Christmas in Portland

The house all decorated for Christmas

Snow falling and the lights on

Bailey watching the snow fall in the yard from the comfort of our warm living room

Sidney taking his turn in the front window... 

not sure what that snow stuff is all about.

Best to just cuddle up and take a nap when it is so cold out.  Even Kira agrees.

Sidney's New Home

Sidney made himself at home in no time!

Mike's Cats

Sidney definately knows who his new Daddy is.  He also knows to give Kira her space.  Siamese cats are so dang smart. 

Kira was napping in Mike's legs and Sidney wanted some of that lovin' too.  He knows he'll get some as long as he can climb onto Daddy's lap without disturbing Kira.  Success!

This is their first Tandem photo.  Sorry it was kinda blurry.

Halloween in Portland

HalloweenTime on our first October in Portland.  I have not lived in a "Trick-Or-Treat" worthy house in decades, so our rental house got to step up and get decked out for the holiday.  Bailey watched me decorate the yard from the front window.  Of course, we had to include the cat decorations!

Meet Sidney

So a new PetSmart opened on Monday, and Mike & I had to go check it out... well at least go and welcome the rescue kitties to their new *temporary* home.  As we walk up, the first cat we see was this cute, very shy boy.  Since Kira may not be with us much longer, we know the day will be coming when we have to transfer our lovin' to another feline, and while we hate to 'replace' her before she was even gone, here was a cat that perfectly matched our desires: Siamese (not brown, like Simba), male, Bailey's age, grey (like Kira), and a rescue cat needing a new home.  He is very very shy, a huge lover, purrs so hard he drools, and we brought him home on Friday.  We named him Sidney.

Kira's Day in the Sun

Kira in the window cat bed.  She didn't have the same problems getting in it that Bailey had.

Bailey: Fail

Cat Bed: Yoo doin it wrong!

Now thatz mo better

Bailey at the Day Spa

Bailey has got it soooo rough.

Kira at the Office

Kira showed up to help Daddy work.

Not sure how much work Mike accomplished.

Who's A Good Boy?

Bailey's a good boy!

A Quiet Bailey Moment

Yes, even Bailey shuts down for a big nap.  Zzzzz

Day Two in Portland

The common experience "Trauma" (2-day car ride) has created some civility between Bailey and Kira.

Kira sleeping alone in the empty house.

Bailey is the project foreman and helps direct traffic as Mike & I move in furniture.

Kitties arrive in Portland

After almost a week of being Gypsy Kitties, the last two days spent in the car, Kira and Bailey are ready to follow daddies into their new home.  (Kira is in the backseat window, Bailey is in the front)

Kira Health News II

The day after her first chemotherapy. She was pretty tired and exhausted overnight, but she was up in her window today and was very active. She was very ready to give out a lot of lovin'.

Bailey Turns Two

Bailey spent his 2nd Birthday just lounging out in the backyard, just kicking back while bird-watching.


(Here, he is practicing his "Big Boy" Roar, as he thinks he one of the big cats. Alas, I had to break it to him that his roar won't get any more ferocious, that he is now as big as he is gonna get, and that it is all probably for the best as he is much too dainty and delicate to ever live on his own in the wild.)


... so he posed for a Birthday Photo.

Bailey Turns Two: Remembering Simba

It was 2 years ago today that Simba passed away, so I want to make sure to remember him (even though I still think of him often anyway). Bailey was found and adopted because he was born on this same day, as I have said before, and carries on in Simba's name ever since.

Kira Health News

Kira, our older & wiser Zen cat, stayed overnight at the Veterinary Hospital on March 12th, after a biopsy. We found out today that she has lymphoma, so now we have to decide on beginning chemotherapy with her. Cats seem to tolerate it much better than people and the success rate is quite good, so the financial impact is the only consideration left.

Kitty Learning Curve

I feel I may have discovered some clues regarding the secrets of the cat underground. Apparently there is some sort of learning and training process involved.

I discovered this photo of a young Bailey, in what I can only assume, a poorly executed "BathTub PopUp KittyKat" pose. Although I am still not sure of the purpose of the common bathtub ceremony, it is quite clear that Bailey has not yet got the concept of a bathtub quite right at this young age.

(On the other hand, maybe this has nothing to do with the cat underground secrets, and Bailey had just not gotten the concept of a cat bed quite right.)

Telemarketing PROOF!

Finally, I have some proof of underground kitty telemarketing.

This photo is from the website ICanHasCheezburger.com.
(The kitty in this photograph has requested that his real name and identity remain anonymous)

A Modern Mouser

Bailey is a true product of our Pop Culture society. Apparently there IS an easy way to catch a mouse... ...just work for one.

The Secret Bond of...

... two kitties who never met.

Simba in the tub in 1999...
... and his birthright Bailey, in nearly the same situation, in 2006.

Notes and secrets were obviously exchanged between these two...!