Angel Cameron

Angel Cameron:  I can see nothing has changed since I left a few years ago.  You guys are still calendar confused and behind all the time.  Well, except that you managed to get a week ahead and post Marcus' Gotcha Day two weeks in a row.

Cyndi:  I know.  We try, though.  We didn't have a post for today because Jan convinced us we already had a post ready to self-publish today.  It didn't.  It's set to publish next Tuesday.  Hey, Jan, Friday is not Tuesday. 

Angel Cameron:  Thanks for remembering me.

Cyndi:  We've never forgotten you.  Even Jan, and she often can't remember what she had for breakfast.

Angel Cameron:  That's because she usually forgets to eat breakfast.

Cyndi:  It's been good to see you again.  I am seeing you, aren't I  At my age, I'm sometimes confused as to what is real and what is a dream.

Angel Cameron:  Sweet dreams, old friend.  

We are participating in Happy Tuesday blog hop. Stop by Comedy Plus to see other posts or to join the fun.

 We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

Shooting the Bull

Micah:  Angel Rusty and I used to have such fun hanging around shooting the bull together on a cold, lazy day like this one. 

Taylor:  Why would you want to shoot a bull?

Micah:  We didn't shoot a bull.  We'd shoot the bull.

Taylor:  Whose bull?  We don't have a bull.  And we don't have a gun either.

Micah:  No, no, SHOOT THE BULL!

Taylor:  It's against the law to shoot anything within the city limits.  What if we had gotten evicted because you guys took aim at some poor bull's eye?

Micah: There was no bull's eye.  There was no bull. Shooting the bull is not against the law.  It means to chatter, gab, talk aimlessly, shoot the breeze..

Taylor:  Do I want to know where you shot the breeze?

Micah:  **sigh** Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway.  We shot the breeze right in the -

Taylor:  **paws over ears**  I can't hear you.

Micah:  Right in the living room. 

We are joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus. 

 We are joining Flashback Friday.  (They don't usually post till later in the day.)  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

The Pilot is Warm

Taylor:  Why is Jan photographing your butt, Micah? 

Micah:  Because it's warm here and I don't want to move.

Taylor:  You have a warm bed in the living room.

Micah:  It's warmer here close to the pilot light.

Taylor: Is there any room up there for me? 

Micah:  Sure,on the other side,  if you move the kettle and the skillet to the floor.

Taylor:  This skillet is iron!   Can you give me a paw here?  

Micah:  Sure.

Taylor:  **waits impatiently**  I thought you were going to help me move this skillet. 

Micah:  Oh, you mean now?  I thought you meant when the weather warms up in April.


You might remember Micah and his Warm Butt, Warm Brain skillet sitting to stay warm.

We are joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus. 

We are joining Flashback Friday.  (They don't usually post till later in the day.)  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

The Big Zoom Groom

Percy:  Run, Marcus, Run!  It's the sucker monster.

Marcus:  Oh, you cats are such wimps.  I have graduated from the little machine to the big one with the hose.  This one has more power and it gives a better massage.

Percy:  **hollers from top of the door**  It will swallow you, Marcus.  Good-bye.  It was nice knowing you!

 

Marcus:  I miss Rusty.  He was the only cat here who enjoyed a good zoom groom massage.  After I had my first vacuum massage, he said I was brave.  Of course I'm brave.  I'm Marcus the Sucker Monster Protector.  (Morning Zoom Groom)

Jan:  You're also a sucker for attention.

Marcus:  That too.

We are joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.  (Oops.  We just now noticed that last Friday we joined the Happy Tuesday blog hop instead of Feline Friday. Micah Heats His Villa)   Did anyone notice?)

We are joining Flashback Friday.  (They don't usually post till later in the day.)  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

Micah Heats His Villa

 Micah:  I don't know why Percy was apartment hunting for so long this summer.  It's very easy. I just picked a spot and the apartment came to me.  I spent the summer in the kitchen with Cyndi.  Then I moved into the living room onto the medium bookcase.  I moved everything on it to the floor but it still didn't suit me, so I moved over here onto the tall bookcase.

Micah:  I wasn't here long before Jan gave me an apartment.  Rent free.  Those cardboard scratchers make great apartments.  As soon as Jan added it, I felt right at home.  I can wake from a nap, sharpen my claws, and go back to sleep without stepping out of my apartment.

