by Etude, the quiet, well-behaved, cuddlebunny.

Well dear friends, Grammy developed another 10 grey hairs overnight AND I DIDN'T cause them this time.
Last evening after our last feed of the day/night Grammy prepared the bed to crawl in, making sure the duvet was placed properly to tent me.  Well, it was to tent her legs but I love sleeping in there and so, we both benefit. 
Then she plumped her pillows and got them ready close to the bottom of the bed.  Yes, she's crazy as a loon.  She sleeps backwards head at the bottom and feet at the top.  Looney-toons, that's our Grammy.

Once the food dishes are gathered, washed and put away she opens the bedroom door and let's the girls out to roam and Rondo and I immediately head into the bedroom.  We're banned from it during the day to allow the girls a safe-haven from rambunctious boys.  Or that's what Grammy says.

What is she talking about?  Can't be Rondo and me!  We are models of good gentlemanly behaviour. 

*shout from the livingroom*  EXCEPT WHEN YOU BITE LITTLE GIRLY BACKS.

Hush, Grammy.  This is my blog.  As I said, we are models of good behaviour but frustrated at being omitted from half the snoozing spots in this condo.  We have to let spoiled girlies know how we feel.  It's only fair!  They come and go through the cat door as they wish. 

*another shout*  AND YOU COULD TOO IF YOU LOST SOME WEIGHT, CHUBBOS!

Ignore the old dear.  Let's move on, shall we? 

The bedroom door is opened at bedtime and immediately I head for the duvet while Rondo either hangs his head over the local water dish or stretches out beside the pillows and waits for Grammy's cuddles.  

Mousie and Whiskers head for the livingroom and hunker down out there for a while before returning to take over Grammy's pillows.  They push and shove her head out of the way so they can centre their chubby butts esthetically on said pillows and settle in for the night.  

Where's Sweetie in all this kerfuffle?  Doing her rounds, checking for errant snowflakes, oak leaves and dust bunnies.  No insurgents in the area, she'll settle on the blanket on the dresser or the kitty condo to watch over us.

So, back to last night.  Grammy crawled in around us and stretched out for the night.  Other than a couple of interruptions to use the human litterbox OUR night was undisturbed until …

Sometime before dawn - bang, crash, clatter, rumble, cat-screeches and scrambles and Grammy and we were all upright on the floor, eyes wide.  We furries put on our innocent faces but looked concerned.  It took the old girl a while to don glasses, search the condo and locate the source of the calamity. 

Well, it served her right!  She was up earlier than she'd like but if, before she crawled into bed she'd put the lid on the fresh litter bin and set the scoop against it as she should Sweetie wouldn't have bounced off the dresser onto the lid flipping herself into the litter box and it and the scoop into the empty bin.  So there!  The bin din was Grammy's fault.

And so, moral to the story is.... do what you ought when you ought, Grammy so we have free reign to do whatever and be our mischievous selves.  That is, if you want to sleep in until 7.  Oh and, the grey suits you, old dear but we'll have to work on a little more to even it out.  

So, dear friends.  As we close we have to say this.  That bin is still empty.  More grey hairs might show up tomorrow if she doesn't take care of it before bedtime.

Comments are welcomed.  We love to hear from our friends.

by Mousie and Sweetie,  sisters in mischief.

*Speaking in Unison -Almost*

DDo yyou, oour rreaders, hhave aa hhuman wwho iis nnuts aabout ccrosswords? 

Mousie: Stop Sweetie!... you're a millisecond behind me when we speak... maybe we should
take turns doing this. What do you think?

Sweetie:  Oh okay!  You go first.  You're older than me.

Mousie: Sure!  Rub it in, little sister.  Okay, I'll start.  Friends, Our Grammy is cuckoo about  crosswords.  You know the ones!  Those she shouts mostly at the boys, occasionally at us. 

No, Etude!  Stop biting Whiskers! 
Rondo!  Dinner is coming! Stop your whinging!
Enough Whiskers, don't lick my hair, (my arm, my cheek). I'm trying to sleep.  Mousie, stop climbing the screen door! 
Ouch! Sweetie, Unclaw my rib (my armpit)! Nuzzle somewhere else!
Etude, don't touch my feet!  You woke me!
Out of my chair, Rondo!  
Sweetie, NO! NO! NO! leave the knitting needles alone.  Don't bite the yarn! 
Mousie, 100 kisses before bedtime is enough.  Now go to sleep!
One at a time on my lap, boys!

Boy, she is a grouchy ol' bear!

