Rise and Shine! Coffee, Black or White?

Eventually, early each morning , with some assiduous effort on my part, a Feeder can be roused from their morning slumber (don't they know it's my Labor Day, every day)?

Once they're awakened, I have some time. Sprint to the kitchen, jump in the box atop the refrigerator, and duck. Then, await the unsuspecting prey.

Here they come, shuffling towards the kitchen, eyes squinted like a just surfaced mole (uttering some inarticulate sounds that could be mole'ish too), groping for the light switch, they find it ...and then, up we spring - "Good Morning, time for coffee - black or white, or, perhaps black and white"?




The look on thier face always tells me that just like me, they appreciate early morning humour....yet another good start to a day full of Feeder life-enhancing obligations.

Next, perhaps, the curtains...?

Occasional Guest Animals

Last weekend here was something called "Labor Day Weekend". Monday specifically was the day in question, and The Feeders, along with almost everyone else, had the day off work. Fritz and I didn't quite understand, but we don't begrudge them their day off. Anyway, by their definition then, everyday is a labor day for us, and we like the sound of that - an appropriate recognition of our rigorous daily routine....

The Feeders took advantage of a long weekend and headed up the coast to friends in Milford, Connecticut. Here they met the resident cat, Kiwi. We like the look of Kiwi, seen here:



The window-sill observation post is certainly familiar to Fritz and I.



Less familiar to us though.... Kiwi goes outside too.



This looks very exciting to us, apartment-bound as we are. For Kiwi however, apparently it's all rather old hat - seems as though she could barely keep from yawning:



Well, perhaps unbeknownst even to Kiwi, there was other outdoor excitement to be had. Perhaps a mile from Kiwi's garden, high in the tree-tops...well, here's the problem: with the Feeder's rather inadequate camera, it looked like this:



David Attenborough will obviously not be calling the Feeders for their footage, but this is a Parrots nest, wild Parrots to be exact, and the Feeders saw some flying in the treetops...although you need to look hard to see them in the pictures:



Fritz and I could just discern a green Parrot backside here...



...certainly more exotic looking than our usual city pigeon viewing.

So, all in all we were quite jealous of the Feeders excursion. It was only about an hour away from the city, but we think we could make the adjustment. I don't think we'd be yawning (well, only discretely). The pigeons here do look especially dreary and grey in the winter-time.....

In Remembrance

Hello! I'm still here too!

Fritz was a bit offended by his lack of mentions in my previous post. He's not as keen as I am on the cycling, but as I was being photographed at the scene of my adventures/crimes..



...Fritz was observing with a look, if not of disapproval, then perhaps of resignation?



He's so inscrutable, I must say it's a good job I'm around to at least coax the occassional "kitten-moment" from "old sensible" as I refer to Fritz in those moments when I'm not receiving a good "lecture" from him concerning my projects.

A bicycle (re-) made for two

The Feeders, once in a while, like to go for a bike ride. Usually they cycle beside along the Hudson River, starting here in the aptly named Riverside Park;



you can practically ride the length of Manhatan along this tow path, or so we're told.

It's New York, so the bikes must live in the apartment, in the "hallway", as we somewhat grandly call the bit after the front door. For me, it's a personal playground, indeed jungle gym ,



not to mention a fantastic scratching and chewing post, all in one. I also get to imagine, and enact, racing through town on important cat missions, the exact object of which I usually forget, except for the racing bit.



Feeder number one is not too keen on the erosion of his bike seat, but it's such a good foamy, destructible item, that I just had to add it to my list of "projects". Besides, I'm on important missons.



We're not the only people with bike storage challenges in New York : here's a picture the feeders took recently of a local restaurant's storage for the food delivery bikes:



Now, that really does look like a good climbing frame/scratching/chewing post to me!

The great indoors

Rather inclement weather here for the last few days. In fact, rather autumnal. Best for Fritz and I to stay snug inside (perhaps as documented using a cheap photo effect that a certain feeder was playing around with) ....



......whilst the Feeders venture out in the rain to do whatever it is that they do to keep the cat food supply lines intact.

Mind you, it doesn't stop Fritz dreaming of the great outdoors and what joys it may yield. I think he's been reading too much of the great naturalists at We three Ginger Cat Tales blog , maybe this post amongst many others.

Maybe he was also jealous of the feeders recent trip to the seaside.

So, when the Feeders were watching television and the wildlife program featured the seaside, Fritz was first to the cliffs edge...



He was quite enthralled actually...



Fritz was an outdoor cat once, for a short time, on a farm in Ohio, far from the sea-side. So he likes to dream, and all of this stimulation and dreaming of sea air, could only have one inevitable outcome...

Today began like any other normal day...

I awoke before anybody else, as usual. Actually Fritz, woke up when I did, glanced at me disapprovingly, and rolled over, stretched languidly, and went back to sleep. As usual. So far, business as....well, you know it. I proceed to the window sill and, helpfully I feel, slowly begin to draw the curtains:



No reaction? Follow normal procedure and extend paw to postion curtain for minimum sun-blocking efficiency:



At this point, there are stirrings. The sleepers are reluctantly coming to terms with another daybreak. Another "feed and play with me dawn" as I prefer to label this "moving" hour. . The coupe de grace is the threat of climbing the curtains, at this stage, a glance is sufficient to get at least one Feeder to jump out of bed. I found out that they are a little worried about the robustness of the curtain rail, so just a glance suffices:



Everybody wide awake at sunrise, I'm happy. The day ahead usually foretells some serious post-breakfast napping, in anticipation of a return of somewhat tired looking feeders, and...well, food. Tonight, however, was different....

The Feeders came home home with a new friend. Fritz and I thought we'd seen him somewhere before, but we weren't certain. It took some time and careful investigation, but we like our new dragon friend and we hear he was the only dragon in the shop, perhaps condemend to endless window dislay exploitations unless rescued. Here follows some photos of Fritz and I getting to know a dragon that we already almost knew:

Fritz was very sceptical, so was I . Not quite sure yet Fritz, he may fire?



Getting a bit more comfortable..



And before you know it , Fritz is a dragon's best friend:



Well I opened the curtains on the day, so I can't be outdone by Fritz before bedtime. If he can befriend a dragon, so can I?



It may take some time...



but before you know it, we're almost peas in a pod...



And before bed time, Fritz is also happy to pose with our new friend, but he's tired and won't look too impressed until he's had a good night's sleep...but tomorrow morning, I'll be ready for cutains up!