Cory Cat Blog

Easy Sunday

2009-11-22T10:15:00.008-05:00

I love the weekends! I get to go to the dog park and run and play and squeak my ball in the faces of other woofies. This past week was special because I met a new friend. I just love it when I see other dogs that look like me. This wonderful new friend is named Raven. She is only 5 1/2 months old and she thinks I'm cool. We played and played and I loved it.

Back at home, my kitties have a different idea on how to spend a fall weekend. When I got home, I was shocked to find out that they were taking over my toys. Mom had picked up all the toys from the floor so she could vacuum. I'm mean why would she do that? I don't have that many toys...why would she need to move them at all? Now how is a dog supposed to get a toy to play if this is what she is dealing with?

Jonesie was wondering why she has so few toys too. If it's raining and windy and she can't go outside, Jonesie thinks there ought to be way more toys. Time to start our Christmas list, don't you think?

Purrfurmance Review Time!

2009-11-21T10:21:00.005-05:00

I gathered together all 8 of us kitties plus Grete to put together the review for our mom. It wasn't easy since we don't always agree on stuff, but we did our best. It is my blog after all...I'm just nice enough to share.

1. Quantity of Output: Mom purrson does not help us post each and every day, but most of the time she will help us post about 6 times a week. She also is good about "auto" posting so if she gets busy with her own stuff, she still purrforms for us. There is hissing and swatting among us because we think she should be posting even more since there are so many of us. Ginger is upset because she doesn't have her own blog. Madison and Cecilia are hissed off because they don't get to post as much as the rest of us. Grete is wondering if there is a DB-dog blogosphere. I can't post everyday because I have to share. Ellie just wants us all to be happy. Jonesie is the only one who feels she is famous enough.

Rating- 2 paws

2. Quality of Output: We like what mom does for us and we are really happy with the photos. Ginger is still hissed off because mom learned photoshop and turned her into Bozo the clown on one post, but the rest of us are still laughing so we are cancelling out her opinion. We still think she could improve. We'd like to see more videos. We know she is holding out because she takes video clips of us being ridiculously adorable and she is keeping them to herself. She claims she is "busy". We also want her to continue to learn photoshop so she can put holiday hats on our heads without having to actually put hats on our heads.

Rating- 2 paws

3. Client Pawticipation: I love that mom provided me with my very own email address...although she forgets to check it every day. But still, I got it. I don't have my own Facebook page and I'm not allowed on Twitter...so I guess it's ok for now. Mom does help me visit as much as possible and she really tries hard here.

Rating: 3.5 paws

4. Pawticipation (part 2)- Mom has really stepped up her purrformance in this area in the last year. When I first had my blog, I wasn't allowed to pawticipate in anything because of that word "busy". In the last year, I had so much fun running for Cat President of the World and being selected Secretary of Socks, hosting Sock it to Me Sunday, pawing it forward twice this year, Jonesie got to live her dream and start her Society of Feline Gardeners, we are going to get to play Secret Paws this year, we got to go on the Hams of the Werld tour (and got nip piggies)...so much fun! Mom still is slacking in the holiday card exchange accountability and all she says is "maybe next year".

Rating: 3.5 paws

5. Client Satisfaction: We, meaning us kitties and Grete, were negligent and we failed to send out 360 feedback surveys for mom. We have combed through the prior comments on my blog and based on the quality and quantity of comments we feel comfortable giving mom a good rating.

Rating: 4 paws

Overall Rating: 3 paws

Mom is doing a good job, but she can always improve. Unfortunately until we each have our own blogs and Facebook pages, we unanimously refuse to give mom a 4 paw rating.

My Fair Share Friday

2009-11-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

You have no idea what it's like trying to get equal time around here. Between Cory being America's sweetheart, and her momma Ellie being momma to all (ok, including me too), and Ginger being such a gossip and sassy and Jonesie being such an awesome gardener and Nigel being the new kid and Grete being the only woofie...sigh. Me and Madison and Cecilia get the short end of the stick. I for one, got fed up. I stood in front of the computer monitor and demanded my fair share. My nickname should be "Sally" from Peanuts. All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share. I demanded the lap time...took over Ellie and Cory's blog time spot. I got the fleece. I got mom's lap. I got the attention.

