Working on joining a new club....

Am I getting old?

”She” went to Illinois last week and I opted to stay home.  That's what happens when you get old isn't it? You prefer to stay home.  But the weather there was at least 30 degrees colder with fur-parting winds, some rain and threats of snow.  I don't like being cold and having my fur blown off my body - so does that mean I am getting old?  I mean really, who in their right mind would willingly make an eleven hour drive for cold weather???

One of "her" traveling finds on the trip

“She” would.

And “she” did.

Told me "she" needed to check in on a few relatives – one in the hospital fighting an infectious nasty something or another; and another having recently had an emergency heart bypass and now in assisted living.  Some serious stuff and totally not my idea of a friendly alley to prowl. So I declined to go with. I’d probably end up with a fur ball or something from the seriousness of it all.

“She” also wanted to go up to St. Charles and check out the Flea Market for possible business options.  Again, I declined, don’t need no fleas!  So I told “her” to get the information, check it out and get back with me so I could make the executive decision.  Gotta keep her on a leash or at least a bungee cord regarding business matters.

What “she” did NOT tell me was that “she” had plans to also meet Rebecca.  Yes, the Rebecca of Vintage Living.  Now if I’d known that I may have considered going.  Maybe.  They had lunch together with “her” Aunt at a wonderful little Italian restaurant, Chianti’s. And they talked and just had a good time.

Beautiful Ladies - THE Rebecca and Aunt Bernice

Without me.

How is that possible?

 Yes, I’m pouting.

Or was. Until I saw what “she” brought home for me…

From the Iowa Junk Gypsies - LOVE this mirror!

“She” said that there was some wonderful folks there 

One of the nicest and loveliest gals was here at Willows

.....and some very talented ones with nice displays that I would have enjoyed.  Check out “her” favorites....

Willows Beautiful Garden Display

Special attention to detail was a signature of the gals at Willows

Lisa of The Frenchman's Wife had the most wonderful French soap!

Willows creativite touch!

The Frenchman's Wife Display

Did I mention that I got some kewl  new junk?!!

New bling and a shoe for my tail....

Life is good.

Even if I did NOT get to purrsonally meet Rebecca…

This is Pitiful.....

It really is.  This post that is.  I think I forgot how to blog.

Is it possible that you could really forget how to blog?

Purrhaps.

I know it has been too long since I’ve been out here to post.  It's not that I haven't been trying to get out here for almost a week now.

And I knew it was time to come back, past due in fact, and yet I couldn't think of exactly what to post.  I mean I didn't have some grand adventure of tom-catting to tell you about – nope, don’t have the parts for that anymore, thank you very much!

What are you searching the picture for? It’s just a picture of moi, and no, you won’t see the missing parts.  They are missing, remember? Besides, that would not be proper. Sheesh.

Besides, it wouldn’t matter if I did have tom cat parts….you see a coyote has been spotted in the area twice during a three week period.  Coyotes and cats?!   Nope, no way, bolt the doors and lock the windows, bring in the mice and d*gs.  Yes, seriously.  Coyotes are not to be reckoned with.  So the only time I’m going out now is to supervise "her" outings.  Lucky for me, I had an opportunity last week…..

You can see that I am doing a fine job, yes?  I worked hard and slept well that night let me tell you!  But I knew that you wouldn’t be too impressed with my hard work as a supervisor, so I decided to drag “her” outside and see if we couldn’t find something interesting.  I know you like pictures and old tattered things, so I wandered off to the barn….

I have my own chair up in the loft, but the sun was already fading and the lighting wasn't good, so I’ll have to show you my chair next time.  It's old and tattered and it's alllllll mine! Not that anyone else would want it....

We wandered through the woods.  I was looking for something interesting.  And the ticks were looking for “her”.  So far, no sign of any.  Today. The ticks that is. Two days ago, you bet.  It isn't too early. Today though none.  Ticks. No ticks. Just as well because I still didn’t have anything decent to share with you. And a tick would have sent "her" straight into the house.

But we did stay outside and wandering we did find a few signs. Of new life. Of spring.

But many of you have already started seeing signs of your own.  So I knew that wasn’t very exciting either…..so then I decided to try taking a picture of the sun....well sort of…

I didn't burn my eyeballs because the sun was getting lower on the horizon. But we headed back to the house, before the coyotes came out for dinner.  The house....definitely not the most exciting place, but safe.

Well except for the lions waiting to come inside and be part of some grand scheme "she" has....

And safe except for the panther that sits in Dad’s rocking chair waiting to bounce me upon my return....

And what about the bird’s nest?  Oh sure, you think it’s harmless…..but how do you know? There might be a giant bird getting ready to swoop down and peck me on the head any moment.  Maybe a woodpecker, one of those big humongous, gigantic ones.....

