Oh, Sure She's Cute...

...in this picture, because she's peacefully sleeping instead of:

• biting Mama's toes with every step across the room,
• clawing her way across bare flesh to get to the nearest plate of food,
• digging her way to China while just playing in the litter box,
• hanging from the bedroom curtains,
• walking across the keyboard, causing embarrassing typos,
• chewing up reports to the state or credit cards,
• standing on the edge of the sink, trying to see what you're up to on the toilet, or
• screaming her head off when she's put in time out.

If you really want the full Mocha experience, that's just a taste of what's involved!

A Touching Gift

A few months ago, I won an essay contest and my prize was a beautiful clock made by Not Forgotten Arts. I told them I didn't want the clock for myself, as fabulous as I may be, but for my older bro-fur Max.

Max is very old, you see, and showing his age more and more each month, so I said it would be a nice tribute to remember him by. Mama sent three pictures of him in to the company, and they picked the one that best suited their needs. The result is a wonderful piece of art that will soon be hanging in our living room.

Thank you so much to Not Forgotten Arts!

Another Thud from Another Room

Who knew one tiny kitten could generate so much noise? It seems whenever Mocha is awake there's always a thud coming from this way or a crash/bang coming from that way. When she first started exploring, I would go check it out to see if she was okay, but now I just take it for granted that, by the time I get to the source of the sound, she'll have already moved on to another "project".

Summertime!

...and the living is easy...

My mama is a teacher, which means that in the summers she's all mine!

It's so wonderful! We sleep in, go to the park, have picnics, find extra snuggle time, and get to stay up as late as we want. I especially like it when she gets down on the floor with me and plays hide and seek or zoom zoom with us.

Sometimes we go on trips, too. This year we're going camping!

Because she's a teacher we can't afford very much, but the trade off is worth it: Quality Time!

Betrayed...

One of the worst days ever of my whole entire life!

First, Mama was all excited and said we were going for a ride, but then she forced us to march in the pouring rain to go potty before we were allowed into the car.

Next, we drove toward the state park, but we went right past the entrance. Only one place is past the state park...

...the vet.

I was so scared that I left a little trail of poop all the way from the front door to the scale and on into the exam room. He poked at my ears (and then into my other end...) until finally...

...the shot.

Oh, the horror and misery! And my mama even paid for him to do all of this! Would you believe that she tried to make it all seem better because I got a new piece of collar jewelry out of it!

Betrayed by my own family...

Top 5 Things Mama Says to Me...

...and my responses to her

5. Hey, Pumpkin Butt!

Where on Earth do you come up with these nicknames?

4. Do you need to go potty?

My bladder is smaller than a walnut! What do you think?

3. Where's the kitten?

Probably on Twitter about now...

2. High five!

Well, okay, but soon I'll be increasing my fee to two treats per trick.

1. Now what?!?!

Excuse me, but I'm the princess here! I should be the center of attention at all times, thank you!

Thunderstorms

They are a part of life every time spring changes to summer in Indiana, but I'm still horrified of them. I will hop up on my Mama's lap, hide under blankets, and have been known to have bathroom accidents because of them.

Why are they so loud on my sensitive little ears? Why does the lightning have to be so bright that it's spooky in the middle of the night? Why does the wind have to knock branches into the house?

Thank goodness I have my family to huddle around me. They let me snuggle closely and they nuzzle my ears to help me feel better. I am just so very little, and t-storms are so very big...

I've Been Wrongly Convicted!

First of all, I'd like to say that it was NOT my fault!

MAMA was the one who put out yummy yummy cat food and then only gave me cardboard to eat. MAMA was the one who put it way up on the table where I have to risk life and limb to climb up to get it. And if she didn't want me to use the kitchen chairs, she shouldn't have put them there!

So Miss Marple told on me by hissing and growling loudly, and Mama heard and came out and told me, "NO!" Then she got all mad and said we'd been through this before (the picture is an older one of an earlier incident).

Furthermore, I'm not guilty of repeating the same violation as before! In this photo, I'm using the chair on the eastern side of the table, but this morning I was on the chair on the western side of the table. And in the photo I'm going after dry cat food, but this morning it was canned cat food.

So you see, I'm NOT guilty as charged! My previous violation was for a different felony, so I had never been told not to commit this particular crime...

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

My Little Sis-fur

I love this kitten...

Her name is Mocha, and she's my calico girl. Everyday I wash her ears and then we play hide and seek. Sometimes she rears up on her back legs like a big lion, which just makes my tail go even faster!

Aren't families just the best?!?!

Another Haiku

Gasping for some air

It's really "reverse sneezing"

Instead of asthma

She Can Be a Little Odd

Miss Marple is about as ancient as Max, so she has earned every right to be a little eccentric.

