Abby Gail and Gracie

Abby Gail:

Dreaming of Herding Cattle? {April 13}

After I took this picture, she started to go across the street. I would not let her as I had the sprinkler going in the garden and I needed to shut it off within a few minutes. (Note. I use a timer. I can be lazy and use sprinklers before 10:00am on Sundays and Thursdays here where I live).

She isn't going outside as much as she used to as I am paranoid after seeing a baby snake on the move. We need to set that brush pile out back afire. She has grown up and matured so much that she does not need as much activity. However, when she does, she does. In other words, she goes nuts.

She made me think of Sheldon's lullaby from the Big Bang Theory TV series:

Soft kitty, warm kitty,
little ball of fur

Happy kitty, sleepy kitty
purr, purr, purr.

And yes, she lays on me like this all the time.

Gracie:

{April 17}

She is doing well after a long struggle with skin and ear infections. We saw a cat dermatologist and are now attacking her suspected allergies from three possible sides -- food, environmental and flea -- at one time. She is currently free of both the skin and ear infections and will be on medication and the special diet for another five weeks or so. Once past this time, we will start determining what her allergies are by either taking away the special diet or the medication (for environmental allergies). She is much happier, more active and so much more normal these days. She shocked me when I turned around and saw her on the back of this chair.

{April 15}

This was the first time she went without the cone of shame under supervision. She was extremely happy bathing herself. Both Dan and I are pleased that she rarely sought to scratch herself and whenever she did, it was mostly the normal scratching that cats do. And yes, she is missing fur around her face and neck; but, it is growing back slowly and surely.

We're Hard at Work in my Studio....

I wanted to show y'all the setup in my studio. I have a craft table that I use for making general crafts and folding laundry on (while watching TV). By the way, we made the table using free plans and it is foldable so that we can put it away if needed. I am going to need to figure out how to raise it up a few inches; but, I am fairly happy with the thing.

Anyway, we turned that craft table into a desk and were hard at work on our tax returns.

But, the reality is....

the cats wanted attention! (I had to resort to using the flash with a faster shutter speed because both of them were too fast.) This is Abby Gail playing with a kick stick. (Dan: "I'm trying to work here!")

And, Gracie wanted attention from Dan.

(In case you do not see her, She is on one of his legs).

FYI: We went out the next day and purchased TurboTax: Premier edition for $25 off. It ended up being worth the cost because it saved us thousands of dollars. No joke! This is the first year we had to deal with stocks and more and we were not confident of our initial efforts. So, my advice would be, when in doubt, seriously invest in TurboTax.

Gracie and the Cone of Shame

Gracie lost two nail caps in the night around January 7th and made herself bloody. The cause for concern was that her wounds were deep (under her chin) and she was in distress. So, we took her to the vet as soon as possible (the same day). As usual, I felt like we got the runaround concerning her allergies. However, she does have a secondary skin infection. Thus, the cone of shame and some medical intervention (antibiotic and steroid shots along with her usual ear treatments). We are also "bathing" her with some medicated mousse in hopes of alleviating her itchiness.

It's been a struggle with her. She managed to take the cone of shame off two nights in a row about a week later and made herself all bloody again. Fortunately, all her nail caps were present. Thus, no deep gouges and the like.

I think, overall, she is doing better. But, it's been a struggle with her. And, she still has her cone of shame. I want her fur to grow back just a little more before giving her freedom from the cone.

I am not sure if the steroid shots helped because she is still wanting to viciously scratch herself. We go back to the vet around February 23rd to discuss her state of affairs.

I am saddened my biggest fear became a reality (secondary skin infection). She has been doing so well for years with getting her ears treated periodically at the vet along with Zymox and nail caps. I've always thought she'd have a short life due to her aggressive scratching. Dan made me feel slightly better by telling me that she definitely would have had an extremely short life if we hadn't adopted her. But still, I feel bad for her.

