Hitting the Haystack

Percy:  All right, crew, let's get cracking on tomorrow's post so we can hit the haystack before midnight.

Taylor:  We can't crack anything; we don't have a haystack.

Rusty:  We have a nutcracker in the kitchen drawer, but I think he was referring to hitting the hay. 

Cyndi:  Well, if we're going to sleep on hay, I hope none of you peed on it first.

Micah:  It's too hot and humid to crack anything, but we do have a post to write, so let's get it done.

Percy:  We enjoyed interviewing Jasper, Jose, Huggy Bear and Maggie.  Jasper is one of the old-time bloggers who started before we did.  Drop by Mousebreath to read their story, Jasper McKitten-Cat and Siblings.

We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.   

The Bed Saga

Cyndi:  This past winter we did a whole series of articles on beds.  Dog beds, cat beds, purloined beds,shredded beds -

Buddy:  Miss Pam crocheted Percy his own cat cave bed because his favorite sleeping place was taken over by Micah.  (A Cat Cave for Percy)   

Cyndi:  So then Miss Pam crocheted a new bed for Percy because Micah took over his cat cave.  (Percy's Cat Cave Part 2)

Buddy  Miss Pam knitted Percy a new bed.  And guess who claimed it before Percy even had a chance to see it?  (Percy's New New Bed)  Good guess.  Yes, it was Micah.

Cyndi:  Miss Pam then crocheted three more new beds - a total of five, one for each kitty.  She hoped Percy would get at least one of them.

Buddy:  But it got hot early this year and none of the cats wanted a warm place to sleep, so Jan put the beds aside for next winter; however, when she went to photograph them so the cats could thank Miss Pam, Jan couldn't remember where she'd put them.  She tore the house apart - twice!

Cyndi:  She did finally find them.  By accident.  She kept forgetting to take photos.  Now that it's late July and we're sweltering, we finally have a photo of our lovely, warm, new, unused beds.  Never fear, though, they will be used when cooler weather arrives!

Buddy:  Yes, they will be used.  The question is, even with one bed per cat, will Percy finally get to sleep in his own new bed or will some unnamed cat claim two for himself?  The saga continues.

Cyndi:  We want to thank Miss Pam for thinking of our comfort and for the work she put into gifting us with such beautiful winter beds.

Buddy:  And the cats would also like to thank Jan for finally finding the beds she put safely aside so they wouldn't get lost.


.We're joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian's Home. 

Two Faces of Marcus

Cyndi:  This is Marcus.  We all thought he was a bit on the unfocused side.  But evidently he is not as mentally disturbed ... er, challenged as we Funny Farmers thought he is.

 Micah:  This is Marcus being Marcus - noisy, hyper, unable to stay still. Jan was trying to hang onto the vacuum with one hand and the camera with the other. Marcus was so focused on attacking and shaking the vacuum as hard as possible, he is out of focus in these two photos.

Cyndi:  Actually, it's amazing he's even in the shots since the camera was bobbing and weaving.  But the moment he realized Jan was taking pictures, he did this.

Micah:  Yes, he grabbed his ball and posed!   Notice the vacuum in lower left corner.    No one would ever guess he'd just tried to murder it.

Cyndi:  Those are the two sides of Marcus.  Wild, fun loving and unpredictable.  Calm, assured model.  Which Marcus do you prefer?

Merci Turns 16

A special Saturday birthday post for our lovely Merci.  She was adopted on this date from the local shelter in 2003, possibly age 2 at the time, so Jan made this her official birthday.  That would make her about 16.. 

This is a more recent photo of her, probably within the last year.  She is showing her age even more today.

Merci:  Thank you for this lovely card Pipo, Mr Jack Freckles and Mom Ingrid.)

Merci:  And thank you Alasandra the Cats and Dogs.

What pretty cards.  I can't wait to open the presents you guys got me.  There are presents, aren't there!

Rusty:  Um ... I don't see any. Doe anyone know if we bought Merci a present?

Taylor:  Actually, we didn't have any money to buy her anything.

Micah:  I thought we were going to steal .. er, borrow some from Jan's purse.

Marcus:  We shook it and all that fell out were three pennies.  Amazon didn't have anything on sale for three cents.

Rusty:  But there's cake.  Surely there's cake. Noooo?  Cyndi is shaking her head.  Cyndi, weren't you in charge of baking Merci a cake?

