SLEEPING "HABITS"

As I have tried to describe many times previously, living with three cats brings many entertaining moments, to go along with the frustrating ones.

Cats are cats. They are not dogs & never will be. I'm learning that, over & over, as each day passes with my companions: Precious, Nibblets & Wobs.

Each of the three have their own habits, expressions, methods of communicating, etc., along with -- as I have come to believe -- a soul.

There is SOMETHING which is behind those cat eyes ... something thinking, evaluating, comprehending -- & with my three -- LOVING. It's there. I know it.

The more I study my cats, their habits often stand out to be unique to each & often a way of predicting what each one is about to do, or, a hint of what they are currently doing. These "habits" can often lead me directly to their locations, such as finding a "missing" cat, & best case scenario, avoiding some potential problem,such as a "cat dispute", before it occurs.

My eldest cat -- Precious, Mother of the other two -- spent many months sleeping in one of the desk chairs in my office. It was "her chair", but I supplied a folded quilt to make it more comfortable.

This is where I could count on to find Precious ... either during the day, or first thing when I would get up in the morning. Even as I worked at the desk -- in the other chair -- Precious would be stretched out on her back, snoozing away.

It was her habit ... to always be sleeping in the chair.

Well, maybe it wasn't her only "habit"..

For the past six weeks or so, Precious no longer sleeps in the office chair. She can now be found sleeping in the empty 55-gallon aquarium on the side porch of the house. It's now her (new) habit.

Actually, there is an additional habit involved, not just the habit of the continuing location of her sleeping. It's not just WHERE she is napping, but also, HOW Precious naps.

Above is Precious catching her "cat nap" on the concrete of the driveway.

This shows Precious sleeping in the grass in the yard.

When first observing where & when Precious was sleeping, it wasn't until she change that habit -- by changing locations -- that I realized what was her most consistent sleeping habit.

Precious ... is a "BACK NAPPER". She loves to sleep on her back, with all four legs stretched out. No matter what the location or surface, she seems to favor the same position.

At night, when Precious sleeps next to me on the bed -- another "habit change" ... from the office chair at night -- you know how she sleeps on the bed. YEP !! You got it. On her back.

Once a "back napper ... always a "back napper".

For Precious ... it's her sleeping habit.

CAT TANNING

In a previous life, I was probably a Nudist. Any decent weather, from March till December, finds me in shorts & a t-shirt. No long pants for me.

Truthfully ... I'd wear LESS if I could.

I've been lucky ... skin wise. No "problems" -- so far in life -- with any issues due to sun exposure, & I am outside -- minimally clothed -- a lot.

I enjoy going to the beach, too. Sand, waves & fun. I always "improve" my grass-cutting, yard-working-tan when I lay around at the beach/ocean. [Or the Caribbean, when it's not too oily.]

When I'm cutting grass, I'm usually in shorts & flip-flops. Maximum exposure & tanning.

As I've written before, my cats like to follow me around when I'm working in the yard. Not so much though, when I've got the tractor started up. Too noisy for their liking.

Still, they like to be outside & enjoy the benefits of a sunny, warm day.

I never have found out were they got those small lounge chairs.

NON-HIRED HELP

Last month, one weekend, I was feeling poorly -- chills & fever -- & spent most of Saturday & Sunday in bed, &/or, on the couch. At least World Cup games were on TV.

I had planned several things for the weekend I wanted to do in the yard, since on prior days I had done the "necessary jobs" of cutting grass & getting the fence line trimmed. Along with feeling under the weather, there was also now the feeling of helplessness at not being able to follow through on my plans for the weekend.

Adding to the depression, was my questioning my future with this home & property. As I got older, would my health & physical abilities allow me to manage the four acres, the house & my animal collection, as well as meet my own daily needs ??

I started revisiting in my brain the thought of moving & reducing my work load & responsibilities. Maybe it was time to be thinking about moving to Florida & have my own palm trees. Maybe it was time to get married & have a young wife with a job to help me. [Remember ... I had fever !!]

