Flashback Friday

First, TBT posted on his own blog about a possible solution to difficulties of commenting on blogs.    But that is not our concern.

Today we visit  this time in 2008.  Long way back!  Ayla, Skeeter, and LC were The Mews back then.  

Dad always claimed not to like cats very much, but he shook a rattley mouse to get her attention near him. And he enjoyed her attention.  Some guys just can't admit to liking cats. 

And she enjoyed his attention too.  She has always been attuned to human guys.  Which annoyed Mom no end.  She was always the one who loved cats (and especially Siamese).  I had to guide Ayla to Mom for attention.  Which worked OK.

I suppose Ayla was so used to me, that it transferred to Dad.

Dad was a mechanical engineer, and was fascinated by how cat toys were made.  He admired the "rattlies" inside.  But as I said, an "engineer". I bet if he had he designed one himself (and he could have if he wanted to), it would have been the size of a rat because he would have made it large enough to move on its own, have an opening for nip, squeak realistically, and maybe even try to bite back.  LOL.

Dad liked Skeeter because Skeeter was so calm.  I recall some pictures of Skeeter just sitting on Dad's lap (and Dad with a happy smile), but some pictures have gone off to "limbo-land" randomly.  My Photo Library has many early blank spots after all these years.

Skeeter wasn't in great shape then.  Dad commented on it.  I told him that Skeeter was near to "going to The Bridge" at 16.5 years.  He understood.

Meanwhile, LC (who was not so happy with Strangers) sat on the table and watched everyone carefully.

She was quite surprised when Skeeter was on Dad's lap (he was way too heavy for Mom).

Between parental attentions, Skeeter sat on the easy chair to rest.  That was my chair, but I never bothered him there.

I knew Skeeter was getting tired and leaving my world gradually, but I didn't know it would only be 3 more weeks...

15th Blogoversary

Its our 15th Blogoversary!  Well, actally, it was on Wensday, but we MISSED IT...

Well, ya know how it goes.  Days of the week are hard enough fer us kitties ta keep track of and dates of the month are harder - there are just so many of them.  If fact, TBT lost track of them hisself! 

So since it is also Flashback Friday and the start of our blog is kinna a flashback, we are celebrating taday.

It started with Skeeter and LC when they were both senior cats and has continued with Ayla, Iza, Marley and Laz.  

Skeeter, LC, and Iza have gone OTB since.  To be kind, we will show them when they were young...

The other 3 of us Mews are still here. 

And we are expecting a 4th in September.  So the PURR goes on...

TBT HERE:  15 years is a long time.  I never imagined that just clicking on a "Free Blog" button back in 2006 would lead to much adventure, writing, visiting, and picture-taking.  We have met SO MANY other cats (and people) that we never would have otherwise.

We are sad about the kitties who have left OTB or for other reasons but we are glad for the new ones who come along with new Gotcha stories, adventures, daily life, and sheer various beauty.   The Mews and all our friends have brightened up my life.  

And it wouldn't have lasted long if all of you hadn't visited our blog!  We thank each and every visitor.  Some comment regularly, some comment very infrequently, and some never do.  I think it is all amazing. 

I have an app called Statcounter.  Mostly, just tells me how many visitors I get per day.  But one feature also shows City/Country.  Our regular commenters are labelled by name (don't worry, it doesn't say much - actually it is just the city of the ISP and the number of visits.  I haven't seen "1,000" yet but some are getting close.  Well, I know our regular visitors have high numbers, of course.  

The occasional visitors are fun, too.  Getting a comment from some kitty just a couple times a year is wonderful.  I think "wow, they must have really liked that post".

But I also enjoy some of the "unknowns" who NEVER comment.  There are some from locations where I KNOW I don't know a cat.  And sometimes those unknowns have 100s of visits registered.  I must be doing SOMETHING right to have those dedicated unknown readers!

It takes so little to keep me happy, sometimes, LOL!

