Showing posts with label Cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cats. Show all posts

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Profiling Sophie

This is our beautiful Sophie. She will be 15 years old in May and she came to live with us in November of 2007. At that time we only had Rosie inside, and Dood still lived outside. After he was injured and had to come inside, Sophie had two boys to deal with. Rosie was 10 years old and Dood was 7. She was the baby at 1 1/2, and it was fun to see all the interactions of the three as they sorted out the pecking order. It was soon established that Rosie was the alpha cat, despite his gentle spirit. 

However, for the past 6-plus years, Sophie has been the Queen of all she surveys. She visits you in the bathroom, loves life on a pedestal, even if it is just a piece of paper, and give her a box and she is thrilled (it seems a new one arrives every other day).

I miss my boys very much, and as much as I would love to open my home and heart to a new furry friend, I think Sophie is perfectly happy as things are and I don't want that to change. So for now, I love my Sophie-girl.


Tuesday, September 29, 2020

I Missed It!

Can you believe it? I actually missed my 11th Blog Anniversary Date! I guess this year has really messed up things. So, instead of reminiscing or rambling down memory lane, I will show you our lovely Sophie.


I love to use the features of my smart phone camera to enhance pictures, adding special effects and a frame. I took this one a step further into Autodesk Sketchbook and softened the background because this was just an random picture taken in a cluttered room. Pretty cat but not so pretty backdrop.

Thanks to Sophie for helping me belatedly acknowledge my 11th blogoversary (September 20, 2009).
 

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Love from Sophie

Sophie sends her love in this autographed photo. She is absolutely the sweetest thing, and makes us smile many times every day.  I hope she helps you, too.


Thursday, November 1, 2018

Breakfast in bed, please!


We have had our beautiful Sophie for almost 11 years now and she's just as sweet and quirky as ever. Like all of our cats, her personality has continued to develop over the years. After the passing of her housemates, (Dood, 4 years ago and Rosie, 5 years ago), she has been "talking" more than ever before with an ever-growing vocabulary. I believe she is either channeling the boys, or was just never able to get a word in edge-wise and is now making up for it.

If she were talking in this picture, she might be saying, "breakfast in bed would be nice for a change".

Do your cats talk to you, and what do you think they are saying?



If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Monday, January 9, 2017

Nicknames

This is Day 6 of the 2017 edition of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Today's prompt is Nicknames. Please visit the other participants for more stories.       


I love nicknames. It makes me feel loved. It makes me feel less alone in this world. - Ellen Page

I would wager that just about every has had a nickname at one time or other in their lives. Nicknames can be endearing or embarrassing, sweet or mean, depending on who bestowed it and how it is used.


Sophie a.k.a. Soapy, Sophes, Twit
I grew up with several different descriptors attached to me, all of which were used with the utmost affection. Used in this manner, nicknames do make you feel special, like you fill a place that no one else can, which is true.

Even our furry friends have nicknames in addition to the official name of record at the vet. Rosebud was always Rose or Rosie, and Dood's official name was R.P., but he eventually became Doodle, which got shortened to Dood. Missy became Mizzle and then Miz, but I often called her Sweet Pea, and her Daddy called her Pudge.



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Monday, August 17, 2015

Being Yourself

Joseph Campbell



Don't waste it trying to be someone else. Just be the best you that you can be.




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Monday, June 1, 2015

Quote of the Week

Always when judging
Who people are,
Remember to footnote
The words "So Far."
- Robert Brault


We are all constantly changing, evolving and becoming who we are meant to become. However, we are not there yet, and during our journey we may hit a few bumps along the way. Let's give each other the benefit of not judging an unfinished work of art.

Pictured is our sweet Sophie, and at the ripe old age of 9, she is still evolving. She was always a quiet cat but having been an only cat for more than six months she is now talking more...a lot more.



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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

That's Our Girl

Is she looking for a little quiet time, or is she saying "Aha, the closet door is open...finally".  I wish I had a video of her approach.  You see even though the door was open there were a few obstacles in her way. 

This is just the spot for me!

While she was trying to figure out how to reach the shelf, she looked like a cat on a Pogo stick, bouncing up and down on her back feet as if trying to calculate the distance and thrust required to elevate her 12-pound self to her goal.  After a half dozen or so bounces she paused and tried to get in past the hamper. Nope, can't squeeze through the gap...more bounces. We were cracking up, trying to stifle our laughter so as not to scare her out of her mission.

She finally rethought her strategy and took the more circuitous route via a stool and a suitcase, then balancing on the hamper, stepped coolly onto the shelf.

"Well," I said "she's smarter than we thought."  Sometimes she gives the impression of being somewhat of a ditz.



