HAPPINESS IS

a new leather couch to curl up on.

SUNNY SIDE

After the snow shellacking we got yesterday, Pistachio was delighted to bask in the sun on a porch cleared of snow.

KEEPING AN EYE ON HIS DISH

The sun was pouring in through the kitchen window and Slugger was soaking it up. Of course, he was also keeping an eye on his empty dish. I liked the shadows cast by the window mullions on him... they almost make him look like a bandit.

POKER FACE

CAMERA SHY

LIGHTS OUT

ENNUI

I am learning that my photo opportunities are quite limited now that my Achilles tendon is immobilized and I have to wear a "boot" from my knee down to the very tip of my toes. Slugger is becoming my subject of choice. After my knee surgery he seemed to be hanging very close to me, but after I was "booted" he seemed a little frightened. Gradually he he has been checking it out. Although I still am fascinated by some of the things he does, positions he gets in and his knack for following every spot of sun around the house, he is bored with my being home all the time and my camera. He makes it very clear just whose house it is.

HIS WINDOW ON THE WORLD

WASHING UP

I was so happy to see the sun shining through my kitchen window. As I stared out the window looking at the play of shadows in the late afternoon light, I heard the rhythmic sound of Slugger grooming himself. I turned to see that I wasn't the only one happy to see the sun. Slugger had positioned himself perfectly in a spot of warm sunlight and was grooming himself, as he always does before he takes a nap. What a life!

PAWPRINTS

The older I get the less tolerance I seem to have for snow. This winter we have already had one major snowstorm and several dustings. Whenever I hear snow forecast I worry about the outside cats. After the twenty inches that fell in December, I didn't see them for almost a day and feared the worst. I called my Mom and told her how worried I was and she assured me they were fine and reminded me of the book The Incredible Journey which tells of the adventure shared by two dogs and a cat as they travel 300 miles through the Canadian wilderness searching for their beloved masters. In this book it is the cat who really saves the day, hunting to provide food for itself and the dogs as well as being the cheerleader of the group. The cat is really the best equipped to survive in the wild. Now even when we have a dusting of snow, I am relieved when I spot pawprints in the snow. I'm also thinking a lot about warmer climates.

RINGTAIL

I've seen a lot of stray cats pass through my back yard, looking for a morsel or two. Pistachio and Hazel are permanent residents, but a banged up stray who has been coming through for about two years has also taken up residency. He has managed to worm his way into my heart. At first I was put off by his ragged looking coat, scratched up nose and ears that looked like serrated knives. I thought he was nothing but a trouble maker and kept my distance. He started rubbing up against my leg and he let me pet him. I knew then that he had belonged to someone and was "ditched". So, Ringtail joined the dynamic duo, Pistachio and Hazel. In fact, he even earned his own house out back. Now, I often walk into the kitchen to see Pistachio sitting on one window ledge and Ringtail on the other. He has a lot of battle scars, but I love seeing his chewed up ears through my window. He has settled in and I think he knows he has a home now too.

UNDER COVER

I can hear the wind blowing and whipping around outside the house. The gusts are so strong they are knocking over the garbage cans. It is a perfect day to stay in bed, but I forced myself to get out. First thing I did was make coffee to warm up. Next step, feed Slugger (which is usually the first step because he meows up a storm wanting to be fed in the morning). All of a sudden I realized it was very quiet and Slugger was nowhere to be found. Somebody decided not to get up this morning!

PEEKING IN ON A NEW YEAR

There are some habits that even a new decade won't change. Every night Pistachio one of my outside cats jumps up on the window ledge and peers into the kitchen. It is almost impossible to see him because he is a black cat, but I hear the bell. It's our ritual and regardless of the weather I head out and give him a few treats and tell him to be safe. Usually, I come back in and treat myself to one last cup of coffee and a cookie. Coffee tonight, no cookie....that habit is going to change.

MILK AND COOKIES

Almost every night I venture into my yard to give Pistachio some treats. It has become a ritual of sorts. He jumps onto the kitchen window ledge, a signal that he is looking for his treats. He has become so domesticated (born feral, but now just a real love bug) that I regret not bringing him inside. I tell myself, Slugger (king of the house) would never have put up with an interloper. Now I wonder and assuage my guilt, by spoiling Pistachio with "milk and cookies".

RELAXING

After a long day it is nice to be able to sit in my kitchen and stare out at my garden. Not much in bloom yet, but sometimes the cats really perform. Pistachio seems to love sitting in the birdbath. He'll be surprised when there is water in there.

HAZEL

Hazel, one of my outdoor cats was hanging out on my patio table (I call it her porch) and enjoying today's milder temperatures. She and Pistachio seem to be relieved that the snow has melted. I'm relieved because I have worried about them all winter. Hazel still doesn't let me touch her, but I can get a lot closer than I used to.

What's New Pussycat??

At work I am busy trying to learn new tricks (video) which is not easy for an older dog. Today was my day off, but I spent most of it trying to teach myself how to shoot with a new video camera and how to edit in Final Cut. I have a long, long way to go (no Oscars in my future), but here's my first attempt at video. Speaking of long, after watching this several times I know it needs a much tighter edit. Guess I am just too close to my subject! Be patient... the end is my favorite part!

FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

IN FROM THE COLD

I was playing with a new lens tonight when Sonia brought Pistachio (one of the outside cats) in to the house from the single digit cold. P got to warm up for a few minutes and then started to get skittish. Pistachio who was feral is really just a big mush. He is friendly and tame, but regardless of the weather he likes to live outside. It's a good thing too, Slugger wouldn't want any other cats in his castle.

THE MODEL

I got out my studio gray seamless paper and set up my new lights, eager to see how they looked. Not a person to model... so Slugger cooperated for a few very short seconds. Even his favorite salmon treats couldn't lure him back onto the stool!