It's My Birthday!

Happy Birthday Vladi
8" x 10" acrylic on board

Vladi is officially one year old today, but he will always be "baby cat" to us. He is a perpetual kitten with his purring and kneading, wagging tail, cute little voice, soft huggable build, and always happy demeanor. Vladi has been so good with his brothers, patient and playful, and instantly one of the gang. Les and I often look back at the blogs from his adoption announcement through his settling in with his brothers, and marvel that everything went so well, like little Vladi was meant to be with us. We have to give a special hug to Kelli for thinking of us and knowing that he would fit in so well with Tanji and Uschi.

Well, today is Vladi's big day, and we are doing all the things he likes best, which is anything that involves play and food. First thing in the morning as we got out of bed, Vladi arrived with his usual purring and kneading, so we sang him "Happy Birthday" and opened a can of Fancy Feast chicken & gravy. Vladi was pumped so we brought out a feather wand, and he played his favorite game of hiding under the ottoman and pouncing from behind the draped blankets onto his prey. He must have been a real devil with his siblings growing up! Then we went to work, while we assume Vladi messed around with Tanji, and then took a nap.

Later we got home, and Vladi "helped" Les paint his birthday painting (plenty of hairs for texture). Then a bit more napping, and it was time to head outside. I took Tanj and Usch for a walk together so Les could stay with Vlad and give him a chance to do whatever he wanted, without having to keep up with his brothers. It was a little cold and drizzly, but Vladi had fun chasing buggies, climbing trees, watching birdies, and meowing quietly to himself.

When we got back inside it was time for a big dinner and ... cake! Vladi is our little cupcake, so ...

Of course we had to get Vladi a
vanilla sprinkled ("mink rosetted") cupcake.

He takes a quick sniff and ...

Licks the paper. Hmm, maybe Vladi wants cupcake!

We took off the wrapping ...

And Vladi munches away.

Whoa little guy, you can't eat the whole thing!

How about a small piece?

Vladi even attacks the wrapper...

and hunts down all of the little sprinkles
that have fallen off.

We also got chocolate cupcakes for Tanj & Usch,
so they wouldn't feel left out...

Here you go, Tanji.

Tanj sniffs carefully for a while, but that's all.

How about you, Uschi?

Uschi would rather get petties on his wheel.

Meanwhile, Vladi has been making it clear he
wants more cupcake by smacking his tail against
us and the furniture. SMACK. SMACK. SMACK.

Where's MY chocolate cupcake??

Here you go, birthday boy.

We break off a little piece, and Vladi attacks it.

This might be the yummiest day ever!

Happy Birthday Vladi!

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How About Now?

Isn't it my birthday yet?

Only one day to Vladi's birthday, and he apparently wants lots of licking from his brothers for a present. First it was Uschi's turn to give Vladi a bath, then came Tanji...

Vladi has moved next to Tanji and is being really quiet.

Tanji is not too sure about this.

Tanji gets up to leave and Vladi grabs his back leg. Usually
T would hiss a little and head out to the kennel,
but this is Vladi's week, so...

Tanji starts licking the baby cat.

Happy Vladi!

Tanji is getting tired, and wants to lay back down.

Tanji keeps licking, but Vladi wants even more...

"Play with me, too!"

Soon they are both batting each other
and the wrestling match is underway.

This is the other thing Vladi wants for his birthday!

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Is it My Birthday Yet?

Vladi will be one year old in just two days. Its hard to believe the little cutie has been home with us for almost nine months! Even though he is the kitten, Vladi has been the most independent of the three boys. Vladi typically seeks us out three times a day: in bed as soon as we stir in the morning (Vladi's breakfast time), late afternoon (Vladi's walkies and dinner time), and right before we go to bed (Vladi's play time). Each of these times, Vladi arrives purring, kneading, and tail-wagging like a real mush. The rest of the day, he sleeps deep in the closet or plays in the kennel. Tanji is always in visual range, Uschi is always in hollering range, and Vladi is off doing his own thing.

That is, until the last few weeks. Maybe Vladi has found out about his surprise birthday party, or maybe he is starting to act like a young adult. Whatever the reason, instead of sleeping in the afternoon by himself, he is showing up to sleep with whoever will have him. First it was napping with Les, then Vladi set his sights on napping with his big brothers. The brothers NEVER sleep together anymore...
or do they? ...

Vladi slowly creeps up on a sleeping Uschi and

leans in for a nap.

Uschi's eyes begin to open. Usually Uschi would hiss and run away
but Vladi holds very still, so Uschi goes back to sleep.

Vladi carefully lays down.

Don't get too excited little guy!

Vladi's awake, but happily curled up with his Uschi.

Later, the boys are back together...

Uschi looks like he is ready to leave, so
Les starts brushing him.

Uschi starts licking his Vladi ...

Oooh, that's a good spot! Vladi has a big smile.

Uschi has a big smile too.

This must be what Vladi wants for his birthday!

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Tomato Garden

We have never had a truly successful vegetable garden.

When we lived in apartments we tried growing tomatoes in pots
on the patio,... I think we got one tomato and one pepper.

At our first house, we went for it and the Veggi-garden
was growing well. Then we decided to sell the house,
we moved so quickly we never got to harvest the tomatoes.

The next year we planted 100+ tomato plants out in the field,
but we didn't have a way to efficiently water them. They were
un-protected and soon got completely over grown
with grasses and dried up.

Last year we planted a bunch, we had water and a nice tilled area,...
but our winds are so strong that they got pummeled. They produced
but really struggled and the weeds also took over.

This year, we are trying again, so we moved the tomato site a bit closer to the house and the oak grove, a bit more sheltered to the north and west. The winds are still crazy strong so I put a wind screen (construction site fence) up to block some of the gale.

The north and west sides are protected.

Uschi spotted the new addition first,

How do I get in there,... ?

Fine, I'll play in the extra tomato cages.

Vladi joins the inspection.

U inspects the grass clippings covered landscape fabric.

Tanji arrives,...

What is this ??

Hmmmm, this is interesting.

T & U enjoy the garden, V is off

to climb a tree.

T & U patrol the perimeter, V is in the distance.

Okay, I'm back.

The winds have been intense, but the plants are not getting
wind damaged. However, it has been cold (40s) and cloudy. So, we
have been putting plastic over the cages at night.

Even so,

U is excited,

this year we are going to get some T-maters.

Wooo Hooo

The outlook is good.


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Vladi Stalks Goldie-Fin

Hmmmm, why won't Goldie-Fin play with me?

I smell him,...

Vladi takes up a new position.

Goldie-Fin likes to "beach" when eating.

Maui joins the feeding frenzy.
(Vladi watches closely)

All of the fishy family members happily swim,

while Vladi watches.

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Tanji Wants A Baby Bird

The big brothers discovered one
of the many nesting boxes in the oak grove.

Both T & U
were spotted on top of the box,
which had baby birds in it.
(We quickly removed T & U)

I want a baby birdie,...

"TANJI,... No"

I'm just looking.


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