Didn't get to go to the Inauguration, but I've got kittens for compensation.

[mechtild]

~*~

Note: This is a cat post, with lots of pictures.

Back in the beginning of November, my daughter and I visited my mother where she lives in northern Virginia, in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Both of us were big Obama supporters and had voted by absentee ballot back in MN, but being in the D.C. area during the election was thrilling. We

Comments

[mechtild]

We're glad he's liking them better, too, Mews. For a while there we were feeling guilty we'd even got the kittens, since he seemed to find them such a cross to bear. As they get older and less "playful" (not what he'd call their behaviour, lol), he'll like them even better. They think he's the greatest, for their part.

[shirebound]

Ohhh, they're beautiful! They're obviously very special cats, and they've found such a wonderful warm, loving, attentive home. They obviously love their Uncle Angelo!

Oh gosh, you can post kittypics anytime. What a joy. And how lovely that the breeder was so compassionate and you brought him dinner, and the cats are feeling at home. *happy sigh*

[mechtild]

We were lucky to get our kitties when we did, Shirebound. Our breeder is retiring from raising cats. She's 86, you know. She's spry for her age, and has been doing the work of caring for these cats amazingly well, considering, living alone in a very isolated house in the country (her husband died in May). When I asked if it would be o.k. to pick up the kittens on Christmas, in case she had company, she said, no, she wasn't having company and planned to eat a TV dinner! That's why I brought her some Christmas feast (I served it on Christmas Eve, which is when my husband's family come over for the Big Dinner), and a bunch of my cookies and candies.

She's going to sell the place and move out west where her daughter lives. She's already placed all the kittens and cats, the kittens sold to families and the older cats going to breeder friends. She said she's going to miss having the cats very much, but that it's really too much for her anymore.

[primula_baggins]

My goodness, what exotic looking kitties! What kind are they?

Dear 'Uncle' Angelo, he's trying to tolerate them, isn't he? :D Kittens are so full of energy.

BTW, I have a blankie just like the one in the window! It's the softest and warmest thing. I love it.

[mechtild]

You have one of those blankies? Aren't they great? When I first began visiting my sister a lot, because we were living in northern CA about ten years ago, she had these blankets in stacks in the living room for people to use. We loved them, and actually used them, since it does get chilly in winter where she lives. So when we got our hous here in Duluth, I looked for some to buy so I could have a stack in my living room, too. At the time, I didn't think any would end up as favourite cat beds!

My goodness, what exotic looking kitties! What kind are they?They are Siamese cats. The darker places on their bodies are called their "points". The points darken as the cats age (Angelo's eight so he's as dark as he'll ever get. ). Angelo is a blue point. Charles is a chocolate point (medium-dark brown points). He'll darken up as he grows older, too. Our cat Raoul, who died in June, was a chocolate point, very big and handsome. Elsa is what is called a seal lynx point. The classic Siamese cat colour is called "seal point". As

[primula_baggins]

When I was a teenager, I wanted a Siamese, but they didn't look like these. They weren't as pointy looking. Maybe what I liked was something else? Remember the song:

We are Siamese if you please
We are Siamese if you don't please
We are from a residence of Siam
There is no finer cat than I am

Hehe.

They are beauties, though. I love their blue eyes. It's a nice little family you've got there.

[mechtild]

I know that song by heart

[just_ann_now]

What lovely faces they have!

[mechtild]

Hi, Ann! Did you think of attending the Inauguration at all? Rachel has called three times tonight, asking us to look up scheduling info. on the internet (they haven't got a computer at the house in D.C. they're staying in tonight). They've been to the Mall today and said it was full of people milling around taking pictures, but that it was still easy to get around. Tomorrow may present another scenario! They want to get there as soon as the check points open.

Elsa's face is one of the loveliest we've ever seen on a Siamese cat, although we chose her for her personality. Charles has more of a dog face, with big eyes that easily look sort of mournful, sort of like a hound's, and a big Roman nose. I think he'll be handsome when he grows into his ears. :)

[just_ann_now]

No, we never considered it for a moment. We avoid DC in the best of times - all those years my husband had to drive or take the train up there every day for work, I hated to ask him to go again on the weekend - and this occasion is going to be a madhouse. They're now calling for snow, which shouldn't make things too much harder for your daughter if she's already close-in, but it will wreak havoc with the traffic. We're not good with snow around here anyway, adding it to all the stress of the situation tomorrow - it will be an interesting day all around! I'll either be watching at work (with, maybe, four other people who will bother to go in) or watching it online here at home.

[mechtild]

Ah, I understand about the traffic. My mother keeps encouraging us to move to the area, just as we keep asking her to come live with us up here ("No! Too cold!"). Just as she hates the cold we hate all the traffic. But for a special occasion I am willing to make exceptions. ;)

Actually, we've been looking up the weather periodically, and for Alexandria (VA) it's saying chance of snow between noon and four, with "up to" a half inch of accumulation. That's nothing. Although, as you say, area drivers are not good at snow and even that could still wreak havok.

[lavendertook]

Oh, I'm so glad it's working out and Angelo is adjusting! But how could he not when he has people who love him and who know how to tell the story from his perspective so well?

So cute! Charles has a little koala bear nose! The last pic is so cute! And Elsa has such a pretty ittle face, though I love the one from the video where she's open mouthed in a wrestling lock form Charles. lol! And holding Angelo's foot. Lucky kitties to have such nice sunny perches. (-:

[mechtild]

Yes, we are showering Angelo with affection and attention, to soften the blow of being the sole recipient of the love of three humans no longer. ;)

I love the comparison to a koala bear. It *does* look like a koala's nose. I've been thinking he's got kind of a dog face (whereas Elsa looks fully like a cat), but I think a koala bear is a closer comparison.