S-P-O-O-K-E-D

 We both feel a bit weird today...

a sudden strangeness crept over us like a haunting chill...

Bingley

Darcy

"At first cock-crow the ghosts must go

Back to their quiet graves below" ~Theodosia Garrison

Come over to Hansel's and see us both there along with lots of other spooked out felines!

... if you dare...

paws for thought

Darcy

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself"  ~ Hermann Hesse

Thursday in the garden ~ wall

Mr Frost visited last night.

We knew he was coming because Mr and Mrs H came back from work and dashed outside to begin lugging pot plants into the greenhouse and wrapping up the wormery in the shed.

They were even doing this in the dark. No lights by the greenhouse, so they must have wished they had our night vision!

Darcy and Bingley on patrol

Bingley

This morning I pondered what to do in the garden...

I decided the wall was the place to be ...

... it is impawtant to oversee ones territory...

... AND be seen by potential impostors.

I am King and this is my garden!

then I sat contemplating for some time..

(my thoughts were so impawtant that I didn't even blink)

Bingley             Darcy

and we both showed Mrs H the bum of disdain when she called us to come inside

Bingley

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt

Bingley's work ethic

When people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts cats at home.

This is why my brother and I advocate that our humans work from home whenever possible!

Angel Bingley (feline work guru)

Working from home enables us to mentor them...

... in the art of stress busting and some simple tools for mental stimulation ...

... take note of my toes and that pesky little business card, for example...

... I can ease it off the table even when sleeping deliberating on business strategy!

My motto is this....

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”  - Les Brown

When Mr and Mrs H adopt this motto too, my work will be done.

Don't over do it dear friends, it is nearly Friday.

the two of us

I love spending time with my brother.

But today I have searched high and low.

He has vanished.

The Mr Darcy search party

eventually, nose tactics were deployed

Bingley

aha! - no where is safe from Mr Darcy!

Bingley

but who couldn't love a brother like this?!

[Mrs H has made the bed now]

M-I-A Memoir ~ one of my own

We are purring for Mr Tigger and all missing cats in Cats-Land. Reading of this today over at ‘Life from a Cats Perspective’ and then again on 'Cats Blogosphere’ triggered something grave and long hidden in me. Before Darcy and Bingley came to live here, we used to be visited by a fluffy black cat. He came virtually every day for at least 6 years and probably more. Often, when I drew back the curtains in the morning, he would be curled up in the middle of the lawn. Initially, he would just watch us from afar, but slowly we became friends and cuddled. We nicknamed him Breezy (because of the way he breezed in and out of the garden). Breezy seemed to be groomed and fed. We got the impression someone cared for him, yet he could hardly have ever been around them because he was with us so much. We didn’t feed him and he never asked. He just cuddled. He was totally undemanding, just a dark, quiet, sweet natured, companion.

Then, one day when I came back from work I noticed he had a small wound on his back. I hoped that when he returned home his owner would notice it and have it treated. Over some days his wound gradually grew worse and then one evening when I came home from London it was looked worringly sore. I immediately began to search for where he lived. Breezy always came over the wall in the same place. I expected to be able to locate his base fairly easily, how wrong I was. I knocked on doors for over 2 hours. No one knew of him. (I met some interesting and at times slightly odd people but there-by hangs another tale). Eventually I came home and cuddled Breezy. For the first time he came inside the house (his choice) and toured the entire place before sitting quietly on the sofa. I knew he felt safe. I rang my neighbour and asked if he would assist me in driving us to the Vet. I sorted out a box in the garage. But when I came back Breezy was gone. I searched the garden. Nothing.

I never saw him again, though I looked for him every day. I have been unable to reconcile my feelings. Did he make it home? Was he ever treated and if so why didn’t he reappear? My feelings at the time are too complex for me to analyse, but there is much sadness and guilt – could I have done more? I say this with a touch of hesitancy but I always wonder if I should have taken him in properly earlier. I held back because he was clearly groomed and fed. Anyway, I shall never know and time has mixed its sedative and so now, with this post I shall imagine Breezy in ‘Cats-Land’ with Mr Tigger et al.

the one and only shot we have of Breezy

filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light

The welcome party...

(for the workers)

Bingley and Darcy

It is (supposedly) .. early Autumn here in Oxfordshire, in dare I say, dear old foggy damp Britain...?!!

...But something quite wonderful has occurred!

A most unseasonable warmth and sunshine and HEAT... through morning to night.

... indeed weather record books have been broken!

We all stayed outside till late...

... a glass of wine ...

... some eating ...

... a squeezing of every last drop from a most lovely and surprisingly barmy October eveining..

Bingley (too dark for Mrs H's camera)

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood"

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow