Minnie with those innocent yellow eyes. Minnie who is not so innocent. It took her one day to thoroughly terrorize all of the other cats in the house.

Yep, Minnie established herself as Queen of the House in record time. I was so optimistic. When she was out in the backyard, she would charge at any of the cats as they came out the tunnel to the cat enclosure. Dusky and Kaboodle got so they wouldn't go out if she was out there. Butterball, though, wasn't about to let one female hellcat spoil his day to be outside. The first four years of his life he was a total housecat. He'd meowrl at Minnie but he would also stand up to her. I thought that once we brought her in the house that she would be more intimidated and the other cats would stand up for their territory. Nope. Not so. They relinquished it quickly the first time that Minnie ferociously chased them downstairs. That was a funny sight but I felt pretty bad for them. This is Minnie patroling the hallway the easy way. Through the cathole in the computer room door.

Butterball hid in the Muckheads' bedroom downstairs while Kaboodle and Dusky headed for the outdoors. And there they stayed pretty much for four days. Well, Dusky did. I was seriously wondering if the poor cat had eaten any food for four days. Kaboodle spent most her time outside, too, but for two days she hid on one of the dining chairs that was pushed under the dining table. At least I could pet her there.

By the third day, Butterball came to grips with it. He came upstairs while Minnie was in the computer room because he wanted to be petted by Amy who was also in there. Amy petted him and he became very relaxed right in front of Minnie. Minnie just sat and watched him. Cats can tell who is really a threat and who isn't and Minnie could tell that Butterball just wasn't a challenge. Butterball even walked right by Minnie on his way out without giving a quiver or a look her way. Minnie very soon decided that she liked this cozy scratching post house that the other cats ignored.

Later that night we noticed that Minnie was scratching at her ears and shaking her head again. Looked like the ear mites didn't get totally exterminated after all. I called the vet and scheduled another appointment for a shot for March 1, and put Minnie back out on the breezeway. Kaboodle came timidly up the steps within minutes after that. Now how she knew M was out of the house, I don't know but K was right upstairs after M had been evicted. K went around looking wide-eyed and warily everywhere before she was satisfied that the coast was clear especially when I showed her that M was out on the breezeway again. It wasn't more than fifteen minutes later that Dusky appeared in the hallway. How the hell he knew that fast, I don't know unless cats really do talk to one another.

So, they've been in the land of luxury again and Minnie has been in exile and she doesn't understand why. She was really enjoying it in here, sleeping on all the favorite spots that the other three slept on, and following me around from room to room like she was my only cat. And, well, it felt like she was because the others weren't coming in. Now I don't really know what I'm going to do. It was breaking my heart to see my other cats so distraught. The vet said to give them a couple of weeks and they'll probably work it out. I tend to agree with that assessment but...what if they never work it out. I might have to find Minnie a home. She's a really sweet cat but she appears to be a loner.

It's been awhile since I put up any pictures of Baby Muckhead. Eva, you were asking for more so here they are. She's nearly five months old. This first picture is of Addy eating her first vegetable. Can you imagine avocado as a first baby food? This was a month ago. They started her on the usual rice cereal and after she had taken to that pretty well, they tried her first vegetable. I guess starting with avocado is the thing nowadays, especially if you're trying to feed them more organically. She loved it. Avocados are bland enough to be a perfect first food so I learned.

This is Addy at 4 1/2 months old. She's now at the stage where she's putting everything in her mouth to test it out. She seemed to be really pleased with this toy that day. She's also developed into being a little thumbsucker. I guess she was sucking her thumb in the womb. That was seen on an ultrasound picture. She wasn't so keen on it the first couple of months but gradually she has developed quite a penchant for it. None of my kids sucked their thumbs (except Amy for one week) so this is fascinating to see Addy doing it.

And, lastly, we have the snowbear picture for the 2004 winter season. Bill thought he wasn't going to do it this year because the cold weather and exertion gets him to wheezing and gasping for breath. But he came home from work one day in January and since the snow had been melting a bit he just couldn't let the opportunity pass him by.

Say hi to Kelvin (who, unfortunately met his demise last week what with the coming of warmer temperatures.