BRINGING BACK MEMORIES

Momma has been cleaning the kitten room today, apparently, we will be having human visitors, big and small and from all over the world.  It will start with Momma's Sister that she hasn't seen for 12 years and then ManSlaves Sister from Sweden and then Momma's friend from Arizona that haven't seen each other for over 20 years! So whilst Momma was cleaning and packing away the kitten pen Momma remembered all the naughty things these naughty trio and Faith got up to!Momma washed the lamp, the one that Jaz scaled at only 6weeks old and proudly sat on the top of it waving at the others.  Faith went mad and berated her for being naughty! Another time Jaz scaled the lamp and her and the lamp toppled over giving her a free ride to the bed! 


Momma took down the curtains to 'de-dust' them.  This is when she found little holes in the lining, this was Lillibet racing up and down the scratch post and swinging on the curtains once she reached the top. all these signs will stay around for ages!

On Momma went to clean out the kittening box and there she found a little piece of fluffy fur hidden right at the back of it.  This was James's favourite toy and could Momma find it when he left home? Nope.

Faith, of course, has been directing the proceedings and making sure that things are put away correctly and in the right order. All the kitten items are stored in the bed base, Faith had to investigate this also and went under the bed to make sure there was room.  She also helped collect all of the cable ties which hold the pen together, she had about four or five in her mouth and was squeaking to ask Momma where she wanted them.  She is so helpful and Momma is happy to have such a happy little helper.  

KS =^..^=

COLOUR MATCHING

I have to say, this little blue pixie cat is growing on me.  He is rather cute and always greets me with a chirrup and a wiggly tail. I find myself chirruping back without thinking... oh dear, I am slipping.  He then proceeds to rub his little body down the length of mine, oh that's it, the static builds up and I have to give him a little grumble for good measure.  Well, I don't want him thinking I am a sook do I?

He loves to play on the stairs and since the Orb has been shining he has been practicing catching rainbows from the Orb Danglers. He is truly fascinated with them and just sits staring at the pretty coulours and tapping the prisms of light with his paws.

There is another thing that is quite cute about Otello, he matches the decor in the house, especially the carpets and the Parentals bedroom, all in deep blue. Occasionally, this makes him tricky to spot and we all have to be careful not to step on him as he blends in so well. Just the other day I was trotting across the landing and he stood up, I had to jump over him. Momma said I maybe need spectacles, Huff. It's easier to spot Lillibet, Faith & Mr. Zeus they stand out from the carpets, except at night and their dark shapes blend in so well I have to use my whiskers to find them.  Me, well I am easy, and the only place I can 'blend in' is in the bathroom, the times I have had the shower run and I am sitting in there I could count on all four paws.  I just think it's darn right rude not to notice me sitting there with lime green eyes, I mean COME ON. Matching things can be quite fun but darn right dangerous at times!

KS =^..^=

WHAT A COO!

Look what landed at Maystar! His name is Jet Stream and he is a very fast racing pigeon from York.  He has won 2 cross Channel races, which has hit the news with cruelty reports recently, but we can say first hand that Jet Stream is well loved and well cared for by his family. He arrived during the week in the high NE winds which blew him off course into our garden.  He was shown the way by 5 Wood Pigeons and being a Rock Pigeon himself he figured he could 'blend in' quite well.  He looked immediately different and very smart and shiny, not that our well fed pigeons are not shiny, but Jet Stream has a luxurious finish to his feathers that caught the Orb Light and radiated out. So he was off course by a few hundred miles but the wind was so strong he tried and tried to get home, but each night he would have to return to us. Eventually, we rang his very worried parents who arranged a pigeon courier to collect him.  So if the tabloids are correct he should have been culled for not 'doing his job'.  Rubbish I tell you... Momma had two elated people on the phone and a waiting 'Widow' bird at home that were desperate to get their best pigeon home and safe by any means.

