estate of confusion

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day!  Mine was lovely.  The turkey was cooked to a golden brown, juicy and tender.  Absolutely purrfect!  And oh yeah, the company was nice to me too, so it was a good day!

However, had it not been for the turkey, I might not have known it was November.  Heck, I'm not even sure it's December right now.  The calendar says it is but..... well, it reached 72 degrees here today.  The fifth of December?!?  mEoW!!!!

Not that we haven't had 20 degree weather last month.  But even that was sandwiched in between days of 60's.  It's really enough to confuse and befuddle this handsome and furry man.  I mean seriously, one day I'm working on growing out my winter coat to it's fullest and the next day I'm outside rolling in the dirt to help shed it.

And I can't even begin to tell you how it's confused her.  Oh yes, very seriously confused.  No, no, not rolling in the dirt or anything.  Although I did see her shave her furry legs last week.  Does that count as an equivalent to the dirt rolling?

Anyway, for Thanksgiving, the pumpkins got a dash of winter greenery.  And then because the Halloween decor was gone in the kitchen, she thought that maybe a bit of a winter display would be appropriate.  It was cool after all and all the leaves had already fallen.  So bare trees equals winter right?

Well no, not exactly because the thermometer was all over the place.  The mercury would drop and then the next day it would go right back up by forty degrees. Something like you would see for Easter.

So due to the confusion (hers not mine) there were mixed decorations for Thanksgiving.  The images above are from inside the dining room.  This one below is just outside the dining room, inside the kitchen.  I suppose she wanted to share her state of confusion with our guests.  If they don't come back next year, there will be no question why.  Assuming that is, that her seasonal confusion didn't seriously damage their brain cells.  These kind of things can be contagious you know!

So then a few days ago, this display (above) changed to this one below.  She had planned on leaving this winter one (above) up through Christmas. (Confused yourself? Thought so.)

 Nothing wrong with the evergreens I know.  But they didn't match with this....

Her beloved not-so-white-anymore vintage tree.

I know you are thinking, so put the white tree in another room.  Well, this year, Dad, in an effort to prolong his life, agreed that there only need be one tree.  In years past, there is nothing short of a forest in this estate small house around Christmas. Green trees, skinny trees, big trees and small.  But only one white vintage one.

So when it came time to choose which tree to use, there was no confusion at all.  Well at least until she pulled it out of the Christmas storage facility and realized that it wasn't going to look quite right since they would be in the same room as the green stuff.  You know what a dilemma that causes.  All that coordination stuff that you humans are taught at an early age when trying to dress yourselves.  Glad I didn't get ruined that way. So anyway, the kitchen greenery had to go.

And she used the red and brown combination last year in the dining room and really loved it.  Although it was on a green tree in there.  Could have done the same thing here, this year and would not have had to take down the "winter greenery".  And she could have used a green tree. But well, remember I told you she was sure she wanted to use the vintage white tree.  And well all this coordinating and matchy stuff was causing serious mental confusion.  Especially when the vintage white doesn't match the new white greenery. (How about now, are you confused yet?)

So with a bit of help and a couple totes full of ornaments and fluff.....

Today the tree looks like this....

(sorry for the poor lighting on this one - hard to find a good photographer now days)

And so, even in this estate of confusion, the kitchen area is looking like Christmas.  Albeit, in her strange kind of decorating way.  And now at 9 p.m. the temperature here on the computer still says 68 degrees.

There is still the dining room to decorate and the living room.  I wonder what I'll find in those rooms when I get up in the morning. The Easter bunny maybe?

Further still, I wonder if today's color scheme will change and I will wake up and find myself in a tropical looking locale complete with pink and bright green lighted palm trees.  As if I'm not confused enough!

Hoping you're having a nice pleasant week filled with purrfect clarity.  If however, you're feeling low on confusion, just come on over and she will fix that!  Over here, at the estate of confusion.  A state of confusion.  Oh heck, just plain "confusion".

Purrs to all of you!

Anyone need assistance?

Yep, it's almost that time.

You know what I'm talking about.....Karen Time.  Where everything but time is created!

My apprentices and I have been busy helping "her" take pictures.

For some reason the camera is not doing what she wants.  Some of the pictures are coming out blurry even when she uses the automatic setting.

I keep suggesting that maybe it's the lighting.

Is "she" listening?

Yeah, sure "she" is.  Told me that I should go get a snack to help with all the brainpower I am using.  "She's" right all this thinking I am having to do to help "her" must certainly be draining my resources.  So I go get a snack.

Hard to believe, but I over estimated the amount of brain power I was using.

Ate too much.

Yep, barfed it back up.

Hey, at least I hit the hardwood floor instead of the carpet.  Besides, "she" needed a break anyway.

