Daily Photo: Mimi on My Yoga Mat, 2024

July 9, 2025 Bernadette

Mimi comes to my mind lately as if she’s still here. I think it’s the similarity to last year of the weather and deck and garden and all the things we did, and how closely I stayed with her, especially her last month as she clearly enjoyed it all. You may see her a little more often in the next few weeks.

Owning my yoga mat was her favorite activity next to drinking from her wheelbarrow or actual birdbath water bowl. Even when I haven’t had it rolled out on the deck for my yoga I can still see her there as she was last year, stubbornly settling down in the middle of things and refusing to move, and I’m really enjoying it. It was so Mimi. So many sweet memories.

And very often in those days Mariposa was watching over us from one door or another, from the back door up on the deck, from the basement door when we were in the garden, or from the front door when we were on the front porch or on the walk.

And, oh my goodness, scroll down to 2023–this is when the renovations had just started, everything was out of the basement and in the garden, and all the cats were out of the basement for several days while they jackhammered the basement floor for the internal French drain. What a mess! I leaped into moving everything out of the basement, moving litterboxes around, packing up the kitchen, oh it was so much work but I was right on it. I look at it now, in hindsight, and I’m sooooooo glad I’m not facing that now!

Photos from Previous Years

Friday Four and More: Afternoon Nap on the Bed, 2021

six cats on bed — The four move in on Hamlet and Mariposa for their afternoon nap.

Hamlet and Mariposa were enjoying their usual late afternoon nap on the bed when, one by one, their elders joined them. I believe I was either sewing or working on some other project in my room and, as always, the Four eventually joined me, and got their nap on the bed in at the same time. All through the years I’ve been here I have loved to see my cats on the bed, it’s just a simple comfort to me to see them so comfortable. And a joy to see the four together, as they often napped on the bed even when I wasn’t upstairs.

Hamlet is the little pile of fur at the foot of the bed, Mariposa is up by the pillows. Mewsette is curled near Mariposa and was the first to arrive, greeting me and then Mariposa, having a quick face wash and then settling in.

Next Jelly Bean greeting Mariposa and possibly the two considered a little wrestling match as they often did, but the sun was too nice and the bed was soft, so Bean curled up on the pillows. But he didn’t have the pillows to himself for too long—Mr. Sunshine liked that spot too and initially got up on the pillows and cuddled with Bean, instigating a co-grooming session which usually turned into a wrestling match or a nap together, but this time Mr. Sunshine wanted that spot. Apparently Bean was pretty firmly settled there. Mr. Sunshine usually got his way, I’m not sure how Bean kept his place and went to sleep this time. But Mr. Sunshine settled down in the middle of the bed, looking at Bean. Bean is unconcerned and happily sleeping.

Giuseppe joined last, settling down right behind Mr. Sunshine so he had room for his bath and could also keep an eye on me, as he is here. I know that expression of his. He wanted some affection, so no doubt I went over and petted him.

I took a few more photos after this but this was my favorite, especially since Giuseppe is looking at me.

I took another little break from posting and social networking to rest my eyes a little more. It was a good idea because the little nagging discomfort I felt never developed into eye strain and is gone, and my right eye had started with a little blurriness again, but that is gone as well. And I missed posting! I may need to do this now and then, but I think it will fade if I’m careful.

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And look what was happening this year at this time—Mimi and I were moving everything out of the basement into the tent in my garden, and then jackhammering in the basement!

Photos from Previous Years

Renovations Update, 2023

Tent full of stuff, and morem preparing for renovations.

I had to clear all the things out of my basement for the upcoming renovations in my home, and here is the partial result. The tent is 10 ft by 10 ft and the bottom of the canopy is 8 ft. And even at that I didn’t have enough room for everything. I started Tuesday night during fireworks, then continued all day Wednesday until after dark.

Mimi supervised me through the first part of the operation when I began putting things under the tent…

Mimi supurrvises to make sure things are neat and well-packed.

…and then collecting another big pile of things in the basement by the door…

Mimi watches me move and pile stuff to go out the door.

…and then fitting that together outside. After that she took a very long nap.

Mimi checks to see if I could have used this space better.

The water you see in the back corner is a constant flow of groundwater seeping into the wall and flowing across the floor. This is in the corner where I’d set up my basement studio.

All the cats are locked out of the basement while this work is happening, so now they have litter boxes on the first floor; they’ve always had one or more on the second floor. But I wasn’t concerned that they’d be confused because they’re good kitties. They were on those litter boxes right away and even though I see one or two of them still head for the basement door which is locked shut and blocked until everything is done they still go right to their litter boxes where they are now, and they’re not showing any signs of stress or fear, an achievement for kitties like Mariposa and Hamlet.

Good kitties using the litterboxes upstairs.

The workers came Thursday to prep the basement and Friday the work started. This morning (Friday), jackhammering in the basement in preparation for the interior French drain. Not bad, just a few seconds at a time. Basement interior is 14’x20′, going around the base of each wall.

I was handing out treats laced with Rescue Remedy to all. Mimi, Giuseppe, Mr. Sunshine, Jelly Bean and Basil in the kitchen being calm.

Sienna is upstairs on the bed, Hamlet sitting next to it, and Bella and Mariposa are just ears among the bins under the bed. Mr. Max is nonplussed, but Morty is looking suspiciously at the furnace vent. The workers showed up at 8:00 am, which is fine but usually they start at 9:00, and I hadn’t fed breakfast yet. They took a break at about 11 so I called each cat into the kitchen and gave each a can of Fancy Feast, all different flavors. They were pretty happy about that. Except that Mr. Sunshine is not eating well; he had a slight fever, I gave him fluids and meds this morning but I may have to take a step farther. I don’t think this work bothers him, I think it may be the Convenia shot is at 10 days and whatever infection he had might be able to get past the fading Convenia.

Notwithstanding, this inconvenience is not bad for a forever solution to a problem I’ve spent probably thousands over the years in waterproofing materials and did the work myself, every three to four years, $300 to $500 each time, not to mention loss of damaged items. No more wet paws or feet, and I can get back to work down there. Next is a couple days of concrete work then it sets and cures.

Finding quite a few cat guys among the workers so far.

Can’t wait to get back to work in my basement studio, and enjoy the areas that were damaged by the hole in my roof and other water damage. Me and the kitties will let you know how it’s going.

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Mimi in the Laundry Shade, watercolor, 6 x 6 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

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All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.

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Daily Photo: Mimi on My Yoga Mat, 2024

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From the Back Yard and Beyond

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From Portraits of Animals

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From Custom Pet Memorial Votives

Photos from Previous Years

Friday Four and More: Afternoon Nap on the Bed, 2021