Smidgeon, you darling little idiot, you need to wake up to the fact that The Phooka is BIGGER THAN YOU! He is huge. He is almost THREE TIMES your weight. And he is a lop, which means that he is not mostly leg, like other breeds of rabbits. His weight is all muscle and bulk. It would be the equivelent of me seeing an upended refrigerator hurtling down at me.

Therefore, my dear kitten, when he is racing across the room for his beloved salad, it is NOT the time to pull to an abrupt stop in front of him to half roll over and clean your butt. Besides the above mentioned bulk.. he also has really really rotten brakes. It is only out of sheer luck for you that he was getting his salad just a little bit earlier than usual and so he wasn't quite as hungry as usual, that he was able to stop in time, and I have to say that I admire his self-control. I've seen him bowl over bigger and fiercer obstacles than you on his way to his salad. I was amazed that all he did was look at you, then at me in sheer apalled amazement, then at you and back at me again. And STILL he didn't charge right through you.

You have no idea how lucky you are, scamp.

Tags: smidgeon, the phooka
Current Mood: amused

Can you tell I dumped my camera into my computer today?




I love how Nox splays herself into a puddle! When the sun hits her fur, she turns into molten hematite. She's bird (or squirrel) watching here, but she also splays like this on the back of the recliner or softie chair, with either of her back legs on either side. And her tail is made out of the deepest plush velvet. I don't blame Smidgie for being obsessed with catching it; I can't keep my hands off of it myself. It must be captured and the tip of it kissed!

Mom got this huge pet bed shipped to her in error, and the company told her to just keep it. I've had it listed in my eBay store for a couple of years now, but I'm outlisted by the sheer number of this type of thing. Up until this summer, I had two pillows on the storage bins in the studio window for the cats and The Phooka to lay on, but one of them was beat and chewed to death and back again, and there was no salvaging it. I tossed it after Jazzi's and Tiki's passing, and The Phooka refused to lay on just one. It turned out to be too small for him. So Mom graciously gave us the pet bed and I put it in the window today. It is just the right size to cover the two storage bins. It is rather like a feather bed-type of pillow, and several inches thick. And I do mean thick! Out of sheer whimsy, I tossed Smidge on it. She sunk. The covering (which comes off and is machine-washable. I swear, they see me coming when they make these things!) is made out of a tough material that makes wonderful shooshy noises that sends a kitten into playful delights!





( More cuteness and pictures behind the cut! )

Tags: nox, smidgeon, the phooka
Current Mood: content

No more pictures, please. Just shnuggles!

Tags: the phooka
Current Mood: content

The Noxie-kitty was laying in the kitchen while I was preparing The Phooka's salad this evening.  I stepped over her when I went to carry his bowl out to his Place Of Eating, and realized that he wasn't following.

When I turned to see why, it was because he was standing on the other side of the sprawled-out Nox.  She's wary of him because of his size (and his really really rotton brakes), but is gentle and docile, much like Tiki was. And apparently, he didn't want to rush by her and startle her, which is always how he was with Tiki.

He stayed there until I called Nox away, and once she stood up and moved into the room with me giving him more space to get by her, he bounded for his salad with his usual enthusiasm.

However, if it had been the Smidgeon-kitten (or in the past, Jazzi) in similar circumstances, I've seen him bowl her over.

Nox, however, is a Lady Cat, and is given Honor.

Tags: jazzi, nox, smidgeon, the phooka, tiki
Current Mood: amused

Dear Phooka,

I know that you love to dig and scootch the blankies in the softie chair. But, sweetie, you have to start being a little more careful. The Smidgie-kitten was laying in the blankets, and when you dug and kicked this morning, you... um... well, sent her flying out of the chair, tumbling head over tail. I know you didn't mean to. You never even touched her. You just managed to flip the part of the blanket she was laying on.

Fortunately, she ADORES you and jumped back up.

Unfortunately, you didn't see her and sat on her. All that was visible was a tiny kitten paw flailing and her tail. I know she nipped your butt  in protest, but your fur is so thick that you never even felt it, did you?  But that was why I boofed your butt and lugged you off her.  You DID get shnuggling, though, so don't give me that look of Disapproval. And Smidgie didn't mind at all, since she also curled up in my lap.... just a little ways away from your big body, you lumox of a bunny.

You are such a goofball.

I have GOT to start keeping a camera in that room.

Tags: smidgeon, the phooka
Current Mood: amused

Dear Nox

YOU may be still unsure of The Phooka... but he is smitten about you! I know he's been going out of his way to spend time in the same room with you, but today was certain proof!

I walked into the livingroom, to find you asleep in the recliner, and The Phooka on the floor in front of it on his softy blankie (which used to be Tiki's cat bed), completely flopped on his side in bliss. You probably don't know this yet, but rabbits only sleep on their sides when they are very very happy and comfortable in their surroundings. I haven't seen The Phooka flopped like that in a long time. He had even folded a small softie into a pillow for himself. He was so happy, just to be near you.

You are so welcome here, baby. Our home is all the better for your presence.

Dear Smidgie,

I love that you want to sleep with me, but sleeping on top of my throat is not only uncomfortable, but also potentially hazardous. And when I start coughing, the proper reaction is to MOVE OFF THE THROAT, not just to sit up and look at me quizically while I continue to cough because you are STILL ON MY THROAT!