Sweetie:   Oh Mousie, not those crosswords.  The ones in the paper and in paperback books that Grammy and Aunty L. are always working on.

Mousie:  What?  You joking me?  I like when she does those.  Where do you think she gets all those funny words she uses? Haven't you noticed?  Oh, and stuff from all kinds of things - History, Geography, Current and Past Events, Media, Science and a plethora of other topics.   Oh, there's one of those words now!  Plethora.  Tehee.

Sweetie:  That's true!  And when she is focused on those she forgets to give Whiskers her pill... BUT she also forgets other things.... like us climbing the balcony door screen, and me biting the boys' ears to make them play. *giggles*

The worst is when she forgets to scoop our litter boxes.  *Shout from living-room*  I DO NOT FORGET TO SCOOP YOUR LITTER BOXES!  They'd be stinky if I did.

Mousie:  Ooops!  More cross words.  You'd better run and hide, Sweetie. I'm right behind you. 

So, friends.  Don't cross Grammy.  She might have a few words for you too.  *Scampers off to hide with Sweetie*  

*Another shout*  I HEAR SNICKERING IN THERE!  WHAT ARE YOU TWO UP TO???

Nothing, Grammy!  *muffling their snickers behind paws Sweetie whispers to Mousie* We'd best be quiet until she picks up her knitting or another crossword. 

*Whispering in Uunison* Sso ffriends, tthat's aall ffor tthis wweek. Ccomments aare wwelcomed, eespecially iif tthey aare ccomical.

By Etude,  aka Eureka, one of the Hoover Brothers *giggles*  and M&M Central crew.

Dear friends, 

I am having a fit about getting fit so I am not ready to blog about much today.  As a substitute I have put together a collection of creations by Grammy of the Mischief and Mayhem kind.  

Why am I having a fit, you ask?  Well, because last week Grammy bought a harness and leash and is forcing me to exercise.  This is cruel and unusual punishment for a cat.  Dogs go on leashes.  Cats do NOT!  We should be allowed to roam free of encumbrances like a harness, be lazy, eat what we want and do what we want when we want to.  None of this namby-pamby leash walking.  

So, I'm having a hissy fit and have decided not to write a blog.  Instead, please enjoy the video that Grammy put together for me.  A Collage of Mischief and Mayhem Miscellany.

Love you all.  Etude, the Chubby Lovebug

PS.   Oh no!  I did write a blog!  Oh bother!  as WtP would say!

Comments are welcome (especially if you agree with me about leashes and exercise).  Otherwise, I'll respond after my nap. 

by Whiskers, Matriarch of Mischief

Good morning, Friends.  

Today's blog will be a mishmash of topics.   

Starting off, let us remember the fallen.  Those whose lives were lost keeping our country free from tyranny.  
Today we honour them and those who continue to serve - our military, police, fire, medical and so much more. We truly appreciate their sacrifice.

As you may have read on our Facebook page our power was turned off to facilitate a maintenance issue.  Things went well and the power was re-established an hour or more before anticipated.   This was great. 

Our only incident was one light which Grammy forgot to turn off.  It lit up the condo at 4:30 AM. Etude and Whiskers were upset by this and decided to battle it out on Grammy's pillow.  Groggy with sleep, Grammy tried to shoo them off the bed and ended up with a 19 pounder's hind foot, claws extended on her left eye and cheek.  There is some swelling around the eye and the lid and cheek are scratched but the eye seems to have been spared.   Might you call this an eye-catching experience?

Now here we are this morning, the gas has been turned off to repair a faulty valve.  We'll see how this goes.  So far we have hot water in the taps and heat coming from the furnace but as the boilers cool that could change.  Hope it stays warm for the rest of the day.  Meantime we are snuggling with each other.  Sweetie is in her wee condo bed.  The chubbos are together on the sofa and  Mousie is in her tent waiting for me to finish the blog and join her.  

And it is snowing outside.  Upon waking there was a dusting on the rooves around us.  Now it is accumulating on railings and planters as well while that which hits the ground melts.  The weather people are calling for 10 - 15 centemetres… that's 4 - 6 inches.   While it'll look so pretty we don't really like the idea of Grammy going out in it - especially if the wet ground freezes as the temperature drops. Yuck!  

And lastly, the exercise plan for Sir Chubbo Etude has gone off the rails.  Grammy is going to give it another go after we post this blog.  Grammy got busy and then overtired and let things slip.  Tsk, tsk, Grammy.

Well, dear friends, that's all for this week.  Enjoy the photos... and we'll see you in the funny papers.  *giggles*  What does that mean?  Grammy says it and it sounds so goofy. 

