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 Gentle Mouse, Weather Watcher and Cheeky Mischief.

Well, dear friends.  

Here I am all snuggled in my condo, tuque on and mittens at paw.  Note my own personal heaters - one beside me on the ledge and the other under my laptop so it doesn't freeze up on me.  *giggles* 

We thought the cold a few weeks ago was bad.  Now it's cold, snow blizzardy AND we can't get rid of Grammy for the day.  Ooops!  Scratch that.  We are stuck with Grammy at home!  Oh no!  That sounds bad too.  

Okay, let's try this one.  Today is a day where Grammy must stay home and we will all cuddle up together with blankets and pillows and just snuggle and nap in toasty bliss.  Yes, that sounds better.   We might even let Grammy knit between naps. 

Oh GRAMMYYYYYYYYYYYY!  Put on a fresh pot of coffee for yourself, hot apple cider for us and bring kitty treats.  Sweetie and I are piling up the blankets on the sofa while Rondo and Etude pile up the extra pillows from the bedroom.  We should all fit, don't you think?  We promise to shift over for you.  MORE PILLOWS, BOYS!!!

By Etude, writer dude.

Not much to say today.  Christmas was great. Quiet.  Grammy spoke with local friends and some in Austria and tried to speak to another in England but couldn't connect.  Could be the phone lines were too busy or something was wrong with the number.  Not sure.

But, where did the old girl get the 'Silly' descriptor, you ask?  Well, we told her the topic for today and now she can't remember what we told her.  So you only get this brief missive.

What?  No, of course we don't remember.  It isn't our job to remember.  Once we pass the topic on to her it is up to Grammy to type it and post it.  She's the one with opposable thumbs.  And we have more important things to do like napping and eating.

So, since the topic is 'in the wind' this is it, friends.   A few pictures of us and....

Our wish for you.

Hope your New Year is Happy, Healthy and filled with the promise of a better 2022.

By Sweetie, Blogger of Silly Grammy Antics

Hello, dear friends.   Well, the old girl has done it again..  And this time she's done a bang-up job of it.   What has she done?  Well you might ask!!

She lost her phone!  Her only phone!  The phone that she carried EVERYWHERE - Yes, even to the loo!  Oops! Forget I said that! The phone she's had for at least 5 years.  The phone that has all of our pictures on a memory card.  The phone that has all of her contacts, calendar, notes to self, access to her medical apps and her life on it. The phone that locks itself after a few seconds of idleness.

Also, the phone that wouldn't hold a charge anymore.  The phone that emptied like the bathtub drain when Facebook was open. Or closed, by the end.  The phone which buzzed in crazy ways on a schedule only known by it.  The phone that echoed voices if someone called either person while they were on the phone talking together.  The phone that has had the screen and battery replaced at least once over the years. The phone that needed to be laid to rest.  And the phone Grammy kept procrastinating on replacing.

Well, it looks like that phone took matters into its own digits and decided to retire - yes retire, jump ship, permanently hang up.  Here's what happened.

Grammy and her phone accompanied a friend to an appointment.... the phone taking a break settled into a pocket for its nap.  Appointment over they were on their way to their next destination within the building.  Grammy had wakened it up to check the calendar... then set it onto the rollator seat ... not back into her pocket.  BIG MISTAKE! 

In trying to get through an uncooperative 'automatic' door said phone annoyed at being wakened must have seen his chance.  At some point between there and the food court he jumped ship.  Well, actually, he jumped rollator.  It wasn't until after meals were consumed that Grammy reached for the phone and realized IT WAS GONE.  GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Not in pockets, not in the basket, not on the floor beneath.  GONE!   

Several phone calls to see if they could hear it ringing failed.  Retracing steps systematically, with a slight detour to Security, right back to its last known location.  Phoning it from there FAILED!  The old crone, I mean phone,  was AWOL.  

Now what?  Fortunately Grammy's friend has a head on her shoulders that WORKS!  So, nothing more to be done there they carried on to the next destination.  AND fortuitously, Grammy's cellphone provider has an outlet within walking distance of that destination so they stopped off there first to cancel the SIM card.   A very sweet and kind sales person set Grammy up with a new phone, a protective jacket and screen shield and a really great deal.  

And two additional bonuses? A free tablet with WiFi included for 2 years was part of the deal AND because everything was backed up to the cloud everything uploaded to the new phone without a hitch.  

Hmmm!  It seems maybe one brain cell is still working in the old girls head.  We could hope it'd jumpstart a few more.  Not holding my breath though!

