by Mousie, birthday girl and Grammy's little cutiepie.

Good morning, Friends.
​   
This KITTEN just celebrated her 9th birthday and right up front I'd like to thank all my friends for the greetings, pressies and delightful comments and wishes for me.  You all made my day glorious.  Thank you.  

This all came a day after we got good news about my mummy, Whiskers.  As you know, we've all been worried about her.  She had lost some weight, her coat was kind of rough and she was tossing her food a lot.  Blood work showed her potassium high, sodium low and B12 in the proverbial litterbox.   Well, we don't have a definitive answer to what is wrong but it is thought that she may have an inflamed stomach and bowel.  We hope that's all... as it can be managed with diet and vitamins.  

A course of fluids, B12 shot and some meds to settle the tummy and a new food seemed to settle her down and she was allowed to come home the next day.  Close monitoring, weekly B12 shots, daily tummy meds and her new food seem to be working.  

Her follow-up this past Friday was good...  she gained back most of what she'd lost, is not throwing up, gets tummy meds every other morning until the bottle is finished and gets one more B12 shot with close monitoring over the next 5 weeks until her next checkup.

Despite all this she is still a wily old girl... and gives Grammy a run for her money as they say.   Anticipating the morning syringe she hovers where she has multiple escape routes and hiding places.  On the morning Grammy only feed her she settles quickly to eat... and has a hearty appetite.  The in-between days she scoots, slinks and scampers around the condo to avoid the inevitable meds.  By the time Grammy wins the contest, and she always does, eventually... both are exhausted.  It's a good thing that giving her breakfast has to wait an hour.  Grammy collapses into her chair, Whiskers into her tent and both take a much needed nap.   

Sweetie and I await our breakfast until we can all enjoy it together...with mummy. The boys, on the other hand, DO NOT WAIT.  Those pork chops, especially RONDO howl and wail and moan until Grammy puts out their breakfasts.  I swear they don't even taste their food as they inhale it.  They so lack the finer graces of Sweetie, mummy and me... well, maybe Sweetie and me.  Mummy eats voraciously too. *giggles*

So, what does all this have to do with Knitting?  Well, with everything that's been going on - Grammy's injuries and healing, Sweetie's teeth and mummy Whiskers' upset - Grammy has been home more than usual and yet, hasn't been knitting as much as she was.  The old dear only managed to read on-line books as a distraction for most of the time but finally picked up one of her projects and actually finished knitting it.  Wow!  We are impressed.  She now has a nice blue sweater for autumn. She's working on another - a white V-neck pullover - but needs two measurements before she can complete it... and awaits those from the person for whom it is being made.   

Dare we tell you how many other projects are started and not completed?   Here goes... another sweater, a shrug, a scarf, a shawl, and a pair of socks...oh and a remake of a pair of slippers.   ALL items starting with the letter S... What's with that?  This isn't so bad.  REALLY! Actually, the list is getting smaller as she works her way through them...  What motivates her?  The long list of things she still wants to make and won't start until these in-process items are completed.

Well, friends.  That's all for this week... slim pickins, I'm afraid but we'll post Grammy's sweater below... it awaits buttons, but the right ones which Grammy hasn't found yet.  The search goes on... for them.

Comments are welcomed. Especially if funny, sweet or cute like me.​

By Sweetie, youngest mischief maker and blogger

Good Monday morning, dear friends.

We were at a loss as to what to write this fine morning.  Since it is our Civic Holiday I felt it was also our civic duty to produce a blog... short though it may be.  

We are going to 'out' Grammy on how she finds names for us. Once upon a time it took weeks of thought, research and narrowing down of names.  As time progressed one look and we had a name.  What can we say?  At least, our names fit us however they came about.

We said the blog may be short.... and now it is.  Grammy's fickle finger hit the X and accidentally closed the blog before it was saved.  She lost the bunny and current furry felines portions.  Well, it may be just as well because she went into the archives and what do you know!  There are blogs already written about our names.   But here is the part that didn't delete.  Hope it doesn't bore you. 