Comments are welcomed... and if you know the answer please let us know.

By Rondo, handsome blogger of infinitesimally boring stuff

Good afternoon dear friends. 

It has been a while since my last tapping of the computer keyboard.  Of course, you'll all be wondering why I was absent. 

​Well, I wasn't.  Not really.  I just decided it was time those other furballs carried their weight for a change.  Not that they'd do a bang-up job like I would but hey! ... I do ALL the work around the house as it is.  



​For instance, I

• crab and whine and yell at Grammy for food EVERY TIME she goes into the kitchen otherwise we'd never get fed,
• sit at the water fountains and water-bowls and smack at the water splashing it everywhere to remind Grammy to refresh each of them with sparkling clean water,
• practically sit on Grammy's head at night and whap her with my tail to show I love her,
• pounce on the girls and Etude, especially Whiskers, to make sure they know who's king of the condo, 
• incessantly demand grooming from Grammy and the other four furballs to keep me super handsome,
• bite and snap at Grammy when she's trimming my claws to test reflexes (hers) and keep her challenged,
• scratch walls with my untrimmed claws when she gives up to show who's BOSS of ALL, even Grammy.

by Sweetie, concerned, yet intrepid warrior against invading dust bunnies, leaves and other detritus.

Good morning dear friends.  
Oooo, that's such a great word, detritus.  Sounds so much better than stuff! But, I digress from my topic for today.  

I must tell you, I've been fighting a losing battle. Not that I'm giving up or throwing in the towel, but this issue is monumental, even somewhat overwhelming.

Are you aware that dust bunnies multiply faster than the cute little nose-wrigglers they're named after?  You aren't?  Well, let me tell you... THEY DO!!

I, Sweetie, spend most of my night-time hours chasing the insidious little beasties.  Of course, that's how I earn my room and board.  I'm not one of those chubby layabouts who expect 5 squares a day and in return flop onto my back for tummy rubs expecting to be payed for my cuteness. Nor am I a Queen or Princess to be waited on all day long.  I earn my keep. But again I digress.  

Dust bunnies... now, where was I going with this?   Oh yes. chasing the beasties.  If you will remember our very first blog was about invaders of a different sort.  Those critters flew at eye level, (Grammy's that is!) and insidious too... Oh, I won't repeat that story.  You can read about those flitters here.  These current invaders are silent floaters... they hover just above the floor, hide under furniture and come out to attack ankles, brooms and cats when you least expect it. ​

​I must say they are brave.  Braver than most cats. I've even seen a couple of them circling Grammy's feet in an attempt to trip her. If she ever landed on them they'd be goners.

And that greedy gobbler... they don't fear it either, until it's too late.  They are daring, I must say!  And yet, they haven't learned from their mistakes!  Why?  Because not enough escape that eating machine to adapt AND those that do are too busy repopulating their world.

In our house, well okay, our condo then!  In our condo there are no soft cosy carpets, mats or other accoutrement to warm kitty feet as we walk across the floors.  Oh, there's one set down for after a shower but then it is lifted again.  And I mustn't forget one inside each door for wet footwear. But those don't count. Nothing kept on the floor beside the bed for cold mornings, no livingroom/diningroom rug.  Nada!  Why?  Because we have a klutzy Grammy and have to keep the old girl safe.  Yep!  That's the truth.  And talk about keeping her safe... here's the skinny.

What do rugs and carpets have to do with dust bunnies?  Well just this.  They help control the population somewhat.  With no carpet DBs (dust bunnies) roam free and take full advantage of air currents to get from room to room. But, carpets are the original Velcro to the wee critters.  Float over a carpet and suddenly they get sucked down and held onto until they get stepped on or die of starvation.  Then the gobbler eats their dead carcasses.  It is a voracious omnivore and a scavenger so to him all is fair game, dead or alive.  AND we kitties know that.  That's why we scatter when he exits his prison cell for his hour in the 'yard' so to speak.  

Again I digress.  So back to those dust bunnies. Since there's nothing to stop them we kitties see them making their rounds, peaking out from under furniture - book cases, futon, armoires and bed.   Oh, and the fridge and stove.  We think they like the dispersed heat, especially under the fridge and the extra headroom beneath the stove.  The odd daring one or two will float on past Grammy to tease her but she's obliviously got her nose stuck in knitting or her computer.  

