by Rondo, aka Chatty Charlie

Just a short blog after many months.  All is well here.  Etude and I have settled in to a life of eating, sleeping and demanding cuddles from Grammy.  It's pretty much the 'Good Life' let me tell you.  

Four to five meals daily, any number of beds to sleep on and at night one of us gets to snuggle beside Grammy while the other, usually Etude, sleeps by her feet.  And  Grammy pets the back of my head as I nod off into dreamland.

BUT, the reason I'm writing today is to tell you that our Mummy who birthed us monster babies, is coming for a visit.  We are so excited!  Maybe she'll groom us. We used to fuss but really loved it when Whiskers washed our dirt faces.  Since she passed we've gotten progressively dingier around the muzzle.  This, despite the efforts of Mousie and Sweetie AND Grammy.  Maybe Mummy Ursula will do a better job.

So, for 10 days we'll try to be on our best behaviour but no guarantees.  Grammy is a little apprehensive but someone needs to care for Ursula while her mummy, Grammy's friend, recovers from surgery.

Enjoy our slideshow of life with Mummy Ursula then, and at her new home and after her visit we'll follow up with some new photos.

By Grammy  - using Sweetie's voice

Good morning, Everyone.  Do I have a tale to tell  about those brothers of mine!   It might be their birthday but there's no way I could pass this up... a chance to tease my big brave brothers. 

First one:.... Our Balcony Awning.  
Note:  Grammy & the boys live on the top floor of our condo building... (We girls lived there too, obviously, but now we live amongst the stars above.) and every year awnings are installed so the balcony can be enjoyed rain or shine.   

The installers suddenly flop/toss the awning over the frame then lower a ladder down and jump onto the balcony, lace and tie the awning to the framework.  Finally, with grappling hooks and ropes they return to the roof taking the ladder with them. Sometimes a pair of them do the task, other times they do it solo.   

In the past I, Sweetie, have always stood in the doorway to the balcony, paws on hips and shout my displeasure at the intrusion to our space.  Well!  This year, I'm not there to protect those big, brave boys.  What did they do to protect Grammy?  

THEY HID BEHIND HER NIGHTDRESS.  Grammy's gown was flapping like crazy from their tremors you'd have thought she was going to levitate and fly like a demented butterfly.  Then those brave boys made a mad dash - Rondo scampered behind the sofa and Etude made a bee-line for the bedroom - leaving Grammy unprotected.  *sighing and shaking head in dismay*  
  
Item Two:  The Fire Alarm   
Monthly Fire Alarms tests are done in our condo complex on a monthly basis and once a year a full check of all alarms and smoke detectors in each unit is completed as required by law!

Well, Thursday was the BIG DAY...   Grammy gave the management personnel  permission to enter as she might be out when they came.  Let me tell you... she was home but in the shower.  Wouldn't you know it? They knocked loudly three times, unlocked the door, called out again two or three times.  Grammy responded to go ahead, that she was unable to greet them in person so 'Just Carry On' and they did. All was tested and they left, locking the door behind them.  

BUT, when the boys saw big boots, heard the stomping of a massive Fire Inspector as he stepped through the door calling in his booming voice, "Hello, anyone here?"  they freaked.  Both ran for cover behind the sofa, Rondo, into the drawer beneath it and Etude on the floor huddled as close to him as possible.  Grammy hinted that they were shaking so badly that the sofa shook. 

Can you imagine it?  Even food didn't entice them out.  Well, Etude did come out but, belly to the floor slinking to beneath the table, ears flattened and eyes wider than saucers.  But, he refused to eat.  A FIRST!   Rondo was so deep into the drawer Grammy couldn't even pry him out once she located him. BUT, at least he hadn't been kitnapped and would feed when he was hungry enough. 

THEN, hours later when Grammy returned they were both still spooked and back in hiding.  At least they had both eaten some food. 

