Odd Inheritances

My interests and tastes have always been quite different from other women I know. Male friends and colleagues notice this. Whenever a significant other wants something out of the house it often ends up with me.

One coworker’s son left behind his large Cartman, one of the “South Park” characters. Please ignore the fur on his face. Jezebel used to tuck up against him occasionally, hiding from kittens Terra and Polly. I never had the heart to remove the evidence.

I forget which spouse disliked Marvin the Martian...
How could anyone hate this grumpy little dude?

A buddy’s ex wife didn’t like his collection of H.P. Lovecraft plush toys. Shoggoth and Cthulhu were received with open arms.

Greetings from R’lyeh...

Shoggoth is upside down here;
I like the... mouth (?)...

That same dude’s former spouse kicked his poor wampa out the door. I have two cute versions purchased from Walt Disney World decades ago. The first got misplaced and we bought a second during another Orlando, FL trip. Personally, I think three wampas turn a house into a home.

Polly shows no fear of this harmless specimen...

Somehow my brothers and I played with this lawn toy without injury. Inside the box I found a useful surprise.

The tips are as hefty (dangerous) as they appear...

I don’t know why I never pulled those out of the box before the other day. The find’s timing was perfect as I needed some way to store various brimmed hats in a convenient way in which they wouldn’t receive damage.

The craftmanship is amazing...

 

This and another package had never even been opened!
I wish I had more of these beauties...

Can you imagine today’s parents buying something so dangerous to toss around the yard? Is it any surprise Jarts were linked to three tragic child deaths and over 6,000 emergency room visits?

My Silly Girls

I adore how Terra's side-eye toward the camera make her look evil while her claws did not penetrate my shoulder in the slightest...

Polly has adorable "thumbs" while her
pollywogs outnumber them...

Dandelion is a huge goof that
defies this refined posture...

Do you know that still forming tadpoles are called polywogs? How perfect is that term for Polly's lesser toes?

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Polly, Don't Change

I wiped up a bit of fur off my comforter and immediately Polly acted interested. The title is what we say to her on a regular basis.

 

Do you think pets act cute on purpose? Can you spot the extra toes on her murder mitten?

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Two Furry Friends

One new green pal has potential to provide tasty tomatoes this summer. I am pleased that buds are forming already.

Their fuzzy appearance is cute while a close-up reminds
me of Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors...

This blissful perpetual kitten I filmed likes huffing catnip from a toy Halloween treat bag. It has a jingle ball inside. Twice now I’ve seen Polly momentarily get it stuck on her head.

Have you been following any of the ongoing space exploration? And on an earthly note, do you think Polly stuck her face in so far because the months old ‘nip is losing potency?

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Looking on the Bright Side

I’m not having much luck with my coveted Super Sauce Roma tomato seedlings. The ones that sprouted are really leggy and others are stubbornly not sprouting at all. On the bright side, we have a backup plan; Burpee sells living plants as well as Super Sauce seeds. I don’t know how much those cost and probably don’t want to know. If my husband is that determined I grow them, I won’t complain about price.

The one on the far left got moved earlier in its growth;
I guess this variety needs bright light and less heat.

Sisters Terra and Polly usually follow me whenever I go downstairs. My little greenhouse setup is behind a closed door and they’ll sit outside waiting. But not every time. The pair might have been asleep when I went down the other day. I came out and saw them from the foot of the staircase.

My snoopervisors...

Do you think the vine-like little plants might survive? Did you know they shouldn’t be fertilized until their first mature leaves appear?

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An Early Morning Mystery

After Dandelion joined me on the bed this morning I didn’t notice at first that she had dark brown staining behind her right ear. I can only imagine Terra or Polly swatted her ear and drew blood sometime overnight.

She ate kibble as if nothing happened...

My husband asked if I wanted to make a vet appointment. She acted her normal self, even alongside the sisters, so I didn’t see the point of stressing her. Dani later cleaned up a good portion of the stains.

The three have been doing so well. I hope this is an anomaly. At least Dandelion’s blood didn’t spatter the ceiling as happened years ago. That night she ran high onto a cat tree and swatted at her tormenters with her wounded paw. Ugh… Worse still, our beloved angel Tilly once received a mysterious slash to her neck.

We had no idea at the time, though she acted a bit uncharacteristic. My parents were visiting and the four of us went out for breakfast when my husband decided to leave and check on her. He discovered her downstairs, bleeding.

Aren’t I lucky to have married a man with great instincts and even greater compassion? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all beings who lack communications skills could express themselves?

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Pre-Vet Visit Nail Trim

Despite the side-eyed expression, she was a doll...