When PussPuss (the first furry feline adopted) came along Grammy spent weeks finding a name for her.  Puss Cat, PC, Pork Chop, were a few of the many names tossed around.  Why names with initials P C you ask.  Well, even Grammy isn't sure of the answer (possibly something to do with her early association with personal computers) but it doesn't matter because her name eventually evolved into PussPuss… and remained there for the rest of her life. 

Malcolm, the little black ball of fluff was named after Malcolm X if you can believe it.  Not that Grammy admired the X man or whatever, but both were black and his name was instantaneous the moment Grammy held him in her hand.  There may have been a little influence from a recently published book about a cat and his companion called Malcolm and I. Not sure but very likely!

He was a little duffer only a few months old and recovering from three worm infestations, had a terrible cough from lung worms and had to be medicated and monitored for another week at the vet then a week of meds at home.  But home he came and grateful to be indoors and cared for he became Grammy's love muffin and constant companion for 18 1/2 years.

After PussPuss passed and Grammy heard of another kitty needing rescued from euthanasia she went to visit him.... this long-haired Norwegian Forest Cat look-a-like stole her heart.  A friend who had seen him at the vet suggested Wolfgang or Wolfy pronounced with a 'V' but at first sight he became Montague... a regal name for such a beautiful boy.  As time went on Montague was shortened to Monty but he never lost his royal bearing ... even at his most mischievous. 

For more stories about these three check out Into The Archives under Categories and read the blogs.

Anyone willing to share how your furries were named please leave a comment.  Grammy would love to read them to us.​

by Mousie, cutest little blogger in history *giggles*

Good morning, dear friends.  
Today we are all discombobulated.  Oh, it is a planned upheaval but it is upheaval nevertheless.  As you know life has had its ups and downs chez Mischief and Mayhem Central for a while now.   Well, today is no different.   

Grammy's day now starts an hour earlier to ensure Whiskers has her morning medication an hour before she eats.  This could be given an hour before her evening meal but Grammy's evenings are not usually stable.  She's in, she's out, she's home early or late.  AND she's usually less focused by dinner time... a necessity when trying to control a cantankerous kitty and administer meds by mouth.  At least, the mornings are somewhat more routine and Grammy is fresh... or sort of.

On top of that we are still in flux about Whiskers' health issues... but we are staying positive and hopeful that it is nothing serious.

So, that having been said, why are we discombobulated?  You may not have heard but our ceiling exhaust for laundry and lave died.   Yes, its little heart gave out and it's noisy chatter has gone mute. Sadly!  

Well, maybe not so sadly.  He was, as I said, noisy... like about a gazillion decibels.   BUT the sadly part is, we need a new one and he was very old.  It isn't a simple, pop out one, pop in another.  Oh no!  Unfortunately, the piping is different and other stuff has to be dealt with before our new exhaust fan can be installed.  This entails removing part of the ceiling.  A dirty, messy job.  Contained, but messy.

Due to the mess it'll create, Grammy has had to empty the bathroom and she will be bathroomless for three days.  Yeeeeew!  She's going to be one stinky Grammy!  No shower.  And even worse, no loo!  We just hope she's not planning to use our litter boxes.  NOOOOOOOOO!  That would not be acceptable.   

What's that, Grammy?   Oh Phew!  She has a backup plan... and wonderful neighbours.   Yes, you know that, don't you!  We have the most amazing neighbours.  In fact, our gem of a neighbour has opened her home to the old girl AND has offered to and is getting a few groceries for Grammy today too.   Talk about a kind, thoughtful lady.  We love her.  

Now you ask what has that got to do with lemons and lemonade?  Well, fan dying is the lemon, of course.  BUT...

Grammy took the opportunity to go through everything in the bathroom, discard what had expired, is no longer used, was superfluous to our lives, well, her life actually .... and it was a lot more than you'd think. Amazing how much you accumulate over the years. How could anyone have thought Grammy was a minimalist?  Not really... She's just tidy and keeps only essentials out but the stuff is/was there... in the cupboards.

So, when the work is finished we will encourage her to do a second go-through and purge some more before putting everything away.  Once back together it'll be like a whole new place.  Clean, fully functional and amazingly ordered.  Lemonade. 

