MY TOYS!

I'm taking my ball and going home then!

Number two!!!

How effing cute that Bob has his own BONE. LOVE it.

Number 3.

Can we come over and play, Miss Sobakowa? We are nice Southern gentlemen.

Finnegan & Buddy

Nuts.
I love torties. They're the most neurotic cats around.

Bob is an oddball. The story of Bob and his rawhide bone love is here:

http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2005/06/a_loot_n_a_holl.php

You have to scroll way down, it's at the bottom of the story.

i love that bob, your cat, has a dog bone.

L.O.V.E that cat toy protection system...
and always love Bob's rawhide fetish.
I can just see Soba thinking,"they're mine, all mine.. back off"

Share? What do you mean? Dictators do not share!

Tortie girls, nothing like them!

ha!

My cats all also know their names, which I thought was perfectly normal until Drew was here and pointed out to me that this is in fact not the norm with cats.

And they all come when called. Except Sobakowa, who will sometimes look at me with great disdain when I call her, as if to say, "Woman please. I will come to you when I want your adoration."

LOL! That's A LOT of toys!

Laurie:
Glad someone else's living room floor looks like a nursery.lol. American Water Spaniel with stuffed pheasant, hedgehog, Tweety bird, 2 bears, and many McD's little beanies..every day a new favorite.

napoleon comes when i call him. the girls less.

what about Frankie? Is she camera shy? I notice there aren't many pics of her. Is she just handmaiden to Soba or what?

I think the terror alert system should be in cat colors/types! That would be too funny. Of course, like most gov't offices we've renamed the colors anyway as a way to take back the madness.

Normally, I try to keep the toys contained in that wooden bowl on the left side of the pic. But every Friday after work, I dump all the toys out on the floor, because I figure if it's Friday for me then the cats ought to have a kick-off-your-shoes experience as well.

Because I am maybe crazy.

But the other night I had moved the toy bowl to get a book off the bookshelf and before long the whole thing was tumped over and soba was lording over the toy pile. She is something else.

I bet she'd like a playmate named "Napoleon"!

Frankie is obsessed with being petted ALL THE TIME, so she rarely sits still. If I get the camera out she's just rubbing up against it. I really only get her photographed when she's half asleep.

My boys will come when I call them, particularly if I say "lap" or "come talk to mama". They also know "treat", and thank heavens they do, since Pan's "treat" conceals his heart medication, and he eats it without complaint. (Love those Pill Pockets!)

A playmate named Napolean? I think you should rename HER Napolean! Look at her with those toys- "You try to grab any of these, and I shall knock you straight through to tomorrow, sucka"

My 10 month old Tortie would like to know if Soba can give her Dictator lessons. She's being oppressed by a 14 lb Siamese and two overbearing manxes. She believes that it's her destiny to rule the world (or at least her portion of it) but doesn't know how to get those other furry things out of her way. Can Soba offer any insight?

I hear soba had a myspace page somewhere, maybe that would help ;)

My dictator kitty is a calico named Qat (scrabble word meaning evergreen shrub- don't blame me, I got her from a rescue group and she already knew her name, which was Cat, I just had to change it up a little). She rules over the Tortie we have AND the two dogs, and did I mention she's the smallest animal in the house? They walk by her and she starts the boxing. Bap! Bap! She's mean.

the MySpace page is hilarious!!

Ha! So very funny. I love toy forts.

If my cat sees this pic, he is going to think he is seriously toy deprived!

Is one of her cat toys shaped like a person there?

I never thought cats knowing there names was odd- all the cats I have had have known their names and come when called, including my current cat, Milo (in fact he's better about coming when called then the dog)

I love that Bob has a bone. A bone! That is so awesome.

Ummm. Bob's bone?? With his one fang? Hmmm, he really isn't too bright, is he?

Puddy is the world champion is the cosmetic sponge toss. I keep a bag by the back door for him. All I have to do is rattle the plastic bag and he comes running. He will play with one sponge for days until it is dirty brown and crumbling. simple pleasures are the best!

Roy is the one-fanged cat, Krista, but it's easy to mix up him and Roy in pics because Bob is light-colored, too. Bob is the goober with all his teeth and not much between the furry ears ;) I call him "puppy" and he answers to it!

That reminds me of my puppy-girl and her "Babies"!! My boy likes the tennis balls only, but she gets her toys and carries them around for days - they are even all named! Must be a "chick" thing...