I thought of maybe moving back to Tennessee. My friend Bubba -- who has a birthday today & claims to be younger than me (another fear of mine: getting dementia like apparently Bubba has) -- lives in a nice home near the Tennessee River. That's a great area of the country to live. (Bubba also has that younger wife going for him ... "The Bubbette".)

But then ... I started feeling better.

I realized that many of my daily activities & projects have "help" & I am not alone in activities I enjoy & look forward to.

I always work at my desk each morning, doing paper work, writing checks/paying bills, etc. I also write my Mother in Florida each day. She likes to receive mail & know what is happening in my life.

At my desk, it seems I am never alone & have "volunteers" who offer -- without my needing to request -- their ... ah ... "help" ... for any activity at my desk or computer.

This A.M., both Precious & THE WOBBLER (Wobs) were at their usual stations, just giving me their total help & effort, as shown above. You just can't buy this kind of dedication !!

When it comes to working on my blog & writing these posts, that same effort & diligence shines true from my "helpers" as I sit at the computer.

As a sincere form of dedication to the job, in this photo, Wobs waits for the moment her Mother tires of the effort being exerted laying in my lap, vacates same & Wobs will take over the position from Precious. [Actually, Wobs will often step on Precious a few times, alerting Momma Kitty that Wobs feels ... "it's my turn to lay in the lap".]

I guess I'll stay here & live here a bit longer. I can handle the work load. After all, I've got some great help.

NOTE: Wobs has been laying in my lap the whole time I have been writing this, forcing me to type this sitting "side saddle" in the chair. Such a great "helper".

THE BIG FOUR IN BAIT SHOP FOOD

Now days, I very seldom leave the house without a hat on. You know; hot sun & a receding hair line. It's part of the aging process. No sense adding heat stroke while outside in the yard working.

Hats, of course, go with driving a pick-up truck. It's part of the image & I've got to fit the part. I owe it to all the other hat wearing pick-up drivers I see on the road.

I have a lot of hats. There are hooks next to the kitchen where most of the "current" hats reside. I have even more hats, but they are stored in a large plastic box in the bedroom closet.

Selecting a hat to wear goes along with the "activity" I am about to do. The "yard work hats" are faded & sweat stained, no matter how many times they are washed.

Hats I wear when leaving home have to coordinate with whatever t-shirt or jacket I am wearing. I have to choose the right hat.

Also, no "doubles" ... such as a Jimmy Buffett t-shirt, with a Buffett hat. That's "Nerdville", not Margaritaville.

A lot of hats I have were given to me as gifts. In fact, I got a new hat today in the mail -- along with a t-shirt -- from my good friend, Bubba.

It looks like Bubba, or someone in Bubba's family, started a new business. Along with "Bait & Tackle", they're selling "Sodas, Beer & Snacks". That's three of the "Big Four" when it comes to food at bait shops.

I don't think it's Bubba's venture. I think someone had some custom t-shits made, like they sell in the SIGNALS catalog.

If it was a "real" business, Bubba would be selling "Fried Chicken" as well. Not only do I know Bubba loves fried chicken, but that would make it the "Big Four" of bait shop food.

JUST YOUR AVERAGE PARROT HEAD

A few weeks ago, I was at the Employee's store at the L'Oreal/Maybelline Manufacturing & Distribution Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Since leaving my employment there in December, 2003, I guess this was the first time I had been back to the store. As a "retiree" from the company, I had received a letter "inviting me" to visit & get a free gift.

"FREE" ??? Works for me !!

I spent about two hours there, mostly sitting in the back room visiting with Deb & Kay. I was surprised hearing a familiar voice come into the store asking "Where's Burnett ?? Where's Tortuga ?? Where's the Parrot Head ??" It was my friend -- & former co-worker -- "Chucker Cheese". [Every one has a nickname.] It was good to see & visit with him too.

