Mimi and Mewsette Monday: Walking the Deck Rail and Grazing in the Grass, 2021
On Mimi and Mewsette Monday two weeks ago, on a day in 2023 with similar light and growing conditions, Mewsette was up on the deck while Mimi explored the yard. Not so on this April 4 in 2021 when Mimi was cruising the deck rail while Mewsette explored the yard. I actually think Mimi was keeping an eye on Mewsette in this photo, which might not be a bad idea since Mewsette often had the same habit as me, to start thinking deeply about something and just stop moving while the heavy thinking was happening. Sometimes Mimi would go and nudge her. But I guess Mewsette was sufficiently active down there.
This photo has a nice clean silhouette of Mimi and I thought I might like it in black and white…
This photo has a good range of clear contrasting shapes and varied patterns, and Mimi and the stuff on the deck is much more clear, but the background just loses interest without the color.
Meanwhile, Mewsette was grazing in the grass. The two of them were regular grazers, and really, they would wander around from clump to clump and graze for 10 or 15 minutes. Mewsette liked it best, though.
Guess she got all the good ones from that clump, so off she goes to the next one. It seems that one is good for a few more minutes of grazing.
Below is a post of Mimi from the end of March 2024, when the forsythia was finally blooming. One of my favorite spring subjects was to capture Mimi and the forsythia every spring, and each year the photos were different. These were her last and I think they’re the most beautiful, and it felt like a very magical day. Mimi was by herself out there with me once again after several years with Mewsette and then with Giuseppe and Mr. Sunshine. She had finally started feeling better after losing Mr. Sunshine just a month before and I think we were both happy to start feeling a little hopeful out there again.
Below Mimi are more of Mimi and Mewsette inside and out, and they and others in boxes and baskets back to 2020.
From around this date in past years
Mimi, Garden Chairs, Windchimes, March Wind, and a Redwinged Blackbird, 2024
Little Mimi cat at 20 years old enjoying yet another spring in the back yard while I work in my garden, basking in her new favorite place, the garden chairs. She is supposedly supurrvising me, but I say she’s napping.
Below is a brief video where Mimi and I are serenaded by a redwinged blackbird, and there is March wind and windchimes, so turn up the sound. Those garden chairs have become a destination for her!
I actually took this video last Thursday, March 28 after returning with yet more medication for her. It was soooo nice so of course we went outside, and neither Mimi nor I wanted to come inside, so we kept going out. Well worth the time! The antibiotic worked its magic on her and we are settling back into a happy routine with just a few other medications.
And because she encouraged me to keep going outside, after studying what I needed to do and planning it out, I decided to stay outside last Friday to get more moving/shuffling/organizing of the piles of things on and under my deck, in my yard, on my front porch, and in my basement. That lasted until today unless it was actively raining or dark outside, actually, so it’s time to catch up and get back to posting.
Wow, did I get a lot done in the way of finding things I’ve needed, making my basement studio space work better, having more space on the deck and a neat and clean front porch, working my way through the yard, planning my garden, and organizing my spaces in the house for work and play.
Thanks, Mimi, for getting me moving! I’ll share photos of what we accomplished in coming days—after I catch up with the comments on not just the video of them in the kitchen that went viral on YouTube, but now people are watching and commenting on other videos too. It’s sweet, to share them now.
~~~
From Paths I Have Walked
Forgotten Chairs, poem in progress
I shared this on “Today” too, but instead of “From the Back Yard and Beyond” I thought I’d share it here from my writing site. Here’s the poem, and I have a very brief essay there too.
Who is telling me a story?
Whose legs wore the paint so thin on that rounded oak edge?
Who sat for breakfast in these chairs?
Who listened to family stories?
Now that our histories are linked by chance
I want to know who you are.
~~~
From Portraits of Animals
Forest Bathing, the Misty Spring Woods
From around this date in past years
Chin Rubs, 2023
Mewsette gets into the swing with chin rubs on the ceramic plant pot. Mimi rubs her chin on everything so Mewsette gave it a try, and by her expression you can tell she’s working hard to determine how it is and having lots of deep thoughts. It appears to feel really good.
Then her mom is out there in the wood pile sniffing boards and chin-rubbing those.
Around that time we took a break to go outdoors a second time, in the afternoon. I’m usually in my studio at that time because it’s my most creative time of day and best for art or design, but I had finished a book cover illustration and needed some space between that painting and the next project, and the afternoon was warm and sunny. Best thing to do? Go outside with Mimi and Mewsette. As Mewsette hadn’t been feeling well she wasn’t as eager to get started when we went outdoors, and Mimi was cruising around the deck. I had other ideas, picked them up and carried them down the steps to the yard, then walked out to the green settee.
Mimi and Mewsette joined me with lots of purrs on the green wicker settee on a warm sunny spring afternoon. Friday was yucky weather but we made up for it Thursday with some extra time outside. I posted a 30-second clip on IG but this is the whole silly video of lots of purrs and pets and even a walk through the forsythia.
After the video ended I wish I’d had my DSLR with me—I really wish I’d been able to get some different angles of them through the forsythia and so on, but I’m happy I got these.
~~~
From Instagram
Mewsette and Jelly Bean really know how to push my (shutter) buttons. The #boxparty continues.
Hey, sweetums! It’s an exciting new box.
The supurrvisory committee has been seated according to rank and called to order. I guess I should do something that they can supurrvise.
~~~
From the Garden and Beyond
Ooh! That’s Cold!
From around this date in past years
Forsythia Time, 2022
Mimi and Mewsette are ready to get down to the business of enjoying the morning after surveying the yard from the height of the logs. The forsythia is background to everything these days.
