Flashback Friday

Today, we re-visit this week in 2013.  

Iza and Marley wanted to get in for dinnertime.  Wow, Marley looks so young. 

Marley, Ayla and Iza had some peaceful time on the waterbed.  The bed was always sort of "neutral territory".  And of course "Marley in the middle" always helped.

Marley enjoyed some time in a cat tree hut...

Outside, Iza and Marley were hunting companions.  No mousies were safe when they were out.

Iza loved to roll around in woods debris.  I always had to brush her fur with my hand when I let her in.

I also built a new birdfeeder.  You can see that the Evil Squirrels started to chew at the opening.  I didn't have a baffle then.  I got 2 soon after.  A flat one at the top of the pole and a barrel type right under it as you can see here.  No squirrel has gotten to the birdseed since then.

And I love having caught a cardinal in flight!

I had a flock of 7 male cardinals (and I assume about a many females).  I still have about as many.  I don't know where they nest, but they thrive here.  When I originally moved here, there were none around.

Happy Flashback Friday!

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And since this is also "Respect Your Cat Day", we MEWS want to say that TBT always respects us.  He talks to us as equals, he pays attention to us, he tosses toys around to keep us stimulated, he provides The Lap for our closeness and comfort,  he keeps our boxes clean, he makes sure we get good vet care.  He lets us outside so that we can be our natural selves much of the day (and we know he is generally watching over us).  

Because he just "knows" when there is an introoder kitty in the yard and we are upset.  He just steps out and walks toward the introoder peacefully.  So we know it is not just "any kitty" he loves; it is US.

We feel great comfort and safety here.

Flashback Friday

TBT:  Today, pictures of snowy events...  We don't always get snow in Winter, but sometimes frequent and deep.  The Mews have reacted to it differently over the years.

LC exploring snow...

Ayla exploring snow...

Laz exploring snow...

Marley exploring snow...

Iza exploring snow...

That's about as far as she would go.  

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The birds appreciate the sunflower seeds and suet baskets.  Both the seeds and the suet provide oils and calories, but I've read that the suet is more valuable to them in the coldest weather.  Why birds think of eating beef fat seems a bit strange.

But the important thing here is that I can count 7 male cardinals and I assume there are equal number of females but they are harder to see in most pics.

Plus all sorts of smaller songbirds who don't migrate.

Keeping the feeder full is one of the few things that gets me out on snowy weather.  I support my small flocks.  When I moved here, there were almost none.

Womancat Wensday

BINQ:   I had my first 2 experiences with birds close up recently!  First, there was one that landed on the deck just 4' away.  I jumped at it, but I forgot the door was closed and I hit my head on it.  And then the evil little thing hopped right up ta the door and looked at me.  GRRR!

The second time, I was out on the deck and one landed on the plant pot near me.  So I jumped again.  Wow, those things are fast.

Marley saw me try.  He told me afterwards that you cant catch them that way.  Ya have ta be hidden, like under a shrub where they land.  But that means I would have ta go out in the yard an I'm not really ready ta do that yet.

Both were too sudden fer TBT ta take a picture, so here is a regular pic of me out on the deck just so there is a pic.

Womancat Wensday

LORI:  I had a good time outside yesserday!  I caught a birdie.

And a froggie. 

A flappy an a hoppy - what fun!

Thankful Thursday

TBT:   Some rather unusual things to be thankful for...

I really have to keep the camera in my pocket more often...  I noticed a few days ago that all The Mews have sometimes been in either the Mews Room or the bedroom together all at once and in peace.  

Sadly, I couldn't get any pictures.  It's not like they are all that close together.  But all 4 in the same room(s) at the same time is new.  I can't recall it happening anytime before.  I hope it continues...  

Other things to be thankful for today...

Lori has always been shy about using the litter box when I am at my workbench (next to the litterboxes).  She seems to be getting over that (so long as I don't move suddenly).  Cats either care or don't about that.  Marley once used a litterbox while I was cleaning it, LOL!  Laz is a bit secretive about it too.  But they are each good about using them, so that's good.  

Regarding the above, Ayla remains determined to use the bathroom mat.  I don't mind.  Her poops are firm and easily transferred to the toilet.  She "covers" with a washcloth I place on the mat (she still has her cleanliness instincts if not the right location for them.  I have 2 mats both of synthetic shag and rubber-backed material.  

Every couple days I just soak one (and the washcloth) in the washing machine in hot water for an hour.  I don't agitate much, because they are cheap and I think they would fall apart.  I just soak, spin, rinse, and spin.  Then set the mat aside to dry while using the other.

The Mews don't catch my goldfinches or hummingbirds.  I was surprised to read today that cats can catch hummingbirds as the hover!  Fortunately, my hummer feeders are hung high and the flowers I grow for the hummers to feed on naturally are hanging baskets.  BTW, I always seem to have 2 male and 2 female hummers around.  The goldfinches main problem is that they won't visit the thistle feeders when Laz and Lori nap on the lawn below them.  I've never seen any cat bring a hummer or goldfinch to the deck.

