Fridge meme!

We were tagged for this meme by The Taylor CatSSSSS. Fun!

The fridge in our house is black to match the other appliances that the builder put in, and it has a wonderful finish so that no fingerprints show up! However, as you can see below, it's so covered up by other stuff, there's no chance beans or grandbeans will ever get fingerprints on this!

The whole fridge-front. (There's stuff on the sides, too, believe it or not!


The CatBlogsphere calendar with Grace, Audace, and Ruse outlined with highlighter ink!


Lots and lots of pictures of beans and grandbeans -- and a very special picture of our beloved Indy in the center.


Pictures of me with grandbeans - and one of my folks and grandbean Austen three years ago, just before he helped me move to Texas.


More pictures of beans and grandbeans!


The band's schedule for this coming school year. It's the main way to keep track of what my chauffeuring duties will be ... until he gets his driver's license, that is.


And one to make sure it's clear how important this fridge is -- 1) it's right next to the kitchen island which has been taken over by Grace, Audace, and Ruse for eating, drinking, lounging, and playing with the little water fountain, and 2) it's the source of ice cubes for their drinking water!

We'll tag the following wonderful kitteh-families for what's on their cold box (or fridge):

Artsy Catsy

The Hotties

Eric and Flynn

China Cat

Have fun, everyone!

Just a note...

We know we haven't been online much lately. Our bean has taken a few photos recently, but there has been precious little time to post, now that grandbeans are out of school for the summer. She spends a WHOLE lot of time with them, and we really miss her. They'll all go back to school one of these days, though, and then we'll have her back for the daytimes as well as the evenings.

for Stormie

Stormie is being helped to The Bridge today. All of us are heartbroken, but the fierce fight Stormie put up against cancer has been awesome and amazing.

Our bean has lost several precious kitties over time, three to particularly heart-breaking illnesses. Here is a poem that was sent to her when she lost Pluto in November, 2003, and which comforted her again in March, 2006, when Indy suddenly went to The Bridge:

"Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you ...
I loved you so -
'twas Heaven here with you."

– by Ilsa Paschal Richardson

We love you, Stormie, and we'll be praying and purring for your peaceful, painless trip to The Bridge. Please find Indy, Pluto, Stinky, and Friday for our bean and say "hello" to them for her. She still misses them all.

Our Gotcha Day!

We recently celebrated the second blogversary of Grace & Company, and today we celebrate Grace & Company's second Gotcha Day anniversary. Two years ago today was an exciting day -- when Deb and her daughters drove Grace, Audace, and Ruse to my house ... and we surprised Austen with the baby cats! What a marvelous day!!





And here's a fun video of the "boys" playing with their twine toys and of Grace stalking a frog on our back door window!

Funny boys

Now that it's not winter anymore, Grace and her boys are hunting for cool napping spots. Some of their choices are most unusual. Ruse had decided that inside one of the playing cubes is perfect, and Audace thinks he's still tiny enough to curl up on a tote bag!

Our Second Blogversary

Two years ago today, two angels worked very hard to rescue and foster and publicize Grace and her four tiny babies. Deb and ML were magnificent - still are, actually - Deb in her racing speed and fostering skills, and ML in her terrific work setting up and maintaining this blog until all five (Grace and babies) had forever homes.

Here's a beautiful pictorial sequence to honor both Deb and ML on the second blogversary of Momma Grace & Company. Thanks to Ann of Zoolatry for her marvelous artwork.

Two angels, watching over Grace and her babies.



Grace, learning how to be an excellent mommy for her babies: Foster (now Ruse), Brutus, Pete (now Audace), and Marigold.


Baby and grown-up photos of Audace and Ruse.


Baby and grown-up photos of Brutus and Marigold.


And amazing Grace - who still likes to give her "babies" a bath now and then!



Thank you to everyone who helped make these past two years so fantastic for Grace & Company, as well as for me and my family. What a wonderful blogging community I found in late May, 2006.

PS - You can see all the baby pictures in the May and June 2006 archives of this blog and in the June - October 2006 archives at my other blog!

The twine!

Audace absolutely loves to play with the twine - a length of about 6 feet of regular, plain ol' ordinary twine tied to the tail of a toy mouse.

I can't believe how a non-store-bought toy like this can keep his attention for weeks and weeks.

We now have two of these things, so that Grace and Ruse can play whenever they feel like it - but mostly it's Audace. He just lives for this type of play. Gotta get a movie of this!!

Happy Birthday, ML!

We all wish ML a very happy birthday today. ML worked with Deb to establish this blog and get the word out (two years ago, almost!) that Momma Grace and her babies needed forever homes. We love ML for all her work -- and mostly because she's such a wonderful, caring lady!!

HAVE A HAPPY, ML!!