Kitties in Repose

These three cats make me laugh every day. I cannot imagine life without them.

Are crossed paws not the cutest?
(Dandelion)

Do you see the milk dots on her nose?
She only gets a taste, by the way...
(Polly)

Doesn’t she look contemplative?
(Terra)

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Polly the Punk

For several minutes Dandelion and Polly peacefully shared a tabletop the other day. Then I turned and found this little hooligan alone.

I like how this closeup makes the harmless
fluff ball look menacing...

Isn’t it nice that Dandelion didn’t let this stop her getting a drink? Do you think she will ever join in our younger twins’ play fights?

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Squished

I am forever grateful to the Gem City Catfé for letting us adopt sisters Terra and Polly. While they are not inseparable, it’s impossible to know what they’ll get up to when they are together.

How can this be comfortable?

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What?!

Polly is a gentle cat, for sure. And she is as goofy as they come, such as never failing to get drinking water drops on her nose. I wanted to photograph the cute phenomenon but this photo fail made me just as happy.

How do you great animal photographers get your subjects to cooperate?

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A Tale of Three Kitties

This post is nowhere near epic as the title suggests. Sorry, Mr. Dickens, for any copyright infringement. ~grin~ But I just had to share each of our girls’ unique quirks.

Polly is known as The Great Ribbon Slayer. I think she wanted her sister’s assistance when this image was taken.

I just needed a beauty shot before continuing...

This time, Terra did not assist in killing ribbons. She enjoyed peering out the bedroom window before jumping to the top of my dresser. For reasons I cannot comprehend she occasionally becomes fascinated by my fan, which was running when she made the leap.

Your photos cannot do my majestic beauty justice...

Our One Fanged White Wonder (so nicknamed after her expensive dental extractions) received a very unprofessional haircut from me. At the right angle viewing her backside, it looks like she’s wearing a frilly miniskirt. Alas, my botched job did not prevent the buildup of a hairball.

Excuse my superior digestive system,
frail human...

In my effort to apologize for shaming her I took this much more flattering photo of her lounging. It disturbed her nap, though, so I guess a further apology is needed.

I am gorgeous no matter what you do to my fur...

Should I expect a thanks from craft stores for protecting their stock of ribbons? Do you think I have a future as a pet grooming trendsetter?

The Floof of Doom

As mentioned before, our kitties each have multiple silly nicknames. Polly with all her extra toes and fluffy fur still earned some boss ones, or what I like to call Biker names. One of them follows the theme from my title: Floofing Thunder. I literally knew some bikers who went by Lightning and Thunder, some of the sweetest guys you can imagine.

The one used specifically for my title is especially appropriate for this post. I had my Suncatcher unit that simulates sunlight, gifted a few years ago by my husband. She got on the cat tree beside my desk and sat just far enough forward that the bright beam below lit her fur just so.

She believes in catch and release, even
for the most annoying bugs...

Is she adorable even looking somewhat villainous? Are you familiar with products that allegedly lessen depression from Seasonal Affective Disorder?

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My very Biased Toktoberfest 2024 Family Winner

My husband accused me of faking this... Nope.
How can anyone fake silly Polly's pose?
All I can say to our silly girl is,
"Please don't ever change."

 

Why Our Carpet Looks Awful

This house, built in 1978, has all original carpet as far as we know. My husband and I had one bathroom and the kitchen renovated years ago, plus new entryway flooring installed. Outside is another story altogether. Anyway, the following illustrates why we’ve left the carpet alone.

While I make grooming attempts, Terra and Polly wrestling gets the job done better. Check this out…

I must be clear that we’d rather have our silly kitties than a neat and tidy house. They are well behaved felines with only the expected issues.

Meanwhile, Dandelion is a long legged female with great strength. We think she never enjoyed a proper kittenhood before we took her in. By the way, my husband doesn’t know she’s shredded anything but cat furniture.

Look at those pink ear tips as she
surveys her efforts...

Do you prefer rugs and carpeting? If not, what is your favorite flooring material?

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Three's Company

Upon returning from the grocery store this afternoon I was pleased to see Terra about a foot away from Dandelion on our bed. Several minutes later, Polly had joined her sister for a mutual grooming session. This development made us very happy.

Before I got up, Dani had settled on my side. We have the sweetest cats. And I can say the same about the three who lived here before passing away.

I like having my smart phone handy...

I took the next image a while back. This little unicorn tent sits on the guest bed. If Terra had a bushy tail like Polly’s I might assume there is just one cat in there.

I once feared the tent too small for a cat;
Obviously, I was wrong...