Marley, Ayla, and Lori will eat about any food I offer.  That's good so I am thankful for that.  Laz loves kibble.  I keep trying to get his taste buds to canned food (and he eats some).  But I'm giving up.  If he really wants kibble to the point where he doesn't eat canned much, I will give him kibble.  But I'll try to find the best quality kibble that he will eat.  That's more of a Laz thankful, I suppose.

Lori adores the Turbotrack.  She pounds the balls (I added a 2nd) all around.  She can even get them over the bridge.  And she discovered the old small 12" round one in a corner that I had even forgotten about.  She beat that ball around for many minutes!  I love watching cats play.

Speaking of play, I pulled out a duster to remove dust from a wine rack.  Lori went after that like crazy.  I need to bring out the wand toys that Ayla, Marley, and Laz ignore.

That's all for now.  I'll probably think of some things I should have added while I am in bed later, LOL!

We Are Back

THE MEWS:  TBT had an anger issue about some Bein stuff on the TV News, and he dint wanna take a chance upsetting OUR friends or HIS.  So he thought it best to just get off the puter for a few days.  When we asked why that affected US, he said it dint really.   But since he edits our typing and helps with pics and stuff, he might "slip" and yell a lot.

So we are back with usual posts...

Today, we have pics of a bird Laz caught.

He even got it inside when TBT wasnt looking.  Marley enjoyed checking it, but left it for Laz.

It was inneresting ta see one inside.

I (Lori) got to examine it close up.  I don't much like the smell of the shrews Laz brings to the deck, but I like the birdies.  They seem more normal food.  It's not like I am used to getting canned shrews...

I understand some cats love exotic foods (shrews, crickets, etc) but I grew up with a very standard selection of chicken, turkey, beef, and fishies.   What wasnt on my tongue as a kitten isnt on my tongue today!

TBT will post about his reasons for being off a few days on his own blog.

Caturday Saturday

LAZ:  I caught a birdie a few days ago!  I was SO thrilled.  I never caught one before.  I was innocently sitting under the birdfeeder and it just landed right in front of me.  Well, what's a kittie ta do?  I grabbed it.

I ran right up on the deck bring it inside ta show TBT.

But he closed the door.

Its not like it was still flappin or anything.  He knew that.  He came outside.  He said "dock-human-tashun: but I don't know that werd.

I played wif it a LONG time.  An then I ate it.  I pulled the fevvers off, cuz they weren't tasty.  I ate all the rest.

TBT here:  Laz caught his first bird.  I wish it hadn't been a goldfinch; we have invasive  sparrows I would miss less.  And he caught another goldfinch the following day.  Now he just sits under the feeder waiting for another.  He has a lethal streak.  I wish I could orient him to voles, and maybe with the warmer weather he will start to find them.  We have too many voles here.

I'm of 2 minds about this.  Regarding the birds, nature favors the very slightly smarter ones.  Laz has probably caught 2 of the careless/dumber ones.  I've noticed the remaining ones (and there are many in my organic semi-wild yard) are quicker to leave when they see Laz.  I help by clapping my hands sharply when Laz goes out (which makes them scatter and stay alert).  And he never caught one before now after months of getting outside.

The birds likely became careless (or new ones inexperienced) last year.  Marley can't jump like he used to, and Ayla seldom goes beyond the deck stairs these days on the rare occasions she steps out at all.

Laz started going outside late last Summer.  And in the months between, he not only never grabbed a bird, he seemed uninterested.  So when he caught one I was surprised.  And I expected it was a one-off.

When he caught a 2nd, I realized he had a new hobby that I did not desire.  I laid down cut brambles around the ground around the feeder.  That didn't bother the birds at all but at least it kept him a few feet further away.  He hasn't caught one since that I know of.  

Laz is very agressive and has a lethal streak.  More about that tomorrow.

Scrumptious Saturday

AYLA:  From my private windowsill, I can see birdies .  Fat, plump, tastey-looking birdies just walking on the ground with out a care in the world...

TBT says they are called doves.  I sure would like ta "love a dove".   But they all fly away when I get outside.

It drives me crazy sometimes!

Werdless Wensday

Flashback Friday

AYLA:  I caught a BLOOJAY this day in 2009!

It was pretty FIERCE and I was even smaller than now....

I had some problems with it!

But I was persistent.

Actually, I wanted some help...

But it was just LC and ME outside then, and she wasn't helpful.  She always liked catching frogs better.

Aw c'mon, somekitty.  This thing was BIG!

But I werked it and danced it.

And eventually, it gave up.

 PLAYTIME!

I did my dance...

Wasnt I amazing?

And then I did The Bitey.

Finally, I had it for myself.   I wasnt sure what ta do with it though.

It was QUITE an adventure.  

Well, I wasnt even 2 yet...  So I brought it to TBT.  He saved the fevvers. 

Thankful Thursday

We are thankful for inneresting things to look at outside when we are stuck inside.

We are thankful we will be able ta go outside soon.

We are thankful that we will be able to go outside and look at inneresting things more closely.

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