Well, while I'm on here let me thank Grammy's friend, our Aunty, for being so patient, and understanding considering this isn't the first phone adventure they've had together.  Thank you, Aunty.  You're truly a treasure.

Comments welcomed.  We love them... especially when they are funny.  *giggles*

By Etude, chronicler of everything goofy about Grammy

Good morning, friends.
This is going to be short, but I have to share this with you.  As if you didn't know already, GRAMMY is GOOFY! Yes, and I don't mean that Disney Dog Goofy.  She is totally beyond silly... almost to the point of crazy.   And here's why...

Picture this... Grammy takes a shower.  Sorry!  Maybe you don't want to picture that!  It isn't pretty, let me assure you.   *Shudders*  Okay, well, imagine someone gorgeous taking a shower realizes she should remove the band-aid that covers her flu shot spot.  This stunning person then drops said band-aid on the edge of the tub.

Okay, now return to Grammy.  Sorry, it has to be because this gorgeously stunning person wouldn't be so goofy.   So Goofy, standing under the shower, water pouring over her head, opens her eyes and SCREAMS!  Yes, at the top of her lungs.  EEEEEK!
CENTIPEDE!  

Well, of course, we all come running to see what the commotion is all about and are totally baffled.  What is her problem?  CENTIPEDE, she says.  No centipede here, we reply in unison at full volume in an attempt to be heard over her screams. 

There!  Look!  On the edge of the tub!  

You talking about that band-aid?  Yes, it's a band-aid.  They are harmless you silly old goof.   Grammy takes a deep breath and finally calms down.

The joys of living with an doddering old fool with short memory, VERY short memory and blurry vision.  

Well, that's about it for this week... and probably more than you really wanted to hear.  See you next week, dear friends.

Comments are welcomed. 

By Sweetie, intrepid defender of family and instigator of mischief

Good morning, friends. 

There isn't much drop in temperature today but when Grammy went out to water the plants it felt a little fresher.  The humidity is supposed to drop this evening.  We can hope.  Then I can sit at the balcony screen and listen to the leaves fluttering.

So, this past month has been busy.  We were off to the vet this month for our annual checkups... Mousie and I.  I got a clean bill of health, though I did lose a pound and was full of poopies.  Mousie on the other-hand, has been diagnosed with Glaucoma in her left eye.  So far the right eye's pressures are normal but on the edge of high so she'll have to be watched monthly for a while.    The good thing is that Rondo can go every other month along with them for his claw trim.    Lucky Grammy.  Monthly trips to the vet.  *giggles*   As long as I don't have to go.

So, now the daily routine includes an eye drop in Mousie's eye morning and evening along with our 4 meals a day.  Play time, snuggle time, and lots of slumber time.

And on to Grammy news... She's managed a year without injuries and her autoimmune issues are slightly improved.  While she is still immune suppressed now the doctor is allowing her to do her own grocery shopping again.  Yahoo!  She's giving it a go tomorrow.  She has to be very careful, keep sanitizing her paws, double masking and stay away from others.  Wohoo, a little freedom! 

And you know what that means for us?  Yes, Grammy out of the house and four kitties with freedom too.  Freedom to get into mischief!  Freedom to nap wherever we wish, on whatever we wish.  AND full access to the refrigerator.  The boys are over-the-moon ecstatic.    Little do they know - the reason Grammy is grocery shopping tomorrow is.... the fridge is almost empty.  Don't tell Etude & Rondo.  I want to watch the look on their faces when they open the door.  *giggles*

Well, that's all for this week.  Have a great one.  Stay healthy.  Stay cool if it's too hot where you live and warm if it's cold.    Love you dear readers/friends.

By the crew at Mischief and Mayhem Central - Sweetie, Etude, Mousie, Rondo

Hello, friends.
We are almost a day late posting our blog this week.  This is the sequel to last week's blog where we shared Grammy's volunteer knitting.    This week it is all about knitting for her friends and clients.   

You'll see an array of different items she's made... some from patterns, other created out of an idea in her head.   We must admit sometimes those 'out of her head' creations were a bomb and had to be undone, redone and sometimes undone and redone again.  And sometimes they needed to be scrapped completely.  Others were a smashing success.  We aren't going to tell you which is which other than one...

A shawl cardigan that took 10 years or more to make... that was started before most of us were born... that sat in a bin of knitting 'stuff' for many years... that was brought out on numerous occasions and worked on and unravelled again and again. 