To explain:
(1) Tortuga is Spanish for turtle. It is the vanity license plate name on my truck.
(2) Parrot Head is the plate on the front of my truck.

Seeing my truck in the parking lot, with both unique indicators, it was clear to "The Chucker", I was in the building.

Being a "PARROT HEAD" is to be a fan of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett. I've been such a fan since the 1970's.

JIMMY BUFFETT -- Circa 1970's

I've have just about all of Jimmy's albums, which includes vinyl, tapes & CD's. My iPod is loaded with all the same songs. I've got a couple videos & have attended about a half a dozen of his live concerts -- in Memphis & Nashville -- when I lived in Tennessee.

JIMMY BUFFETT -- Circa 2009

I do admit I like Jimmy's "older songs" ... back in the days when he had a FULL head of hair. The good thing is a LOT of the songs of his I like so well, are always a part of his current concerts. He ALWAYS puts on a GREAT SHOW.

Looking on my iPod, I realize there are several tunes I ALWAYS enjoy listening to. They are "favorites", but then, a LOT of his tunes are "favorites" ... some, just a bit more than others.

MY TOP FIVE JIMMY BUFFETT SONGS ... (for this posting)

1 -- CHANGES IN LATITUDE ... CHANGES IN ATTITUDE ... My all time favorite, off the album of the same name. Several hit songs on that album

2 -- MIGRATION ... Catchy & I never get tired of listening to it. It's the first song on my iPod's "Best of Buffett".

3 -- BANANA REPUBLICS ... This is a tune written by the late Steve Goodman, who I also have about a dozen of his albums loaded into the iPod, including Steve's version of this song. Both are good renditions.

4 -- MARGARITAVILLE ... Everyone has to "salute" when this song is played. It's the National Anthum of Margaritaville.

5 -- HAVANA DAYDREAMIN' ... Maybe once Castro is gone, we will be able to travel again to Cuba. This song makes me want to go. [Plus, remembering vacation pictures I saw when I worked in Canada, since Canadians are free to go to Cuba for vacations/travel.]

There is never a trip I make -- be it down the road to WalMart, or visits to Florida -- in which I do not always have my "Buffett Tunes" to listen to ... as I'm one of hundreds of thousands of PARROT HEADS.

TODAY'S PROJECT ... BAMBOO

I realize a lot of my blog posts lately have involved stories about one, or all, of my three cats. I guess it is just reflective of the role the three thugs play in my life. For awhile there, I thought I might have to change the name of the blog to "Bill's Big Cats".

It turns out, today was a "bamboo day".

Yesterday -- in 95 degree heat, which was the reading on my thermometer ... the "official" high was 100 degrees over in Little Rock -- I cut grass for most of my property. I took several "breaks" during the couple hours I was cutting; to cool down both myself & my mower. No sense in over doing it in the heat.

Later -- after my shower -- I washed & cleaned the mower, which is standard for me. I like to put the mower away in the shed ... CLEAN. [I wish I was as good to my TRUCK.]

Today being cooler -- it's only 94 degrees so far -- it happened to be a "minor project day", since the grass was cut yesterday & grass cutting is the "major project" each week. The "minors" are plant/tree maintenance, spraying Roundup on weeds, gathering sticks & tree limbs, etc. STUFF ... which the property "requires". Sometimes "minors" get put off/delayed/ignored. I procrastinate.

I "recycle" my trash by burning most of it, and spread the ashes in the garden & bamboo. Very little goes into the garbage can to be picked up & end up in a land fill. [Don't get on me about smoke pollution. My way is the lesser of two evils.]

Since the fire pit was in use today, one of the "minor projects" entailed cutting down some bamboo which had broken from the wind, or storms, along with other cains which had died. [Bamboo is just VERY BIG grass. It has to be maintained, which includes thinning out the groves, controlling it's growth direction & removing old/dead "CLUMS" ... which is what the stalks/cains of bamboo are actually called.]

