Froggie Went a Courtin'...Uh-huh

Well, we all know that cute little song, and a long one it is actually. I just looked up the lyrics (I had no idea Bob Dylan covered it) and a little known stanza goes like this:

Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat.
Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, Uh-huh.


Anyway, as you can see, Froggie came a courtin' in my yard recently, and a handsome one he was. Actually, he was enjoying the feast of some sort of fly that was coming out of the ground by the hundreds it seemed - even seagulls appeared overhead coming to join in the flying buffet. Manitou, neither old, nor grey, was most puzzled by this critter, and had a lie-down right in front of him, as if to examine him real close before he...ahem...well, I didn't really want to see what came next, so I quickly scooped up Da Man, and brought him inside the house, so Froggie could enjoy his feast in peace.

"Come in the house my Manitou,
Froggie is not on your menu, nuh-uh, nuh-uh, nuh-uh!"



I am sure there are more courtin' critters over at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon

Well, what else can one do on a hot lazy August afternoon? Have a nap in the shade of course! Which is exactly what Angel was doing, keeping a wary eye on me, as she dislikes sudden movements or spontaneous shows of affection. She is the "I'll let you know when I want a pat or two" kind of cat - and the urge sometimes comes upon her at 3:00 a.m., waking me up with a gentle but insistent paw.

And this is where we were a week ago today, on the lake, peaceful and beautiful, a place we call "Whispering Pines". Although it wasn't that hot, a good swim was had, many dragonflies were spotted, and a good time was had by all, as the saying goes. Thank you Christina and Raymond!

Check out more lazy crazy cats at The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.

Wordless Wednesday: Meditation

Lovely Girl - Mishka's Lilies

Well, almost a year will have passed since my "Lovely Girl" passed over to the Rainbow Bridge. Here she is at her favourite spot in the sun - where I would often find her in the late afternoon - in the later years warming her old bones, eyes shut tight and deep in meditation. She was around 20 or 21 years old. Also, a picture of her at the picnic table - at this time she was at her prime I think.

Mishka was a feisty girl, and I would often recall a passage from a book I once read describing tortoiseshell cats as: "gretchen-like and only feign to be domesticated."

Mishka came as a very young cat from the alley-ways of Montreal when we would stay at a friend's house during the Jazz Festival. We fell in love with her and brought her home with us - a short 2 hour ride away. She ruled the house, and never forgave me for bringing in all the rest of the rabble - and she always taught the new-comers to walk backwards when coming upon her - I kid you not! They actually would walk backwards! I don't want to dwell on her short but tragic illness that finally took her - and I can say it was agonizing to let her go, but she was suffering so much. She was buried in a tranquil and isolated patch of garden which we dubbed the "Montreal Garden" because it is so small. My garden in total is huge, and the typical Montreal garden in the city centre is tiny - it is what she grew up with, so it was a propos. Before winter set in, I planted some lilies called "Lovely Girl" at her grave. They are in bloom right now, and here is a picture of one - I wanted to take a shot of more just now, as many blooms are open, but it's pouring buckets as it has been all summer. Rest in peace my Lovely Girl, Mishka.

Don't forget to visit The Friday Ark and then Carnival of the Cats on Sunday.