When she's sitting atop the armoire in the living room, she knocks off the cat and angel figurines one by one to clear her view of the rest of us down here.

When Mama gets up to take a shower in the morning, she rushes into the bathroom and hides behind the toilet the entire time.

A few days ago, Mama bought a new disposable litter box for the kittens and Cricket, but was distracted before she had a chance to take it out to them and fill it with litter. By the time Mama got back to it, Miss Marple had moved in and was napping happily! Since then, she has only gotten out of the box to eat and to use her own litter box- it's still sitting on the green chair by the front door!

I Hate My Tummy...

I have a sensitive tummy that is ALWAYS giving me trouble. No matter how cute I look or how long I sit pretty (see photo), Mama hardly ever gives in to my requests for people food because she knows how delicate my stomach is.

Several times a year it flares up and I can't even keep down water. My vet is great, and he knows just what medicine to give me to make it better, but it still makes me feel so puny that I hide under tables for days.

Why, oh why can't I have an iron stomach like my brother Max? He can eat anything and it doesn't bother him! Sometimes life just isn't fair, even for cute little princess dogs...

Enjoying the Little Things

Puddles, sweet puddles!
Rain is a wonderful thing,
Making pools for play.

Another Twitter Surprise!

A few days ago I got two boxes in the mail! Me! In my very own doggie name! I was so excited but Mama made me wait until the next day to open them so she could take pictures...

They were both surprises from Twitter anipals. @LouPeb sent me a wonderful assortment of treats in just my size- little bites! They were made by @LaineysPawtique. And @BabyHaroldK sent me two beautiful dog cookies made by his mom's bakery, Three Amigos Dog Treats.

I am very blessed to have such wonderful friends! If you need to talk your family into buying you some treats, check them out! They are great people (and pets) to know!

Can You Overdose on Cuteness?

The quads are one month old now, and are growing more playful and curious everyday. They make clumsy attempts at wrestling and have started to venture out of the kennel. They have personalities and names now as well. Going clockwise from top left:

1. The calico kitten is Random. She's the LOUDEST and will SCREAM as soon as Cricket leaves her side. She's also the pushiest when it comes to feeding.
2. The stripey kitten is Corduroy. I think he's the bravest, because he's always the first one out of the kennel, wanting to look around on his own.
3. The kitten with brown patches is Mocha, and the one that Mama said I could keep. He doesn't mind being held by people and accepts me when I wash his face and ears.
4. And finally, the grey and white kitten is Sparkle. She's very shy and delicate, and still shivers if Cricket is away from her for too long.

It's been so wonderful having a garage full of kittens again! Now I can kiss all the little ears I want to and soon I will have a playmate again! Life is good!

A Sweet Old Man

My brother Max has begun to show his age in the past few months. His face is going grey, he moves more slowly than ever before, and his awareness of events around him is fading.

Sometimes it's difficult to watch these changes, but I still love him very much. He gets excited about the simplest things, like being brushed or getting a treat from the jar. He still enjoys pushing his head into Mama's lap and having his tummy scratched.  He's my sweet old Max man!

Kitten Kisses

Ah, kitten ears! Cat ears! Aren't they just wonderful?!?! So cute and kissable! So soft and fuzzy! I could just wash ears for hours...

My mama thinks that I love it so much because my first dog brother, Denver, was obsessed with cleaning my ears. All I know is that being the Executive Feline Ear Cleaner is the best job in the world! 

My View of the World

From my pink lookout
I see an empty driveway.
Mama's not home yet.

Thank You to Baby Patches and Just4Pets!

A few days ago something simply wonderful happened- my brother Max and I got a package in the mail! I have a cat friend on Twitter named Baby Patches, and Patches' mama owns a pet gift shop called Just4Pets. I won a surprise from Just4Pets on Twitter, and my mama arranged for a little something extra in the mix.

Mama let me sniff for a while, then I got all excited and clawed at it, but she finally had to help me open it. Inside was a plushie skunk that I just love. NOBODY can take my skunkie away from me now! Mr. Squeaky is still the king of my heart, but he's no longer the only toy in my life!

Also inside were two kinds of treats. One kind Mama gave only to my brother, because of my delicate tummy. They were chew sticks that he was so happy about! The treat that she let me have were all natural cheeseburger treats. Nummy nummy!

It's Pawty Time!

I do love to Twitter! I have many great friends there- dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, etc. There's even a squirrel to chase and a capybara to give us swimming tips!

Shortly after I starting Twittering, a cat hosted a pawty and raised over $1,200 for a kitten rescue group. How do animals have a party online?

It's simple, really. We go online to Twitter at an agreed time and enjoy conversation with virtual drinks and treats in paw. A few critters took turns as the DJ's using another website while others randomly hosted contests and mailed out prizes to the winners. As usual, a few critters couldn't hold their catnip very well and ended up dancing on tables, but since no one was driving afterwards, we all made it home okay.

