For TT

Good bye sweet TT Girl...



Lend Me a Kitten
I will lend to you for awhile a kitten, God said.
For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he's dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.
But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you and, should his stay be brief
You'll always have his memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught below I want this kitten to learn.

I've looked the whole world over in search of teachers true.
And from the folk that crowds life's land I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take my kitten home again?

I fancied that I heard them say 'Dear Lord Thy Will Be Done'
For all the joys this kitten brings the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.

But should you call him back much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.
If, by our love we've managed your wishes to achieve,
Then in memory of him whom we loved, please help us while we grieve.
When our cherished kitten departs this world of strife,
Please send yet another needing soul for us to love all his life.

Author Unknown

Wordless Wednesday

Tortie Tuesday

This is what happens when I don't get enough posts on the Bloggie! Jake you better watch out too!



- Pearl

ManCat Monday

Happy Monday all you ManCats!

We have taken ManCat Monday back from Pearl today, but it was no easy feat. She's trying to make it Wo-ManCat Monday, we'll have to see about that!

But today we wanted to show us the cool presents that our ManCat friend, Mr. Hendrix.

Look at all these goodies!
Bert checks everything out!
This zippy mouse is really cool (and tasty)!
Come on Bert, let's play!
And we don't want you to think that Pearl didn't enjoy the presents, it's just that she was busy hunting squirrels and didn't want to come in to see the cool presents - she played with them later though.

Thanks again Hendrix - they are great presents!
-Jake and Bert

Finally Friday #7

It's finally Friday - so that means another day for me!!!!

Now I'm not trying to sound all whiny, but I have real proof that they boys are hogging the blog! Mommy always tags each post with who it was by or about, and when you look at the number of posts marked Bert there are 95 posts, and Jake has 96 - and how many do I have? Ninety something? Nope - 87, that's right! See, it really is unfair.

So today is Finally Pearl-Day!


-Pearl

Practical Thursday Part Ten

Ha ha - another Pearl free day (not that we're trying to keep her off the blog or anything!). So here's another chapter of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - enjoy!

GUS: THE THEATER CAT
Gus is the Cat at the Theater Door.
His name, as I ought to have told you before,
Is really Asparagus. That's such a fuss
To pronounce, that we usually call him just Gus.
His coat's very shabby, he's thin as a rake,
And he suffers from palsy that makes his paw shake.
Yet he was, in his youth, quite the smartest of Cats-
But no longer a terror to mice and to rats.
For he isn't the Cat that he was in his prime;
Though his name was quite famous, he says, in its time.
And whenever he joins his friends at their club
(Which takes place at the back of the neighbouring pub)
He loves to regale them, if someone else pays,
With anecdotes drawn from his palmiest days.
For he acted with Irving, he's acted with Tree.
And he likes to relate his success on the Halls,
Where the Gallery once gave him seven cat-calls.
But his grandest creation, as he loves to tell,
Was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.

'I have played', so he says, 'every possible part,
And I used to know seventy speeches by heart.
I'd extemporize back-chat, I knew how to gag,
And I knew how to let the cat out of the bag.
I knew how to act with my back and my tail;
With an hour of rehearsal, I never could fail.
I'd a voice that would soften the hardest of hearts,
Whether I took the lead, or in character parts.
I have sat by the bedside of poor Little Nell;
When the Curfew was run, then I swung on the bell.
In the Pantomime season I never fell flat
And I once understudied Dick Whittington's Cat.
But my grandest creation, as history will tell,
Was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.'

Then, if someone will give him a toothful of gin,
He will tell how he once played a part in Easy Lynne.
At a Shakespeare performance he once walked on pat,
When some actor suggested the need for a cat.
He once played a Tiger - could do it again -
Which an Indian Colonel pursued down a drain.
And he thinks that he still can, much better than most,
Produce blood-curdling noises to bring on the Ghost.
And he once crossed the stage on a telegraph wire,
To rescue a child when a house was on fire.
And he says: 'Now, these kittens, they do not get trained
As we did in the days when Victoria reigned.
They never get drilled in a regular troupe,
And the think they are smart, just to jump through a hoop.'
And he'll say, as he scratches himself with his claws,
'Well, the Theater's certainly not what it was.
These modern productions are all very well,
But there's nothing to equal, from what I hear tell,
          That moment of myster
          When I made history
As Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.'