I don't think "she" fully appreciated the break.  I'm thinking purrhaps I have been undervalued in efforts to assist with this adventure.

"She" will thank me later.

I'm certain.

"She" told me I could have the afternoon off.  But being the gentleman I am, I ask.....anyone need assistance?

What's wrong with this picture?

Okay so like a month ago "she" bought this wonderful wicker thing....supposed to hold plants "she" told us.  It was brought home a few weeks ago and immediately ferns were purchased to fill it.  It's six foot long and makes a great sharpening post.  Want to place a bet on how long it DOESN'T last?!?!  Anyways, I would never ever do something to destroy this....at least not while she's looking.  So I was thinking (yes again - that's twice in one week!) and thought that when Grammie came over to feed us I could zoom out the door onto the screened in porch.  Grammie wouldn't even know or at least since I was still technically NOT outside I might gain some temporary reprieve....you know peace and quiet without siblings.....

So yes, I got out the door and onto the screened in porch.  But.....well....it um.....well you might know.....

what's wrong with this picture?????

Figure it out yet?  Look below, here's a hint.....

I mean c'mon how the heck did she get out there so fast.  Tessa must have been velcroed to my tail.  Which she likes to do whenever I come in from outside.  But to travel this closely when I've been inside now for THREE flipping days!?!?!  Wait, what's this......

Ohhhhhhhh....I"m telling on you!!!  You just wait until "she" gets home, I'm tell on you Tessa.  Of course if you barf up those fern leaves I won't need to say a word, Grammie will tell "her".  You will won't you Grammie?!?

*sigh*  Well since I'm obviously not going to get some space, I'll go back inside and surf some blogs looking for furriends and cat babes! Not so bad, especially since I'm getting some help from some of you out there.

Thanks Becky and Liz for suggesting those links - I have gone out and done some visiting.  They were very nice kitties - even the sorta bald ones.  And next trip Linda's Charlie-Cat is coming with me!  So let Tessa eat the ferns and hog the wicker planter, I'm gonna go find me some babes!! C'mon Charlie.....

Roses and Innocence

It has a beautiful sound to it, don’t you think?

But here. In this house. The two do not co-exist.

If there are roses in the house, they are fair game for anything but a show of innocence. Call it more like a show of who can be the biggest terror for the day without getting caught. So, when Dad carries the roses into the house, I carry my furry little body out of the house - totally outside or in the screened in porch. And if I'm in the screened in porch, you can bet I make sure I am visible and that my paws are always in plain sight.

Sounds a little paranoid to you doesn’t it?

Trust me – paranoia is not the problem. Here is the reality of the situation. Follow me closely….

This is Tessa. Pretty cute, is she not?!?

Tessa was rescued from the neighborhood teenage terrors – some delinquent high school girls. They were throwing fire crackers at little Tessa shortly after the fourth of July, 2008. They threw them at her until she went and hid in a drain pipe. Meanwhile this is witnessed by Grammie, who calls “her” and tells her what’s happening. “She” runs over there to see the girls walking back down the street without the cat/kitten. Grammie last saw it hobbling down the street. But that was before it went into the drainpipe. The one right by the busy road.

“She” goes down there to try and find said cat/kitten or whatever the heck it is. "Kitty, kitty" is called several times and out pops a small orange furball from the drain pipe. And it’s running. Straight to her, but hobbling.

Fast forward when Grammie gets the flashlight and they find the small orange one has only three legs. Oh the horror. But breathe, go ahead…..the cat/kitten was born that way. There is no open wound, only some firecracker debris on her fur. She appears unharmed.

Three legs comes home with “her”. Dad is less than pleased. Until he finds out the cat/kitten is orange and white (his very favorite color kitty) AND she only has three legs. No problems then. None at all.

Orange kitty Tessa, never gets much bigger, no doubt testimonal proof to her tough beginnings. She is young and of course, everyone expects little ones to get into stuff. They don’t know better. Uh, yeah sure. She’s going to be TWO in a couple of months. Don’t think for one moment, she doesn’t know better. She is VERY smart – the following are things she knows for sure, without a doubt these are truths:

1. Dad adores little Tessa
2. Cute little kitties with only three legs are not supposed to be able to get up on tables and other high places (see pictures below - look closely)
3. Three legs means you won’t scold me
4. Tessa is the last one to be suspect when there is terror or trouble

So when the roses get pulled out of the vase or the petals have been plucked from the stem who do you think is really innocent?!?

Yes, dang the luck, I was a second too soon or a second too late to catch the actual chop licking, but you can see her little tongue, do you not??

Those are the roses.

That orange fluffball is the not-so-innocent one.

Need I say more?!?