Translating Arwenese

Translating Arwenese:

Arwen runs up to me, sits at my feet, and stares up intently.
Translation: MAMA MAMA MAMA or FOOD LADY FOOD LADY FOOD LADY or HEY YOU WITH THE THUMBS, depending on whether she wants to be cuddled or fed or otherwise catered to.

J: What is it, sweetie?

Arwen runs around the kitchen, ending at my feet, and stares again.
Translation: WANNA PLAY! HEY YOU WITH THE THUMBS, WHERE'S MY TOY?

J: Oh, you want a toy! Where are the other 30 [no exaggeration, folks] ping-pong balls?

Arwen stares reproachfully at me, then glances toward the basket where the few balls that can be found are kept.
Translation: DON'T BOTHER ME WITH DETAILS, YOU WITH THE THUMBS. THERE'S A BASKET FULL OF THEM RIGHT UP THERE.

J: OK, OK! Here's one! *tosses it*

Arwen takes off after it and starts batting and chasing it.
Translation: YAAAAAAAAY!

Last flowers of the year

Because I was gone for weeks in the spring and then hurt during the summer, the garden has been a tangled mess and things haven't been cut down and cleaned out.

It turns out beauty has come of that.

I went outside for a second despite my cough, and ended up stealing a few minutes to catch these images.

Aster with liatris and iris leaves

Jupiter's beard with liatris seedpods and foliage and aster seedpods

It's rare for me to stage a photo, but I broke this poppy while getting into position over the sedum, and it looked so right there.

Pink veronica leaves, seedpod, and stubborn blossom

Aster amid the wreckage

Queen of all she surveys, except the other cats, of course.

"I'm sitting on my cat tower, playing with my bunny!"

Arwen really loves her plush kitty

I have been trying to catch this shot for a week, but she usually leaps up and demands hugs right away. This time she was really comfortable and sleepy.

Arwen snuggling with her toys. She has a bed, but she loves this spot, so we put a towel down for her and put her toys there. She lies there purring.

You asked for more kitten photos

Here we are. Exploring the bed and finding detente with the dog. Bonus sunrise.

A new life around the house

Last September, as you know, Buddy died 24 hours after a previously unknown brain tumor took over. Gracie, the shy cat, died of lymphoma in February, kitty dementia took Simon in July.

Today some ranchers we know brought kittens to farmers' market. Seven gorgeous long-haired cats: three red tabbies, three dark tortoiseshells, and one very light dilute tortie who's mostly gray with a wheaten blaze.

The dilute tortie caught my eye, then Matt's. We held her. She snuggled.

We hashed it over half the morning. Money. The pets we have. The need to see a new life around the house--which won out. Then we gave in and brought Arwen home. (Because if you've got an Eowyn, the next female in the door pretty much has to be an Arwen.)

So far, Rufus is OK, Eowyn and Daisy are quite pleased, and Sophie is having a massive sulk.