Aby-a-Day – 19 Augusti: Happy Birthday, Pyret (Thursday Things)

Today would have been Pyret’s 22nd birthday.

She only saw 18 birthdays, but no matter how long they’re gone, you always remember their birthdays.

Pyret was an only cat for many years…until she had a couple of Abyssinians thrust upon her.

She adapted well, though.

And then…she met Logan.

Right from the start, they had a sort of bond, those two.

Of course, when there’s a Singapura involved, bonding is not exactly an option.

When Pyret started dying, Logan watched over her closely.

Even after Pyret died, Logan spent time with her body. It was especially poignant in hindsight, as Logan died a month later…almost as if he knew.

So, happy 22nd birthday, Pyret.

Aby-a-Day – 2 Juli: Remembering Jacoby on Canada Day

Yesterday was Canada Day, and the above memory from last year popped up on my Facebook feed. Even though the celebrations this year are rather subdued this year, I can’t help but recall Jacoby’s past Canada Day fashion statements.

There was that one time when he wore a wool sweater…and a mitten.

Of course, in 2014 he was very excited about the Winter Olympics in Sochi…and with good reason: Canada beat Sweden to win hockey gold!

Then there was the year he was feeling a little conflicted about being a Canadian in Boston, which is kind of famous for its epic Fourth of July celebrations.

Aby-a-Day – 14 Maj: How it started (Friday Flashback)

Since last Sunday was Mother’s Day, I thought I’d post this. I was always Daddy’s girl. Also a tomboy. Also hated dresses and pink. And dolls. That was Tabby, my version of a doll. They tried to give me dolls. I took their clothes off and put them on Tabby. This was 1969. You can see the look in my eyes…He’s taking the photo and I’m begging him through the lens to get me out of this and take me fishing or something.

This is where my love of Siamese, and by extension, purebreeds began. My dad’s sister had two: Bippie and her son Caesar. This is me napping with Caesar on my uncle’s lap. Also 1969.

This was my cat, Baby Puss, on Easter.

This is when I met Baby Puss in 1967. She is named after the Flintstones’ cat. We also had a black male cat named Bagheera. I was always an avid television watcher.

My mom was ALL ABOUT the matching outfits. This was for my aunt’s 25th anniversary up in Edmonton in 1971.

And, in case you’re wondering…this was my reaction when my dad tried to get a puppy.

Aby-a-Day – 1 Januari: Happy New Year’s memories (Friday Flashback)

This morning, Facebook greeted me with this memory of Gun-Hee and Patrick on New Year’s day 2007. Pretty remarkable, actually, considering I wasn’t even on Facebook back then!

Gun-Hee LOVED Patrick, right from the very beginning.

Trick, on the other hand…well, they were 12 years apart in age, and he’d recently lost his best friend Harri, so it took him a little while to warm up.

But Gun-Hee persevered. Or, to be more honest, he wore Trick down.

And when an Abyssinian puts his mind to something…resistance is futile.

A year later, they were the best of friends. Patrick, who for some reason preferred boycats to females, was particularly sad when Gun-Hee died less than two years after Harri. Perhaps the three of them are together with Jacoby in StarClan.

Aby-a-Day – 25 December 2020: God Jul, Allihopa! (Friday Flashback)

This morning, Facebook reminded me of Christmas three years ago. We didn’t know it at the time, but it was our last Jul with Logan, and it was also our last Christmas at Björn’s mother’s house.

We took the train to Jönköping Julafton morning. It was fairly chilly, so he wore Jacoby’s old snowflake hoody.

Jake had a snazzy new sweater of his own.

Jake had been to Björn’s mom’s house once before, but this was Logan’s first time.

As I’ve said before, Björn&’s mom always made the perfect traditional Swedish Julbord, and it was marvellous. We had the cold courses (hard-boiled eggs with caviar, pickled herring, and smoked salmon)…

…mustard-crusted ham, Jul cheese and red beet salad…

…prinskorv and meatballs (before cooking, here)…

…and sausage, cabbage rolls and Janssons frestelse, which is basically scalloped potatoes that are julienned instead, with anchovies added. It’s delicious, I promise.

