Showing posts with label christmas tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas tree. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
PhotoHunt: Mellow & Tabby's Therapy Cat Tales
Tabby writes:
Wednesday was a very mellow day, because the snow had melted and the weather warmed up. We were supposed to go visiting last week, but it was down to freezing by the time we would've been coming back home. That's too cold for me to be outside! I'm an inside kitty, so I don't have much of a winter coat! My fur gets a little thicker for winter and I shed, but I don't grow the very thick coat like outside kitties do.
It was really raining on Wednesday, so Mommy brought my little umbrella along and I wore my raincoat. I was all nice and warm then! At one point, I wanted to crawl into my carrier bag instead, while we were going from one inside place to another inside place, but Mommy put my jacket on me instead. I had fun watching everything go by then, and didn't worry that I was not in the bag. I had a wet head, but the rest of my fur was dry. My jacket doesn't have a hat or a hood, but it has a collar that I curl in if I need to. Sometimes, I end up wearing the jacket over my head and looking out an armhole!
When we got to the Lloyd Center MAX stop and got off the MAX light rail train, we got a surprise! Some things were lined up along the street, but they didn't look familiar. I know what most cars look like, but these were shorter than cars and they had branches sticking out from the windows! What were those?
Mommy laughed and told me they were cars, too, and they had reindeer antlers! There were three of them lined up, plus some people in blue shirts advertising Car2Go. One of the people was dressed as Santa, but I didn't get my picture taken with him. He didn't want to pose with me. They all wanted to pet me, though, and one of them asked a ton of questions about therapy cats! I love being an ambassador kitty for all therapy cats!
H. had a decorated Christmas tree with lighted packages around the bottom of it, plus poinsettias on all the little tables in the lobby. There were Christmas lights in some places, too. I didn't get my picture taken with any of it, though, because we were running late and didn't want to keep my friends waiting longer than we needed to. I didn't wear my "Santa Baby" dress like I normally do for my December visit, but I had the mini Christmas lights blinking around my stroller handle, so everyone loved those. We visited with a lot of ladies named M. Well, their real names were longer than that, and not all the same name that starts with M., but I can't tell you their real names.
One lady named A.M. loves holding me on her lap and snuggling with me while she talks with Mommy. I watched her tv while she petted me and snuggled with me (and talked). She kept saying she wished that she had a camera to take a picture of me. She didn't have a camera, though, not even a disposable one (which she wants to get). Our friend S., who walks around with us at H., has a cameraphone, so Mommy asked her if she would take a picture of A.M. and me. S. said that of course she would! A.M. almost cried, she was so happy! She said that was the best Christmas present in the world! I posed on the arm of the recliner and we both looked at S. for the picture. It turned out really cute, and I wish I could share it with everyone! A.M. is going to find a nice frame for it and put it on her table! *purrs*
Another of my friends, one of the M.'s, talked about a kitty she had when she was young. Her mom didn't especially like Kate the kitty because Kate was always pregnant or nursing kittens. At that time, they didn't spay or neuter cats. M.'s mom didn't let Kate in the house, but would pour some milk into a bowl and set it out for her and the kittens after she milked. I think that M.'s mom must've liked Kate more than she let on, if she fed her! M.'s mom was Norwegian, so M. knows some Norwegian. She and Mommy had a conversation in Norwegian about Christmas and about how Mommy knew how to speak that language! S. was present and couldn't understand a word of it, but I was listening and could understand a bit. I used to go to classes, and I pay attention when Mommy teaches her internet class. She speaks some of it to us around the house, too. Daddy understands more than he lets on, but only says a few words of it.
My friend who used to be afraid of cats and now loves me was in her room, so we had a nice visit with her. She's another M. She, S., and Mommy had a great conversation about traditional Christmas food and desserts. Mommy was telling about her family and about Great-Grandma coming out west from South Dakota after Great-Grandma married Great-Grandpa. The rest of the family on that side lives in South Dakota still, and my great-uncle sends cookie boxes back to them every year as their Christmas gift.
This picture was taken at C., where we visit after we visit H. I get to share this picture because there's no identifying information in it. I love how their tree looks! You can see the lights on my stroller in this picture, too, as well as my jacket.
The elevator at C. wasn't working properly. One side of it was broken, and it was dinnertime, so everyone was using the other side or the service elevator. We waited and waited for it! Finally it came, then we got to visit P. We had a great visit, then we rode the service elevator back downstairs again. Mommy talked with a couple staff members at C., and we might have more people to visit with next time! There isn't a regular scheduling person for outside visitors, but the different floors have schedules so we'll be on one of those schedules.
