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Christmas In March

2009-03-11T17:55:00.014-04:00

Thomas: Since we were taking a break at Christmas time, I thought that we would take this opportunity to tell (and show) you why we don't get to have a Christmas tree anymore. Well, Phoebe and I celebrated our first Christmas about 8 months or so after our Gotcha Day. We were getting well aquainted with the workings of the household and knew what we could and couldn't do around the house. Crazy Lady and D.C. never once suspected that we would do anything to the Christmas tree - and we didn't!!! They used to put up an 8' live tree in the den. This was decorated with all their lovely ornaments that they had collected over the years. Then Crazy Lady also put up a 4' artificial tree in the kitchen which was decorated with objects from nature and the garden. Then, maybe her favorite tree was the little 2' tree in the gallery which was decorated with her Mother and Father's first Christmas ornaments from when they set up housekeeping in the 1930's and also her collection of "Made in Japan" tiny porcelain bells which she had inherited from a close friend of the family.

Phoebe: Crazy Lady also put out her collection of 1940's and 1950's hard plastic Santa candy holders (about 50 of those) and her light up china Christmas houses. The house always looked so festive and pretty. Thomas and I knew not to bother anything!!! Then in 2006, Beatrix came along. Well, that's Trixie's real name, but she's no Beatrix - she's a TRIXIE!!!! Anyway, Crazy Lady was sort of suspicious that if anyone was going to mess with the trees, it would be Trixie. So, she decided to do things a little different that year. She put up the 4' artificial tree in the den and had D.C. and the Big Boy clamp it down to an oak chest so that Trixie couldn't tip it over.

And, she only put non-breakable ornaments on it. Didn't it look pretty?

They decorated it late one afternoon, had company that night for dinner and, when they got up the next morning, here's what they found:

Yes, that tree was stripped!!! Did you know that a cat could take lights off a tree????

Trixie: Well, in self-defense. . . . I don't remember ever hearing anyone saying not to touch the Christmas tree!!! Honest!!! I was just trying to make it look nice and got kind of carried away!

Thomas: Now we get to have a wreath on the door and stockings on the mantle . . . . . and that's all! Crazy Lady and D.C. say that she's too cute to kill - so, we put up with her.

Phoebe: I'm not so sure that she's too cute to kill. . . .

An Award Today!

2009-03-09T20:13:00.005-04:00

We received this wonderful award from our good friend Grrreta. Thank you so much for thinking about us! You have been good about keeping up with us while Crazy Lady has been down in the back and we appreciate you very much!

The rules say to list six things that makes us happy, so here we go:

Thomas:

1. being outdoors

2. stinky goodness

Phoebe:

3. cuddling with Crazy Lady

4. the top floor of my tree condo

Trixie:

5. sitting in boxes, baskets, bags, luggage . . . . . . well, you get the idea!

6. sleeping on things that make noise

We pass on the award to:

any cat who would like to share what makes them happy!!!

What Is That White Stuff???

2009-03-02T18:30:00.004-05:00

Thomas: Okay, so yesterday there's this white stuff falling out of the sky. Big, fluffy blobs of it. Crazy Lady says, "Go out there, Tom!! You'll really like it!!" So, I headed out the back door and . . . .BAM!! That stuff was really cold!!! I mean Arctic cold!

Phoebe: I headed out the door right behind Tom and he immediately ran around the corner of the house and slid into the crawl space under the house - so, of course, I did, too! He's right - that stuff was really cold!

Trixie: After I stepped in that white stuff, I instantly retreated back under the eaves where there was just dry leaves. That wasn't so bad. Don't know what the others are making such a big fuss over. And, just because I flew back in the door at the earliest available time. . . . . I just had something that I wanted to see on t.v. Yeah, really!!!

Crazy Lady Speaks

2009-03-01T20:48:00.003-05:00

Well folks - It's been almost 5 months since the cats posted their last blog and I have to apologize for that. After D.C. and I got back from our Iceland cruise I started into a slow decline with my back issues. I had a fall (right in the middle of JFK on our way to London to start the cruise) and, since we got home in mid-September, I've been to my G.P., two different chiropractors, my regular massage therapist, a physical therapist and now I'm going to an acupuncturist. I've really got to do something about this pain in my back!!! Anyway, I'm feeling a bit better now and I thought we'd try with Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie doing a couple of posts a week to start off. The cats appreciate those of you who have checked in from time to time to make sure we're not dead!! LOL Tomorrow the cats will tell you about the snow that we've had in Atlanta this weekend.

Sun. - They're Coming Home Today!!!

2008-09-28T10:09:00.002-04:00

Crazy Lady and D.C. are coming home today!! They should be seeing. . . . .

the Statue of Liberty first thing this morning. . . .

also, they'll be passing by Ellis Island when coming into port in New York City. Then they'll be flying home to us!!! We can't wait!!

Fri. - Nova Scotia

2008-09-26T10:05:00.002-04:00

Today is Friday, so they're in Nova Scotia. Hope the Fall leaves are in full color for them.

Guess this lighthouse is going to save their ship from crashing on the rocks.

Beautiful scenery up there.

Sure hope they didn't have to sail anywhere close to these things!!!

These are all very pretty, but we're ready for them to come home!!!!

Just 2 more days - we're counting!

Wed. - Newfoundland

2008-09-24T09:48:00.005-04:00

Here are some pictures we found of Newfoundland. This looks like a fun place to be.

More water for fishing. . . . .

Here's an iceberg for packing fish to bring home to us!!!!

Trixie might like these heights, but not Tom and Phoebe.

We love all these wonderful fishermen who go out to get fishies to make us stinky goodness!!