Anyway, I had found this special Jul apple at the grocery store, and brought it to Björn’s mom because I thought she’d like it.

Christmas morning, Logan was sitting on a kitchen table chair, and he looked so cute I had to pose him with the apple. The rest is (Facebook) history.

Aby-a-Day – 23 December 2020: Wordless Wednesday (Gone but not forgotten)

Aby-a-Day – 27 November 2020: Jake’s fabulous turkey outfit (Fashion Friday Flashback)

I know I’ve posted Jacoby and his fabulous turkey outfit many times before, but the memory came up again on Facebook this week, and I couldn’t resist sharing it again.

Preparing for the fashion show at the Westchester Cat Club show, Jake didn’t just wear that thing. He owned it. So much so that the creator gifted it to Jake after the show.

He posed so perfectly on that green sofa.

Jake was so confident, he didn’t mind sharing the sofa with another contestant.

My favourite thing about that turkey outfit is that even Jake himself knew how good he looked wearing it.

He looked at himself for the longest time, admiring himself. I know they say cats don’t recognise themselves in mirrors, but I think Jake definitely did.

Aby-a-Day – 30 Oktober 2020: Jacoby’s diva scarf (Friday Fashion Flashback)

This week, Facebook reminded me of the time Jacoby modelled a scarf my ex brought back from a business trip to India.

And oh, how he wore it.

Jake was such an awesome model.

He just…got it.

Jake was just so…special. I don’t know how or why, but together, we could do anything. Some days I really miss him.

Aby-a-Day – 16 Oktober 2020: Logan and the refrigerator (Friday Flashback)

A memory of Logan came up in my Facebook feed today.

Logan was a lot more agile than Izaak is. This is Logan on a tiny ledge on the top of the door to the cabinet above our refrigerator.

Not to say he was 100% confident up there, but the fact that he got up there at all is huge.

I cannot imagine Izaak even thinking of trying to go up there, let alone actually doing it.

He even started to groom himself up there!

As similar as Singapuras seem to each other…they are definitely individuals!

Aby-a-Day – 21 September 2020: Logan and Jacoby (Monday Memory)

Facebook reminded me that, three years ago, Logan really wanted to be friends with Jacoby.

And also this exchange with Stellan: “Aha… you’ve been seduced over to the darkside,” he said.
“Well, I don’t think I’d go that far,” I said. “I’ve definitely been seduced over to the sepia side, though.” I still use that one.

Logan used to do this thing we called the “Singa bum bump.” Izaak does it once in a while, but it was Logan’s signature move.

He’d walk past Jake, just brushing his pelt…

…and then turn his butt and bump Jake with it. Sort of like a head bonk, with the other end.

It was really cute to watch.

Jake was rather unimpressed.

I love the expressions on his face in these photos. They were taken two iPhones ago, and they aren’t the best quality, but they really show how much Logan liked Jake.

Singas do that, though. As I showed over the weekend, when they decide they want to be your friend…that’s it.

Resistance is futile.

Aby-a-Day – 16 September 2020: Wordless Wednesday (Today would have been Gun-Hee’s 14th birthday)

Aby-a-Day – 11 September 2020: Facebook memories of Logan and Jacoby (Friday Flashback)

This week Facebook has been inundating me with memories of Logan. The above screenshot is from 10 September 2017, Logan’s six month birthday. Except it isn’t; Logan’s birthday was 9 March. I am not sure why I posted that on the 10th (which is Björn’s birthday).

This, though…this was 8 September 2017. Logan wanted to sleep where Jacoby was…and in typical Singapura fashion, he got what he wanted.

Then, three years ago today, Jake wanted to sleep where Logan was, so this happened. I miss them.

Aby-a-Day – 7 September 2020: Memories of a first adventure (Monday Memory)

Yesterday, this memory popped up on Facebook.

This was Jacoby’s first outing to Binford Park on the Harborwalk, as well as his first time on a harness and leash.

It may have been Angel’s first trip to Binford, but not, of course her first outing.

