A True Friend

My friend, Sue, from England, sent me this, and I think it is so sweet, I had to share it with you.

Winter Update

I haven't seen Winter for over a month now. (I just feel Winter was a boy.) He was fine when I last saw him, I even got quite close. I guess he was waiting for enough of the snow to melt so he could go back to his furrever home (I think he got trapped here when the snow got so heavy.) I miss him, but Mistrie doesn't. She just couldn't accept another cat in HER territory, and this has been her home and she has staked Hemlock Haven, where Winter was, as hers. I put down soft shaving and limbed the trees up a little, so she has a nice big area now. I will change the bedding on the two beds, although it is too warm to use them now.

Maybe Winter will come back, true to his name, next Winter. He is always welcome in The Big Piney Woods.

~CalicoMom Toni~

Flower Friday

86 degrees!!! No way, Mr. Man In The Picher Box. Winter just got over in the Big Piney Woods! Our furs haven't shed out, think of poor Mistrie, she has a coat to die for. But the Man In The Picher Box says it is going to be almost 90 for the next 5 days. You can't believe a word he says, though; Momma says he is wrong 50% of the time. I think I will try for his job, sounds pretty easy to me. I can get green papers, too. Watch for my Wednesday weather forecasts. Oh, and these are some of Momma's pet-tunyas.

~Precious Flower~
(AKA Weather Repurrter)

Our Baby Geese

Our little goose family. (Taken through the window.)

Several of you expressed concern about Mistrie loosing her mouse hunting grounds. Actually she has more hunting areas than she can possibly patrol. She says now she has a big litterbox.

~Patches Lady~

Feeding The Monster

I looked out the window and a huge yellow monster was coming up our driveway. It had long teeth and a big mouth and it started eating our plants.

As you can see, it gobbled up everything. It had huge black feet that were round and it growled a lot. Momma seemed quite pleased, and said, now she can plant grass in "that mess of weeds." The worst part, she gave it green papers after it destroyed the place Mistrie hunts for mice.

~Patches Lady~

Napping With Daddy

Can you find me? Betcha can't.

~Mittens Pollypaws~

Monday Meme by Mittens

I was tagged for a Meme by Miles Meezer. Here are the rules:

In case you aren't familiar with The Naming of Cats, in the Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot, we all have three names! So, in this meme, you must link to the originator of the meme (Miles Meezer,) list the following rules, and then tell us:

1. The name that the family uses daily (such as Peter, Agustus, Alonzo, or James)
2. The name that is particular, a name thats peculiar, and more dignified (such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat)
3. What you are doing when you are thinking of the name that only you know, and will never confess (when engaged in rapt contemplation), that deep and inscrutable singular name. I am not going to tag anycat in particular, but if you want to play, it is fun!

Here are mine:

1. Mittens
2. Mittens The Terminator of Bugs Extraordinaire
3. Sitting in the windows swatting at a fly with my big toes

Exciting News: At least 7 baby geese hatched yesterday, and jumped in the pond. Momma happened to be looking out and saw one jump! Daughter Dawn was here for Mother's Day, so she got to witness the blessed event. Momma, Daddy and babies are doing fine.

~Mittens Pollypaws~

Happy Mother's Day

From The Big Piney Woods Cats

Patches, Mittens, Mistrie, Precious and CalicoMom Toni

Friday Fright

Patches got really scairt the ofurr day. The story goes like this:

I am known as "The Grand Climber. I went to the top of the tree, and claimed it as mine. Patches has nefurr been to the top, and she wanted to show me she could do it, in fact, I think she wanted to stake a claim to it. But the funny part was, she didn't know how to get down. She circled and circled and tried and tried, finally Momma had to rescue her. You cud tell she was bare-assed. (See how my ear is inside out, that is done on purrpuss.)

That is Mistsrie's bed you see outside.

~Precious Flower~

Thursday Thoughts

Back in February, when the meaty-oar went zooming across the sky, Daisy commented "I wonder if the fairies came to earth from a meteor"? I think Daisy is right about that, they must have jumped out on the pass ofurr, because there are way more fairies this year. I, myself, have seen funny liddle men throught the glass, too. Mistrie says they are Woodland Sprites. She says the sprites are a tiny bit scary. They giggle all the time and do a funny liddle dance.

~Patches Lady~

Wordless Wednesday (Friends?)

Tummy Tosie Tuesday

~Precious Flower~

Monday Meme

We were tagged furrever long ago by Felix, Garfield & Jawsy to write our own six word memoir. Momma has been snow crazy (thank goodness it is gone and we can get on with other more important things.) Sorry, it has taken furrever. Believe it or not, now she says we need rains!!

