StrangeRanger

Good Help is Hard to Find

Maddie was curious about why her bed was a bit underdressed yesterday.

Soooo...where's the bedspread?  It was right here a little while ago.  

Well, Miss, it's in the washer.  'Cause someone hacked up a sizable hairball on it.  Along with most of someone's breakfast.

 

Hairball?  Huh, wonder who could have done that.  Hope you're not hiding another cat around here.

Umm...no.  It was *not* another cat.

Well, off to the washer with you then.  <sigh>  This is not optimal, but it will have to do...

The things I put up with.  Good help is *so* hard to find...

One of the best nicknames I've ever heard for a cat was "The Duke of Hurl".

She in it shall be remembered...

...Friday was the anniversary of Ivy coming home for the first time.

She wasn't quite sure what to make of the place, but the food was good and plentiful.

But there were places to hide if she felt the need,

Comfy spots upon which to sit

or nap.

There was a sunpuddle 'neath a ceiling fan.

 

And even though she had to suffer a few indignities, and put up with a grumpy, semi-aggressive roommate

she always held her own.  She did what she wanted and earned the respect of everyone in the house and the love of the two humans.

HeeHee!

And sometimes it was almost like they got along...

We only had Ivy around for a few years, but her influence at ChezRanger is still felt.  She was a good, good cat.  

It's International Ivy Day!

At least it should be.  This is the 7th anniversary of us finding Ivy, old and alone and close to death in our ivy patch.

and...

We took her to the vet, where we were told that she probably wouldn't live another 3 days.  She spent the next 5 days eating and sleeping.  *Just* eating and sleeping.  She spent the next 3 years with us.

This coming Friday is the anniversary of the day she came home.  Expect more vintage pics then.

 

Waiting

It seems that cats spend a decent amount of time waiting.  Waiting to go out, to come in, for food, for water, for attention.  It also seems that some are better at waiting than others. 

 

Maddie and I have a lovely routine.  In the mornings, when I'm home and not running off to work, I sit on the living-room floor with her and give her a good brushing.  She loves it, I love it, all is good.  Save when I'm late.  This is the look I get:

And if I don't get my rear in gear, the meowing starts.  And this is a persistent cat.  She could filibuster like no senator in the land.  Good thing I'm a soft touch.  The cat gets brushed, we bond, and are both quite happy.

Guarding her Territory

Maddie has always been a very territorial beast.  She responds to encroachments with fury.  Just ask Ivy. Or KittyKitty.  We really don't know what inspires her protective instincts at times.  This past week it was the two boxes of new sneakers we bought.

 

I'ma guard these shoes.  These precious shoes that LadyRanger bought.  I'ma guard 'em.

And then, the same thing with my new shoes.

Nosiree!  No other cats are gonna guard these shoes.  I'ma guard 'em.  Me! 

Let's see....no enemies to the east!

No enemies to the west!

I'ma guard these shoes........

And, I hear you asking, what enemy could possibly have threatened our shoes so?

FEATHERS!  WE MEET AGAIN, MY OLD NEMESIS!

Look at the paws on this cat.  Like if you put razor blades in a furry boxing glove.

And cat-fu prevails.   The shoes are safe.  Now, if only we could get them out from under the cat and wear them.

Yeah.  That's not gonna happen.

And thus we go barefoot.

Just a quick pic...

...of Maddie looking quite majestic.

What a beauty!

I might have more to say next week.  Maybe.  And more Maddie pics, of course!

 

37

To continue my recent string of Number-titled posts:  37.  That's the temperature here.  Coupled with pouring down rain and a stiff breeze.  An ugly, ugly day.  But hey, it's March.  And March in N.C. is unpredictable, at best.  A few days ago, 60 degrees, sunny and lovely.  The spring flowers are coming out, too.

 

This is one of my favorites:  Speedwell.  It's a species of veronica.  

Lovely little flower, isn't it?

Anyways, the weather is NOT like this today.  Grim, chilly and wet.  We've got the fire built in the fire-place and look forward to not going out.  Maddie, though, is having sun-puddle withdrawal.  How does she cope?

That's right.  Sadly, she turns to drink.  Straight moonshine in that glass (I'm sure it would be vodka if she were a Siberian Forest Cat).  We've suggested counselling, but she's having none of it.  She suggests getting the sun turned back on.  When the rain stops and she's napping in the sun, I'm hiding the bottle.

I'm going to...

...my happy place.  Work has been disheartening.  It's a gray day.  Seeing Ivy in her happy place, though, sends me to one of my happy places.

In my next life, I'ma be a cat.  Nothing repairs my spirits like being at home, contemplating a happy cat (even if she's not with us anymore) and being with my wife.  Leek and potato soup last night didn't hurt either.  Not at all.

 

Once again...

...the old Roman recipe for mac and cheese has done me in.

Wow!  It's good. 

Quite restorative after 45 vigorous minutes cleaning up the garden:
note:  old pic.  The garden doesn't look like this yet, but it will in a month.

Maddie, of course, was helpfully supervising.  From a window that doesn't have a view of the back garden.  But supervising nonetheless.  And come dinner time, she was seated and ready to eat!

Oh Boy!! is that TURKEY?!?  No??  rats.

21

Yep.  21.  21 what?  No, not spam comments (47 of those today)(which is, sadly, an improvement).

LadyRanger and I are celebrating 21 years of wedded bliss.  HooRay!  In honor of this august number, Maddie is working on being extra-cute:

She's so asleep that she doesn't even know her sun-puddle has slipped away.

How's this for cute?  I'll even let you pat my tummy.  Once.  For less than a second.  Happy 21st!

Even got a visit from our neighbor cat, Puddin'.  

Not sure, but she seems to be telling me to clean up the yard.  Oh well.  Next weekend.  For now, the celebrations continue!