After we got done visiting, we went downtown Portland to see the big Christmas tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square. We found a funny thing! This is a bronze statue of a man holding an umbrella, but look what he's wearing! If that's not mellow, we don't know what is!
Are you a photohunter?
Wednesday was a very mellow day, because the snow had melted and the weather warmed up. We were supposed to go visiting last week, but it was down to freezing by the time we would've been coming back home. That's too cold for me to be outside! I'm an inside kitty, so I don't have much of a winter coat! My fur gets a little thicker for winter and I shed, but I don't grow the very thick coat like outside kitties do.
It was really raining on Wednesday, so Mommy brought my little umbrella along and I wore my raincoat. I was all nice and warm then! At one point, I wanted to crawl into my carrier bag instead, while we were going from one inside place to another inside place, but Mommy put my jacket on me instead. I had fun watching everything go by then, and didn't worry that I was not in the bag. I had a wet head, but the rest of my fur was dry. My jacket doesn't have a hat or a hood, but it has a collar that I curl in if I need to. Sometimes, I end up wearing the jacket over my head and looking out an armhole!
When we got to the Lloyd Center MAX stop and got off the MAX light rail train, we got a surprise! Some things were lined up along the street, but they didn't look familiar. I know what most cars look like, but these were shorter than cars and they had branches sticking out from the windows! What were those?
Mommy laughed and told me they were cars, too, and they had reindeer antlers! There were three of them lined up, plus some people in blue shirts advertising Car2Go. One of the people was dressed as Santa, but I didn't get my picture taken with him. He didn't want to pose with me. They all wanted to pet me, though, and one of them asked a ton of questions about therapy cats! I love being an ambassador kitty for all therapy cats!
H. had a decorated Christmas tree with lighted packages around the bottom of it, plus poinsettias on all the little tables in the lobby. There were Christmas lights in some places, too. I didn't get my picture taken with any of it, though, because we were running late and didn't want to keep my friends waiting longer than we needed to. I didn't wear my "Santa Baby" dress like I normally do for my December visit, but I had the mini Christmas lights blinking around my stroller handle, so everyone loved those. We visited with a lot of ladies named M. Well, their real names were longer than that, and not all the same name that starts with M., but I can't tell you their real names.
One lady named A.M. loves holding me on her lap and snuggling with me while she talks with Mommy. I watched her tv while she petted me and snuggled with me (and talked). She kept saying she wished that she had a camera to take a picture of me. She didn't have a camera, though, not even a disposable one (which she wants to get). Our friend S., who walks around with us at H., has a cameraphone, so Mommy asked her if she would take a picture of A.M. and me. S. said that of course she would! A.M. almost cried, she was so happy! She said that was the best Christmas present in the world! I posed on the arm of the recliner and we both looked at S. for the picture. It turned out really cute, and I wish I could share it with everyone! A.M. is going to find a nice frame for it and put it on her table! *purrs*
Another of my friends, one of the M.'s, talked about a kitty she had when she was young. Her mom didn't especially like Kate the kitty because Kate was always pregnant or nursing kittens. At that time, they didn't spay or neuter cats. M.'s mom didn't let Kate in the house, but would pour some milk into a bowl and set it out for her and the kittens after she milked. I think that M.'s mom must've liked Kate more than she let on, if she fed her! M.'s mom was Norwegian, so M. knows some Norwegian. She and Mommy had a conversation in Norwegian about Christmas and about how Mommy knew how to speak that language! S. was present and couldn't understand a word of it, but I was listening and could understand a bit. I used to go to classes, and I pay attention when Mommy teaches her internet class. She speaks some of it to us around the house, too. Daddy understands more than he lets on, but only says a few words of it.
My friend who used to be afraid of cats and now loves me was in her room, so we had a nice visit with her. She's another M. She, S., and Mommy had a great conversation about traditional Christmas food and desserts. Mommy was telling about her family and about Great-Grandma coming out west from South Dakota after Great-Grandma married Great-Grandpa. The rest of the family on that side lives in South Dakota still, and my great-uncle sends cookie boxes back to them every year as their Christmas gift.
This picture was taken at C., where we visit after we visit H. I get to share this picture because there's no identifying information in it. I love how their tree looks! You can see the lights on my stroller in this picture, too, as well as my jacket.
