Did You Think I'd Forgotten?

Monday O'Malley...on Tuesday!!!

The PO'M gives his opinion on being moved to Tuesday!

He has wonderful fur colors!

On the balcony

Yes, I can get The PO'M to visit me inside, but he'll only put his front paws in, even when there is food!

Jigsaw Puzzle

"Thanks for the snack!"

Balcony Cat

Monday O'Malley!

Imagine, being awakened by meows coming from outside of your window?

It was The PO'M, and he wanted his brekkie!

"Wake up and FEED ME!"

No worries, The PO'M received...and ate...his breakfast!

***

Postcards From Denver: Day 2 Driving

Postcard From Denver: Walking Day 1

Our first trip of the day was to Golden, Colorado, for a tour of the world's largest brewery!  The drive was about 30 minutes, and it was a warm day.  We waited in line (in the shade!) for less than 20 minutes, and the tour was about 45 minutes.  Learn more here: Miller Coors. 🍻

Beer Vats

Feeling a bit peckish after sipping our samples of beer, we lunched at The Miners Saloon.  As we left the restaurant, a storm was barreling down upon us, and we hoofed it back to the car.  Just as the huge raindrops began to pelt down, we were strapped in, and ready for our next destination. ⛅

The wind whipped up, and the temps dropped!

While driving up into the mountains, the wind blew, the lightning flashed, and the rain turned into fat globs of white snow for a few minutes!  But, as we drove higher, the sun came back out, and the view became spectacular. 🌞

And where did we go, you ask?  Surprise!  We visiting Katie, Waffles, and Debbie from Glogirly!!!

Waffles, my new boyfriend, sniffs my tote

Debbie took this image of us standing on the balcony
Left to right: Sue, Meg, me, Georgi and Deb

Another balcony view

Waffles giving me kisses; Glogirly is amused!

Our socks were charmed off...I swear it!...by Debbie's hospitality and smiles, by the views from EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE, and Waffles...dear, sweet, ginger boy!  Katie remained demurely in her napping space; no overt showing off for her!  But "Show Off" is Waffles' middle name. 😺

After a delightful visit, and I refrained from hiding Waffles in my tote, we drove to Eldorado Canyon State Park.  This park is simply stunning; the raw beauty of the mountains takes one's breath away (and I'm not talking about the thinner air!) 😸

Me, in front of a 'boulder'

Breathtaking!

A pair of deer chose to entertain us for a few minutes

Driving back to Denver and our hotel, we were too tired to go anywhere for dinner, so we ordered in, climbed into comfy clothes, and whiled away our time watching DVDs until late at night.  We each flew out of Denver Airport, going in different directions, but the memories of our fabulous days in the Denver-area kept a smile on our faces!  I plan on returning to The Mile High City, and I recommend that everyone put it on their to-do list! 👍

Thanks again to Debbie, for your hospitality, and to Waffles and Katie for your adorableness! 💖

Waffles: "I will perform AFTER treats are given!"

Glogirly: "Here you go, Waffles."
Waffles: "Num num num..."

Waffles: "More!"

Glogirly: "Let's do your meerkat impression, Waffles!"
Waffles: "Anything for treats!"

Waffles: "So yummy!"
The rest of us: "You are too cute, Waffles!"
Waffles: *blink*

***

Progress!

I have managed to coax Sweetie and Patty O'Malley up the Stairway To Heaven a number of times recently, but have only managed to snap a few quick photos as evidence.  I step out onto the balcony, shake the kibble a bit, and first one cat and then the other pop out of the hole and come over for snacks and lovin'.  On this day, I left the storm door closed, but since that time I leave it open wide enough for a cat to walk in.  Sweetie is quite inquisitive; she goes right inside and takes a good look around.  I want her to keep that up, because her actions may pull Patty along with her, as he will only peer in so far.

Sweetie, looking in the cat flap

Patty and Sweetie, lured up by kibble!