I wasn't sure how to end this post about my happiness to keep going with it for 15 years (and some blogs have been going longer).  But it occurred to me to think of it in terms of cans of cat food.  Assuming an average of 3 Mews and 4 cans per day...  21,900 cans!  And that's just the blogging years and not trying to count the treats and dry kibble.

I can't promise I will keep at it for another 21,900 cans, but I'm sure going to try for several thousand more!

Be happy I didn't try to count the poops and pees in the litterboxes.  LOL!

THANK YOU ALL

Garden Tour Thursday

AYLA:  Hi, and thanks fer coming along on our Garden Tour today!  We allus love having visitors... 

Im doing the tour today cuz Ive been upset all week.   Just clippy-claws, but I'll explain about that tommorow.

With the rain every few days and sun the others, the flowers in the Hummingbird/Butterfly/Bee Garden have been doing VERY well.

So we will go out there first.  

There aren't many of annykind yet, but TBT and we hope for more next year!

Supposedly, most are self-sowing older varieties of modern hybrids. 

But as you can see there are lots of differnt colors and petals. 

 We havent seen as many of the butterflies and hummers around them, but maybe there arent enough yet.

We have seen many bees, and we think the native kind cuz they don't look like honey or bumble bees.   There ARE lots of those around the yard, but they seem to really like the clover in the lawn best. 

And the butterflies seem addicted to the butterfly bushes.  Well, with a name like that, they SHOULD be!

Most of the flowers seem like zinnias, daisies, or coneflowers.  These little ones seem marigoldish.

We really like this colorful one.  We hope there are LOTS more next year! I think TBT will even try to save some seeds.

This one is really nice too.  I like lavender colors.  They are close to my favrit color (blue).

I like this one too.

We have more of these in the Meadow Garden.  I dont mind a little overlap, but I do think the beds should look different!

Now lets go back up on the deck!  The salvias are loving the new large pots.  Thats just 3 plants.   There are 2 other pots with them, but this one is best right now.

The marigolds are happy too.   TBT mixes his own potting soil each Late Winter in a big trash can.  It is about 1/3 sifted peat moss, 1/3 sifted compost and the rest is vermiculite and perlite.  It works for seed-starting that way.  For planters, he mixes in organic 2-6-6 slow release fertilizer.  The 2 is nitrogen (for leafs) and with the compost, they don't need much more.  The 6s are phosphorus and potassium.  Phosphorus makes strong roots and flowers.  Potassium makes the stems work well and moves nutrients around.  There are micro-nutrients needed and TBT adds some kelp meal and other weird stuff.  Sort of like vitamins in our food, I guess.

 These yellow zinnias are happy in the hangin basket.  They would be bigger but the pot is small.  I think we need bigger hanging baskets next year.  Bigger pots, more flowers.  That is kind of the point of planting flowers, right?

Well, THAT was a LOT of flower-looking for one day!

Lets settle down on the shady part of the deck (or the sunny part iffen you need some solar power recharge) and see what IZA and Marley have made fer us to snack on.

Oh, today seems to be "Piggy Day"!  No, not eat like pigs, "eat pig".  We have separate saucers of little cubes of ham, pulled pork, and minced bacon.  All cooked without the nasty hot spices TBT likes.  He always cuts off a slab of the raw stuff and poaches it just fer our tender palates... 

And what is THIS?  Nip cream smoothies!  And some crunchy salmon treats for a change of tastes.  Well dome Marley and IZA!

Thank you again fer coming on our Garden Tour this week!  We enjoy spending time in our yard with all of you...

Nellie, The Cat From Hell, Visits!

Well, first of all, we wanna say that Nellie is nicer than her title suggests.  HERE, as a visitor, annyway.

We knew she was coming, but not exactly where or when but that she would arrive in our tunnel.  So we were a BIT surprised when we were lookin out the deck door an she suddenly appeared there.  Its a good thing we look outside there often.  Marley isnt in the picture cuz he ran to tell TBT she was out there, and HE of course ran (dodging Marley in between his feet) to open the door an let her in.