Now where will we be during all of this?  We'll be confined to the bedroom, door closed, kitty door latched during the day and allowed to roam free once Mr Contractor Guy departs.  In other words, at night.  Not the best of scenarios but as Grammy says... it's a must!  Otherwise, Sweetie will be out there supervising and Rondo and Etude will be getting underfoot.  We cannot have that.  

So, I'm off to get some of that delicious lemonade.  See you.

​Comments are welcomed.  Keep them cute, like me.  Okay? 

by Rondo, the handsome, debonair poet

Well, dear friends... we have returned.  Sweetie wished to post today's blog but we decided she'd better wait until she's used up some of her pent up energy so I, Rondo am bard and blogger of the day. 

You ask why she has so much energy?   That's what we thought you asked. 

As you know she had some dental issues and had to have all but her incisors and fangs removed.  And due to the state of her mouth she must have been in pain, though she never complained. As a result, it was a shock to Grammy when they were at the annual vettie appointment and she saw her poor wee gums all swollen and red.

Well, she had been quieter, less bouncy, less mischievous, but we all thought she was settling down now that she's almost seven and a half years old.   You know... like we boys settled down and are now much more mature, dignified and less rambunctious.  

What do you mean, Grammy?  That doesn't describe us?  Of course it does.  Where have you been?  La-la land?  Oh yes, that's right, you have been in a state, you old thing.  Hush now!

Well, now that the wee darling - that's Sweetie, not the old girl - is feeling better and her gums have healed and she doesn't have to take anymore yucky meds she has returned to kittenhood.  I swear it!  She has!  Grammy tries to work on the computer, read, knit and where is she?  Right in her lap demanding attention or knocking things off the table or biting things. 

WHY, in the last couple of days computer mouse, nail clippers, file, tv remote and half a dozen other remotes the old girl keeps nearby have all either landed on the floor or been systematically carried off to be batted around the room.  Luckily, Grammy caught her before the coffee cup took a flying leap into oblivion.  And this time she wasn't trying to drink the brew, she was showing her distain for the meager dregs Grammy'd left for her to ingest.

And last night Grammy had to close the window part way!  Why on such a lovely evening, you ask?  Well, the little scamp found a small tear in the screen, had worked a bit of the wire loose and was yanking on it with her newly healed gums.... Now it's large enough for those pesky no-seeums to fly through without even catching their wings on the wire...  

OH, right!  I forgot, Etude.  Add it to Grammy's to-do list.   Fix Screen.  No, no-seeums allowed indoors.  Oh wait!  Let them in.  That'll give us things to chase that the old girl cannot see and she'll think the moths are back... Oh, such fun.  Strike it from the list!  

Sorry, friends.  So back to the woeful tale of Sweetie and her misbehaving.  Not only does she toss things and tear things but now she's biting our ears... Etude's and mine. Well, not quite biting them, gumming them, sort of... as she doesn't have many teeth left. 

Oh, there she goes again.  What now, Grammy???  She's trying to get us to exercise and chase her?  Huh!  Who knew?  Well, not us, obviously.  

Why would we need to exercise?  We got the clean bill of health at the vettie.   Oh shush!  I don't remember hearing the vettie say WE needed more exercise.  I'm sure of it. Did you, Etude?  

No, I thought not.   Well, Grammy, the vettie asked YOU about exercise... and you told her you get lots of exercise waving our wands and throwing and retrieving our toys... Nothing in there about us!  I'm sure of it.

Well, this is about Sweetie, so once again, I say, SHUSH!  

So, friends.   That Sweetie, she's getting into all sorts of trouble now her teeth are gone and her gums are better.  We, that's Etude and I, try to set a good example.  We snooze all day, only wake up to eat or get snuggles from the old girl.. oh and to … you know... eliminate. *aside R whispers to Etude* We won't mention us taking turns pouncing on Sweetie and biting her neck.  No, that's not important.   

That Sweetie is surely a slow learner.   Sheesh, life is tough.  Don't ya know it!  

A little brightener for your day.... from the bard of M&M Central himself. 

