Things I’ve been doing lately.
I printed pictures of post-bath Arwen (what the heck was her foster name? Oh right, Arundel), Jacques, and Moop and mounted them to cradled Gessoboard. (I initially mounted them to canvas, but I prefer the Gessoboard because it has a cleaner edge.) Now they’re hanging in the bathroom, and I could not love them more (and there’s room on the wall for future post-bath kittens should such pictures happen.)
Warning: the next three pictures mention cats (and dogs) who have passed away. Feel free to skip ’em if seeing/reading about them will make you sad.
In the back stairwell, I made a memory wall wherein I mounted pictures to Gessoboard of all the cats we’ve lost, and George and Gracie (who are not cats, but deserve to be included.) Then I hung them in no particular order.
Top: Stefan & Maxi.
2nd: George & Corbie.
3rd: Spanky & Gracie.
4th: Joe Bob & Elwood.
5th: Dennis & Stinkerbelle.
Over to the right: Miz Poo.
Top: Kara & Frankie.
2nd row: Sugarbutt & Rupert.
3rd row: Tom Cullen & Mister Boogers.
4th row: Tubby & Spot.
5th row: Coltrane & Fancypants.
(Note: I have not yet updated Frankie and Kara’s pages. I’ll get around to it one of these days. I also have no (despite meaning to for yeeeeeears) split Jake and Elwood’s pages so that they each have their own. Again, that’s something I’ll get to one day.)
On the landing in the back stairwell, our current permanent residents.
Top row: Khal, Alice & Newt.
Bottom: Dewey, Archie, Jake.
A few years ago, Helen (see her site here) drew this lovely picture of Dennis (which was included in her book 101 Cats, volume 2), and sent me the original. I’d been intending to frame it and hang it, but while I was mounting pictures to Gessoboard, why not? (I didn’t actually do this with the original picture, I was afraid I’d mess it up – I scanned it in with my excellent scanner, and then printed it out and mounted that.)
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The kittens turned 6 weeks old yesterday, can you believe that? Here’s what they look like now, and their weights are below.
Alejandro now weighs 1 lb 11.8 ounces (5.1 ounces at birth.)
Pablo is 1 lb 2.2 oz (3.8 oz)
Javier is 1 lb 8.3 oz (4.7 oz)
Carmelita is 1 lb 6.8 oz (4.8 oz)
Diego is now 1 lb 11.6 oz (4.1 oz)
You can probably tell by their weights who has started eating canned food and kibble, and who hasn’t, can’t you? Alejandro, Javier and Diego all run over to the plate to join Isabella in eating when I bring the plate of food into the room. Carmelita will sometimes eat and sometimes not – she’s not that interested – and Pablo straight up is not interested yet. I put canned food in his mouth a couple of times a day and so far he’s making a face and spitting it back out. He appears to be lagging behind the rest of the litter by a few days, so I expect that in the next week he’ll decide eating on his own is where it’s at. I would still like to see him put on more weight, but he’s gaining (even though it’s such a small amount), he’s playing, and he doesn’t hesitate to jump on any of his siblings. I suspect he’s just going to be a little guy.
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Carmelita, studiously NOT looking at the camera.
Diego and Javier have a snuggle.
Stuffed onto one level of the cat tree, ’cause why not?
Diego the cutie.
When they’re lined up like this, with the gray boys on either end (Pablo to the left, Alejandro to the right, in this instance), it means they were nursing and Isabella decided nursing time was over.
Pouty little faces.
It’s an Isabella pie.
“What doin’, weird lady?”
Pablo in the ToastyCat bed. Because I put him there. At least he stayed long enough for a cute pic!
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Dewey, studiously not looking my way. But at least he allowed me to take his picture, and that’s rare. Brat.
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Previously
2019: Mary did not approve of this behavior.
2018: Babysitting doesn’t mean sitting on the babies, Torvill.
2017: No entry.
2016: Art Vandelay is killing me dead here.
2015: And then Peter mocked Heart.
2014: Then Mariette got all “But WHY does the mouse keep running around the track? Does it hate us?”
2013: Meet the Royals.
2012: No entry.
2011: Just occasionally, she needs a nap. With her fangs showing and her tongue sticking out a bit.
2010: “BRING DOWN THE HAND FOR THE BELLY RUB!”
2009: Beulah critiques my belly-rub technique.
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
I love the tribute walls. What a great idea.
I love the tribute wall – I need to do something similar.
