Jackie Bear, 1997-2010

Jackie Bear, my baby kitty, died today. She was 13. I had her since my second year here in DC.
I will miss her and her crankiness, but also her soft purring and "making biscuits" on me as she got comfortable for a nap.









I named my blog after you, baby kitty. I will remember you always. I hope you find lots of cat nip and birds to chase now.

Cooler Weather: Explaining to do

Jackie is staring at you, Cooler Weather. Right in the eyes. She needs answers. Now.

The question: *Why* did it take you so long to get here?

I think, Mr. Weather, that you outta answer the cat. With all that fur, she deserves some answers.

Paint Color Advising

"Darling, you want *what* paint color to go with these towels for the new bathroom? Oh my. No. That is all wrong. We need to start over and look again...," Jackie seemed to say.

Stowaway

Will came home today from a show and guess what he found in his suitcase....

Familiarity Isn't Necessarily A Good Thing

Cousin Diane sent this to me with the note, "Look Familiar?"



Yes, it does. All too familiar...
Seriously, this cat really could be Jackie...It is a bit uncanny...

Move Over, Goldilocks

The Lap of Luxury

I think that we have finally achieved harmony: kitty in my lap, puppy besides me on the couch. Thank goodness the dog is not a lap dog. We would be in serious trouble then.

For about 2 hours, I sat like this. Jackie was purring and Stirling was snoring, both of them sleeping. Good thing it was a new Grey's Anatomy and Project Runway.

The Animals' Conversation

Cleanup Surpervision

Kitty supervised the Christmas cleanup. She made sure that all the tissue paper and paper towels used to wrap and protect the ornaments was all flattened out, ready for use.

"Oh, Miriam, you have missed an ornament and there is still tinsel all over the tree!"

We have a few wintery decorations still us (the bouncy birds and the snow man balance toy), but all the garland, ribbons, cards, ornaments, lights, and holly are all away or tossed for compost.

The tree is out for the city to pick up so they can mulch it and all that we have left to do, is move upstairs the 4 boxes of Christmas, safe away until next year.

"Ah, much better. Now I have more room to run around the dog, taunting her with my fluffy tail."

Mexican Standoff

We are currently experiencing a series of Mexican Standoff.



Underneath the table, we have the 14 year-old, surly, cross, cantankerous kitty.


And on the couch, we have the sweet, young, 5-year old pup.

So far, the Kitty seems to winning. The Dog stops in her tracks, and even sometimes back ups out the Kitty's way. The Kitty hisses, glares, and every once in a while, swipes at the Dog. Once the Dog figures out that the Kitty really doesn't have front claws, we figure, it is on.

Snuggling Up to the Fire

Baby Kitty has taken the best seat in the house at the moment. She is warming her belly by the fire. I dare you to go in front of her so you can warm your frosty toes. I double dog dare you.... Yeah, I didn't think that you would; I certainly wouldn't dare.

So, we will wait until the Baby Kitty gets all toasty underneath that massive fur coat of hers and then *we* can get warm.

And This Year's Card Will Be....

Yeah, you don't get to know what the card will be for this year *that* easily.

However, here is a look back at the previous ones, 2000-2008. While I started it drawing them in 2000, I have 15 because for the first few years, I did two or three (like an idiot, and used some great ideas). They are in order of years. Can you find where I put my name and date? You can see how my hair (length, cut, color) and my eyeglasses change over the years. And my cousins like to see how I will put Jackie Bear in them. And last year's, it was fun to see how many people got the clue that we were engaged, and for the first (but not the last!) time Will made an appearance.

My favorite? hmmm, I think it might be the mistletoe one... or going to London... or the snow angels... wait, no: the "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" piano... On second thought it is the cookies, or the snowman; no, no: the snow globe, or..... Oh, I can't decide!

Your favorite?

Best.Wedding.Present.EVER

Bee Cat Hat.

Thanks, Diane.
Kitty thanks you too.

She is thrilled, can't you tell?

Un-wilted Blooms

It being the end of July, we are having our first 95 degree, hot, humid day. Pretty nice since it is coming at the end of what usually is an unbearably hot one.

So to celebrate the end of the July, and the end of my two month-long seminars, I present to you unwilted flowers in our garden... which won't be so perky at the end of today.

lavender

our butterfly bush

tiger lily

hosta-kitty!

Mr. Lincoln rose

Golden Celebration roses

New Toy

*Someone* got a new camera and has had fun playing with it this weekend. The favorite test subjects: Will and the kitty. One is more cooperative than the other... can you guess which one?

Inside Grass

Since it is raining so much outside, baby kitty hasn't been able to enjoy the outdoors. No lazying in the sun, munching on the grass, sniffing the seedlings, curling up in the wicker-chair-that-won't-decay-ever, or "stalking" the birds or squirrels. So, I have brought the grass to her: A lovely pot of grown-from-seed cat grass. She is thrilled--can't you tell? Now to see if she will eat it and promptly vomit it up. Ah, the joys of kittys.

Drooly Kitty

Now, I don't have a good photo, but you see that long shiny stringy bit coming from the cat's mouth? Yeah, drool. Brushing Nina (Will's sister-in-law's kitty) caused massive amounts of drool. Every time we brushed her. I wish *my* kitty was that excited to be brushed, but you touch Jackie with a comb, you are lucky if you come back with all your fingers.

"Guard" N Kitty

Jackie is working hard here making sure the seedlings get enough sun, water, and company.  Studies show that keeping plants happy with kitty fur and kitty purring makes for better growing and, therefore, better produce. You can see the results: look at the tray on the left, full of beans and peas.  Jackie has been focused on them.  Now, she is directing her purring energy towards the tomatoes. 

Somebody *Really* Missed the Sun

Clint Eastwood Is So Proud

You can hear the Wild West Music, can't you? Baby Kitty and the Squirrel face off in the back yard.  The air was tense and not a bird chirped in the sky, wanting to know to who would make the first move: the Squirrel, turning and running, or Jackie, running full steam ahead to attack the birdseed thief.  

Yeah, you can *just* imagine what happened next....to spare the bloody details, I will say this. All squirrels are no longer in our yard.... though, it really has nothing to do with this cat.  It has everything to do that we didn't refill the feeders this weekend after they had emptied them.