Feline Friday: Expensive Cat Basket

 Lily has recently taken to hanging out a LOT in her Expensive Cat Basket. I bought this basket out of Extreme Guilt at the last (ever) cat show Lily attended when it became abundantly clear that she wasn't happy to be there. Kinda like a parent who buys their child a treat to keep her happy while they're out doing something the child doesn't want to do. So when you count the entrance fees and all the other paraphernalia that went along with that cat show experience -- plus the cost of the basket -- it was indeed expensive!

 But it suits her so well! Tinsel occasionally gets to nap in it, but only if she's sneaky about it.

It's Lily's basket. She worked hard (ahem) for her cat basket and deserves to lounge in it.

 If you're not familiar with the story, you really should read about it HERE. :) You may find it hard to believe that the sweet little thing working her angles in these photos is indeed the same feline who participated in that dreaded cat show! Now, many years later, I'm glad we have the Expensive Cat Basket to show for it!

 jp

Feline Friday: Scrapbooking Buddy

 I don't normally scrapbook on the bed, but occasionally if I have something to sort or some mindless task to do, I'll spread out there. That's what I did recently when I was putting some photos into pocket pages for a super-fast DC album project.

It was a Friday night. I was upstairs and Lily was downstairs in her basket, so I fetched her -- basket and all -- and plopped her on the bed with me. She's not much of a scrapbooker, so I wondered how long she would stay.

 As it turned out, she hung out with me for quite some time!

 She occasionally struggled to keep her eyes open, but after a brief Cat Nap, she perked up a bit.

Out of her Expensive Cat Basket, she even offered some advice on a few pages.

 

 "Put dis pikture HEER, Mommie!" she offered helpfully. Thanks, Lily!

 Then it was back to the basket to finish up that nap!

 As we all know, scrapbooking can be very hard work. But as they say, it's always more fun with a (furry) friend!

Happy Feline Friday!

jp & Lily

Feline Friday: Return of the Blanket Monster

She's BACK! The Blanket Monster (AKA The Kitchen Towel Monster) has returned! She arose from a nap in the Expensive Cat Basket and walked -- zombie-like -- to the pantry cupboard in search of a tasty morsel.

Beware the Blanket Monster! She'll stop at nothing until she gets a tasty treat! :)

Feline Friday: Flannel Blankies for the Win!

Hey, kitties: Do you have an old flannel baby blankie to call your own?

This everyday object actually has many uses! Take a look at a few of Lily's favorite ways you can use a flannel blankie:

 On a cold winter's evening, you can keep your blankie on whilst traveling to the kitchen for a much-needed snack! Heck, you can even use your Cozy Wrap all year long. Just remember when you wake up from your nap, stand up VERY slowly and SAUNTER -- don't run! -- to the kitchen. This will allow your Cozy Wrap to stay in place. Kitties who master this skill may even be able to return to the original napping spot with it still in place. WHOA!

 Let's face it, from time to time that tasty snack comes right back up. It's especially gross because most kitties don't brush their teeth regularly and that VERY BAD TASTE can stay in your mouth. That's when your flannel blankie comes in very handy as a Tongue Cleaner! Place it carefully on the floor or over the edge of your Expensive Cat Basket, grab it with your sharp claws, and lick until all of that nasty taste is gone from your mouth. Pro-tip: In a pinch or if your Tongue Cleaner is the washing machine, you can also use Dad's t-shirts hanging in the closet! He will never even know you licked them all!

And finally, there may be times when strangers are in your house doing work such as fixing the cable or painting the walls. You want to be part of the action but not in plain view. That's when your flannel blankie can come in SUPER handy as a Disguise! Just cover your body with it and NO ONE will realize that you're there snoop-ervising their every move! Pro-tip: Use this technique when your meowmy needs to take you to the VET or trim your nails. She'll never find you!

Lily is excited to bring these tips to you today! We hope all of her kitty friends enjoy these great ideas on how to get the most from your own flannel blankie!

Feline Friday

Lily has commandeered this piece of tissue paper and has been using it for naps for the past couple of weeks.

Why sleep on your nice, soft blankie or in your expensive cat basket when you can rest on a crinkly sheet of tissue paper?

Feline Friday: Invasion of the Kitchen Towel Monster

Gentle blog readers, I don't want to frighten anyone, but we've had a sighting of the exceedingly rare KITCHEN TOWEL MONSTER! This kitschy creature is only seen during the cold winter months when it emerges, cloaked in terrycloth, from the Expensive Cat Basket.

The Kitchen Towel Monster moves across the floor somewhat slowly but steadily...advancing toward the ultimate goal. 

What could this cloaked creature be seeking?

NOMS, of course. :)

Feline Friday: Just Chillin'

How do we chill? Let me count the ways....

