The Cat's Pajamas

Favorite Photo Friday #1

Quote of the Day:  Cat's pajamas - Something considered to be outstanding

The term "cat's pajamas" comes from E.B. Katz, an English tailor of the late 1700's and early 1800's, who made the finest silk pajamas for royalty and other wealthy patrons. Nothing like a cat nap in Kat'z pjs. (from the book, "Cats out of the Bag" compiled by Terry, Don and Ken Beck)
Alternative: A slang phrase coined by Thomas A. Dorgan in the 1920s when the word "cat" was used as a term to describe the unconventional flappers from the jazz era. This was combined with the word pyjamas (a relatively new fashion in the 1920s) to form a phrase used to describe something that is the best at what it does, thus making it highly sought and desirable.

Source:  http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/phrases.htm

It's also the title of a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury.

Leo in the Light

I'm starting a new tradition on my blog, to post my favorite photo of the week on Fridays.  I love how the natural outdoor light shines on and through Leo's fur. Look at how you can see the veins in Leo's ears as the sunlight shines through them. It reminds me of when we were young and took a flashlight into a dark place, maybe camping in a tent or a closet, and we'd hold it behind a finger or a friend's ear to see what's inside.  Kinda freaky, but fun.  Was it an attempt to see the insides of a person?  Wasn't it just "the cat's pajamas" to use the flashlight to "see" the veins inside or make shadow puppets?

Journaling Prompt:  What are some "cat" phrases you know?  What quirky things did you do as a kid, or now?

Go. Create. Inspire! And, do something that's "The Cat's Pajamas!"

Leo the Writing Cat

Quote of the Day:  To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make. - Truman Capote

This is Leo. 

We went to the shelter in search of a new cat.

He chose us with a leap on my lap, an instant purr, and curious blue-green eyes.

On Friday, I went to Turtle Town Books, an independent bookstore in the little town north of my home.  I wanted to get a copy of Abercrombie Trail by local author Candace Simar for my dad for Father's Day.  I had read that one and bought the other two in the series.  It's an excellent historical novel set in Minnesota, 1862, during the early days of the settlers, mostly Scandinavian, and the Sioux uprising.  So well done. Interesting story line.  Well researched.

I walked into the store and saw that they had a book signing by an author from Wisconsin.  I bought three of his books, also to share with my parents.

Several siblings and I, plus a couple nephews, were at the farm for an early Father's Day celebration, and after a delicious noon dinner, I presented my folks with their new books.  Mom saw Stolen Genes, Stolen Children by G.R. Revelle and said she bought his book when she was at Hoestfest in Minot, ND.  She said, "It's a terrible book.  You all need to read it!"  She'd given her copy to my brother Phil, and sent this new one home with my brother Nathan.  Guess I'm fourth in line.  (I'm the fourth of six kids.)

Leo was also curious about these books from a Wisconsin author with Swedish roots.

At one point he licked the books. The first time I had lobster bisque, I told the waitress that it was so good I could lick the bowl.  Guess the same goes for books, just ask Leo.

While Matilda was the piano cat who sat next to each of my students while they came for lessons, Leo sits on top of the piano and enjoys the good vibrations.  He also sits on my lap when I try to type.  I haven't quite figured out how to work around that big, fluffy tail.

Go. Create. Inspire!

And, sink your teeth into a tasty book!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a time when you had a chance encounter or a surprising discovery.

New Guy in my Life

Quote of the Day:  FOG by Carl Sandburg



THE fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

That's just how Leo glided into our hearts.  I told the boys, "We're just going to look at HART" to see what cats they have at the shelter, and that "We probably won't find just the right one the first time we go."  So, we walked into the cat room.  I sat down on a chair, thinking, I'll let the boys look at the cats.  Then, this big, fluffy furball climbed on my lap, snuggled down and started purring.  He loved it when I pet him.  Then, Zach sat down to hold him, and he fell asleep on his lap.  They were closing, so I said we'd go home and "sleep on it."

Saturday morning, I was trying to distract myself from thinking about that white, fluffy cat at the animal rescue shelter, by reading blogs.  Inkygirl posted this link, and it was all over. It's photos of writers and their kitties.

