October 8, 2015October 4, 2015 by greg-in-washington

Haiku to you too / Moles

It is Haiku Day at cat school. Zeke is going to present his first one. He has been working a long time on it. Note the juxtaposition between ideas, and his skillful use of the “kireji” between ideas–Meeeeeee Owwww. The subject of the haiku is, of course, Death of a Mouse.

Aahemm

DEATH OF A MOUSE

Meow, meow, meeeeeeee
OWWWW! Meow, meow, meow.
Meee ow ow ow ow!

The Land that Time Forgot

Generally, when I am showing my cats in the yard, I selectively choose which photos to present to the public. It gives the illusion of a yard similar to Kew Gardens in the UK. That is not the case. The grass is frequently unmowed in the back where people cannot see. There are woods and fallen trees. The front is manicured to present the illusion that I care about lawns. I have a bad mole problem in the back. The Donald Trump of moles has been building high-rises. There is probably gambling down there!

It is against the law in Washington to trap moles–too inhumane; however, you can sit on the back porch and shoot their little heads off if they stick them up with a .22 bolt-action. It’s my constitutional right, I think. Other more humane methods just drive them into my neighbors yards. Boiling mint leaves and stems in water and pouring it down the holes is environmentally friendly and harmless; and drives them away temporarily, but you cannot quit. I adopted a live and let live policy. The result can be seen below. (The figure holding the torch is “Kate” from the tv series “Lost”. She graciously agreed to come over and have a look round. Seems there is more to worry about than moles!)

The land that time forgot

Don’t let it see you, Kate!

October 2, 2015 by greg-in-washington

Foggy October Morning 2

It is a typical foggy October morning here in the Pacific Northwest. I sit at the computer drinking my morning cuppa Joe–black. I indulge myself with a hot piece of microwaved apple pie with a slice of American cheese melted on the top. Not exactly the “breakfast of champions” but who cares? I don’t want it to read on my tombstone: “He never had pie.” How sad would that be? I would prefer it to read: “He ate the pie!”

I usually listen to classical music in the background while at the computer, because I do not want my mind to be distracted by lyrics. Even contemporary instrumentals will cause me to try and remember the lyrics and mumble along leaving out most of the words I have forgotten. Today is a little different, with some instrumental base jazz playing, and a dwarf in a suit dancing in the corner–not unusual here in the Pacific Northwest.

First thing though for the Maine Coons is for me to open the window and let the Maine Coons out into the catio, so they can see if anything has changed overnight. Certainly, the weather did not change. Fog with rain in the forecast.

Who is upstairs?

Who is coming out?

I have my eyes on you!

October 1, 2015October 1, 2015 by greg-in-washington

Foggy October Morning in the Catio

It is a typical foggy October morning here in the Pacific Northwest. I sit at the computer drinking my morning cuppa Joe. I remember when we were complaining about all the sunshine and the extreme heat! Now it is gone, and the furnace kicks on in the early morning. I like it to be warm when I crawl out of bed. When it gets colder, I will be having furry company in bed at night. First thing though is to open the window and let the Maine Coons out into the catio, so they can see if anything has changed overnight.

There were some black bears up a tree nearby earlier this week. Animal control got them down and returned them to the forest. I have my own little forest in the back as you can see. Deer and squirrels and red-tail hawks frequent it.

(Marigold, not a coon, marches to a different drummer, and has her own routine.) Once the coons are satisfied, they come inside for their breakfast. After breakfast, they go back outside again.