How much is that kitty in the window?

Here's a little snippet of fluffy furry cuteness because kitties in the window are one of my favorite things.  Dee's cats are especially adorable.

Cuteness overload.

Oh Linus!!!  You're so cute it hurts!!!

Farewell, Sweet Friend

Jones, 2007-2011

It's taken me a while to write this because it's still so fresh.  My sweetest little furry companion, John Paul Jones, passed away last month.  He was very special to me.  Always willing to let me hold him, made the best kitty muffins ever.

When we rescued Jones from the animal shelter, he was a mere 6 months old.  The shelter was overloaded with cats, and they were literally giving them away.  We looked and looked and looked at the sea of felines, and were debating about who to adopt.  No one was tugging at my heart strings in particular.

Strrrrretch...

Oh, I give up.  This is comfy enough.

I hardly noticed the cages sitting in the hallway where we were discussing.  Suddenly I felt a little paw claw my behind.  There was our little orange boy.  He was stretching out his paws as if to say, "hey.  What about me?  I'm super cute."  Right then and there, he chose me.  It was destiny.

The rest is history.

He and I had a special bond.  Shortly after we adopted Jones, my other cat Pip (an indoor cat) somehow got outside and never came back.  I was heartbroken.  Pip lived with us while we were stationed overseas and came all the way home to the states from England with us. He was my first kitty baby.

But Jones helped me get through it.  Every night he'd make muffins on my bed and curl up at my feet.  He let me know he was there to love.

Camouflage Jones

Jones was a funny little guy.  He had the tiniest ears I'd ever seen on a cat (we always joked that they never grew in,) as well as the longest tail and legs.  He had a baby kitten meow which he seldom let out, except when he wanted to go tromping around the neighborhood in the wee hours of the morning (but to no avail.)  He'd stretch out and whatever position he landed in, that's where he'd stay.

He LOVED the snow.

He loved our dog Francis.  He was often found curled up next to Francis in the dog bed.

He really loved Peppermint the cat.  Peppers and I don't have the most lovey dovey relationship, he saves that for Dad and the girls.  It's okay though.  Jones gave me more than enough snuggles.

Love at first sight...

Mr. Jones didn't mind being carried around like a baby and being kissed constantly.  He was a rag doll and a lover boy, but only for me.  The kids would always cry about Jones not letting them hold him.  I secretly loved that he was mine all mine!  Bad Mommy.

Jones got sick with an autoimmune disorder that affected his red blood cell production and caused his rapid demise.  We tried to treat it, but he was just too sick.  The night before he died, he pawed at my face just like the first time we met at the shelter.  I knew it was goodbye.

Farewell buddy.  You were such a blessing and a wonderful companion.  Your life was cut way too short.  I hope kitty heaven is full of mice and birds to catch, canned tuna and muffin-making blankets.  I miss you lots.  Rest in Peace, little friend.

Some nice things

While I felt a bit down and crummy today and had to re-cut a pattern (wasting a precious chunk of my favorite vintage fabric... tragic), I thought I should post on some lovely things to cheer myself up.  

The sky cleared up into sunshine this afternoon and I got to read Pride and Prejudice for the 90th time in my orange PVC lawn chair (the kind my parents used to have) while the children played in the tent out back.  Delightful.

I made blueberry oatmeal applesauce muffins from this recipe I found in my Google search.  They were yummy and semi-healthy, and I made them with soured milk (instead of yogurt) and organic sugar (instead of Splenda.)  I love cake that disguises itself as breakfast fare.  

The other day I made this lovely, frothy coffee.

I guess technically it was a latte, but I used fancy espresso powder (sue me, coffee fascists) and foamy, steamed milk (nonfat too!  Just look at that foam!  I had to take a photo) with a sprinkle of sugar.

My cats are also quite yummy.  I have three of them, one slightly "crazy older lady" tortie cat named Snicklefritz, a mellow orange cat with tiny ears named John Paul Jones ("Jones" for short) and the devil himself, Peppermint, a black and white troublemaker that Santa dropped in our laps last Christmas (we must've been naughty.)  Peppermint and Jones are best friends, and always snuggle up in photo-worthy little poses just for me.  Like this one:

And here is one of Snicky in the little wig and bonnet we salvaged from a porcelain doll:

Maybe I'm a mean pet owner for dressing my cat up, but she didn't make a fuss and sat like that under the wig while she napped for the remainder of the afternoon.  I think we both thought it suited her.

We got to catch the very last bit of the farmer's market tonight and I enjoyed delicious Chicken Vindaloo, fresh bing cherries and hot, sugary mini donuts. Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum.