jerzgirl

All summer long, Shady would sleep under the lilac bush or the dogwood tree in the front yard. She was so deep in sleep, our neighbor actually though she was dead and came to check on her. I don’t know why she chose the front yard, but she did. Then, when it got colder, she would come in and sleep in front of the heater vent. That is, until we put the Christmas tree up.

After the first day the tree was up, I noticed that Shady wasn’t in her usual spots (any one of three heater vents). In fact, she had recently begun sleeping next to the vacuum with her head on the base of the vacuum right next to the vent. She’s an odd one. But, I couldn’t find her - not by any vent, not in the bathroom where her water is, not in either of the bedrooms, not on any of the chairs. I had no idea where she’d gone. It wasn’t until Christmas Eve day that I realized where she was as I was arranging things under the tree. There was Shady, lying contentedly and sleeping soundly, under the tree the same as she did outside. Obviously, she made a connection, but I have no idea what it is about a tree that she likes. She doesn’t climb them or scratch them. Maybe it’s like a kitty security blanket.

Now Chloe, she’s always been a cat who simply didn’t like cat toys. She didn’t give a hoot about catnip or mousies or anything. She did, however, love taking huge bites out of rolls of toilet paper (did that again recently), eating paper bags, opening cupboard doors and drawers in order to get attention and, most oddly, going crazy over a pair of string bikinis that my daughter had. I tried using a feather toy on a stick to play with her, but she was afraid of it. But, if you even began to move that pair of underwear, she’d go crazy, jumping on it, chasing it, jumping in the air for it. It was funny to watch her - her eyes almost glowing with excitement like Shady’s used to do with the horned toad.

So it was with great incertitude that I bought a stocking full of kitty toys for both cats and divvied them up between the two stockings I had bought for them. I knew which stocking was for whom and set them on either side of the tree. On Christmas Eve, while I was sitting and talking with Mom’s social worker, I could hear the jingle, jingle, jingle of the balls I had put in both stockings (there were also catnip mice and, for Shady, a bag of catnip). I turn around to see Chloe pulling out HER stocking and trying to get things out of it. I called her a bad kitty and put the stocking back. Her ears went down and she left the room. As soon as I was engaged in conversation again, I heard the same jingling again. I turned around and this time, she hadn’t dragged it out, but was under the tree herself trying to get things out of it. She managed to get the big catnip mouse out and began to play with it like crazy. I have no idea how she figured out which stocking was hers and I’m even more amazed that she’s having so much fun with this mouse. She’s NEVER before given one thought to playing with or chasing a catnip mouse. But now, if I even pick it up, she gets so excited and tries to grab it from me. When I throw it, she runs after it, grabs it and rolls around the floor with it. It’s amazing to watch only because she has never been this way before! So, I let her have her gift early. Since then, both cats have managed to get some stuff out of their stockings - even Shady seems to know which one is hers. It’s kind of neat because this is the first time since I was a kid that I had stockings for my cats.

Chloe

Sunday morning - Sweet Potato Pancakes

That’s what I made for breakfast this morning. We’d had sweet potato patties a few days ago that I had candied for supper, but I had two patties left that were thawed. So, I decided to add one of them to the pancake batter this morning with a little cinnamon. YUM!! Mom liked them and so did I. I’ve had pumpkin pancakes before, but since sweet potato tastes so much like pumpkin, I decided it might be a good way to use up some of those leftovers. If you ever get the chance, you should try it. I just used “add water” pancake mix and when it was almost the right consistency, I added the patty and mixed it all together. Once it was mixed, I added the cinnamon (pumpkin pie spice would be perfect, but I didn’t have any). Then I made the pancakes. They really were good - and smelled WONDERFUL!!

I had put the bipap mask on Mom again last night as she was looking a bit washed out and was pretty lethargic. A couple hours later, she took it off (I’d rather she didn’t) and wanted a couple cookies and some ice cream. My friend had stopped at the store and bought her some peach ice cream, which she loves. She enjoyed it, but didn’t want the mask back on. She also wanted ice water. She craves ice water. Just loves it. I prefer mine directly from the tap, but she likes hers as cold as she can get it. So, I’ve begun giving her an insulated travel cup so she can keep it on the bed table near her.

After breakfast this morning, Mom had her cat petting therapy with Shady who is willing to stay with her while being petted. Chloe just freaks out about being there. So, I brought Shady in to her before going to get her ice water. When I got back, Shady was lying on Mom’s chest facing her while Mom petted her with both hands. She’s a good cat. She’s back under the tree now.

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