Mayor Tom, My Tabby Cat

Stories about my Maine Coon cat

Its Quiet Here

| Cindy Anderson

My sewing room has been very quiet this week. Why, you might ask? Well I’ll tell you. My hubby is on vacation. Now no grandiose destinations were planned. A simple stay-at-home vacation was on our agenda. We’ve been spending most of our time in a state of leisure. A few short trips were planned to run errands and a bit of shopping but not much else exciting has taken place. The highlight of our day today was a visit to Starbucks. Our plan was to pack up our iPads and a word search game along with two markers and head to the local Starbucks to relax, sip an endless cup of coffee and entertain ourselves with the items we had packed.

With anticipation we did as planned. My hubby, as is typically the case, drove us to the coffee shop. When we arrived is was darn near 1:00 p.m. One would think the lunch crowd would have dissipated leaving ample room for our planned adventure. Walking up to the door we could see inside a sea of patrons busily occupying the limited seating space. A decision had to be made. Do we order up our beverage with the hopes that somehow someone would pack up their belongings and vacate a suitable table, or do we turn around and reformulate our plans.

Option # 1 was the choice we made. After placing our order we lingered at the coffee bar awaiting our beverage as well as the ultimate answer to our question. Whom would leave? This was the one time we hoped our order would take too long. You know, just long enough for a table to open up. As the line ahead thinned out and it was at last our turn to receive our steaming hot cups of coffee, we turned one last time with that hopeful stare directed toward anyone that might happen to turn in our direction. Perhaps if they saw the longing in our eyes they would instantly pack up their belongings and graciously direct us to their table. Well all the wishful thinking in the world was not going to make that happen. Not one person received our subliminal sound waves. Nobody moved. There were a few spots where a table meant for four were occupied by just two souls. I suggested we occupy the two empty chairs but my hubby was not at all interested so we left.

The weather outside was not at all conducive to an outdoor excursion. It has been cold and rainy all week. If it had been warm and sunny we could have found one of the local parks and continued our little adventure there. The only option left was to carry our coffee to our car and head home.

When we arrived home my hubby announced he was going to set up our own coffee shop right here in our own home. While I tended to a few items he rearranged our living room furniture. When I returned he had moved the couch and coffee table in front of our gas fireplace. On the table he had placed our steaming hot cups of coffee as well as our iPads and the other items we had taken to Starbucks. I thought it cute that he had taken the effort to arrange a cozy and inviting area to relax and carry-on with our experience.

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To those that are new to my blog I must tell you we share our home with two cats and a dog. Anytime we slow down and relax all three of them find it necessary to join us. This little coffee sipping extravaganza was just as inviting to them as it was to us. On the couch to my left rested Mayor Tom, our Maine Coon cat, on the floor in front of us was our tabby cat Jerry and resting comfortably on a love-seat throw pillow was our little princess Sadie. Just as with Starbucks all of the available seats were taken.

Although our relaxing afternoon of coffee had not gone as originally planned, we had a quiet little coffee shop right here in our very own home. What more could we ask for?

It’s A Zoo In Here!

| Cindy Anderson

Well, technically not a zoo.  I have cats and a dog and you wouldn’t find cats and a dog in cages at a zoo.  But it feels like a zoo.

I’m busily creating Sandy Quilt Blocks in my sewing room and I’ve been joined by all three of our furry friends.  There’s Mayor Tom on his throne,

Mayor Tom

Jerry’s, of all places, in my woven wicker garbage can,

and Princess Sadie all curled up in her super comfy brown with white polka dots bed.

Now to me that’s a zoo, and a mighty fine one at that.

Since all three animals are sleeping in my sewing room, at the same time, in close proximity of each other, I would assume Sadie has been given Tom and Jerry’s seal of approval.  How cool is that!  Inch by inch, day by day Sadie’s becoming more a part of our family.

So what do you think?  Is it a zoo or isn’t it?

Look Who’s Sleeping On My Pillow

| Cindy Anderson

A while back I was surprised to discover that I was not the only one using my pillow. Much to my amazement I learned that my tabby cat, Jerry, has also found it very comfortable.

I was reminded of his fascination with my foam pillow today while Gary and I lounged on our love seat. From the love seat we can see into our bedroom. Contained within that opening is a bird’s-eye view of our neatly made king size bed. Gary and I were watching a program on television. From the corner of my eye I could see Jerry heading in the direction of our bed.

Mr. Jerry

Both Tom and Jerry adore sleeping on our king size, pillow top mattress. With one swift jump Jerry was airborne and softly landing on top of our comforter. I turned my head in the direction of our bedroom to watch what I assumed would be Jerry snuggling in for a nap. As I watched his progression I could see that he had other intentions. He was headed toward my pillow. Carefully he put one paw in front of the other, occasionally stopping to turn and look in our direction. It was obvious that he was concerned about being discovered.

When he reached our pillows, which were tucked beneath the bedding, he began pawing at the comforter. Carefully, diligently he worked at trying to lift the comforter. Eventually he was able to first slide a paw, and then a leg beneath the comforter. With the comforter elevated he was able to wriggle his body underneath. We watched as first his head, then his upper torso, then his lower body and finally his tail disappeared.

While this disappearing stunt was taking place we were not the only ones watching. Tom, our Maine Coone, was enthralled with Jerry’s actions.

Mayor Tom

As he saw Jerry disappear beneath the covers, Tom decided that the mound beneath our blankets would be a neat place to pounce. Tom leaped into the air and landed smack-dab in the middle of Jerry. Surprisingly the weight of Tom on top of Jerry didn’t cause Jerry to emerge. Tom continued his assault on Jerry by frantically pawing at the blanket mound. Yet, still Jerry didn’t budge. By this time I was cycling between the hilarity of Jerry getting under the covers, to Tom’s desperate attempt to engage Jerry in his playful routine, to the absurdity that my cat is now laying on top of my pillow that I sleep on.

With Tom busily pawing at Jerry’s blanket covered mound I contemplated my options. The first was to yell at the cats to get them to move from the area and the second was to sneak up and catch Jerry in the act of laying on my pillow. I chose the second option. As quietly as I could I tip-toed into my bedroom and walked around to my side of the bed. Gently I raised the comforter to expose Mr. Mischief. There, all curled up, comfy and relaxed, in the hollowed out portion of my contour pillow, was Jerry. He seemed confused at the dilemma before him. It appeared that he wasn’t sure if he should stay or run? The answer to me was obvious, RUN!

Discovering that my pillow made a wonderful cat bed was a bit disgusting. I wondered how many times Jerry had slept in the hollowed out section of my pillow? I wondered how he learned to lift the comforter and crawl underneath? I wondered where he ever got the idea to begin with?

Since the first time we observed Jerry tunneling beneath our covers we have witnessed numerous repeat performances. Obviously being discovered has played no role in deterring him from the adventure. To attempt to distract him from his mission we have tried pulling the covers up and over the pillow and then tucking them beneath. We have also taken to piling our decorative throw pillows on top. Although these measures seem like they would put an end to our problem they have only provided a slight hinderance. Keeping Jerry from sleeping on my pillow is an ongoing battle.