So, I called the shelter, and we went to get him.  I told Zach to try brushing him, because with a coat like that, he'd better like being brushed.  He loved it.  I filled out the paperwork, paid the fee, and brought the pet porter into the room.  I set it on the floor and opened the door. Zach set Leo down and he walked right into the porter.  We were all shocked.  The worker said, "I've never seen a cat so willing to go in one of those.  He must really want you to take him home."  Yep, I feel like Leo picked us.

He's about a year and a half, is declawed and fixed, well cared for, and had to leave his family due to allergies.  You can tell he's been snuggled and played with, brushed and loved.

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever gotten a pet from a shelter, or rescued one? 

F is for Final Curtain

Letter of the Day:  F

F is for the Final Curtain for our feline friend Matilda.

Here she is with her best boy, Zach.

As I mentioned earlier this week, Matilda hadn't been eating.  At first we thought it was her teeth, so the vet did a dental extraction. She still didn't eat much.  I brought her in.  We tried a few more things, but still she seemed disinterested in food.  On Tuesday, the vet took an x-ray and diagnosed cancer. I sat with her on my lap and let the tears fall.  We all said our last good bye on Wednesday morning.  Charlie wanted to play one last song for her on the piano.  Matilda loved to sit on the bench when my students came for lessons, or when I played.  (See my post on Pet Therapy.) Charlie played, What a Wonderful World.

Zach and I took her to the vet and held her until the last.  He was so sad, he couldn't even go to school.  I went to my noon workout at the Y.  When I came home, he had engraved the clay paw print disk that the vet made for us.

When a show has finished it's run, the last performance has "The Final Curtain Call."  The actors linger a bit longer on stage, shed extra tears, and give each other tender hugs.  As soon as they leave the stage, they will strike the set, and the performances will be but a sweet memory, lingering in the clouds, and yet the experience was worth the brief moment that it existed.  The orchestra has stopped playing the music, but the song lingers on.

Journaling Prompt:  What are some precious momentos that you keep?

C is for Charlie, Cat, and Curtain

Letter of the Day:  C

This is Charlie and our cat Matilda.  Charlie is the older of my twin sons by 12 minutes.  He prides himself on being the different one.  When he was younger, to express his individuality, he'd do things in his own sweet time.  That could sometimes be challenging to the rest of the family.  Being one of four brothers, plus having a twin that looks much like you, causes many comparisons and a few controversies.  But, Charlie can handle it with class, if he chooses.

The cat Matilda isn't doing very well.  She's only eight, but has stopped eating.  I took her to the vet, and they did a dental including extracting two rotten teeth. She's still not eating.  I'm worried.

C is also for curtain.  In an older traditional stage, you would enter for a show and the curtain would be closed.  The audience didn't know what was behind the curtain.  When I was in a few plays in high school, I loved walking onto the stage while the audience was being seated.  I'd check my props and stare at the curtain knowing that I could do anything, and they wouldn't see me, but all that would change as soon as the curtain lifted.  Now, it is more common to walk in and see the curtain open, or no curtain at all, and the audience is immediately drawn into the mood of the play by the set.  When I direct children, we often perform in open spaces, no curtain, no hiding, unless you get creative with the set.

The English expression, "It's curtains for you," comes from the use of the curtain which dropped or closed signalling the end of a play. It can be extended to mean the end or death of something or someone.

If Matilda doesn't start eating soon, it will be curtains for her.  That makes me horribly sad.

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a pet you have or would like to have, or a time when you had to say good-bye.

Of Mice and Mint

Quote of the Day:  Tea for two, and two for tea, mint for me, Matilda for you. - song I'm singing as I plot against my easy rider mouse.

I'd like to thank Nezzy at Cowpatty Surprise for leaving a comment on my post about my misadventures with a mouse.  Her blog is rip-roarin' fun, filled with good Southern farm girl humor, and a catchy tune that becomes the theme of each post - a girl after my own rythmic heartstrings.  She told me that mice don't like mint, and that if I douse my van, etc. with the smell, they'll stay away.

So, I looked in my cupboards.  The only thing I had with mint was mint tea.  So, I brewed some.  Then, I threw the tea bag in the van.  And, just for good measure, threw in a few extra.  I had both spearmint and peppermint tea bags, and not knowing which one the mice hate more, I threw them both in.  Then, when I was done drinking, I noticed a little liquid at the bottom of my teapot, so I "spilled" it on the floormat under my feet.  When I went out for coffee the next morning, I ordered the mint mocha, of course.  You know how at the bottom it gets a little thick from the chocolate?  Well, I just left the lid off and set it right there in the cup holder of my van - the more mint smell the better, right? 