Tues. - At Sea

2008-09-23T11:15:00.002-04:00

We found some pictures of the Norwegian Jewel on the intertubes and thought we'd show you how Crazy Lady and D.C. are living these days.

We're pretty sure they're not using the pool much in Iceland!!!

Don't think they're partying too late each night.

We don't know who decorated this ship, but we sure hope Crazy Lady and D.C. aren't getting sea sick because of the carpet!!!!

Sunday - Iceland

2008-09-21T11:04:00.002-04:00

Today they're in Iceland. Doesn't sound like any place we'd like to be!! Brr-r-r-r!!!

These are thermal pools and would be very, very nice for warm swimming. . . . . IF you liked WATER!!!!!!

We love to see all these little fishing villages, 'cause we just know that they're bringing us home some fish!

Nice grass! We'd like to run and play there for a while.

Friday - Lerwick, Shetland Islands

2008-09-19T10:50:00.002-04:00

This is where we need to tell you folks that we have Googled all these photos. Crazy Lady and D.C. haven't sent us any of theirs yet. So, we have been surfing the intertubes to see where they are each day.

This is Lerwick, Scotland which is in the Shetland Islands. Looks like many of the streets that they took pictures of in England when they were there 2 years ago.

The Shetland Islands are part of Scotland, but they originally belonged to Norway many, many years ago. There are many Norwegian traditions still left in the Shetland Islands and they incorporate a lot of Norwegan words in their language. They are almost as far north as the Arctic Circle. We believe that is supposed to be cold!! Glad we're nice and warm here.

Lots of seaports and boats. Guess that means F.I.S.H.!!!! Yea, we hope they bring us home some fishies!!!

Maybe they'll be able to bring us back a WHALE!! We'll definitely have everyone over then!!!

Wed. - Boarding the Ship

2008-09-18T09:37:00.008-04:00

This is one of the many gardens at Sissinghurst. Crazy Lady and D.C. have heard about it so long that they just had to stop by and see for themselves.

This is Canterbury Cathedral. This is where the Pilgrims in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales were headed.

This is the Norwegian Jewel - the ship they will be on for the next 11 days.

Sure hope there are no icebergs nearby!!!!

Tues. in England

2008-09-16T09:32:00.002-04:00

They landed at Heathrow Airport Monday a.m., picked up a rental car and headed for Brighton. This is a picture of the Royal Pavillion in Brighton.

This is the Bed and Breakfast where they are staying in Kent. We hope they don't like the dumb old cats that live there!!!

They were supposed to go to Sissinghurst Gardens yesterday and are hoping to go to Canterbury today. We'll let you know.

Sun. - On Their Way!!

2008-09-14T08:58:00.000-04:00

Well, Crazy Lady and D.C. left today on their trip. We may starve to death, but we'll try to the

very end to get to our blog and let you know what's going on!!!

The Big Boy is keeping us, but he works so much and doesn't have time to sit around during the day and pay attention to us like part-time worker Crazy Lady and ~~retarded~~ retired D.C do. We might just forget what the hooman touch feels like!!!!

Trixie the Plumber

2008-09-11T06:53:00.005-04:00

Trixie: Yesterday we had a running toilet at our house. So, D.C. took the top off and headed to his workshop.

Well, I assessed the situaton and. . . . . . .

. . . . got it fixed before he came back with the tools!!!!

Thomas: Yeah, right!!!!!!

Phoebe: As if. . . . . . . .

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-10T21:16:00.002-04:00

Mancat Monday

2008-09-08T20:28:00.002-04:00

Thomas: Well, Crazy Lady is flippin' out!!! She and D.C. are leaving for England in 6 days and she's starting to get so excited. They will be in Kent for 2 1/2 days and then get on a ship for the Shetland Islands, Iceland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New York City. I guess I'd be getting excited about that, too. She's so worthless that I couldn't even get her to take a decent picture of me for Mancat Monday. At least she pulled this one out of the files for me. We're gonna miss them while they're gone. The Big Boy will be feeding us and taking care of us. He's a real sweet guy, but he's no Crazy Lady, that's for sure!!!!

Easy Like Sunday Morning

2008-09-07T13:29:00.004-04:00

Trixie: Well, they've finally figured out that I'm resting in here. . . .

. . . and so they've stopped. . . . . .

. . . . closing the doors on me!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-03T12:22:00.002-04:00

Tuesday Thanks and More Trixie Tricks

2008-09-02T19:53:00.008-04:00

First we would like to thank Grrreta, Teddi, Chloe and Ambrose very much for this award that they sent to us. It's our first award for blogging and we really appreciate it! Thanks y'all.

Here are the rules:
1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

We would like to nominate the following blogs that we really enjoy:

And, now for a note about Trixie!!!!!!! Trixie disappeared last night. She had been with Crazy Lady at the computer and then she was gone. Time for bed and nobody could find Trixie. Then there was a tiny little scratching noise next to the computer. Apparently, Trixie had climbed into a cabinet to rest and D.C. had come through and closed the door.

Didn't y'all miss me at all???

Well, actually, this is not such a bad place to be locked in. Lots of good CD's. . . .

good door to shut out the light. . . . .

nice comfortable surface for sleeping. Yeah, go ahead and close the door. I'm staying here for a while!!!

Thomas Shows Trixie A Thing or Two

2008-09-01T20:34:00.003-04:00

Okay, so Crazy Lady and D.C. are trying to get us to stop scratching on the furniture. They put sticky tape up on the corners of all the chairs (what a pain) and they want us to start scratching on these strips of carpet hung on door knobs.

D.C. showed Trixie what to do, but she just didn't listen.

So, she ignored the carpet strip for a while and then. . . .

she got it backwards!!!