Wordless Wednesday

(Just when we said we never get in one picture!)

Tabby Tuesday

Pearl is all hissed off (not just because of the ManCat Monday thing), apparently Bert and I have been spending a lot of time on the blog, and she hasn't done as many posts as we have. So she wanted to make this a week of Pearl - but Bert and I told Mommy that she couldn't, that it wasn't fair (not to mention the fact that Dante might mot make it though a whole week of Pearl posts!). We agreed that if she wanted to make up some more posts that she could have Monday and Friday to herself for a while - until she catches up anyway!

But today is my day, mostly because our new friend T'Abby Normal (that just makes Mommy giggle every time!) gave me this really cool award - isn't that nice of her!


About the award:

This award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a special honor. Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to 5 others.

Rules:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogger community, regardless of language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4. Award-winners and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

I would like to pass it on to the talented Miss Peach and her Mommy, our blogging inspiration Victor Tabby Cat and Bonnie (of course), Adan and the wonderful Michico, and the very lovely Queen Snickers and Tazo.

- Jake

ManCat Monday

Not funny Mommy...


I know that I lost my collar, and that I can't go out without one - so I don't really see the problem with "borrowing" Bert's collar. I know it's not my normal regal purple, but when a girl needs to go out, a girl needs to go out!

But just because I have to wear Bert's collar for a few days does not mean you can put me on ManCat Monday! I just know my sweet Dante is going to be really mad at you!

-Pearl

Friends on Friday

Our good friend Skeeter tagged us for a meme, so we thought we'd get it done today.

1. Who would you like to see on a new banknote (dollar bill, etc.)?
Oh - that one's easy, Daddy! Plus, he's already on it, see...

Yep, my Daddy is famous - look for him in wallets everywhere!

2. If you were reincarnated as some other plant or animal (or human), what would it be?
Mommy always says she'd like to come back as one of us. And she's right, we've got it pretty great, lots of love and toys and food. So we'd like to come back as ourselves.

3. If you owned your own restaurant, what would you call it?
Well, it's hard to follow Skeeter's name, but we're thinking "Three Kitties Never-Ending Nom-Nom-Nom". Would you kitties eat there?


Um, Jake, don't you think that you should tell your friends that you aren't going to be around for a bit? It's not nice to just disappear.

Oh yeah, yeah, Mommy and Daddy are leaving again, whatever. We're done with all this madness, we're gonna pack up and go somewhere we're appreciated. Any kitty out there need some new siblings?

Jake, we'll only be gone a few days, it's not that big a deal - I think you'll live.

Right Mommy, uh huh.

(Seriously, anyone interested in a litter trained threesome?)

- Jake

Practical Thursday Part Nine

And we're back with another Practical Thursday! This week is a real mystery...


MACAVITY: THE MYSTERY CAT

Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw-
For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's
        despair:
For when they reach the scene of the crime-Macavity's not there!

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare,
And when you reach the scene of the crime-Macavity's not there!
You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the
        air-
But I tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!

Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin;
You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly
        domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a
        snake;
And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the
        square-
But when a crime's discovered, then Macavity's not there!

He's outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's.
And when the larder's looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,
Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair-
Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!

And when the Foriegn Office find a Treaty's gone astray,
Or the Admiralty lose some plans and the drawings by the way,
There may be a scrap of paper in the hall or on the stair-
But it's useless to investigate-Macavity's not there!
And when the loss has been disclosed, the Secret Service say:
'It must have been Macavity!'-but he's a mile a way.
You'll be sure to find him resting, or a-licking of his thumbs,
Or engaged in doing complicated long division sums.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He's always has an alibi, and one or two to spare:
and whatever time the deed took place-MACAVITY WASN'T
        THERE!
And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely
        known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

(Well, they don't call me "Jake Pants" for nothing!)

-Jake

Tuxie Tuesday

Sometimes you just need a bigger bed...