Cyndi:   I was but when I tried to get eggs out of the refrigerator yesterday, a pineapple fell on my head and Jan yelled at me to stop bruising the fruit. What about the bruise on my head?  My ears were ringing for hours. 

Micah:  It seems we've failed to make your birthday a happy one, Merci.  We're sorry.

Buddy:  If I were you, Merci, I would refuse to turn another year older until Jan gets on the ball and gets you something worth celebrating!  After all, you only turn 16 once.

Merci:  It's okay, guys. You tried.  I don't really need anything except my family and you're all here. Except Jan.  Where is she?

Buddy:  I think that was Jan that just yelled "ow".  I wonder what happened?

Percy:  *cranes his neck to see into the kitchen*  I think the pineapple that attacked Cyndi yesterday just fell out of the refrigerator onto Jan's bare foot.

As long as we're posting on Saturday, we would like to join Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.  The first picture is a sketch.  Unfortunately, we don't remember what we used for the second.

Cardboard Massage

Micah:  Oh, how I miss my so comfy scratching post.  It was the best napping spot around.  Do you think Jan will take the hint and get me a new one?

Rusty:  If it was so comfy, why did you tear it up?

Micah:  That's what you do with a scratching post.  Oh, wait, you don't have any front claws.  You haven't had the pleasure.  Take my word for it.  Sleeping with all those jagged pieces of cardboard massaging you is bliss. 

Rusty:  I think it affected your brain.  Similar to Buddy yesterday declaring we're thankful for Marcus.  Perhaps it's the humidity.

Cyndi:  *clears throat*  Excuse me but we're supposed to be letting readers know we've posted a new interview on Mousebreath.

Taylor:  Yes, and one of the kitties has my name, Taylor.  I don't have a middle name, though, but she's sure pretty.  So is her sister April.

Percy:  Stop by mousebreath to meet Taylor Swift and April Paris.  They don't have a blog, but they are on Instagram and do have an entertaining story.  


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.  

The Screwball Marcus

Percy:  Remember when Jan stopped to meet someone who used to work at Martha Mill?  While they talked, Marcus stripped down to his collar with one leash attached.  To this day he swears the devil made him do it.

Buddy:  He was so proud of himself for getting out of his harness and one of two leashes.  He used to be such an escape artist until Jan started clipping his harness to his collar.

Percy:  It's been so hot and humid lately Marcus hasn't been getting into much mischief.  I kind of miss that.

Buddy:  You miss what?

Percy:  Oh, you're right.  What was I thinking?  It's so peaceful here when Marcus is passed out with the rest of us.

Buddy:  On the other paw, it has been kind of boring around here lately.  Except for those moments when Marcus races around screeching at everyone because he thinks he's going for a walk.

Percy:  Or Jan is taking out the trash.  Or cleaning the litter pans. I don't know where he got the idea he's the official trash escort.  It's not like Jan can't find her own way outside to the trash can.

Buddy:  Well, she does tend to get lost between the living room and kitchen a lot.

Percy:  Then I guess Marcus does have a purpose here.  We old furries can sleep while he snoopervises Jan.

Buddy:  So this week we are thankful for the screwball Marcus?

Percy:  I'm afraid so.


Note:  Sorry we have been missing for a while.  We will probably be around sporadically until we all feel better.


 We're joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian's Home.

Sitting In A Puddle

Rusty:  Well, this is sure disappointing!

Micah:  It sure is.  I was looking forward to doing another interview today.

Rusty:  Jan has a nerve canceling it.  She isn't the one who writes it.

Micah:  I have to admit it has been a long, hard week with Jan tottering around the house and groaning while we try to nap.

Rusty:  It's a good thing she doesn't do yard work for a living.  We'd starve!

Micah:   And yesterday morning was way too stressful.  Someone was yelling words on our HBO list and it wasn't us!

Rusty:  I wonder why Jan was so upset.  It isn't like she had anything to do.

Micah:  And her shoes?  Is it our fault she only had one pair of shoes to wear to a meeting and they happened to be her dirty, smelly dog walking shoes?

Rusty:  We certainly didn't make her spray them with vinegar and set them outside on the porch to air out so they would smell better.

Micah:  I wonder who made a mess out of the cover Jan uses for the chair so she took it outside to hang it over the porch railing and spray it with the hose?

Rusty:  I'm not telling because Jan was sure angry when she walked up the steps and found her shoes sitting in a puddle of water.

Micah:  Yes, not one of her better days, was it!  But she did manage to find a pair of cheap sneakers she could fit a sock, an ace bandage and her big foot into for the meeting.

