Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

meritaten

hi - thank you all for the birthday wishes! it WAS a lovely, lovely day!
um - bit strange how we all seem to have birthdays around the same time isn't it? you regular contributors and myself I mean.
it was my DILs birthday on Friday too - its funny but it was only then I realised it was the anniversary of the Dday landings.
my dads birthday was July 4th, and its only cos its American Independence day I always remembered it - and now its only because of that I remember my wedding anniversary the day before! I have ALL birthdays noted on my calendar - my memory for these things is absolutely abysmal!
Barnes did get some garden time this morning, but it was a bit breezy and he kept coming in and out. then we had a quite long lasting thunderstorm and it hasn't stopped raining since! even when the sun was out it was still raining, which confused him, he came down and made me open the French door - and it really WAS raining! doesn't he trust windows? bless him - he looked out and then up at me with such a plaintive look..............seemed to sigh and went to his toy box and fished out his catnip 'mouse/hedgehog'. so we played with that for a while.
a nice game of 'pingponguppastairs' and he was ready to nap for a few hours - he slept throughout the thunder and lightening.
OH was out helping (helping? not really, he managed to ruin enough strips of wallpaper that son had to pop back to B&Q..........and they had run out of that design, so DIL has to choose more wallpaper and OH is paying............ROFL, I must txt her and tell her to choose a nice EXPENSIVE one!) them paper the bedroom. honestly, what son was thinking of asking OH to help I dunno!
So Barnes didn't have his TV buddy AGAIN! and he isn't happy about it! he has been up and down stairs, squeeking at me and even yowled long and loud!!!!!!!!!!!!! I resisted the temptation to give him treats to distract him, even ignored him - which sent him back upstairs. OH in now though and they are happily watching TV!

his_missus

My hubby's birthday is July 4th, easy to remember.

We went to pick up the kitties from Grandma's last night, they gave us their usual "unimpressed to see us" look.

Not too surprisingly they ate the pouched food they'd refused to eat at mum's all weekend. Mind you, I think the fact Tikka looked thrilled to see pouches encouraged them to eat...before she ate it all!

I wish mine would play like Barnes does. Best I can get mine to do is hide in/play with empty boxes or chase the occasional scrap of paper/leaf/piece of gravel on the kitchen floor (for all of 2 minutes).

meritaten

It quite surprises me that Barnes is almost always up for a game! he seems such a 'dignified' cat, yet he will chase around and up and down stairs like a mad thing! and he will go into his Toy basket and get out a toy - that he can play with on his own if I am busy. he doesn't seem to mind being laughed at then. perhaps he just thinks I am enjoying myself?
he isn't interested in empty boxes - now ones full of 'fun' grab his attention. and by fun I mean those Styrofoam beads or nuggets! no, he doesn't get in them like a kid in a ball pool - he likes to scoop them out and scatter them everywhere! then chase them around!

today was a bit miserable this morning but brightened up later - so lots of garden time - not warm enough for me, so Barnes had it to himself. I even got a chair out for him! he ignored it in favour of lying on the gravel at first - but has enjoyed the evening sunshine from the comfort of the directors chair. that is when he hasn't been gazing up at next doors bedroom window like a lovestruck loon. SHE has been in the bedroom window - and Barnes gazes up with a look of utter love and devotion - Its so funny! then he serenades her..............described this before. she must like it because she doesn't go away - I think he is in with a chance there...........except her owners only let her out on a harness and I am sure she has been 'done'. as has Barnes. so it must be 'lurve'.

she is a very ordinary British black and white shorthair (don't tell Barnes but I know they have had her for at least ten years and she was an adult rescue then) so she is an 'older lady'. awwwwww

I was getting OHs supper and feeling lazy I used a pack of microwave rice, and forgot that it sounds exactly like a pack of dreamies - so Barnes came racing in expecting treats! had to give him some didn't I?
um, and I had short term memory loss and forgot to set the ding for 2 minutes and only gave it 30 seconds - OH didn't seem to notice as the hot curry on top must have warmed it up. I realised my mistake but ignored myself and just dished it up! OMG - this really IS old age! and I did MAKE the curry! from scratch - honest!

meritaten

ok - today was a kid free day and I decided it was going to be a 'day off' day for me too. No washing to do - I hid the ironing in the utility room, so will do that tomorrow. rooms aren't dusty so didn't need to do that, OH had taken the hoover apart and not put it back together - and I claim to be technically challenged with appliances (he still hasn't realised that if I can build a computer myself, then hoovers, toaster etc should be a doddle), so no hoovering.
Barnes was given a few dreamies in with his dry breakfast - he quickly caught on and fished them out and ate them first! was quite funny watching him rummaging through his bowl with his paw and 'flicking' them out!
a leisurely cuppa and ciggy and ................it was still only 7.45!

no matter, I can always find ways to amuse myself. lately its been 'looming'. or as Mrs Bones puts it 'playing with your rubber bands'.
learned a new technique online while Barnes napped, then we had a 'play' and he wanted out! Sun shining, and the chance of a glimpse of his ladylove, so he went outside, and yes, I put a chair out for him again.
I was about to do his G&T and give him his lunch when I suddenly thought - Spot on should be due about now - and guess what? today was the exact day it was due. so did that much to his annoyance (I think its the smell he doesn't like).
right, so progress report on the Armitage Spot on. much to my surprise it seems to be working. I haven't had to give him a flea tablet in last couple/few weeks. this is third one now and I think I will carry on using them. they are also kinder to his skin I think. he certainly doesn't seem to scratch after I have used them (the last Fiprolene one I used had him scratching until he had bald patches!.

