A favorite spot

You can't open a drawer around here without someone jumping in and getting comfortable.

Dog jail

It's jail for dogs. At least it looks that way. This is where the girls usually go for refuge when they need it. As you can see, the door is open but it looks like they should have metal mugs in their paws, banging on the bars.

Inspector Clouseau

Since the weather had warmed up some and since Mojo was standing at the backdoor, I decided to let him go out and investigate the back porch.










He didn't waste anytime checking things out and making sure that things were as they should be in this outdoor space. He did a close inspection of the soil quality in one of my pots. I'm pretty sure I heard him say it was good to go.

Nap

I was sitting on the couch doing some work on my laptop when I looked up and took notice of my cats. One was to my left and one was to my right.










I just thought it was funny that they were both covering their eyes. They were almost perfect bookends of each other.

How he came to live with us

Isn't he pretty? I know... it's probably just me, but I love this animal.

He's had a special place in my heart since I first saw him locked in an animal crate at the place where I took my dogs to be groomed. He stuck his paw through the little bars and batted at my fingers and then sprang off to play with a toy that dangled from the top of the crate. He's was the cutest thing, (after my children of course). He needed a home, but I left him there because I wasn't sure I needed a third cat. Since I could not get him out of my head, I ended up going back to the groomers the next day to take that little kitten home. He's been entertaining us everyday since.

I'm not George!

"I will name him George and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him."

And if you want to see the cartoon that this quote came from then I've put here for your viewing pleasure. (especially around minute 2:04)

Look what I can do!

Mojo makes life a little more interesting around here in that way that a cat can. And look at those sweet paws with the cute little tufts of hair growing between his toes. So cute, right?

Guess what he can do with those "precious" paws? He can open my bedroom door using the door knob...which he does in the middle of the night. Not a big deal except he's the reason I wanted the door closed, to keep him out.

He jumps up on my bed, presses his nose against my face, kneads the blanket and purrrrrrs; all in an attempt to get me to pet him. Nevermind the fact that I tried to pet him earlier that day and was quickly shown that his majesty did not, in any way, want to be bothered by the likes of me.

But at 3 o'clock in the morning, he's ready for that attention that I was offering earlier. I roll over away from him and face the other way. Well, no matter! He just climbs over me, careful not to miss poking all four paws one at a time into my side. Once he's in front of me, he again makes nose to nose contact, maybe even a lick or two with that rough tongue. I lie perfectly still just to let him know that he's not going to win this game. With his efforts exhausted, he collapses against my body with all his might, snuggles up tightly and falls asleep.

I guess I could lock my door, but I'm afraid I'll wake up and find him picking the lock.

Completely content

She had her nose up in the air, moving her head around and around, sniffing the air that blew in through the open window. I just happened to catch this picture as she looked in my direction.

No bath for me, thank you.

Isn't she adorable? Ray gave all the pets a bath, one by one. She found a place to hide so that she wouldn't have to take a bath, and while she was hiding, she fell asleep.

Behind closed doors

This time every year Ray ends up giving our cats a bath. Poor Abby. She never enjoys bathtime and she was going to let everyone know just how much.

After her horrible ordeal, she retreated to safety.... and to pout.

Spa day for the girls

Our schnauzers had an appointment at the groomers today. Their hair has been getting matted because they have allergies and they lick to soothe their skin. So I had the groomer remove the longer hair, called skirts, that grows along their sides and leave only their beards. This style keeps them cool and makes life simpler for us all.

Not the traditional schnauzer cut, but they look pretty better all the same. Although, Brandi doesn't look happy about it at all. She's not exactly our foo-foo girl.

He loves to help

Laundry is his favorite task.

What??

This happened just 10 feet from where I sat, yet I didn't even notice what was going on. I must have been blogging doing laundry.

This had to be Mojo's doing.










from left to right: Brandi, Mojo, Mia

And just seconds after this shot was taken, Brandi noticed what had taken place and left for a more suitable napping place. Mia continued to sleep without realizing who that "someone" is that is lying on her butt.

