curiosity.

Good days.

I haven't posted in a while.  

It's not that I haven't had any thoughts or potentially interesting things to say--I probably did at one point or another.  

But sometimes it just feels better to remain quiet.  

To listen.  To watch.  To learn.

I walk by this window almost everyday on my way to work.  Half the time, it's empty.  The other half, there's this beautiful gray kitty lounging there, taking a nap on the sill.  I've walked by this kitty so many times, but I've never been able to communicate with him (or her) directly.  He's inside.  

I'm outside.

So I just wave sometimes (as if he'll wave back).  Or I give him a little nod of acknowledgement (as if he even cares).  Other times, I just stop and stare to admire his cat-ness for a minute or two before I continue on my way.

Sometimes it just feels better to remain silent.  

To carry things close at heart.  

To let those thoughts and truths stew around for a while before putting them on the table.

Sunday evening.

our little family.

I'm so thankful for our little family.  We're not perfect and we're not always sure of ourselves, but we love each other the best we can.

And, Sneak.... well.... she's the princess of our little house.

life with kitty.

Since bringing Sneaker back home (the other two kitties are still in Pittsburgh), she's been like a little shadow--always following one of us around.  Now that Christopher's on tour with the band, I'm never alone....

...on the couch.

...on the floor.

...on the chair.

on the settee.

...in the bathroom.

She's even in the art.

I'm not complaining though.  I'd never complain about this!

where oh where.....

...have the kitties gone?

You know how I said that this summer hasn't been easy?  Last weekend, we drove to Pittsburgh with all 3 kitties in tow.  The kits are taking a holiday with their "grandparents" for a little while until my skin condition clears up.

The house feels so empty without them!  We miss our little family!

morning snooze.

What is it about home?  

You just always want to be there.

cats and a green couch.

new bed cover.

Out of necessity, we recently bought a new bed cover-- 

I've been having a terrible outbreak of skin problems (eczema/allergies) for the past 6-8 months, and it's recently ballooned out of control. Over these last few months, I've rid my closet of all clothing that is not 100% cotton (and, unfortunately, that meant giving away some of my most treasured articles of clothing).

Since the problems are still persisting, we switched our 100% polyester bedding to cotton, as well.

It hasn't solved all of my problems (hopefully it's helping), but it's a fun change in the decorum.

Besides, it seems to be a big hit with the kitties (though that's not helping matters either)!

books and cats.

This is one of the nicest and most relaxing things about living with cats.

I wish that this picture would have come out better.  Sneaker had been laying on top of me for nearly a half-hour when I finally decided to reach over for my phone.  I should have remembered to turn off the shutter sound, because Sneaker ALWAYS runs away when she hears a sudden sound...

all three cats.

It's rare to find all three cats together on the bed during the day.  Mussbe & Random are in full view.  Can you spot Sneaker?

a common household scene.

But the very cutest is when she jumps up during students' lessons 

and starts chewing on the corner of their music.

scenes from home.

what i do while cat-sitting.

FIRST, take pictures of cat toys and cat.

 

THEN, take photos of adorable apartment treasures.

FINALLY, take one more kitty shot and say goodnight.

saying goodbye.

Besides the photos a few days ago, it's been a while since I've updated you on the status of the kittens.  Now seems like the ideal time to fill you in on the goings ons, as we recently said our first goodbyes to two of our little ones.

When Momma Cat happened into our lives in May, we weren't exactly thrilled.  We were greeted (or chosen, shall we say) by a cat with a bulging tummy and, quite honestly, we weren't terribly excited about the prospect of having kittens.  Our negative perspectives changed, however, a few days later whilst the kittens arrived into the world.  Suddenly there were all these small, cute, mysterious little creatures with eyes closed and ears not yet opened.  What interesting little beings.

Watching them develop over the next few weeks was incredibly fascinating.  During the first four weeks of their lives, our jobs as humans were insanely easy.  We really didn't have to do anything besides feed the mom and clean the bedding every-other day.  Momma Cat took care of everything else herself, but we watched and celebrated as their eyes opened up, and later as they took their first daring steps out of the box.

Once we reached the four week point, that's when things really started to change.  Potty-training incurred, wet food became the new primary food source and the furniture became subject to anxious claws....  As the weeks progressed, I've done mass loads of laundry as some devilish culprit continues to pee on the couch and bathroom rug without witness.   It's been an interesting ride.

Last week, we discovered we actually had 2 boys--not just one, like we had thought.  Who knows how that flew under the radar for so long...

On Sunday, the kittens reached 10 weeks of age and we said goodbye to both boy kitties at once.  Our neighbor Caroline took one for herself, which she named "Keçi," which I believe is Turkish, meaning "Goat."  "Ned", the other boy kitty, is moving to Connecticut with Caroline's mom.  One by one, our little babies will be leaving us over the next few weeks.  There's one little girl without a promised home, which we're tenatively planning on keeping ourselves.

It's such a bittersweet time for us, having said our first good-byes.  Momma Cat has been meowing for her little boy kitties incessantly since they left.  Searching the house over and over.  Calling for them to come out of their hiding places.  I shed a few tears immediately after closing the door as Caroline carried Ned & Keçi out in their crates.  It feels like the house is a little emptier now without their crazy kitty personalities around.  Soon enough two more of them will be leaving us and I can only imagine how difficult that is going to be.  But, I'm truly happy that they're going to good homes with people who will love them and give them happy lives.

They grow up so fast, don't they.....