he had the last Applaws tin for his lunch (must pick up some more for him), and then spent the WHOLE afternoon outside! I went out too and it was Glorious! warm and blue skies and the kids were all in school so it was quiet. Bliss!

quick update
its now 9.45 and Barnes has only now come in for his supper!!

meritaten

GS2 day today and Barnes is well used to the routine. he knows I get up early so he sleeps in until he hears GS2 arrive, then dashes downstairs to 'meet and greet' and have a bite of breakfast. then goes back upstairs to sleep until I get back, or leaves the house (not sure which) then takes up residence on kitchen windowsill. that way he can see me coming back from bus stop. and pretend not to be watching for me. then he greets me and runs to French doors and yowls 'Can I go out now, can I? Now?'
Yes Barnes, its 9.30 and there I am getting a chair out for the cat! its the shady side of the house until about 12.30 so you wont catch me sitting out there unless its a real heatwave!
was a beautiful day again today - and except for food and bathroom breaks and of course G&T - Barnes has spent all of it in his garden.
where he is the poster cat for 'happiness'. awwwww.
I am trusting him a bit more now - he seems to know he isn't allowed out of the garden now (no paying social calls on his ladylove). so I don't watch him like a hawk, but a shake of a dreamies bag has him running back in.
so sorry - bit of a boring post tonight - but then, Barnes has been a boring cat today!

meritaten

sorry for not posting last night. grandgirls had a sleepover and I was busy right up until I put them to bed (finally) at about 11.00pm. I was so tired I went straight to bed. they ran me ragged!
Barnes had a lovely time with them though, got extra treats and they played 'chuckthegravel' with him. and 'helped' me settle them into bed. he stayed with them all night too. He really does love kids company.
I went shopping yesterday morning so he only had OH for company, but when I came home OH was sat in a chair on decking and - so was Barnes. lol OH did say he had got me a chair out, but I don't believe him - he never has before!

today Barnes got his G&T on time - youngest grandchild and I did it. But she wasn't very quick with his treats and he did snatch a few out of her hand.............she is well used to cats though and just gently told him, 'wait barney'.
he got more games of 'chuckthegravel' much to his delight. honestly, its quite funny to watch, he seems to treat the gravel like he does bees or flies - he tries to 'snatch it out of the air'. or when it hits the ground he 'pounces' on it. but he really likes it when it lands in the plants, he can 'stalk' it. the girls caught on and were throwing it a few inches further away at a time. he then stalked the gravel and pounced and killed it!
the cat is nuts!

his_missus

meritaten wrote: »

today Barnes got his G&T on time -

For a second there my brain processed that as the alcoholic G&T rather than groom & treat :eek: I can just imagine Barnes sipping a G&T if he were a person and not a cat

MrsAtobe

his_missus wrote: »

For a second there my brain processed that as the alcoholic G&T rather than groom & treat :eek: I can just imagine Barnes sipping a G&T if he were a person and not a cat

Glad I'm not the only one, his missus

meritaten

lol - yes his equivalent of a nice relaxing G&T cept its Groom and Treats. I shortened it in my mind and my fingers typed it!
GS1 sleptover last night - and shut his bedroom door! so Barnes sulked on the landing. he COULD have come in with me, but no, GS or nobody!
I showed GS how to play 'chuckthegravel' so he and Barnes had a few games now and then. I got yowled at because the birdbath was empty and he wanted a drink (Barnes not GS) so I had to fill that. his own water bowl had fresh water in, but birdbath water is sooooooooo much nicer according to Barnes. GS and I sat outside this afternoon once it had warmed up and Barnes had HIS chair too. which amused GS - but I did warn GS that if he gets up from his seat Barnes will take it...............and sure enough we ended up playing 'musical chairs'. Dam phone kept ringing and every time I came back - I had lost the seat again! and so did GS!

meritaten

today was a bit of an unusual day. I had a builder in to put up new plasterboard in living room. he parked out back and despite me asking him to keep gate shut he kept leaving it open. so Barnes escaped twice. and then didn't seem to care much for the great outdoors and hid under next doors car. the first time he came out for a shake of his packet of dreamies. the second time I think something had scared him and he wouldn't budge. after ten minutes I just crawled under, reached in and grabbed his scruff and hauled him out. he wasn't happy, but a few dreamies and being shut in the front bedroom (he isn't normally allowed in there) seemed to make him happier. I got dirt and oil on a favourite Tshirt - so I wasn't happy either! not to mention scraped elbows and knees!
the builder 'knocked off' at two - so the afternoon was peaceful and Barnes and I had our chairs out.................bliss. and we played 'chuckthegravel'. and I soaked Barnes with Catnip infusion. for some reason his skin is really scabby - I suspect the ants in the garden have it in for him - I am forever flicking ants off him! its definitely not fleas - OH has inspected him too, and no flea 'dirt' or any sign of fleas.
downside is ..........builder back tomorrow to 'finish off'. poor Barnes - he is going to be shut in a bedroom again.
upside is - he has had more 'treats' than usual!