Doggy Sitting

My neighbors, Chuck and Jan, are going to be away from their house all day today, so they have asked me to babysit their dogs. Well sort of. The dogs stay at their house and I run over and let them outside, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. I'm also in charge of feeding them their evening meal.

Diva, who is a beautiful white schnauzer, is not at all happy about me entering her happy abode. She barks like mad when she sees me to let me know that she is going to tear me apart as soon as I release her from her crate. But then all she does is grab her shoe, which isn't a shoe at all..its a bone shaped stuffed toy, and runs out of her crate and waits to be let outside. She had a shoe shaped toy when she was a pup and so now her owners refer to her toy by the name "shoe". As in, "Get your shoe", "Where's your shoe?".

The other dog, Nikki, which is also a schnauzer, is just like my schnauzer Mia. Shy, cautious, nervous and the same coloring.

We had some good bonding time outside today. I think Diva was coming around by the end of our day.

Cody is sick :-(

I got a call on Thursday to come pick up Cody from school because he was running a fever. On Friday he seemed to be perking up and feeling better. But this weekend has been terrible for him. He definitely has the flu; fever, chills, cough and running nose. I feel so bad for him. His throat hurts and he just wants to cry but is trying to tough it out. And something else that I've noticed and I'm so impressed with is that our dog Mia has not left his side the entire time. I can honestly say that we have not seen her out and about the past few days. I think it is so sweet of her to stay with him. She usually drives me crazy because she's a little bit of the "anxious" type: always up trying to figure out where to be, what to do and very undecisive. But I think I'm going to be a little more patient with her, after seeing her dedication to Cody.

Always sleep with one eye open, or wearing a helmet

It's cold here this morning and the moisture from the fog that rolled in last night has now left "frozenness" in the strangest places. I've decided not to stick around the house and wait for the warmer weather because the meteorologists don't seem to know what they are doing. So I think I'll be going to Hayden's soccer tennis tournament today. It will get me out of the house and away from the temptation of snacking all day. I've actually been trying to diet and keep motivated but it's been hard. Especially when Ray comes home from the store and is sitting around eating Milk Duds. That's the kind of family support that I've mentioned before that I DON'T have. It's not like he couldn't have those types of things at work or somewhere else that I don't have to watch. That's love for you.

We were awoken the other morning in a bizarre way. I was asleep facing my bedroom window when I heard this crashing noise coming from that direction. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw this black figure, four legs extending in all directions, flying from the window towards me. It reminded me of those flying squirrels that I've seen on tv. This figure used my head as a landing before continuing to a destination unknown to anyone. But not before there was more crashing noises behind me and then silence. And by silence I mean groaning noises from me and Ray. I had my head sliced open in a couple of places from his back claws gaining traction and Ray was curious as to what the heck just happened? Everything had been knocked off Ray's nightstand and I was seeping blood. Mojo, the black figure of the night, was no where to be found and we still don't know what spooked him.

My head is still sore from those wounds.

Toasty!

As the days get colder, Kami finds places to keep warm and still be in the sun.

White Beast

We had to put Abby in the utility room last night because she has been on a mission to kick some "black cat ass". The utility room doesn't have anything in it that she can mess up, just a tile floor, a washer, dryer and a laundry basket. Or so we thought. When I opened the door this morning an ironing board was laying across the floor with two air filters laying on top of that and the laundry basket was also thrown to the floor. She was able to open the doors to where we keep these items, stored alongside the heater and hot water heater. I guess we had forgotten that this is the cat that can open some doors to come find you and greet you kindly. And opens cabinets to find towels to snuggle up on.

The Alpha Cat

My cats have really been fighting the last couple of days. Actually, Abby has been kicking Mojo's ass all over the place.

I often fantasize about a cat named Junior paying Abby a little visit.

Cats

Our lovely cats have been doing some interesting things today.

This is Kami using the grass cuttings to cover up her "poo".


And this is Mojo getting some exercise chasing the red laser light that we like to get out for our amusement.