Rooftop gnome

I took these photos of Gidget in the early morning. I've been getting up before daybreak to hang out with the kitties when they're most energetic -- when temperatures are frigid, down in the 70s.Over a year ago Alvin posed for photos in this same spot: http://likekittysville.blogspot.com/2010/03/alvins-sky-lodge.html

iGidget connections

left footsie > ethernet
right footsie > USB

Hello Sailor

This feral Siamese older kitten (I'm calling her Sailor for now) has been living in the garage, keeping her distance from me, but sneaking in the kitty door at night. Yesterday morning I woke to find her curled up on a rug in front of the heater, just a few feet away from my bed! She won't let me get close enough to take good photos of her injured eye, but she is happily exploring the house. And her gentle presence in the chair didn't even bother Gidget.

Grassy Gidget

Gidget rolls in dirt daily, but she likes to top her dirt off with a crunchy coating of dried grass.

Group portrait with benches

I made these 14 benches from old discarded wood left over after I rebuilt my fence. The benches are perfectly proportioned for me and the cats. I rearrange them all the time, all over the yard.The kitties-in-the-round are, clockwise from center bottom: Natalie, Linus, Olga (face and paw only), Gidget, Daisy (back only), Alvin, and Betty.Gidget (left) and Betty prefer the top bench.

Too many models

Betty had lots of company while she modeled this kitty bed. Gidget hammed it up in front while Olga stalked from behind.Betty's poses are fabulous, but I wound up using a photo of Olga on the bed. (Betty's spots are just too much for this floral pattern!)

Gidget's misadventure

Gidget was missing for over two days, but my 11-year-old friend Hope heard Gidget's voice in a neighbor's backyard shed and rescued her. Gidget was OK but skinnier (she needed to lose some weight anyway).Here Gidget sleeps it off with 9-year-old Taylor (Hope's sister) who likes to curl up on this credenza with the kitty cushions.

Gidget the string stealer

When my neighbor Taylor plays string with Gidget, it always ends with Gidget carrying the string away. (Click on photo to view full size.)The string is actually plastic woven rope -- thick yet lightweight, perfect for kitty play.

Chomp 'n tackle

Alvie likes nothing better than a game of chomp 'n tackle with his best girl, Gidget.She growls 4-letter-words the entire time, but Gidget keeps coming back for more, rolling over in front of him.

Halloween Queens

I asked my sweet neighbors Hope and Taylor to show me their Halloween costumes -- peacock princess and butterfly queen -- and they came through with flying colors/feathers. My kitties Gidget and Betty also got in on the fun. They're seen here wondering where the treats are.

Luvs dem mousies, yes I do

I'm a goofy Gidgy Goo.

Gidget takes Manhattan

We've been featured in the New York Post -- in the Real Estate Home section, not under Weird But True.That's Gidget modeling a bed in a Pucci-esque print.

Cat in a Hat

Gidget takes a trip to 1965 and finds herself in Hats magazine.
Her chapeau is described in exuberant terms:

A way-out "in" look, this flip young motoring cap is geared for maximum fashion mileage. Stitched emerald velours sports a sassy cut-a-way visor. Wide ear-covering chin straps fasten with matching button. Also in the season's snappiest colors, to wit: white, camel and black.

Vintage fabric find

This vintage fabric remnant found at an estate sale blew my mind. My grandmother had a mauve sofa set in such fabric, and I've seen it on a green sofa, but never as unused fabric yardage. It's a classic fifties shade of pinkish brown.

Though this sculpted fabric was common on 1950s upholstered furniture, it was not easy to research online. The midcentury mavens at lottaliving.com guided me -- the fabric is called frieze (or frise), and many people like me have memories of taking naps on it and waking up with "couch face."

Gidget, however, doesn't worry about nap marks. A cat's most recent nap is usually still in progress.

Gus the lady's man

When Gus finally asks Olga for a date, she'll probably be busy washing her hair.Gidget wonders if Gus gets results with that slouchy stalking technique.

Alvin & Gidget action

In this game, the offensive player attempts to tackle his opponent, but cannot get past her formidable belly-up defense. Score: Gidget 1, Alvin 0.

While taking this video, I stumbled over a third player, Olga, who briefly entered the game.

Giddy Gidget

Gidget is the most happily self-entertaining cat. She frolics with her toy mousies in the yard all day long, and even seems to sleep less than other cats because she's constantly playing.

The video below reveals Gidget's endearingly sweet demeanor and kissy-face love of mousie.

The soundtrack should be Moondoggie singing,
"Although she's not king size,
Her finger is ring size -
Gidget is the girl for me."

Big Al

Alvin gets lots of compliments on his good looks, so I've been trying with little success to get nice close-up portraits of him and his turquoise eyes. Now that I've been photographing his rooftop antics, Alvin's been on the neighbor's roof twice again, purring while I get him down, and more fidgety and playful than ever. Here he is with his best girl Gidget in the "she wants me" pose.

A hole in the ground

Cats love inanely simple things. And nothing thrills a cat more than a plain hole in the ground. I'm digging post holes for a new fence, and the cats are having the times of their lives.

They jump in and out of the holes, play hide and seek, watch for imagined critters to emerge, and frolic in the dug-up dirt. Gidget (above) deposits her toy mice into the holes and knocks herself out trying to retrieve them.

Snow follies

It snowed today -- our only snow this year, and the only cat interested in it was Gidget. She's playing with one of the many toy mice she totes from house to yard.