Weekend Open Thread

It’s a chilly mid-winter Caturday, and today’s visitor is decidedly not a fan, as reader N. Fritz explains:

We’ve had some snow in Vienna and Mutz (rhymes with “puts”) is having none of it! At 16 years old he prefers to hang out inside, under the radiator or in the stream of warm air from the heat pump. Best of all, he likes his “grass sack,” which reminded him of carefree summer days when he could lie outside in the sun!

Black and white cat curls up on a blanket with a printed pattern of green grass.
Normally, I don’t play on artificial turf..
Same cat
… but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Bonus Cuteness!

Muppet2171 shares “Miss Roxie being cute as she does. She’s good at it.”

Cute brown dog lies on blanket and looks at camera
Yes…
Same dog, a little closer
… yes I am.
You already voted!

45 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread

  1. 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 8:12 am

    At the human equivalent of a 16 yo cat, I too would not want to go out in the cold!
    Is Miss Roxie a Corgi/Beagle mix? She IS very cute!

    • Muppet2171 December 30, 2023 / 10:41 am

      Actually, she’s a dachshund beagle mix.

      • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 1:19 pm

        That works! Short legs and the ears😁

  2. allein 🐾 December 30, 2023 / 8:46 am

    Good morning, Mutz and Miss Roxie. Mutz looks very cozy and yes, Miss Roxie, you are very good at being cute.

    I have no plans for NYE…usually go to my friend’s but she hasn’t said anything, so…. I have mixed feelings about that but I have to work this weekend, anyway. Christmas dinner inspired me to try out Wegmans’ frozen manicotti so maybe I’ll make some of that.

    Who let the air out of this adorable fuzzy balloon?

    • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 1:20 pm

      That is one loooong “ mew”!

  3. Georgiana December 30, 2023 / 8:59 am

    I totally agree with Mutz I much prefer to stay inside where it’s warm and I bet the cute Miss Roxie also likes the be comfy.

    It’s been a very strange winter here so far this year, we had no snow at all for Christmas and there’s nothing in the forecast for New Year either. Instead we had rain and the kind of humid cold that gets into your bones and makes my joints hurt, or maybe I’m just old.

    I think I’ll go back to bed, have a good day everyone.

    • allein 🐾 December 30, 2023 / 9:01 am

      It was like 50 degrees the last couple days… today’s high is supposed to be 45.

  4. Ricky & Bibi's Mom December 30, 2023 / 9:37 am

    Mutz and Roxie are both adorable, and also very sensible. I find uncooperative weather a nuisance when I want to take long walks with Bibi. Neither of us enjoys the cold and damp. So much for commitment, I guess!

    My NYE plans have been cancelled owing to sickness and exhaustion on the part of the hosts. This is a good reason, but what am I supposed to do with all the bubbly?

    The weather was *just enough* warmer and drier last week, and one of Bibi’s many new subjects took this picture of Her Majesty:

    Bibi in Central Park 2023-12-25

    • DEBG December 30, 2023 / 11:41 am

      Such a sweet face.

    • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 1:23 pm

      So cute!

      • Ricky & Bibi's Mom December 30, 2023 / 5:30 pm

        Aww, thanks, guys! She makes me happy.

        • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 6:27 pm

          Yep, that’s her job!😊

  5. allein 🐾 December 30, 2023 / 9:48 am

    Need a new shower curtain?

    • Ricky & Bibi's Mom December 30, 2023 / 10:03 am

      It’s raining cats and cats!

    • Alice Shortcake December 30, 2023 / 10:12 am

      Mutz reminds me of my first cat Tiddles, a feral who wandered round my grandparents’ garden in Bradford. Miss Roxie looks like a smaller version of her canine sister Flossie. And that kitten could earn a good living as a fire alarm!

      We’re having some weird weather in England. It’s been very windy in the York area but Manchester experienced a very localized tornado (!) which severely damaged some houses.

      As 2024 approaches I’d like to make a confession: one of my biggest internet pleasures of the year has been watching American court hearings via Zoom. It never ceases to amaze me that defendants Zoom in whilst lying in bed, having their hair done, wandering through an airport, pretending to be in Alaska whilst on the run from Florida – this one was arrested on camera – and, in one mind-boggling case, PADDLING A KAYAK. In fact, I watch so much true crime stuff that by this time next year I will be able to style myself Alice Shortcake Esquire.

      • DEBG December 30, 2023 / 11:30 am

        Alice, your confession has made me very happy. Thanks for sharing.

    • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 6:30 pm

      Where did you find this? Did it say how much? My niece would die for this!

  6. AJ December 30, 2023 / 11:07 am

    Oh my god, so much cuteness today! Handsome Mutz, adorable Miss Roxie and Allein’s wonderful video finds. Cool and damp here, expecting rain for the next two days. Now off to breakfast and maybe some window shopping at the local mall.