The elevator at C. wasn't working properly. One side of it was broken, and it was dinnertime, so everyone was using the other side or the service elevator. We waited and waited for it! Finally it came, then we got to visit P. We had a great visit, then we rode the service elevator back downstairs again. Mommy talked with a couple staff members at C., and we might have more people to visit with next time! There isn't a regular scheduling person for outside visitors, but the different floors have schedules so we'll be on one of those schedules.
After we got done visiting, we went downtown Portland to see the big Christmas tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square. We found a funny thing! This is a bronze statue of a man holding an umbrella, but look what he's wearing! If that's not mellow, we don't know what is!
Are you a photohunter?
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas!
All of us at the PDX pride would like to wish you a
Merry Christmas
and all the best wishes for a
joyous 2012!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Lots of changes and a Christmas tree!
Whoa, what is that thing up there? It's got shiny balls on it, pretty ribbons, and lots and lots of branches. It looks like a tree, but what's a tree doing inside? It doesn't smell like my apple tree outside, the one I used to use to trim my claws. In fact, it smells like plastic, not like any tree I've ever smelled. It certainly doesn't smell like the forest I was born in, just a few yards away from the house, where there are trees that look like this one. But if this is a Christmas tree, then I guess that's what it is. My foster uncles and foster aunties all say that it is one, even though Uncle Heimdall and Auntie Freya only saw a little tree last year in this house.
The tree went up a week ago, with all of us investigating and "helping" put the branches into the trunk, then watching in surprise as Foster Mommy put the top on and put a cloth around the bottom of it. Freya and I batted at some of the ornaments and were told "no". Foster Mommy took some pictures of the tree and of us gathered around looking at it (and tasting it, batting at ornaments, etc.), so I'll post those here in a slideshow:
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| This free digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox |
What is this thing called Christmas? Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy say that I'm a Christmas kitten for my new mommy. What's a new mommy? I thought I already had two mommies: my momcat and my foster mommy! I'm going to meet this new mommy and this place called a forever home this afternoon. Everyone's excited for me, and the others are saying this is special, but I'm not sure about it. I think once I'm there, I'll hide like I did at that other place. I'll find a good hiding spot to watch what's going on in this place called a forever home. My foster parents say that's ok to do, and that my new mommy understands. Good!
I wonder if she'll have a Christmas tree? If I'm a Christmas kitten, then don't I belong under the tree as a present? That's what Auntie Tabby says! After our tree here was up, Foster Mommy supervised us for a while then went to sleep. She woke up because she was dreaming about playing ping-pong. Well, guess what the ping-pong ball was? I had an ornament and was playing with it, down the hall, into the bathroom, bouncing it against the tiles! All the ornaments are kitten-safe plastic and cloth, so she laughed as she went to retrieve it, wash it, and put it back on the tree. Soon, I was at it again! A few days later, she found one of the bows in the middle of the hallway. Guess who? Yesterday I tried to climb the tree, but it fell over! I guess it's not for climbing. When Foster Mommy was editing the tree pictures on the computer, I tried to get to the tree! Yep, I'm a tree-obsessed kitten!
I'm also 7 months old today! Wow! I told my sisters that, through the window while they looked at the Christmas tree, and they love that we're all a month older! They don't know what this Christmas thing is either, but as long as it involves food, water, and talking to the inside kitties through the window, it's ok with them!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Therapy Cat Tales: Tabby's Christmas Eve Visit
Tabby writes:
Whew! I hope you had as great a Christmas as we did! Ours was pawsome! Mommy and I started it off by going visiting to H. on Christmas Eve. I wore my red velvet "Santa Baby" dress over my harness, and got lots of compliments on it when we rode the buses and MAX train. Mommy wrapped the handle of my stroller with tiny Christmas lights that twinkled, too, so I was all festive! She waited until nighttime to take a picture of it, but we had them on the whole time we were visiting.
Not many of my friends who work at H. were there, because they all wanted to be home with their families for Christmas Eve, but we met a new friend named V. who takes great pictures and sells them. She's got kitties at home!
Once we were signed in and had our list, we went up in the elevator with one of the residents and his family. He's one of my visiting buddies, so his family was glad to meet me. As we got out of the elevator, we were surprised by (and surprised) M., who had the same Christmas lights as I did, but hers were around her neck like a long necklace! That gave everyone a laugh! M. told Mommy how much she enjoyed our visits every time we came, and that just made Mommy so happy. G. and a friend tried to feed me oyster crackers, but I don't take treats when I'm out. I sniffed the crackers politely, then asked for pets.