Today the bamboo needing removing was cut, sectioned & hauled to the fire pit to burn.

I'm often asked how BIG is the bamboo I grow. The above clum is 46 feet long. I have several other groupings of bamboo, where I believe the bamboo is even bigger/taller than the piece in the picture. [Don't know for sure, until I have to cut a piece down & can measure it.]

Along the length of this piece of bamboo, I also found the circumference to be right at 10 inches. BIG BAMBOO !!

When I cut down bamboo, I use mostly a small hand saw. Even that size saw can be dangerous -- to ME. Along with a good size cut on my finger today, I also put a fair size hole in my right knee, which also bled freely, but did not make the camera. This is also an example of why I use my chain saw so infrequently. I don't trust ME. Cut fingers & knees are one thing. Potential missing arms/legs are another.

After several hours outside in the heat, doing a "minor project", I quit for the day. I didn't want to "over do it" in the warm temperatures & the bamboo will still be there tomorrow ... for the next "project".

IT'S ONLY $$ ...

The FedEx truck backed down from the road, into my driveway, this morning. I was tracking the shipment I was about to receive on-line at the same time, via the FedEx web site.

I went outside & met the driver as he was getting out of the truck & he handed me the box containing the assortment of turtle food I had ordered Friday from Drs. Foster & Smith in Wisconsin. Good, fast, order processing & shipping.

By the time I unpacked the contents of the shipping carton & returned to the computer in the back room, the FedEx site was already confirming delivery at 8:48 A.M. Very efficient.

Back in the kitchen area, I found the empty shipping box was already the center of attention for Wobs & her Mother, Precious. [ANYTHING new added to the household, is always immediately investigated. The box on the floor, is a classic example.]

In only a matter of moments, Precious had hauled her chubby butt into the box. [In the photo, from the position of her head, it appears Wobs is about to jump up on the dinning room table ... a usual, good observation point for goings on in this area of the house.]

Precious quickly settled in & began enjoying the confines of the shipping box.

NOTE TO SELF: Two weeks ago, "YOU" spent $75 dollars for the "Kat Kondo", thinking the three cats would enjoy the texture & size & the individual spaces, where each cat could have their own "comfort areas". So far, only Wobs seems to visit the "Kondo" with any regularity. The other two cats have faithfully ignored it.

Next time, "Self" ... just get a bunch of boxes. They seem to like those best & it's a lot cheaper.

LENDING A HAND ... AH ... PAW

My youngest cat, THE WOBBLER -- AKA, "Wobs" -- seems to have a built-in sixth sense when it comes to knowing when I am going to working at my desk. If Wobs is in the house, it does not matter the time of day, or what she is doing -- i.e., up in the loft, snoozing on the bed, etc. -- she will come into the room & "present" herself to the middle of the desk.

I guess Wobs believes it is required of her to settle comfortably on what ever project I am involved with at the time. She likes to use her paws to move items around for me, such as pens, paper & any other articles on the desk within her reach. I often have to write using the side of the desk, since the middle will be occupied by Wobs.

Many times Wobs just finds it necessary to "require" my attention in the form of petting, scratching her head & whispering words of affection to her. My "reward" is a dozing/purring cat who is firmly comfortable in the middle of my desk & just a bit of delay added to my project at hand.

Wobs is so sweet & I appreciate the helping ... paws.

THE BOSS

Ask a lot of people about the name ... "The Boss" ... most will name someone they work for, or, if a music fan, probably Bruce Springsteen.

But there has been another man known as "The Boss", & all baseball fans -- & many non-fans -- would know that would be George Steinbrenner, the chief owner of the New York Yankees baseball team.

George died today at the age of 80 years old. He was born on the Fourth of July, & died on the day of this years Baseball All-Star Game. How ironic.

I found out about his death this A.M., literally just minutes after I had finished reading the book STEINBRENNER ... The Last Lion Of Baseball, by Bill Madden. More irony.