We made sure she was OK from the tunnel trip (she was), an we made sure she had some of the best foods left over from the Birfday Pawty (Bast, she scarfs down foods like Iza does).  Well, it was a long trip an she was hungry.

So we had a great night an day with Nellie here!  After all sittin down in the cat tree, she told us a lot about her travelin adventures.  As we are not much into travelin ourselfs, we were VERY impressed.  Nellie has been EVERYWHERE we ever heard of and plans to go to OTHER places soon!

We all slept on the waterybed (an naturlly Nellie slept closest to Marley).

In the morning, we all went out to hunt mousies.  Nellie was concerned, but we showed her the BIG FENCE around the back yard and she was OK about that and as long as we were there and TBT was standing by the deck door watchin carefully.  We showed her the best mousie holes.  She loved our "Come Out And Play" mousie song and watched quietly.  Iza got one out an showed Nellie how to hold it down while it sang its last song with us.   Mousies sing so nicely...

But Nellie was still a little nervous about bein outside so long, so we all went in.  We had a nother great nap-session on the waterybed and then TBT did the kibble-tossin game.  Nellie was amazed but she caught on quick.  She has fast paws!

So we showed her our Turbotrak ball game, and she loved that.  She really got that ball movin FAST!

Then we had TBT sit down on the chair (after putting our "cat-sitter" DVD on the TV.)  Nellie was a bit cautious about TBT but evrycat falls for his magic finger-scritchies and she had a great half-nap with the scritchies and the mousies on the TV.

But all visits must end and Nellie had to move on.  She went into our tunnel and Marley an Ayla watched from both ends to make sure evrythin was aligned properly.

She ran to the other end of the tunnel, an then it was just like she wasn't there.  We've always wondered about that.  No noise, no air movement, just "gone".   Not even a "poof" sound.

We really loved her visit.  Mebbe one of US will try that sometime.  But not yet.  We need more esperience with tunnels first.  They are kinna tricksy.  We mean, even a sperienced kitty like Nellie ended up on our deck!  So we think we will practice in the house a while...

Thank you Nellie fer the wunnerful visit!

2,000th Post Party

Here we are, at our 2,000th post! We can HARDLY believe it.

 Its 12:21 AM OUR time, so we are gonna start the party.

Well, like we said Wensday, we didnt start the blog, an fer all we know, we may not finish it either.  But TBT said 2,000 was worth a party, and we are happy about THAT!  An we passed 100,000 visitors a couple months ago, so thats neat too.

So we've arranged fer the best food TBT would spring for, and all that games we could manage...

To start, we have dry treats while evryone gets to talk ta each other.  Crunchies are a good start.  The party games will start in about an hour (dependin on how many friends show up this early).

But there are TP rolls for impatient players.  They are the tricky ones on backwards, though.  MOL!

An lotsa mousie-toys on the floor...

UPDATE 3 AM...  

Wow, so many kittehs visitin SO early!  We are amazed…  Fortunately TBT is up late and is prepared ta stay up ALL day.  We (and he) slept early last night, so we are ready fer our big day ALL day!

The first ham came out…  TBT cut it up on the table (and we were all told (an agreed) ta not jump up while he was doing that.   Flying knives and kitty tails do NOT get along).  But when the chunks hit the bowls, all "Ell" broke loose.

(And King Spitty and Iza are sneakin around together)...

Update 4:30 AM - Oh the Box-jumping games have begun!  The boxes are started at 2 feet apart and TBT slowly moves them farther away.  Iza got disqualified at once.  She couldn’t do even the 2 foot jump (along with 3 others).  Most got to 4 feet away.  The winners got to 5 feet.

Spitty is GOOD at this.  But some Forty Paws Kities did better.  We have to go find out their names.  But they keep running after the rattley mousies now.

6:00 AM Update:  Well, we are going nappies, but we sure hope our friends stay playin.  It wont keep us awake.  And all are welcome ta pile around TBT in the big waterbed.  He'll like that and so will you.  Lotsa scritchies!