Feline Friday {Cats Stealing Chairs}

I was sitting in the nice chair (on the right). When I left to go do something and returned, I discovered Abby Gail has stolen the chair. I pushed her back and then sat down on the other chair. I left once again to do something and returned to find Gracie in the other chair! I sputtered, fussed and then laughed! I gave in and let them have the chairs while I worked on something else. I did not really need to be on the computer.

Wordy Wednesday {Interference}

This brat snuck onto my work while I was in briefly in another room. Oh well, it was time for me eat lunch anyway.

Feline Friday (Epic Photobomb}

I have not let Gracie outdoors in eons due to suspicions that she is allergic to something, even when I brushed her upon returning indoors. When we mow down part of the back yard later this month or early June, I will let her outside once again. In the meantime, Gracie decided to sleep on my Mother's dry sink in the studio. She has been wanting to be close to me of late which is strange for her. But then, she has her moments. I decided to see if I can get a decent picture of her.

I then went to the other side to see if getting a picture from that angle would be better. I snapped a series quickly adjusting the lens and whatnot in between. (FYI: I rarely check the screen after snapping pictures.) The below is what I got.

You can almost see Abby Gail asking "what was that?" after the first click. And then, checking the camera out upon the second click. She made me laugh and I had to abandon the project after taking a few boring pictures with her in focus.

Feline Friday {Rotten Little Beast}

This cat is a rotten little beast.

For the first time in nine years (that I can remember), Gracie got up on my dresser and made herself a bed out of some clean pillowcases I had placed on top. I will need to wash them again and put them away. By the way, the pillowcases are not for guests.

I believe Gracie has been teaching Abby some bad habits. Why? I caught Abby Gail on top of the dresser a few nights later. Do you see those beaded jewelry hanging behind Gracie? Well, they have been placed in a safer spot so that Abby will not play with them as they could potentially be a dangerous toy for her. I think Abby is a girly girl because she does love some bling (strings of all kinds).

I have caught both of them sleeping on top of my dresser now and then since this first time (March 11). I think I spoil my kitties way too much. But, I do have compassion for my Gracie - more so than usual. She is getting old. She most likely feels safe up there away from both Abby and humans. You have to choose your battles when it comes to cats. I let them have this battle AFTER making it somewhat safe for them. After all, this is better than the kitchen countertops and table, Correct?

Wordy Wednesday {Gardening}

Dan took this picture on his iPhone. I was totally unaware of this until he showed it to me. I then demanded a copy as I loved the image especially with the paintbrushes in the background.

I decided to make a pile of rocks out of most of the sand stones we found while digging for the garden, trees and plants. Gracie decided to join me while Dan took a picture of me with my silly yard art. She put her lone paw on my thigh.

By the way, the strong winds blew over the top two rocks this morning. I knew that this was going to happen because they were precariously balanced.

Note: Both pictures taken on March 20, 2016

Feline Friday (The Love of Paper)

This house often looks like a mess simply because I spoil my cats. Both of them love packaging paper that comes in boxes. I will often throw them down on the floor in their play areas. And then, just before we head to the recycling place, I will gather them up, fold them, and place them in boxes designated for the "dump" (a place with a recycling dumpster).

Back in December, I caught Gracie resting amongst some of the packaging paper in the den in between her insanity moments. Just yesterday, both of them played in and around some packaging paper in my room and it was highly entertaining watching them. It is a rare event to see them chase and play with one another.

Feline Friday {Blending}

{February 3, 2016}

I could not find Gracie and looked everywhere for her. Much to my surprise, she was eventually found in an unusual spot. She looked so content that I did not disturb her.

By the way, the crochet clown doll on the left is the very first one my Mother made. She was going to undo her work "because it was just practice"; but, I would not let her. I grabbed and stored it in my room and never let it go.

Wordy Wednesday {Sulking Cats}

On this day (July 17, 2015), I had two sulking cats. For the life of me, I cannot remember why all the rooms were shut. But, both of them were NOT happy cats.