And now that the weather has cooled, Jan added a private villa.  See me basking in what should be the sun (it's a rainy day) in front of the window?  My homes are so close together, I don't even need to call a cab to change residences.

Hey, who's snorting?

Percy:  That would be me.  I had to listen once I heard my name.  Your story is funny so I couldn't help but snort.  As the weather gets cooler tonight, enjoy your private villa, and think of me.  I'll be The Lump in the Middle.  Of the big bed.  Under the covers.  Where it's warm.

Micah:  Of course you will.  You're an old guy.  I'm middle-aged.  See how small my villa is?  It's one of  Angel Merci's beds. I can produce my own heat to stay warm. 

Percy:  You'd better store some in plastic bags because it is going back down to 41 degrees tomorrow night.

Micah:  Uh-oh.  If it gets too cold out here, I might have to become a second lump in the bed.

Percy:  Jan won't be happy about that.

Micah:  Why?

Percy:  If I have the middle and Marcus has one side while you have the other, where is Jan going to sleep?

Micah:  I know!  She can sleep in my villa. 

We are participating in Happy Tuesday blog hop. Stop by Comedy Plus to see other posts or to join the fun.

We are joining Flashback Friday.  (They don't usually post till later in the day.)  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

Talking To A Mop

Taylor:  Marcus, sometimes I wonder about you.  What kind of a foolishness was this?

Marcus:  It wasn't foolishness.  Jan got me a new toy and when I tried to take it from her, she whacked me on the nose with it.

Taylor:  She did not whack you.  She wrestled you for it. You look like a maniac with a death grip on it. 

Marcus:  It was my toy.  I had a right to it.  She was just being selfish.  I think she wanted to keep it for herself.

Taylor:  Of course she wanted to keep it for herself.  It's a special mop.  When she washed the suv, she nearly fell off the stool because she had to climb on shaky legs so many times.  Next time she washes it, she shouldn't have to climb more than twice, hopefully.

Marcus:  Well, anyone else would have let me enjoy my new toy and bought another one for herself.

Taylor:  But it wasn't your new toy!  Oh, never mind.  I might as well be talking to a mop.

We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

And joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.

The Aggressive Fridge

Micah:  Hey, it's me, the iron skillet sitter.  We had a post planned for today but it gets written the night before and we had a sudden change of plans.  Jan was cleaning the vegetable bins in the fridge when she was attacked.  Yes, smacked on top of the head by an jealous shelf she didn't clean.  Whacked hard.  At present she is sitting in a chair with a frozen bag of green beans on her head.  Marcus is in the kitchen growling at the fridge.

Cyndi:  Why is he growling at the fridge?  He already had his dinner.

Micah:  He's practicing in case he doesn't get any breakfast tomorrow.

Cyndi:  Leave it to Marcus to think first about his stomach.

Micah:  Well, he's supposed to be Jan's protector and he feels he fell down on the job.

Cyndi:  Yes, but who expects a refrigerator to be aggressive?

Micah:  Obviously, not Jan!

And joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.

New Pillows for Percy

Percy:  It was nice of Jan to buy me my own pillows.  These two are so nice and soft.

Cyndi:  You are aware, aren't you, those are not pillows!  Those are Jan's new slippers.

Percy:  Slippers.  Pillows.  What's the difference.  They are soft, padded and comfortable, and I have sweet dreams with my head on one.

Cyndi:  Don't get too comfortable.  Those slippers are so padded there isn't room for Jan's feet.  Since putting her feet in them was the sole purpose of buying them, she will be returning them as soon as possible.

Percy:  If she does, she'll have to return me with them.

Cyndi:  That would make Micah very happy.  Do you really want to make Micah happy?

Percy:  Do you think if I leave them where Micah sleeps, Jan will return him with the slippers?


We are praying for those impacted by Hurricane Michael which lashed Florida so hard a couple of days ago and has traveled north as a tropical storm.  It is hard to see the pictures and videos of homes and businesses destroyed, just as it was recently for Florence and all the other hurricanes and tornadoes that have done so much damage.

