Anatomy of a Smackdown

First, start with a little patty-cake-type action:

Then...

And finally...

Let's examine that last one a little closer, shall we?

Red Skies at Night

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein

Pardon Me!

Note the ginger bits in the background...

'scuse me!

pardon me!

comin' thru!

I'd never heard this until my SiL told me about it this past weekend:

legend of the tabby cat

Author Unknown

And so it came to pass that a husband and wife journeyed to a small town called Bethlehem, as the king had decreed that all the people stand to be counted in the small towns and teeming cities from whence they came. The journey was long and hard for both, but especially for the young wife, who was very near to bringing her firstborn son into the world.

When they at last reached the crowded and noisy town, the expectant father searched hurriedly for a place for them to rest and where the child could safely be born. But at every door, he was told there was no available room. Finally, an old inkeeper, though having no space left in his inn, took pity on them and offered them shelter in the small stable used by his animals.

It was there that the child was born, surrounded by beasts of the field. As the night's cold grew, the baby fretted and cried while his parents pondered how to make him comfortable. His father tried stuffing straw into the open places in the walls, and his mother tried warming him with her meager wrappings. But still, the baby cried on.

All the while, a tiny kitten watched from the corner. "Of course the little baby is cold," she thought. "It has no fur to keep it warm! I will give it mine, and I will lullaby-purr it to sleep."

A little jump brought the kitten into the manger where the baby lay. There, she quietly gave her humble gift of warmth and love, gently stretching out her thin, fragile little body over the baby's, careful to cover all but the infant's face. The crying was soon replaced by soft purrs and coos, and slowly, the infant smiled.

As Mary, the new mother, witnessed this gift to her child, she touched the little cat's forehead.

"Thank you, Little Tabby, for your gift of love and warmth. As a sign of my grateful blessing, you and all your descendents will forevermore carry my initial on your forehead."

And to this day, tabby cats are known by the remarkable "M" on their foreheads, and by their extraordinary gifts of love, so gently given.

 Xander does have the "M"...but sometimes his love is more gently given than others. And Willow needs to be nominated for sainthood!

Big Horns & Weathervanes

Taken at a local horse show...more on it later...

The Couch...it's Alive!!!

Yes, in fact, he is inside the couch :D

The Eyes Have It

Enslaved by a Ginger Kitten

Even though I do believe I have entered a negative time zone wherein I have negative free time (not just no free time -- double negative much?) I still persist in reading five minutes here and there. One of my current reads is a delightful modern twist on a James Herriot-ish British vet tale called "Pets in a Pickle." I was reminded how much I love the Brits using the term "ginger" to describe red or red-brown hair. Having family in the UK just encourages my already strong anglophile tendencies. But I digress.

His Highness' conquest of his known universe appears complete. It's difficult for me to blog much as when I take a few minutes to sit at the computer I am interrupted countless times because that means I'm neither feeding nor entertaining him! Yesterday he managed to run Willow off her favorite refuge (a soft towel formerly Gwyn's that now stays on the dining room table [well it's not like we actually eat there!]) and then later take over Gwyn's bed:

Just more of the everyday cuteness

My blankie!

I must bite you!

Wait! Why'd you leave?!

It's okay. I'll just sleep on the floor.

Really?! You expect me to caption this?!?!

I can't type any more as a certain ginger kitten is climbing on me like a swing set and biting various computer cords. Later....

Sprawled Out

Hangin' with the kids and watchin' TV.

More of the Same

Still wildly busy and now fighting (losing the battle?) a cold, but here's some pix from yesterday evening:

It starts off looking like sweet cuddling...

But quickly deteriorates into this!

And this...

Xander's favorite greeting for Wil'

And how he follows her around

Wil's getting ready to strike back

It's on!