Thomas had to step up and show her how to work the thing.

She's starting to figure it out, but she's not sure that she likes it!!!!

The Needs Meme: Trixie

2008-08-29T20:52:00.004-04:00

Trixie needs to warn us that a tree is about to fall. That was NOT my fault. . . I didn't touch that tree!!!

Trixie needs some tapping. Yes, please tap on a can of smelly goodness and make it fall into my bowl.

Trixie needs your support. I really do need support, maybe a few scritches, too.

Trixie needs to find her furr-ever home. No, I've got the best furr-ever home there could be for me!!

Trixie needs a better cell phone. Yes, a blackberry would be nice.

Trixie needs some friends. I has friends!!! Everybody loves Trixie!!!

Trixie needs to go golfing.......soon! I just might crawl into D.C.'s golf bag and go with him.

Trixie needs to get out more ... Thus the trip out to play golf with D.C.

Trixie needs an active home. Yeah, these folks just can't keep up with me!

The Needs Meme: Phoebe

2008-08-28T20:29:00.004-04:00

Phoebe needs to use her powers more! You don't know what you're asking for!!!

Phoebe needs to brush her teeth. Hey, now, that's just rude.

Phoebe needs a home. Nope, got one already and I'm staying put.

Phoebe needs to go to an eating disorders clinic. See above about being rude!!!!

Phoebe needs thorough documentation on two levels. Huh????

Phoebe needs nobody to defend her - she stands up for herself very well. Yeah!!!!

Phoebe needs more than a place to go to church in Ephesus. She'd like a place to EAT in Ephesus!

Phoebe needs to be encouraged and supported as she seeks information about driving and owning a car. Ooh - I want a P.T. Cruiser.

Phoebe needs a ride. That's 'cause nobody encouraged and supported me. . .blah, blah, blah. . . about the car!!!

Phoebe needs the company of at least one steady dog. I'll get back to you on that one.

Phoebe needs to go to college, somewhere, anywhere and grow the he-- up!!! Refer again to the comment about being rude!

Phoebe needs a plan and immediate and sustained hard work. I think you're losing me here!!

Phoebe needs glasses to read. So just read to me already!!!!

The Needs Meme: Thomas

2008-08-27T13:43:00.005-04:00

Thomas: I thought I'd try doing this "needs meme" that everyone is doing these days, so here goes -

Thomas needs proof. Well, yes. . . .yes, I do!! Proof of what?

Thomas needs a new lawyer. This old one has gotten me into plenty of trouble!!

Thomas needs a tailor. Why?? Doesn't this suit look nice?

Thomas needs to return his law degree to Yale. NEVER!!!!

Thomas needs your support to create dance. C'mon y'all. Support me already!!! I'm wantin' to dance!!

Thomas needs YOU!! I certainly do - each and every one of you!!

Thomas needs a new president. Let's please not talk politics. Go McCain!!!

Thomas needs to cease. All righty then - I'm ceasin' right now!!!

A New Home for Piggy

2008-08-25T18:03:00.003-04:00

A friend of Crazy Lady's at work had an interesting occurrence last week. A kitten followed her dog, Maggie, home and decided to take up residence with them.

She must have really liked Maggie a lot.

The 4 year old bean, whose name is MacKenzie, seems taken with the kitten. She named the kitten - Piggy!!! Don't ask us why.

So, Piggy was fed. . . . . . .

. . . . . .and fed!

She was given some new toys. . . . . . . .

. . .and Maggie is still getting used to having Piggy around.

Trixie's Real Name

2008-08-24T10:57:00.008-04:00

Trixie: Well, two years ago this month, when Crazy Lady found me in a parking lot down South of Atlanta in a sorta rough neighborhood, she had been reading a Faith Paige Victorian mystery which featured Beatrix Potter.

So, she scooped me up, took me by her V.E.T. before taking me home to Thomas and Phoebe and announced that my name was Beatrix. They wrote in my file that my name was Beatrix. About 5 minutes after reaching my furr-ever home, Crazy Lady, D.C. and The Big Boy (who came home after college and won't go away!) decided that I was definitely more of a Trixie and that's all I've been called since then.

However, whenever I go to the V.E.T., they always call me Beatrix and that confuses me.

Maybe we should just tell them that I'm not a very Beatrix kind of cat!!!!

Phoebe Phriday

2008-08-22T20:34:00.004-04:00

Phoebe: Well, I'm looking for a little quality time with Crazy Lady beating on my butt.

I love doing this!!!!

But, that darn Trixie thinks she needs to snoopervise!

So, maybe if I turn my back, she'll go away.

Are you believing this??? Dixie showed up while I had my back turned.

Now, I have to put up with 2 pesky cats!!

I'll turn my back one more time and see if they disappear.

Oh, my gosh!!! I'm magical!! It really worked!!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-20T21:27:00.002-04:00

Tommy Tuesday

2008-08-19T08:21:00.012-04:00

Thomas: I have ADD. Yes, Attention Deficit Disorder.

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It appears that there is definitely a deficit in the amount of attention I get around here! When you live with two Divas like I do, you just never get the attention you deserve.

Can I please get some attention???
-

Trixie: That's not true, Tom!! I give you attention all the time. In fact, when I was just a little kitteh you told me to stop following you around all the time!

Phoebe: Like you told me not long ago. . .just release it to the Universe, Tom!!! Everytime I turn around, you have your butt in Crazy Lady's face wanting to get beat on.

And, besides, why pay attention to you when they can concentrate on this beautiful face???

Crazy Lady steps in: Okay, cats!!! You all have special qualities and you all deserve attention. Tom, Phoebe and Trixie - each one of you is special in your own way and we love you all!!! You should be thankful that you all get as much attention as you do. Now, kiss and make up!