I have not seen them like this before or since this day. Gracie (bottom picture) had never got up on the coffee table before nor has she since this terrible (to them) day. If looks could kill.

Abby Gail rarely gets inside the bottom "tunnel" of the tree house. {She prefer higher places.} I have not seen her in that space since this particular day.

Feline Friday {A Word from Gracie}

Hi, my name is Gracie and I'm taking over this spot for the day because my human mother is too busy celebrating her birthday. Yes, the crazy lady takes a whole week and even a month to celebrate.

Anyway, I'm hijacking this blog. My human mother rarely gives me the time of the day on her precious corner of the interwebs. But then, I hate it when she focuses that camera on me. So, I guess it's my own fault that I don't get the spotlight as often as Abby Gail does. Well, I'm changing that now. Today is all about me!

Speaking of the crazy lady, my humans think I'm weird. Why? Because I don't have a regular or a favorite sleeping spot. I may choose to sleep in my human dad's office on top of a box filled with jeans that human mother claims she will use to turn into blankets some day. I'll believe that when I see it.

Other times, I'll sleep on one of the steps on the elliptical machine that my humans rarely use. Sometimes, I'll choose to sleep with them at night and other times, I choose to sleep elsewhere. I may sleep on the small cat tree my human mother purchased for her room to keep us happy. I once discovered a blanket tossed on my human mother's crafting table and made a bed out of that. She wasn't too happy with me; but, she let me sleep after disturbing me with taking of pictures. *sigh*

I surprised my humans and caused them a lot of worry several days ago. Why? Because I chose to climb to the top of the huge cat tree house in the den and I did it while they were present in the room. I sure showed them!

They were so worried about me getting down. They dragged the smaller cat tree out of their bedroom placing it in front of the big one. Pfffhhhhttt! I don't need that thing. But, don't tell them this, it sure does makes it easier for me to get up and down the big tree.

They thought I was a bush dweller because I liked to sleep in low places. Well, I proved them wrong. I love the variety of perches. I've been sleeping on the highest perch lately. It makes my humans both sad and glad -- sad because the highest perches were where my sister, Chessie, slept all the time and glad the tree is being used once again.

The only thing that I do regularly without fail is holler to go outside in the mornings and again when my human Dad gets home for the day. I absolutely love to be outdoors. And, I adore laying and snoozing in an abandoned red chair. Oh, I do let my sister, Abby Gail, use it from time to time albeit grudgingly. My humans have a hard time getting me to go back indoors. If I could, I would stay out there all day.

Well, my human is about to show up and I better get off before she discover that I hijacked her blog. And besides, I'm getting tired. I need to bathe myself and take a nap. So, I'll bid y'all a good day and lots of happy meows.

PS. I'm going to use one of her signatures in hopes of making her think she blogged this even though I did. Do you think that would work?

Phone {Picture} Dump V

This is the last dump post. Until next time.

Phone {Picture} Dump I

Phone {Picture} Dump II

Phone {Picture} Dump III

Phone {Picture} Dump IV

Artwork by a grandniece. June 8, 2015

She colored, used stickers and "wrote" things onto paper. I framed them and hung it on my wall.

PS I am hoping that she will continue to gift me with her art work and pictures and these will be replaced (updated). I would do the same for all the others. She was the first to gift me with her “art”.

Abby Gail, June 9, 2015

Abby Gail, June 9, 2015

Abby Gail, June 9, 2015

Note: I took a LOT of pictures during the period of time she was needy and sickly. She wanted me. I finally put down a towel beside my computer and she was satisfied.

My Turn Now! Gracie. June 10, 2015

She looked so pathetic and cute. I had to take another picture. June 16, 2015

This gives you an idea of the depth of her sickness. She did not torment me or my needlework during this time frame. She just wanted to be on me and rest.

June 17, 2015

Abby Gail, June 18, 2015

Abby Gail. June 20, 2015

Abby Gail. June 20, 2015

Abby Gail. June 25, 2015