-Bert

Keepin' Cool

Our dear friend Miss Peach tagged us for this "cool" meme, here are the rules:

A fun and simple MEME for the hot summer. Show us a photo of the front of your Cold Box and tell us about at least one thing on it and one thing you keep inside of it! Tag your friends and remember to stay COOL!


Well, we've go lots of 'Mutts' comic strips and pictures of our bean cousins on our "great white feeding parent" (well that's what I call it - i love that thing more than Mommy sometimes!) and of course shopping lists and to do lists!

Some strange things we've got in there are Mommy's good dark chocolate (for emergencies only) and veggie seeds. Oh, and probably a few science experiments too - we probably should have left that for tattle tale Tuesday :-)

We'd like to tag all our sweeties and their families, Queen Snickers and Empress, The Furry Kids and The Purrageous Pirates!

- Jake

What is THIS?

Are you kidding me? What is this thing doing out again? Who is going WHERE?!


"I'm sorry Jake, but I'm only going to go away for the weekend and Daddy will be here with you- I'll be back before you know it. I'm just running down to Cleveland for a couple of days."

But you know that Daddy never remembers to feed us on time, and he never gives us treats at bed time!

"I'll remind him, and I really will be back on Sunday. We're almost done with all the traveling."

ALMOST?! What do you mean almost?

"Well there's one last little trip next weekend, just for a few days. Then we'll be home for a good long while - I promise."

Well, Mommy I'm very disappointed with you - you're just lucky I like Daddy more. And you'd better be sure to wave to all our friends when you go by - there's the Furry Kids, the Island Cats, Parker, Mr. Hendrix and Riley & Tiki - don't forget!

And thank goodness our wonderful Swap n' Tails package from Samantha and Mr. Tigger arrived to keep us busy! And they sent a neat-o toy for Georgie too!


We hope everykitty has a better fourth of July than we are!

- Jake

Thursday Thirteen #16

We thought we would preempt this weeks Practical Thursday for some pictures of all the places Mommy and Daddy went (without us - as you know).

1. The Route:


2. Entering Ohio:


3. Welcome to Pennsylvania:


4. Hershey, PA (they went to the hotel - Mommy loves interior design, then they went to the beautiful gardens and Chocolate World):


5. Gettysburg Museum:


6. Gettysburg Battlefield, the Devil's Den:


7. Lancaster County (they went to Strasburg and other Amish farm areas):


8. Valley Forge:


9. Eeeek! Vishus Deer at Valley Forge (that would have been scary if we'd been there!):


10. The Liberty Bell:


11. Independence Hall:


12. Entering New York:


13. Niagara Falls:

They said it was lots of fun, and Mommy and Daddy can't wait to get back there and see more - but we say that they'd better stay put!

Wordy Wednesday: Meme-O-Rama

We got tagged for a bunch of memes the other day, so we thought we'd tackle them today!

First of all Little Cat Zee tagged Pearl for the Name Meme:

Rules:
1.be honest
2.tag other people
3. have fun!

What is your name?
Pearl

If you could change your name what would it be?
I really kind of like my name - though I do like it when Mommy calls me Principessa Puffy Pants, but I think that's a bit too much. And Mommy said I can't be Supreme Princess of the Universe, cause that's her title.

I like it when they call me Pearly Mae, and some time they call me Maybelle or Maybelline - and since there's a song called Maybelline I'll go with that!

What is your pet's name (it can be a webkinz or a real pet)?
I don't have a pet, though I do think that I am responsible enough. But Mommy says that until I stop making little creatures dead (I caught a mole last Sunday and I caught a chipmunk just the other day) I can't have a pet.

If you could change your pet's name what would it be?
If I had a pet I would name it Rumpelstiltskin!

What is your brother or sisters name?
My sister's name is George and my brother's names are Bert and Jake.

If you could change their name what would it be?
I would change George's name to "Poo" cause Mommy and Daddy already call her that and she is a poo sometimes.

I would change Jake's to "Big Grouchy Jealous Bed Lump" - for the obvious reasons.

And I think I would leave Bert's name alone - it really suits him.

Now tag as many people as letters in your new name for yourself.