Angel wasn’t super-comfortable being out on a leash, but she still tried to help little Jake out on his first adventure.

It was so wonderful to watch them together outside.

This is actually my favoutite photo from that outing. Look at them; I wish they could still go out on outdoors adventures together.

Aby-a-Day – 10 Augusti 2020: Happy Gotcha Day, Dashiell!

One year ago today, Dashiell arrived in Finland. As you may recall, it was an insane day, and we didn’t actually “get” him until the next day, so I guess we have a two-day Gotcha holiday.

But we were in the same country at the same time, so today counts.

But even once we had him…we still had to get him home.

First by ferry…

…then by train…

…And finally by taxi.

Little did Dash know when they met that Izaak was destined to be his best friend.

There really weren’t any real problems integrating Dash into the family.

…Well, okay…maybe there was a little bit of hissing.

We also introduced Dash to the outside world, including Markis.

Look at him now! He’s still a little skittish, but he’s getting braver every day.

Happy Gotcha Day, Dash!

Aby-a-Day – 8 Augusti 2020: Celebrating International Cat Day with Jacoby, International Cat of Mystery (Special Saturday)

As most of you know, Jacoby was a very international cat.

He even had a passport to prove it!

He was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada…

…and moved to Boston, Massachussetts, USA.

Jake travelled extensively throughout New England.

He also went to New York and Pennsylvania for cat shows

Later, he moved to Sweden, where he visited Stockholm…

…Göteborg…

…and Jönköping.

He saw Helsinki in Finland…

…and Tallinn in Estonia.

Jake was no stranger to hotel rooms.

Jake travelled by air…

…sea…

…and land, most famously by subway in Boston.

Jake also loved elevators.

I’m sure there are cats in the world who are more well-travelled than Jake…but Jake’s the one I got to travel alongside with.

Aby-a-Day – 31 Juli 2020: The day Jacoby came to stay (Friday Flashback)

Tomorrow will be the eleventh anniversary of the day Sherry brought us Jacoby

He basically walked in, said, “Okay, this is home?” and that was that. He was completely unfazed by Kylie, Tessie and Angel.

Typical Jake. Bulletproof from the start.

And, as a bonus, here are two videos my ex took that I never even watched before. Look at him go! Click on the images to view the videos in another tab on Flickr.

He really did just walk in and take over our apartment.

Aby-a-Day – 10 Juli 2020: A hot day in July (Friday Flashback)

Today this memory came up in my memories on Facebook. I wasn’t even on Facebook in 2005, but okay. But it reminded me of that apartment I had in Somerville. It wasn’t the best, but I loved it.

It was SO hot in that apartment in summer, though. The middle room was the coolest, because I had a window air conditioner…but it was still hot.

Tessie turned two a month and a half after we got Kylie. Kylie loved her and copied everything she did.

And here they are now, last week. They are still BFFs and have been for fifteen years. Tessie will be 17 next month. I do miss them, but they are so happy where they are.

Aby-a-Day – 1 Juli 2020: Wordless Wednesday (Canada day, down Canada way)

Aby-a-Day – 22 Maj 2020: Facebook has all the memories! It has the best memories! (Fashion Friday Flashback)

Yesterday, Facebook reminded me of the time we got bored at a cat show and put some of the hair I had groomed off Jacoby and put it on his head.

After I did that, we noticed that the pile of hair on Jake’s bore a striking resemblance to a certain American president.

Especially from the side.

Jake was always such a good sport…

…and he really could rock anything he wore, too. I miss that.

Aby-a-Day – 15 Maj 2020: Gun-Hee and his tail (Photoshop Friday Flashback)

Gun-Hee loved chasing his tail. I posted a video of him chasing it in 2007, and then, a few months later, I posted a
“non-video” version of him chasing his tail.

Later, I took my three favourite shots…

…separated them from their background…

…and made a sort of action-collage of the three.

I was so proud of this at the time, I even put it on a T-shirt…but looking at the original PSD file…YIKES! Those edges are so bad! I guess I have learned a thing or two in 13 years.