Weekend Open Thread

Happy weekend, Cutetropolitans! So we’re all recovered from Thanksgiving by now, and with luck we all avoided squabbling with family — much like Seymour and Nefertiti, captured in a rare moment of domestic calm by reader Squiddy.

I’m more into the squirrels…

Says she: “This might be the closest they have ever been without growling. Thank heaven for all the squirrels and birds frolicking in my yard!”

… and he’s got this thing for birds, so we’re cool.
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32 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread

  1. Birdcage November 24, 2018 / 8:11 am

    I did it, I admit. My Cutetropolis calendar arrived and I was going to leave it in the shipping box until Jan 1 so that it was all a surprise and a gift for myself. And then I thought, “Well, it would be OK to enjoy the COVER!” So I took it out of the box and then I found myself sorely tempted and the temptation gave rise to an uncontrollable urge. And the urge became a longing, and the longing? A craving. And I am weak. Weaker than most. It feels good to get it off my chest, frankly. I couldn’t resist it: I flipped through the entire calendar. THERE I SAID IT. My name is Birdcage and I’m a Cutetropian. And it was sooooooo worth it and I have no regrets. Because the calendar is A-mazing.

  2. Dubravkamcvmd November 24, 2018 / 8:18 am

    Wow they are BEAUTIFUL! Is Seymour on the left?

    • Squiddy November 24, 2018 / 8:36 am

      Seymour is on the right and Nefertiti is on the left. My Thanksgiving present from the two of them came when Nef decided that she loved me more than she hated her brother and joined him on my lap. I didn’t dare move or cough. It was like being in (completely immobile) heaven.

      • Dubravkamcvmd November 24, 2018 / 8:55 am

        Thanks and rats! I asked because I had a strong sense that the cat on the left was male and the one on the right female and I hoped to learn that I somehow had special insight. Hah!
        I remember the (immobile) heaven you describe. Minkette and Wacket would both cuddle with me only under extremely rare circumstances understood only by them. Didn’t last long either. Sigh.

        • Squiddy November 24, 2018 / 9:01 am

          You can tell that she is the dominant cat by the indifference in her eyes and the look of sheer terror in his. He can’t believe this moment is happening either.

          • debg November 24, 2018 / 9:59 am

            Squiddy, they’re gorgeous and hilarious. I’m so glad you got to go to immobile heaven for a bit! The same thing happens when Scorpius lies down the on the bed (frequent) and actually lets me pet him (very very rare)–I have to be super-careful not to spook him.

  3. N. Fritz November 24, 2018 / 8:33 am

    Happy Post-Thanksgiving Weekend, Cutetropolipeeps! It’s okay, Birdcage… We’ve all got our weaknesses. Last week I went through a big bag of Twiglets in about 4 days. Can’t have ’em in the house. Same with Pop Tarts. I have absolutely no self-control. And the Cutetropolis calendar is calorie-free, so there’s that!

    I wish I had a couple of floofy kitties to watch birds and squirrels with! When my dad remarried at 75, he and my stepmom moved into a new house with their two cats who got along for about 10 days. After that, they had to be kept in separate areas of the house or Gracie would have torn Georgia apart . Hopefully they’re getting along with each other now over the Rainbow Bridge.

  4. AJ November 24, 2018 / 8:43 am

    They are gorgeous!! And congrats Squiddy that you had them both on your lap, at least for a little while. I have my foster kitty curled up on my lap right now and I know all about the not moving.

  5. debg November 24, 2018 / 10:07 am

    Happy post-tryptophan coma, everybody.

    I’ve been busy this weekend: peanut brittle, toffee in dark chocolate, vanilla fudge, classic dark truffles, honey lavender truffles, dulce de leche truffles are all done! I’ll try to make peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge before this weekend wraps up. More couverture chocolate will arrive this week, and I’ll finish all the candy next weekend.

    I’m also working on the bathroom today, with help from a super-handy coworker who’s not afraid to go up into my attic. Nothing on earth would get me up there.

    And I went to see Fantastic Beasts last night. It was wonderful and I can’t wait for it to come out on bluray so I can rewatch. Rowling really has a gift for complex, layered stories.

    Hope you’re all enjoying a cuddly weekend with anipals.

    • dubravkamcvmd November 24, 2018 / 12:22 pm

      This may seem like a weird question, but WHY are you making all that wonderful-sounding chocolate? Do you give it as gifts?

      • Duckie ? November 24, 2018 / 12:25 pm

        So not a weird question!

      • N. Fritz November 24, 2018 / 12:59 pm

        More to the point: is there a special assortment for Cutetropolitans?!

        • debg November 24, 2018 / 2:21 pm

          Candy goes to friends and family as gifts. This way I don’t have to go shopping! Plus I get to spend hours in the kitchen, using sugar as an artistic medium. Who doesn’t love calories, amirite?

          N. Fritz, you’re all welcome over to my house for candy. Stop by any time.

  6. allein ? November 24, 2018 / 10:25 am

    Turn that camera off; we’re trying to watch our show!

    Birdcage, I always read the whole calendar. I know I won’t remember it in a month or two, anyway.
    N. Fritz, I have been tempted by chocolate frosted Pop Tarts the last couple times I was at the store. I have been good and refrained from buying them.