Searching Saturday

2008-08-16T10:49:00.003-04:00

We're searching today for an answer. Why did beautiful little Sprout have to go back home to Heaven? Does God need her more than we do? Why do our wonderful friends have to leave? Why are some beans so mean to poor animals? Why don't people get along?

Someday, when we go to the Rainbow Bridge, we'll know all the answers. Until then, it's up to each one of us to be as kind to everyone as we can. Be a good bean or cat or woofie or whatever and hug all your friends and loved ones. . . .even strangers. Create love in the world to overcome all the evil things that happen to us and our friends. Don't waste time on envy and anger. And, don't forget to remember that you are all very special in God's eyes and He only wants the very best for you!!! And, you're all very special to us, too!!!! (((((hugs)))))

:o) Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie

My Gotcha Day

2008-08-13T19:01:00.003-04:00

Trixie: Well, my Gotcha Day was on Monday. Yep, that's right - August 11, 2006, was the day that Crazy Lady found me in the hot parking lot in the 'hood and brought me to my furr-ever home. C.L. doesn't know exactly when Thomas and Phoebe were born. And, their coming into the house to live was such a long drawn out event that took place over a period of months, there's no real Gotcha Day for them either. Therefore, we were going to celebrate all of them on August 11. However, this was such a sad week - we were grieving over Sprout and none of us really remembered to celebrate. It just wouldn't have been right some how. So, I think that Crazy Lady is going to do something really low key this weekend. Maybe we'll get a present or two, but no big blowout party. Next year, we'll celebrate in a big way and invite all y'all over to help.

In the meantime, let's keep lifting up Sprout and her family in our purrs and prayers.

:o) Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie

The Russians Are Coming. . . . .

2008-08-12T19:35:00.004-04:00

So, I'm sitting here minding my own business when they announce on FoxNews that Russia has invaded Georgia.

Well, I can't see them!! Did they come in through the port at Savannah? Or maybe down I-75 from the North?

Have they taken over Macon? Are they on the way to Atlanta? And, what about Hayhira, Social Circle and Ludowici? Are they still free?

Oh, what are we going to do to protect the women, children and baby pussy cats (mostly the baby pussycats!!!!)?

I think I'll just hole up in this nice sturdy box. They'll never touch me!!! What's that? It's a different Georgia? You mean there's actually another place on this planet called Georgia????

How can that happen?

Well, I'll just lie down and rest up from this emergency.

Touched By Sadness

2008-08-11T21:18:00.003-04:00

I think everyone must know by now, but in case you didn't hear - little Violette Noelle, better known as Sprout, had a terrible accident on Saturday and has gone back to heaven to be with God. Her family misses her so much and will take a long time to get back to some degree of a normal life. Of course, nothing will ever be totally normal again without this Little Blessing, but we have to pray for peace and comfort for Monty Q, Tracey and all of their family. Please be praying for Sprout and her loved ones.

Thanks to Daisy's Mom who made the great graphic with Sprout's picture.

:o) Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie

Easy Like Sunday Morning

2008-08-10T21:08:00.004-04:00

Thomas: I wanted a little lovin' today, so I cozied up to D.C. He knows how to pet hard - just the way I like it.

So, up goes the elevator butt.

Here's a good side view of the elevator butt.

This is what I love!! I'm really gettin' in the groove.

Oo-o-o-o-h-h-h-h, this is feelin' so good - my fingers and toes are gettin' all tingly!!!

Trixie and Dixie are snoopervisin'.

Oh, puhleeze. . . . don't stop now - I'm beggin' ya!!!!

Okay, D.C. - prove to us that you are ambidexterous.

Where'd he go?? Do you think I pushed him too far?

Is It Trixie. . . or Is It Memorex?

2008-08-08T17:38:00.007-04:00

Well, Huffle Mawson, Explorer Cat has a friend that she can send on secret missions. That made me think that I could send my friend Dixie on special missions for me!! And, I know that nobody can tell the difference in me and Dixie, right?

-
Here's the two of us just resting.

-
Nobody has a clue as to which is which.

-
Then Crazy Lady puts the mousie on the string in front of Dixie to play.

-
Hey, C.L., don't you even know the difference between us?

-
Hey - this is me, Trixie!!!! Don't ever give that one my food!

-
Now that I've blown my cover, I guess I'll just play with the mousie.

Trixie Thursday

2008-08-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Trixie: I like to do what we call the "Flop and Drop". It usually takes place in the kitchen and preferrably when there is someone in there trying to work. Here's how it works: when someone looks like they're heading for the kitchen, I run ahead, then I flop over and drop right in the middle of the floor. They have to work their way around me as best they can.

- - - - - - - -

Here, I've made the classic Flop and Drop maneuver.

- - -

I've picked my spot well, it appears to be right in the middle of everything.

- - -

- - -

And, whoever comes in the kitchen to cook has to step over me and be very careful not to crunch me underfoot. I also move occasionally so that they can't take anything for granted. They have to keep checking on me at all times.
- - -

Isn't this a fun game to play?? What kinds of games do you play at your house?

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-06T19:53:00.004-04:00

Roughin' It - Summer Fun

2008-08-01T13:35:00.004-04:00

Trixie: Well I had a fun time last night!! Crazy Lady said that it would be all right for me to do a little camping, so I pitched my tent and got ready to rough it.

The camp site was a little primitive, but acceptable.

I got everything all situated in my tent and I was ready to go.

First, I did some climbing.

It was dangerous, but I made it up and back without any problems.

Then we had some relay races with the catnip pillow. I'm good at that!!

Phoebe mostly snoopervised, but she was paying close attention.