7:00 AM UPDATE:  OK, we are up again.  TBT says it is time fer a chicken!  YAY!!!  Lets eat!  But dont try ta get the bones, he takes them away...

Pee Ess - Has anyone seen King Spitty and Iza lately?  They are sposed to be helpin us clean up as the party goes along.  ~  Ayla and Marley 


8:30 AM Update:  Hannah and Lucy, Brian, Old Kitty, and Katie are IN THE HOUSE,  Time for THoE!  Line up at the kitchen door...

And.............. RUN!

And Katie wins!!!  Good Thundering, Katie! 

Pee Ess, has ANYONE seen King Spitty and Iza around? 

There are new rolls of TP put up if annyone is innerested...  And watchers can give the ratings.

Time fer a Cat Tree and bag contest!   You climb the cat tree and jump into anny bag on the floor.  There are several... Style and accuracy counts.  Iza will judge.  Hey where IS IZA?  Never mind, Marley will judge, then.!

10:30 AM Update:  Yay, The "Abby cats are here.  Boo, Abby, Ping, Gracie, and um, what was that blur that just went by?  Looks like another TP roll will meet the floor...

And its BOX time again.  THIS time, we will all get up on the empty books shelves and see how many boxes  we can jump into while keeping our heads above the boxtops!!!  Iza will judge,  Oh is she STILL gone?  OK I Ayla will judge,..

 Hey, The Florida Furkids and Lexi, and Samantha, Clemmie and Maverick are jest arrived! 

Good timing all.  We think TBT is bringing out another ham soon..  

Doggie bafroom is right ouside on the groundhoggie burrow, heh, heh, heh.  Feel free to go...  And the fence is secure, you wont get out away.  An BTW, any kitties who want to "do it" outside, yer welcome to.  The backyard is full of fallen leafs so there is THE BEST cover-up material outside an its OK..  Fr you shyer ones, there are four litterboxes in the basement an TBT keeps them CLEAN.


There is a clowder of cats here, so me hope me haven't missed anyone.  But we ARE fergetful of names sometimes.  If yer here, we DO notice...

Oh wow, the whole Marg cat crew are here!  Make room. make room...  Hi y'all, the Nip's in the TV room, and the treats are in the computer room.  Ands find a bag ya like...

5 PM UPDATE:   Oh WOW, evrycats are here!  All our friends and some new ones too!
 

Turbotrak time.  It was put away when Grampa came, but TBT has put it out again.  There are TWO balls ta bat around.  And fer those crowded out, there are ping-pong balls all around the floors ta bat!

Ham Chunks the Fourth is brought out!  This time, TBT is just putting it on a tablecloth on the FLOOR, so tear into it.  Floor level ham, WooHOO!  Try not ta shred the…  Oh Bast, too late…  Never mind.

Hey, Max is here, Eric and Flynn  are here, time ta break out the shrimps!   Hey Max, didya see that TBT cooked the shrimps in HAM JUICE? 

Meanwhile, lets get a good game of THoE going.  CLEAR THE HALLWAY!  We'll have 3 runs an the winners will meet later for the final thunder!

Where IS IZA annyway?  Shes sposed to be helping...  ~  Marley

9:30 PM UPDATE:  Grampa says Katie is pretty.  But then he is calling ALL of us "Katie" tonight.   Hey, TBT shouldnt we be seein another chicken about now?   And more TP rolls?

11:30 PM UPDATE.  Oh wow, more friends droppin in, The Island Casts, Derby and Ducky, Leo and Star!  Time fer more bag games!!!  And more SHRIMPS!!!   Strangely, there are some kittens asleep UTB.  We're not sure where they came fro,  But everyone is bein nice ta them (lickin and settling down fer nappies).

Let the bag games begin again! 

About Thanksgiving Day

MARLEY:  Well. let me describe my Thanksgiving Day visiting Lucy.  And this is long, cuz it was a Big Deal fer me...