We played a great part of 'watching' the pigeon and keeping his spirits up during his long stay.  He had taken over our CatPod and after a few days of being 'locked in' boy was it stinky in here! Normally we could get our mousy little bodies out for some fresh air and a blast, but a few days inside, and pigeon sitting really made us lazy and we forgot to wash, because washing meant taking  our eyes off LUNCH!  We were told by ManSlave to keep our Lickers under control and to stop drooling, this is one expensive bird and he was most definitely NOT ON THE MENU!!! Shame, I was looking forward to a little lick of those glistening feathers.  Jet Stream had lost a tail feather and we promise whole heartedly... it wasn't us! Well, Jet Stream is back home with his caring family, I am sure he will be back in training very soon, well maybe after his tail feather grows back. Until then he can enjoy a little rest and some fuss.  He is really affectionate, or at least was to Momma, she talked a lot to him and would sit and he let her tickle him under his chin.  Good Luck Jet Stream, we shall follow your progress in the future.


KS =^..^=

BIRTHDAY BABE

So here it is, our special Princess, 2 years old.  Wow, where does the time go?  She was once a tiny kitten, the only one in the family and we called her Faith.  She grew into a sweet darling little soul who has Princess tantrums and literally stamps her paws when she isn't getting her own way... which is quite often!

Today, she has cake and some small gifts from the Pride, nothing big and lavish, just catnip, packs of dreamies, a new scratching post (well the old one that Momma re-covered) Momma also made miniature fish cake for everyone with a candle in each one that Faith 'huffed' out and made several wishes about healthy kittens, a bigger TV in her room and not to have to go to cat shows. 

She was happy with the new scratch post and left it up to Lillibet & Otello to try it out, she said it was a little rough on her paws and the new barbour twist was a big grippy, she liked the old one better because she could collect all the fluffy bits that fall of it and eat them. Well I like the new one, for a big muscular boy like me, I don't feel that my butt is going to hit the deck if I miss a paw hold.


Faith, Otello & Lillibet had a good game of 'Fishing Rods'. I could hear them gamboling up and down the laminate, I say hear them, because when Momma made fish cake, she forgot to return the leg of lamb to the microwave for safe keeping and I had me a few munchies of it... well about half of the flabby bit at the top. I was so full, I couldn't move. So I was parked in the downstairs loo with the PINK tray, water a heated bed and a box of wet wipes! I did do me some Yawping, then found a good magazine in the rack and continued with the inevitable.

So at cake time, I had to have a chicken cake and Faith ate my portion of fish cake... well, I did ruin her Birthday by being a bad cat, she deserved my fish cake.

KS =^..^=

TOP DRAW STUFF
Momma has been looking for Faith everywhere.  She is calling "Faith honey.  Bubba, Bubba fish, bubba lishy, pretty, come on bubba. Faith honey where are you?"

She gave up, Faith obviously didn't want any noms for lunch.  Momma then got a bit concerned and started looking properly for her.  She was nowhere to be found.

Earlier that day.... "Mmmm, says Faith, I am a little bored, what shall I do now?" I watch her as she looks around for something naughty to do, she starts looking around the floor in the kitchen, tapping this and that. She finds a loose piece of skirting board under the kitchen side and it's just big enough for her to squeeze through. She never came back.

So, Momma is still looking and searches all the rooms. She is usually curled up on Momma's side of of the bed. Nothing. If she is not there she is usually on the radiator in the en-suite. Nothing.  If not there the only other place is usually the heated bed in the kitchen.  It's here that Momma bent down to see if Faith was there and saw the little piece of wood knocked over next to the dishwasher.  She props it back up, unknowing that Faith had crept in there an hour earlier.

Momma still can't find Faith.  She is at her whits end thinking she has  maybe escaped somehow.  ManSlave comes home and now we all start looking. No one gives her position away of course, that would be telling. The Parentals head out... door knocking! Showing a picture of Faith to the neighbours. We all sit in the window, shrugging!