Patty peering in the cat flap, as Sweetie watches

This morning, however, I stepped out onto the balcony, but there wasn't a cat in sight!  I called and shook the kibble...but neither cat appeared.  So, I went back inside, down the stairs and out the front door...and around to the backyard.  Patty and Sweetie were under my car, in the driveway.  Hmmm. May have to work in a sound to 'call' them, like a small bell (something that doesn't drive the neighbors crazy, like a cow bell...LOL!).  The idea is to get them used to coming up and down to eat, and then inside.  Once they go inside, I'll close the door, and teach them to use the cat flap.  If they can 'flap', then I can let them inside at night, and out again in the morning, with only the wooden door open for the brief time it takes them to go in or out.

My summer project!

What Happened?

Sunday, they wouldn't come up

This morning, Patty stayed on the top step

 

I gave him his favorite meal; ground roast turkey and kibble!

 

Patty never moved from that top step

 

Sweetie came down...

She easily moves from step to step

 

The last image I had of Patty before I left for work

Yesterday, during the sunny and lovely afternoon, I attempted to coax Patty O'Malley and Sweetie up the Stairway To Heaven.  I poured kibble into bowls, and shook them, but neither cat moved an inch from the feeding station below, where there was no food.  I gave up after fifteen minutes, closed the door, and walked back down again, to sit on the deck with them for awhile.  Before I went to bed, they were acting normal.

Something weird happened last night.  I don't know what it was, but it drove them both up the Stairway To Heaven to sit huddled under the balcony.

This foggy morning, I walked out back with two bowls full of ground roast turkey and kibble, and couldn't find anyone!  I shook the kibble container, hoping to 'call' any cats in, but I got nothing.  I walked into the alley, and around all sides of the house.  Then, I witnessed Sweetie coming down The Stairs, but Patty stayed up there.  I immediately ran inside, and upstairs to open that door, but Patty would not move even though I petted him through to hatch, and he purred.  In the end, I came back down and put all bowls at the feeding station, where Sweetie ate most everything.  Weird, huh?

It's truly strange NOT to have Patty respond to me, because he ALWAYS does.  No matter where I sit, stand, sweep or rake, Patty is somewhere at my feet or touching my body.  To have him ignore me, staring off into the backyard was bizarre.  I can only hope that things have settled down, so everything is back to normal tonight.  And just got off the phone with The Hubby; he says Patty and Sweetie are doing their usual stuff on the deck, and he sees no problems with them at all.  Hmmm...

Looky!

Chucky was in Puna's beddy when I got home from work!

"This will do nicely, human!"

Yep, Chucky was enjoying his new Finland beddy!  Doesn't his black furrs look wonderful against the royal purple?

AND...I had a bit of success with coaxing Patty O'Malley up to the balcony this weekend.  However, he ran up, looked around and went back down in a flash!  I was on a chair at the far end, reading my book, so I simply sat there for a long time, hoping he would come back again.  Next thing I know, I look up and it's Sweetie instead!  She was happy to get some kibble, happy to explode through the open door, and then ate some more kibble before descending again.  The Stairway to Heaven just may be working!!!

Do you see Patty's head coming up?

Yep, Patty joined me on the balcony!

 

And Sweetie surprised me by coming up!

She investigated the inside too...

\

"Your kibble offering pleases me, human!"

Outside Stairs Update: Progress!

Here comes Patty, climbing the stairs!

Come a little closer, big guy!

Eating some kibble in the open door

Checking out the rest of the balcony

Tried to lure him inside, by going in myself
He was nervous about stepping in

Patty looks in through the cat flap

After one final tweak of the outside stairs, I can get Patty to come up to visit!  The open door and cat flap are still too scary for him to venture through, but each day we move his challenge line a tiny bit farther.  Sweetie watches from below; she has not yet jumped up.  And don't mind the scrapes and scuffs; everything is ad hoc around here.