Cecil:  So, Lady Alice, it's New Year's Eve.  Isn't this this the time when we pause to name what we are thankful for?
Alice:  I suppose it is, Lord Cecil. And my allergies are bothering me, so I am not sure I am thinking clearly.Why don't you start? You've been here for 1 and 1/2 years now.  What are you grateful for, besides me, of course?
Cecil: I am grateful for you Alice, despite all of your phony attempts to blow me off. I am also grateful for the keeper who opened her door to me when my own family was done with me.  I still feel like I am in heaven, except when I am grounded. I am grateful for treats and the chance to be spoiled and spoken to with such fondness. So, come on Alice, what are you really grateful for?
Alice: Okay, Cecil, you caught me at a vulnerable moment.  My sinuses really are bothering me  But yes, I do like you, and my life would have been very lonely without you.  Our keeper is never home an so you have become my real friend, even though I am more of an introvert than you are. But I am grateful for this lovely home, new cat beds, and food which I can finally stomach.  I am grateful for the brushing and the toys.  I had almost starved to death before the keeper had adopted me, so her  kindness is tops on my list.
Cecil:  It is true, we are pampered and fussed over and over-protected and insured. But it really doesn't  get much better than this, does it?  I wish we had a dog, though.  They really know how to play.The keeper tries, but her endurance is weak. So, Alice, do you have any hopes for the new year?
Alice:  I hope for an end to this sinusitis.  I want to be able to play again with wild abandon.  Then you might not miss your dog friends so much.
Cecil: If that is the case, Alice, then I hope that you start taking the medicine the keeper gives you instead of biting her and spitting it out. I also hope that other pets can find loving homes.  I would hope that we could make gifts to help homeless pets at Whisker City find homes. and that the economy gets better so that people don't have to give up their pets.
Alice:  2012 is also an election year.  Cecil, I hope we can do something to help inject some sanity into this process. I also think the Church could learn some things from us.  I doubt they will ask for our opinions though.I do hear the Pope has a cat, though. Maybe we could work through him.
Cecil:  This is my last thought.  I am concerned about other animals throughout the planet whose lives are in danger because of  bad environmental practices, or war, or neglect. I hope the keeper will let us join a national animal group this year.
C &A:  Happy 2012,  everyone! The keeper is home from her party at the neighbors. We are hoping for a slurp of the bubbly.

Purple

She also found a shrub bearing purple berries.  She wants to plant some this spring to be ready for next winter.

Holiday Velvet

She also found bare trees wearing nothing but soft green velvet for New Year's Eve.

A Rose in December

The keeper made us stay inside so she could roam the neighborhood. She found one rose, a little battered, but still trying to bloom this last day of December.

A Yard Full of Visitors on Shore Drive

This family on Shore Drive got a little carried away with their front yard.  It seems everyone showed up for the Nativity.  No wonder Mary seems to have taken a face plant in the straw with baby Jesus.  Too many visitors are exhausting.  And it seems the Magi showed up earlier than expected. Joseph does seem concerned, however.

Christmas Brake

We haven't been communicating lately because the keeper has been on break, and she is less connected to her computer during breaks.  We are trying to cooperate. It's been rainy so it is easier to stay inside. So we have been watching her read all the stuff she doesn't read when she isn't on break, go out with friends, work out at the gym.  It's nice having her around.  Tonight we made catfish ceviche.  It's a little acidic and spicy for feline palates. We did not ask for any.

Grounded

Cecil is a sweet cat.  He looks so tough, but he wouldn't harm a mouse.  He has a habit of slipping outside in the late afternoon and heading down the street to a backyard where the owner puts out food. It's not the healthy organic food we eat.  The keeper has broken up more than one party there.  The other night Cecil was late in returning and he snuck in without his collar. He is not talking about what happened. The keeper was angry, so she grounded him.  He spent yesterday howling and wanted to post a note saying he was being held prisoner against his will.  I wouldn't let him.  I lost my collar once in a fight and have been less adventurous since then.