    Today I need to do some laundry and change my bed to the t-shirt sheets. My bed is ice cold!

    • debg November 24, 2018 / 10:42 am

      Electric mattress pad. Turn it on 15 minutes before you go to bed to warm everything up, then turn it off. Best thing ever.

      • allein ? November 24, 2018 / 11:22 am

        I have one of those microwaveable neck wraps, which I have been known to heat up and put in my bed while I brush my teeth. I usually get too warm with flannel sheets but I find the jersey knit ones are good year round. They don’t get ice cold to the touch in winter but they’re light enough that I don’t get too warm in the summer. I splurged on a set to go with my bedspread (also splurgy) when I bought my bed and they lasted me about 8 years. I finally had to toss them last year and got two new sets for Christmas (Pure Beech from Bed Bath & Beyond).

  7. Duckie ? November 24, 2018 / 11:49 am

    I could use a couple of gorgeous kitties right now. I need an excuse to sit all day, and haven’t found one that I can justify to myself yet.
    I raided the US library website last night and found out that I can request only seventy five items at a time. I wonder what the take out limit is.
    Not much happening chez Duckie this week. My mind is somewhat focused on the upcoming doctors visits. Although I could be distracted if I won a million dollars…
    I have several of those magic bag things that I microwave in the winter for my feet in bed, and freeze in the summer for the back of my neck in bed. Hubby has much to say about my cold feet in winter, usually accompanied by a piercing shriek. And footy pajamas don’t always help.
    We are going to see Fantastic Creatures this afternoon, and tomorrow hubby is getting together with the male half of his family for the Super Bowl thing. I’m spending the afternoon window shopping with a friend.
    Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

  8. Not That Mike The Other Mike November 24, 2018 / 11:59 am

    Lovely kitties, Squiddy. Thanks again for sharing!

    Had a pleasant Thanksgiving dinner with nearby family, playing with kids and with Sam the pug, who is always happy to see me.

    Ani says hello. Here she is enjoying a plant I just transferred into an old pot.

    Shorty the neighbor cat has been a frequent visitor recently, ever since I tossed a small rug into the chair that Ani often sits in and under when she’s on the porch.

    • dubravkamcvmd November 24, 2018 / 12:27 pm

      Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving! Thanks for the great pictures. Was the plant meant for Ani’s enjoyment or do you feel C’est la vie? Shorty looks really happy and comfortable. Will you arrange a reunion with Ani? If so, pictures please!

      • Not That Mike The Other Mike November 24, 2018 / 2:49 pm

        The plant was a gift for me, but Ani started nibbling on it as soon as I got it home, so I left it where she can reach it during her morning runs outside.

        Ani and Shorty aren’t quite friends. Although Ani is curious about the neighborhood cats and likes to follow them around, when she and Shorty are on the porch together she occasionally grunts at him. This makes Shorty understandably nervous.

        • dubravkamcvmd November 25, 2018 / 8:23 am

          It’s hard to tell from the pictures if Ani is bigger than Shorty. Is Ani bigger than the cats so she’s confident following them around? From what everyone who has them says, bunnies seem to be pretty feisty, although, proverbially, they are timid.

          • Not That Mike The Other Mike November 25, 2018 / 9:12 am

            Ani appears slightly smaller than the cats when sitting. When she lies down, she’s about as long as a cat. I assume she’s a medium-sized rabbit.

    • AJ November 25, 2018 / 2:07 pm

      Kinda late to the party but Ani and Shorty are just adorable. Love the coloring on both, Ani’s fur looks soo soft.

  9. Emsthemonster November 24, 2018 / 3:06 pm

    Gorgeous kitties! I almost feel the soft fur looking at them.
    I am also happy to see Mike’s furkids, Shorty looks so tiny in that chair, beautiful cat.

  10. Carlotta November 24, 2018 / 7:22 pm

    I’ll try again to post a comment! Lost it the first try.
    Thanks for sympathy for my broken shoulder. I’ve been back to work for two weeks now. The first week was six days in a row I wasn’t quite ready for. My manager is one of those energetic people who don’t get us low-energy folk.
    Our mama-cat’s third and last son died last weekend. He died at home and she didn’t freak like when his brother went to the vet and didn’t come back. She *is* acting-out this weekend. Poor kitty. He was 13 years old, which is not bad for a cat-boy.
    Black Friday is goody-basket shopping day for me. There’s no-one in the grocery stores! And the relatives seem to enjoy the junk/convenience/luxury foods.
    For Thanksgiving (also my birthday) I didn’t want to cook, didn’t want turkey; I wanted Italian! Not open Thanksgiving.
    We’re about to go now!!!
    Lots of ups and downs!

    • Debg November 24, 2018 / 8:39 pm

      Carlotta, hope your shoulder is starting to feel better. So sorry about your kitty.

    • 6puppers November 24, 2018 / 8:44 pm

      So sorry about your kitty and your shoulder. We could do without so many downs (in the ups and downs) Hope you are healing well.

  11. 6puppers November 24, 2018 / 8:46 pm

    Beautiful Kitties, Squiddy!

  12. Carlotta November 25, 2018 / 1:09 am

    Thanks 6PUPPERS, yes, shoulder is healing well.

      • murkle46 November 25, 2018 / 12:43 pm

        what really was going on

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