Many of the residents had beaded snowflakes on their walkers or wheelchairs. I think they'd made them earlier in the week. They were sooo pretty! Some of the people had presents to open later on, and/or had Christmas cards that they showed to us. Everyone loved my pretty red dress! I walked around proudly, then lay regally in my stroller to ride. Just before we left, Mommy had someone take our picture by the Christmas tree!
We took the bus back part of the way, then Mommy's dad came and picked us up. I stayed at home while Mommy went to her grandparents' to celebrate Christmas Eve with them, her uncle, and her dad. Daddy had to work, but we had our Christmas on Christmas Day with him.
Whew! I hope you had as great a Christmas as we did! Ours was pawsome! Mommy and I started it off by going visiting to H. on Christmas Eve. I wore my red velvet "Santa Baby" dress over my harness, and got lots of compliments on it when we rode the buses and MAX train. Mommy wrapped the handle of my stroller with tiny Christmas lights that twinkled, too, so I was all festive! She waited until nighttime to take a picture of it, but we had them on the whole time we were visiting.
Once we were signed in and had our list, we went up in the elevator with one of the residents and his family. He's one of my visiting buddies, so his family was glad to meet me. As we got out of the elevator, we were surprised by (and surprised) M., who had the same Christmas lights as I did, but hers were around her neck like a long necklace! That gave everyone a laugh! M. told Mommy how much she enjoyed our visits every time we came, and that just made Mommy so happy. G. and a friend tried to feed me oyster crackers, but I don't take treats when I'm out. I sniffed the crackers politely, then asked for pets.
Many of the residents had beaded snowflakes on their walkers or wheelchairs. I think they'd made them earlier in the week. They were sooo pretty! Some of the people had presents to open later on, and/or had Christmas cards that they showed to us. Everyone loved my pretty red dress! I walked around proudly, then lay regally in my stroller to ride. Just before we left, Mommy had someone take our picture by the Christmas tree!
Our Wonderpurr Holidays!!!
We had a great week of Christmas parties and get-togethers!!! First, Tabby and Mommy visited H. on Christmas Eve, then Mommy went over to be with her dad, uncle, and grandparents for the rest of the evening. On Christmas Day, Mommy's mom came over to exchange presents, and we got a LOT of boxes and wrapping paper to play in/bite/hide/pounce in!
In the afternoon on Christmas Day, Erin came over to spend the rest of the day and the night with us. She was a bit sad, so we did our best to cheer her up. We think it worked, too! How could she not be cheered up watching us play and petting us? Our purrents and Erin had yummy leftovers from Christmas Eve for dinner (meatballs, gravy, and mashed potatoes) and we got the plates afterwards. Carbon does love his mashed potatoes and gravy treat!!!
When it was bedtime for JJ, he took a bath with his new green bath salts. Freya, who loves jumping in the bathtub when the water's running for showers, wasn't sure exactly what JJ was doing, but wanted very much to investigate it. So she jumped on the side of the tub and looked in! Nope, she didn't slip in.
Christmas tree over at Mommy's grandparents' house
Lights at Mommy's grandparents' house
Heimdall is interested in the fire in the fireplace.
In the afternoon on Christmas Day, Erin came over to spend the rest of the day and the night with us. She was a bit sad, so we did our best to cheer her up. We think it worked, too! How could she not be cheered up watching us play and petting us? Our purrents and Erin had yummy leftovers from Christmas Eve for dinner (meatballs, gravy, and mashed potatoes) and we got the plates afterwards. Carbon does love his mashed potatoes and gravy treat!!!
Erin and Freya
Erin making kissy noises at Freya
What's that???
What is it??? What's it doing???
Then, on Monday, Daddy went over and got Erin and JJ so we could have Christmas and open gifts with them. They spent the night, then went back the next day.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Fashion Friday: Meowy Catmas!!!
Meowy Catmas from all of us here at the PDX pride!!!! We purrrray that it's a good one, filled with lots of blessings, snuggles, purrs, treats, and all that makes holidays wonderpurr.
Tabby in her "Santa Baby" dress by our small tree.
No eating the cord for the lights, Freya! (The reason we didn't get a full-sized tree this year; Daddy says next year.)