Patches....Calico rescue girl, gets crabilated easily.
Mittens...Calico rescue girl, never gets crabilated
Mistrie....Outside rescue tortie, protects her territory
Precious..Tabby rescue girl, floofy, fun, rich (she has a whole 1/4 she found in Daddy's chair)

We think efurrcat has played cuz Momma was so late helping us.

Sweet Tabs

My very good internet friend from England, Sue, lost her calico, Daisy, on Nov. 19, 2007. She had two outside cats, Fat Tabby (renamed Tabs) and Little Felix. Tabs came to stay about 5 years ago, (she had her own kennel and regular meals) but became an inside cat on Dec. 11, 2007, and to quote Sue "she walked in through the door on a very very cold and frosty night, and just didn't walk out again." Sue noticed she had trouble breathing and the vet diagnosed cardiomyopathy. She also had kidney and liver damage, and was hyperthyroid. They did everything possible, but her breathing finally became so labored, it was time to let her go. Even though she couldn't hear, Sue was always talking to her, and she would chirp and meow. She was a little doll, a true sweetie.

???-May 2, 2008
(12 - 15 years old)

Tabs

The day is done
The time has come
We said our last goodbye

The pain is real
How sad we feel
We loved you, oh so much

Where you used to sleep
Where you used to eat
All reminds us now

Of a cat so rare
Of a friend so fair
Only memories remain

~Toni Britton~
May 2, 2008

Rest in peace, darling Tabs. Have fun with Daisy and all the other cats that went before at Rainbow Bridge. We will light a candle, to help you on your way.

Flower Friday

Daddy is redoing our porch, so the pitch goes the other way. That way, the snow won't fall off on the sidewalk. He cut larch trees from the Big Piney Woods, and peeled them this winter. He just finished tearing the old porch off and he and Momma poured cement for supports. There will be before and after pichers, when it is done. Momma says the big logs will be great to hang fowlers on.

Momma has been busy with the fowler beds on eiither side of the sidewalk leading up to the porch. She dug everything up, and is putting black plastic and bark down. She did make this little fowler bed with purple primroses and a viola. She says it was time for change.

She finished the left side yesterday......yes that is snow you see back there. But the good noos is, it is spring!! Momma says it makes us pre-she-ate nice weather, and she is really de-pre-she-ating, I mean a-pre-she-ating. Speaking of eating, I must go snack.

~Patches Lady~

Thursday Thirteen

This is thirteen things that happened this winters:

1. The snow plow knocked our mailbox ofurr 5 times.
2. One of the decks in the back collapsed.
3. Momma had to do a lot of shoveling so the windows didn't get covered up. She said it was like living in a cave.
4. Momma said lots of bad werds.
5. Daddy put a record number of puzzles together.
6. There were a lot of postcard picher pretty days.
7. Momma kept flipping through the three Spokane, Washington weather reports; then she decided on the one she liked the best.
8. Momma took her name off the list from The Weather Channel storm warning emails, cuz it was plugging up her email box, there were so many.
9. The chimney for our wood stove almost fell ofurr.

10. Momma worried about flooding, but she worries about everything, Daddy said it just gave her something to do.
11. Momma kept saying "Oh, no, not again!"
12. Our total snowfall was between 150 and 200 inches. Usually it rains, so it never piles up so much, this year it snowed from November to April. Momma says that is 6 months!!!
13. Momma got crabilated a lot.

Yes, We Still Have Snow

Camie's Kitties asked, in the comment for yesterday, "was that the last real big patch of snow?"

Momma went out yesterday morning and took the following pictures, so you can see, there still is snow around, but our yard is bare, what is left is in the woods and piles from shoveling and snow blowing. Mistrie is out and about, happy spring has arrived. Winter hasn't been seen for two weeks now. (Momma thinks he is a boy and has moved on, "looking for love." There was plenty of love for him here in the Big Piney Woods.) She says maybe he will come back, regardless, she saved him through the snowy winter.

Snow that is left from what fell off the roof.

Some snow left across the pond.

We Have A Winner

The snow left on Monday, making Queen Snickers and Empress the winners. CONCATULATIONS!!! It was very close and if it had lasted 5 more hours, Fiona Bun would have won. It has been 65 -70 degrees and sunny for the past three days, the snow has gone fast. Thanks to all the participants, you are all winners! Here are the pictures, with the time frame.

We can't post on your blog so will Queen Snickers and Empress' Momma please email us their snail mail address. Our email address is tbritton@imbris(dot)net

4:15 P.M.

Arrow shows small pile left. Mistrie is snoopervising. 6:00 P.M

7:30 P.M. Monday night; not sure what time it was completely gone.

Monday's Photo For Contest

Monday, 6:30 AM

Yesterday, I removed the weather banner as it has been 30 degrees below the actual temperature and reports it is cloudy, when it has been sunny. I guess it was stuck in "nasty." I changed to Weather Underground.