Hmm...my Gracie doesn't know her name (or if she does, she just ignores me when I say it). But my old cat Merlyn knew hers. She was a smartie.

And yeah...that's a lot of toys. Now I feel like I need more for Gracie.

Krista, Bob is dim, but sweet.

Roy is noble, and has one fang.

I guess since I don't have real children, I spoil my cats rotten with toys. whoops.

Arg! You said "Friday" and I was like Yeah! Friday! And then I remembered it's only Thursday. Who came up with a five day work-week anyway...

My black cat Kouros, he has one very special toy. I call it Hedgehog (because it is), and I call Hedgehog "him." Kouros has a very special relationship with his toy- even though he's been fixed, he still, uh, falls in love with Hedgehog. He makes lots of noise, then he tries to make lots of love. Kouros has had one previous relationship, with a beanie Jawa we named Ootini after the sound Jawas make (of course), and we called Ootini "her." I guess that means my cat swings both ways.

Oh, by the way, Ootini had to go on vacation to the cabinet above the refrigerator. Maybe someday I can reintroduce Ootini and they can have a joyful reunion- or maybe create a soap opera-esque love triangle between Kouros, Ootini and Hedgehog.

I was like 'Hey, what's my Katie doing in someone else's blog post!!!' and then I realized that the Tortie had two ears. :)

Ya know, I think Bob may be smarter than we realize. His bone was the only one that Soba did not claim as her own.

Went back and read the catdog rawhide bone story - what a hoot. And how nice to see that a friend of mine (Jane) was one of your benefactors. And after reading that Travel Time Index pdf you posted I will never doubt again that L.A. is #1 in gridlock. But I find it hard to believe that D.C. metro is #5. That can't be right!

Two questions - A. does The Mighty Soba actually *play* with the toys? Or does she simply prevent others from doing so? (my money's on the latter) And (2), where in the HECK did Bob get a rawhide bone?! *Someone* had to get that for him!!!

Monkey, if you scroll up in the comments there's the URL for the bob-bone story. He's a dork, LOL.

Soba doesn't actually play with the toys. She merely governs them.

I love the look of evil in her eye.

My yorkie poo, Baxter, is ready to be one of Soba's generals. He's fierce, fiesty, and completely oblivious to the fact that he is only six pounds.

and he too has a web page - he's blogging -
http://baxterwatch.blogspot.com

the first week I brought him home (All 2 pounds) my cats brought me a dead squirrel - I was trying to figure out if it was a peace offering (please mom, we'll bring you things, just get rid of the dog) or a threat (if you do not keep him contained, this is what will be left of him.)

Mine looks just like yours and they're all Territortial!

This looks like an after picture for a stuffonmycat.com photo shoot. Hilarious!

The Bob-bone story made me laugh lots; thank you for sharing it. :)

I have a cat that looks just like your cat. I call her "peanut butter cup" because even though she is a tortie, she has alot of chocolate color with a peanut butter color "swirl" right on the side of her mouth! Ha. To change the subject for a moment, can I ask you a question about the circular needle that you use on your roll brim hat pattern? I bought a size 11 circular needle (lion brand), like you said the pattern called for, and I noticed that the "cable" part of the needle is very thin. I've never used a circular needle before and I wondered how can you put your stitches on something that thin? I didn't know how to e-mail you with this question so I'm writing it along with my comment on your post for today. Thank you, Robin

Hey Robin!

The circular needle is kind of weird to get used to.

The thing is, uyou basically make your stitches (knit them) with the wooden or metal "ends" of the circular needles. They're like shorter knitting needles.

Then the cord which attaches the needles is where all the stitches hang out and rest as you work your way around. Surprisingly, they retain their shape just fine.

Circular knitting is one of those things that I think you just have to actually *do* before it makes real sense. But trust me, it does work!

Here's a little info on knitting in the round, hope it's helpful:

http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2006/02/may_the_circle.php

Also, Robin, the Brangelina hat pattern has a lot of pictures of knitting in the round and a lot of links to other hat-related stuff, if that helps:

http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2006/04/brangelina_1.php

The only name my dog answers to is "Dinner!"

My cats all know their names but only come to the sound of me shaking their bags of Temptations snacks!

Oh, sorry... you have to cut/paste those links in your web browser. I have links turned off in the comments because of the spam issues. Comment spam is so gross. I mean, really!