A Tele-Reunion

We got a new TV several weeks ago.  The old one was fine, but it was big, and well, old. The keeper wanted a new one that was leaner and sleeker.  So after the new one arrived before Christmas, she carefully bundled up the old one with its converters and antenna and remote, and drove to Goodwill. Before leaving it she told the man what a good tv it had been and how she had included everything with it.  She drove away wondering if they would dump it.  The other day she walked into the same Goodwill looking for a container to hold our dry catfood.  On a whim she decided to check the tv selection.  There it was, our old tv, working better than it did at home, $19.95, with all its attachments.  A sweet reunion.  She told all the people who would listen, and there was a passel of folks watching the tvs there, what a good  tv this was. She also found a designer coat for $6.50.  and we did get a container for our dry food. Who knows, she might visit Goodwill more often.

Power Outage

Merry Christmas to one and All!  There we are in our stupid bows waiting for the guests to arrive with precooked food.  The power went off at 11 am and we were in the dark for 5 hours plus.  We thought it was fun.  The keeper built a fire.  We had candles and we had no noise--no radio, no CDs.  It was lovely. It came roaring back on in time for the feast, which arrived cooked and ready to eat. We slept through most of the feast, and showed up for the presents.  The freeze dried chicken is a winner. We bit off our bows before the guests left.

Midnight from St. Peters?

 

I woke up in time to watch the Midnight Mass with the keeper last night.  Cecil slept through most of it.  

We appreciated how KING 5 showed a live clip from St. James with the announcer telling us it was a live clip from St. Peter's. 

I liked the music and the readings and enjoyed watching the keeper watching her friends. The camera did focus on several  folks who continued to yawn and chew gum, through most of the liturgy.By the way, these yawners and gum chewers were not the keeper's friends, nor were they the Archbishop or the VR MGR.  

Waiting for Santa

The keeper told us that we will not opening presents til tomorrow morning. I have been sniffing the sack that smells like freeze dried chicken treats.  Alice, on the other hand, has taken my perch in the den, and will probably sleep through Midnight Mass.

Christmas Eve

We are home with the keeper tonight.  She decided to spend most of the day at home just to have a quiet day. She left us to go to the Cathedral for the Children's Mass which was exquisite, including a very dear homily, and beautiful music led by the four children and youth choirs.  She is making us wear red and green bows.  Cecil is really good about chewing through his knot. we are all watching It's A Wonderful Life for the 100th time. We understand we will be up at midnight with her to watch all of her friends on KING 5.

Remembering Mary Elizabeth

Christmas Eve has now become an even more poignant day for the keeper and her family, and hence, pets belonging to them all, including us. It was seven years ago today that their mother died. Christmas, and in fact, Christmas Eve, was her favorite day. After 90 years and a struggle with Parkinson's, she crossed the border between heaven and earth on Christmas Eve.  We remember her brilliance, her love of the ocean, her boundless energy, and her inability to abide pretensions.

Birding

Alice keeps her watch.  I keep my eye and my paws on the bird that Sandy Claws brought last year. I want to show her that we appreciate all that is given to us.

Keeping an Eye Out

Alice is very aware that someone special is coming. Ever since the tree went up and ever since the keeper went mad throwing lights over all the posts and branches, Alice has been keeping an eye out for Sandy Claws. This Sandy seems to know that we like catnip and freeze dried chicken treats. So far, no sign. But she is at her post.

Christmas Reading

The keeper has favorite Christmas tales she likes to share with us and everyone else. In the old days she used to give everyone a newly discovered Christmas book.  Now we just read our favorites together.  She has one book that was old even when she was young. To be truthful, not too many of these stories involve cats, and we get bored having to think about something other than ourselves.

Late Saturday Walk

December's skies have been beautiful, thanks to the poor air quality.  The keeper climbed a hill and found Mt. Rainier glistening.  At least that what she told us, we wouldn't know.  We had to stay inside.