After all the poking around I did with the lightsaber, and forcing my children to clear out all the junk and check under every seat, I decided it was a good time to bring the van in for a good washing.  Plus, I'd rather have the guys at the car wash vacuum it out.  I don't want to put my face down there near where a mouse might be.  I asked for "The Works" which includes an air freshener spray.  I told them anything with a hint of mint.  They said "new car" was the closest they had, then suggested stuffing dryer sheets under the seats and around in the van. 

You guessed it, when I got home, I grabbed about seven dryer sheets, put one under each seat and around that carpet area under the dash and near the pedals because that seems like a very handy place for a mouse to enter.

I made more mint tea, invited Matilda and the mouse, and we'll see what happens.  But, just to be safe, I found a bottle of mint scented lotion which I have generously slathered on my arms and especially my legs.  I also have a giant fear of one of those little critters crawling up my pants leg.

Alright, I'll set the mouse wars aside for a minute and share with you a link about spicing up your life and feeling healthier too.  I discovered this article while scooting around the internet this morning.  Add spices to your health!

Okay, here's the shopping list:
Mint
Garlic
Mint
Cinnamon
Mint
Cardoman
Mint

Go. Create. Inspire! (and sprinkle a few mint leaves around every door and window crevice - either that or use the toothpaste as caulking!)

Journaling Prompt:  Do you have any "home" rememdies that work for you?

A Game of Cat and Mouse

Quote of the Day:  Hickory Dickory Dock - traditional Nursery Rhyme

Hickory, dickory dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,

The mouse ran down,

Hickory, dickory dock.

Those sneaky, little devils will go anywhere!  We've discovered mice and evidence of mice in interesting places.  If you live in and around woods, lakes, fields, the countryside, grass, and the corn is off the fields, and the temps. drop below freezing, you'll get univited guests.  I have boys and a cat named Matilda, but they're more prone to sitting around reading books, or hanging out on the piano bench than out hunting mice.

Get up!  Didn't you hear that scratching sound in the vents?

Oh, I know, Matilda, I'd rather be on the piano bench, too.

Matilda likes mice.  She plays with them by tossing them in the air and chasing them around, maybe giving them a few love taps until they're all played out and run under the couch for a rest.  The rest can turn into a nap they never wake up from.  Then the living room stinks, so I move the couch to vacuum, and WHOA! get a nasty surprise. 

Looks like Miss Matilda is reading the paper and waiting, waiting...

We've had surprises in the bathtub overflow drain (yes!) and most recently suspicious evidence in the van.

A few years back, when Zach was in the tub (around 8 years old), he called me in because he saw something sticking out of the overflow drain.  It was a tail!  Then, a small paw!  I ran out of the bathroom with a shreek!  In the morning, the dad was trying to get rid of the mouse and asked for a tool.  I grabbed the spatula.  The twins were about six-years-old then.  They saw me head upstairs with the spatula and asked if breakfast was ready.  "Not, yet," I said, spatula raised and ready.  "Dad has to kill a mouse first."  They responded, "We're having mice for breakfast?"

  So, when I saw evidence of tiny creatures in the van - ripped up kleenex box and suspicious droppings, I freaked out!  I thought, if a mouse runs out while I'm driving, I'm going to crash.  I looked at the tools I had for this battle - a lightsaber and a cat.  Matilda gave me a one-eyed stare and fell back asleep, so I grabbed the lightsaber, opened all the doors to the van, and poked around in there.  Jab, then - paschew! the lightsaber lit up and made a loud noise.  I jumped.  I jabbed again.  It exploded with a new color and more sound.  I scared myself.  The mouse was probably tucked up under the engine at this point, laughing at me.

It might be gone.  I'm ready to take drastic measures.  I am NOT a mouse taxi.  No way.  No free rides from this chicken, or should I say elephant.  My boys said, "Mom, you're like an elephant."  Hmm, not so sure I like that comparison.  "No, it's because you're afraid of a tiny, little mouse."

So be it.  Mice be gone.  Matilda, wake up!

Go. Create. Inspire!  (then, come over here and help me fight the mice...please.)

Journaling Prompt:  Tell me your mouse tales!