Rusty:  It was nice of Mr. Doug to come by to work on the screen door before Marcus starts visiting the neighbors without permission.  It now closes.  It has only slapped her in the ankle once and once in the head.

Micah: Since these things were only part of her day, I think I'm beginning to understand why Jan says we're going to hibernate for a few days.

Rusty:  We'll see you next week.

Micah:  We hope!

July 2017 Snooze at Mousebreath.

See Ya Thursday

Merci:  Excuse my back but I don't have the energy to get up and turn around.  This heat and humidity has been a bit much for us old fogies.  And it didn't help that Jan spent yesterday trimming bushes and cleaning up the mess.  It was exhausting just to watch!!!!

Hopefully, Jan will behave herself and stop working in the yard so we can recover.  We didn't get a post up yesterday and we're going to take a couple more days off.  We plan to be back Thursday.

Percy:  Wait, don't hit publish yet, Merci.  I want to thank Pipo, Mr. Jack Freckles and their Petcretary for the lovely card they made for my birthday Sunday.

What do you think we should do with our time off, Merci?

Merci:  Zzzzzzzz.

Percy Turns 13

Buddy:  ♬ Happy birthday to you.
                  Happy birthday to you.
                  Happy birthday, dear what's your name.

Rusty:  Stop!  There is no "what's your name" here, dear or otherwise!  Why are you singing that?

Buddy:  Because Cyndi told me to get in here right away and lead the singing, but she forgot to tell me whose birthday it is.

Rusty:  Percy's.  It's Percy's birthday.

Buddy:  Okay.

            ♬  Happy birthday, dear Percival.

Rusty:  No, no, no!  His name is not Percival.  It's Perseverance.  Everyone knows him as Percy, though.

Buddy:  One more time!
         
             ♬  Happy birthday, dear Persevering Percy.
                  Happy birthday to you.   Aa-ooooh, urp urp!

Rusty:  *sigh*  Why can't you ever sing without howling, Buddy?

Buddy:  It's in the genes.  And, Percy, our sweet friends over at ATCAD (Alasandra the cats and dogs) sent you this lovely card. 

Percy:  Hey, thank you guys.  I appreciate the song.  I think.  And I love the card from ATCAD.  I thought we don't post on the weekend any more, though.

Rusty:  It's a special occasion.  How many times do you get to turn 13?

Percy:   I'm a cat.  We have 9 lives.  So, I'm guessing - nine?

A Tipsy Wheelbarrow

Merci:  I had my first good walk in three years yesterday.

Buddy:  What are you talking about?  We all walk Jan just about every day.

Merci:  Yes, but you-know-who goes with us.

Buddy:  Marcus?

Merci:  Yes.  He leaps at my face and screeches in my ears.  I can barely see any more and it's terrifying when he does that.

Buddy:  You and I had a good walk yesterday with Jan.

Merci:  Jan didn't want you to go.  She wanted you to walk with Marcus since the two of you can walk faster and further than I can now.  She put Marcus in his crate and you kept pushing your way out the door demanding we not leave without you!

Buddy:  I think we did pretty good together.

Merci:  Yes, but you didn't want to go home.  And then you had to rest a while before you and Jan walked with Marcus.

Buddy:  Oh, that's why we guys walked first yesterday and then she went walking with you.

Merci:  Yes, it was so nice.  Just the two of us, like the old days before you and Sam and Marcus came along.  It was so peaceful.  I didn't have to struggle to keep up or walk twice as far twice as fast because my legs are so short.

Buddy:  It's hard to believe we've grown old.  I guess it won't be much longer before I'll have to walk with you because I won't be able to keep up with Marcus.

Merci:  And then we'll have to get a wheelbarrow for Jan because she's too decrepit to keep up with Marcus.

Buddy:  I hope you mean a wagon.  I can't imagine Jan riding in a tipsy wheelbarrow pulled by Marcus.

Merci:  The way Marcus dashes about, anything pulled by him would be tipsy. 

Buddy:  I know!  Do you think we could borrow the Budweiser Clydesdale wagon?

Taylor:  Excuse me, Buddy and Merci, but this is Friday and we Funny Farmer Felines are on the schedule.

Rusty:  We interview the kitties from the Four-Legged Furballs blog.

Micah:  We love getting to meet new friends.

Cyndi:  They have quite an interesting story, especially the handsome Evan.

Percy:  You can Meet the Four-Legged Furballs  - Evan, Thimble and Eddy - at Mousebreath.com.