Tinsel chillin' on the scratching pads (AKA the "deck")

 

Lily looking pretty zen while chillin' in her Expensive Cat Basket

 Rory chillin' in her Christmas t-shirt

 and in her fancy school dress

I seriously need to take a cue from these girls! I'm the world's worst at just chillin'! 

 

Feline Friday: The Importance of Playtime

 Happy Feline Friday! 

In today's post, I want to address a topic which I think is especially important for older kitties: PLAY. 

Let's face it: Kitties tend to get a bit lazy in their older years. Lily spends much of her time napping, and it's (too) easy for me to just let her do that.

 

 But I've recently been reading more about the importance of playtime for cats -- not only for exercise but also for mental stimulation. Indoor kitties lack the mental stimulation their outdoor cousins get through hunting, so it's up to their humans to provide it.

I'll confess I've gotten a bit lax over the years in providing intentional playtime for my cats. Tinsel adored playtime, much more than Lily, so in the year since she's been gone, I've had to remind myself to set aside 15 minutes or more each day just to play with Lily. If I don't "make" her play, she'll just get lazier and lazier...and that's not good for her health!

While Tinsel was with us, Lily would often sit to the side and watch her interact with me as if she were learning how to play. Now she enjoys some of the same games that Tinsel used to love. Her favorite is when I pull a string so that it disappears under a blanket...then she POUNCES (just like Tinsel) to grab it before it's gone from sight.

 

Lily has quite a large play/lounge area which often sprawls out into our family room. :)

 She has a box of toys, most of which are ribbons, pom poms, and mice of various sizes.

 Since we've been playing every day, Lily has come to look forward to it. She'll often sit next to her toy box (just like Tinsel used to do), signaling me that she's ready to play! 

When she really gets wound up, she "bunny kicks" with her back legs on her Expensive Cat Basket, making it turn like a Lazy Susan! It's one of the cutest things ever!

 If you're not playing with your kitty regularly, there's no time like TODAY -- FELINE FRIDAY -- to start! It may take a little time to discover the kinds of games your kitty enjoys, but I'm betting that in no time at all, your kitty will be looking forward to spending quality playtime with you!

 

This post was approved by Lily!

jp

Getting Settled

Last week we visited our daughter, Bailey, at her new place in Texas! We saw her new school, checked out the town where she'll be living, and enjoyed some great Texas food while we were there. It's a very exciting time in her life, as she is just getting started in her career. And it's just as exciting for us, as we get to watch and cheer her on!

I'm not going to lie: This "real life" transition has been tough for me, much harder than her move to college. Although she was far away for five long years during college, it still felt "temporary" to me. This move, as it should, feels more permanent. There's a mental and emotional adjustment that comes with the realization that hey...this is it. This is really it. Still, I am extremely excited for this new stage in her life, and I could not wait to visit her! 

Bailey's new apartment has a really nice balcony, and there's even a handy storage closet on the deck for stashing outdoor items. Her succulents (unlike mine!) seem to be thriving in the Texas heat. Go figure! Since she apparently has a green thumb, I insisted on picking up a hanging basket, too. :)

Happily, she found apartments in her new town to be larger and less expensive than comparable apartments in Indiana. Her new place is very bright and cheery, and the fireplace makes it quite homey -- although I'm not quite sure why one needs a wood-burning fireplace in 100-degree Texas heat!

 Although she had already unpacked quite a bit before we arrived, we helped her arrange things and finish unpacking all of her boxes.

The window sills are wide (PERFECT FOR A CAT!) and provide a great spot for her violets. Look at those blooms!

She has a lovely bedroom and the most humongous walk-in closet you can imagine. I could move right in! :)

There's a nice galley kitchen with an area for a washer/dryer at the back. It will be the perfect spot for her eventual kitty's food, water, and litter!

 There's a cute little dining room...

...and a nice bathroom with tons of storage space.

 While we were visiting, we looked for a few inexpensive accessories for the apartment. After searching far and wide, she found this vinyl tree at Target which is actually the same one I have on my craft room wall. She put mine up for me three years ago, so she knew the drill! Still, it was very late when she finished that night. 

The next morning when I was back at the hotel, something very strange happened. I got out of bed and turned on my phone to see that Facebook had randomly displayed the photo below from exactly three years before on my timeline, showing her putting up the vinyl tree in my craft room. It was literally the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. It was truly the strangest thing ever, because I don't even remember sharing this photo on Facebook.

Spouse is sure there was nothing random about it. He believes that photo was placed there for a reason, to reassure us that she is taking what she's learned in Iowa and making a new home of her own, just as she should. Then it occurred to me: The tree -- with its roots -- was a real-life illustration of the picture I made for her at graduation. 

Bailey is already hard at work in her new job and we know she's going to have a huge impact on the kids she'll be teaching. Texas is a great place to teach band, and we could not be more excited about her future there.

We know that her roots are deep and her wings are strong. We can't wait to see where they take her!