Sweetie

Sweet Cecily’s her name but she goes by Sweetie
Her bones are strong but not too meatie.
Feisty she is, she’s like a colt
Long legs she has and she loves to bolt
From bed to floor to wall to rack
She scares us when on Grammy’s back
She pounces, then with a toss
Of sail-sized ears she’s off
To adventures only in her head
And when she’s done she hits her bed.
A snooze, for that is all it is
Before she starts to skim and whizz
Past others scattered ‘neath our roof
She chases flick’ring lights and floof
To parts unknown they scatter far
Afraid of Sweetie, our feisty star.

originally published February 26, 2018

Comments are welcomed... and especially if full of mischief.
​

by Mousie, nurse and companion,

Good morning, dear friends.  
As you all know, we had our annual physicals with Dr Whitecoat a few weeks ago and all is well for everyone except Sweetie... 

Last Thursday Sweetie went back for dental surgery to address her extensive gum disease.  Well, Grammy and she weren't happy but resigned themselves to the trek. It took an extra hour to get there which was horrendous in the heat.  Travel to the border of the city was no issue but the bus from there to the vet was 40 minutes delayed... They barely got there before the Animal Hospital closed for the night. 

Surgery went ahead Friday morning.  Sweetie had all remaining teeth removed except her canines and incisors… and they say she'll be on soft food for the rest of her life.  Imagine!  That would be great... though I, Mousie, do love my crunchies too.

So, I wonder if we should re-weigh her now that she's had 8 more teeth out. Lighter?  No!  Grammy saw the teeth, they were appalling! Doctor said they were filled with cavities and hard to remove. They'd break apart.  So, it took more excavating than originally expected - 30-60 minutes ended up being 60-90 minutes and they needed every second of those 90 minutes.  Poor wee Sweetie.  

​Good news is she still has her fangs and her incisors so her photo sessions will look normal.

Friday Grammy picked her up with medications and instructions and a dear lady named Kelly drove them home again.  What a blessing that was.

Sweetie is for the most part, cooperative taking her meds with food... but for the first day or so, was wobbly and a little spaced out.  Now she's more herself.  

Mummy Whiskers and I are keeping her company while she heals...

Now, Grammy wondered if kitty dentures might be the order of the day... but knowing how she can barely handle her own we think not!  *Giggles*

Now, on to another topic.  

How is everyone holding up in this heat?   We've been trying to exercise Grammy - you know... for her health... but she refuses to chase the red dot and it's too hot to wave the feathers on a wand so until this heat eases up we are all going for major R&R&E.... Rest, Relaxation and Eating.  Yes.    

Have a great day, friends.  See you next week.

Comments, especially cheeky ones are welcomed. 

By Etude & Rondo, Canadian Kitties and Proud of it.

Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian friends... and an anticipated Happy 4th of July for those south of the border. 

Today's post will be short.  We boys have planned a day of fun and goofiness.  

First on the list is FOOD.  We must nourish ourselves in preparation for a busy day.

We thought we'd have more of Sweetie's concoctions.  She made lots of variations of Beaver Tails, and Flap Jacks with Maple Syrup, and Cranberry Tea.     

So, time to celebrate with games.

Maybe we'll play:

Pin-the-tail-on-the-Beaver, and some of the games that Grammy played as a little girl... like ...

1. Jacks, Double Dutch, Marbles, Roller skating...but with a kitty twist.... Oh, we can play  Twister too.  This should be such fun.

I think we'll have to use the roller skates as skateboards and maybe do wheelies.  Oh, that should be fun.  

When we get tired of that we'll snuggle with Grammy for a while, then show off our Canada Day gear in a mini-parade. 

*giggles*  Don't we look super-duper?


And what is Grammy going to do?  Probably knit! Really she should clean but she says she's having a lazy day.  So, I guess that means all as normal.  *giggles*​

Comments are welcomed.  Let's keep them fun and patriotic and maybe a little bit cheeky.

By Etude, hefty, healthy chronicler of mean ol' Grammy

Two days later and we promised you an update about the visit to our vet.  In case you haven't heard, we love our vet and call her Dr. WhiteCoat, but the silly thing is she doesn't wear a white coat.  She wears patterned scrubs... and looks quite professional in them.  Also, she has a soft voice and gentle touch when she gives us a thorough going over.  Rondo and I have been her patients since we were born. She had to help our mummy because we were big babies and mummy was tiny.  Poor mummy.