Up on her logs, Mimi starts with a good scratch and then looks this way and that.
I spent a bit of time working around the yard on a sunny Saturday when I was otherwise working in my basement studio to catch up with products and orders. I spied Mimi through the forsythia and was happy to get some of the photos I’ve been visualizing.
Kitten season begins!
Two low-level trapping situations went into high-gear in the past few days. I’ll write about these tomorrow. In the meantime, what do you think this kitty is saying to me?
~~~
From Instagram
Maybe tomorrow!
From the garden and beyond
Visit Today to see what’s happening out there until I can catch up.
From around this date in past years
Rain, 2021
Rain, you can’t live with it and you can’t live without it.
Like last week’s daffodils, I had another crazy idea for a photo I wanted. These were photos I envisioned standing in the kitchen that morning watching the rain, just a loose composition of Mimi from behind and maybe Mewsette, the dim and misty back yard blurred out in front of them. I decided someday I’d try to get it. Then I decided I’d do it later that day. Then when the girls wanted to go outside right after breakfast I grabbed my camera and went out despite my nightgown, sat down at their level, and did my best to indicate where they should pose. And they did.
Mewsette heads for the door to go back in, but Mimi holds out hope for the morning.
Then even she gives up, considering a nice cuddly bed inside with a few of her kids.
~~~
An Update
So the car search is pretty much at an end, and hopefully I’ll be back to normal daily activities this week. I managed to gather all the information about paycheck protection loans for sole proprietors, and all the documents needed except one, only obtained from the state of Pennsylvania regarding my business. Since it had been filed pre-digital era in 1993, it was on microfiche and had to be researched manually. This took days to ascertain but no one is in the offices to do the research on a regular basis, so the bank confirmed my business filings another way and approved my application, sent it over to the SBA who approved it the following day. It’s a small amount and was in my bank account on Friday, and along with what I’d been able to save over the past year it enabled me to purchase a newer used car with lower mileage and in better condition than without the loan, which is forgivable for the entire amount as long as I use it for business and daily expenses.
I had started looking for this vehicle weeks ago, and contacted the small dealer with the car I wanted and we made arrangements to meet today. It looked good to me, we took it to my mechanic who found very little to object to, so I will pick it up on Wednesday with new tires and bring it home. Finally, this saga is over, and I was able to purchase a car that is newer and in better shape, and at least for a while will not cost me in repairs to keep running each year. It’s something I’ve needed to ensure my income since the Escape started to need a pile of work each year. I hope this new larger and more reliable vehicle will make a change in ability for me, and I’ll be able to operate my business, attend events and earn my living without the worry of whether or not I’ll have a car to drive. And I’ll be able to get back to TNR with enough space for all I need.
While I worked out the car and the loan, I stopped making new items so I could focus on the loan and car, and hold onto money I might need. Now I can get back to my regularly scheduled production of experiments and creativity. I’m so glad for that! This week I am also feeding Denise’s colony twice daily while she and her husband are away. Her neighbor had always taken a shift so I only had to feed once, but since he died I have both shifts and that will take a little extra time from this week. I have rescheduled my open house for the last week of this month, and you’ll be able to take advantage of the sales and new items even though you may live nowhere near me. And I’m looking forward to posting regularly again. I have so many articles planned and drafted and just need to finish them off.
~~~
A Belated Happy Easter!
One of our visitors, hiding eggs maybe? “Backyard Bunny”, soft pastels on pastello paper, 11″ x 8″, 2014
From Instagram
Sunday: Swingin with my girl. The day was so beautiful we didn’t want to go in, but I wanted to work on a painting. Compromise—I paint outside on the swing, we both enjoy the sun for a little longer.
I decided to spend a good bit of time over the weekend catching up on paintings I’d intended to work on during March. Soon you’ll be seeing new work!
I have always admired and studied Laurel Burch’s artwork. I buy very few designer items, but My Three Cats & Co. has long carried Laurel Burch merchandise and had these on sale at the end of the season earlier this spring. I love the kitty design and the blue trim so I had to get them, for “good.” I finally picked them up from Carolyn when we met last week. I thought I’d be keeping them as a nice surprise for the first cold days next fall, but no, two days last week they surely came in “hand”-y! And they match both Mimi and the spring squills. I think Mimi approves! This style is sold out—I got the last pair—but there are other styles and many other items. Shop small!
From around this date in past years
Nice and Warm, 2020
Mimi says she’s patrolling under the bird feeder, but she can barely keep her eyes open with nice warm sun on her back and she’s ignoring all the bird obscenities being squawked her way. This was from last Thursday, which was a totally awesome day after some early rain cleared. Mimi and I started on some work in the yard, and we’re looking forward to more this weekend. Below are two other views of Mimi pretty much in the same place, but you know I can never take only one photo of her! These three photos were on Instagram first, as are the ones below from the past week, catching up again!
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From Instagram
Mimi loves a good scratch on her river birches even in a drizzle
Hope you’re having a peaceful Sunday. Mr. Sunshine is working on stealing Sienna’s favorite napping spot, inch by inch, but sometimes it’s nice to share.
Basil is working out some social distancing strategies this morning. He really likes the tops of doors. Kind of nice because his long tresses do the dusting for me.
Yesterday… We had the doors and windows open the sun was shining. (From Monday)
Just the right amount of sunshine.
In the morning, after the rain.
I ran out of photos from March in previous years!
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I’m sure they loved their outdoor time, especially nibbling fresh grass.