SWMBO let her artistic side come to the front recently. She created this pretty relish plate for one of our meals. Red, orange and yellow peppers, quartered dill pickles, red and yellow cherry tomatoes. And you know what? It tasted as good as it looked!
Then there were these two vegetables, echoing each other's nap positions, though Muggles' eyes are wide open, casting a wary look at me. Don't be fooled by their proximity, however. Muggles initially used to nap on the bed in the afternoons. Then Smoke came along and discovered the comfy spot for himself. Now he usually beats Muggles there. She comes in a little later, jumps up on the bed and haughtily circles Smoke, sniffing at him, doing everything she can to get him to run away so she can take over the spot. Smoke is generally a very placid cat but he isn't easily bullied. So eventually Muggles lies down as close as she can get without actually touching him. Except for an occasional lazy flip of her tail in Smoke's face.
I know I've done this before but my camera just can't resist. For you city-folk and Easterners, here's what your steaks and hamburgers look like long before it gets to your plate.
Muggles and Smoke cautiously share the foot of the bed. Muggles really doesn't like it because it was her "spot" before Smoke came along but she's given up trying to force him off. So now they spend much of each day sleeping "almost" together.
A new visitor has joined our cat crowd. SWMBO liked this rather abstract photo of him peering in through a screen and a glass window the other day.
This morning I spotted him walking very carefully along the top of the rear fence. He's apparently new to such activity because it was taking him awhile.
Smoke, the old veteran, then showed him how easy it was as he strode purposefully and quickly along.
As I've noted before, this black cat is still nervous about me and scampers over to his yard when I come outside.
But today I caught him for a full portrait as he perched on the railing right outside my window. As long as I stay in the house, he's okay with me . . . though on guard to run if I turn the door handle.
Our other visitor, Goldie, meanwhile seemed totally bored with the whole situation.