We are joining the Pet Parade hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking from the Bayou and Owned by a husky.  
 

A Good Boy

Cyndi:  Marcus, are you okay?

Marcus:  Yes, why?

Cyndi:  Because your head has been turning side to side and up to down for the past few minutes.  Do you need medication?

Marcus:  No.  I'm fine.  I'm just looking.

Cyndi:  For what?

Marcus:  Jan said there's a good boy here and I've been trying to figure out which one of us guys she was referring to.  Micah has been stretching out on the mantel and knocking pictures to the floor. It wasn't Rusty or Percy, and Buddy is too old to be good or bad.  He's just tired.  So who is left?

Cyndi:  Why, you are!

Marcus:  Me?  You all tell me I'm a pest, too noisy and hyper and -

Cyndi:  You are!

Marcus:  Then how could I be a good boy?

Cyndi:  I'm still trying to wrap my head around that, but nevertheless, this time I have to admit you were a good boy.

Marcus:  What did I do?

Cyndi:  A lot of dogs zip out the door the moment they see a crack.  They get lost or hit by a car or picked up by Animal Control.  Our screen door hasn't been closing properly when Jan goes in or out lately.  And you haven't once taken advantage of that.

Marcus:  I haven't?  Am I sick?

Cyndi:  Not that I know of.  But yesterday Jan was talking to someone, opened the door to come in and turned  back to ask a question.  She walked to the end of the porch, saw something move out of the corner of her eye, looked down and you were sitting at her feet. You had an opportunity but you didn't run away.

Marcus:  And that makes me a good boy?

Cyndi:  Yes, I'm afraid so.

Marcus: Hmmm.

Cyndi:  You're rolling your eyes.  What are you up to?

Marcus:  I'm wondering about the reward.

Cyndi:  What reward?

Marcus:  The one Jan doesn't know she's going to give me - yet.  Wow, this is really going to be a Thankful Thursday!


We're joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian's Home.

Independence Day 2017

Percy:  If today is Independence Day, does that mean we'll all have to get jobs to support ourselves now?

Buddy:  No, it means the fireworks will stop tonight and Jan's feet will be 45 pounds lighter.

Percy:  Wow, they must really have been swollen!

Buddy:  No, not swollen.  But since Saturday Marcus has been spending his evenings parked on her feet.

Percy:  Oh, that's right.  He's been guarding Jan's feet so she can't panic and run away.  Or so he's claimed.

Buddy: I don't remember him being so frightened of fireworks before.

Percy:  At least the 4-day weekend celebration is almost over.  Then Marcus can take a long nap to recover.

Buddy:  We all love to watch the Clydesdales.  Perhaps this very short video of the Budweiser Clydesdales in a 4th of July parade will help him relax.


If the video doesn't play, click here. 

Guarding Jan's Feet

Percy:  Hey, Rusty, I totally forgot tomorrow is Monday.  I don't know what to post on.  Do you have any ideas?

Rusty:  Nope.  Not a clue.

Percy:  Do you think anyone would want to know that all the early fireworks this weekend have glued Marcus to Jan's feet?

Rusty:  Nope.  No interest. Wait.  What?

Percy:  You know how sensitive Marcus is.  He's always under Jan's feet anyway, but between the recent storms and the fireworks close to home, Marcus is being a big baby.

Marcus:  Hey, have any of you seen where I left my blue ball?

Rusty:  Nope.

Marcus:  Who were you discussing when I walked in?  I think I heard the words "big baby".   Were you talking about Merci?

Percy:  Yes, we were definitely discussing Merci.  You know if we were talking about you, we would have mentioned how brave you are.

Rusty:  So brave you have been guarding Jan's feet to make sure the fireworks don't cause her to panic and run away from home!

Percy:  I take it your strategy is if she panics and tries to run, she'll trip over you?

Marcus:  Uh ... yes.  Exactly.

Rusty:  Good plan.

Percy:  And how long did it take you to come up with that solution?

Marcus:  Not long.  You know I'm a quick thinker.

Rusty:  I think it was about the second !!!BOOM!!!  Marcus, where did you disappear to?

Percy:  He's on Jan's feet.

Rusty:  There's no room between Jan and the desk.

Percy:  There is if you're a big, brave, quick-thinker like Marcus.

Rusty:  There should be time for a quick nap before the emergency.

Percy:  What emergency?

Rusty:  The one Jan's going to have when she tries to leap to her feet.