StrangeRanger

Happy 4th of July, all!

It was a particularly quiet year this year.  No great surprise, I know.  We usually go to see a citizenship ceremony in our local historic district.  It is always moving.  We discovered a few years ago that we have a large and boisterous Malaysian contingent in town!  They cheered for everyone in the ceremony but really went to town when one of their own stepped up.  After a stroll around the area, we'd usually go out and get some fancy ice cream at a fancy ice-cream spot that we only hit on the 4th.  Heavy sugar time! 

In the evening, we usually walk down the street to watch fireworks from the local stadium, but they were shut down, too.  It was a quiet sort of 4th.

We did manage ice cream, though it was store-bought.  We dressed it up, though, and enjoyed it.

We watched "Hamilton"!   I was passingly familiar with the music, and of course familiar with the phenomenon.  Watching it though, was wonderful!  It is one brilliant piece of work!

One tradition kept on, though.  The street fireworks were even more plentiful this year.  Pops, bangs and various ka-booms continued late into the night.  Even though she does not mind the usual ballpark fireworks on a typical Friday eve in normal times, Daisy seemed a bit unsettled by it all.

I'mo just sit here in the corner until this whole thing blows over.

Then there'd be another BANG!

hmmmm.... Maybe under the chair and behind the pictures would be a more workable alternative.......

Daisy did better that other cats of our acquaintance, though.  Maddie HATED fireworks.  HATED.

CHARLIE'S COMIN' THRU THE TUNNELS!!  TAKE OFF AND NUKE IT FROM ORBIT!!!

The poor dear had a rough baseball season.....  Don't worry, we kept her safe and happy the rest of the year...

We hope you're safe and happy yourself!  We hope the past week treated you well and that you have a great week ahead!

Just a few new random shots

I have been remiss in taking pictures of our resident beauty.  Or, see from Daisy's point of view, I have been remiss in hounding her with the camera.  I've managed to sneak a quick phone pic in recently though.  I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I did taking it.  This is what happens when I sit at the dining table too long.  She takes my shoes away.  

Whew!  Now I know why you call them dogs!  Man, your feet are smelly.  

Even though she is less than diplomatic, the tummy exposure soothes my hurt feelings!

 

I hope that all are safe and well!  Have a great week ahead!

I don't know what to post today.

Really.  Not a clue.  I've been slack and not taken any new pics of Daisy for a while.  The school year ended on something of a whimper, given that I haven't seen my kids in 3 months.  Guess I'll fall back on my old stand-by; the vintage picture.

Here's Maddie, chilling on the blanket stack back when it was a blanket or two lower.  She'd absolutely hate that Daisy naps on it now.  Maddie did not like to share with other cats.

The humans, of course, are thrilled to have Daisy nap there.  

This does not suck.

Of course, we know who took the most pleasure out of a nap on the blanket stack, don't we?

No one ever enjoyed a nap on the blanket stack in a sunpuddle like little Ivy.  No. One. Ever.

I'm sure that Maddie will forgive us all our blanket-trespasses, though.  

Have a great week ahead, and stay safe, all!

As I get older and tired-er...

...my posts get shorter and shorter.  

Here's a pic of Daisy, relaxed on the blanket stack.  Now that we're actually getting season temperatures, it may not be as nice 'cause we don't open the widow as much.  She does seem to find it a nap-worthy place though, which makes us happy.

When I get home from where ever I go (which isn't much of anywhere nowadays) she follows me into the bedroom, jumps on the blanket stack as I empty my pockets on the armoir, and does kneady-paws on the blankets.  I give her a few pats and then she jumps down to lead me into the kitchen for the traditional "back home treats".   It's shocking how I indulge her, or how she indulges me.  I'm not sure which is the case.....

Have a great week ahead, all!  Stay safe!

In these unhappy times.....

....we need a reminder that there is some love and beauty out there.  Here's Daisy, assuring you that you are a wonderful and lovely human being who deserves good things.

Feed me.  Oh, and that other stuff, too.

Not quite how I thought she'd approach it, but hey, the message came across eventually. 

I think we'll get through all awful.  I'm hoping for brighter days ahead.  Stay safe, everyone!