So, on to our visit.  As you read in the previous blog Grammy tossed us all into our crates and dragged us into the taxi and then reversed the process to bring us home again.  Mean ol' Grammy! 

​We got to the vettie clinic very early. Despite this they were gracious and took us almost immediately.  

On arrival in the examination room Grammy let Whiskers out to wander.  The rest of us had settled down to wait patiently and Sweetie curled up and went to sleep in her carrier but Whiskers was fussing to get out.  Well, she explored every nook and cranny while she waited.  We think she was searching for an escape route. 

On being examined there was a little concern that she'd lost a bit of weight.. and she is 10 (yes, we thought she was 2 years older but records show she's estimated to be only a year older than Mousie) and so is not considered a Senior, but Mature. 

We beg to differ on that description, but Dr WhiteCoat clarified she's Mature in age.  She wasn't commenting on her behaviour. *Giggles*  So, she got a thorough going over - heart, kidneys, privates, mammary glands okay, all organs in good working order.  Only concern is that she eats too quickly and throws up.  But it is usually after a long night with no food and an acid buildup in her tummy. NOTHING NEW there! She and Rondo are alike that way.

​Just to be sure and due to her age a Blood Panel for Mature cats was done.  No kidney disease, heart issues, diabetes, thyroid or whatever else was tested for.  She's a healthy mature girl.

​Mousie as you all know, is very tiny and Grammy was worried she'd lost some weight but she danced for joy when she found out Mousie weighs the same now as she did at the last visit.  Organs, skin condition, ears, eyes, mouth all checked.  Two teeth had calcification on them that doctor removed during the exam with no fuss.  Good girl, Mousie. She has allergies and a heart murmur but is otherwise well...  The murmur hasn't changed in 2 1/2 years.  EXCELLENT News !! 

To be absolutely sure about the heart a special test was done to check the strength of the heart muscle.  The heart muscle is considered healthy but will be monitored and checked again in 2 years.  As for the allergies... she has to have meds during allergy season and that will be a challenge for Grammy... but not insurmountable.   As her nether parts were being check Mousie expressed her anal gland into doctor's gloved hand.  I don't think it was appreciated. *giggles*  YEEEEEEEW! That's so gross. At least it wasn't poopies. 

The rest of us were not so rude and were praised for our super clean butts.  She can thank Whiskers, our consummate groomer for those  pristine butts.  She's meticulous and relentless.  Of course, Grammy objects when she decides to groom her after she's done with us.  We think its funny!

Rondo was examined next because he was the one who triggered the appointment.  Gained weight, cheeky boy.  But other than having some calcification removed from a tooth he is in perfect health. Must have been a bit of a bug, poor fellow.

He even cooperated with Dr. WhiteCoat when she trimmed his claws.  Nary a growl nor a snap of the jaw, only a pulling away of his paws, to which doctor told him to behave... AND HE DID! 

Wow!  Grammy thinks she'll have to take him there for claw trims quarterly rather than risk life and limb to do it herself. ​

I was next but being a gentlecat I'll tell you about Sweetie first.  Sweetie is in perfect health everywhere but in her wee mouth.  Weight the same, no issues with anything else.  Like all of us, ears clean, butt clean, etc. but she has gum disease.  Poor wee thing. 

Years ago when she was still a kitten she had to have a bunch of back teeth removed because they were blocking her esophagus and her ability to swallow, causing gum issues.  Grammy had hoped that was the end of it but, no!  She needs major surgery to remove a whole bunch of teeth followed by antibiotics to clear up the infection and pain meds for the pain, of course.   

Grammy was devastated to see the condition  of her mouth and to think she hadn't been monitoring it... but 18 months ago her teeth and gums were fine and she was eating normally so...
 
Poor little Sweetie is booked in for surgery late next week.  She gave the doctor the old stink-eye for that and for manhandling her.  

