Dark Brown

July 7 is World Chocolate Day!

And we were owned by Chocolate, nicknamed Chucky for over 13 years.

As a kitten, and as brand-new cat pawrents, we thought his fur was a deep, dark brown, hence his name.

As he grew, we realized that he was a black cat, with light tabby markings, that one could only see in certain light.

January, 2005

Tabby!

September, 2009

Chuck on the Pink/Blue chair; it didn't have the pink throw blanket yet.

October, 2013

Celestial Chuck had a jabot AND a belly patch of white fur.

We loved our Chuck, and despite his heart and intestinal woes, he left loving and lasting impressions on us.

Eastside Cats will endeavor to always have a gato negro, as Manny and Chili Bruce will attest to, in memory of Chucky Chocolate.

So, celebrate World Chocolate Day with a dark chocolate-colored kitty cat!

❤️ 🐈‍⬛ ❤️ 🐈‍⬛ ❤️

Hug Your Cat Day!

For most of us cat enthusiasts, hugging one's cat(s) is a multi-daily affair!

However, it's not a bad thing to remind everyone to...

HUG YOUR CAT!

June 4 is set aside every year, just for this reminder!

My favorite cat-hugging image!
The Hubby and Celestial Chuck, three years ago

Well, you already know about me and The PO'M!

Jigsaw Puzzle!

72Bob and Chuck

We are thankful, joyful, cup-runneth-over-ful for having felines in our lives!

Cannot imagine NEVER having cats in the house.

Let's Hop!

Click here to visit Brian's Home Blog!

Tock-Tober!

Double Tocks!
Paddy & Sweetie

Angel bootie!

Unnamed neighborhood cat Tocks!

Neighbor cat Kiki shows his Tocks!

Sweetie Tocks

Dear Chucky, showing his Tocks.
His tailio was shaved for a blood draw and blood pressure check.

Click here to visit Just Ducky Blog!

Two-zday

Screen-door whiffies!

The Hubby removed the heavy storm door, and dragged the screen door out for our rear entrance.  Da Boyz were looking out before the dust, cobwebs, and general detritus could be swept off.  But how could we deny these two cuties their first few moments of breathing the Spring air?

💕😸💕

My vacation was astounding, and I'll post more about it soon, because...CATS!  However, one never knows when the memory of a passed loved one will hit.  While packing for my trip, I grabbed the pill organizer that we've had for eons, to keep my vitamins and stuff organized while traveling.  What should I discover, but the last bits of Chucky's medicines in one of the compartments.

These meds helped keep Chuck alive for almost three years after the diagnosis of his bad heart

That stab of pain was so unexpected.  Took my breath away, and I sat on my bed, dry-eyed, but my body wracked with pain.  Oh, Chuck!  It's been 1-1/2 years since your passing, and I miss you so.

I put the pill pieces back, closed up the container, and put it on the shelf.  I'm not ready to throw them away.

💔😢💔

  

No Sheets For Me!

Angel:  "No Mama!  You CANNOT have the freshly washed sheets!  They are mine, MINE I SAY!"

I finally sent The Hubby upstairs to Angel's Apartment, to persuade her to give up the laundry!  I was prepared to find alternative sheets for at least one night, since Angel seemed so very comfortable.  The Hubby, however, had no qualms about booting her from the bedding basket.

Afterward, I refilled that basket with a few of my sweaters and sweatshirts, because I felt so sorry that we'd taken away her happy place.  And, what do you think, is it time to get another basket...one with handles, for gosh sakes?!?

Taken in 2004, when Angel and Chuck were first adopted.  They enjoyed the same baskets then!

 😹😹😹

Come Laugh With Us Blog Hop: Remembering Madi

Or see it here: Chili Bruce and His Nip Nanner

Chili is so silly, on his RED beddy...

Chucky, chillin' in his boxtop!

Chucky in a box!  For Angel Madi...

Let's Hop!

Go here: Friends FurEver

'Tocktober

Chucky
(yes, his tail is still missing
fur from his blood pressure check in April!)

Rotund Patty O'Malley

Neighbor's male cat Kiki

Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends!

Thankful Thursday: Not For New Toy!

...without a cat anywhere nearby!

Someone thought a new type of toy would bring out the kitten in Angel and Chuck.  That person was full of glee when the toy was sniffed, and the scratchy pad in the middle was scratched.

But no cat touched the ball, and it's been sitting silently on the floor since that first 30 seconds of cat inquisitiveness.  Someone feels crestfallen.

:::sigh:::

And yet, I am thankful for my kitties, because they don't think like I do, and they teach me to eat when I'm hungry, sleep when tired, meow at the trash collectors, and purr when things feel SO GOOD!