Merry Christmas! Winter blessings!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Therapy Cat Tales from 12/10/10
The rain held off this time, and I was all comfy in my new carrier with my new, warm, fleece raincoat. :) It rained a little, but just drizzling and not pouring. I can't wait until it snows again, though! I like watching it float down! When we were at the first bus stop, Mommy took my picture so everyone can see what my new carrier looks like strapped to my stroller. We have to use both on some of the buses, so that's why we have the new carrier. This is the one I picked out at the Halloween party, and I love it! The bag hanging from the stroller is the carrier's bag; it folds down to fit in that. Very handy for us!
I got some chin scritches from a couple of fellow bus riders while Mommy talked with them on the way to Portland. Then I got to get out of the carrier and into the stroller. Boy was I ever surprised when I looked out and saw a GIANT tree! It was 75 feet tall! It's the Portland city tree, and it's all decorated with lights! Mommy says we're going to have a real tree like that in the house this year, only it won't be that tall. Will it smell as good?
There were trees at H. as well when we got there, all decorated and pretty, but they were fake like the tree we have had the last few years. I didn't get to investigate them too closely because there were also poinsettias and those can make kitties very sick. Pretty to look at from a distance, though, but I knew not to jump up by one.
The first thing I did when we got to H., besides go up to the office door, was to go in and show off my pretty new coat to everyone in the office. I'm very proud of it, and love how toasty-warm I am in it! :) >^..^< Then Mommy showed off my Christmas dress that I'm going to wear for visiting on Christmas Eve. Yes, I'll be sure to have her take pictures of me in it! The ladies loved my coat and dress just as much as we do.
As we were getting ready to go up to visit with my friends, a student from the local high school came in. A group was coming for their first day volunteering. They were all excited to meet me, and most had never heard of animal-assisted therapy at all, let alone a kitty having a job as important as mine! They followed us all around while I worked, nine of them, while Mommy explained the health benefits (mental, physical, emotional) of interacting with me. I kept on looking at them, making sure they were following me, as I went into rooms. I was soooo proud to show off my skills, do my tricks, have them meet my friends, and have them learn about my work! Ears up, tail up, proud walk! :) >^..^<
We had a short visit because some of the people were gone on adventures outside the building (to the store or elsewhere important) and others were sleeping. As we were walking to the MAX light rail, we saw a squirrel in the park, eating a nut. I was too tired to even be bothered by it, but Mommy took a few pictures of it. I rested on the way home, because being a teacher for a day is very tiring! We heard about other bus riders' kitties and angel kitties on the ride home, once they found out they were riding with a cat. I always bring out stories in people, and I love it! Mommy loves hearing the stories, too.
I got some chin scritches from a couple of fellow bus riders while Mommy talked with them on the way to Portland. Then I got to get out of the carrier and into the stroller. Boy was I ever surprised when I looked out and saw a GIANT tree! It was 75 feet tall! It's the Portland city tree, and it's all decorated with lights! Mommy says we're going to have a real tree like that in the house this year, only it won't be that tall. Will it smell as good?
There were trees at H. as well when we got there, all decorated and pretty, but they were fake like the tree we have had the last few years. I didn't get to investigate them too closely because there were also poinsettias and those can make kitties very sick. Pretty to look at from a distance, though, but I knew not to jump up by one.
The first thing I did when we got to H., besides go up to the office door, was to go in and show off my pretty new coat to everyone in the office. I'm very proud of it, and love how toasty-warm I am in it! :) >^..^< Then Mommy showed off my Christmas dress that I'm going to wear for visiting on Christmas Eve. Yes, I'll be sure to have her take pictures of me in it! The ladies loved my coat and dress just as much as we do.
As we were getting ready to go up to visit with my friends, a student from the local high school came in. A group was coming for their first day volunteering. They were all excited to meet me, and most had never heard of animal-assisted therapy at all, let alone a kitty having a job as important as mine! They followed us all around while I worked, nine of them, while Mommy explained the health benefits (mental, physical, emotional) of interacting with me. I kept on looking at them, making sure they were following me, as I went into rooms. I was soooo proud to show off my skills, do my tricks, have them meet my friends, and have them learn about my work! Ears up, tail up, proud walk! :) >^..^<
We had a short visit because some of the people were gone on adventures outside the building (to the store or elsewhere important) and others were sleeping. As we were walking to the MAX light rail, we saw a squirrel in the park, eating a nut. I was too tired to even be bothered by it, but Mommy took a few pictures of it. I rested on the way home, because being a teacher for a day is very tiring! We heard about other bus riders' kitties and angel kitties on the ride home, once they found out they were riding with a cat. I always bring out stories in people, and I love it! Mommy loves hearing the stories, too.
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