The back and sleeves knitted up like a charm.  The front panels were the main challenge and the reason it sat unfinished all those years.  Finally, with help from a local knitter and numerous YouTube videos the fronts were figured out and completed.  Once they were done and the basic cardigan was assembled Grammy started the shawl collar.  Unfortunately, it took three attempts with a final add of extra stitches to get the shawl to sit correctly along the front and bottom and...

Eureka!  Perseverance prevailed.  It was finished and the birthday present delivered - 10 years late but delivered nonetheless.

What we will say is this.  Grammy is happiest with knitting needles and yarn in hand and one of us curled up beside her or snuggled into her shoulder.   She practically purrs in contentment which gets whichever of us is the snuggler purring too.  A virtual purr fest.  *giggles*  Sometimes we wonder of anyone in adjacent condos can feel the vibrations. 

Okay, without more ado... here is the video. Enjoy. 

Love from the M&M crew and Grammy too.

Comments are always welcome.  And orders are too.

by the Mischief and Mayhem Crew - Sweetie, Etude, Gentle Mouse, Rondo

Today we are sharing a little of Grammy's story and her volunteer knitting.

Grammy D is our dear old Grammy at Mischief and Mayhem Central.  She took up knitting again after the turn of the millennium... but had been a knitter and crocheter in her early years.  Other occupations kept her busy during those early years too... calligraphy, stained glass and flower arranging being just a few of them but working with yarn was her passion.

This love of using the hands all started when she was a toddler watching her own Grammy (aka. Nana).  Nana was never idle.  She started her morning with a cup of tea, buttered toast, a set of knitting needles and yarn.  She knit socks for Grammy's dad, and mittens for all the grandkids in between helping care for those same children.  Grammy D's own mama knitted for her own babies as they came along but then life got too busy with such a hectic household... 3 then 4 generations all under one roof ... there wasn't enough time in the day for such 'idle' occupations.

Well, Grammy D from now on we'll just call her D, a young adult, took a course in knitting and crocheting, picked it up quickly and began teaching it a year later at a community high school.  At the time she preferred to crochet focusing on handmade blankets, baby outfits until finally a bill-paying career took off and all else was set aside.

It wasn't until illness side-lined D and her idle fingers were itching to be active that she began to crochet again.  Crocheting soon became difficult with an arthritic thumb so she switched to the gentler activity - knitting.  The rest is history.

To start us off we have a slideshow of projects Grammy D has knitted as a volunteer for a local hospital.  All made for the Adult Cancer ward and the hospital's NICU.    Only a small sampling of the items is shown here.  In addition, I, Sweetie, added in my doggy friends that Grammy knitted for.

Each hat for the cancer ward has been made unique by using different coloured yarn combinations and stitch patterns.  An attempt has been made to make the gowns unique.  Different stitch patterns were created for the neck, sleeve cap and/or skirt of the gowns and the  ribbon colours vary.    Click here to watch the video slide show.

We'll share Grammy's knitting for clients and friends another time. 

Enjoy!

by Rondo, mischief and blogger

Can you believe it? I get to say my piece two weeks running.  And so, here goes...

This week has brought another change to Mischief and Mayhem Central.  Oh my!  It has caused quite a kerfuffle, really and truly.  But a good kerfuffle.

As you must know Grammy has been advised to be more careful on her feet.  One of the adjustments is to no longer use tripping hazzards like the vacuum.  So she hired cleaners to come in monthly to do a thorough clean.  She can manage all except said vacuum, dusting the tops of book cases and scrubbing the tub.  These things that require using a step ladder or kneeling are as unsafe for her as tripping.

And so, this past week she spent a lot of her knitting time thinking of ways around these limitations.  Cleaners only come once a month and the place is usually knee deep (cat knees, that is) in discarded fur and dander despite sweeping floors with a broom.   Add to that the expense, especially when Grammy isn't all that satisfied with the service and there had to be another solution.  

Well, the thinking has paid off.   She hauled out a long-handled scrubber for the tub and will give it a go again.  Hopefully she can manage it.   Then while doing a search on the computer she saw a couple of other possibilities.  A long-handled Swiffer duster for the bookshelf tops - articulated, no less!  That should do it. 

And then, a SALE of an android to help her learn to balance... a rumba robot.  What do you think of that? Eh?   Teach her to dance the rumba and she should be able to recover when she trips.  Yes, that's the ticket!

What's that, Sweetie?  It's not rumba?  Well, what is it then?...a  Say that again? ...long pause.... OH!