And...I got the post. Finally.

Thursday in the Garden with Jonesie

2009-11-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

"Meow". I like how that rhymes with ciao! Welcome back to the garden. I feel like a leaf gardener.

Good thing I don't have to help pick them up. I so stand by and make sure the work is done. My first job is to make sure the gas powered mulcher is in proper working order. It makes a whole lot of noise but it turns a pile of leaves into useful mulch. It beats pawing at it for hours on end. A girl's gotta love power tools! Once it turns on, I'm outta there!

It takes all of this...

And turns it into this...

After the mulching was done...ok, round one of the mulching...dad drove the trailer to get some plants for the fence line. I had to make sure he got good ones. Someone has to do that.

Sometimes when it all seems like too much I sit in my garden and just look at it. I know when I close my eyes and dream, it will all be ok. Mom and dad will pull out all the dead stuff, the mulch will go on top of all the beds and we can put the garden to sleep for the winter. It will be a few more weekends of hard work before it's done.

In the meantime, you can count on me to be snoopervising every paw step of the way.

What's happening in your garden this week? Please leave a link and don't forget to visit all my garden pals.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

Tabby Tattletale Tuesday

2009-11-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

I like being out in the yard. I just don't like gardening, or working hard. I just like to hang out and pretend that I had something to do with how the yard looks. Except now. It looks like crap. Uh...sorry to be so blunt but it's true. The leaves have covered everything in a matted mess. The plants that were lush and green and bearing fruits and veggies in the summer are now blackened and slimy and gross. Jonesie is trying to put a good face on it, but she's embarrassed too. When I'm outside Jonesie follows me around like I can do something about it. She knows who to complain to but she's too nice. Not me. You can see by my face that I'm not pleased with my mom and dad slackin'. I probably shouldn't be too hard on them because they did put in hours and hours of work on raking and dealing with the leaves this past weekend. Dad hauled away 3 trailer loads of leaves, and the rest will now be mulched so they can use them in the garden beds. I didn't lift a paw to help. Tough. Not my job.

I did find a little sprout of catnip plant growing in the grass once they finally got around to uncovering the poor smothered thing. I'll take care of it now!

Meanwhile, I think it's kind of funny that Whitey wrote "watch this space" on his blog and Cory did just that...she takes everything so literally. I've given her a paw whap and she's back to reality now.

Momma Meezer Monday

2009-11-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

Ever since Cory found out that Whitey got his own blog, she won't let dad view any other website or do any work. She sits in his lap and meows loudly if he tries to change blogs or websites or anything else on the computer.

I'm worried about my Cory. She's starting to obsess about it. It's my job to keep her grounded. I'm trying to tell her that time with me, in our mommas lap, surrounded by fleece is enough. She's not listening.

Easy Sunday

2009-11-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

I don't know about my family. Here it is a perfectly wonderful Sunday to sleep in and be lazy. You know what's gonna happen today? Mom and dad will go off to the dog park with Grete and then they'll spend the rest of the day working in the yard, raking leaves and pulling up garden stuff. That's way more work that I can handle. Someones got to stay in bed and it might as well be me. It's a tough job but some cat's gotta do it.

Finally Friday

2009-11-13T00:22:00.003-05:00

Is it Saturday yet?

Thursday in the Garden with Jonesie

2009-11-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! The weather is icky around here. My paws are getting wet and my time in the garden is limited. Can you believe the unfairness of it all? Four short months ago on July 12th the sun officially rose at 5:33am and it set at 8:59pm. I was basking in the glorious glow of my garden for 15 and a half hours a day! And now?

I have soggy leaves to walk on and the sun stays asleep in bed until 7:05am and goes right back to bed at 4:44pm. That's only allowing for a little less than 10 hours at most...if I get let out at all. The sun is slackin'. I'm not too pleased. Can I give a purrfurmance review to the Sun? I did hear he was doing a good job for my Aussie and Kiwi pals...but why can't he do a good job for all of us? We need to form a committee and figure this out. My mom said it's going to get worse before it gets better. Sigh.