  7. SoccerSue December 30, 2023 / 11:23 am

    Happy New Year’s Eve Eve! 😀 Going into the office this morning to get caught up before I go back on Tuesday, since I’ve been off all week. It’s either that, or stay until 8 p.m. on Tuesday- no thanks! Going to meet with a friend for lunch and shopping afterwards.

    Wanna see something super, super cute?? I checked our trail camera yesterday- we live on 3.5 acres in the woods, and the last few times I’ve checked it, there has been a bobcat in at least one of the videos it took. Yesterday, there were TWO! And one of them was CHIRPING! And there was PURRING!! (Turn the volume up 😀 )




    • allein 🐾 December 30, 2023 / 11:29 am

      ❤❤❤❤❤

    • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 1:27 pm

      How sweet! How lucky you are to have this kind of land around you☺️

    • AJ December 30, 2023 / 3:21 pm

      Fantastic and so cool! The only wildlife I have is a skunk and 2 neighborhood cats that wander through occasionally.

    • Ricky & Bibi's Mom December 30, 2023 / 5:24 pm

      How lovely!

    • fkaWaldenPond December 30, 2023 / 5:48 pm

      AAAWWWW! How special and precious is that! Wow, thank you so much for sharing this Sue. Happy New Year 🙂

  8. allein 🐾 December 30, 2023 / 11:34 am

    Thinking about stepping down from being an adult, I’m just not in the right headspace for this position right now. I really appreciate the opportunity though.

  9. DEBG December 30, 2023 / 11:40 am

    Y’all are on fire today! First sweet Mutz and Roxie, then bonus photos, vids, things to buy. I’m in heaven. Soccersue, the last moment where bobcat is getting down to business, had me howling. Love the chirping and purring–cats are cats, no matter what.

    I took Tuesday off so I get another long weekend. The weather today will be beautiful–sunny and in the mid-50s–so I’m planning a walk around the (very small) lake this afternoon. No plans for NYE, as usual, and I always love planning my New Year’s Day mindfulness rituals.

    I finished my proof-of-concept handwoven vest last weekend. If I can get some good photos, I’ll try to share them later today. It’s handwoven fabric made from my handspun yarn, then the fabric was lightly fulled and sewn into a drapey vest. I love wearing it around the house for warmth. Now I’m about to start something similar for my bio-dad, made from that handspun brown yarn you all liked so much. He gets cold, even in Sacramento.

    Hugs to you all! I look forward to sharing the new year with you.

      • AJ December 30, 2023 / 3:19 pm

        Marvelous! That looks so cozy. As I’ve said many times I wish I could be crafty but that talent/gene skipped right over me. My one and only sorta talent is cooking, I come up with what I think are good ideas for recipes and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

      • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 5:19 pm

        Looks lovely and warm👍🏼☺️

  10. Duckie 🐥 December 30, 2023 / 12:05 pm

    Grumpy Saturday morning to all.
    Allein, I’m with you on the stepping down thing. Can’t imagine why kids want to grow up so fast.
    Mutz, you’re my hero today.
    Bronchitis has decided to expand into head. If still sick on Tuesday, I will see a doctor.
    Have a safe weekend, everyone.

    • N. Fritz December 30, 2023 / 12:37 pm

      Feel better, dear Duckie! My bf has been sick since Christmas Day and we are now in the ER. The moral of the story is don’t wait too long!

    • DEBG December 30, 2023 / 2:20 pm

      Sorry for your bronchitis, Duckie. That’s a miserable illness. Is lil Duckie doing anything funny to amuse you?

      • Duckie 🐥 December 30, 2023 / 6:10 pm

        She’s being cute.

  11. N. Fritz December 30, 2023 / 12:42 pm

    Thanks for all the Mutz-Love. I am back in the States for Christmas, and currently in the ER with my bf who has been sick since Christmas Day. Not how I thought I’d be spending the holidays… I wish you all a Guten Rutsch – that’s Austrian for “a good slide” into the New Year!

    • DEBG December 30, 2023 / 1:03 pm

      N. Fritz, it’s so wonderful to hear from you, but your news is so upsetting. Hope the BF gets well very soon. And a good slide to you too!

      • N. Fritz December 30, 2023 / 1:11 pm

        Thank you Deb!

    • 6Rabbits December 30, 2023 / 1:29 pm

      Good luck to you at the ER! That is a long time to be sick!

      • N. Fritz December 30, 2023 / 1:46 pm

        Thanks 6Rabbits!

    • Kar December 30, 2023 / 4:29 pm

      Christmas day?

      Yikes, I hope that he’s ok.

      • N. Fritz December 30, 2023 / 5:19 pm

        misdiagnosed on Thursday. He’s in good hands now at our local hospital. Thanks for your concern!

  12. Ricky & Bibi's Mom December 30, 2023 / 5:28 pm

    Bibi and I wish our friends who are ailing, and their loved ones who are ailing, a speedy recovery to good health.

    And as the New Year approaches,




    • fkaWaldenPond December 30, 2023 / 5:49 pm

      Love it 🙂

      • Alice Shortcake December 31, 2023 / 4:58 am

        That was one of my favourite shows in ye olden days…

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