Sadly, it was a 3 hairball day!  I dont mean literally, more as a "rating".  I was polite and dint cause anny messes.  But if that was a "date", I dont want another one!

1.  I dint realize what 2 hours in a PTU inna car was like.  Seriously boring except fer sudden movements that scared me on the way there and the same on the way back.  I dint have anny accidents an I dint scream or hollar (well 10 seconds twice, but thats not MUCH), but it wasnt fun!

2.  When we got ta the house, there were LOTS of Beins there all talking lot.  That was scary.  I never saw that many Beins all at once before that I remember.

3.  I stayed in the PTU fer about 15 minutes while Lucy came over and sniffed around.  I stayed politely alert and watchful, but quiet.  She hissed at me.  Many times!

5.  When Lucy settled down ta watch me from about 5 feet away, TBT let me out.  I crept out while lookin around, when settled down on the floor near the PTU.  Lucy hissed a few more times.

6.  Them we both sat there fer a few minutes until she walked away.  I dint get to offer her the squeeky mouse, the nip leafs, an I sure dint get to greet her much in anny way.  No sniffs, licks, or headbumpies at all.

7.  I found a corner ta sit in, out of the way of the Beins.  They were friendly, an I got lots of "oohs an ahhs", but I was nervous.

8.  TBT kept checkin on me and giving me some soothing attention.  A couple of the Beins talked to me nicely, too.

9.  Lucy came back and stared at me fer a while.  I hadda ask TBT to offer the mouse and Nip to her.  She sniffed the crushed Nip leaf an dint react.  She batted the mousie a couple times gently, then went up on her cat tower and stayed there...

10. I was in the eating room, so when all the Beins crowded around the table laffin an talking, I slipped behind the curtains.  After a bit, I got up on the low windersill and stayed there looking at the new sights outside.  That was nice!

11.  TBT offered me a little piece of turkey, but I dint feel like eatin.

12.  Lucy dint like TBT either.  He would go over to her on her cat tower, and she would hiss at him too.  She even raised he paws at him a few times.  I was shocked!

13.  Lucy is not a friendly cat!  Even her Beins call her "Luci-fur"!  Apparently thats a bad Bein.

14.  I was offered litterbox acess before we left, but I just "couldnt".

15.  I sure was glad ta get home!  But ya know what happened?  AYLA hissed at me.  Many times!  I swear, I never even got NEAR Lucy!  I guess I picked up some Lucy-furs!  She hissed at TBT too when she smelled his hands. 

16.  In fact, Ayla was SO mean, she told me there was a postcard from the Vet, an it has MY name of it!

17.  I dont think I wanna travel annymore, an no more dates, either... 

18.  Here are the better pictures. 

Lucy likes to guard her house carefully, along the edges fer safety an security.  I admire a careful cat who  snoopervises.  I am told she caught a SNAKE in the house once!

Lucy "greets" TBT before I even came in...

 In the PTU in the strange house...

I allowed Lucy to check me out thoroughly..,

 The closest we got...  It doesnt look it, but she is bigger than me.  Well, a lot of it is floof.  I was told she is a ragdoll.  But she is strong, too.

Exposed behind the hidey curtains after bein rejected by Lucy...

Lucy dint like TBT either.  That suspicious look says it all.

The best safe spot I could find close to the PTU.  And "yes", that felt like a safe spot.  I would have liked a towel or cushion, but corners are good.

She good at not lookin at the camera...

The closest we got to each other outside the PTU.

Me peeking out from behind the curtains.  They were very lacy, so I had to keep my claws in, an Im a good boy about that...

Lucy, Mistress of the stairs.

Lucy on her cat tower.

Yes, those are her real eyes!  I think its because she doesnt have sisal rope on the posts.  No really good aggressive clawing outlet.  We all know that matters and affects our moods!

This was her gift to me.  A little TOY Evil Skwerl!  That was SO thoughtful.  And, and, and, TBT left it behind by accident.  Waah!

So that was my Thankgiving Day date...  *Sigh*