I've never been a big fan of baseball. The game is too often ... "slow". [I know. I enjoy soccer. Talk about slow. So sue me.] I get bored with the game. I like other sports ... like Australian Rules Football. REAL men's sports.

But I've always been a New York Yankees fan. I grew up in upstate New York. My girlfriend -- yes, "Weiner" -- and her family were BIG Yankee fans. The dad, Roy, would take the kids on trips in the Summer to Cleveland, Ohio, when the Yankees played the Indians.

I loved the Yankee teams that had players like Mantle, Maris, Ford, Berra, etc. Many nights at college -- in Utica, New York -- my roommate & I would do our homework listening to the Yankee games on the radio.

Note: I agree with Seinfeld's George Costanza, "Seven" -- Mickey Mantle's uniform # -- would make a GREAT name for a kid. [Although, the kid would probably get beat up a lot.]

Once I moved to Memphis, I didn't follow the Yankees as much as previously. There just wasn't as much information available about the team. I think it had to do with living in the South & the team's name -- "Yankees". Didn't go over too well back then. Still doesn't in a lot of places down South.

As I've mentioned previously, my DirecTv system here in Arkansas allows me to have network TV stations in New York City ... as well as Little Rock & Los Angeles. The past few years I've found it easier to again follow the Yankees ball club, thanks to Channel 4 in NYC. Baseball is just ... well ... "different" when the Yankees are playing. I enjoy those baseball games.

Reading he book on George Steinbrenner gave me a lot of insight into the Yankee teams of the past 30+ years & "filled in" time frames & history of the team I had ... "missed. It was a good read.

I know George Steinbrenner had a (mostly) good life & was a MAJOR influence on players, fans, New York City & everyone/everything involved with baseball. As noted, I am not a real "baseball fan", but I will ALWAYS be a New York Yankees fan.

Rest In Peace, George. And ... THANKS.

QUEEN OF THE HILL

It looks as if one of the cats -- THE WOBBLER, aka, "Wobs" -- has taken a shine to the new "Kat Kondo". For the past several nights she has enjoyed the upper levels, looking out the window or just snoozing in comfort.

Wobs is the youngest cat & the smallest of the three cats. She sometimes suffers at the hands (paws) of her sister, Nibblets, who can be rather rough in her dealings with Wobs, as well as with Precious, the mother of the both of them. This new lounging location seems to give Wobs an advantage over Nibblets.

Whether it is the height, or the limited access, Nibblets seems a bit frustrated that THE WOBBLER has found a spot where Nibs can not sneak up on her sister & where Wobs has a definite advantage in strategy.

Wobs is the winner this time, & in the living room -- "Queen of the Hill".

THE REST OF THE STORY(S)

I'm going to take a few minutes to follow-up on some of my recent posts & let everyone know the outcome to news/information I was sharing.

"KAT KONDO"
After initially ignoring the "furniture" I bought for my three cats --along with my worrying that I had bought a bunch of wood & carpet taking up a corner of the living room for naught -- the "Girls" have begun to pay attention to it & spend more time around it. In fact, THE WOBBLER -- AKA, Wobs, my youngest cat -- has made it a real destination for herself.

All three cats have utilized the support poles for scratching & claw sharpening & Nibblets likes to lay at the base & stretch, pulling herself forward. But it is Wobs who is getting full use of the upper "barrels".

The middle barrel -- with the hole cut to the side of it, for access to the top barrel -- is a favorite tube for Wobs to lay in & antagonize her older sister -- Nibblets. [Normally it is Nibblets chasing Wobs. Now the roles are reversing.] Wobs will lay in the safety of the barrel & throw jabs & left hooks at a flustered Nibblets below, who has to finally leave. Then Wobs relaxes & often lays in the barrel for quite some time, looking out the window.

Success !!