I've got to have some fun...so my furriends, I recommend getting fun in the yard where you can find it. If my paws are going to be muddy and wet, I think it's fun to sit on mom's leg and leave muddy paw prints.

There is still food in the yard. The parsnips and carrots are still in the ground doing fine. I found this one peeking up out of the dirt so I pointed it out to mom to dig it up.

It's my job to inspect anything before it goes in the house or it's eaten outside. There was too much dirt here for me to paw it off, so I suggested to mom that she wash it first. I hope she listened.

Please leave a link if you have a garden post up or are dreaming of gardens today!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

Tabby Tattletale Tuesday

2009-11-10T00:01:00.003-05:00

The things that go on around here. Sheesh. Really. I hope you didn't fall for Cory's post yesterday. I know the real scoop on the cheese. You see, I sit on my dad's desk. A lot. I heard the conversation he had with the Tillamook cheese lady. I saw the website up on his computer. He was ordering Christmas presents for everyone...sorry if I'm spilling it, but the cat's out of the bag now. There was a mix up on the order. Dad ordered and he thought he couldn't get the special 100th anniversary cheese. Then they told him he could. He cancelled his original order and then reordered. He asked to have everything shipped in December. All was perfect. Until that fateful day Cory's hero arrived at the door bearing gifts of cheese. A month early. Not only the cheese dad ordered, but the order he cancelled as well. In addition, all the cheese he wanted shipped to friends and family is already arriving on their doorsteps as well. It's literally raining cheese! But none of it was meant for Cory, not a speck.

How do I know this? Because Cory was so beside herself with joy, throwing herself on the boxes ::rolls eyes::, dad felt bad. Yes, she manipulated him into feeling bad. And you know what? Even with all that cheese in the house, there was none for us. We were out of cheese! Cheese cheese everywhere, but not a bite to eat. So what did dad do? He actually went to the store to buy cheese special for Cory so she wouldn't freak out. Spoiled brat. She still doesn't realize that all that cheese is not for her. I don't even like cheese. A big fuss over nothing if you ask me.

Enough of the cheese. Jonesie and I were bummed because it started raining and the leaves were covering our deck and getting in our food dish. Ellie, being Ellie, consoled us. Not that I need consoling, but there's something about having Ellie give you lickers that makes everything ok.

Ah yes, a little to the left please.

And that is what is really going on at our house.

Monday- Dreams Do Come True

2009-11-09T00:01:00.002-05:00

I was sitting in my moms' lap dreaming of cheese. Cheese from Tillamook. Land of the cheese. Place of my birth. The doorbell rang and this is what was delivered from the kind Federal Express man...a gift from the answerer of all cats dreams. Big boxes! But what was better was what was inside the boxes. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this...

Pounds and pounds of cheese. Delivered from the cheese gods. Wheels and wheels of cheesy goodness. Almost 3 times my body weight in cheese! I almost passed out. I was actually light headed when this picture was taken.

I was overtaken with the thought of it all. We got to sample some right away...it was all meant for me, I'm sure of it. My momma Ellie had to have some too. We are both from Tillamook. It's our birth right to be the first to lay into the cheese.

In a rare move, I didn't even steal cheese from my momma's mouth. There was plenty for me. There's enough we could melt it down and I could swim in it! A lifetime supply of cheese. Think of the cheese parties we can have!

Lip smackin' good.

Easy Sunday- Too Easy

2009-11-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's tough being a dog when the weather looks like this... All that's going on around our house is this...I mean Cory, Ellie and Bennette are happy to spend their day in a kitty pile. The rain pounds down and they snuggle and snooze and purrr.

But I'm a dog and I'm ready to rumble! I did not get to go to the dog park this weekend because it was pouring rain. I only got to hang out and play in my yard, while mom complained under cover of an umbrella. Every time I went outside I had to get my paws wiped off with towels. This is no way to live. I can only comfort myself with the joy that was last weekend...off in my dog park, walking on the paths and trails near where my pals hang out.

