How much is that dragon, moose, bulldog, flamingo, monkey, skunk and pink poodle...in the window?

The feeders have shared news of their pet food shopping with us before. We usually cast a critcial, yet appreciative eye upon the new stock of cans that the shop yields, and then look forward to the latest pictures of the shop window. There have been some fairly surreal sights in the past; this month, well, only pictures can tell:

Firstly, our (only?) local dragon has slipped from his former steed and now looks a little subdued, alongside an equally benign (comical) bulldog.



A plan is afoot, feeders say, to liberate the local dragon from this ignomy.

Meanwhile, a flamingo lives in a (faux?) burberry kennel....



...an inspiration, no doubt, for all the Manhattan Flamingo owners who may fret about appropriate pet housing.

We selfishly look for cat realted window features, and yes, sure enough, they seem to have a good scratching post, but it appears to be the happy perch of a monkey embracing (or is it strangling?) a moose.





At this point I suppose it was no surprise to Fritz and I that there's also a pink poodle (we assume) and a skunk - what else - featured in the same window...



Words fail us. All we can say is , they may all look strange at the local pet shop, but they do have our favourite foods, and they are always in stock. As long as the feeders can secure our supplies from this, their very local, pet food emporium, who are we to complain?

Floored!

We have parquet floors and it's always been one of my daily tasks to attempt to liberate a portion of it, and carry it away to my secret lair, (under the bed, but please don't tell the Feeders). Obviously, I'm a busy chap, so this has been an on-going endeavour. I have many other obligations as you may understand. However, I have always felt that it's good to set goals ( as long as I set them)!

I'm nothing if not determined, and finally, last weekend, whilst they were away - Mission Accomplished!



That's the Feeders photograph of me at the scene of the crime. I attempted to adopt my "butter wouldn't melt in my mouth" innocent air, but I'm not certain it looks as convincing as I had hoped...



Fritz does not approve of what he terms my "vandalism". I think it's only because he likes the colour of the floor as it is rather complimentary to his colouring, and hence, his photo opportunities. Ah, those orange hues.



I turned my back (innocently), and looked ahead to my next challenge;



Fritz and the Feeders often term it "mischief", (occasionaly worse), but I'll let you know when I have chosen my next "project".

The Patience of Job (s)

Well, one Feeder began a new job last month. The other began inheriting a new boss. It was a little disconcerting for Fritz and I to sense their apprehension. To be honest, we were a little preturbed as well.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that they leave home every weekday morning and return each evening purely to earn that monthly or bi-monthly cat food/treat/toy voucher. We are not too keen on any eventuality that might endanger this equilibrium.

However,they seem to have survived the transitions and we're most happy that they remain happy (-ily employed!)

I extend the paw of congratulations....



...and Fritz rests easy once more



Just this past weekend, the Feeders escaped to the sea-shore as guests of kind friends. They seemed more relaxed when they came home. They stayed at a house equiped with rustic, sea-salt-rusty bicycles....



...an immortal frog in the deer-nibbled, shore weathered herb window-box....



..and saw more Monarchs in one weekend than ever; a chance to to photograph them as they have never had before:





We know that this made a Feeder or two happy. Fritz and I are relieved they are back, and we know that they thank their friends who invited them to that Atlantic shore. We hear the hospitality, kindness and company was beyond compare. We guess that some tales may ,as yet, remain untold.

Fritz, the Feeders and I know who these friends are, and we thank them all most sincerely!

Library Additions from England

Fritz, as you may recall, is a fan of the feeders library .

Whilst In England, a few additions (editions) were purchased, mainly adding to the Butterfly and Moth component of the shelves (now straining in their New York City apartment confines). Fritz and I are allowed to peruse and approve:



We have many books on Butterflies from countries visited by the Feeders, and on occassion, their family contributes if they are somewhere abroad and can find the right book shop.



Once in a blue moon, the feeders see a butterfly they can photograph (they move, we're told, more than Fritz and I - so we'll work on that).



But, that's a Monarch, here on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and perhaps we are told, in time she may be in Mexico, having a nap.

We'll stay and nap here, but we do admire the butterflies that seem to have to fight the odds to survive, and then, maybe, have a nap.

Rocking Boy Bloggers

Ernest and I are honored to be nominated as Rocking Boy Bloggers by Karl and Anastasia, Caesar and Princess, and Kimo and Sabi. Thank you! We would like to nominate all those boy cats out there for this award, because all you boy cat bloggers rock!

Normal (food) service has been Resumed!

The Feeders are home again! We were well cared for whilst they were away, but we slept a lot and waited, and it was hot here and we were jealous as they were in cooler climes (=England). Under such circumstances, Fritz and I can be quite good sleeping buddies.



Not often we're so close: only when the Feeders are so afar:



We don't have the full details of the trip yet, they appear a little tired at the moment . They say Jet Lag. We're patient kitties, but we can't help wondering if this was a contributing factor to thier slow recovery time.



When they are fully awake (5.00 am tomorrow if we have anything to do with it!), then no doubt we'll have more updates once more and news of the travels.

Fritz and I hope you have all been well (& well fed) during our hiatus.

Blimey, it was hot.

Here in Manhattan it was too hot last week for much posting. It peaked at about 92 (on the old-world temperature thingy), and it was really humid to boot. Luckily, the Feeders are in training for a trip to Engalnd, so they were prepared to turn the only air conditioner we have up to "Arctic" setting (11 on the Spinal Tap scale), so hopefully they will be fully prepared for the full force of this English summer!

Here I am, hogging the full force of the arctic blast (temporarily, as Fritz "of the Antarctic," relishes this perch too).



Without the air conditioning on in the bedroom, our fisking activities were limited. Not much else to do other than sit around as expansively and handsomely as possible: Here, together -



And here's Fritz looking very cool and distinguished in adversely humid conditions - cool as a cucumber!



Of course, I can do that too:



Well, as it's me posting, and if it's too hot to move, I'll happily oblige the photographers with some of my best poses:



But, the vanity backfires: just as I look left for my best profile shot (even though I say so myself) .....



Then, to my right, distracting my moment in the limelight, what do you think that ginger blur might be?



I'll tell you what it might be....jealous!