I didn’t have to keep it if I didn’t want to. Then she showed it to me and I flipped out! My favorite Charles Wysocki painting is called Frederick the Literate. And that’s what she gave me!

I looked into getting a print once, but they are out of my price range. I settled for the calendar with his cat prints, including Frederick. She probably thought I was nuts because I was squealing like a goon! I mean, I love that painting! And it really is beautifully rendered. I love the other two paintings! Love them! But wow, I have my favorite done by my own aunt, that’s just too cool! (Here are other Wysocki Cats) I can’t thank her enough and I can’t wait to hang them!

Leo, while shy at first, came out to see my cousins. And he even consented to play and show off his mighty leaps!

Toy Overload

Leo

I.. I.. I think I'm on toy overload!

FEVVER TOY! Ona string!

Which way did it go? Which way did it go!

Star

Your offering displeases me..

This is more like it.

*Snniiiiffff lick lick lick*

Rearranged

Wow did we have a busy weekend! I guess it should be expected, it IS that season after all.

Before I get to today’s post, I have to make a plea! Emma and Buster left a comment and on Friday and mentioned that their momma was thinking about adopting another kitty! That’s ALWAYS a good thing! My plea is, please please consider adopting that kitty from Chrystal! She has the sweetest kitties and distance is no object!

Anyone else looking for a kitty, please head over there too! Trust me, you will NOT regret it!

On to today’s post!

We moved a few more things back into the living room. Leo got all nosey.

Hey, I think I remember these thingies. Didn’t they used to have all kinds of books and stuff on them?

Look how tall my boy is!

Ah, stretch and scratch, my favorite passtime. You didn’t like this new paint, right mommy?

　

I tossed down a few toys that had been hiding.

That's right.. Keep walkin’ Princess.... This my fevver..

　

Don’t worry, favver, I keep you safe. Til I nom you!

　

Who needs feathers..

　

I got my kickaroo!

　

Ok, it’s been sufficiently subdued. My job is finished here.

　

Don’t worry kitties, more toys coming out tomorrow!