This has got to be one of the most beautiful litter of kittens you’ve had so far. There’s some MAJOR floof going on.
Love, love, love the tribute wall, what a great idea! I am so attached to the Permanent Residents of yours, it kinda feels like looking at the members of my own family. How do you think, Robyn: would it be possible to hang Stinkerbell’s picture next to Tom’s? Not that I have any right to tell you how to hang pictures in your house – I know my place 🙂 It’s just that Stinkerbelle’s love for Tom was so legendary, it would be awesome to see them together (as I believe they are beyond the Rainbow Bridge)…
Or at least move her to the top row. Higher, if possible…
love love love these pix!
Yeah, I’m going to move her the next time I get out the ladder (when I pointed out to Fred that I hadn’t put Stinkerbelle near her Tommy, he ROLLED HIS EYES, so it’s good to know that there are people out there who think like me!)
Oh, THANK YOU Robyn!
That gives me warm feelings. She so loved her Tommy.
Oh that tribute wall!!! I see you have Tommy and Sugie together, but how could you put Stinkerbelle so far from her beloved Tom Cullen? She is sending you stink eye from The Bridge. 😉
Edited to say I am in awe of how evenly you hung these so feel free to say you are going to smack me for even suggesting you try to rearrange them! 😀
I have a similar arrangement with all of my guys over the years that I call the “Wall of Fame”!
Dewey looks as though he is pondering the meaning of life, lol. (Dude. Don’t bother. Fill your head with thoughts of crunchies and squirrels instead.)
You are so darn creative, I’m jealous! I love what you did with those pictures! Sounds like a great idea to work on during this quarantine period. I’ve made a similar arrangement of magnetic photo paper pics on the cabinet at my office since I used to practically live there. Time to migrate that idea home.
The floofy little ones are growing so fast, yet not fast enough. They still seem a bit uncoordinated when they try to pounce or skitter. Love your videos, Robyn. Was very surprised to hear the manly Khal “squeak”. Frog in his throat? 😉
He has a very high-pitched kittenish meow and it’s sweet until you’re trying to sleep and he thinks you need to be petting him! 😀
In the background of the picture of Carmelita studiously not looking at the camera, what kinds of steps are those you have next to the litter boxes? My vet recently suggested doing something to make it easier for my elderly cats to get into their litter boxes, and I think those would be perfect!
Also, thanks for the Gessoboard info! Your pics look wonderful!
The tribute wall is wonderful!!! I love them all and admit my heart did a little piddy pat at seeing Corbie and Dennis again… I dunno why. May I ask what is Gessoboard? I’m figuring it’s different than canvas – is it like foamboard? I’m trying to get on the productive bandwagon – clearly, I don’t have any excuses. Hoping all are staying in and staying healthy! The ‘active’ video of the kittens yesterday absolutely made my day!!!! These kittens are soooo pouty looking with their little downturned mouths… squeeeeeeeeee!
Gessoboard is basically a wooden board primed with Gesso (basically a white acrylic paint) – they’re actually intended for painters to paint on. I grabbed the boards at the store when I was looking at canvas, but I’m thinking that any kind of board will work. I may try experimenting with other boards and see what I like. 🙂
Beautiful pictures! What a nice way to remember your babies. This litter is turning into some floofers!
Miz Poo! That is all.
I can’t believe you only have six permanent residents now!
Love the tribute wall. So nice to see all the former permies we have loved.
Lovely pics! The tribute wall is great but the bathroom pics are even better. I think Moop needs to be on an item of some sort.
Love all of those pics!
Your sweet devotion to these precious litters has inspired me to foster,too! Thanks for loving these adorable floofs. Even though I live in Texas, I’ll adopt a gray kitten( always wanted one,these are packed with personality), but good homes will be found for each of these cuties! What a special litter. I look forward to every day!
Love your memory wall, Robyn. Love seeing the sweet faces of Spanky, Tubby, and Mr Boogers again (yes, I’ve been around your parts for a looooonnnnng time now). Just beautiful. Hard to believe you have only 6 permanent residents now.
I don’t comment a lot, but I love and appreciate all you do for the cat world. You’re good people, Robyn and Fred. Thank you for all you do, and for sharing your cats (and love of cats) with the rest of us!
The tribute wall is beautiful. Truly, our furry family members may be gone, but are never forgotten.
The memory wall is wonderful! Thank you for showing us.
Love seeing the little fluffballs, too!