Those poor fellows have led such a sheltered life.  So, the question is..."Who's going to protect Grammy?"  I think she might have to adopt another feisty girl kitty, just to protect them.  Yep!  That's what I think.

AND Grammy's response???  Not anytime soon.  Not until she recovers from the feline medical expenses of the last 4 years and maybe much longer.

​Comments are welcomed.                                                                    

By Sweetie, blogger extraordinaire and intrepid defender of the family.

Good morning, Friends.  I'm in much better humour this week.  Boy, I was out of sorts last Monday.  Not a good look but then, it doesn't happen often.  Thank you Mousie for taking over and saving the day.  

Speaking of Mousie...

Today will be short once again, but we couldn't miss such an auspicious day. 

Tomorrow, August 10th, is Gentle Mouse's birthday.  Yes, the wee old dear is going to be 11 years old.  In cat years she's pushing high 50s.  Not over the hill like Grammy, but approaching the apex.  

We must say though, that she's becoming braver as the years go by.  When she arrived here as a teenager back in 2011 she was a shivering, quivering, terrified kitten.  No, I didn't see this.  Grammy told me.

Fortunately, she had her mother to comfort and protect her.  Whiskers, unlike little jelly legs, was brave and excited to have a new 'home'.   She took to Grammy immediately and unbeknownst to her had decided they weren't moving on to other digs.  Whiskers immediately adopted Grammy as her new mom and Mousie's grandma.  End of story.  *giggles* Grammy had no say in the matter.

Okay, so back to Mousie.  Last year, having lost her mom and protector of ten years Mousie determined she had a choice.  Either brave up and integrate with the rest of us or live a lonely life in the bedroom.   Fortunately, Grammy and she bonded and slowly over time she has come out of her 'shell' so to speak.  It seems Grammy has replaced Mousie as protector.

She joins Grammy while she knits, watches the telly with her and sleeps on her pillow at night. Grammy is a great companion for kitties who, unlike me, don't get into the yarn, chew on knitting needles or hair, or use her as a springboard.  *giggles*  (Yes, I'm incorrigible.)  

AND while Mousie is 'on alert' when someone knocks at the door, she no-longer makes a mad dash for the bedroom or behind the sofa.  

So, won't you all join with me as we wish our wee Gentle Mouse a very Happy Birthday?  

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Gentle Mouse!

 Sweetie and Mousie, loving sisters (sometimes)

Well, friends.  I, Sweetie, mentioned last week that the boys would be turning 10 years OLD, ANCIENT this month.  *giggles*  Well, it is only 2 days away... and Rondo and Etude will be over the hill.  That is.... if they can manage to get up that hill.

On a side note:  Those chubbos, Rondo and Etude, whom we love so dearly and just cannot resist teasing, have grown from 100 grams as newborns to their highest 7.7 kilograms and 8.2 kilograms respectively.  That is 80 times their birth weight, give or take  They have come down to a respectable 6 kilos for Rondo, and 7.25 for Etude over the past two years and we are very proud of their progress.  For those of you in pounds and ounces that is around 13 and 16 lbs.  Chubby, short-legged, cobby-bodied Etude has some to go but hey, he had further to go to begin with. 

Okay... so back to the birthday stuff.   Yes, the Over the Hill part.... remember?

So Wednesday, it will be 10 years since those balls of fluff were wee scraps of fur.  I  wasn't here at the time as I'm younger, but Mousie tells me they were noisy right from the getgo - squealing for momma's milk, and scrapping with each other for the tastiest nipple.  It was quite a battle at times.

*Mousie pipes in:  They were AWFUL little pipsqueaks! but then, so was Sweetie when she came along! *giggles*   Glad I was perfect.

Sweetie:  Hey! I suppose you were a quiet little squeaker!  Huh!  Doubt it! We're supposed to be on the same side, Remember?  Girls against the boys? 