I've joined Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop...

8/17/17: Black Cat Appreciation Day

Of course I honor Chucky, our resident black cat, for today's Black Cat Appreciation Day.

Have camera, zeroing in on target:

Um...rats, let's try again...

...Eek!  No good...c'mon, Chuck...

...seriously?  What the hey....?

...try from above...
DRAT!
What shall I do....?

...Use a photo taken last week!
Handsome Chuck

Of course, we mustn't forget our friendly feral, Sweetie!

Sweetie, The 'O' Cat

Black furred cats are so silky, so gorgeous!  Everyone ought to get one of their own, methinks.  Yes?

The Skinny On Sunday Or Monday

Many of you won't read this until Monday, but I'm up late on Sunday trying to catch up on my week-plus of vacation.

Sadly, I report that my friend's two dogs, Nala and Champ, were both hit by cars and crossed The Rainbow Bridge soon after they escaped their yard.  When I posted here, the only information available was about Champ.  Thank you for your warm thoughts for the family.😢

Unhappy Chuck, at the vet's office

On Saturday, Chuck and I visited the veterinarian, who took radiographs of his chest.  There are shadows around his lungs, meaning fluid has accumulated. The Hubby had already increased his dosage of Enalapril (blood pressure), and the vet wanted an increase in Spironolactone (water pill) too.  She gave me her work email, to let her know how Chuck responds to these changes.  We made an appointment for a new heart and lung echocardiogram in a month.

Chuck has lost weight since his last visit, and after Saturday's appointment, he's been sleeping more and not eating much.  Perhaps my return to a regular work schedule will help get him back on track. And of course, Angel is hissing at him (and me!)

And yet, in spite of it all, we as a family had lovely weather to enjoy snuggles, walks around parks, and visits to outdoor farmer's markets and shopping.

Love these banks of flowers!
They are everywhere.

Sweetie actually posed for a photo

Crazy tree trunk at Stoney Creek MetroPark
in Shelby Township, Michigan

Angel, getting some summer whiffies!

Back to work!

The Great Bare Spot Saga Continues

Chuck: "Stop trying to take photos of my starfish!"

Chucky's March 18th visit to the veterinarian resulted in his tailio being shaved a little bit so they could take his blood pressure.  Then he developed a sore on that spot, which he licked and messed with until The Hubby shaved all of the way around his tail to affix bandages.

Poor Chuck still has The Great Bare Spot!  Neighbors have even stopped me, to ask 'what is wrong with Chuck's tail?'  Oh, the humanity, and the embarrassment! Not mine...Chuck's!

Our next vet visit is Tuesday, August 1, and the vet can see with her own eyes that Chuck's tail fur is lagging behind.  I actually try to rub the area, thinking that some blood flow might help, but Chuck isn't a bit fan of that action.  He would prefer if we just leave his dang-ol' tailio alone and find something else to do with our time.

Wife Check Wednesday

After locking Angel in a closet years ago (she was fine; she slept in the clothes basket), we make sure to do a 'cat check' before we leave the house, or when locking up at night.  

Angel found: Check!

Chucky found: Check!

However, The Hubby once forgot to do his 'wife check' and locked the door when I was still outside with The 'O' Cats!  Imagine my surprise at finding that I could not get back inside.  He had not yet gone upstairs, so he opened the door quickly after my knock.

Nowadays, as I head out to cuddle Sweetie and Patty O'Malley one last time before my bedtime, I've been known to remind The Hubby that I'm going out, and that he'd best do a 'wife check' before he decides to lock up for the night!

Sweetie found: Check!

Patty on my toes: Check!

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?  If I cannot convince The 'O' Cats to come inside, maybe I'd simply live outside with them! Wonder if Alley Cat Allies has a 'build-a-shelter' plan for humans?

Home and Garden Walk

This Saturday, Chucky allowed me to leave home after taking photos him in the sunshine. I attended a Home and Garden Walk in historic Palmer Woods, Detroit Michigan, with friend BG.  I did NOT see any cats, but that was because they were safely behind closed doors. We visited about fifteen different homes.  Thought you might enjoy some of my photos:

I like the way Chuck's black fur is different colors!

Such a luscious garden!

Home designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright

Wonderful pond at the
Frank Lloyd Wright home

Metal sculptures of goats

This particular home had two beehives in the garden

If you bigify, you'll see toy cars and trucks at
the top of each metal circle
This was in someone's front yard

Fountain and garden

It took a lot for me to keep from jumping in this fountain!

Funky birdhouses

This is a master-bedroom shower,
big enough for a few people, methinks!

Had a lovely time, and now I want a fountain in my backyard too!  I'll leave the beehives to someone else.