Moooo-ooom! He's on My Side of the House

I know you haven't heard from us in awhile. Life's been kind of chaotic. Mom worked a lot and she didn't have a lot of free time, nor, she said, inspiration for writing. I don't understand that. I should be all the inspiration she needs.

Things changed in the summer in a big way. Mom left Mija and I to take a "vay-kay-shun", whatever that is. We just know that this guy came over and fed us every day. He's okay. He knows how to open cans.

When she came back, she brought something with her.

His name is "Hamlet". He's little, or he was back in July. She said a friend of hers found him in a drain pipe trying to stay above water. That friend couldn't find him a home so mom said he could come live with us. Did she ask us? No. She said he rode back from Virginia under the front passenger seat of the car.

Well, I'm not sure about this. I try to have my own space but he finds me.

He has so much energy and a dignified lady like myself, just wants to amble through the house, sit on mom's lap and NOT be chased. I like to sit in the sunshine. I'm not interested in sharing it.

It seems Mija and I don't have veto power over whether he lives here so I guess we have to get used to this. Harumph.

(Mom's note:  Don't let her fool you. This was last week.

For all her haughtiness, Pilchard has gotten used to Hamlet faster than Mija has. I keep trying to get a video of the two of them playing, but she's wise to the sound of the camera. Mija still complains but Pilchard goes out of her way to find him when she wants a wrestle. The best part, having a kitten in the house has improved the health of both of them. They were a bit on the chunky side, but are now down to optimum weight, thanks to playing chase. He's also a love bug and they have noticed. I get both of them in my lap at night when I get home from work. Pilchard taught him about the camera. He knows it and ceases to be cute when I point it at him. Darned cats.)

Love,

Pilchard

Queen of All I Survey

When Mom took her vacation last month, she went to see Faux. Faux lived in our house for a year before moving with mom's daughter. She calls him her "grand kitty". Faux moved to Seattle for a time and then moved all the way across the country to Virginia, with a stop in Connecticut. When he and mom's daughter came through Chicagoland, they stopped at the house. We figured out a way to get along.

Faux has been an only cat for awhile. Recently, he got a brother. Tobey's family got one of those things called "dawgs" and it was making Tobey's life miserable. So mom's daughter took Tobey in and he and Faux get along very well. Tobey's family gave mom's daughter a cat tree. Faux and Tobey are too big for it so mom brought it home for us. They had to take it apart to fit in the trunk of the car.

It sat on our floor for over a week before mom decided to put it together. It has new and different smells on it. Mija and I had to thoroughly check it out.

Here it is, all assembled. It's kinda tall.

Mom put it on the floor. We weren't sure what to make of it. She had to pick me up and put me on it.

I can smell Faux and Tobey on this.

Hmmmm. I think this has potential. I haven't been up on the top step, yet. I'm just getting used to sitting here or on the bottom step. It's comfy, though.

It does take up room in the living room. Mom says she needs to move things around so she can put this somewhere where we can look out the windows while we lie on it. Oooooh! Squirrel TV AND a place to sleep. I think a girl could get used to this. Plus, mom gave me treats while I was lying here.

I let my sister sit on it, but she's not as interesting in it as I am.

Mom says we can use the columns to scratch, but I think the back of the recliner is the best place even if mom sighs.

See you next week.

Pilchard

She's Back!

On May 19th, mom brought up the big suitcase from the basement and started tossing clothes into it. Mija and I don't like that because it means she's going away on a trip that's more than a couple days. We were right. She left on the 22nd and came back on the 30th. That's a long time. Mom's best friend checks in on us every day but she's not mom. I didn't leave my corner of mom's bed for more than food and the occasional sits by the door when Pam came to feed us.

So mom is back. I decided the best place to be on Friday night was over the back of the recliner so I could be close to demand ear scratches.

Yesterday, mom laid out her clothes for the day. When she does this, I don't know if she's leaving and never coming back or just going off to work. I think I need to make sure she doesn't go anywhere.

She tricked me into moving by putting other clothes on the bed. I wasn't sure which clothes to lie on so I moved to the new pile and she quick got dressed. I'm going to have to rethink my delaying tactics here. She was just leaving to return the rental car she drove to Virginia and back to see her daughter. Mom came back after going to lunch with Pam.

I get kinda worried that she's going to go somewhere so I've been following her around. Today, she spent part of the morning cleaning out all the boxes she brought home. Boxes! I had to supervise. Some of the boxes are too small for me so those are going into the recycling can. She did bring home a perfectly Pilchard-sized one, however.

Mom says she's not going anywhere now until October, except for an overnight for work. I hope not. I miss her, as does Mija, when she goes away. She says a vacation is good for her and for us. Whatever. Now we can get back to the business of catching these June bugs that have somehow gotten into the house.

See you later.

Pilchard.