So back to those boys....
Their poor momma.  They sure were hard on her.  Despite this she was a perfect, loving mom.  She bathed, nursed and disciplined them as needed.  Well, momma Fidelia  lived to tell the tale and has now 'escaped' to a good home as have the sibs - Musetta and Scherzo.  Grammy still keeps in touch occasionally with their families.

And the boys?  They can be sweet one moment, bullies, the next, and 'fraidy cats two seconds later.  And above all, they are ALWAYS HUNGRY - or so they lead Grammy to believe.  

Between the two of them they keep Grammy on her toes!  And that is quite a feet!  *get it - feat!  Oh, I'm just so on the ball today...*giggle* ... you know!  Ball of the foot?    Okay, I'll stop now.

Unfortunately, we cannot tell you what Wednesday will bring as Grammy is on hiatus at the moment but we hope there will be some kind of birthday bash - at least Cake and Ice Cream would be a good start.  In the meantime, here are the boys... over the years.

by Mousie, blogger of gentle, sweet memories.

Good morning, dear friends.  Brrrr.  It's cold outside.  Glad we have a fire in the fireplace.  So, Grammy, where's the hot cocoa, huh?  Okay, now onto the blog. 

Here we are at 11 days to Christmas.  This is a time of year when memories can be sad, or sweet. For Grammy they are the latter with just a scintilla of the former. 

I told the cow kitties that we should remember our fur family members who have passed on.  As they scampered to their heated beds they shouted, "What a great idea, Mousie!  Have at it!"

So, it looks like it is up to me once again.  Those scamps!

For those of you who are new to our page, we are now a four kitty household having lost my mummy Whiskers this past summer.  She was our Matriarch and taught us a lot of mischief, created even more mayhem (especially with Grammy), and kept us all spotlessly clean and well-groomed.  While we miss her lots we are happy she isn't ill or in pain anymore.  Our first blog is a great example of how mischievous she could be.  Check it out and further blogs.  You might like the Austria series... Whiskers at her most adventurous.  As Grammy says, "She was a caution!"

Before Whiskers Grammy had three other kitties... PussPuss, Malcolm and Montague (aka. Monty).  PussPuss, like Whiskers, was a Matriarch and ruled the roost.  She was a Maven of Mischief too.  Oh my, the stories we've heard.  You may want to check them out in our Into the Archives series.  Here's one of the early blogs.

Now, you must know, PussPuss, like Etude and Rondo, loved her food and supplemented her diet with the never-ending supply from Grammy's fish tanks.  *giggles*.  Boy, what I'd give to have seen Grammy's face when she found out.  

PussPuss had a love-tolerate relationship with Malcolm.  Grammy adopted the little scamp to be company for PussPuss when she'd be away for her job...overnight or sometimes longer.  Well, that backfired big time, or so it looked. Here's what happened. 

On the drive home from the adoption agency Malcolm scratched and chewed until his head popped through a hole in the cardboard carrier and yapped at Grammy, "Let me outta here!"  She managed to contain him from the car to and through the apartment door.  Not an easy task, so I hear. 

Thinking she'd introduce them slowly Grammy kept Malcolm in the carrier, set it on the floor and called PussPuss. 

While Puss often met her at the door this time she was caught napping.  Bleary eyed she sauntered out of the bedroom, over to Grammy and leaned in for a head scratch.  Suddenly, the impatient kitten popped open the lid of the carrier, startled and annoyed the sleepy girl. How dare he! She chased him into the kitchen.  Fortunately for Malcolm he scampered out of reach, to the top of the kitchen cupboards and the chubby girl was left behind.   He lived there for three days until he decided to brave her wrath. 
 
Long story short, for the rest of their lives together he loved her; she tolerated him... when Grammy was around.  BUT, to Grammy's surprise, one evening when she returned from a business trip, they didn't hear her come in the door and there they were, curled up together on the bed.  But not for long. Jumping apart and looking chagrined, Puss glowered at Malcolm AND Grammy and the love/tolerate relationship resumed.