It was not as bad as expected when it arrived here Wednesday.  A lot of rain and wind, tornado watches and warnings and a siren scare.  We woke Thursday to a beautiful day, hoping all of you are safe.

Thank you to the friends and family who called or emailed yesterday to check on us.   

We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

And joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.

Hug Those You Love Often

Hey, Marcus here.  I want to remind you to hug your furries and all the humans you care about as often as possible because you don't know what tomorrow (or even today) holds.

A number of years ago, way before my time, there was a doxy (dachshund) on the  route Buddy and Merci walked Jan.  It ran loose and believed it owned quite a bit of territory going up the hill.  It was always carrying on, even crossing the road to snap and growl.  Jan took to carrying a golf club as suggested by a neighbor (he even provided the club) to protect herself but golf clubs were not intended as weapons.

A woman (not the owner) used to come collect the doxy and walk it back to her place to confine it inside their fence so Jan could walk in peace.  One day things reached a dangerous level.  The doxy was circling them, snapping at their heels with anger.  Jan was trying to stay on her feet and not be tangled in Buddy and Merci's leashes.  They couldn't move on, only try to hold their ground.

A boy from that house heard the ruckus and started to run toward them.  He was unsuccessful in getting the doxy's attention.  A man came from that house carrying a baseball bat.  He came a short distance, then returned home.  Jan believes he was coming after her dogs with the bat but saw which dog was the aggressor and changed his mind.  The boy finally captured the doxy.  It was never seen again.  Either they adopted it and kept it penned with their own dachshunds, or --

Now imagine Jan's surprise Tuesday evening when she learned the polite, friendly young man she has been talking with on our walks for a couple of years or more lives in that house.  Yes, the boy grew up and likes to practice tricks on his bike.  I like to get attention from the guy and growl at his bike.

Before sundown Tuesday, we learned the young man's family was in process of moving to his late grandfather's house. He and Jan laughed about the angry dachshund.  He said we would still see him around but not as often.

Wednesday morning there were sirens - fire trucks, police cars, ambulances speeding past.  Something came up and we didn't get to walk that day.  Early Thursday we heard on the local news the young man's home had burned.  We walked up the hill and this is what we found.

The young man's dad had just left.  He smelled smoke and tried to put out the fire with a hose.

 He was able to save one dog.  Two others died in the fire.

When the fire department arrived, flames were already through the roof.  The cause is unknown.

 It was just a year or so ago another house on our walking route was destroyed by fire.  There is an empty lot there now.  Soon this lot too will be empty.

It only takes a moment and lives are forever changed.  Furries or loved ones are gone.  So be kind and hug those you love often.

We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

Scattered Brains

Micah:  Okay, so we're all agreed?

Rusty:  Yes, it's time to have a group discussion with Jan about her scattered brains!

Cyndi:  No, no, no!  Jan does not have scattered brains; she has been becoming increasingly scatterbrained.

Rusty:  That's what I said.

Micah:  Not exactly.

Percy:  Can we get this meeting over with?  It's past time for my cowisthenics.

Taylor:  Oh, great, you're starting to sound like Jan.  It's calisthenics.

Percy:  Not if you learned your exercise routine from watching cows on TV.  Marcus, are you with us kitties on this?

Marcus:  Yep! At least I think so.  I'm still not sure what scattered brains are.

Micah:  We all know know Binky from Angelwhisper2011.  Binky has been being harassed by a bird.  We left a comment saying we hope the bird will move elsewhere. 

Marcus:  What does that have to do with Jan's brains?

Rusty:  Everything.  As you know, the heat and humidity have Jan too tired to do much of anything, including think.  Yesterday a friend took her out of town for lunch. 

Taylor:  When Jan got home, she sat down at the computer and tried to stay awake; however, when she read the email - actually our email notification - stating Binky had responded to our comment saying the bird is waiting every morning and is very annoying, Jan went right over to Binky's blog to write a suggestion.

Cyndi: Jan came thiiiisssss close to asking Binky, have you tried barking at it?

Marcus:  So?

Rusty:  Binky is a C-A-T.

Marcus:  Oh. **light bulb**  Oh, now I get it.  It's like when I walked Jan just before sundown last night, we passed a guy walking with a female version of me.  (Wow, is she gorgeous!)  The guy and the lovely dog crossed the street, and Jan called out a cheery, "Gooood morning!"

