Mancats Decorate!

Here is the new family ornament for 2009...we decided to not put Mojo's name on it, since he isn't here with us at Christmas.

Devon is modeling a Christmas tree skirt! I found this small one for the tree at my office, and it looked like it would fit him...he didn't mind too much!

Smokey is helping unwrap the ornaments. This is the first year in a long time that he has come out to help. He's really been a lot more social lately...I'm loving it!

Smokey, near the top of the photo, and Devon are checking out the box the tree came out of. We do artificial trees because Smokey is allergic to the real ones. He flaired up a bit because of all the extra dust we stirred up, but he's all better now.
Tanner laying under the tree in the study, making sure the lights are all working properly.
This is the finished tree in the study...it's a weird angle for the photo, I'm standing on the stairs...it was hard to get a good shot of the lights. We like this one because people can see it from the road when they drive by the house.

This is the tree in the den. This is the one we can enjoy while watching tv and eating dinner, etc...We had great fun decorating, and are enjoying looking at the trees. Trying not to think about taking it all down in a few weeks!

Secret Paws

We went shopping the other day for our secret paws kitty, and here's what we came up with. I hope our kitty likes it.

Tanner and Devon came out to help wrap and package everything together...

Tanner loved to lay on the paper to help out!

Sorry Secret Paw kitty if your paper has holes in it...Devon loved to scratch at the paper!

It's been mailed now, and will hopefully arrive later this week, or Monday. This has been such fun...

Also, please notice our new VSquillion in the side bar. His name is Julius, and we picked an orange kitty because Tanner was feeling out numbered!

Lastly, the bed that Tanner was kneading on in yesterdays post, affectionately known at our house as the purple puff, came from here...

Drs Foster and Smith

We have the 26inch bed. We love it, and it washes just fine in the machine!! Enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday - A Video

Well, mom is crazy, this was supposed to publish tomorrow, hence the title Wordless WEDNESDAY!! Honestly, you can't get good help these day! I guess we'll keep her though, she has thumbs and can open the stinky goodness for us.

Toasty Warm on Tuesday

Update: I just got a new header from Zoolatry!! Thank you so much for creating it, using the ornaments from the tree...I love it! Also, notice the new Christmas Memories of Mojo on the sidebar, also from Zoolatry.

This is Devon...he loves to lay on the couch with you and watch tv. Normally he sits on this leopard print pillow, but this day, he ended up on a down throw. About half way through our movie, Auntie covered him up with some of the throw, and he loved it. Until I got the camera out, he was laying down flat and sleeping so hard. I think he loved being toasty warm!

I think Devon was a bit bored with the movie that was on the tv. His favorite show is "Planet Earth" on the Discovery channel. He also enjoys a good Harry Potter movie, and sat on his pillow for 3-1/2 hours on Friday night watching the first one with me!

Do your kitties like to "watch" tv with you? Where are their favorite places to sleep?

Mancats Love Ornaments

Ornaments are fun to collect and my mancats do their fair share to boost the local ecomony by collecting them too! This is a fun yarn ball...I put this one up high on the tree, so it stays there!
Last year, the boys all got a fun bird in their color...this is Smokey's purple bird.
I found a local artist that makes ornaments out of clay and glass. She custom made us cat ornaments, in the boys colors. Here's Tanners green belly cat. Smokey's canadian goose ornament is beside of it.
We do a family ornament every year. This is the one we got last year, when we were at the Apple Festival. I am behind this year in getting one made. I've been struggling with whether to have Mojo's name on it or not, since he passed away in February. I suppose I could do it this year...what do you think?

Do your kitties 'collect' ornaments? Do you like to get special ones that remind you of your cats?

Foster Flashback

We haven't fostered in years, but here's Tanner helping me feed the babies....His orange stands out in the mostly see of black!

Tanner snuggling a kitten. He loved the kittens and they all seemed to love him. Maybe he was soft and squishy!

Tanner in a bed of babies...I have another picture of him in this bed with about 6 black kittens. The foster coordinator knew that black male kittens were my weakness, so that's what she tried to give us most of the time! I think she was hoping I'd keep them. I have to admit I was tempted by several of them! Her plan almost worked!!

Here's Tanner when he was a foster kitten...I adopted him shortly after this picture. I'd had him several months already, since he was only 13 days old when he came to my house. When he was a couple of months old, we (the whole household) got ringworm!! It took us months to get rid of it, so he couldn't be adopted until he was all clear. Luckily, knocking as loud as I can on some wood, we haven't had it since.

Fostering was rewarding and fun, but a lot of hard work. My hat goes off to those of you who are still fostering and working with rescue groups! Thank you for all you do.

Wordless Wednesday

Toes on Tuesday

Today the toes featured are moms. I love to play with her feet! They don't always smell so sweet, but I don't mind.
It's fun to try and grab toes around her feet...it makes playing more challenging.

