Heavenly Peace

If this works right. . .

The boys are sleeping so peacefully on my lap. Utter relaxation. Enjoy.

This Year, I was Thankful For. . .

My boys.

I think they are thankful for each other, too.

Phierce Phidian

I posted this shot to Warts and All quite a while ago. But it's perfect for Halloween. Phidian in all his glory. You'll definitely want to biggify.

I just love the maniacal look on his face. This is kill-the-toy mode. The Boys love their feather toy, but when Phidian catches it, it's game over! He's good for about 5 minutes of clamped teeth and growling. It's gonna be good and dead when he's done.

The funniest part is that Phidian is a total marshmallow: soft, sweet, and utterly mild-mannered.

One, two, three, A-a-a-a-a-a-l-l-l Stretch!

Snooze With Yarn = Still Life

Sometimes Phidian gets pushed aside by Lil Big Bro, Cicero. Result is his backstroke attitude wedged between the chair and me. This is one laid-back boy, determined to stay asleep.

Solitary Splendor

Cicero eats very slowly, and Big Lil Bro Phidian wolfs his food and tries to see if any of Cicero's is left. So I feed Cicero in another room. This leaves Phidian free to join me watching the news. He's grown to enjoy having an entire lap for himself. Well, almost for himself. He has to leave room for the knitting and the iPad.

The Spa for the Evening

Phidian knows how to groom his Lil Big Bro. Note the pure enjoyment on Cicero's face.

A really, really GOOD nap

 

Note the smile on the face of the Cicero

Smilehance!

And Just What do YOU think You're Doing?

Honest, I was only sorting laundry! But somehow the Boys took it for another activity whose initials are P - A - C - K - I - N - G, and decided a Serious Inquiry was in order. Hence the pose here.

I showed them the items being sorted, allowing them to sniff the pieces. Once they were satisfied I had no intent of packing myself and them up to go somewhere, they relaxed!

 

Another nice leisurely day at home

Embrace

Seems like every time they share my lap the Boys do something camera-worthy. I try not to use flash so I don't disturb them. My reward is blissful sleepers.

Possessive

That would be my Cicero. He's the most consistent of my laptops. He thinks he owns my lap. The other night I was working on a new technique, entrelac, which requires lots of color changes. I parked the yarn bag on the chair next to me.

Cicero, who already had possession of my lap, likewise took possession of my yarn. All projects around here are his projects. Obviously.

Phidian Returns the Favor

Cicero is usually the one I see washing his Lil Bro. But sometimes Phidian returns the favor. This time, I got lucky. I have tried and tried to capture the moment when a Serious Ear Wash is going on. Both boys do earwashes, and they get so intent when they do. Looks almost like a "french kiss" if you know what I mean.

Finally, caught in the act -- twice. Lil Bro doing a really, really good job on Cicero's ears.

And again:

Enrichment

I have been trying to give the boys toys that make them think. This one worked!

Phidian is a clever boy. The other day I removed the last tissue from the box, and happened to remember a new cat toy. Placed it in the box, rattled it around a little, and Phidian got the idea immediately. If anything, this puzzle is too easy.

Cicero, however, would rather watch his Lil Bro fish out the toy and then grab it and run off. His premeditated guilty look is priceless. Who, me, Mom?

Great games!

Home From the Weekend

All is well

All is well indeed.

Say Uncle Zzzzzzz. . .

Play fights usually end in peace— or more play. This one ended in total, utter, abandoned peace!

Vide Scene One: Peace. Cicero had evidently just said Uncle Zzzzz

Scene two: in which Phidian clearly replied Uncle Whoozzzzzzzzzzzzz

A Good Cat Nap

Ur Doin It Right

Little Big Bro: an introduction

Cicero is Little Big Bro, a year older than Phidian, who by extension is Big Little Bro.

It began innocently enough. The house needed an orange tabby similar to the one I grew up with. Cicero came from our local ASAP shelter to live with me while dear Miss Flora was still alive. He loved her and followed her around, but she did not return his devotion. Surprisingly, he was bereft after she died. He meowed around the house, acted out, and showed me in every way he could he wanted a cat friend.

Enter Phidian. He, too, was a shelter boy, turned in anonymously to get a second chance. I interviewed several young cats to see if any might work with Cicero, and Phidian, a bluepoint Siamese mix, seemed promising.

After a week of separation, I introduced the boys and it was, if not love at first sight, at least like! They have become best buddies, tearing through the house one minute and cuddled up washing one another the next. Phidian grew up to be a full size cat, but Cicero has a much smaller frame and weighs less. Still, Big Bro takes excellent care of Little Bro.

The Boys are always doing something funny/cute. I take so many photos of them I decided it was their turn for a blog. Welcome. Brace yourself.