Can you see the second pair of kitty ears in the tent? Isn’t it funny that I sort of ‘photo bombed’ both of my own images?

One Wild Bird and Six Pet Kitty Names

Our kind friend Strayer expressed interest in video I took during my riverside walk. Here are two, in fact. ~grin~ The first shows a very determined crane on the hunt. I’m impressed by how still they can stand even near raging waters.

Then I must have gotten too close, which made me feel bad. At least I got to see its majestic flight.

On her blog, Pam shared a cute game in which you try to describe a pet’s name without declaring it outright. I just had to join the fun. I’ll start with the three sweethearts we’ve lost over the last decade, listing each in order of their arrival into our hearts and home. Of course each is listed under my blog’s labels but I’ll put the answers below…

Our Earth’s moon in Latin
Actresses Meg and Jennifer
The wicked wife of Israeli King Ahab
The Earth, ‘firma’
Who wants a cracker?
A prolific yellow flowering weed

Do you think the bird recognized my predatory ocular orientation? And since cats are both predator and prey, why don’t they have a second set of eyes on the sides of their heads?

Here are the girls’ names:
Luna
Tilly
Jezebel
Terra
Polly
Dandelion


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A Curious Analysis Has Me Baffled – & – Our Silly Polly

Yesterday morning I took Terra and Polly for their annual vet check-up. Last year the clinic sent me home with Gabapentin for their next visit. It irked me that I was expected to drug my cats.

Worse, the listed expiration date was sometime last summer, so no way did I plan on using it. I told the technician they hadn’t been given this expired (!) medication but that I’d trimmed their front claws the day before. Well, the girls did great other than some hissing and growling.

Apparently they have a reputation, though, as the veterinarian I’d never met before mentioned Terra climbing on top of the wall mounted computer monitor and heading for the built-in high cupboards last time. She didn’t try any stunts yesterday.

He did have to wait until her lengthy low growl subsided in order to hear her heartbeat. lol They each received a CVR booster shot and we came right home.

My husband is equally confused by the vet’s diagnosis of mild obesity and thought perhaps it was to sell me some expensive diet pet food. But the doctor’s sole suggestion involved set feeding times. In agreement, I can’t convince my spouse to stop leaving kibble constantly available. ~sigh~ Meanwhile, neither gained weight over the past year.

Our athletic Terra remains at eleven pounds, her sister at eight. I do agree that Polly’s long coat needs more attention. For that matter, so does Dandelion’s; she will get her check-up sometime in late spring.

Should I be more open to sedating my pets? For experienced cat caretakers, do you think the vet rightly judged them overweight by feel despite lack of any gain?

 

A Queen on Her Heated Bed & Two Princesses in a Cozy Tent

The day before our cat Tilly passed away a pet heating pad arrived for her. I’m happy to have seen Jezebel enjoy the warmth until she passed away. Now it’s Dandelion’s turn.

I still cannot get over how pink she is under that white fur...

And this adorable unicorn tent is seeing more use. Terra is inside as I type but here’s a slightly older image of her with sister Polly.

 

These two have super pale skin beneath their black fur...

Aren’t animal coat varieties fascinating? Do you know some mammals (such as Dalmation dogs, leopards, and tigers) wear their fur pattern like a tattoo?

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The Dumb, the Fun, and the Cute

Somehow I managed to post the title “Two Clarifications” after believing it deleted. Back-dated to November 1st it got buried in my timeline. ~sigh~ Twice addressing the same issue about my interaction with the lifeguard is embarrassing but I don’t really consider myself dumb, just technologically challenged. My subject tag stating the contrary is all in good fun.

In other news, my husband discovered wall plugs, a power strip, and even light bulbs that are controllable via smart phone. Now when I’ve been outside or away from home I can tell if his oxygen concentrator is on. If it’s on I know he’s napping and enter quiet as possible.

Electrical outlet controls are obviously limited to on/off but the bulbs are fun. They allow us to change intensity as well as color (!) which means we can set mood lighting for a creepy movie. Anyone who knows me in the slightest can probably guess that I sometimes enjoy messing with him from afar. Don’t judge; he does the same to me on occasion.

A Blurry Dandelion glows in the black light setting...

More cuteness comes in the form of Terra spending time near my desk on the newly purchased cat tree. She’s a bit tough to photograph being in near constant motion.

She is one of my best friends...

Precious Polly is more of a lounger. Seeing her toes dangle off a different piece of cat furniture inspired me to take photos.

She does not let me trim her claws but I do make sure her
ill-formed ‘Polly Wogs’ look healthy...

Isn’t it fortunate that Polly only uses her murder mittens for good? And had you seen a glow-in-the dark kitty before?

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