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Friday, January 30, 2015

Spotlight on Sophie

This is the final day of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join me as we wrap up a month of reading, writing and discovery. Today's topic is And then there was one.

And then there was one...and she thinks she's the queen of the house.

For over 20 years we have had two or more cats, but after the passing Rosie and Dood within a year of each other, Sophie now has the spotlight.


She loves boxes


One man's trash is another man's treasure.  Sophie had been waiting a long time for a home when we found her.  She's been with us for over seven years.



What cat doesn't love a basket of fresh laundry?



When we first met her, she was called Paris. It looks like she loves to pose for the camera, but really she does this just because she wants to.




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Monday, December 1, 2014

Quote of the Week

is to let it rain. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Spring 2000 - November 28, 2014
As some of you may know, we said good-bye to Dood on Friday.  We knew there was something wrong, but had no idea when we went to the vet Friday morning that would be our last moments with him.  To say that it was heartbreaking would be an understatement for me, having only lost Rosie a year ago.  Dood was really a comfort this past year, and we grew closer than ever.

If you're wondering what this has to do with the quote, it's simple.  For me the rain symbolizes tears, and sometimes the best way to deal with loss is to rain when you need to.

Love ya buddy!

Monday, November 3, 2014

Remembering Rosie

This week's quote is in memory of Rosie.

Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a worn out coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that have succeeded but not replaced one another. -Irving Towns



It has been one year since I bid my Rosie a final farewell, and not a day goes by that I don't think of him in some way.  Remembering him with smiles, laughter and tears, he will always be a part of my life.

I clearly remember the day we brought him home as a kitten.  He was four months old, with big feet and big ears.  He had so much long hair in his ears that the folks at the Humane Society called him Mr. Tufts.  He eventually grew into his feet and ears - hair and all, and developed the most magnificent mane.  My mom came over to see our new addition, and the first things she said was "He's so gray!"  Well, yes, he was.

Rosie was special not only in his overwhelming sweetness, but also his breed.  It was only after his passing that I discovered what kind of cat he was.  In my post What is a Nebelung?  I talked about that, and included a video describing the Nebelung breed.

Mr. Towns measures his life by the number of feline friends with whom he has shared his life, no one replacing the other, but adding to the fullness of his life like the rings on a tree.  I am many cats old, and currently share home and heart with the two other sweet felines who enjoyed lazy days and warm sunbeams with Rosie.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Designer Digs

If you were a kitten, wouldn't you just love to have a great place to play?  My friend Ashley's son, Michael, designed and built this multi-level kitty condo for his two kittens, Sunshine and Shadow. Now they could have gone to the pet shop and purchased a ready-made playhouse, but where would the fun be in that.

The Kitty Play Place Extravaganza
No siree, Michael's kitties were getting a custom made place to climb, play hide and seek, and of course, sleep. The materials consisted of plastic pipe, connectors, carpet and cable ties. 

One of the great things about this design is that it allows you to hang all sorts of interesting things for them to play with and they don't get lost or worse...eaten.

The play house is on their enclosed porch with lots of windows, so it is definitely a feline paradise.  You can see Sunshine relaxing in the window enjoying the morning breeze.

It was a fun project for Michael, and Sunshine and Shadow both appreciate his effort.  Ashley and I also enjoyed sitting in comfortable chairs watching them play, while catching up with each other.


Shadow says "Thank You!"

Sunshine in the window

Also a big thanks today to my good friend, Sara from A Sharing Connection, for using some of my photos in her Story Photo Challenge.  Check out the Mysterious Case of the Missing Aliens and help her solve the mystery.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Dood Climbs a Tree

You're probably thinking what's the big deal?  So the cat's on the cat tree, what a surprise. Well, it was. You see after years of living with cats, we finally got a tree for them. This was shortly after Sophie came to live with us (2007), and we thought they would all enjoy it since there are multiple perches and hidey places. There's even a crows nest on the top which Sophie claimed right away.

Look at me!
In fact she was the only one interested in the tree at all.  Rosie would lay along the base in the sun, but never ventured up (well once and then he was in pursuit of Sophie).  Dood just ignored it.  Maybe because he had climbed the real thing outside...who knows.  He doesn't like catnip either.

So imagine our surprise one day when we found Sophie in one of the tubes and Dood sitting above her looking down.  We figured it was like with Rosie, he followed Sophie. Now we occasionally find Dood perched on the tube nearest the window surveying the world outside from a different perspective.

Hide and seek?
I can see clearly now!
One theory is that Dood frequently took his cues from Rosie so maybe since Rosie didn't use it, he wouldn't either.  At any rate, our kitties continue to surprise and delight us.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

In the Oven?

