Lionel, R.I.P.

Lionel, 2000 - 2012

I'm writing this post because so many of you were fans of Lionel. Our sweet kitty died yesterday morning. The vet said that Lionel had cardiomyopathy.  We wrapped Lionel in his polar fleece blankie and buried him in a tool chest in the wind break north of the house.

 Lionel's favorite night spot:

my pillow

I told Tuppence that she was going to have to step up and be the Big Cat now. We'll see if she is up to the responsibility. So far, she is more interested in the herb garden than in lying on my pillow...

Actually, I'm wondering how Tuppence is going to handle the loss of her constant companion. 

 September 2012

We're going to miss that sweet cat.

Meeting Another Blogger in Person!

Bobby

Carla and boys

It was a real treat, while Bobby was here, to meet one of her real-life friends who just happens to be one of my blogger friends who, until then, was always an online presence only.  Carla from The River blog and her boys came to our house to see Bobby and so we could meet. Well, I know the boys were more interested in meeting Lionel, who has celebrity status at their house. Evidently they follow my blog for updates on Lionel!

Like everyone else who visits our house, Bridger was 'much bigger than we expected.' Also like everyone else, Lionel was 'much bigger than we expected.' I was glad they didn't make any comment about me in that regard.

Carla appeared with a cute basket of fall gourds and...a Ritter Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut bar! What a smart lady she is! (It's my all-time favorite!)  The boys carried a gift for Lionel, some cat treats. He will have to share them with Tuppence. They say 'thank you.'

It was great fun to have Bobby and Carla and boys here at the same time. Those kids are amazing - so nice, so fun, and so interested in my cats! I told the boys they could wander the house and do whatever they wanted, so they went upstairs in search of Lionel. I had warned them that Lionel is not sociable, so he would most likely hide from them. Sure enough, after they caught an initial glimpse of the scaredy cat under the fainting couch, Lionel vanished and they weren't able to spot him a second time. 

I promised Lionel to keep his hiding places secret.

'We have an arrangement. She doesn't disclose my hiding places and I let her sleep a few hours each night.' - Lionel

Thanks to Bobby and Carla and boys (who really do have names, and beautiful names at that!, but I felt uncomfortable naming them here) for making it a very special day!

Be sure to stop in at Carla's blog,  The River and also Carla's Etsy store, 'Studio 206' to see her great selection of beautiful photo cards. You'll love her autumn cards! Check out the Trick or Treat card. It's super cute!!

***

'Lemon Verbena'

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The Lickinest Cat - Lionel with Tuppence

 A Lick of Approval

***

'Pumpkin Spice'

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Lionel, Back From the Cat Wars

Lionel, exhausted after the Cat Wars

but still looking handsome

I think the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here! It's supposed to be 90 degrees by this afternoon. How crazy is that for NW Wisconsin in May!

I hope 'I'll Have Another' wins the Preakness.

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

 ***

Reference to the 'cat wars' from Sophocles the Hyena, an old children's book we loved. :-)

P.S. The closest Lionel gets to Cat Wars is when he and Tuppence chase each other around the house. :-) They're both so big that it sounds like thunder!

 photo from Amazon.com

Update:  5:50 PM CDT:

I'll Have Another Won the Preakness!! Yea Mario Gutierrez and Yea I'll Have Another!! :-)

Amazing Horse

Amazing Jockey!!

Photo Buzzbox.com

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Big Cat and Sleepless Nights

The Culprit

I know, there are people who endure sleepless nights because of pain, hunger, lack of adequate shelter, a crisis in the family, etc. I know I have thousands of blessings that I can count. But I have to tell you, when you're sleep deprived, rationality does not necessarily reign supreme.

I am tired. Actually going to bed at 10 PM, which isn't always the norm, I expected to get a good night's sleep. Doesn't that seem reasonable? BUT, You-Know-Who has been so clingy ever since about November, when there were other people in the house and it was very busy around here.

Now, Lionel, who used to be somewhat content to lie at the foot of our bed or between us, has taken to literally (and I do not use the word 'literally' carelessly) wrapping himself around my head and trying to rest his chin on my head or in my ear.