The Parentals come back, upset and perturbed that Faith is missing.  Momma starts to prepare dinner and goes to the tea towel draw to get an oven mitt out and who should be in the draw but Faith! Well Momma didn't know whether to laugh or cry, I think she did a bit of both. She is one pesky Devon. 


Faith had a mini tantrum because her sleep had been disturbed, but other than that she was quite happy to see everyone and greeted us all with her tail up. Better not get used to that, she will be back to thwakking us very soon indeed.

KS =^..^=

AND THEIR OFF!

Yesterday saw a great Grand National horse race.  No injuries and certainly no horses falling so badly that they had to be sent to Rainbow Bridge.

At Maystar, we were allowed to choose a horse each.  This was done by laying out the runners in the paper on the floor so that we could choose with our paws. I had my go first because I wanted to make sure that I got Seabass.  Mr Zeus had Seabass last year and won a few quid.  I had my punt on the girl jockey before Mr.Zeus chose her again... I have things to spend that money on!

Lillibet & Otello had to be taught what to do as it was their first year at choosing a pony for the race. Lillibet got into it straight away, copying Faith whilst first she studied the form and then made her choice.  Lillibet got this right away and chose a horse near her Mum's.

Otello took his time and sat for a very long time staring at the paper, then all of a sudden, he got excited and pointed to his horse and then promptly jumped all over the paper choosing lots of horses... he didn't really get the idea and wanted lots of ponies to bet on!

Mr. Zeus was right there choosing his favourite and he smirked at me saying - "you can have Seabass!" I wondered later if he had nobbled Seabass, because he was way back in the running.

Well after ManSlave chose his horse and Momma chose a Welsh one called Teaforthree who came in 3rd.  Our £1 each way sure did get minimised when we only won back £3.60!  Oh well, it's only a bit of fun.  Now what can I get for £3.60?  Mmmmm some Dreamies Cat Treats in Salmon flavour... Nom nom nom


KS =^..^=

MAKING AND ENTRY

It has to be said that Faith is our number one chief door opener.  Unless doors are locked, she can easily jump onto the handle and open any door she needs opening.

When the Parentals were away in Poland and Uncle Paul was looking after us, he was getting quite confused with the paper shreddings all over the landing floor.  You see once Uncle Paul had left, Faith would let Lillibet and herself into the office and empty the shredder. They would then play with the paper all over the landing. Then at lunch time Liza, our Chinese friend, would come over and see us and close the office door again.  This went on for several days!

If Faith is outside a door, especially if Momma is in the room, she will again, try to let her self in. When she had kittens, she regularly let her self out - but always in the early morning for a quick cuddle before the rest of the house got up - this means two doors, but she manages very well and is extremely quick. The rest of the time there is a digery-doo under the handle - but she doesn't know this!

If Momma is in the shower, Faith will climb the radiator and stand on top of the door and peer into the shower from above.  She also frequently climbs the doors and often through the house you hear "Oh Faith, there you are honey". She really likes to surprise you with new places.  Again on one of Uncle Paul's visits she not only opened the office door, emptied out the shredding, hole punched a few important documents, but climbed the ladder in the corner and perched on the top of the filing cabinets where Uncle Paul had to rescue her. She of course played a good damsel in distress.... poor Uncle Paul!

She also climbs into the loft at any opportunistic moment and races between ManSlaves legs before he has chance to stop her.  She dashes to the top and makes a bid for freedom as far as the Christmas decorations, then gets worried and trots back, squeaking all the way. She is a funny little soul and always up to no good and always teaching others naughty stuff.  Take her kittens for example. Jaz & Jamie are sweet kits, but oh my, the stories that come out of Ireland about those two.  Sounds like Eva's curtains are taking a beating and David is constantly at the hardware store replacing lost sink plugs! I don't think Faith will ever tire of teaching and doing extreme things.  It's her nature!

KS =^..^=