After a visit

Grandbean Kira came to visit us last Saturday. She worked on a project for school; she played games on my computer; and she played with Grace, Audace, and Ruse with their toys, especially the twine tied to mouse tails. She had a great time, and all the kittehs were wide awake during the entire visit.

Here are some photos that show what Grace & Company were like after Kira went home!

We've been busy!

These last few weeks of school, we've been very busy helping our bean's grandbeans get all their projects and studying done. Actually, our bean is most helpful; Grace & Company mainly snoopervise. Mother's Day was fun, too!

We should be back to normal soon ... we think ... maybe ... if all the planned summer trips don't get in the way too much!

Here's a cute cartoon to let you know what our (retired English teacher) bean thinks (but rarely acts on!) in her spare time; click to biggify it:

Momma's Day

Our Momma's Day gift from the grandbeans is this wonderful little envirascape fountain. It's all set up on the kitchen island (taken over by the three kittehs in this house for their food and water dishes). Ruse looked on as Grandbean Austen put it together. And there's a movie below showing how all three reacted when he first put water in it and plugged it in! Fun!!

Kitten squillion arrives!

Audace and Ruse have their own kitten squillion - and we've named her Paz. Since Audace's name means "daring" (audacious, you know) and Ruse's name means "sly," we think Grace needs someone on her side. Grace is hoping for some peace around here instead of all the racing and chasing!

Audace was checking Paz out!


Then Ruse gave her the once-over before accepting her presence!

Carnival of the Cats, #216

Ruse and Audace welcome you to this week’s Carnival of the Cats, where all the beautiful kittehs meet and show off their best sides each week!


We know sunshine is in short supply in parts of the country, but Coby is really enjoying it while it’s there!


They have really gotten into the reporter vs candidate mode at Chey's Place! Great repartee here!


“Where are da fishies?” asks SonnyBob at Pet’s Garden Blog. “And why don’t they come out to play?” Hmmmm! We’ll have to ponder that a while!


Kismet at Tacjammer is truly enjoying the beautiful gizzy quilt they won in the Cat Friends Helping Friends raffle recently.


Catherapy is explained and demonstrated at This Full House – very completely, indeed. Some purrs and prayers are needed here, folks, so be sure to go by and post some.


K T Cat shows the proper way to greet one’s bean and demand loving attention – well done, K T!!


Gree at the House of the (Mostly) Black Cats is enjoying a wonderful Sunday morning.


Chance is a very happy tuxie kitteh these days – and a poet, too!


Everyone Needs Therapy has a fascinating post about those wild and BIG kittehs – cougars! – who manage to find their way into cities. Scary stuff!


Samantha and Mr. Tigger at Life From a Cat’s Perspective show us what “easy like Sunday morning” really means!


We can find out all about why cats need heroes – and Oscar was a wonderful example of one – at The Poor Mouth.


And we are all captivated by Cece’s variety in facial expressions! Grrrrr! Hmph! WHAT?? Thanks to Mog and iInfidel for posting! These could serve as excellent “story starters” for all you creative writers out there.


Callie at ArtsyCatsy explains thoroughly about the 12 Step Program for Ferals – and with really superb photos, we think!


Uh-oh! Maddie’s not very happy that Ivy has finally decided to love her family. Don’t worry, Maddie. Love is unlimited in the StrangeRanger household.


We can read all about a Cat Rodeo at Texas Oasis – and the photos leave no questions about who’s really in charge!


Chica and Pumukl share some ideas and photos that perfectly demonstrate how life with kittehs can be blissful! We definitely agree!!


In focus or out, these photos of Tiny at sisu are a terrific peek into a cat’s psyche – at dinnertime! And more from sisu – very enlightening and instructive. The photos are fantastic, and the concepts are right on the money, in our opinions.


Sleeping Mommy shares her favorite cat pictures for the week – WELL DONE!!


China Cat and Willow had wonderful time at Gretchen's Tea Party. Be sure you read both posts so you get the whole picture!


And don’t forget a few additional items to pay attention to:

Deb and ML’s auction of some really wonderful items ends tonight at midnight – and will benefit Mom Laura, Lilly Lu, Iris, and Mu Shue, the hero. And there are other ways to help this incredibly brave family of bean and kittehs. Drop on by and make your bids!

Add your emergency info to the CatBlogosphere’s Emergency Contact List. You can read about it and enter your information here.

Next week, May 11th, Carnival of the Cats will be at Bad Kitty Cats. Be sure to check at CatBlogosphere for the submission links.

A little "humor aside" that's good for our understanding these days!


Thanks for dropping by. See you next time!

Carnival Prep!

We're getting ready for tomorrow's Carnival of the Cats 216, but we've been informed that the submissions form is not working. So ... please send your carnival submission to this email address:

carnivalofthecats AT gmail DOT com

We're looking forward to another really great carnival with many, many wonderful photos of all our beautiful friends!

Love, Grace & Company