Sorry folks,  It's not a rumba dancer.  It's a Roomba.   Actually, a Roomba Robot.  Well, it sounded like Rumba to me.   Hmph!   

This new dancing partner was on sale so Grammy decide, why not?  Let's give it a try.   Well, it arrived the next day... yes, the very next day.  I was thinking something must be wrong with it if the store wanted rid of it so quickly but Grammy says they are very efficient at delivering purchases.. a consequence of COVID restrictions and a competitive market.

So, back to the story.  Grammy set up Roameo Roomba, charged the battery for 3 hours and then they started dancing.  Well, that's what it seemed like.  He lead and Grammy followed him around watching and dodging his every move.

Alright, she didn't follow him around she just sent him on his way.  For an hour and a half he rumbled around bumping into walls and furniture as he learned the layout of the rooms. AND a boot mat got the treatment 6 times and the kitchen 5.  They must have been particularly filthy!  Shame on you, Grammy!  When he was done Roamin' danced a two-step (actually two wheel) back to his docking station to recharge.   

Boy, oh boy!  Was he dusty and filled with debris!  Grammy gave him a good clean, emptied his bin and left him to rest.  Second trip a few days later was shorter and there was less bumping and banging into walls.  His little computer brain is remembering where to stop and change direction.  What a smart wee fellow. 

Bottom line?  ... The cost of three 'professional' cleaning visits and this wee fellow will have more than paid for himself. And if Grammy wants Mr Roomba to be run every day that's not a problem either... just push the button twice and off he goes.  BONUS! 

P.S.   He's noisy... singing as he dances.  We'll let you know what we think about him once we are not so scared of him.  Grammy doctored the photo below.  So far Sweetie is the only one who's gotten that close to him.

Comments are welcomed.  We especially love the funny ones.

by Etude, mischief and cuddlecat

Tomorrow may be groundhog day but let me tell you this.  We have a more pressing matter than whether the groundhog predicts another 6 weeks of winter or not.  Much more pressing.  What could be more pressing than that you say? Well, let me tell you.

We have a bed hog in our abode.  Yes, someone of the people persuasion, name withheld to protect the guilty, who takes over our sleeping spaces... and at the most inopportune times.   And she's sneaky.

Lately, as you all know, she's had a physiotherapist coming in to loosen up the ligaments, tendons and muscles in her shoulder.  AND they have taken over our afternoon napping space to do the physio.   The physiotherapist has a  'bed' she can bring for this unnamed person to stretch out on but does she?  NO! 

You ask why?  Well, we've asked that too and here's the answer.   This bed hog says there is no need to drag and lug and haul this massive thing from her car up the elevator and down the lonnnnnng hall when there is a perfectly good automatic bed  to stretch out on... especially when it can be raised and lowered to suit the needs of the physio. And, the exercise must be good for her too, don't you think?  Keep her in shape for the therapeutic manipulation?

Can you believe it?  No, I agree.  It is so selfish of the bed hog person because that means we, sweet loveable and sleep deprived kitties get turfed to the floor.  Yes, turfed!  Unceremoniously, I might add.   And for a full 45 minutes each time she visits.

Do you see how that cuts into our nap time... Major sleep deprivation!   

Not only that, she (the bed hog) insists on taking it over every night for 7 - 8 hours.  No taking turns, no giving us a break and sleeping on the sofa for a night.  No consideration whatsoever. 

What's that you're saying, bed hog?    No!  16 hours a day of uninterrupted bed time isn't sufficient for our needs.  Our internal clock demands 22 hours of sleep, 1 hour of pets and cuddles and 75 minutes for meals.  That is more hours than those in a day and so we are 15 minutes sleep deprived to begin with.  To be bed deprived too is unconscionable  abuse. 

Here she comes with another excuse...

Repeat that Grammy?  Oops.  Ignore that last sentence. Repeat that bed hog?  

When the physio is working on your shoulder we hop on the bed and interrupt?  Well, of course we do.  Someone has to tell her that she's interfering with our well-being.  That she's abusing our hospitality.  That we are sleep deprived and *whispers so bed hog cannot hear* and starving!  Falling down faint starving!

I tell you.  Those two... the physiotherapist and the bed hog are cut from the same cloth... both unmerciful abusers of 3 generous, lovable and considerate cow kitties.  No, not Mousie.  Scamp that she is... she makes a headlong dash to the livingroom to take over the sofa for herself.  Says it's the only time she gets uninterrupted and undisturbed by us sleep.  The little traitor.