Taking some time...

Hello everyone, Just to let you know Mama has been taking some time off to take care of her health. I'm attempting to teach her how to nap. It isn't second nature to her for sure, but she's workin' on it. She sends love to you all and looks forward to reconnecting with you in the spring.

Mystery solved...

I could not for the life of me understand why

nothing I planted here

ever sprouted.

Until...

Happy Birthday to Me: 3!

Parlez Beaucoups is three years young today. And look at that set of fine teeth. He's probably about 9 lbs, lean and muscle, with the softest fur ever. I cannot wait for the juniper pollen to be gone so I can get back to picking him up and kissing his scrumptious little self.

Snow Day for Parlez

What do you do when it's snowing snowing snowing, and all the creatures are buried and there's nothing to hunt? You go into the bathroom and start climbing...

You find a really good spot, high up and warm, and you stay there and keep an eye on things. And scare away the spiders with your shadow.

Happy Winter Solstice

Look closely to see Parlez's special greeting.

Click here to go to the treasure.

Wishing you all a Blessed Winter Solstice and nature's beginning of a brand New Year!

The Winter Solstice: Astronomically marks the beginning of shortening nights and lengthening days.

Interpretation varies from culture to culture, but most hold a recognition of rebirth.

Where do you go when it's 90º in the shade?

To the shade... next to your favorite cat mint bush... and wait for a bit.

Maybe do a little day dreaming... maybe wait for someone to come by and give you some rubs.

Independence Day

On July 4th Parlez and I went exploring in the trees. It been a while since I'd played with him and my camera. We had a lot of fun.

Here he is doing his Cheshire Cat impression.

As I craned my neck upward he said to me

"Mama, guess what?"

What, Parlez?

"I can see Russia from here."

Really?

"Nah, not really. That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard."

Rear Curtain Sync

No, this is not a new type of furniture. It's a flash setting... :)

I'm not too fond of artificial light, honestly, unless maybe it's light painting. But with Parlez, flash is fun. Man, is he fast. He's a great training buddy, I have to say. Not the best stand in for a bride-to-be, but he's pretty darn decent. He's not too fond of flash either, as you can tell.

I won't tell you what he brought in and ate right in front of me just after this shot. All except for the entrails, the nose and two very long front teeth. I won't tell you, but judging by the condition of the teeth it had led a long and very full life...

Earth Day is Every Day

Parlez is vigilant, keeping his patch of earth as well tended as possible. 

It's about 5 acres, so that's quite a bit for a little one not quite 9 lbs.

He invites you all to stop for a moment each day and smell the flowers, 

or watch a caterpillar . . .

Alfred: A Gift from Parlez

One morning I was standing at the picture window sipping tea and looking at the powdered snow. Up the path padded Parlez, something rather large and bird-like hanging sideways from his mouth. My eyes blurry, I thought it was a Flicker. "No Parlez", I said, running out the door in my PJs. He made a dash for his hideaway, under the porch. No way I was getting under there. I left him to it.

Then dressed, I crawled around and with a large stick gently pulled this young hawk out. He was perfect. And that's when I thought he may have succumbed to the same fate Athena had. Parlez didn't seem to be interested in eating him, fortunately. Alfred was barely breathing when he had found him; I had strained to look under the deck and see it on its back, legs twitching one last time. 

There's something sacred about a recently transitioned bird placed on the silent snow. Especially one of such beauty as this one. I marveled at his long, taloned feet, perfect for swooping down to snatch whatever his yellow hawk eyes spied. Marveled at his perfectly pointed beak, his own portable cutlery. And at his young tawny-spotted chest, the soft feathers downy underneath, his magnificent tail feathers. And the soaring wings, now stowed. 

Parlez went to play with his catch. "No Parlez. Let him rest in peace".

He looked at me as if to say, "But I found him, mama".

He looked again at the bird. . . 

OK, mama. I'll let him rest.

Just Checking UP On You All...

                        ©Elsa Kendall 2009. All rights reserved.

Going For It

The roof. Would you jump onto this? I would not. But from what I've heard a rather large bobcat did. 

It must have been a good 60 lbs., mousing around the other night. 

Parlez and I shared a few raised eyebrows as it creaked about above us :)

What the hec... Should I jump?  I think I should just go for it. Snowy, icy roof here I come.

Yikes! Getting there was no problem. Getting back, however, is a wee bit more slippery.

Back down on terra snowa. Safe and sound.

Mousin' Around

Mousey is that you?

Arrgh!

Mousey, I would never hurt you.

Chase you, pounce on you, terrorize you, bat you around, and slobber on you. But never hurt you.

Posted on the one year anniversary of the first sighting of this little guy who came to be known as Parlez Beaucoups, as he wouldn't stop talking, hollering and earnestly trying to communicate something very important. He was in the car port stalking mice for his lunch. It was clear he'd been living off the land, lean and afraid to get near anyone. And that he just might be ready for a new home where hunting mice was for sport, and gifts for mama in her work room. Often. :-)

Autumn Sunday Afternoon With Parlez

Ah, nothing like a nice reposé on Sunday afternoon.

Warm sun, golden aspen leaves and the perfect place for bird watching.

But what's this? Mama with that box again. I think I'll just sit here looking alert but nonchalant.

We cats can only do that for so long. Time to stretch and see what's happening elsewhere.

Adios amigos. Until the next time. . . 

Close Up

This morning I came in to my work room and thought about turning on the computer. Parlez was lounging in a sun beam on top of my folders, notes and papers. I greeted him and he looked over at me squinting and said, "Mama, you're not going to work today are you? It's so beautiful today and autumn is at its height. You really should be outside." I grabbed the camera and he stuck his nose into the lens, trying to see if there was anything appetizing. Nope. No mouse. No kangaroo rat (a gift last night). No mountain beaver. And the lizards are gone for the year. Well, I guess I'm going to quit this taco stand and see what's going on outside. And with that he jumped down and scooted out of his kitty door. If you click on this photo you will see a very persuasive cat telling you to go outside and have some fun. Go on. Try it. :~)

Me and My Shadow

And sometimes my shadow comes through the tall grass with gifts. 

This little one I couldn't let go of for a long time.

Moon Rise 8 9 08

Parlez and I went out to Old Dog Run together to enjoy the dusk. He was doing his Daktari impression drinking out of the small lake left by the thunderstorm the day before. And also keeping an eye out for any dusk devils lurking in the tall grass. When he saw the coast was clear he began a game of football (soccer) with some of the pebbles.

And I was mesmerized by the moon rise.

We photographed some clouds and then the light began to fade so we decided to call it a day and leave the quiet of Old Dog Run to the night shift. 

Parlez Says. . .

Enough about all those ants!

What about my double high five? 

Ants, schmantz.

Where's Parlez?

Click to enlarge. He is there!

Wouldn't this make a good jigsaw puzzle?

OK, maybe not.

:)

I am a Cat, therefore...

I do hunt on occasion

Click to see the lizard mustache

It's summer time and boy is it summer time. I left for a few days and came home

to several gifts. Most survived, thanks to a large stash of yogurt cartons.

This little lizard did make it back into the wilderness.

He lived to tell the tail, even though it was a bit shorter.