Next it's Bert's turn, Abby tagged him for the same Meme
What is your name?
Bert

If you could change your name what would it be?
I wouldn't change it as much as add to it. I would make it Bert, International Cat of Mystery. Cause I think I would make a good spy, plus I'm pretty darn funny sometimes!

What is your pet's name (it can be a webkinz or a real pet)?
I also am not allowed to have a pet, cause I make little creatures dead too often according to Mommy.

If you could change your pet's name what would it be?
I would name my pet Speckled Jim, it sounds like a good name!

What is your brother or sisters name?
My Brother's name is Jake and my sister's names are Pearl and George.

If you could change their name what would it be?
I wouldn't change Jake's name - it pretty much works for him, it's manly and cat like at the same time.

I would change Pearl's to Princess Pain in the Poof, cause that's what she is sometime.

I would change George's name to Crazy Barking Playing Dog - because that's exactly what she is!

Then Kimo tagged Jake for the name meme too!
What is your name?
Jake

If you could change your name what would it be?
I would make it something regal or grand - like Emperor Floof of the Big Bed. You know, something with real presence.

What is your pet's name (it can be a webkinz or a real pet)?
I don't have a pet, but I think I should. I'm a very responsible ManCat and I helped raise up both Bert and Pearl into great kitties - so I think I have proved how responibility!

If you could change your pet's name what would it be?
I would name my pet Goosey, it sounds like something from Peter Rabbit, but a good name.

What is your brother or sisters name?
My Brother's name is Bert and my sister's names are Pearl and George.

If you could change their name what would it be?
I think that Bert could have a name like Cecil or Conrad, something dignified cause that's how he is.

I would change Pearl's to Princess Pain in the Poof, too - Bert's totally right.

I would change George's name to Could You Go AWAY?! because that's what I say to her all the time!


And lastly Kilroy tagged all of us for the Quirk Meme.

Here are the rules for the Quirky Meme:
1. Link to the one who tagged you.
2. List the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag some bloggers friends with links.
5. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know they've been tagged.
6. What's a quirk? What is a quirk? I will define it as: "Something odd a person or kitty or woofie does that just makes them more lovable."

1. Pearl - I whap Jake about the head when I'm waiting for my breakfast (and this is the only time I can get away with it).

2. Bert - I prefer to go out the back door rather than the front, it goes into Georgie's part of the yard, but it's closer to all the birds.

3. Jake - I love to dig in sheets and blankets, it's so much fun!

4. Pearl - Before I go out the front door I have to jump from the floor to the bench and back to the floor.

5. Bert - I like to holler at Jake at 1 or 2 in the morning, then bite him and jump off the bed for him to chase me.

6. Jake - I like to lick my Mom's chapstick (Burt's Bees) off of her lips and I only do it late at night.

Alright - on to the tagging. We're supposed to tag one kitty for each letter in our new names and who ever we want for the quirky meme. Now that is just too many to tag, so we're gonna tag our sister George, and any kitty in our Blog Roll - so consider yourself tagged!

And if you're still reading this, you should stop and go right over to Kimo & Sabi's for the big house trashing party (but don't tucker yourselves out, cause Mr. Hendrix is having another on Sunday).

-Pearl, Bert and Jake

Not Fair!

Oh now I'm really hissed off! It was bad enough when Mommy and Daddy said that they were going on vacation, and they said we couldn't go with them. They said we wouldn't have any fun - and well, they were kind of right, 'cause we wouldn't like the car or the hotels. But they didn't tell us that they would be seeing all our friends!

That's right, they drove past The Furry Kids on the way to pick up Grandma at the airport. Then they drove past Parker's house and Hendrix's house in O-Hi-O. Once they got to Pennsylvania they drove past Chance and Shadow, and in Philly they were right near Chase, Latte and Kaze. And worst of all, on the drive back, they drove right past the Meezers (we could have visited with the Whap-meister himself!).

To add insult to injury, they didn't stop and tell our friends how they we missed them and it was a bummer that we couldn't blog (and all their fault by the way). They said they just drove on by and waved - how rude!



Now Bert, I told you, just because we were near them doesn't mean we could stop, but we did make sure to wave.

- Bert

P.S. We've got a bunch of memes and awards to catch up on (thanks to everyone) and we'll try to get them done soon.