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From now through May: birthday alert. Almost everyone who gets a card was born in those first five months and whereas Christmas is a single date, hard to miss, birthdays have a habit of creeping past while you’re distracted.
One person who gets a card never sends them herself, not any kind, so I decided one year to take her off my lists. When she received neither Christmas nor birthday card, the baggage sicced the police on me!
Though I have a drawer full of cards, none are ever quite right, so I went in search in the pharmacy only to find complete crap.
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Who writes such syrupy nonsense?
Does anyone even buy those cards? At those prices?
No doubt it’s a bad industry to be part of in these electronic times. Years ago I loved browsing the card racks but from now on I’ll stick to online shopping and writing my own words.
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The cats have to have official birthdays because we don’t know when any of them were born.
Little Man must be close to a year old now, so we’re going to celebrate his birthday on January 25th, the same day as Grant’s.
Not that he will notice anything different, of course. What would our cats ask for, if they could?
Little Man would probably ask to be allowed to rush out the front door and up the hill to visit the chickens.
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Or to ride around all day on a shoulder.
“Dis’ what I like best of all!”
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It was time for a new feather attachment, so I scrolled through pages to find the right one and got a package of 8, opting for un-dyed which were received well enough.
Then the other day I was searching for something and came upon another such attachment that I must have bought long ago.
It had bigger, brightly-coloured feathers.
Oh yes! That was the one.
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Sometimes they play with red dot.
Now that Tinkerbelle isn’t nearby waiting to pounce, Muffin has become playful again.
She likes the feather toy very much.
She seizes it in her mouth and walks off with it, dragging the pole behind her.
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Even shy Sophia plays now, but she chooses to do it alone.
She has a couple of favourite toys and we hear her sometimes tossing them about over by the window beside the fireplace which is her territory.
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Dee Dee thought she might take up operatic singing.
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She gets her inspiration from Lily and I hoped to bring you one of her arias.
But it is currently beyond my technical capability.
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Willow is deeply mysterious.
While I don’t believe she is Panther, returned, I have always thought he sent her.
She arrived out of nowhere 18 months after I lost him and it was only then that I began to get over his loss.
But I have his photographs in every room.
And his memory in my heart.
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Mere months after Willow’s arrival, Blackie asked to come in. She had attached herself to me in the garden and it was clear she thought I was her person.
A voice came to me:
“You didn’t think a single cat could fill my shoes, did you?”
(No, I didn’t Panther)
Blackie can’t seem to get close enough to me. When I settle to sleep, she comes to check on me.
She presses her face close to mine, as if to ensure I am breathing and then tucks herself tightly against me where she remains until I wake.
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28th June 1978.
There was one cat whose birthday I knew.
Mohammed.
My first cat dearly beloved cat.
You are one of the best examples of ‘Pets are family’ that I know. (I am one of the others of course)
Ollie’s birthday in February was always an event. He had soft-toy presents wrapped in birthday paper, extra treats on the day, and a special birthday dinner. (Usually roast chicken, still warm and soft to eat.) Then he would get an extra long walk, perhaps taken somewhere different in the car.
This year his birthday is going to break my heart all over again.
Best wishes, Pete.
Oh dear Pete. Yes, I’m sure.❤️
You are such a natural cat mother and they are lucky to be in your family
I try, yet there have been mistakes, God knows. Hopefully those hurt me much more than the animals concerned.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the wonderful post, full of interesting thoughts and beautiful photos of cats! I love the operatic singing!
Joanna
Such a lovely photo of Little Man. I know what you mean about sending cards. I used to mail Christmas cards but rarely received one, so I stopped. I have a friend who still makes her cards, which is a lovely thought but they’re the cards I keep.
Your fur babies are very lucky to have a mother like you!
Carolyn, I don’t know where you find the time to publish so many posts! I struggle with publishing one per week and no longer do I have 3 months of posts scheduled in advance. 🙁
The first cat will always remain extra special!
Beautiful portraits of your cats! Little Man is not so little anymore. He is very handsome! Bless Mohammed for inspiring you to improve and save so many feline lives!
I am going to a birthday tea tomorrow of a lovely old lady from our church who is turning 88. I also looked for a suitable birthday card for her, but finally decided to write one myself. As always, it’s fun to read about all your cats – each with his/her own unique personality. I now remember that Grant’s birthday is also in January … so, Grant, Little Man and I are January babies (I feel honoured to be in their company).