Sometimes she gets my belly with her toes while I'm trying to play with my toys...this is fun too. Cause then I give her toes a big bunny kick!Sometimes I use her feet and toes as a launching pad...I can push myself off and slide across the floor to get another toy. I love this too!

Other times I just like to lay claim to these toes, so the other boys don't get any ideas...I'm not sharing mom's feet. She's all mine.

Tanner

Manliness in question

Mom got a bright idea to get Christmas photos for the card this year with us dressed like various Christmas themed things...such as a reindeer, a santa, an elf, etc...She has many costumes for us to try. I was the first victim, and I did not cooperate at all. I felt violated with the flashy box continually blinding me, so I couldn't see what was coming next. Please don't think any less of me when you see these. I can't believe I'm posting, but I wanted to put a warning out to the other kitties....be aware of the flashy box this time of year! No good can come from being treated like this...

I must say, I wanted to eat those gingerbread men on the top of this headband....they looked so yummy!
The elf hat was hideous! Can't you see the shame in my face at the outrageousness of it all?

I am utterly humilated by this point...what's up with that red ball on the hat...is that supposed to be my nose?

Please, please I'm begging you...for the love of cats everywhere....Put down the flashy box, and the costumes and just step away.

Thank you,
Tanner

Mancats are Silly!

Devon is one crazy mancat. He tries to always be so suave about what he does, so it is funny to see him doing something silly, but trying to play it off. Here he is sitting on the kitchen island (does that make him an island cat?) with his front feet in a bowl. Just sitting there like nothing is weird about having your feet in a bowl. He's a nut!



What silly things have you been 'caught' doing lately?

Tasty Thursday

This is the human bean today. I had to sneak in here at night to post before the boys realize what I'm doing! This past summer, when I went to Wrightsville Beach to stay with some family, my cousin made a delicious pie for me. I wanted to share the recipe since it's close to the holidays when we will be cooking up a storm. I hope this pie can make an easy addition to your repertoire and make your holidays fun!! Enjoy!

I make this using Light Cool Whip, and it tastes just fine. I also think you could use the fat free sweetened condensed milk too, but I haven't tried that.

I love that I can make it the night before a dinner party and am ready to go...takes about 15 minutes.

Sometimes I make extra of the crust and hold it out to use as a topping on the slices when I serve...the crust is amazingly good. Who would have thought pretzels, butter and sugar would be so yummy?!

Don't forget, if you want to exchange Christmas cards, send your address to scanipe1 (at) nc (dot) rr (dot) com.

Wordless Wednesday

Oldies but goodies!

Toes on Tuesday

Congratulations to the Creek Cats...this is Devon!! Thanks to everyone who ventured a guess or left a comment!!

Guess Who?

Easy Like Sunday

Devon, Tanner and Smokey all take it easy on Sunday...such is the life of a cat. :) I was happy to see all of them laying together.

Happy Friday the 13th!

This photo has been shown before, but I thought it was appropriate since there are so many superstitious folks in the world...here's your black cat on Friday the 13th!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

It won't be long before we are heading home for the holidays. Tanner usually joins us at my parents for Christmas, so he doesn't have to miss his pills. He loves their house because they have many delicious plants around. I have to keep a close eye on him!

Toy Review

This is a favorite toy at our house. Tanner got this for his birthday one year, and loves it. It looks a bit silly, but it squeaks when it moves or bounces. The string is elastic, so it is very springy, and the ribbons at the bottom just drive the boys crazy!

I keep it put away when we aren't playing with it because Tanner likes to chew the strings until they break or he eats them!

I find that putting toys out of sight is a good way to spark new interest in old toys. How do you keep the spark alive with your cats and their toys?

Mancats need the Spa

My mancats are turning into Womancats before my very eyes! Their nails are snagging on toys and pricking their blankets when they knead their paws. My mancats need the spa!

Tanner (i.e. Tanneisha) is the only one willing to show off his, umm her, nails for you today.

Tanneisha keeps her eyes closed very tightly when getting her nails done, so that flying nail pieces don't blind her! She is very dramatic. I will be glad to have my Tanner back :)

Devonna and Smokeisha decided not to attend the spa this time, but don't worry their time is coming! The spa is running a three for one special this week, with free ear cleanings and chin combs and eye crusty removal too. What girl doesn't love a good day at the spa?

How often do you have to trim your kids nails? Do they tolerate it or put up a fight?

Dona Nobis Pacem

The Four Crazy Cats are wishing for world peace today...Catnip is the answer to all life's problems!

Wordless Wednesday

Devon's Halloween Recap

Devon was the most tolerant when it came to trying on costumes. He just sat on his pillow and watched tv while different hats were put on him. He loves attention, and is just a ham when it comes to the camera. Enjoy!

The other cats will be showcased later, and you will see that they are not the most cooperative of subjects. They could all learn from Devon...if you just sit there, it will be over quicker!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!!