Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
Resident architect Boo continues to tweak his design for the Boo Box Condo, literally turning it onto its side and opening up a whole new world of possibilities. Designed with an open front for easy access, its innovative shapes link the inside and outside worlds while providing the necessary privacy when others approach and impinge on your personal freedoms.
Our resident philosopher enjoys exploring new places to sleep or observe more than any of our other cats.
Scout wasn’t the only one of our cats who liked to sit up high but she was the only one who you’d sometimes find sitting on top of open doors. This is from 2006 when she was five and I’m thankful for the pictures as she eventually stopped doing it, either from lack of desire or ability, and I might have forgotten about it altogether by now. The old cameras had a lot of limitations compared to those of today and I made the mistake of not upgrading them often enough – but to be fair to my past self I’m not much better at it today. I’m so thankful I have the pictures at all, it’s a joy to look back not just to remember the good times but also be reminded of how lucky I’ve been.
Today marks the three year anniversary of the day Emma died. I was driving along the Oregon coast this fall when out of nowhere I had this sudden thought of her and felt a sharp pang of sorrow that instantly brought tears to my eyes but not my cheeks. The thought passed as quickly as it arrived, the pain soon followed and I was back enjoying the beautiful seascapes once more. Those intense moments are rare but I’m surprised they still happen at all, it wasn’t like that with the other cats this far along, perhaps it was because she was so young and slipped so slowly through our fingers.
You are missed my sweet Em, but I’m deeply thankful for the years we spent together. In this picture she was about two years old, sitting at the entrance to my office.
I had forgotten how much in her early years Scout loved to be up high until I was looking through old pictures. Here in 2004 she’s on the kitchen cabinets, in other pictures she’s on top of bookcases or even on top of doors.
Someone isn’t happy she didn’t get the pony she asked for. Fortunately Trixie doesn’t know Santa only comes once a year so she is lying in wait in vain. While her skills with the lasso are not to be underestimated, you have nothing to worry about Santa, I’m quite sure she’ll have calmed down by next year. I’m pretty sure. It’s certainly possible. I’m sure you don’t get to be Santa without knowing how to get out of being tied up. Right?
“May you curl up on your loved ones and watch new episodes of Doctor Who! Jo-die! Jo-die! Jo-die!”
“Ah, about that little one. Her episodes don’t start until the fall.”
“Noooooooooooooooooo!”
“May your grate be empty and your belly full, and warm.”
We never do too much decorating for Christmas but this year the only decoration is the Christmas tree, with lights but no ornaments, and even that only went up a couple days before Christmas. Normally I assemble the tree, shoo the cats out of it, and put on the ornaments, reflecting on the memories they represent, but between dealing with Sam’s illness and the job search I ran out of both time and energy. Trixie has appreciated the tree the most, although she does not spend nearly the time under it that Emma did (who could?). She hasn’t tried to eat or climb the tree, a sign of her maturity I suppose at three years old, but that branch dipping down to the ground on the right was permanently bent by Emma during her many solo ascents of the tree. I used to hide deformities like those towards the back where they couldn’t be seen but now I embrace them as a reminder of sweet Em and her tree.
Boolie 