D.C. grilled some salmon on a cedar plank. Roughin' it food is sure good!!

After dinner, my tent was acting up and turned itself over - then it attacked me!!!

I had to step on it to make it act right!

Then, I left for my real bed. You didn't think I was going to sleep all night in the tent, did you???

Phoebe's Photos

2008-07-30T19:01:00.006-04:00

Phoebe's position on photos has changed a lot in her short lifetime!!

Back in the day, when she and Tom were living in D.C.'s workshop, she would pose for a picture and not be afraid at all.

We could get good pictures of her beautiful little face and she had no problem with that!!

We have good pictures of Phoebe, they just need to be cropped to get rid of all the junk in the workshop.

But, at some point before moving into the house, Phoebe started being wary of the camera and would start to run every time you pointed it at her.

Once they moved into the house, she still couldn't make up her mind whether to stay or go when it was picture-taking time.

We got a lot of snaps of her backside just leaving.

And, we got a lot of pictures of the back of her head. (Good picture of Thomas, though!!)

You never know when she might just turn around and leave.

And, this one looks like she is about to decide to leave!!

We are following Daisy the Curly Cat's advice to use lots of treats for photo time. Now, we just have to wait for Phoebe to decide it's a good idea, too!!!

Our First Meme

2008-07-25T10:58:00.020-04:00

Grrreta tagged us for the Six Unspectacular Quirks Meme. We've seen other cats do this, but we're just guessing our way along here, so bear with us.

Meme Rules:
*Link to the one who tagged you.
*List the rules on your blog.
*Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
*Tag 4 more bloggers.

1. Thomas has a funny quirk when he comes in the house. He always rolls on the driveway first (Crazy Lady says that's so he'll be sure to bring in lots of pollen and dirt!), then he walks around the post to the bird house that sits right outside the door, then he winds between the legs of the table that sits beside the door, then he comes inside. Crazy Lady sometimes complains that that is too much of a production when she's in a hurry.

2. Phoebe sometimes roams the house in the middle of the night moaning. Behind her back, we call her Moaning Myrtle!! She starts off in the playroom (farthest place away from the master bedroom), then she works her way through the house just softly meowing. When she gets to the bottom of the stairs, Crazy Lady calls out to her and says, "We're all up here. Come join us." Then Phoebe meows her way up the stairs and gets in bed and Crazy Lady scritches her for a while and everything is okay.

3. Trixie likes to sleep on noisy things. We suspect it may be because she was all by herself in a parking lot for at least a couple of days, maybe longer, when she was 6 weeks old. That's where Crazy Lady found her. Anyway, she loves to sleep on crinkly paper or a good ole noisy plastic bag. Maybe that was to warn her if anything got too close.

4. Thomas is often called Kramer around here. Do you remember how Kramer on the Seinfeld Show used to come bungling into a room all crazy and loud and then would just stop and look around. Well, that's Tom when he runs upstairs and jumps on the bed with Crazy Lady and D.C.

5. Phoebe really hates to have the flea treatment put on her neck!!! You would think it was 4 gallons, not 4 drops and that it burned like heck. She puts up such a fight and then stays away from everybody for days afterwards.

6. Trixie talks ALL THE TIME!!! Thomas and Phoebe used to be very quiet cats until Trixie came along and now they talk a lot, too. Just to get a word in occasionally! D.C. says that Trixie talks almost as much as Crazy Lady (which Crazy Lady doesn't think is very funny).

We are tagging Daisy The Curly Cat, Jasper McKitten-Cat, Dennis Loves You and Poppy Q to do this meme next because we would like to learn more about them.

Terrifying Tuesday

2008-07-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

Phoebe: I'm terrified of cameras!! Crazy Lady wants to get some pix of me to put on the blog, but I won't stay still for a good one. Daisy the Curly Cat has instructed C.L. to use plenty of treats to get good photos, so treats were brought out.

This one needed a flash (and a steadier hand).

The flash made me run away in order to save my life!!!

I went to my favorite chair - you can see all the lovely cat hairs that I have stored up there!! And, you can see the treats that Crazy Lady tried to bribe me with. What you don't see is - ME!!!

But, Trixie came in to clean up - the treats, not the cat hair.

That made Trixie a very smug little cat!

The Teapot

2008-07-19T11:32:00.005-04:00

Trixie: Crazy Lady is getting ready for Hazleruthe's Show Me Wednesday next week featuring teapots. Well, I decided to play a game with her and made it very hard for her to take a picture of the teapot without me in it. I finally gave in and let her get the picture, but I think I look so cute in the pictures that I thought I would show you all.

I think I'll jump in here.

I'm a teapot expert!!!

Well, losing interest now!

I think I'll go have some fun somewhere else.

Crazy Lady Is A Stamper

2008-07-17T11:22:00.000-04:00

Thomas: I don't think we've ever mentioned this before, but Crazy Lady is a rubber stamper. Yeah, she takes all kinds of rubber stamps and makes cards and things. She has a whole room that she calls her studio - that's actually our litter box room - but she enjoys going in there and playing with her stamps and inks and papers and ribbons, etc. She has lots of cat stamps that she bought to make cards that look like us, but she doesn't use them very much. Anyway, on Saturday her stamp club met and they learned how to make hand-carved stamps. Crazy Lady is not very good at it, but Betty Ann, the lady who taught the class, is very talented. Here are a few of the things that Crazy Lady stamped using Betty Ann's hand-carved stamps:

We love this kitty stamp. C.L. plans to make it into a card.

The rabbit is cute - just not as cute as a cat!!!

The bird sure looks tasty!!

Finally, here's the stamp that Crazy Lady carved. Not much, but it's a beginning.