After PussPuss passed Grammy and Malcolm grew closer than ever but both were sad until a friend mentioned a kitty who needed a home.  He was going to be euthanized as his family didn't want him anymore and already he'd been in a cage for a few months at the vet clinic.  He had behavioural issues and would require patience from his new family to overcome them.  Well, Grammy fell in love IMMEDIATELY, brought him home and introduced him to Malcolm.  It was a match made in heaven and the best medicine for all.

Montague, his new name,  brought sparkle back into the eyes of  both Grammy and the old-by-now geezer, Malcolm.   This little guy (14 months old) was full of life, mischief and silliness.  For 18 months they gave him the space he needed to adjust and overcome his issues. In return. he entertained them with his mischievous antics until one day his heart gave out.  Unbeknownst to anyone, former family, vet and Grammy he had health issues.  What a blow! Such a sweet boy, he is still missed. 

From then until he passed 4.5 years later Malcolm and Grammy lived a quiet life together. It wouldn't be fair to introduce another kitty.  The old boy was now blind, arthritic from his days of living outdoors mid-winter and for the last few years, senile.   He'd howl, disoriented, startling Grammy.  She would jump out of bed, speak quietly, pick him up then cuddle him into bed with her,  Contented and toasty warm, he'd purr them to sleep for the remainder of the night.

It was only a few months later that Grammy got into rescue work and mummy Whiskers and I became her first fosters, then a few years later, foster failures.  We were soon followed by the boys and a year later, Sweetie.   Over a few years others came through the revolving doors, staying a few days, weeks, months before being adopted... but once we 5 were adopted the rescuing had to end.  We were at our adoption limit and Grammy's soft heart couldn't be allowed the temptation anymore. 

There it is.... and here are a few photos to enjoy.

by Rondo, blogger and mischief maker

Good morning, Friends. 

Well, Grammy has definitely been visiting the land of nod or more correctly the land of odd.  You may have read on our page... her odd behaviour this morning.  If not, then read it here...

She looked out the window from her comfy armchair and said, 'Oh my!  We are living in the jungle! Check out the giraffes!'   We all scampered to the window to see what she was nattering on about.  Nothing!
 
We couldn't see anything unusual.  A bunch of condos, apartment buildings, office towers, the police station we supervise, the daycare and alternative school below us.  Same old, same old. What is she talking about?

Then between the apartment building and a condo through a gap is a construction site... a new group of condos  is in early stages of construction and in there are two cranes working the site.    Now, we might think they look like whooping cranes but giraffes?  Nah!

A beautiful white momma and her dusky orange baby swaying back and forth across the site.    So, while we think she must be loopy, we must be too... since while  we could see what she was looking at we had our own ideas about what they were.

Now back to a little sanity.  Here are a few winter photos for you to enjoy of us when we were younger.

Comments are welcomed. 

by Rondo, chronicler of the ridiculous

Good morning, friends.  So nice to be in the zone again.

Well, the latest in a long line of stupidities... first, Grammy and now, my brother Etude.   I guess you  have heard that Etude and I have been on a diet - special food to help make us feel full but also it helps us lose weight.  Well, it has worked.  BUT, Etude has started supplementing his diet with a little extra fibre.  FUR, to be exact!  He's been eating his fur - first off his front legs, then the back ones were nibbled at and now his belly is pink and bare.  So Gross!  Disgustingly Gross!

What's that Grammy? 

He's stressed?  Nahhhhh!  That's silly.  What could there be to stress about? 

What?  You must be joking.  He doesn't like to be picked on by me?  AND he doesn't like all the commotion that began when you fell, Grammy?  Pshaw!  That's Hog wash!  We needed a little excitement around here.  It's been pretty boring since Spring and COVID hit.

Well, maybe I should distract him.   Now, that's a great idea.  Distraction'll do it!

Etude, come here!  Yes, come here!  I want to nibble on your neck. Oh, gross!  No, of course not!  I'm not going to eat your fur!  You've eaten enough of that yourself and Grammy doesn't have time to knit you a sweater. 