Micah:  Good example.  Now let's go have a talk with Jan and see if we can fix her.

Taylor:  I think it's too late.  I hear snoring from the kitchen.

Click to enlarge.

Taylor:  This week we interviewed Lucy, Benny, Sadie and Ringo from All About the Cats (It's All About the Cats). You can read their story, Lucy and Benny Chat About the Cats, at Mousebreath.com.

We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes. 

And joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.

Marcus Does A Mean CPR

Marcus:  Before we begin today's post, here's a picture of me so you don't forget what I look like.  If you'll notice, my eyes are open.  Percy thought I would keep them closed until he calls me in October.  (Temp Apt Fail 8)  He didn't fool me a bit.  He doesn't read a calendar any more than Jan does. 

A couple of months ago, Jan and I set out on a walk. As we walked down the porch steps, a young mockingbird flew onto the nearby stop sign and another ran back and forth across the roof; both were chattering away.  Now, I do speak fluent goose but I have to admit I have yet to learn mockingbird.

What, oh what was he (or she) upset about?  Could it be an emergency and my astute medical skills were needed to save him?  I perform a mean CPR!

Rusty:  You certainly do perform a mean CPR!  You could have broken every bone in Cyndi's body when you tried to practice on her.

Marcus:  **waves paw**  She survived, didn't she?

To get back to the subject of the mockingbird racing across the roof yelling, I looked around for a translator.  Perhaps mama mockigbird was nearby.  Oh, wait, she speaks mockingbird too and I don't.

I looked at Jan but she was just as puzzled as I was. 

And then, beyond Jan, I saw the answer. 

There was another young mockingbird hiding in the bushes behind us.  She (or he) was actually well-camouflaged.  Jan had to walk around the bush to get a decent shot of her.  She must have been terrified of us.  She never so much as twitched.

Rusty:  She must have heard about your CPR technique.

Marcus:  I'm sure she had.  I'm becoming quite well-known in life-saving circles.

Rusty:  If you try CPR on a bird, you'll become quite well-known in law enforcement circles.

We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes.

And joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.

Southern Dialect Goose

Marcus:  Honk, honk, honk -

Cyndi:  What's the matter, Marcus?  Do you have a cold?

Marcus:  No.  I'm practicing my honks.

Cyndi:  Oh, you're on the driving kick again and you're pretending to be a car horn?

Marcus:  Of course not.  All of you made fun of me when I insisted I can speak fluent goose.  (Late for a Recital ) You insisted geese honk and don't have a second language, so I'm practicing my honking to see if they understand me any better.  I doubt it, but I'm willing to try since we're going to have more geese than this arriving soon for the cold weather.

Cyndi:  You do know today is Flashback Friday and you honking does not constitute a flashback?

Marcus:  It's a flashback for me.  I'm remembering all those great conversations I've had with geese.

Cyndi:  And I'm remembering all the delusions you're posted about speaking geese ... er, goose.  You know, bird!    (Swiss Cheese Theory.  Marcus Two Step.  Mister I Speak Geese.  A Honkless Holiday.  Translating Goose to Dog.  Giggle of Goose Gaggle.  Marcus Speaks Geese.)

Marcus:  Hey, thanks for gathering our conversations together so I can go back and review them.  It will make it easier to compare results over time.  I'll be very surprised if they can understand me when I honk, but if I work on my accent, it should work.

Cyndi:  Of course, that's it!  You have to honk in the same dialect as the arriving geese and most of them don't speak with a Southern accent.

Marcus:  I'm glad you understand.  The rest of the Funny Farmers think I'm off my trolley.

Cyndi:  You speak geese with a Southern drawl.  What's not to understand?  **cough, cough**

Marcus:  Are you okay?  You haven't caught the cold I don't have, have you?

Cyndi:  No, no, I'm fine, just have a goose feather tickling my funny bone.

We are joining Flashback Friday.  To see other blog entries and/or to enter your own blog, visit the Five Sibes.

Percy:  And don't forget, we Funny Farmer Felines have another Mousebreath interview today.  You can read Gidget Bluesky and Honey Sunshine at Mousebreath.

And joining Feline Friday at Comedy Plus.