HATCHLING TURTLES
Wednesday I loaded up the 11 new turtles in a small bucket & rode my bike down to the creek & let them all go. While still small, they had all progressed to the stage where they were swimming freely, pulling themselves out of the H2O to dry on a small piece of cork in their dishpan, & importantly, were beginning to feed.

They will have several months of warm weather & good food sources, so that they will have time to grow, harden their shells & start their lives in the wild. Not all of them will survive -- it's just a fact of nature; something (large fish, snakes, birds, larger turtles, etc.) will "get" some of them -- to grow to maturity.

I have given them their start. It's now up to the turtles to survive.

MORE PLANTS
I've got a few more pictures to add of the small trees & plants on my property.

This is a small purple/violet Crape Myrtle I have growing in the South yard. I like this color & sometimes it is difficult to find violet Crape's in plant nursery's. They are not as common as the white or pink varieties.

NOTE TO BUYERS OF CRAPE MYRTLES: Buy plants from a reliable source, which will guarantee the color of the plant, or, only buy plants that are in bloom when purchased. Some years ago I bought a half dozen plants at a local "big box" do-it-yourself-store [begins with an "L"], using the label on the plants to determine the color I was -- I thought -- buying.

Mistake.

After a year or two, when the Crape Myrtles started blooming, the colors where NOT what I had expected according to the label. I take my own advise now.

The plant above I grew myself from a cutting I took off a tree in the parking lot of the Kroger store on Summer Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. I'd drive by, see & admire the trees & their blooms.

PRESTO ... out came the pocket pruners one day on my drive back to Arkansas.

The plant is still small, but this is the second year it has bloomed & it is certainly getting bigger than the original six-inch cutting I started with.

This red Crape Myrtle is called "Dynamite". It really is a bright red & looks good in the yard, where along with this particular tree, I have four others of the same species/color.

This is the front door to my house & shows the large Cycad (Cycas, species) to the left & several Staghorn Ferns attached to the wall. All these plants are tropical -- & since I am not spoiled like some people who live in South Texas, or others, who have Winter homes in the Florida Keys -- these plants do have to come inside for the cold weather of Winter. They are also examples of why I NEED/WANT a greenhouse.

There, as the late Paul Harvey would always say: "Is the rest of the story".

SUMMER COLOR

Summer has just begun & already I am hauling H2O every day trying to keep plants & the smaller trees alive. Due to the dryness & lack of rain, many of the large Oak trees in my yard are even shedding dry, crumpled leaves. It's that dry already this year.

We need a nice, steady, gentle rain, spaced out over a few days. Weather forecasts call for "isolated rain showers", but that's just what it means ... isolated. A 30% -- or less -- chance of rain.

One positive note with the dryness; the grass has already slowed it's growth. This doesn't usually happen until further along in the Summer. Think August.

I cut grass today on a portion of my property. Took me about 90 minutes. A lot of areas just do not need cutting. Rain will change that, but who knows when that will happen. Mean while, I'm saving $$ by not having to refill the gas cans so often for the John Deere.

Despite the dryness & the extra effort involved with carrying H2O in three gallon H2Oing cans -- luckily, I've got the "pythons" to do it -- there is a lot of "Summer color" showing at my place.

Instead of writing about cats or turtles -- usual subjects lately -- I'll share photos of some of the blooms & colors surrounding my home about now.

Day Lilies are always a favorite in my garden. I have several varieties/colors.

The bloom is a blue Hydrangea. To the left is a small Coral Bark Japanese Maple, both nestled in a bed of ferns & dwarf Bamboo.

This is a Pee Gee Hydrangea.

The above is a red Rose of Mertle [AKA Rose of Sharon]. Renamed for a friend.

Vitex AKA "Texas Lilac". [One of the few BLUE flowering trees.]

This is a TROPICAL Bromeliad ... a dwarf tri-color. [Inside in the Winter.]

Crape Myrtles along the front entrance.

Looking from the South yard, with more Crape Myrtles.

Close up of several blossoms on a Crape Myrtle.