But, If I nibble your neck it'll distract you from chewing your ankles and belly.   Oh, you're no fun!  Well, then, your only other option is to wear the CONE OF SHAME!  *giggles*   So, the cone of shame it is?  

So, let me see.  How about some nicknames for you.  Hmmmm!  Think! Think! Think! Speak up if you like one of them. 

How about Flashlight?  *giggles*  Blink you're eyes and you could send Morse code messages to us at night so we don't disturb Grammy's sleep.  *Silence from Etude*

Or, Megaphone?  Yes, that's a great one.  Have you noticed the radio or television are louder than usual.  Me thinks the old girl is a little hard of hearing... well, a little more than usual. *giggles*  You could be our spokescat... and with the cone on you wouldn't have to shout and damage our ears.  *Deeper silence from Etude*  

Or, we could pretend you are an ice cream cone and lick your face.  Yep, Sweetie would like that.  She loves to wash faces.  Now what?   Oh, I got it wrong?  She like's having her face washed.   Okay then, you wear the cone, Sweetie. 

Not a chance, Rondo.  I'm out of here!  *Sweetie scampers away while Etude blinks light daggers:   -. ---  stop ...-- -- .--. .... -. - .- -.-. -. --- stop  (Translated:  NO!  and  an EMPHATIC NO!)

Or,  Here we go!  How about this? Put the cone on upside down and we will decorate it with ornaments and garlands and you can be our Blue Spruce Christmas Tree.  Of course, blue spruce, silly.  The cone is blue!   Ooooh!  Hear that, Grammy!  GRAMMY?  DID YOU HEAR THAT? *aside - the old girl needs a hearing aid*  You don't need to put up a tree this year.   ETUDE'S 'VOLUNTEERING' TO BE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE THIS YEAR!

Oh, oh, oh - or better yet, we could put Etude on a Lazy Susan, add some cat toys to the 'tree' and  spin him like a whirling top?  I like that idea.   Yep, best idea yet!  *Etude's eyes go wide and he faints*   Well, at least now he won't chew his legs for a while. 

Glad to be of help, Grammy.

Well, that's all for this week, friends.  But if you have any suggestions, please comment.  We all want to make him feel better, don't we?

Sweetie, chronicler of Important Dates and especially Mischief.

Good morning, friends. 

We've been gone most of the summer... but we're back.  We cannot promise to be back weekly but we'll do our best to keep Grammy in line.  She is still knitting like crazy... nothing new there but in addition she's been busy with us. 

Firstly, Mousie had her birthday... August 10th is her designated date and this year she turned 10 years young.  She's such a precious little mischief.  We love her and hope despite her many health challenges she'll be with us for a long while yet. 

And I'm sure you all know that we lost our dear matriarch, Whiskers, 5 weeks ago.  We do miss her terribly but are happy she isn't in pain anymore.   Mousie is adjusting to life without her mummy... and has decided that Grammy is her new go-to for comfort, attention and cuddles.  Grammy is over-the-moon happy about this - even when it means Mousie disturbs her sleep in the night for kisses and head butt or sits paws on her arm so she cannot knit.  The old 'pay attention to me' trick and with that adorable face how can Grammy refuse?  That's right.  she cannot.

And since we are on the subject of Mousie...  Well, she is now our eldest kitty and should take on the title of Matriarch of Mischief but she is so tiny and so frail  the crown seems a little heavy for her head.  She is happy to pass it on but to whom?  Me?  No thank you.  I'm the youngest... and am not quite ready for it.   So should it be passed to one of the boys... Patriarch of Mischief?   Heaven forbid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe we ought to go to a democratic system.  What do you think?  Maybe we'll retire the 'ruler over all' society and just go with our group name... Mischief and Mayhem Central.   Members all in equal standing/sitting/lying down... whatever position we are in. 

