Mary Jane

OUR SECOND INTERNATIONAL SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY

We ♥ squirrels at our house. We have two that visit almost everyday and a third that comes occasionally. One of our three bird feeders is especially for the squirrels. They also enjoy the fruit of our ornamental pear trees. We can be entertained for hours and hours by their antics and silliness.

The squirrels (or squirties, as we like to call them) don’t even care that we watch them since most of us are confined to our catio. They ignore us and continue munching with delight their sunflower seeds, even when we are just inches away.

We know that some of our followers are not fond of squirrels and that some actually loathe them. We also know they can be very destructive, but for kitty amusement value, they cannot be beat.

As we did last year, we dedicate this post to our mom’s friend, Mary Jane, a true squirrel lover.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

P.S. We will not do our usual Wordless Wednesday post as this is publishing so late in the day. See you all the following day for “Thankful Thursday.”

IS IT A BIRD, IS IT A PLANE?

No…It’s Rocky the flying squirrel. Or, at least, a distant relative.

Even though eight feisty felines live here, we have two incredibly fearless squirrels whose home base is our yard. It is not surprising as we have three bird feeders which are kept full with sunflower seeds. And we all know how much squirrels love the challenge of a birdfeeder.

Some humans get excited, and often even hysterical, when they see a squirrel on their bird feeder. We too get excited, but for the opposing reason. We provide those seeds so the kitties will be constantly entertained by the munching and antics of both the birdies and the squirties.

Squirrels provide entertainment from the tree.

Squirrels provided entertainment from the tree for Fiona, Giulietta, Calista Jo and Lisbeth.

In the past year, I have shared numerous squirrel photos, many featuring Lisbeth, our resident squirrel aficionado. I even acknowledged National Squirrel Appreciation Day for my friend, Mary Jane, who is “nutty” for squirrels.

(A comment heard from the “peanut” gallery: “Did she just type that? She didn’t really think that was funny did she? Wait, she did it again. She is so lame if she thinks anybody is going to laugh.”)

Not surprisingly, a few days ago, the squirrels were putting on quite a show to amuse those hanging out on the catio. They were chasing each other up, down, around and through the catio-adjacent tree. They were even holding paws with the tree trunk between them.

Prior to that, however, they were doing some high wire tricks. Mind you, the kitties can do these same tricks and often do when they see a particularly nommy bug on the screen. They just can’t do them upside down and spread-eagle like the squirrels!

At first Lisbeth didn’t even know the squirrel was there.

Then both she and Calista spotted him.

Finally, she made her move, as Calista Jo, Fiona and looked on.

Finally, she made her move, as Calista Jo, Fiona and Giulietta looked on.

After much ado by both cats and squirrels, all went to their own corners for…what else…naps, of course.

By clicking on the squirrels tag below, you should be able to see most of those photos and posts.

July 19, 2013 by Janet Blue Backstory 24

NATIONAL SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY

Squirrel sitting atop container of sunflower seeds for the birdies. Note the chewed-off corner.

Squirrel sitting atop container of sunflower seeds for the birdies. Note the right front (chewed-off) corner.

Kitties keep their eyes on a squirrel. Railing (L to R): Astrid, Calista. Deck (L to R): Giulietta, Lisbeth & Fiona

Kitties keep their eyes on a squirrel. Railing (L to R): squirrel, Astrid, Calista. Deck (L to R): Giulietta, Lisbeth & Fiona

This post is in honor of my squirrelly friend, Mary Jane, who alerted me to this event. She is a lover of all things squirrel and my local authority on squirrels.

Squirty is watching Fiona who is parked at the bottom of the tree watching it.

With today’s inauguration, I was afraid this special day might be overlooked. Since I have oodles of squirty (as we like to call them at the House of Blues) photos, I wanted to give a shout-out to these furry rodents. They provide hours of entertainment for all my kitties, so I’m hoping my fur balls won’t mind a short post that does not totally revolve around them.

January 21, 2013 by Janet Blue Backstory 9

THE INCREDIBLE BARKING CAT & HER DOG-LIKE HOUSEMATE

Meow Variations

All of Kitties Blue have a variety of meows, depending on how insistent they want to be in demanding our attention. Most of the time I know who is complaining even when I’m in a different room. Fiona, Giulietta and Astrid are pretty good at imitating each other, however, and fool me on ocassion.

Feeding time and demands to go outside bring the loudest and most persistent meowing or “meyowling” as I like to call it.

Barking Out Demands

Barking calico cat keeping an eye on fresh catnip and two kitten underlings (a tuxie and a tortie) thinking of challenging her.

A potential barking incident in the making as Angel kittens, Astrid and Lisbeth, consider challenging Lily for the catnip.

Lily Olivia, however, possesses a unique ability to let us know when she has lost patience with our lolly-gagging and wants her demand met NOW! She barks! We don’t know where she learned this trick, but it is effective. I jump when I hear this. It is her final warning prior to a complete meltdown with growling, hissing, biting and scratching. The human body part attacked depends on if she is at the door demanding to go outside, on the kitchen counter waiting for breakfast or dinner or ticked off at a human or feline for trying to usurp her nice warm spot in bed. If another kitty is hovering, she will be the recipient of Lily Olivia’s wrath.

Dog-Like Mauricio

Mauricio began posing when still a kitten.

Lily, however, is not the only kitty with dog-like qualities. Though he cannot bark, Mauricio does possess other dog mannerisms (his signature talent is playing fetch) according to Mary Jane, his best human friend and mommy to a Jack Russell Terrier. Now Mary Jane has been my friend for more than 25 years (now 36 years in 2023), but when she comes to visit, I am forced to compete with Mauricio for her attention. He comes running the minute he sees her. Though, he does not greet her with his tongue hanging out or his tail wagging, he bugs her the entire time she is here. He’s nudging with his head to get petted, rolling around and exposing his tummy for rubbing and generally making a nuisance of himself.

Tuxie cat lying on his back showing his belly with dilute tortoise shell kitten looking on.

Mauricio shamelessly begs for my attention. Kitten, Calista Jo, comes to my rescue.

Mauricio is an overly friendly guy who loves to show off, beg unceasingly for attention and pose for photos. His fondness for Mary Jane, however, goes well beyond the childlike “look-at-me” demand. She is just as devoted to him. If he is engaged outside in cat activities, he will sometimes miss Mary Jane’s visit, which is always a disappointment to her. A couple of days ago when she dropped me off after having lunch together, he came trotting across the neighbor’s yard just in time for her to see him before she drove off. Such an accommodating guy!

Acting Like Cats

All the other kitties, besides some of the head-under-the-hand nudging activity, act like cats…indifferent at times, pesky and demanding at others or asleep for the better part of each day and night.

November 4, 2012 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Astrid & Lisbeth Backstory Kittens Kitties Blue Looking Back 11

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.

September 2023
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