Watching the squirrels in the trees. Walking through the fall leaves.

And leading the way back home.

Friday in the Garden with Jonesie

2009-11-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Hope you weren't too thrown off by yesterdays BlogBlast for Peace. I felt strongly that I should postpone our garden club meeting until today so we could all participate. I've got lots to tell you about today so I thought I'd start the meeting off with our super secret password. Say it along with me now: "meow"

I'm really excited because it's been a gorgeous fall and we've had tons of sunshine and cool crisp weather. I found raspberries still clinging to the vine!

Dad helped me harvest potatoes and parsnips and the last of the little green peppers that were clinging to life! We won't be seeing any more of the peppers until next year. We picked all the pears off the tree and shared them with friends. It's good to share your harvest with others if you can.

I inspected the peppers to make sure they were ok for taking in the house. You can never be too careful about these things.

I tried to act bored with the raspberries, just because I have to be cool. If you act overly impressed then the humans might get the impression you are easy to please and snoopervision will just get that much harder. Good help is hard to find. The rain is forecast to start up, so my advice is to take in all the fall sunshine you can while it's still around.

What's happening in your garden today? Please leave a link so we can visit!

Dona Nobis Pacem

2009-11-05T00:01:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Tattletale Tabby Tuesday

2009-11-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

My mom is totally silly. She loves Bugs Bunny. Her favorite cartoon of all time is the "Rabbit of Seville". She really loves the part where Bugs puts tonic on Elmer Fudd's bald head and makes flowers grow.

I don't get it. I mean what's so funny about that? Mom...why are you laughing?

Mom?

Monday- It's All Mine!

2009-11-02T00:01:00.003-05:00

Dad bought himself a new chair for his office. He's having a hard time getting to use it. I mean...didn't he really buy it for me? I can understand how he sits in it when I'm in his lap, but other than that, it's mine, right? I mean, it's black to match my furs...that's extra proof he bought it for me. Right? I've got to give him my best "your kidding, right?" look the next time he wants to sit down. Here I am practicing my look. I think it's gonna work.

Pee Ess...I'm barging in on Cory's post today! I'm reporting from a chair...just in keeping with the theme of today.

Important notice for all members of my Society of Feline Gardeners. We are going to be participating in Thursday's BlogBlast for Peace, so our regularly scheduled meeting will happen on Friday. November is going to be a little crazy with the BlogBlast for Peace AND Thanksgiving, but we'll just have to be flexible.

Remembering Maxfield

2009-11-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

Today, November 1st is the Day of the Dead. It's a day to remember those who came before. I was thinking that we might post a bit about all of our guardian angels, but because it's American Diabetes month, today I'm going to honor Maxfield. Maxfield passed away in February of 2004, before I was even born. All I know is what my mom tells me of him. He was an amazingly handsome buff furred boy. He moved in on my mom and dad within months after Roger Ramjet ::bows head in honor:: passed away in 1990. Max "traded up" from a neighbor person who did not care for him...and when they found out where he was living several months after the fact...didn't even want him back. Max was a smart boy. Since mom and dad told me that Roger Ramjet was President of the local cat union...it was well known in the neighborhood there was an opening at our house. Maxfield stepped up to the job. He was originally named after the food that fed him (Nutromax)... but later mom and dad expanded on that because he was so handsome. Maxfield Parrish seemed to suit him.

Max was best buddies with my mentor, guardian angel Jonathan. That's why I was chosen to write this post today. Max was 14 years old when mom and dad noticed he was drinking lots of water and he ate a lot but was losing weight. He was diagnosed with feline diabetes. It was a rough few months. Mom and dad had to give Max insulin injections 2 times a day. Even then, controlling a Max's blood sugar levels was almost impossible. Mom searched every website and read everything she could. The scary part was that too little insulin would be harmful, but too much could kill him. It was a daily struggle and panic attack according to my mom. They had to be brave. Some cats do ok for a long time, but mom and dad could not get Max's blood sugar under control. One day, Max got an injection and it was too much. He was rushed to the vet, but they could not save him. He passed away 4 months after he was diagnosed.

