This post was originally entitled “Christmas: Day 7,” and was published on December 21, 2012. It got exactly ZERO comments. It features cat #3, our long-haired tuxie, Daphne and an additional two paragraphs at the end. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos. They were taken before the days of digital photography and scanned.
Daphne was another kitty crazy for Christmas. In her early years, I hung apple ornaments from the garland wound around the bannister. She could spend hours batting at and removing the apples so she could play with them on the hardwood floors. For a few years I would continually replace the apples after she removed them. And each year I would buy new apples as they inevitably cracked and lost their paint when they hit the floor. Eventually I gave up and threw them away as the whole process became exceedingly tedious.
It has been at least two decades since I’ve hung apples from the garland, but every year as I am decorating the stairs, Tom asks me if I am going to attach the apples. I know he does this to tease me, but I also know he enjoyed the game between human and cat and would love to watch a whole new caboodle of cats doing just as Daphne once did.
Daphne also enjoyed waiting for her holiday fan mail. She would take up residence in our Christmas mailbox, created by Tom’s sister, Bonnie, and wait to be swamped by her greetings of love and adoration. Of course, she wasn’t opposed to the fact that her nest was atop a nice warm radiator.
We only had five cats when Daphne was a youngster, and we were still erecting the tree in the foyer. I also managed to wrap gifts prior to Christmas Eve giving kitties access to lots of ribbons and bows. In the photo above, Daphne begins unwrapping gifts early while Cat #2, Steamer, watches.
The current passel of pusses are so deprived. It’s a good thing they don’t have any idea of what went on in the early days at The House of Blue Cats!
Those apples look like fun! No wonder Daphne batted them off!! Caster is our mischievous Christmas kitty… but then again, Caster is always mischievous no matter the season. We promise we won’t tell all the Kitties Blue about what used to go on here… 😉
Sampy sends a kiss to Astrid for every apple in the world, and we all send love and hugs!!!
Aww – delightful post!
Christmas time is just so much fun fur kitties, MOL! We think it was ‘invented’ fur us:))
What wonderful memories of Daphne! Thank you for sharing her with all of us.
Daphne was adorable. I think you need some apples 🙂
Daphne was a cute kitten. I also have lots of printed photos that bring back great memories….of younger kitties and a younger me. I think you should hang apple ornaments again and see what happens!
Those are some sweet memories of Daphne. She looked like she really enjoyed Christmas. 🙂
Precious memories. My Robin loved the apple ornaments too. They were just for her. You baby looked like my Kate Isabella quite a bit.
Such lovely memories of beautiful Daphne.
Lovely memories.
What sweet memories ! Purrs
Mom won’t put up a tree for us either. she does have a small one in the bay window and we do enjoy that. However, she said she has too many special ornaments and she knows they would go rolling all over the house. What is it with humans not wanting us to play????
Daphne sure had a good time. Glad you kept putting the apples up for her. She really enjoyed the Christmas time. Hope all the kitties have a good Christmas this year.
What wonderful markings! She had to be a kitty who got into everything!
What lovely lovely memories.
Daphne was such a beauty! Your kitties sure were lucky to have such fun during the holidays.
She sure looked like she was having some serious jolly fun!
What sweet photos……..I promise not to tell the current batch of KB kitties what “those who came before” got into when it came to “de-decorating” under the tree!!!!
Hugs, Sammy
What a pretty girl, and it looks like she knew how to party with the Christmas tree, too.
She was a beauty!
My three don’t know about ornaments or Christmas trees. I gave up decoration for Christmas because
1. I didn’t want to get mad at my cats for doing what seems like so much fun.
2. My husband and I only have fur kids and he wouldn’t help with either putting up or taking down the decorations!
3. CThe last time I did decorate, I only had glass ornaments, and while my Angel Mica loved knocking them down, I hated cleaning up the shards of glass in the middle of the night so she wouldn’t get cut.
What a wonderful sight looking under the Christmas tree at all the presents just waiting to be unwrapped.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Wow, it sounds like you guys put on an awesome kitty Christmas back in the day.
That is so pretty and look like loads of fun! Daphne must have had lots of good times with those apples.
Daphne was a gorgeous ladycat, too.