We Have Photos

2008-07-15T21:05:00.002-04:00

Tom loves to lay across the arm of a chair to be beat upon, but he doesn't like holding still long enough to get a clear photo.

Trixie loves to hide in bags, boxes, any kind of confined space.

Then she loves to make a grand entrance!!!

This is a plant stand (shaped like Nancy the spider) that Crazy Lady got for her birthday last week. Tom thought Trixie looked good in jail.

And. . . . . Phoebe hid outside until all photography was finished!!! We'll get you tomorrow Phoebes!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-11T11:51:00.004-04:00

I aspire to be as good as Daisy the Curly Cat, but I just can't get the hang of a costume!!!!

Not So Bad

2008-07-06T18:28:00.002-04:00

Well, they came home again!!! They were gone for 28 hours, 36 minutes and 44 seconds - but we weren't counting. It wasn't too bad here without them. Tom and Trixie spent most of the time in Crazy Lady and D.C.'s bed and Phoebe stayed downstairs - by herself, which is what she has started doing a lot lately. We think it's because she got so mad the last time Crazy Lady put flea stuff on her neck (about 4 whole drops!!!). Anyway, they were upstairs in the bed about a week ago when Crazy Lady did it and Phoebe has refused to go upstairs ever since. That cat needs to release some of her issues to the Universe!
So everybody's home now and they're cooking steaks on the grill tonight. We won't be getting any of the steak, but that doesn't really bother us. We're not really steak kind of cats. We would rather have some tuna or maybe some cat treats. We don't do people food at all and don't miss it.

The Bags Are Packed. . . .AGAIN!!!!!

2008-07-04T08:06:00.003-04:00

Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie: Please, please. . . can somebody help us??? Those black bags are at the door again and not only are Crazy Lady and D.C. going, but I heard them say that they're taking the Big Boy, too!!! And, they mentioned something about being gone for 36 hours!!!! Oh, the Humanity!!! Please send reinforcements!! Please send food!! Please send someone to scritch us!! This may be the last you hear from us. God Bless our Souls. . . . .oh, and God Bless the U.S.A., too!!!!!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T13:54:00.002-04:00

Truth in advertising:

Where's Trixie?

There she is!!!!

Well, it said "Cat" - didn't it???

Helping Those In Need

2008-06-26T20:17:00.004-04:00

eBay Auction benefitting the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter which is housing a huge number of evacuated companion animals from the Iowa floods. Please check it out. There are some great things to buy, and 100% of the proceeds (even eBay is waiving fees!) go to the shelter.

http://stores.ebay.com/Iowa-Flood-Relief-Auction

We would like for everyone to look at these auctions to see if there is something that you can buy for your beans that would make them happy and would help all the poor animals in the shelter in Cedar Rapids.

:o) Thomas, Phoebe and Trixie

Oh, Ye Of Too Much Faith

2008-06-25T13:57:00.004-04:00

For those of you who have contacted me and said that you didn't think that Trixie would get up on the shelf. . . . . . well, think again!!!!

She got on the shelf, sniffed around for a little while and then jumped down without upsetting anything on the bookcase!!! Way to go Trixie!! We wish you were always that careful.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-25T11:13:00.003-04:00

MAYBE!!!

MAYBE NOT!!!

Right On His Head . . . . .

2008-06-23T18:14:00.003-04:00

Thomas: Last night I was minding my own business, trying to get to sleep, when I decided to curl up around D.C.'s head like Phoebe does sometimes. Well, I had gotten all comfortable wrapped around his head when Phoebe saw me and decided that she should be up there. Crazy Lady saw what was going on and is familiar with the fact that Phoebe and I occasionally get into. . . . well, cat fights. She picked up Phoebe and moved her back to the foot of the bed. But, nothing would satisfy that cat but that she be up there on D.C.'s pillow and be the Head Cat!!!!! (I thought that up myself! LOL) Anyway, Phoebe kept climbing back up to his pillow and Crazy Lady kept putting her back down. Then Crazy Lady got tickled thinking what it would be like for us to really go at it right on top of D.C.'s head with him asleep. The more she thought about it, the more she laughed. She almost woke him up just laughing at us!!! She told us later that if she had had the camera upstairs with her, she would have taken lots of pictures. I bet she sneaks it upstairs tonight just in case we go at it again. These beans take pictures of the most unusual things!!!!

We're In The Cat House Now

2008-06-17T12:20:00.001-04:00

Phoebe: Thomas and I are in the cat house!!! (Note: Thomas insists that a cat house and a dog house are NOT the same thing, but I don't care. We're cats, so we're in the cat house!) Anyway, night before last I didn't come in. Crazy Lady called and called. I even walked right past her one time, but not close enough so that she could grab me. I just felt like staying out all night. I'm not saying what I did out there all night, but I'm not a terribly brave cat, so most of the night was spent in the shrubbery. I just have to assert my independence every once in a while. I sure was glad to get in the house the next morning and cool off and get a chance to sleep where I didn't have to keep an eye out for big scary ole things coming after me. Crazy Lady kept saying things like "What will people think", "They'll assume you're a loose cat", "You're becoming a hussy-cat!!". Who cares? Then last night, Thomas was a copy cat and did the same thing. I came in at dark just like we're supposed to, but Thomas just wouldn't come in. Now, Crazy Lady says that she's going to start keeping us in after 3pm everyday so that we don't get a chance to stay out all night. I think dumb ole Thomas should have waited a while before he took his night out and she wouldn't have been quite so mad!!!

Tom's Going To His Office

2008-06-11T09:08:00.004-04:00

Thomas: The first thing I do every morning as soon as I'm let out is head down the driveway, cross the street (look both ways first) and go down Mr. and Mrs. P's driveway across the street.