Yes, sane people would simply close the door and keep the cats out of the bedroom. I don't remember ever claiming sanity, so you can't fault me there. I do feel a little sorry for the cats because they live upstairs during the day and only get to spend time with us at night. (Remember Bridger and Misty? They intimidate the cats in a major way.) So at night, after I've cleaned the litter boxes and given the cats fresh water and additional food, I climb into bed and pretty soon I feel the pitter patter of huge cat feet on the bed, walking toward my pillow.

Oh NO! Pleeeease, Lionel. But he's very needy right now. I truly don't think that I got as much as 20 minutes of uninterrupted sleep last night. Something has to be done. I hate thinking about it, but I hate being dead tired and cranky (oh. I didn't mention cranky?)

I need to go take a nap (now that he's sleeping for the day). I will spend time praying for others  who actually are suffering things like persecution, imprisonment, poverty, and hunger. And I will try hard not to feel sorry for myself.

And don't worry about Lionel. It's just that he and I have to agree to a better arrangement.

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Lionel in... 'The Great Pillow War'

 The General

After successive nighttime skirmishes, Judy relinquishes control of formerly-held territory.

Sometimes, surrender is simply the best option.

Author, Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

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The Balding of Lionel

See that bald spot on Lionel's back, on the left side? (Actually it's right in the middle of his back, it's just that he was lying on his side in this photo). Well, please don't report me to the ASPCA, but I am ashamed to say that I was responsible for that. I couldn't believe it!!! And I'm still feeling guilty about it! Fortunately, Lionel's not holding it against me. He still sleeps on my pillow.

The night before, I was just about asleep when I suddenly remembered that yet another day had gone by when I had meant to brush Lionel and hadn't. I decided to get out of bed right then and get the brushes so that I would see them in the morning. Weight isn't the only thing Lionel packs on. So, I went downstairs and got the brushes. When I went to sleep, the brushes were lying on the table in our bedroom.

First thing when I awakened at 5:30 AM, I thought of Lionel and grabbed one of the brushes. Turned away from the windows, I held the happy Lionel and began brushing. He was soon squirming, saying, 'more, please, and a little to the right...oh yeah...okay, a little to the left.' Lionel was so happy that I just continued brushing him. He loved it!

It wasn't until that evening that my husband said to me, 'Look at the bald spot on Lionel.' I couldn't believe it. I was horrified. Had I broken the skin? Would he get an infection? My poor kitty.

My husband just laughed and assured me that the cat was just fine, that Lionel probably liked it and felt a lot cooler. He also assured me that Lionel's bald spot would fill in - in just a few days.  We'll see.

...and then, true to form, just to torment me, my husband said little things throughout the day to make me think my cat just may die from this overly-zealous brushing incident!!  He's such a pill, that man! But I know he loves me, that he's just teasing me, and most important of all -  he continues to buy Lionel's shredded-money cat food.  ;-)

Lionel

Lionel was born to a promiscuous neighbor who presumed to saunter up our driveway and give issue in our barn. That was in May of 2000.

Living the first years of his life outdoors, Lionel learned to be a terrific mouser. That was back when we thought cats were mere animals. Now we know better. Cats are dictators. Lionel is still a great mouser. He eats everything except for the skull and little beady eyes. I have learned to sleep with a flashlight on my side of the bed.

Perfecting the dictator pose. Lionel has watched too many WWII movies, and I'm never quite sure whose side he is on.

Lionel, on that wondrous day when my husband discovered that the cats would eat their Petromalt right out of the tube. No more chasing down suspicious cats, trying to avoid their claws, holding their squirming bodies, and mashing a spot of Petromalt onto their paws so they can spend the next five minutes in a panic, trying to flick it off.

Lionel, sitting for his 2006 portrait. It now hangs in the National Gallery.

Contemplating his belly fat after the vet told him he'd only lost a half pound in the past three years of dieting.

Mesmerized by the gorgeous and fascinating cat in the mirror. Plum seemed like a great choice for carpet color in the early 90s. :-) I tend to be of the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' school. And if it is broke, take time to consider your options.

Lionel's birthday cake on the day he turned eight. The grandkids were here, otherwise Lionel may have spent his birthday as he does most birthdays...

...just snuggling up with his best girl - Tuppence.

So do you have a cat or dog who's taken over your house?

Jean from The Delightful Repast inspired this post by her flattering comment about Lionel.  As I told Jean, Lionel's still blushing! :-)

This post is linked to Meet and Greet Monday 
and Making the World Cuter