Aby-a-Day – 6 January: “The eyes are the windows of your face”

Those of you who remember the last time I posted on a Saturday may recall that I was a participant in the Saturday Photo Hunt. Each week bloggers would be given a word to portray with a photo. It was a fun little challenge, but, sadly, the last word was Saturday, 31 December…2016.

So. There goes my easy Saturday topic! I am working on a series of posts about our flight to Sweden, but it’s going to take me some time; that will start next Saturday.

So…let’s have Silly Saturday today, shall we? I saw the above meme posted on Facebook somewhere and I absolutely cracked up, for obvious reasons. So as soon as I could, I found me some googly eyes. Yellow, of course.

Unfortunately, even the largest ones I was able to find were still too small. And, well, there wasn’t a really good way to keep it on her face. I tried Scotch tape, and then duct tape, but neither one worked. I was barely able to keep it on long enough to snap this photo.

So I had to resort to my good old friend Photoshop. Much better.

Aby-a-Day – 4 June: “Snazzy” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Snazzy.”

I have this very snazzy, super deluxe, floor-to-ceiling cat tree from Drs. Foster and Smith. I had it in the kitchen of my old apartment in Somerville, and Harri, Patrick, Tessie, Kylie and Gun-Hee all loved it.

Patrick especially loved it.

I mean, he really loved it.

I got it in 2005 as a replacement for the older, blue one I’d brought with me from Atlanta, which was getting a little ragged. Patrick couldn’t wait for us to unpack it.

He even helped to assemble it.

He could not even wait for it to be put together before he was climbing on it!

Sadly, it wasn’t tall enough for the very high ceilings in the old condo, so when I moved out of my apartment in March 2009, the awesome tree went into storage.

When I got Angel in 2008, I wasn’t spending much time at my old apartment although I still kept it for a few months after I married. I’m not sure if she has ever seen this cat tree (but she really loved the floor-to-ceiling cat tree my mom has at her house, and wasted no time climbing it). I know Jacoby never has, since it was put into storage before he was even born!

But on Monday, it was packed up to go to Sweden.

It was pretty amazing to watch the mover pack it up in paper.

We decided not to take it apart, except for the very top, spring-loaded part.

He was so fast! I couldn’t imagine wrapping up a cat tree in moving paper…but then, he’s a professional.

So, here’s my snazzy cat tree, all packed up and ready to go. Next stop, Sweden!

Aby-a-Day – 28 May: “Light” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Light.”

Just this past Monday’s post was shots of Jacoby with my little round nightlight.

These are the photos I thought turned out best from that set.

Jake is such a great subject. Most of the photos I liked best involved the light reflecting off his eyes’ tapetum lucidum (which means “light tapestry”) and playing with the night light.

Usually, photos with eyeshine in them need to be fixed.

But mixed with Hipstamatic, they become the best of the bunch.

Aby-a-Day – 21 May: “Flip” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Flip.”

It’s starting to get warm in Boston, and my bedroom hasn’t got the greatest air circulation, so I keep my little Vornado Zippi fan running at night while I sleep.

Jacoby sleeps with me most nights, and he thinks the fan is pretty cool.

In fact, he finds it fascinating.

It’s like the best cat toy ever.

He likes to stop the soft cloth blades. They don’t hurt at all.

Although sometimes, it seems they do sting his paws, so he has to stop and lick them.

But then…

…he’s right back at it, smacking my fan.

Or biting it. Biting is good, too.

It’s like a game. If he catches it and makes it stop, he wins.

And if he flips it over…? Bonus points! And in case you were wondering…why, yes, does it makes a lot of noise! And he does it a LOT! It’s like his version of playing with the boingy door thing. Siiigghhhh…

Aby-a-Day – 14 May: “Lake” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Lake.”

We don’t live near a lake in Boston, but Jacoby has seen plenty of water in his day. Of course, there’s Fort Point Channel, very close to the building in which we live.

And there’s Boston Harbor, too.

And there’s also the Charles River, which we cross over whenever we take the T into Cambridge.

But when we move to Sweden, we’ll have an actual lake outside our window. It’s called “Käpplundasjön” and here is Pyret looking at it.

Enjoy your peaceful view out the window while you can, Pyret. You’re about to be invaded by Abys!

Aby-a-Day – 7 May: “Mum” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Mum.” Remember, both Jacoby and Gun-Hee were Canadian born and bred. So they both have mums.

Here is Gun-Hee with his mum, Amber, and his siblings.

And here is Jake with his mum, Catalina, and his siblings.

Both of these photos were taken by Sherry, for which I am eternally grateful. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers…human, feline, and mixed-species.

Aby-a-Day – 30 April: “Coffee” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Coffee.”

Jacoby uses the coffeemaker, along with all the other countertop appliances, as a place to stand when I tell him to “get off the counter.”

Because the last thing Jake needs is coffee. Can you just imagine? A caffeinated Aby?

“Coffee? Sounds delicious! Yes, please, may I have some?”

NO! Now get off the counter, Jake.

Good boy!

But you still can’t have any coffee.

Aby-a-Day – 23 April: “Rain” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Rain.”

So, here are some photos from 2011 of Jacoby and I wearing our somewhat-matching raincoats.

He actually has two raincoats; a teal one and a dark green one.

Now if I could just find him a little umbrella…

Aby-a-Day – 16 April: “Pop” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Pop.”

I recently discovered the Privacy Pop bed tent, and it is awesome. Haven’t you always wanted a bed fort? I may be 50 years old, but this thing is awesome.

