Black Doggerel

( this is what Spike is looking at )

My cats would like all of your cats to know that smoked salmon taramosalata is really, really good. Particularly in view of the fact that they got to have a bit and your cats didn't.

( Strange things have been afoot at Black Dog HQ )

up next: dog vids!

My Squish dog is a big damn hero.

I was grilling burgers for lunch, and I opened the kitchen window just for a few minutes because the grill makes the kitchen very smoky. This was a very stupid mistake, and I will not ever do it again unless both cats are safely shut in the bedroom. Especially as I am not as good at watching the kitchen door as I think I am.

I did not see Cassie heading for the kitchen window. But Squish's frantic alert bark told me she was there, just in time to stop her taking a header out into the wild blue yonder.

I don't deserve dogs this good.

( Five large cat pictures under the cut )

Naamah is an awkward bastard to photograph, because she never keeps still and she's fascinated by anything I'm doing. I have about 2000 blurred close-ups of her nose butting the camera lens and almost none of her doing anything else.

This morning I was woken up by Squish whining his head off in tattletale mode. He had woken me up to tell me that Spike had realised he could open the cat room door. He can only open it from one side, though, so he had shut himself in with the cats and couldn't get out. He didn't consider this a problem, but Squish and the cats were less than pleased. Bloody collie.

Note to self: when keeping dog treats handy on your desk for reminding Spike why he shouldn't bark out of the window, a Ziploc bag is not sufficient. Find a screw top jar. That cat doesn't need to be any fatter.

Still hurty fingers and low on ideas, so I bring you ( Catpics! )

I've missed having a camera.

More than half done, yayy! The coffee is kicking in. If only the anti-inflammatories would too. Voiceposts saved my arse last year. I may die if i can't do them this year.

James asks: "How is the Monochrome Mom?"

( She's on my lap and purring. This picture taken less than a minute ago. )

I love Cassie. Cats are annoying creatures by nature, but she's remarkably un-annoying as cats go. Spike adores her passionately. She likes her belly rubbed and she knows how to keep her claws in when she massages me. She's on my lap still, as I type.

Edited to add: My gods, I look like shit, don't I?