Once back in her carrier and for the next 20 minutes Sweetie groomed herself from tops of her ears to the very tip of her tail.  She had to get that 'stink' off her.   Even the doctor commented on her fastidious behaviour.  We could tell Sweetie was not amused! Not one bit!

Little did she know she was going to be handled again when she had the bloodwork taken.   That elicited a snort and a repeat of the grooming process. The nerve!  To be manhandled after just finishing her groom.   But then, she is a fussy little princess.​

And now we get to me.... the handsome, debonair Etude.  Dr. Whitecoat put me on the scale and said ruefully ... GAINED again!  Well, I am a healthy boy of eighteen pounds.

When asked about our exercise regime Grammy explained how we (Rondo and I) love to chase the red dot for a maximum of 5 minutes before settling down to watch the girls and their futile antics.  And with other toys we play pond duck, tucking in our paws and rubbernecking while Grammy gyrates and dances around the room with feather toys on wands and crinkly balls and mouses to entertain us.  We didn't realize WE were supposed to chase the toys.  Come on!  That's baby stuff.  We boys are sophistocats not girly kittens.

I did have to have two teeth decalcified but that took 2 minutes and other than swallowing some of the debris the procedure went well.  AND I cooperated with the nail trim too.. wiggled a bit but nothing more.  Everything else about me is PERFECT!  Of course, it is.  

​Comments are welcomed.  

​by Sweetie and Gentle Mouse, disgruntled kittens.

Well, friends.  We had to step up and take over the blog for today.  Those lazy brothers of ours have decided to slack off as usual and they even let Grammy off the hook.  Not going to happen after what we've been through today.  Sorry, Grammy but doing our blog is a MUST so hop to it ol' girl you've already missed a couple this month.  Get those fingers in gear and start typing.

So, to start with... we are normally dragged off to our favourite vettie in the autumn but Grammy 'postponed' it until now... Actually she was procrastinating... as usual!!!  But with Rondo sick over the weekend she couldn't put it off any longer.  
​
Appointment was made for today.  If you follow us on our Facebook page you'll have seen a few days ago that carriers were brought out and assembled and plunked onto the floor for us to trip over.  So much for a tidy condo, Grammy!

But how kind!  Grammy gave us more choices for naps and being the cooperative, sweet and easy-going kitties that we are we made full use of them, slept in them, played in them and Mousie checked out the boys in theirs before settling into one herself. 

So, this morning arrived.  Grammy was behaving as usual.  Up, make bed, feed kitties, make and pour coffee.  Sit down, enjoy coffee and check Facebook. Shower, dress.  Hmmm! Grammy must be going out today.  Okay! More nap time for us! Nothing amiss here so we kitties carried on as usual.. eat, nap, and nap again.

Unfortunately she must have made a call for transportation while we napped because we never suspected a thing. UNTIL...

Grammy walked into bedroom where we three girls were.  Walked over to the window as she had numerous times earlier today.  Suddenly she nabbed Mousie who was asleep in her lair and unceremoniously plopped her into the carrier on the dresser.  

Mousie:  Yes, and what did YOU do, Sweetie?  Scarpered off through the cat door into the living-room leaving me to deal with Grammy alone.  You could have tripped her up, given her a clawing!  Anything to get me released from her grip, but NOOOOO!  You abandoned me! Traitor!

Sweetie:  Sorry, Mousie. Really, I am but I was scared and only thought of making myself scarce.

Mousie:  I think mummy Whiskers was bewildered.  Wakened from her sleep by my loud 'Miep! Miep! Miep!' (Grammy interjects - Yes, Mousie's cry is so loud she needs a megaphone to be heard.) she blundered around trying to figure out what was happening... and Grammy, quick as a whip, zipped up my carrier and grabbed mummy.  Before I could shout 'HELP! she was plunked into her carrier where she growled at Grammy and gave her the stink-eye... but good!

Next she grabbed Rondo who was hiding beside the fridge.  Maybe he thought he'd blend in with the white appliances but nope!  Grammy scooped him up with and 'umph, you're one heavy lump, mister!' and he responded with a 'you're no light-weight yourself, old girl'.  Well, that didn't sit well so he too was dumped into his carrier and the door slammed shut.  