Violence, Mayhem and Economic Irresponsibility

Pretty much the norm at ChezRanger, ever since we adopted Daisy Destructo and the Gray Tail of Doom.  Seriously, this cat is why we can't have nice things.

But sometimes the Tail of Doom has nothing to do with the violence.  Sometimes it's the teeth and claws, both front and back, that do the damage.  And Daisy is quite opportunistic in her attempts to vent her rage.  Case in point: we accidentally left a new paper towel roll where she could easily get to it (easily, by violating one of the human rules that she knows full well!). Behold the results!

Really, there should have been crime scene tape around the kitchen.  It was brutal.

And, in these times.... A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS?!? Where are we gonna find one to replace it?  I mean, I know a guy, but he charges big money for these and breaks legs if you don't come thru on the repayment....  LadyRanger and I realized at once that we need to make Daisy aware of the ENORMITY of her crime!  We went to find her and talk to her, heart-to-heart.  What did we find?  The very protrait of a self-satisfied kitten.

It needed killin'

This is why we can't have nice normal, everyday household items....  <sigh>.

We hope your week has seen less destruction.  We hope for you a great week ahead!  Stay Safe!

Tired and Lazy, part the second....

It's been one of those tired and lazy, no-motivation weeks.  Been all I can do to keep with with my professional responsibilities.

Really, I guess the motivation part is what's really lacking.

Today you get a couple of vintage tummy-up pics.

And...

And... (it's not as peaceful as the previous two pictures, but Daisy is an active kitty!)

I'll be more on the peaceful edge of the scale once chores are done!

Have a great week ahead all, and stay safe!

Creative Uses

As I've said many and many a time, the cats have always loved, loved!!, the papa-san chair.  We've even stopped calling it the papa-san and call it the cat-nest.

Ivy loved it. 

I love this papa-san!

Maddie loved it. 

I love this papa-san!

They even had cat-slap-batles over it.  But they loved nestling down in the hollow of the chair, surrounded by comfiness and cradled in pillowy delight. 

Daisy makes use of all the papa-surfaces.

I LOVE THIS PAPA-SAN!!

Daisy maximizes her enjoyment and suits it to all occasions.

But of course!  Isn't that what all discerning cats do, John?

I suppose it is, dear.

We had a rather brief but cool event in our town.  The Air National Guard had a C-17 fly-over to salute the front-line COVID personnel.  I actually got a shot of it as it came by.

Apparently, C-17 is military code for "loud vehicle that is so big folks wonder how it can actually fly".

I hope that the current crisis is treating you all as well as can be expected.  I hope you all have a great week ahead!

Tired and Lazy

I am tired and lazy today.

Have a vintage picture.  It's one of my faves from years past.

Proof positive that Maddie and Ivy could peacefully share a room if one of them was asleep.  And I think Ivy looks adorable in her lion-trim.

 

Another day in stir

Actually, I can't really say that with any justice.  I am doing fine not going out.  I don't really have any great desire to go shopping or see a movie in a theater or anything like that.  I do miss being able to do my job with my kids and my colleagues.  All this elearning that we're planning and preparing is not close to the same.  I think that the vital part of my job comes in the face-to-face interaction with my students.  Even through video-conference, that is lacking.  Teaching at one or two or fifty removes just ain't getting it done.

I also miss seeing my good friends on my guy's night. I don't really have an urge to go out and mingle with the masses, though.

I think that one reason I'm coping so well is that I have a lively home life.  LadyRanger is intelligent, quick-witted and one of the few people on earth who can reliably make me laugh.  So is Daisy.  She is an antic little gray ball of entertainment.  As I've mentioned earlier, she seems to be settling into adult cat habits.  Sometimes she its still for as long as 8 minutes! In A Row!  That's when I bother her with the camera.  She does like looking out her windows.  And the weather's been so nice that we've been able to open them, so she can sniffy the breeze.  That makes her happy.

The delight I feel in home is also supported by the fact that we are lucky enough to have time to indulge in some of our hobbies.  We've done some yard work (poison ivy can die in a fire). We've also been able to do the prep work for some of our more elaborate Saturday dinners.  I put together some creole spices and mad some shrimp stock over the last couple of weeks.  last night we sat down to homemade shrimp etouffe!

Just lovely.

I hope you all find as much happiness during this time as I do.

Have a great week ahead, all, and stay safe!