Two Stars--Baby Jesus and the Pony

Friday's pastorela had two stars--several week old baby Jesus and the pony who could move head, tail, mouth. 

Posada Night

 It's been a busy week at our house.  We had just recovered from Guadalupe festivals and then moved into all out Christmas Prep. The keeper left us on Friday for a dinner and posada In Bellevue.  She came home late but was very pleased with the production created by one of the choirs. A true pastorela---with a devil or two, angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and child, along with a robotic pony! They had a very lovely dinner with raffles and dessert dash.  They turned the very plain church basement into a space bedecked with lanterns and lights, tablecloths, trees.

Feast of St. Lucy

We celebrated the feast of lights by napping.  As you can see, Alice and I are getting along quite well these days. The keeper decided to put up the lights in the front, except she couldn't remember where she stashed the very careful notes she made from last year about which extension cord goes where.  She figured it out and found the notes after it was all done.  At least now she doesn't have to reinvent the backyard plan. We suggested she hire somebody, but she is an independent, but not very handy, cowgirl who wants to do things herself.

Seattle Christmas Bricolage

The keeper couldn't just drive by this new establishment without capturing them for posterity.  It may have helped to include the Magi and the star.

Back to Rosie's Trees

The keeper brought us home a small tree  which she picked out at Rosie's Trees on 15th NE.  She has been buying our trees there for years and she really likes the owners who grow the trees in Grays Harbor.  Our tree usually stays fresh long after Christmas, long after we have put it out on the deck. They are very good people and we like hearing stories about their new venture for Halloween in Fresno--Cheap Willy's Pumpkin Patch. They are now the Chubby and Tubby of the Fresno Halloween Scene.

And To All a Good Night

St. B's has a Baby Corner crib which serves as a collection point for donated baby supplies.  At the reception this evening, one mother found a more immediate use for it!

!Que Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!

The story of the apparition is told every year as part of the homily at St. B's.  This year the wonderful Jazmin played the role of Mary.  She memorized all of the parts and didn't miss a line.

One Last Celebration

She waved goodbye for one more celebration.  This time at St. B's in Bothell.  Report: It was a superb fiesta--the dancers were excellent and so enthusiastic, the play was exquisite, the music, awesome, the church, full to the rafters. The tamales were excellent, as well.

We'd Rather Be Birding

Personally, we are both grateful that the keeper stayed home most of today.  She had intended to come home from Bellevue at two am, catch  two hours of sleep with us, and then head to the Mananitas at St. Brendan at 5 am.  However, after the WSP officer stopped her on I-5 for driving with only her parking lights on at 2 AM, she decided that perhaps the Virgin of Guadalupe was telling her to give it a rest.  We concurred.  However, she reported that the officer was young, and very patient as she explained about the Virgin of Guadalupe, about which he knew nothing.  Anyway, she stayed home today and we all watched the feeding frenzy at the bird feeder with delight.  This photo does not capture that delight, though.  It makes us look fat.

Las Danzas

Every year Gaspar, one of the most gifted Young Adults ever, organizes a dance troop and works with dancers  age 3-23 for three months prior ro December 12th.  This year their performance was electrifying.

!Que Vive!

  We waved good bye yesterday afternoon as the keeper left us for the Eastside and the celebration of all celebrations at St. Louise.  She was one of nearly 2000 people who packed the place between 7 and 1:30 am.  Children were front and center, though, and in between each decade of the rosary they processed in with roses for Nuestra Madre de Guadalupe.

The Littlest Intern's Second Guadalupe Celebration

Lucas is barely three weeks old but he already has hit two Guadalupe parties.  His arms weren't strong enough for the pinata this year.  Just wait!

The Pastorela-II

Once the angels came to sing "Gloria in excelsis deo", Mary took to the dance floor with them, leaving Joseph to care for the child.  He seemed to prefer that to dancing.

The Pastorela

One minute, Joseph and Mary were waiting for Jesus to be born.  Next scene, he is born with a pacifier in his mouth and Mary and Joseph seem to be waiting for some child care support.