The next pawty is tonight, and I'm so excited! It's an island theme- my absolute favorite! This time we'll be raising money for a dog rescue group. I'll be helping to DJ for a few hours and my mama already made a lei for me! She's been helping a few hamsters with their outfits, too.

PAWTY!!!

An Interview with my Mama

My mama's name is Elizabeth, and recently I sat down with her for an interview.

Dixie: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.

Elizabeth: No problem, Dixie Belle. I love chatting with you.

D: First, may I say what a charming house you have here.

E: Thanks, but if by "charming" you mean small, you're right. It was hard to find a nice home that would allow dogs, so I had to compromise on size.

D: Your dogs are that important to you? They were the deciding factor in which home you moved into?

E: Oh, yes! I would have never moved anywhere that wouldn't allow you and your brother Max. You're my only children!

D: And the cats?

E: I consider them to be pets. I care for them, but I don't feel the same connection that you do.

D: I see. Tell me about Max's background.

E: Well, all I know for sure is that when I adopted him 10 years ago, I was told he was about 10 years old.

D: Oh my! He's ancient!

E: Yes, but he's aged rather well. He's actually gotten more mellow and friendly in his senior years.

D: What do you mean by that?

E: When he first moved in with me, he was very distrusting and often aggressive toward strangers. He was also scared of so many things, such as spoons and telephone cords, that I suspected he'd been abused in his previous home.

D: Dear, dear... How did you find him?

E: When I visited the local animal shelter, there were two dogs about the same size and appearance that I liked. I took the first one out for a walk, and she was housebroken, but she showed no interest in me. Then, when I started to take Max out for a walk, he grabbed the leash in his mouth as if he were showing me the way out! It was so cute that the deal was sealed instantly!

D: Was he called Max back then?

E: No, the name he came with was Blackie, but I wanted something to show his personality. To me, the name Max showcased his grumpy old man attitude.

D: Were there any runners up in the names category?

E: He was almost Kirby. It was very close.

D: Kirby? That's a far cry from Max...

E: It refers to his habit of inhaling his food so quickly. Kirby was the brand of vacuum sweeper that I had at the time.

D: Interesting! Thank you so much for your insights. May we meet again sometime to discuss the little princess in your life?

E: Of course, Dixie. I'd love to help out with your blog!

My Favorite Things

My mama and Aunt Jane
Washing cat ears
My Mr. Squeaky collection
Snuggle time
Sitting pretty
My treat jar
Baths
Playing in puddles and creeks
Going for car rides
My brother Max (most of the time)
Zoom-zoom around the sofa
Guarding the front window

It's Bo-bama Time!

No matter what your political stance, it's difficult not to agree that a dog finding a home is a wonderful thing!

The Obama's new dog was originally named Charlie, but renamed Bo by the first daughters. According to CNN, the White House is Bo's fourth home. Our congrats to Bo, now living in what will hopefully be his fur-ever home!

I'm a Happy, Happy Pup!

Oh, what a wonderful day! Mama and Aunt Jane surprised Max and me with a ride in the car to the state park on Easter!

First, I got to ride in the back seat with the window rolled down! Ah, the feeling of fast wind up my nose! (Don't worry, I was safe. I wasn't hanging my head out the window or anything stoooopid)

Then, we walked forever and ever in the biggest field ever! I went fast fast fast because it was so nice out, but Max kept stopping every five feet to sniff things.

It was so pawsome!

Introducing the Quads

One week ago today, Cricket gave birth to four kittens in my dog bed. I didn't mind because I really only ever used the bed to store my Mr. Squeaky collection, and I just love kittens! (see earlier entry on this minor obsession of mine...)

Today my mama took their one week old portraits. The kittens are shown in from oldest to youngest as they appear in the photos.

Precious little babies that I get to kiss and sit with once each day. I'm looking forward to playing hide and seek with them when they're older!

Max's Big Adventure!

This was my brother Max's big adventure to a dog park. It was his first time EVER off leash while outside!

Mr. Squeaky

My Mr. Squeakies are quite literally the only toys I will play with. No rope bones, no stuffed animals, no tennis balls... Just give me another Mr. Squeaky!

They're really called Good Cuz and Bad Cuz, made by the JW Pet Company. Good Cuz's are little rubber balls with feet; Bad Cuz's have horns.

I can kill the squeaker in them in under an hour of chewing, but the balls themselves and the feet have so far remained intact. These things are so durable that the oldest one in my collection is over three years old and still worthy of a good chew now and then!