Max will always be remembered as amazingly handsome and a loyal friend. He helped heal mom and dad's heart when Roger Ramjet had to leave, and he left a large hole in our family when he left. Jonathan had a hard time adjusting to Max's passing, but he grew closer to my mom during that time. When my momma Ellie and I moved in, we helped mend Jonathan's broken heart. Maxfield loved his yard as much as Jonesie does, and in a way Jonesie carries on the work that Maxfield started in the garden. Before Jonesie arrived in 2002, it was always "black and tan"...meaning Jonathan and Maxfield, helping my dad in the garden. It was Maxfield who helped mom plant her original herb garden.

Maxfield, we miss you and love you always!

Trick or Treat!

2009-10-31T10:08:00.009-04:00

Madison: Grete and I loved our costumes so much from last year, we are wearing them again! We were outfitted by the talented Ms. Diamond. Can you tell it's me? Grete is thinking that no one will be able to tell who she is...that silly woofie grin gives her away!

Here we are again...so you can really see us!

We are getting ready for the trick or treaters. Our 2 black cats, Cory and Nigel never go outside
so they will be safe. As for us others with outdoor privileges...we are on what mom calls "kitty lock down" for the whole day and night. Grete is practicing not barking at the door when the kids come for candy.

Have a safe and fun Halloween everyone! Hope you get lots of treats!

Formerly Feral Friday

2009-10-30T00:01:00.002-04:00

Hi there! Cecilia here! I got a cool award from our furriend Penny at Cat of Nine Tales ! Now I don't live on an island but I do know of one cat who truly does think I'm a princess. ::blush::

My Madison likes to watch me walking around and he cares about everything I do. My mom thinks I'm pretty too, so while she got bored from doing her real assignments for her photoshop class...she played around a bit with all the filters and colors and came up with a fun picture of Madison watching over me. She says this makes me artsy fartsy.

Madison here! I just think she's purrty.

Pee Ess...before we forget, we want to pass along this award to the true island princess we all know and love....Zoey! Zoey you have probably received this a kazillion times, but oh well.

Thursday In The Garden with Jonesie

2009-10-29T00:01:00.003-04:00

Welcome to our first club meeting! I had such a great response and we have so many wonderful members. My first announcement is our new Vice Purresident ::drum roll:: Alfie Marshall! Alfie was a natural for the position considering he's been my mentee and quite the gardener! I was thrilled he accepted the position. I'm still accepting applications for various other roles. Dante has been suggested as Secretary of Fertilization...for reasons only his mother can explain. I think he'd be wonderful at that job so it's his if he wants it. If there are roles you want in the club, let me know and we'll compile our list over the next month or so. We can review each week on Thursday.

Now, on to some housekeeping items. I've had some kitties wonder about membership and when we meet.

Garden club meetings are every Thursday right here at my sister Cory's blog. Thursday belongs to me and my garden and my club. That's the way it is.

Membership is open to any and all CB kitties. Woofies can be honorary members.

The super secret password ::shhh:: don't tell anyone or write it down or anything like that
and especially don't post it on the internet- "meow"

The super secret paw shake goes like this: take your right paw and dig at the ground three times like you are going to bury something good.

Other items: Please post your own garden posts on Thursdays and link back here if you want to. I'm trying out Mr. Linky for the first time so we can see what members of the club are up to.

My garden is a mess right now. I should be embarrassed, but my mom and dad have been busy. The leaves are everywhere. They said there is no point because there are still too many leaves still on the trees. Might as well wait to pick them up.

I recommend sitting in the leaves and getting them stuck to your rear end. It's the latest in fashion for the stylish garden cat.

Make sure your claws are nice and sharp. This technique also works for cats who dream of gardens. Couches and chairs and legs of unsuspecting humans work well too as a substitute, but it can hiss off some people so be careful.