And hey ya'll.

Is it Friday yet?

OH!! Liz, speaking of snacks!!

Has anyone else tried the feline greenies on their cats? My cats usually sit and sniff in disdain at cat treats. But my goodness they can snarf up some greenies.

Stop it with the Friday business already! I'm just trying to make it to 2:30, when I can LEAVE (yay!) to go to the dentist (boo!!!) across the street from Stitches del Corazon (yay!!!), but I can't buy nuthin cuz I'm broke (BOOOOO!!!!!)

And you keep making me think it's friday (YAY!!!) when it's really only Thursday (BOOOO!!! AND A DOUBLE HEX ON YOU!!!!!)

I have purchased Muffin, my tortie who looks exactly like Soba, so many toys over the years and she just will not play with them. She is much happier with the collar of a milk bottle lid, a rubber band, a crumpled cigarette pack, and her very favorite toy...the ball of yarn that is obviously hiding in my crocheting bag planning her immediate demise. She is so intent on finding it and killing it that she has almost ripped my canvas bag. If I give her her very own ball of yarn she looks at me like I'm nuts. Apparently I should know that the only IMPORTANT ball of yarn is the one hiding in my bag, that I don't want her to play with. She is also very fond of batting the paper if I try to read it in her presence.

Laurie,

Oh yeah. Let it be Friday NOW. Please!

I had the honor of adopting an abused Tortie/Manx, who became Bobbie McGee. She was so small and fierce that I had to confine her to her own 'apartment' in the basement for a couple of weeks until she became acclimated to humane treatment. She was a talker, and eventually became very much the 'hostess' when people came to visit. She was also the nemesis of the all the neighborhood cats. When she came barreling down the driveway, other cats ran for cover. But she loved to play hostess to my friends, particularly the males. Go figure. To Bobbie - who has since gone over the Rainbow Bridge - Torties rule (especially when they are Manx!!)

Can I tell you how much I love this cat?!?! Oh and same with Dumb-as-a-stump-Bob. He's got his looks, who needs brains?!?!?!

"Tumped over." I love that expression. Because no one in command would say "tumped over." Only people with warm hearts would say tumped over. My hot chocolate tumped over. Never, "Dahling, my mahtini just tumped over....." Who would give a dahn?

Love you,
V

Your cat photos are becoming my favorite blog feature ever.

heheheh Vicki.... yup. Things around me do tend to tump over a lot. I am not in command. 'Tis true!

My Cirrus (RIP) would "hatch" tennis balls out in the driveway. So darn cute, as he didn't usually ever play or do cute things. After sitting on it for a long time, he'd flop over and rabbit-kick it to death, then get up and walk away all triumphant.

Laurie, the cat across the street is a female tortie, and is the roundy-est, fuzzy-est cat I have ever known. Everything about her is round and fuzzy. When she is pissed off and fluffs out her tail, it looks like a sea cucumber, it's so fat and non-pointy! Is Soba very round?

Soba is entirely round, LOL.

Awwww! Although, I would be finding something else to play with, personally - Soba looks more than ready to defend her pile o' toys!

Back to the Greenies - my cat loves them. Sure doesn't seems like she chews them at all though... (She also likes chicken breast cold cuts...as I found out the other night. Not sure I should be giving her any of that though...)

Hey... this is off topic, but I was just reading my new issue of Interweave Knits and saw that they quated you! I was so excited, I just had to make sure you knew that.

Are you sure she's not a "Dominator" instead of a Dictator?! I would love to take pictures of Mr. AceMan...the only pictures I have of him are while he's sleeping!

Laurie,

I need to ask you something....can I email you at your crazy tourist address??

Don't worry; I'm not asking for money, trying to convert you, selling OxyContin, etc. It's about a package I want to send you (and I promise it won't be meowing!)

Liz

Every supreme ruler needs subjects.

She is very obviously, the Head Cat in Charge.

Soba is obviously a follower of my motto -- What's mine is mine. What's yours is mine. It's all mine. As empress of the universe, I think I may have to give dominion of the Earth to Soba.

Hehe. That's fantastic. My tortie Phoebe does the death stare and probably would have all the toys too.

It's wrong of me to laugh (with delight) at the Soba photos, isn't it?

LOL. All your toys are belong to Sobakowa.