Is it the rubber texture that I like? The flavor? The shape and sound? (Even though my Mr. Squeakies don't actually squeak anymore, they do make an oddly pleasing suction sound...) I may never know exactly why I'm so obsessed with these little toys, but I do know that Mr. Squeaky is the only man for me!

(No, I don't work for the JW company or in sales or marketing! I just love these toys so much I refuse to bother with anything else...)

Meet Miss Marple

Meet Miss Marple. When her original owner was moved to a nursing home, she was moved to the local animal shelter. She was in shock and not eating. She refused to leave her litter box in the back corner of her cage, although she did welcome hands reaching in to pet her. She's a senior herself, which meant it would have been difficult for her to find a home.

But she came home with Mama and slowly grew accustomed to her new surroundings. She eventually grew brave enough to leave the box in the office and explore the house, and now she loves sitting on the back of the sofa, just out of the dogs' reach. She adores resting on quiet laps, lounging on the unused dining table, and roosting behind mama's head when shes' working on the computer. Her favorite place of all is a little window shelf from which she can see the backyard and creek.

Miss Marple has explored that backyard a little, but she always rushes back into the house as soon as she hears unknown noises. She would rather do her investigating by observing from afar. This makes her name all the more appropriate, I suppose. Mama polled her relatives for name suggestions for a "quiet little old lady who's content to sit back and observe the world" and, while Mable and Tilly were good choices, she is indeed a Miss Marple.

I'm Back!

I haven't written in a while because it's been a busy school year for my mama. My brother Max is a little slower and a little older, but he's still happy and well. Miss Marple, our senior citizen cat, now enjoys sitting on top of the TV cabinet and knocking things off so she has an uncluttered view.

My big adventure has been helping the calico cat with her new litter. Mama has named her Cricket, and she is the same cat who had the other litter written about below. Mama had an appointment for her to be fixed, but by the time the appointment came around, she was already heavily pregnant.

Mama came home from dinner out with friends to find Cricket giving birth in the living room on my dog bed. She already had two, and we helped to comfort her as she had two more. All four kittens are alive and will be one week old Monday! I'm allowed to give each one a kiss each day, but I have to wait until they're older before I can give them a full bath.

Being This Adorable Is Exhausting...

What a tiring life I lead... Each day is full of backbreaking chores:

*Wash the cat's ears over and over and over
*Remind Mama I haven't eaten in several weeks
*Sound the alarm when cyclists pedal by the house
*Fertilize the creek bank
*Cuddle up with Aunt Jane as she naps
*Scare away the men who steal our letters and our trash
*Pose for photo shoots and treat opportunities

...No wonder why I snore even when I'm awake!

My Big Brother

Meet Max, my older brother. He's a Scottie mix who was also adopted from a shelter and he's ancient! It's a little hard for him to get around these days, but he still keeps Miss Marple on her toes!

Max loves to sleep, tease the cats, and be brushed. He adores his brush! He also loves food, so much so that his name was almost Kirby (a vacuum sweeper brand) because of how quickly he inhales his meals. And he's a stickler for schedules. When Mama stays up late or doesn't wake up early, he lets her know he doesn't approve...

Max doesn't appreciate a good wade in the creek like I do, but he does like long, slow walks full of sniffing and snorting. When he gets excited, he says "Aroo!" instead of barking.

He can be a bit grouchy with strangers, but with people he trusts, he's a big mushy baby boy. We act like we don't like each other sometimes, but Mama's caught us being nice once in a while.

Kittens!

There are kittens here again!

I love kittens! I love to wash their ears and kiss their faces and wash their ears and sniff their fur and wash their ears!

This time there are only two, but they are the cutest little calico babies you've ever seen.

I think the tabby mama cat who had kittens in the garage over the summer told the new calico mama that this is a good house. They found out that my mama would worry about them living so close to the road so she'd let them stay safely in the garage until they're old enough to find homes.

Oh, the joy! Kittens!

A Tragic Tale...

We moved into this little house in the spring, and Max and Miss Marple and I worked so hard to get it just the way we like it. Our scents were in just the right places- by the doors, behind the sofa, and in front of each of the bedrooms.

But this weekend those two humans destroyed all of our progress. They brought home something that looked and sounded like a vacuum sweeper, but instead just sucking up pet hair and fall leaves, it shampooed the carpets! Months of work was gone in just 24 hours!

Sigh... I think I'll go mope for a while...

It's All About Me!

Where to begin?

My name is Dixie, and I'm a princess from Indiana.

I live with my older brother, Max, my older sister, Miss Marple (she's a feline, but I think I'm part feline, too, so I don't mind), my aunt Jane, and my Mama. We have a little house by a creek and there are tons of stray cats for me to play with.

This blog will be about my fabulous life and all of my adventures. Of course, this will make for fascinating reading. Who wouldn't want to read about me?