I give chase to them but without the carpet's help they are difficult to capture as they furl and slip into the nearest nook or cranny.  The Queen, Princess and Chubby layabouts could not care less... let them furl, unfurl, curl and wind their way around the condo.  No skin off their noses! But they should care!!!   They aren't thinking!

One day those DBs could smarten up and  amass an army under the furniture.  Then one day full battalions of them could trip and overpower Grammy, devouring her in revenge.   Then who's going to feed us!  Huh?

Comments are most welcome, as always. 

This was Grammy's little slinky cuddlebug.  Montague, aka Monty, was adopted by Grammy after he had been abandoned at a veterinarian's office, unwanted by his family.   He was 14 months old and had behavioural issues.  But Grammy went to see him anyway  because otherwise he would be PTS and Grammy couldn't bear the thought of that for such a young, otherwise healthy kitty. 

While Grammy chatted with the vet tech Monty reached out a paw and tapped her on the shoulder. He had picked her to be his new mom.  And so, home he came.

​It took 9 months and a very laidback Malcolm for Monty to get past his fear of using the litter box. (His litter sibling/brother had bullied him whenever he tried to use the box in his previous home.) Malcolm, on the other hand, was willing to share anything - facilities, beds, food, Grammy's lap - whatever the little duffer wanted, as long as he kept Malcolm entertained with his silly antics and would cuddle with him.

Grammy was blessed with a further 9 months of his mischief, cuddles and silliness before his wee heart gave out.

Grammy says I have the same long, slinky, sleek body that he had. *giggles*  That's important because it is easier to slip out of Grammy's arms and get into more mischief.  He was a master mischief-maker and I, Sweetie, aspire to be one too. ​​

Hello, dear friends. 

Thanksgiving Day has arrived, once more... and so normally we celebrate with family and friends.   Today we are going to be having a quiet day contemplating Thanksgiving and all we are thankful for.... and there is so much - our lives, our comforts, all the wonderful friends we have.   Please enjoy your day and give thanks for all the blessings in your life.  In fact, we should be giving thanks every day for everything.

We promise we'll write a proper blog next week.

From all of us at Mischief and Mayhem Central...Know that we love you, dear friends.

Whiskers, Gentle Mousie, Sweetie, Etude & Rondo

Comments are always welcomed, especially if they are funny.

by Mousie, wee, but feisty blogger.

Good Monday morning, dear friends.  

Last week was quite the eventful week, let me tell you.  I think Grammy has a few thousand more grey hairs than previously.... and we think that's okay because salt and pepper hair looks much better than mouse coloured hair.... and now we match, sort of.

So... Grammy is pressed for time.  Whiskers has to have an ultrasound today... do I'm cheeting and sharing my Facebook post.  We promise to get back to new stuff soon.
 
***********

Wow!  What a week.  I went to see Dr Whitecoat and she Kittenapped me from Grammy and took me home for a night.  Next day I had a really long sleep and when I woke my tummy was sore ... but I got some medicine and the pain went away. 
After Grammy paid a ransome I was allowed to go home with her but I couldn't be with my family.  Just Grammy.  And she kept putting yucky medicine in my mouth.  Gross.  But  at night it was okay because we could cuddle without the brothers bugging us.  I really missed my mommy though.
Then I had to go back to see Dr Whitecoat again 'cause my poopy got stuck.  They pushed this stuff in my bum and now the poopy is gone.  Wow, it was almost as big as Rondo's paw... and that's BIG. 
Now I'm home again and this morning mommy and Sweetie came in to join me for breakfast. Yeah company!
Grammy says I can see the boys tomorrow.  I'm not sure I want to.  They're terrible teases and they might eat all my food. 
Well, I think I'm all better now but Grammy says more meds are needed for a few days. Yucky.
Thank you for all the prayers and for being my friend.  Love you, Gentle Mousie

And so, here it is Monday noon hour and a little update.

But mommy wasn't allowed in with me for one more night... I think they wanted to make sure I was pooping.  Now I AM...  all by myself again.  Yeah!

Mommy and Sweetie spent the weekend in with me and it was so nice to have company.  Well, that was my adventure.  BUT, now Whiskers is getting ready to see the vettie… Dr. Whitecoat AGAIN!  Keep her in your thoughts and prayers, please.

Comments are welcomed.  We look forward to them.

Good morning, dear friends.
This post is coming from all of us.... and will be brief.   There are things going on at Mischief and Mayhem Central and poor old Grammy is doing her best but as a result our page is very close to the bottom of her list at the moment.  
​We wish you all a very happy, healthy and fun-filled week. 
Whisker, Mouse, Sweetie, Etude & Rondo. 

We love you.