April
28 Queen Snickers and Empress
29 Fiona Bun

May
1 Beezer
4 Kiara (Lone Star Purrs)
10 Ayla
28 Muffin

June
1 Rascal

Snow Contest

Sunday, 5:00 P.M.

Saturday afternoon. Look for another photo later on today.

April
27 Max (Psychokitty)
28 Queen Snickers and Empress
29 Fiona Bun

May
1 Beezer
4 Kiara (Lone Star Purrs)
10 Ayla
28 Muffin

June
1 Rascal

I Think I Am Rich!!!

I found a round silver medal in this chair. Patches said it was 1/4. A quarter of what? It looked whole to me, nice and shiny and ready to bat. Patches said it takes four of them to make a green paper. I guess she should know, she is a Feline Finance Councellor. She said I should be practical and put it in a CRA (Cat Retirement Account.) I am way too young to worry about that; I want to spend it, maybe on a toy. Can I get anything with 1/4 or do I need 1/3 or maybe even 7/8? Mittens suggested going to Goodwill, maybe they have cheap, gently used toys.

~Precious Flower~ (Now Wealthy)

CalicoMom here with a snow contest update. We are getting close to a winner. It is supposed to be 60 this weekend. Watch for updates.

Thursday Thirteen

I went to our counter stats again, to see what people are searching for. My eyes got real big when I read number three.

1. fat cat picher (hey, who are you talking about?)
2. girls in calico britches (Precious has them, but she is a tabby.)
3. big tits picher (No bodashus ta tas here.)
4. chalmondley & featherstonehaugh dance (Mittens does the hokey pokey and gives lessons. She taught Miles his left from his right paw, necessary to know when doing the hokey pokey.)
5. pig sunni picher (Huh?)
6. finny scared cats (Don't know what finny means, but all but me are scairt.)
7. picher of girls (Got lots of those! I bet guys looking for x rated pichers are surprised!!!)
8. girl wood animal names (Huh?)
9. home girls foto (Yes, this is our furrever home!)
10. moose rug (I think it is usually bears that people want as rugs.)
11. pichers of the brain (Euuuu......)
12. ancient celebrations for seasons (We could have one here, sounds like fun.)
13. is benefiber ok for cats (Sounds like medicine, let's get outa here.)

~Patches Lady~

Wordless Wednesday

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From CalicoMom: Miss Computer is acting up. The monitor wouldn't come on and then when it did, everything was REALLY slow, slower than slow. Also, the CD player doesn't always work, and sometimes it only shows one file, when the CD has many files on it. The mouse doesn't always work, either, and I have to reboot. (yes, time for a new computer I think.) iIf it goes kaplooey, I will still keep up on the contest.

Tummy Tuesday By Precious

Monday's Photo For Contest

This photo was taken at noon on Sunday. We have been under a snow advisory, but nothing has materialized, as of 7:00 AM, although Spokane is getting heavy snow right now. It is the winter the weathermen say never ends!

April
21 Cody (Camie's Kitties)
22 Flynn
24 Chase
25 Poppy Q

26 LC
27 Max (Psychokitty)
28 Queen Snickers and Empress
29 Fiona Bun

May
1 Beezer
4 Kiara (Lone Star Purrs)
10 Ayla
28 Muffin

June
1 Rascal

In A Cat's Eyes

all things belong to a cat.

Oh, Oh!!!

I was a tad naughty last night. As you know, I am not in solitary confinement (bedroom) anymore, since I got to be "A Big Gurl." However, last night, I just had to box with Patches, on the bed. She was asking for it, believe me. Then I started a game of Thundering Herd Of Elephants and Kill The People Toes; nefurr mind it was 2:00 AM. Momma said I need to go in time-out, but a lot of it was Patches fault. How come I get the blame; you see how innocent I am? You believe me, don't you? Anyways, my pawsies have a mind of their own.

~Precious Flower~

Wordless Wednesday

Are You There?

Hey, where are you? I finally can peek in the door.

Here we are, Mistrie!!!

Monday's Photo For Contest

When the pile is close to being gone, Momma will take pichers daily. We had two days of 65 degrees this weekend, now it is raining and the temps are only going to be in the 40's for the next week.

April
14 Cheysuli and Gemini
15 Skeeter
16 Scooby, Shaggy, Scout
17 Eric
18 The Tower Hills Mob
20 Sophia
21 Cody (Camie's Kitties)
22 Flynn
24 Chase
25 Poppy Q

26 LC
27 Max (Psychokitty)
28 Queen Snickers and Empress
29 Fiona Bun

May
1 Beezer
4 Kiara (Lone Star Purrs)
10 Ayla
28 Muffin

June
1 Rascal

Please......A Miracle

There was a terrible fire in Momma Laura's apartment. We are purring and purring that the kitties got out, safely. Momma eyes have been leaking and she says that is the worst of her fears. We love you all!!