So what's up in your garden today?

Wordy Wednesday- Paw it Forward

2009-10-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

Wha? A package for me? I mean a package for us?Bennette and my momma Ellie were certain it must be fun so they started playing by the box in anticipation.

It took FOREVER for mom to help us open the box! Once open I wasted no time checking it out. Wow! It was a package from my good furriend Finn and her mom! I was overjoyed. There was a nice card too with a picture of a kitty that looked just like our Nigel. But...you know the card was tasty and all that, but I was anxious to dig into the box. There was even a bone for Grete woofie!

Bennette interrupted her play time for a...you know...break.

Ellie sensing that Bennette was paying no attention whatsoever to the cool crinkle sounding fuzzy toy...seized her opportunity to get the prize.

Do I have a smart momma or what.

Bennette consoled herself with the package of Casbah Kitteh catnip jelly beans. She couldn't even wait until the package was opened.

After all the fun, momma was tired, so she took full advantage of the super cool box and she took a nice nap with her favorite new toy. Mom got video of me chasing toys up and down the hallway but she was too lazy, I mean busy, to post it. Grete refused to be photographed with her bone.

Now the fun part. It's time for us to Paw It Forward.

The guide to Paw it Forward is as follows:"The exchange focuses on doing an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than that the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and 'pay it forward' in their own way.This is how it works...I am going to agree to send something fun, inspiring or uplifting to one kitty blog owner who posts a comment on this entry if you agree to paw it forward too. In turn you will then post about this on your blog, link to me, then send something to the first person who signs up to play along through your blog. There are no cost restraints, BUT don't go crazy! The little something you send can be something you made, bought, were given or found. No biggie, just a gift that will make the person smile. Maybe something unique from where you live? And, remember that kindness does not have to involve money; there are untold ways to help others every single day, everywhere you go - just look around". The rules were changed a little bit. We know that times are tough for a lot of people, and in the past the idea was to paw it forward to 3 bloggers. We are going to paw it forward to one and doing this might make it more playable for people. If you want to play with three people, it is your choice, or if you'd like to play with one or two people, that is also your choice. Keep the fun going and let me know if you want to play!

Tabby Tattletale Tuesday

2009-10-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

I've been urpy today. More than usual. Mom says I binge and purge. Today I did it so much my mom is a bit worried about me, but I look and act the same and I still am causing trouble...but still mom looks at me that way a mom looks when she's worried. I better not keep it up or else I'm gonna get hauled off to the v-e-t. What did dad say? "well she doesn't look like she's lost any weight"...sigh. Dad's can be so cruel.

I worried mom the other day when there was a cat fight in the way back of our backyard. She heard screeching and so she ran around to make sure she knew where we all were. Madison, Jonesie and Cecilia were all right there...but I wasn't. Everyone else was inside. Mom got freaked and was yelling "Ginger" "Ginger" "Ginger"...I let her. She even looked in the front yard where I'm not supposed to be. I wasn't there. I decided to let her off easy, so when she came back in the backyard I sauntered right over to her like it was no big deal. She grabbed me and fussed over me. I kind of liked the attention. Ok, I loved the attention. I should try that again.

I still like hanging out in the yard even though it's raining a lot. The birdies are getting fed up with it all and they are flying south. I can watch them go. I don't even bother to chatter "goodbye" because they are so high up in the sky.

Let's see....what else is going on here. Jonesie has been spending more time in the house lately because it's icky outside. Nigel is trying to cozy up to Ellie again. Just today he was caught sitting on the couch next to a sleeping Ellie. Every time we looked up he had inched his way closer to her until their furs were touching! At least he's getting smarter about it. He typically just takes his big beefy paw and puts it around her neck. Ellie meows her "wookie" meow which means she's irritated at him. Cory has started to beg for any food that looks like it might be cheese....even bananas or pears or anything that looks like white cheddar from a distance. She is SOO disappointed when she sees what it really is. Cory is so obsessed with cheese she had mom join to be a Facebook "friend" of Tillamook Cheese...can cheese be a friend?