What Cats Did During The Storm
We felt the brunt of Sandy this past week and it came as a pleasant surprise to learn I’d won the CWA Muse Medallion for best black and white photography. The winning entry was a portrait of Gris Gris (pictured above). Limited edition prints will be available for sale at our Etsy store coming soon! We’re delighted to announce the winner of a fab three piece Scratch n Snooze from Imperial Cat and two Lickety Stiks is Tamago. Congratulations! Look for an email from Layla and Cat Wisdom 101.
During the recent storms, cellphone service was spotty to non-existent. We had no Internet, landline or TV for ten days. We briefly lost power three times but were very fortunate to stay mostly warm and safe. We hunkered down in our own unique ways. Merlin alternated napping between two heating pads when not on someone’s lap. The humans watched movies while soaking in the tub. Odin, a mama’s boy who never snuggles with his cat daddy, did.
Odin has new habit of sleeping at my feet when not snuggling with Merlin. Merlin is becoming noticeably tolerant of him and it’s clear who he’s passing the baton to. Merlin and I spent quality time together under the duvet while I spent zero time brushing my hair.
During the height of the storm when Gris Gris hid in the closet, Odin pranced and whined by the door the way dogs do, chanting outsideoutsideoutside. After two days indoors, climbing the walls, he played with his toys and anything else that caught his eye including these feng shui Chinese coins. He rediscovered his “spaceship”, a covered cat litter box top, where he finally settled feeling secure as I re-organized closets and my office.
In times of stress and unexpected change it’s important to keep some normal routines. This is Gris Gris waiting for his favorite bedtime ritual, his nightly brushing in his favorite and heavily scent-marked territory, the foot of the bed.
Domino spent much of the time during Super Storm Sandy under the bed.
When things settled he self-soothed with grooming.
Domino has the most remarkable tail, thicker than a bullrush and kinked from being broken before arriving at our doorstep. All the cats couldn’t wait to rush out into the snow which will be gone by the time you read this.
Some things will not return as they were. The damaged garage and windows can be repaired but our beloved big pine tree is no more. It blocked the driveway and our wonderful landscapers removed it the next day. The stumps remain, awaiting some creative repurposing in keeping with my philosophy of good coming out of bad. I have no regrets and if I had to re-live Sandy, I wouldn’t change a thing. Not even the tree. Everything has its time.
I hope you enjoyed our Caturday and I’ll be visiting as many blogger friends as possible today.
Peace, love and purrs,
Layla, Merlin, Gris Gris, Domino and Odin.
34 Comments
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Suzan
Love the photo story. Odin is the spitting image of our Matlock – 16lbs of goofball who loves nothing better than to sleep you your feet. He’s in the last three pics on this page – http://photoswithfinesse.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/weekly-photo-challenge-wrong/
Glad you came out of Sandy safe, warm & dry. Perhaps you could turn your tree stump into a planter. Drill out the center and put some ferns or leafy greens in. Maybe some catnip?
Sexy Feral Cat Lady
Congratulations on the award! Glad to hear everyone fared well.
CATachresis
Congrats on your win, Layla! And so glad you have come through the storm with equanimity.
Penelope
Wes is just so happy that yous guys is all safe and sound itand it was so cool to hears about your routine!
Kisses
Nellie
Marg
Sure glad to hear from you and that you are at least safe and all right and all the kitties are OK. It just sounds like a horrible storm. We are excited that all of you are all right. Take care.
Katnip Lounge
It seems like your lives are getting back in gear–a slightly different one but change is good.
The foot prints in the snow…the cats must have been madly cavorting!
CarenOsrinGittleman (@CatChatCaren)
so glad you are back and safe and sound. The kitties appear to be none the worse for wear.
Simply heartbreaking about the tree but you are right, “everything has it’s time”
jansfunnyfarm
Glad you all came safely through Sandy and have electric back. Must have been some time without a phone.
Eric and Flynn
That is a lovely portrait. Congratulations on your win. Glad you all are okay after the storm.
hannibal2
Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures. I remember your writing of madly rushing to screen off your broken window during the storm, and seeing these photos makes me glad to see that you and the cats have gotten some peace at last.
boomermuse
Thanks so much! We’re all doing well and the sudden warm weather helps!
Stephanie
Congratulations, Layla! Lovely, pensive photo.
Brian
Congrats on the very nice win! Now if you all could just win some normal once again!
Cherry City Kitties
So glad to see how together, you all weathered the storm so well. the Momma says she “neeeeeeeeds” a picture of Gris Gris, and christ-meows is coming so if she’s good we might just have to go shopping…. We likes how you and Merlin snuggle, we all love being in the bed, and Dexter loves to sleep on the Mommas pillow with her. Stay warm!
Harry,Dexter and Tipp
Skeeter and Izzy
Concats again Layla,as always a beautiful picture of a beautiful subject.We’re glad things are getting back to near normal for ya’ll. We continue to purr and pray for everyone furry or not. Luvs and wishes of comfort and hope to all Skeeter and Izzy >^..^<
prancer pie
We are so glad you weathered the storm as well as you did! How pawsome that your Mom is gonna re-purpose the beloved pine tree. Happy Caturday, kittehz! XOXO
Bethany Karn
So glad you stayed warm. We donated socks to charity Socks for Sandy, which felt silly but I could NOT stop worrying about how cold people were. I hope they got to someone in time. The tree photo is shocking. We’ll have to swap pictures as we had a few tree tragedies in last summer’s derecho that blew through the DC area. it’s always hard to see such majestic backyard guardians go.
Bethany Karn
go glad you stayed warm. we donated socks to charity Socks for Sandy, which felt silly but I could NOT stop worrying about how cold people were. I hope they got to someone in time. The tree photo is shocking. We’ll have to swap pictures as we had a few tree tragedies in last summer’s derecho that blew through the DC area. it’s always hard to see such majestic backyard guardians go.
boomermuse
Bethany, I’ll be posting more tree pics at my other blog soon.
Zee and Zoey - Deb Barnes
I think Sandy has brought the best qualities a cat has, into the looking glass of your life, Layla. Resilience and acceptance for what is, and what can be… lovely recap and congratulations on the Muse!
boomermuse
Deb, thanks, it’s all good.
nadbugs
Head-bonks. Feeling glad to hear your account, and much admiration for your philosophical acceptance of what is.
Ingrid King
I’m glad everyone weathered the storm well. Congratulations on your Muse Medallion!
boomermuse
Ingrid, thanks. It helps being of hardy Canadian/Finnish stock 😉
Pam Kimmell
Congratulations Layla….that’s a wonderful photo of Gris-Gris….lots of texture and he looks nice framed by the shutters/blinds!
Pam
boomermuse
Thanks Pam. The texture is more pronounced in a larger size.
Sparkle
It sounds like all the kitties weathered the storm even better than the humans did! Well, we cats don’t need things like TV or cellphones or even the Internet to keep us happy. So no wonder.
Connie Marie
I loved your Caturday post. Sounds like everyone was a real trooper. Storms inIowa are scary, they are nothing compared to what you went thru!! Twice even!! With Snow!!
Merlins looking well. You and him together is really touching. I love all your photos. Glad your huge pine didn’t fall on anything. Pinterest has a glitch tonight so will be pinning tomorrow. I was so worried because I didn’t know where in the storm track you were. The destruction is horrible in other parts. Have a Great weekend!
Kathryn
Yes, people are so tired after the extra work trying to keep warm, keep lights on or the Net and TV and phone. Just got ours back on Tuesday.
Now we all have colds. More tea. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Everything else can wait.
Nite!