Despite the heat & lack of rain, my home is surrounded by many colorful trees, bushes & plants. I'll keep applying H2O & they will -- hopefully -- stay healthy, blooming & continue to provide me with "Summer Color".

KAT FURNITURE

Another day has passed & the three cats have continued to ignore the 50%-saving-half-priced "Kat Kondo" in the living room. I keep telling myself they will use it eventually. They are just taking their time about climbing up on it.

Maybe the three thugs have something against "Cat Furniture". They certainly have had their way with the living room "People Furniture", especially my fancy LEATHER couch. The cats have given it a nice, worn, "aged" look. The couch is now "vintage".

The cats love of "People Furniture" is most telling when it comes to the chest of drawers in my bed room. All I have to do is make a move towards the chest & if Precious is within sight, she'll come running. She loves to look into the drawers & tries to crawl into them if possible.

The above is an example of my leaving the bed room, with one of the drawers open. Looks innocent enough. I was only gone out of the room a minute or two.

But, I know better than to close the drawer without checking the nose count in the house. One ... two ... oops. Someone is missing.

Precious had once again crawled up/over the back of the drawer & into the back of the dresser. It's similar to her adventures in the past with the kitchen drawer. At least I was able to help her out here by removing the drawer. Not that she jumped right out. No ... she had to sit there & evaluate her position.

The thought occurs to me to switch out the "Kat Kondo" with the chest of drawers. Put the "People Furniture" in the living room. The cats seem to like my stuff better than theirs.

I'll just have to change clothes in the living room.

CATLESS CONDO

One of my stops the other day while making a "retail run", was to visit the local Petsmart store. I wanted/needed some semi-floating aquarium plants sold under the name Anacharis, & sometimes sold as Elodea. The store usually has this plant in stock & did not disappoint me this visit.

I always purchase several bunches of this plant when I am working raising small -- or in this case, hatchling size -- turtles. I have the turtles set up in dishpans & the plants serve two purposes -- security & as a food source. Both are an important part of the process of "growing out" baby turtles.

While in Petsmart, I naturally had to check out the cat supplies. To my delight, I found that several sizes of "Cat Furniture" were on clearance sale -- half-off. [This cat "furniture" can also be called such names as "Kitty Condos" & "Cat Trees".] I had been "eye balling" these cat accessories at various times in the past, both locally & on-line. I just knew this would be something my "Girls" would love !! The 50% sale this time got me to withdraw my Visa card & bring the new furniture home.

Not being sure which of two possible locations in the living room was best suited for the new article, I started with the window at the North end of the house. I moved the chair which was there, vacuumed the dead bugs which had been under the chair & "installed" the new "Cat Tree" in front of the window. This would allow me to be close to the cats while I sit on the couch & would allow them to view the world outside from the window at this location.

Almost immediately, all three cats came to "inspect" the new item. [This is standard procedure. ANYTHING new or different, no matter how big or small, added to ANYPLACE in the home, is noticed at once by the cats & investigated fully.] The head detective -- & most inquisitive of the three -- is & was, Precious.

Precious ... testing ... to check the "fit".

Although the cats seemed to accept the new "Kitty Condo", I was not really pleased with the location & the placement of the chair in the opposite corner. So ... more furniture moving. [See fellas. No wives are necessary to be able to move furniture.]

I moved the chair back where I had it & moved the "Tree" to the window on the South side of the living room. Naturally, right on schedule, all three cats then made their inspection of the new location.

Then, they never went near the new "Cat Furniture" again.

No cats in this area of the house !!

It's been several days now & I have yet to see any of the cats visit, climb on, or come anywhere near the new "Kitty Condo". I just KNEW they would love this new object & would be snoozing in it, jumping up on it & enjoying both the height & the complexity of it.

My error: Thinking like a human ... not a cat.

I'll give them time to get used to it. But they NEED to start using their new "Condo", as I have $75.00 & a lot of furniture moving invested. They better not get me mad. I can always get a dog !!