My family could not figure what the great attraction was over there, but I continued to go just like clockwork!!

Finally, one day DC was out at the mailbox at the same time as Mr. P. and so he asked what was over there that kept me going back. Mr. P. said that there is a bird feeder and that 2 or 3 cats hung around hoping to get a bird. "But," he said, "don't worry - Tom has never caught anything and probably won't."

Well, DC came home somewhat affronted and when Crazy Lady asked him why, his response was, "Mr. P. just dissed my cat!!!" He mentioned it several times over the next few days and seemed to be stewing about the fact that a neighbor had a low opinion of my hunting abilibies.

About a week later, I came home one afternoon and stood at the door with a bird in my mouth. When DC opened the door to let me in, he immediately made me drop the bird and it promptly flew away. I hadn't hurt the bird, I was just bringing it home to show DC and, hopefully, raise his spirits some.

Then DC started looking out the front window a lot and I wasn't sure what was on his mind, but I found out several days later when he looked out the window and said, "Mr. P. is out in his yard. I think I'll go talk a minute." He went straight across the street and told Mr. P. all about me coming home with the bird. At last, DC's cat was saved from a life of shame and being dissed by the neighbors!!!

A Monday Laugh

2008-06-09T20:56:00.000-04:00

The Runaway

2008-06-07T10:22:00.003-04:00

Trixie: Well, I got out into the wide open spaces today. Crazy Lady was in the backyard planting flowers and D.C. was helping. Big Boy put in an appearance and wanted me to come outside with them. C.L. insisted that he be responsible for keeping tabs on me and also for getting me back in the house when it was time to go in. Sure, no problemo!!! First, I explored the flower beds, then the grass and, when that got too tame, I went to the woods and tried to get through a hole in the fence. I found myself in the next-door-neighbors' yard and was about to do some major exploring when B.B. came and got me. Back in my own yard, I decided that I needed to go into the front yard, so off I trot around the corner of the house with B.B. following behind. He finally got me and brought me back to the backyard and, wonder of wonders, he put me down and let me go. C.L. said that he'd never get me back, but he was sure that he would. So, I prance off again in the direction of the front yard. B.B. followed once again to bring me back. Now, you have to know that we're having unusually hot weather right now. It is Africa hot and so muggy that it's hard to breathe. Well, after I had circled the house, I came back into the backyard from the other side of the house. I went into the courtyard and threw myself against the storm door like a dying cat. I was so hot I couldn't stand it anymore. I was hollering and slamming against the door. . . .Please let me in!!!!! So, Crazy Lady let me in and I dropped down on the breakfast room tiles and died for a while. By the time B.B. came back around and said that he couldn't find me anywhere, C.L. and D.C. were laughing and telling him all about my act. I didn't think it was so funny to make fun of a burning up kitteh, but they have strange ideas about what's funny!!

They're Ba-a-a-a-ack!!!

2008-05-31T10:11:00.007-04:00

Thomas: Well, the good news is that Crazy Lady and D.C. are back from their cruise to Bermuda. The bad news is that Crazy Lady's computer died while they were gone. She has taken it to the All-Knowing Computer Guru and, hopefully, it will be back and right as rain in a day or two. Another bad news is that we HATE trying to blog on this laptop!!!! Our little toes just don't seem to fit on the tiny little keyboard. I do have news to report: Crazy Lady and D.C. have always brushed Trixie and Phoebe a lot because they have long hair and it just seemed necessary. But, for the past 3 or 4 days, Crazy Lady has started to brush me more (using a slicker brush, not just a plain brush or comb) and she has been getting TONS of undercoat out. I feel so much softer and I look like I've lost a few pounds. I also think it will be a lot cooler for the Summer!!! Have you ever spent a Summer in Hotlanta??? It's not only hot, it's muggy!!! So muggy!!! Well, this is something that they didn't know about cats (having always owned dogs before) and it's a good thing they have learned it. Brush all of your cats, not just the longhairs. . .
we all need it!
Phoebe: I have a very good idea why the computer crashed!!! Can you say T*R*I*X*I*E??? I know she did it. She's such a pest. Well, I didn't see her do it, but the first thing that Crazy Lady noticed when they got home was that all the fish in her Aquarium Screen Saver were DEAD!!! I think that must have been Trixie, don't you think? It's May 31st and already so hot and muggy in our yard that I think I just might be staying in the house a lot this Summer. Tom likes to roam around a lot more than I do and, if I'm going to be staying close to home, I might as well be air conditioned while doing it! And, BTW, Tom does look thinner since Crazy Lady has been combing him.
Trixie: Phoebe thinks I'm so bad, but I'm really not! I'm just young and curious and feel left out because everybody gets to go outside but me. I really didn't break the computer, although we did try blogging a time or two while they were gone. Please don't believe everything Phoebe says and don't blame me for everything. Crazy Lady and D.C. brought us a carved wooden cat from Bermuda. It's colorful and real pretty, but she won't even let me chew on it! What fun is that? I have noticed in the last several months that Crazy Lady is starting to put away a lot of the knick-knacks that she has always had sitting around. There are six windows in the breakfast room that used to be full of small antiques and memorabilia from trips and wonderful things. She cleared out all the windows first and then has started putting away some of her collections. I'm not sure whether she is trying to simplify her life or just trying to keep things safe from ME!!!! LOL I have to go all the way into the den these days to find her Noah's Ark collection to find neat things to push off the shelf. I love to hear all the little animals hitting the floor. Oh, well, I'll always find something to push around.