Now the search was on for Etude.  Where was the elusive Tude the Dude?  Grammy couldn't find him. Not in the bedroom.  Not in the kitchen, bathroom, closet so he had to be in the livingroom… Nope.   Back to the bedroom... where he'd sucked in his girth and slipped behind the headboard and the wall.  Bed pulled out and Grammy grabbed him, groaned,  - heavier than Rondo - lumbered over to his carrier plopped him in and fastened the door.

Now, as you know, Sweetie got the warning and scarpered.  Everywhere had been searched looking for Etude leaving only one possibility - the drawer under the sofa.  Quietly opening it, Grammy saw a furry body hunkered down tail toward her and before the traitor could react she too was scooped and dropped through the top of her carrier and the snaps secured.

And that was that!  Or so we thought, but no!  Next we were loaded onto the rollator one by one, rolled to the elevator and stacked by the door.  One last trip to the condo to swap rollator for crutch; lock up.  Button pushed, elevator door opened, Rondo set to hold door open while we were tossed inside, pull Rondo in, descend, shove him against door once more and we got tossed out into the lobby.  Then one by one we were taken to the entrance where our taxi driver loaded us and we were off.

Through that whole hallway, elevator, taxi ride Sweetie made Grammy and then the driver aware of what she though of the situation.  She howled for every second of the 45 minute trip and she 'don't need no megaphone'!  *giggles*
 
Sweetie: Well, someone had to.  The boys and Whiskers just settled in to enjoy the scenery and you were on Grammy's lap getting pets.  Where was I? On the floor behind Grammy!  No window!  Now who's the traitor, HUH?

The return trip was much quieter with only one squawk from me before I gave up and had a nap.   BUT when we reached our floor we ALL howled until we were inside the condo.    See what the neighbours think of you now, Grammy!  Hah!

Stay tuned for part 2 - the Vettie visit.

​Comments are welcomed.  Especially if they are commiserations with us and our plight.

by Whiskers, the exasperated matron of mischief.

Just so's you know, right up front, I'm one ticked-off kitty.  Yes, I am.   No, I didn't remove a tick from my furry body. I don't have ticks, fleas or any other parasites. Cheeky readers, to even think that!

I'm annoyed because the old girl is unwell AGAIN... and 'we' are back on nursing duties.  Can you believe it?  You might as well... 'cause it's true.  

Sweetie and Gentle Mousie have donned their nursing caps and gear and gone into overdrive.  Honey and lemon in her Wild Sweet Orange tea for the sore throat, inhaled steroids for the lungs (for Grammy, not them) and another steroid for the sinuses.  Tucked in a blanket with heating pad.  This is getting old, Grammy! Really old!  

So, what does that do to us?  Well, besides having to manage the old girl, it puts a major damper on the mischief side of life.  Yes, it does!  How can we create mayhem with a pair of brown-speckled blue eyes staring at us?  EXACTLY!  We cannot!  And that ticks me off because that's what I am all about and what I had planned for this week.  

So, what to do from here... Well, let's see.   Maybe we'll dose her up on her meds, wrap her in bubblewrap and ship her off to some obscure place with no return address on the package.  Yes, I think that sounds like a plan.  

What was that, Sweetie? *Groan, moan, mumble, splutter*  Well, it seems the nurses have spoken.  I'm not shipping her off to some unknown destination. Such party poopers.  Nothing like putting a damper on life.  I tell you though, when they speak, we listen... Look at those faces! They are not to be trifled with.  *grumble, mutter, whine*  

What to do with the old girl?   Anyone have suggestions?  

Well, if we cannot ship her off into oblivion or some such place the boys and I, Whiskers the mischief matron, will make ourselves scarce.   

'But, before I leave... just a little quick update.  You remember that ant issue we discussed and had taken care of... Well..... Grammy thought they were back and freaked... maybe that's what triggered her 'whatever-she-has'!   

Saturday after her delightful afternoon with Aunty L she treated herself to a manicure and Mrs L, the manicurist, gave the old girl some herbs from her garden.  Grammy loves fresh herbs and this was oregano freshly picked.  While Grammy cannot smell it she remembers how she loved it and imagined how delicious it would be in her cooking, brought it home, took it out of the baggie and placed it in water to crisp up until she used it.  

