Happy 4th and Staying Cool!

Darby here and all of us wish all our stateside friends a Happy 4th of July!

It has been a hot week for us and our younger white cats are housed in a separate building with a screen porch but no AC. They are in the shade and built into the hillside so stay pretty cool normally but with the temps in the upper 90s Pop had to help us stay cool.

We like to sit on the floor and keep cool. Pop hoses down the screen so the air blowing in cools us off. He also wets his hands with cool water and runs them over us - at first we didn't like it but it does feel good after a few times.

Only enjoying a cool bath.

Then Mom got the idea to fill a plastic tub with a few inches of cold water and ice cubes for us to play (and get cool in).  Only and Two Spot liked it.

Only gets his ice cube!

What have you done to stay cool this summer?

Sweet Chevelle of The Creek Cats Has Run to The Bridge

"To live in hearts

we leave behind is

not to die."

                                  - Thomas Campbell

We have sad news to share with you.  Our friend and fellow House Panther Chevelle has run off to the Bridge today. She was just 12 - too young to go.  Please stop by and offer words of comfort to her family at the Creek Cats.

Our 4th of July post will be posted later today.

Tap Tap Thursday with Chica

Hope you are all rested up after my birthday party last weekend!  I certainly am.  Thank you very much for making it such a special day for me. 

If you remember I told you about the tap tap tap technique I use to get my beans attention if I want something.  Well Mom finally figured out how to get some of our new photos on the borrowed laptop we are using so here they are. --  This is me begging for some meat off Pop's  plate a few weeks back. 

Here comes the tap, tap, tap...I keep doing it until I get results.  Sometimes it can take a while.

Don't give up.  It can take lots of practise to get it just right.  Did you get that last pic Mom?  I think it was the best tap so far! 

What trick do you use to get what you want from your humans? Ya'll have a super weekend!!

Welcome to Chica's 21st Birthday Partay!!!!

Today, Sunday June 24,  is the day..my 21st birthday!!!   Mom asked Ann of Zoolatry to make her a graphic for my 21st birthday - I love it!  Thanks Ann.

Thanks to each and every one of you for joining us this week to celebrate me and making it so special.  It was fun sharing memories of my long life with you and in turn learning more about you too.  I have had an amazing life - from being found at a Florida strip mall to moving to North Carolina and getting used to sooo many new brothers and sisters.  We have moved 6 times in my life but as  long as Mom and Pop were there - I was home.

Since the theme for this party is 21 - Mom found some info online about why the 21st birthday is so important....

Some say it’s significance originated from knighthood rituals of long ago. A boy began to learn about becoming a knight at the age of seven when he was taken on as a page. He graduated from page to squire at fourteen and became a knight’s assistant, caring for his equipment and training with him until at the age of 21 he would become a Knight.

In Elizabethan times 21 was the age of consent for a man to marry.

In the US today, 21 is the age that you can purchase alcohol.

The symbol of the 21st Birthday has traditionally been the key. It is believed that the meaning of the key is that the birthday boy or girl is now a senior member of the household and given a key to the house. 21st birthday gifts, invitations, decorations and cakes are often fashioned around the design of a key.  (my21stbirthdayideas.com)

Mom asked me to choose a song that best describes my life and I chose My Way by none other than Frank Sinatra (heeheehee) Of course Mom could not get the embedd to work on the laptop but you all knowe the song and singer!

 I appreciate your friendship and hope to be around for some time to come! Help yourself to the salmon, shrimps and ham, niptinis (of course) and assorted toys, and even a jungle gym!  Mom got me two cakes for the party - one to celebrate that now I can legally drink and the other is key cake -  "You got the key to the door, never been 21 before"! Let's PARATY!!!



Our good friends Derry of Fuzzy Tales and Sparkle  also are celebrating their birthdays that day too. Wendy's LOL spot features me - so check that out! Make the rounds and be prepared to party yntil the sun comes up!

P.S. Mom did all the posts this week on a tiny borrowed mini laptop!  Very frustrating as she could not access her photos, put on any new ones...She says she can't see straight anymore either!!!  I don't believe her but I know she loves me lots for doing this and caring for me all these years!

Caturday of Chica's 21st Birthday Week

Me as a young cat

One day until my official birthday!!!!!! I can't wait  for tomorrow but this whole week has been just super fun. 

Mom wanted me to tell you how feisty I still am. The other morning I was on the bed to wake Mom up and Yoko came up too. I didn't like that so I whapped her good. She surprised me and whapped back...next thing we know we are both whapping and growling at each other. We woke Mom up with all our commotion and both got put off the bed. It wasn't my fault!

Me now

We also had a big thunderstorm today and loud boom followed by a flash of lightning just outside the window really scared me.  Back when we lived in Florida, Mom and I were sitting on our lanai as it started to rain.  I didn't mind storms then so we stayed out in the porch.  Suddenly lightning hit the transformer right behind our house and made a huge ball of light that traveled down the wires away from us with the loudest  bang we ever heard!  Mom and I scrambled to get inside the house and I was very very skeered of storms since that day. (That ball of light blew up all the appliances inside all the houses on our street.)  Whenever I hear thunder, I crawl on my belly to the closest hidy place - under a bed or sofa.  If Mom is home I just go cower by her.  The storms here in the mountains are not so loud and violent so I do much better now.  Are you skeered of storms too?

We had some folks ask what food I ate after the last post about why I have lived this long.  Well, Mom tried cooking the food herself but none of us ate it.  So she feeds us Wellness canned food - no grain or Evo or Pet Guard.  She has to alternate the flavors since we are all very picky - especially me!  For dry which we don't get but a few as snacks, we like Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover.  Mom tried Wellness dry but we would not eat it.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and give us what we will eat.  I like my food with extra water to  soften it and with juice from the can on it.

I guess I should stop talking and let you all get to the munchies today - fresh salmon.  For games and toys - we have some that will sharpen you whapping and hiding skills!  Be sure to come back by on Sunday for the official pawty and don't forget to visit Derry and Sparkle too.  Enjoy!