Their Bags Are Packed

2008-05-15T12:36:00.001-04:00

Thomas: We're beginning to believe that Crazy Lady and D.C. are going somewhere. The big black bags are out and they're starting to put clothes and things in them. They do this a lot these days. . . . . pack up and leave for a while. Last time it was to a place called San Diego and then to Mexico. Before that it was to some island called Hawaii. This time, I've heard them say something about Bermuda - now is that the grass, the onion, the triangle or the shorts??? I can't figure them out!

Phoebe: I hate it when those two go away. I miss curling up at night with Crazy Lady. And, the big boy doesn't feed us as well as D.C. Also, the litter box usually sits until right before they come home before it gets cleaned. I just don't like having to make do with economy style while they're out living it up on some big boat.

Trixie: I can't wait 'til they're gone!!! I get to do whatever I want to and the big boy doesn't make me stop! And, last trip they brought us a neat thing called a sombrero. Really pretty and fun to bat around. But, they keep talking about putting it on our heads and taking pictures. Yeah, right!!!! Like that's ever going to happen!

Let Me Out

2008-05-12T19:48:00.000-04:00

Trixie: I really, Really, REALLY think someone should let me out now!!!! Why should I be the only one left in the house?? Poor me!!!

Our Stories

2008-05-09T23:33:00.000-04:00

Thomas and Phoebe: We were born in April of 2003 underneath a deck at a house in the suburbs of Atlanta. There were 6 of us kittens and our Mom. This Crazy Lady at the house next door kept coming out and putting down food for us and encouraging us to come over and visit. We heard her say things about her Murphy who we think was the big Black Lab that lived in her house. We stayed away from the backyard so that we never came in contact with Murphy. And, that's probably why Crazy Lady wouldn't let us inside her house. Not that we wanted to go in there. We were outdoor cats, living the good life with our Mom and litter mates. By November, we had become very friendly with Crazy Lady and she had named us - the 4 that would go around her - Bitsy, Bushy, Boots and Bob. Go figure people and their crazy names!!! One day some people came up in a truck with traps and ropes and caught Mom and 2 of our litter mates and took them away. Within a few days something big in the woods had gotten Bitsy and then Crazy Lady gathered the rest of us - Bushy, Boots and Bob - into cages and took us away. They put us to sleep and did something that made us kind of sore in the morning and our stomachs were shaved and we felt kind of funny. Then Crazy Lady came and picked us up and took us back to her house. We were put in the man's workshop for a couple of days until we felt better. Then the man and Crazy Lady cut a hole in the door and put in a funny flap that swings back and forth and we could go outside again, but had to always be inside at night and the flap was locked. And, somehow our names got changed. Bob became Bobbette all of a sudden - wonder why that was? And then, as we stayed longer, Bobbette was given to someone at Crazy Lady's church and her name was changed again to Ginger. Then Crazy Lady realized that she wasn't going to (and didn't want to) get rid of the other 2 of us. Boots' name was changed to Thomas and Bushy's name was changed to Phoebe. Both of those names are more suited to our personalities and intelligence! Then in February of 2004, Crazy Lady was very sad for a while. She would come out to visit us in the workshop at night as she always had, but she would talk about the black dog and big water drops would fall from her eyes. I think maybe Murphy had gone away because she was so old. Then, the door into the house was opened and we were allowed in, but we were afraid because we could still smell big black dog in there. It took us a week or so, but we started to go a little bit further and further into the house and finally we decided that the dog was truly gone and we made ourselves at home. We had our own food dishes and water bowl and a litter box in Crazy Lady's studio. We were allowed on the furniture and upstairs on the bed, but not on the countertops or the kitchen table!!!! Crazy Lady said that she was training us to be puppies - if that isn't the craziest thing you've ever heard of!! No wonder we call her Crazy Lady. But, we played along and usually came when she called or whistled and we always came in at night to stay away from the coyotes. (Hard to believe they're in a suburb of Atlanta, but they are!!!) We have been very happy here with Crazy Lady and D.C. and the big boy who came home after college and won't seem to leave again!! Crazy Lady thinks of D.C. as Damn Cats because that's what he calls us. But, secretly he loves us. In fact, he's the only one who will contort his body to keep from kicking us out of bed at night! We actually call him D.C. because he has become the Director of Culinary for the cats around here.
Trixie: I was born in July of 2006. Somehow I got separated from my Mom and litter mates and ended up in the parking lot of a thrift store in the 'hood. Crazy Lady (as I've learned to call her from the other 2) goes antiquing with a friend every month down South of Atlanta and, while they're down there, they go to several thrift shops and that's where she found me. She stopped by the vet on the way home and was told that I was about 6 weeks old, weighed 17 ounces and was a seal point Himalayan. Also, that I was very healthy - except for all the fleas on me. She took me home and introduced me to Thomas and Phoebe. I was scared, but glad to be out of that parking lot. I hissed a lot, but nobody paid any attention, 'cause I was so little!! They gave me good food and showed me this thing called a litter box and I learned right away what to do there. Phoebe was kinda mean to me. Every time I tried to be friendly, she would hiss and spit and strike out at me. But, Thomas took me in and became a real Mother figure to me. He showed me how to groom myself and taught me what I could and couldn't do around the house. Except, he said that I couldn't get on the kitchen counters or the table. Well, that's just plain crazy!! I could definitely get up there. The only problem is that every time I do get up there, Crazy Lady comes by and shoos me off. She just doesn't appreciate all my hard work! I've grown and I'm actually a tiny bit bigger than Phoebe now, but she still is a little bit stand-offish. She occasionally will sniff me or lick my ear or even play chase with me in the hall and up and down the stairs, but mostly she hisses if I get too close, so I just stay out of her reach and am more friendly to Tom who licks and cuddles me like my Mom would if she were still around. I wonder - should I get a card for Tom for Mother's Day???