Really, though, my taking a bath is perfectly safe for me. You do not need to continually check on me. However, suddenly seeing a pair of ears and the top half of kitten-eyes peering over the edge of the tub sends me exploding into giggles no matter how often you do it, so maybe you should keep on with it. It's obviously very healthy for me.

Tags: nox, smidgeon, the phooka
Current Mood: calm

PICTURES!

To save you from major spamming, I'll put them all behind the cut, except for....


 

( This somewhat startled one of Smidgeon, who knows nothing of camera flashes. How can you resist the cute and NOT want to clicky the click? )

 

Tags: nox, smidgeon, the phooka, within the fence
Current Mood: exhausted

The Phooka has picked a new Feline Friend, and so have I. On Monday, we visited a local shelter and came home with a five month old kitten whom I renamed Smidgeon and a year and a half old that I renamed My Lady Nox.

The Phooka and Smidgeon both sat in my lap at the same time without any growling, hissing, or boxing on either side, so I took that to be a Good Sign. The Phooka is a little overwhelmed by Kitten Energy, but she ADORES him. He is teaching her various manners (You do NOT come between a bunny and his salad. EVAH!), and seems rather amused by her.

Nox picked me. I had decided that I needed one slightly older as my own friend, to help me get over my loss of Tiki. I haven't been sleeping well, especially in the last week. The minute I walked into the shelter, a cat landed on my shoulder and pressed against the side of my head purring loudly. She couldn't wait to coax me into bed that night, just like Tiki always did. I had said a little prayer toward Tiki that morning asking her to help me pick well. I think she heard me.

Smidgeon is a tortoiseshell - a smidgeon of this color, a smidgeon of that. Nox is solid black, except for a frosting of white under her throat.

So far, we are all doing well. Even when bombarded by Kitten Energy. I'm completely exhausted from 2.5 hours at the shelter, and today was a vet visit as well. Which is why I haven't posted earlier, and why this is short and without pictures.

There will be more. Once I can see straight again. And when Smidgie is asleep. She has discovered the cursor on the screen. She has stalked, done the butt-wiggle dance, pounced, and sent my laptop into hibernationl

Yeah. We're getting there.

Tags: nox, smidgeon, the phooka
Current Mood: exhausted

I've never been too crazy about apples. But Oh.My.God, honeycrisp apples are amazing! I got hooked on them last year, and now that it's apple season again, I have my honeycrisps back.

I was eating one this evening, when The Phooka bounced in. He froze a few feet from my chair, nose sniffing. Then LEAPED into my lap and crawled up my chest, nose going a mile a minute.

Now, I've never given him any apple before, ever. And usually when faced with Something New, he treats it as Suspicious. But I bit off a small chunk and handed it to him.

Oh, the bliss! Eyes half closed, lips smacking, he savored every bite slowly.

And then he tried to climb inside my mouth for more.

I have never seen him so eager for something that I was eating. He wuffled my face and oh so very gently nibbled my lip.

So I gave him another chunk.

Oh, the joy, the bliss, the delight, the savoring, MUSTHAVEMOREGIMMEGIMMEGIMME, I CLIMB MOMMA"S ARM THE APPLE RIGHT THERE WITHIN REACH ALMOST, front legs flailing, SHE'S NOT GIVING ANYMORE, WOE, I GIVE BUNNYBUTT SO THERE.

Which would have been more effective, if he hadn't kept peeking over his shoulder at me to see if I was noticing the BunnyButt or if maybe I had relented and was handing another bit out to him.

I compromised and let him have a few tiny nibbles of the core when I was done, and I was loved again.

Powerful stuff, those honeycrisps!

Tags: the phooka
Current Mood: giggly

Dear Phooka's Kitten To Be;

Leisl, our pet communicator, said that I should write out what traits I hope you might have, as a kind of prayer. I have given it much thought, and here is what I hope for you:

-solid color, preferably black
-dainty, although tall and slim is also fine.
-tiny paws, although extra toes is ok, too, and softie paws.
-head butt-er - forehead-to-forehead a plus!
-must sleep nights with me, crawling under blankies is a plus!
-paw patter, likes to touch things with paws
-wise and intelligent, which are not necessarily the same thing.
-gentle.
-playful, but not wildly so, or to the point of damaging
-one who likes catnip, who reacts by being "stoned", not wild
-has a sense of humor, more so than dignity
-talker and purr-er
-loves to watch birds from windows
-must love The Phooka
-a healer, who will take care of me when I am not feeling well.

Obviously, all traits are open for negotiation, as long as you are healthy, happy, and love me and The Phooka.

In turn, you will have a loving, safe home, with lots of snuggles, deep conversations, sharing of Kitten and Bunny Secrets, play time with creative games (Bunnies can come up with the greatest of games!) and cool toys, yummy food and treats, a window looking out at birds, squirrels, chipmunks and cottontails that come JUST FOR YOU to watch, and all the love a kitten can want for the rest of your life.

Applications accepted at our Vet's and also with The Phooka.

Tags: the phooka
Current Mood: hopeful