 

Dood's in the oven again!  There is a small table in front of the heat vent that forms a perfect little spot to collect the heat.  We call this the oven, and it is one of Dood's favorite spots during the winter.  I know it's because it is warm and toasty in there when the heat runs. During a warm spell when I switched to air conditioning, he chose other cozy spots. When the temperature dropped this week and I turned the heat on again, he gravitated back to the table. 

I wanted to get a good picture of him in there, so I put the camera on the floor and just as I pushed the button, Sophie walked by. Instead of a botched picture, I thought it was an interesting perspective.



Wednesday, April 9, 2014

A Pretty Face

I took a picture of Sophie.
I'm so pretty!

Then I applied the brush stroke technique
in Paint Shop Pro.
I could be a painting.
This gives it an Impressionist look.
Isn't she lovely?


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

This One's For Rosie!


This is an excerpt from an email I received last week from Jenny at PartyPail.com.  

Dear Linda,

My name is Jenny Franklin. I work with PartyPail.com; my job is to search blogs such as yours for individuals who put a great deal of effort into making birthdays extra special.

I am writing you because of your post on Rosie's 16th birthday party. If anyone deserves a birthday party, it certainly is a cat that's lived 16 years! On behalf of PartyPail.com I would like to award you
 the
 "Best Decorations" badge. Little Rosie is so adorable!

Thank you, Jenny. I was surprised and pleased to have Rosie's party post selected. Of course, I accept this award in memory of Rosie, after all it was his party. 



Saturday, March 8, 2014

What is a Nebelung?


I often told Rosie that they broke the mold when they made him, that he was one of a kind and there would never be another like him. Yes, I do talk to my cats, and we had some interesting conversations in spite of the fact that neither of us knew what the other was saying.

When asked what kind of cat he was, I had no answer.  For years I wondered what his parents might have looked like.  His coloring was that of a Russian Blue, but they were short haired, and his hair was anything but short, and I was among those who had never heard of a Nebelung.  

Quite often Rosie would lay in my lap while I was on the computer, so one night I was sitting there missing him and I Googled "long-haired gray cat with green eyes."  Imagine my surprise when I found this video.





Why hadn't I done this sooner? It's my Rosie right down to his glowing green eyes and silky silver-gray hair. I wish I known this back when we adopted Rosie rather than finding out after he was gone. I always knew he was special, and even though I only saw two other cats that looked like him, I never realized how rare he was in the cat world.  It would have been great to be able to say 'he's a Nebelung'.

He was born in 1997 and considering the breed has only been in existence since the mid 1980s and I only found two Nebelung breeders in the U.S. (neither in my area), he may not have been a purebred, but he definitely had the characteristics and personality of the breed. 

Here's a little history on the origin of the Nebelung.  Siegfried, born in 1984, was the first registered Nebelung.  His parents were a black domestic shorthair named Elsa and a black longhair that resembled an Angora.  Later, Brunhilde was born, and this was the foundation for the Nebelung breed.  The breed standard was written by owner, Cora Cobb, based on the standard for the Russian Blue, with the difference being the coat length.  The name Nebelung comes from the German word nebel, meaning fog or mist.  

Here are more pictures of my "creature of the mist":

This one shows off his magnificent mane.

Look at those eyes!

A little desk time with mama.


It just didn't get any better than this.

I miss you my friend.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Quote of the Week

You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.  
- Jonathan Safran Foer 

Rosie - November 3, 2013

I know this statement to be true.  Sometimes those we love most and who bring us the most happiness can also bring us the most sadness.  That they aren't always human doesn't matter, the love is still the same.  Isn't that worth it?
 
A lot has happened since my last post.  I put together this quote last Monday but couldn't bring myself to publish it. 


Rosie and me
Early on Sunday morning, November 3, I said a tearful good-bye to Rosie, my constant companion for the last 16 years. 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Quote of the Week

One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.  
- Pam Brown

Dood, Rosie and Sophie
Today's quote is in honor of our feline friends. Full of love and personality, they definitely turn a house into a home.  Here are our three enjoying some quiet camaraderie.



Saturday, September 14, 2013

Artistic Rosie

Rosie was feeling a bit artistic today.  He went from this...


To this...in four easy steps.


It's amazing what you can create with a digital image and some computer software.

You can make your own customized digital artwork.  Just choose your photograph, add one or more special effects to create a colorful design.

For this I used Paint Shop Pro, and layered the textures of mosaic antique and soft plastics followed another application of mosaic antique and finally applied the kaleidoscope as the finishing touch.

What interesting things have you done with your photographs?