It could swoop in and get me.  Peck a hole right in the old noggin and eat my whiskers.  At which point “she” would have to rush me to the emergency clinic because all my brains might leak out the pecked hole in my head.  And without any whiskers I'd bump into everything. Can you imagine?!? Oh, the horror.  And if I survived the killer-beak-bird-woodpecker, I have no doubt, that I would be permanently scarred – both physically and emotionally.  There’s a lesson there….not everything is as quiet and innocent as it may seem…..

Case in point....this is "her" office.  One day "she" decided that the seemingly harmless faux ficus tree had to go....  If "she" ever gets the room put back together, I'll tell you about it and how it is NOT and has NOT been quiet in there for four weeks.  And how that faux tree was not harmless. I wonder, does anyone else take this long for a redo?

toasting whiskers and wood

You know how excited I was that it snowed early Christmas morn??  And there was no doubt in my mind that it was a gift from the heaven's above.  But Christmas is over, I'm ready for Spring, and what's this -- now we've gotten 8 inches of the white stuff.

Purrsonally, I don't think this is quite so special anymore.  I mean let's do a reality check okay?  If you remember, I like to go outside for my daily constitutional.  Call it a nature thing or call it wanting a little privacy. Either way, it's what I do and it's part of my morning routine.

Except when there is snow on the ground, eight inches deep and my....ummm....pee-er part is only eight inches off the ground.  Do you see the problem this causes?!  I could end up peeing on myself! How disgusting.  Really! And I can promise you that I would be on my own, cleaning dirty snow off my chops.  Anyway, sorry I went wandering off topic....what'd you expect from a crazed cat?!??!

The point of all this explanatory stuff is that it is not possible for me to go outside for my morning duties if there is snow on the ground.  Therefore, it also means that  any daily adventures are also out of the picture.  So here I sit.  Inside. No adventures. No privacy. Too much snow.  That didn't melt on the first day.  Nor the second day.  And will probably be here tomorrow - the THIRD day.

Can you say b-o-r-e-d?!?! 

And after a lot of boredom, one gets downright.....weird or something akin to weird.....yeah, I went looking for an adventure INSIDE.  Oh, this is embarrassing.....I went looking for an adventure....inside and actually found one! Yep. Sure did.  Oh I amaze myself.  Although "she" called it an act of desperation.

No problem, call it what you will.  Because I can properly blame "her" for my lowered standard of adventure time.  Because it was "her" that started up the fireplace and the lure of warmth.  I could smell it from the other room......warmth!

Did you know that warmth has a  most pleasant smell?!?  I'm talking about winter warmth, not sweat your buns off summer heat.  Big difference! One is called sweet aromatic and the other....body odor.  Just that simple and not easily confused.  Trust me on this one.

If you've never smelled winter warmth, oh you are sooooo missing out.  If you have a fireplace, get a good fire going.  And wait.  One of us furry ones will be around shortly to check it out. And once our fur gets warm, oh there is nothing more comforting than a face full of warm sleepy fur! Seriously! You gotta try it!

Onward....the adventure begins here......check out these corbels will ya?!?  Yeah, over there on the side of the fireplace.... "She" thinks they are pretty cool.  I think they are okay but not wonderful.  Why? Because it's impossible to get a good angle on them for claw sharpening.  Too bad really, because at 47 inches, I sure could get a good stretch and file going. I'd probably have tiger claws! What a waste of good old chippy wood.

Look up there, on top of the mantle "she" has a couple more corbels.  Although, they are not really big enough to be useful to me, but "she" likes them and they make her happy, so I guess I won't knock them off there.

Besides there are a few more pairs scattered around and I think I would rather push one of those on the floor.  You know from someplace where there is more room to get in there and nudge or lean.  It's not that I'm fluffy, it's that the mantle is just too narrow and no sense in taking a chance of falling.  That could be ugly.

But check out the front of the fireplace...now here we have a piece with great potential.  "She" leaves it on the hearth when the fireplace is not in use (I made "her" put it back for photo purposes).  A weakness for antique floor grates displays well in the coal holder.  Purrsonally, I think it would be better empty so that I could nap inside of it.  I would fit.

I think.

Maybe.

Okay, maybe not.  But I do know that Matilda would fit in there.  And if I could entice her to sleep in the coal bin, then I could have the best seat in the house......which is....the office chair, right next to the fireplace!

Is this me? NO! It's Matilda! But it should be me!!!

Seriously?!?  An office with a fireplace?!?  Not sure how "she" managed to pull this off, but "her" office was the den.  For many years now, it has been "her" office.  Don't you think it should be mine?!?!!  Me too....which is why I'm going to stay here.....maybe I can claim squatters rights or something......maybe I'll just hack up a furball on "her" chair.  Do you think that would do it???? Yeah, maybe I should think on this one....I'll get back with you later....right after my nap........