Because we are destructive little creatures with plants Grammy set the oregano in it's jar of water on the balcony to use in a day or two, returned to the kitchen and an ANT was crawling around on the countertop.  FREAK OUT!!  Grammy thought the miserable critters were back but we reassured her it probably came off the oregano.
Well, unfortunately for it, Grammy dispatched it toot sweet. 

It was number 3 critter this past week.  Spider 1 was a sneaky little critter that was hiding in the angle between bathroom and bedroom doorways. GONE in a flash!  

Then, Sweetie and Etude were entertaining another on the livingroom floor on Tuesday. It was more like hockey for cats with the spider as the puck.  Poor spider wasn't happy about it but hey... check out how Grammy feels about those in the blog in Poetry by Rondo and you'll know how he was handled - well, not handled.  More like footled!  

There was also a tentative 4th but that was Grammy having hallucinations in the shower.  She freaked and almost toppled out of the tub when she saw this huge black, long legged thing on her sponge holder.  I tell you... it was NOTHING but a reflection of the sponge's shadow in the clear plastic holder... but you'd have thought the old dear was being murdered.​  The woman is HIGH MAINTENANCE!

by Whiskers, INFAMOUS Matriarch of Mischief aka IMPISHNESS

Good day dear friends.  I am here to ILLUMINATE your lives today... though how I'm to do IT eludes me.  I don't have the qualities needed to brighten or to enhance your day... as I'm more of an IMP not an ILLUSTRATOR.  

What I can do IS IMPLICATE my fellow felines of Mischief and Mayhem Central IN the mayhem we create on a daily basis.   I'm not so sure they will be pleased at my efforts, but then when have I ever worried about that!  NEVER!  

IN this household we are comprised of only six bodies - five feline and 1 bi-ped….. our Grammy but at times the neighbours must think we are a INIMITABLE herd of IMPALAS.   But let me reassure you.  There are only five of the quadrupeds in the house... and there is only one INDIVIDUAL, yes one, who gallops around this place and sounds like a horde of marauding INFIDELS.  That one is Sweetie.  Our beloved youngest IN the family is a noisy and INVETERATE chaser of INVISIBLE INTRUDERS.
  
That's right.  We don't see what she chases but she patrols the perimeter of the INSIDE of the condo from one end to the other, seeking out any and all who attempt to INFILTRATE.  Those INVETERATE beings are then systematically dispatched to INFINITY.  IN doing so she is prone to heavy-footed galloping, leaping up walls to great heights and of course landing with a loud thump on the floor again to dispose of the critter(s) forthwith - thus the herd of IMPALAS reference.   She must be doing a fine job as we've never been INVADED, INFILTRATED, or overrun yet.    Our wee Sweetie is INVALUABLE to our family.

Mousie, my dear sweet INFANT and the  characteristically shy one is quite the opposite of our noisy Sweetie.  Mousie prefers the quiet life.  Curled up behind/under her blanket or IN the eerie on the Kitty Condo, she dreams of her Cheffy Dearest.  But, she has her moments.  Yes, siree.  When least expected our wee Mousie will climb down from her throne on high, and join the family.  This starts with a gentle, silent drop to the floor and a canter across the bedroom, a perfect arc of a jump through the door-flap. On landing hall-side the wee one takes a quick look around, checking for the INSTRUMENTS of torture known as Etude and Rondo before clicking her claws across the tiles to the water fountain.  IF someone notices her in the main part of the condo she makes a hasty exit back to her safe haven IN the bedroom. If unnoticed she'll proceed to Grammy's chair for a few kisses and a cuddle before retiring again.  Sweet little Mousie, our sweet little INTROVERT loves her peace and quiet where she can ponder life's INCONGRUOUS INCONSISTENCIES.

Well, dear friends, dear old Grammy ISN'T up to this blog stuff at the moment so she's cut us off with our blog barely half done.   How dare she!  So, here IT IS... the INCOMPLETE blog.​
​At least we can share a photo of our two youngest.  Mousie and Sweetie.

Comments are welcomed especially if they are light and funny.