Tall Tales from Kansas

shimmy shimmy cocoa puff

Do you make up new "pet" names for your pets on a regular basis?  I don't mean actually change their name.  I just mean find new special, endearing, ridiculous, names that you are pretty sure might get you a psychological evaluation if not a 3 day stay for observation in a mental hospital if people heard you using them.  
 

I am just wondering because if you are one of those people who does that and you haven't used these names for your pet, you might want to try them.   You can't help repeating them while your pet looks at you with pure, unadulterated, complete, love.  My old favorite is "Scooter Magruder".  As in "Mistah Looo (aka Lewis Mulvenon) you are such a Scooter Magruder". 

My new favorite, that I just came up with 2 nights ago, is "shimmy shimmy cocoa puff" (yes, like the song from eons ago).    Go ahead.  Try it.  I dare you.  It goes something like this, "get over here right now you shimmy shimmy cocoa puff".   Do it just once and then try to stop.   You won't be able to.   You have been warned. 

there could be a limerick in there

A welcome cat on a welcome mat.  I think there could be a limerick in there.  Somewhere. 

someone to talk cat with

They Harvey Boys have been coming by regularly for visits since the weather warmed up.    

Lewis appreciates it.   He likes having someone to talk cat with.   Other than me I mean.   He says I still need to work on my accent.  

the time when you got stung by a bee

Dear Clark:  Today I sat down to get the paperwork in order for the taxman. 

It wasn't nearly as much fun as last year when you were here to check my addition and subtraction.  I want you to know that I took frequent breaks just as you always suggested.    I also recalled that "we're going to have a treat when this is done" expression you used to get on your face when I started to get annoyed with the whole thing.

There is a pan of rice pudding in the oven right now. As soon as it comes out I am going to go upstairs and look at every picture I have of you. Tonight Chris and I will tell each other all the best Clark stories. Like how you used to jump in the air and try to catch leaves, and about the time when you got stung by a bee and your eye was so swollen and we fretted and fretted about if we should take you to have it checked or not.  

Lewis says he has some stories to tell too.  Things you two did that we don't know about apparently.  Hmmm, don't worry we'll take them all with a grain of salt. 

I heart conversation hearts

As if I didn't already... adore him, I mean.

Lewis and I have our favorite chair ready

In preparation for the beginning of a cold weekend Lewis and I have our favorite chair ready to snuggle up in and get started on this new book. 

We might have to get started tonight.  In fact,  let me just head down to the kitchen and get that tea pot turned on.  Now where did I put those lemon iced shortbread cookies I was saving for just this occasion?

one half of the renowned Lewis and Clark duo

I am sipping on some medicinal wine as I think of how to tell you that the flags here at Tall Tales headquarters are flying at half staff this week. One half of the renowned Lewis and Clark duo is no longer with us. Not with us in his furry feline form that is. He will always hold a space in our hearts from which he can never be displaced. Did I say it was a big, giant, gaping hole of a space right now? I meant to.

We found out about 8 weeks ago that Clark likely had pancreatic cancer. He wasn't eating or drinking much. Not one to put a cat through a lot of tests I myself would not want to go through we did an ultrasound and stopped at that. We gave him ample doses of love in the form of quiet nap times on our laps, lots of tummy rubbing, and enough sweet talk to last a life time. We are big on sweet talk around here.

We expect some heartfelt grieving to be ongoing for awhile.  We've been through this before, but each time, with each pet is uniquely painful.  I mean who is going to help me match my yarn colors, or do Angie's taxes, or carry on long discussions with Chris late into the night after Lewis and I have gone to bed?  

I've informed Lewis Mulvenon that he will have to absorb twice as much love as he is used to. He indicated to me that he was up for it.   He also said not to expect him to be as good a listener as Clark was. Lewis is more of a talker. He has lots to say about a lot of things. And right now that is exactly what we need.

find a sunny spot and stretch out

In case you are one of those people who have forgotten the sheer pleasure of taking a nap in the sun, Clark wants to remind you that you can always make time for a nap.

If you get too warm you can scoot over just a bit and cool down.

If you hear a noise you can always roll over and check it out.

Naps are very restorative.  Especially around the holidays.   Find a sunny spot and stretch out.  Enough said. 

Senior pictures

Lewis had his senior pictures taken this past weekend.   

This is his "sensitive" pose. We're thinking of getting it in a sofa size to go above the fireplace.