From the Archives: Sisterly Grooming, Little Basil and Bella, 2014
Basil had been here for about six weeks, and Bella about three weeks. They were fast friends, I mean both quickly and close. We brought Bella in, Basil greeted her, and they were playing hard the next day. Basil’s name was Smokie then.
Little birds came to visit the bathroom window just for Smokie and Bella! Smokie is on the left and Bella on the right, and you can see they are totally focused on something to the right of Bella—a juvenile cardinal with just enough red to tell it from the sparrows happily hopping through the pear tree, pussy willow and grapevines snacking on grapes and bugs. (Remember that Smokie’s name is Basil now).
Well, probably they came to visit for the little purple grapes hanging just outside the window but Smokie and Bella were sure they had come for their environmental enrichment. Below the two stare in stereo in another direction at a sparrow at the same activities.
“Don’t feel bad little Smokie, the birdie had to go off and do other things. And why are kittens so dirty and need to be washed all the time?!” says Bella as she licks Smokie’s face.
Bella gives Basil a little bath: Why are kittens always so dirty?
I have to admit, this is from last week, and I’m having trouble keeping up with photos. I have so many nice ones! You don’t get much done with kittens around, though!
In fact, today I was downstairs with a customer when I heard shuffling and rattling of the bathroom door, not unusual when big cats try the door regularly trying to get to kitten food and little cats try the door trying to get out. But this time, when I got upstairs, the bathroom door was open and the room was full of adult cats, all five, who had eaten all the kitten food. Kittens were frolicking in my studio.
Tonight the little ones have roam of upstairs and downstairs, but basement is blocked. It’s being thoroughly explored. Mimi is at the top of the steps telling kittens not to pass so that they spend more time downstairs, Jelly Bean is giving encouraging chirps to run and play and Giuseppe is playing with toys with both. Mr. Sunshine swatted a catnip carrot to Bella. Mewsette and Sunshine asked to go into the basement, though, since there was a mouse down there. Later, they asked to come up so I opened the door and Mr. Sunshine hopped up carrying the mouse. Smokie was sure he was seeing things! I put Mr. Sunshine back in the basement with the mouse. They aren’t ready for that yet.
This is what Smokie thinks! olkkkkkkkkkkkkk896
Photos From the Archives and Vintage Photos
Photos pulled “From the Archives” were taken by one or another digital camera of mine between 2002 and, well, yesterday, but usually they are older than that, and I had never had the chance to feature them. Vintage Photos are from my film archives back to 1983 when I purchased my Pentax K-1000 camera. They’re a fun way to “introduce” other members of my feline family who came and went before I began blogging, and to illustrate my feline family in general from days gone by.
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