Yes, I think that's it.    Of course that makes for a problem when we come to a vote - 4 members / 4 votes / 2 girls / 2 boys.  So.... what do we do to break a tie should there be one?   Pass it to Grammy?  *grimaces and groans all round*

What's that, Rondo?   

You don't think we'll ever have fun again if Grammy makes the decisions??  Well, it hasn't stopped us in the past.  Even when she squashed our plans we ignored her and went ahead with the mischief without her consent.

Etude? You have something to contribute? 

We should rotate monthly as Group Leader - and during our tenure as GL we get 2 votes?  

That sounds ominous - especially if you boys hang together... You'll outweigh us every time.   Oh, what am I saying?  You boys outweigh us anyway.  In fact, you outweighed us when there were three girls and only two of you. 

Well, I guess we'll have to toss this around for a while... but the day is moving on and Grammy wants to too.  Yes, that infernal knitting!!!!   Will it ever end?  Not likely!  But it keeps her happy and out of our hair when Mischief and Mayhem are on the menu. 

Have a happy day, week.... dear friends... We are thrilled to be back.

P.S.   And before we close .... Happy Birthday, Aunty Mommy Person,  aka Aunty Maron, Virgin Islands. 

Comments are welcome.  Especially if they are funny, punny or just plain adorable.

by Rondo, frustrated blogger

Good morning, dear friends. 
As you can see if you read my post yesterday on Facebook Grammy made a fibber out of me.  NO BLOG WAS POSTED!   No it wasn't.  The old girl gallivanted all afternoon and came home 'tired'.  After feeding us she sat down and tuned out our pleas to take dictation.  Not only that, when she did tune in again she ignored us and NOW she's saying she doesn't have time all week to help us with our blog.  So here we are posting a very short one - THAT WILL TAKE HOURS TO TYPE - as we have terrible typing skills and our paws are too big for the keyboard. 

Mousie has the smallest paws so she's been conscripted to do the keyboarding.   I must say she's doing her best to fix mistakes as she goes but please excuse any typos.

Let's keep this short.  We don't want to hurt Mousie's wee digits.  So, back to the delinquent Grammy (Mousie interjects - "Don't call Grammy that! She's busy looking after us!  She's not delinquent!)  Grammy has a busy week ahead so we may not be on Facebook or Messenger as often as we'd like but Mousie will try to post our Thursday and Friday posts.  If you are starved for Mischief and Mayhem may we suggest you check out some Youtube videos or our previous blogs.

Our very first and second - Moth Day and About US  and there are many more... including Whiskers' adventure to Austria in the Category Austria.  And if you still haven't had enough of us you could rewatch our video slide shows.

Our early years - https://youtu.be/_pwLimmkVIo
or you can Toodle around our city with Grammy - https://youtu.be/g-172LP7h60

Well, friends.  That's all Mousie's wee paws can do today.  Hopefully we can spare her next week and get our Grammy in gear to take dictation.  Meantime, have a wonderful week and know that we love you....

Oh, and don't forget!  It's Valentine's Day Friday!  Send your favourite sweetheart love and kisses. 

by the Mischief and Mayhem crew with Grammy's help.

Dear friends.  
We have created a new video slide show that we hope you will enjoy.  Grammy suggested this would be quicker than making her think through and write a proper blog.  Boy was she wrong.  It has taken us all day... and we mean ALL DAY to put this together. 

It includes us, of course, our family, our in-laws and our friends local and far away.    Check it out, you may find yourselves in there. And if we've missed you, please forgive us.  We tried to include everyone whose photos we had in our albums.

We hope you will enjoy it. 

And if you haven't already done so, go to BIOS to read about our foster/adoption stories and to various categories for us and for our friends - Categories like All About Us,  Family, Other Kitties and Fur Friends and Photos, Videos & Slideshows.

So here is the link for our latest YouTube video.... Facebook Friends and Family 

Dear friends, we love you and look forward to your comments.