Update from the Cat Blogosphere: Laura JUST called! Mu Shue, Lilly Lu and Iris were found hiding in the apartment by the fire folks going around checking and they’re alive!!! They were hiding and they’re scared to come out for strangers. They’re still there, and she can’t go in yet because it’s unsafe, but Animal Control is going to go in as soon as possible!!! Laura is picking up new carriers right now. The fire people said they’d be ok overnight if it had to be that long, but they’re going to try to get the in tonight if at all possible.

YEAH!!!!!!

Is It Spring, Yet?

This looks like spring.

Still lots of snow to melt, though.

Measuring

I predict by Monday the snow will be "this" deep. They are saying it will get 60 degrees!!!

~Precious Flower~

Sibling Fun

Hi, Patches, wanna play?

On guard, you little Squirt!!!

It's Offishul

Momma put Winter Ghost's picher and bio in the sidebar on April 6th. That means (we hope) Winter is a Big Piney Woods Cat! (If he/she decides to stay and doesn't leave.)


Here is whut Momma rited about Winter. The picher is grainy, cuz it was taken indoors. The sidebar news will change and a gud picher will replace this one.

~Patches Lady~

Winter Ghost came to us in the early part of December, 2007. The tracks came from quite a distance, as he/she searched for food and shelter. The winter of 2007/2008 were the worst snow winter we have had since 1919, so it is a good thing Winter found us when he/she did. I made sure the bed was clean and there was always food and water. We don't know how long Winter will stay, we did our part and he/she turned from a skinny scared cat, to a healthy, semi-scared cat. I need time now to socialize Winter, and hope he/she decides to make the Big Piney Woods home. Mistrie is coming to accept Winter, slowly, and they are seen a few feet apart.

Awards!!!!

Look what we got from Missy Blue Eyes, KC and the rest of the Sherwood Clan! Thanks so much!!!

Then we got this great award from The Ballicai. Another big thank you!

They will be posted on our awards page. You can go HERE to see our awards.

Monday's Photo For Contest

April
7 Pixel
10 Midnight (Cat Crossings)
12 Latte
13 Tavi (Camie's Kitties)
14 Cheysuli and Gemini
15 Skeeter
16 Scooby, Shaggy, Scout
17 Eric
18 The Tower Hills Mob
20 Sophia
21 Cody (Camie's Kitties)
22 Flynn
24 Chase
25 Poppy Q
26 LC
27 Max (Psychokitty)
28 Queen Snickers and Empress
29 Fiona Bun

May
1 Beezer
4 Kiara (Lone Star Purrs)
10 Ayla
28 Muffin

June
1 Rascal

Meme

Awhile back we all gotted tagged for a meme by Skeeter, LC and Ayla. Mistrie Rose already did hers, but we will do ours, if Momma will helps us. She said she would, so here is our middle name meme.

Patches Lady

L......Lick....I love to lick Momma's hair
A.....Articulate....I talk a lot
D.....Daring......I love to jump on the high railing
Y.....Yeller....I yell if I don't get my morning treat

Mittens Pollypaws

P.....Purr Machine........Momma says I purr the most and the loudest
O.....Old.....Yes, I am 14
L.....Lazy...I am an old lady now and need my rest
L....Lucky.... To have found my furrever home
Y....Yarn.....I love to batt at yarn and string
P....Paws...I have huge paws, I am a polydactyl, after all
A....Always sweet
W....Wise......With age, comes wisdom
S.....Shy...... Around strangers

Precious Flower

F.....Full... of fun cuz I am still a kitten (kind of)
L....Laid back..... and mellow
O....Outgoing
W....Wild..... and crzay
E....Energetic
R....Rarely efurr bad...... hardly efurr

Big Gurl Now

I have graduated to "Big Gurl Status." I don't have to go into solitary confinement, anymore, at night. I get to roam the house all night. Usually I sleep on the floor, close to Momma (it is too hot in the bed.) At 4:00 I get on the A-Frame and try to open the cubby hole that is right behind it. I scratch a lot, so Momma puts her ear plugs in her ears. She nefurr gits mad at me, no matter how naughty I am. She says I am too cute to get mad at.

~Precious Flower~

How Could You Resist?

English Sue sent me this darling picture, and I had to share it with you. I have a soft spot for all cats, but especially calicos. I would never turn a cat in need away. They are sent to me from, I believe, my long deceased mother who loved them, as I do. There have been too many "strange" coincidences on how the Big Piney Woods Cats happened to make this their home.

~CalicoMom Toni~

Tummy Tuesday by Precious

Happy April Fool's Day. Don't get caught!!! I already did, hubby said there was a puke pile right next to the bed. I am always glad when today is over. CalicoMom Toni