Saying Goodbye

So, we decided that having two cats was just too much. And that Cider's just not happy, even with a friend. So, when our old friends, the Berthelsons (who stopped by for a visit on their way back home... more on that later), offered to take Cider back to their house in New Mexico, where they have lots of animals for Cider to chase (and hunt and kill) and a half-acre to roam around on, and no neighbors to complain... well, we couldn't pass up the chance.

And so, we did some research, found out what will help Cider on the 10 hour drive (it's really that close?! We need to go visit them!) , and got everything set for her to go this morning. We talked to the girls, and we all decided (more or less), that we think a dog is a better way to go for our family (it'll come when called, interact with us and be active, but not scratch or bite... hopefully, and so on)

Except we forgot one thing:

Alison.

Alison who doesn't like change. Alison who is more attached to the animals than we bargained for. She cried for quite a while... and the only thing that really distracted her was checking out a bunch of books on dogs.

Then again, who's to say that she won't have a similar reaction when we give up Blackberry...

Two Cats?

We picked up a new kitten on Friday, a black cat that we're calling Blackberry. We've thought for a while that Cider might want a friend, so when the Humane Society had a really good deal on the adoption fee, we picked one up. For now, they've got a cautious truce between them... they don't dislike each other (though Cider does tend to hiss quite a bit; she's being more territorial than I thought she would), but they don't really like each other either. We're crossing our fingers that they work it out.

You've Heard of Jack-in-the-Box

This is Cat-in-the-box:

(You can also spot some of Kristen's beautiful wall art there, too.)

Random Christmasness

We've discovered that Cider REALLY likes wrapping paper. Maybe loves it....


I caught the older girls setting up the trains and watching it go around. Who says trains are for little kids?

Cider, Meet Helium

More eccentricities from our wonderful cat.

My Cat is So Weird

Who Let the Cat Out?

We did, actually.

She liked being outside. She didn't like the leash so much.

Cider's Christmas

The girls (who were up) showing Cider her presents.

These toys are fun...

But this one's funner (it's full of catnip!)...


And this one's the bestest!

What's This?!

It started out simply enough. Cider was interested in the train set that we put up yesterday.


What's this, she seems to be saying?

She decided it was a new toy for her. (We tried to get a picture of her actually pouncing on the trains, which she does, but the pictures were all blurry.)

Curiouser and curiouser

I can just see her thinking: "What IS this big toy they've put up for me?"

I'd Rather Be There

It was nice today, and we were playing outside. Cider, I think, wanted to be out there with us.

Introducing Cider

So, we finally -- after months and months of the girls begging -- got ourselves a cat. She's an 8-week-old orange tabby, and we named (after much deliberation) her Cider. We brought her home yesterday, and she's assimilated pretty well. She seems not to mind the little girls chasing her around too much, or the older girls excessive affection. She might just fit in well around here.