loosening up

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

31 Jul 2025 - Can one ever get enough of a good thing?  A close comparison to yesterday's photograph confirms that I have moved... in fact it is another snooze altogether.  Without any effort on my part I am the poster cat for relaxation, and I can only hope that it is contagious!  I assure you (and more importantly my two peeps) that if my ears detected the slightest sound of interlopers, I would be immediately back on the job.  But a worker who isn't well rested isn't an effective worker, so I feel perfectly justified in cat-napping.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Stress is a killer.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - mental repurrse, the feline state of being free from tension

up in the air

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

30 Jul 2025 - Look what I remembered!  Although things have been rearranged in my personal sun room, my window perch persisted AND I figured out a way to get up there!  You can see why I am fond of this spot:  elevation and an exterior view with interlopers.  (Plus there is no peep competition for this seat.)  Life is good here in the hinterland, especially now that my two peeps are back in the domicile's familiar routine.  It makes napping so much easier when I'm not having to worry about them.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Surprise yourself.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

title of the day - meowster high and mighty, a cat on most days

oh, happy day

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

29 Jul 2025 - Without warning or explanation, my two peeps disappeared from the domicile.  I am accustomed to them leaving for part of a day, always to return just when I'm thinking about food.  But the sun set numerous times without them finding their way home... until late yesterday!  Naturally I thought the noise was the nice (but alien) peep who had been putting kibble in my bowl.  Imagine my delight when in they strolled.  I didn't get much sleep overnight due to the celebrating (and am making up for it now).

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

If you're happy,

let it show.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - obspurrvance, what passes for a cat commemoration

steady, Eddie

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

23 Jul 2025 - Grooming is necessary, even when it is inconvenient.  Personal hygiene has to be squeezed between interloper patrol and napping, preferably before napping... as there is nothing better than to curl up with every hair smoothed in place.  There are only a few spots on my body unreachable by tongue, and for those hard-to-reach places I employ a dampened paw.  It can involve a bit of contortion to do a proper bath, and might require a front-leg extension just to keep myself from tipping over.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Even easy days could use

a balancing act.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - purraced, to press the body firmly against something, meowstly for support

it's a riot

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

22 Jul 2025 -  Hello, Mr. Sol, I deeply appreciate your brightening our domicile.  Although my night-vision is sufficient that I can maneuver a room in the dark, I prefer my world illuminated.  When shadows are sharp-edged, I can better spot interloper movement and that is precisely what I get "paid" to do.  Things outside our walls challenge my patrol:  I can't chase the ne'er-do-wells from the property.  Only my steely glare can reach them, but honestly their threat level is low... so I try to relax and enjoy their antics.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

The world can be viewed

as a comedy act.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - pantomeowm, feline gestures to express meaning

worthy of

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

21 Jul 2025 - Although never truly noisy (unless we've been invaded by alien peeps), our domicile is especially quiet in the early morning.  The shorter peep and I have the place to ourselves.  Sometimes I elect to spend the time in that chair in the corner; sometimes I choose to sit with the shorter peep.  The latter decision guarantees that I will get lots of purr-inducing attention, like head pats and chin rubs, and if the temperatures warrant there is a lap I can claim.  My life is good even though it is not flashy.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Drama is for selling tickets.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - phenomeownal, extraordinary (and a cat sets a high bar)

on the hop

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

20 Jul 2025 - Generally speaking interloper activity is minimal in my personal sun room,  although there is lots of action just beyond its portals.  On sunny days I enjoy perching on that ledge:  both elevation and warmth.  And this is as close as I get to ground level, which means that I'm practically at eye-level with the squeeps and cheeps running through our yard.  I can almost feel dirt beneath my claws.  One habit of past summers that I haven't revived, is leaping to my portal cushion.  The familiar ascent route has changed somehow, and I haven't bothered figuring out what I need to do.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

I have no trouble filling

my dance card.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - time purr, having a great deal to do (yes, I'm busy)

try again

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

19 Jul 2025 - I am still having trouble manipulating that sofa cushion to my satisfaction... and perhaps there is the catch.  If I didn't have a goal in mind, then however it arranged itself would be fine:  basically I just want a hiding spot.  But there is that irksome "but", because I do have something in mind, a purrfect combination of function and aesthetic.  You might snort at that last idea, but we cats do in fact have a strong sense of beauty... why else would we incessantly groom?

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Sometimes things just

have to be right.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - calipurr, the quality of a cat's character

pull one over on

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

18 Jul 2025  - This hallway is not one used by the peeps, so I suppose that I can claim it.  It definitely isn't a secret passageway (now that you have seen the photograph), just a way that I can connect a popular nap spot to the spot where my food is offered.  Covering that ground quickly is important, and hence my "discovery" of the hallway.  This corridor is below the eyes of my two, so they tend to overlook it:  "Where is Shamus?", they wonder, when in reality I'm close enough to startle.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Hiding in plain sight

can be handy.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - give someone a purright, to disconcert a peep (it's quite fun)

oops

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

17 Jul 2025 - I figure if a door can be pushed open, then I am welcome to explore.  Sometimes I have to throw my weight upon it, but my statement still stands.  What could be hiding behind closed portals?  It is my job to find out.  Most of the time sticking my head around the corner is all that's needed:  nope, nothing of interest here, and I back out.  Sometimes my investigation elicits rolled peep eyes, but I find that rather amusing.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

I recommend "excuse me" as a

general-purpose oops.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - open sesameow, unrestricted feline access

beyond one

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

16 Jul 2025 - I am a picture of composure, thanks to years of practice.  Frenetic actions would draw attention to me, in a way that isn't conducive to routing interlopers.  So I sit, tail wrapped around my paws, and gaze upon the front field.  Today there isn't much activity, but recently a deep sprung through, as well as the usual squeeps rooting for missed seeds.  Here above it all, I make those hard choices:  do I hustle this ne'er-do-well into the woods or observe it a while longer?

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Each job has its tough aspects.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - diffelinecult, needing many cat skills to accomplish (I'm on it)

an astute angle

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

15 Jul 2025 - You might wonder how I managed to arrange myself regally upon the bed without leaving a trail of paw prints... what can I say, I must be good.  There is also the possibility that I descended from the ether above (nah, I don't buy that either).  This spot is good for waiting on the opening of my sun-room portal.  Sometimes the shorter peep is not in a hurry to open the house to chilly air.  I mostly agree with that position, but the longer I am away from my patrol, the more trouble the interlopers can get into.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

If you appear refined,

the world might think you are.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

word of the day - discrimeownating, showing taste and good judgment (at least I try)

hard pressed

Shamus on view

Me-usings and Me-emories

14 Jul 2025 - I feel like I'm in the bull's eye... not a relaxing thought.  But then that cursed (two syllables, please) portal ratchets my anxiety so I am presupposed to imagine the worst.  But if I turn my back on it (that act alone takes courage), there is a great and peaceful distance to scan... for interlopers of course.  I'm seeing more of the local cheeps now... I suppose word has reached them that seeds scattered from the feeder are available to one willing to scavenge.  They, along with the beeps, seem harmless enough...  but I must remain on guard.

clipped notes

                             Today's Catechism 

                            (for the autodidcat)

Life requires a steely spine.

Bring back Bastet

Bastet beckons

Catty Corner

phrase of the day - stiff uppurr lip, uncomplaining stoicism (well, mostly uncomplaining)