You’re meant to put it on a bedframe, under the mattress, but it also works if your mattress is on the floor.

And it comes in all sizes, except King. Which means if you have a Full or Queen bed, you and your significant other can have your own private little nest.

Not only humans love the Privacy Pop…Jacoby thinks it’s pretty cool, too.

(And it only two about two attempts for him to learn not to try to jump on top of it!)

Jake has always loved to play with his round lambbones on the bed.

And a bed inside a Privacy Pop tent is just as marvelous a playground, if not better.

He really loves those lambbones. He loved them when he wasn’t even a year old yet, he loved them when he was four years old, and he still loves them just as much now, when he’s about to turn seven.

Aby-a-Day – 9 April: “Lunch” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Lunch.”

Jacoby and Angel are always ready for lunch.

And I do mean always. You may notice that it’s dark outside…

…well, as Ford Prefect once said, “Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” Or as Angel clearly believes, “Hey, it’s noon somewhere!”

Aby-a-Day – 2 April: “Window” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Window.”

So here is Angel looking out the window in the elevator landing on our floor.

Aby-a-Day – 26 March: “Nuts” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Nuts.”

Jacoby doesn’t have his anymore…so I can’t exactly fulfill the Photo Hunt theme today, but hey. Close enough!

Aby-a-Day – 19 March: “Storm” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Storm.”

We’ve had some crazy weather lately. It’s been raining for two days (this was the sky yesterday), and it’s even supposed to snow tomorrow night!

But we all know the best place to be in during a storm, right?

That’s right! Your blanket fort!

Jacoby says he’ll be here till May…thank you and good night.

Aby-a-Day – 12 March: “Zow” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Zow.”

I’m not even sure that’s a real word.

Jacoby calls shenanigans.

“‘Zow’ isn’t a real word!”

Yeah I had no idea how to illustrate this. So here’s Jake at the Apple Store, standing tall in his stroller.

Aby-a-Day – 5 March: “Night” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Night.”

Every night, Björn and I talk to each other on FaceTime. Sometimes Jacoby joins us.

He loves to hang out while we just spend time together. And one of his favourite things to do is rub up against the edge of the screen.

Jake and Tessie both love to rub their jaws against the corner of the screen especially. Sometimes they also bite it, so I’d like to warn everyone who has a MacBook Pro with a Retina screen that they are NOT impervious to cat teeth. They have left bitemarks on my screen! Actual bite marks! So be very careful. I’m actually getting a screen protector to help keep them from damaging it any more. I haven’t had a chance to put it on yet (that is another story entirely, which I will eventually tell), so I can’t vouch for it personally, but it has pretty decent reviews on Amazon.

The people at the Apple Store had no idea that the screens were softer than cats’ teeth though, so I thought I’d let you all know. This has been a public service announcement. 🙂

Aby-a-Day – 27 February: “Leap” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Leap.”

This was Jake’s leap last 29th February. Unlike Gun-Hee, Jake is mostly good at jumping down from things.

And here is a leap from Angel. She doesn’t do it often, but when she wants to, she can make some great leaps, too.

Aby-a-Day – 20 February: “Fit” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Fit.”

The cable box in my room is pretty coveted real estate.

However, only one cat will fit on it.

And this morning, Jacoby was on it first. But Tessie wanted it.

However, he’s not a pushover like Angel.

Neither will he fall fall victim to her subterfuge again.

Tessie, of course, tried her best to pull one of her patented non-hostile cable box takeovers.

But this morning, Jake wasn’t falling for it.

Tessie tried her usual tricks, but to no avail. Jake wasn’t budging.

So, finally, Tessie gave up. Score one for the Abys…this time.

Aby-a-Day – 13 February: “Pet” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Pet.”

Cats are a pet of humans.

Or are they?

The word “pet” implies ownership.

But when it comes to cats…who owns whom?

Are cats our pets?

Or are we theirs?

It’s an interesting question.

Especially when it comes to the interactive and tactile creatures that are cats.

Ownership is a hazy concept at best when it comes to cats.

Even if you say, “the ones who do the petting are the ones who aren’t ‘pets'” doesn’t work. Kylie regularly pets humans by patting them on the head. So the one doing the petting isn’t the default “owner.”

So, am I Jacoby’s pet? Or is he my pet? Or…are we each other’s pet? It’s hard to say.

Aby-a-Day – 6 February: “Now” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Now.”

This is what’s happening right now.

Yes, you are seeing correctly…Jacoby and Angel are almost sleeping together on the bed!

She’s on the blanket, and he’s under it…

…But still. For them, this is cuddling!

Aby-a-Day – 30 January: “Quick” (Saturday Photo Hunt)

This week’s Photo Hunt subject is “Quick.”

Anyone who has ever clipped a cat’s claws knows all about not cutting into the quick!

I’m pretty good at clipping claws, but one wrong move – on my part or on the cat’s – and you can cut one claw too short and the blood will flow.

And claws can bleed a lot.

It can happen to the best of us. And I swear – I did NOT cut Angel’s claw too short just to take a photo, either…however, you may recall I once cut one of Angel’s claws too short and had to bandage her foot for a few hours.

If you do have a mishap and accidentally cut a claw too short, I found the best styptic gel at CVS of all places – Super Clot!

It not only stops bleeding, but it has a disinfectant and lidocaine to relieve pain. Incredibly handy and the best product I’ve found yet.