cats – Jennifer's Journal

Saving Her Place

Published on August 1, 2022August 1, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry12 Comments

Happy August, everybody!

Vivian K. Perry here, covering for Jennifer while she takes a little more time away from her blogging routine. Both of my staff have been rather busy lately, what with personal and work trips, but Jennifer promises she will return to a more regular blogging schedule—and to drop in on your lovely blogs—very soon.

I was happy to travel with my peeps on our usual two-week stay in the capital city in July, but I stay home and hold the fort when they go on short road trips for work. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll hear more about all of that before you know it.

In the meantime, I will save her place in more ways than one. Enjoy the rest of summer, dear friends! 💕

Vivian’s View From Here: Can You See The Difference?

Published on June 5, 2022June 5, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

Happy Sunday, peeps and pets!

Vivian K. Perry here, sharing with all of you lovelies some new photos of moi. I posed for the first two back in 2012:

Look at me!

A force to be reckoned with at 5 years old

Zoom ahead ten years to the present:

In my fifteenth year, do you think . . .

. . . I’m still pretty?

I can’t see the difference. Can you see the difference?

Not much has changed for me in the past decade—aside from the devastation of losing my sweet sister Maisie two years ago.

As a mature feline (not gonna use the word old!), I still lead quite an active life. I go outdoors several times a day. I eat both wet and dry cat food, which Jennifer thinks helps keep my fur nice and soft. I’m an exceptionally clean creature and a fastidious groomer. And I get plenty of love and attention from both my staff.

The one thing that has changed a bit are the length and number of my naps.

Beauty sleep is a must!

Yes, there’s no denying I’m a cat “of a certain age.” But when you are healthy and enjoying your days in a relaxed, wholesome, loving environment, life is a joy. In some ways, I’m still growing: in my experience, my wisdom, an ever-growing collection of memories, and my “kitty” vocabulary!

Perhaps some of you (and that includes my human friends and followers) can relate.

Hey, pet peers,
any of you enter your senior years yet?
Are you enjoying your elder status?

“The great thing about getting older is that
you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
~ Madeleine L”Engle

Vivian’s View From Here: A Fresh Look

Published on February 28, 2022February 28, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry39 Comments

Hello everyone! Vivian K. Perry here, eager to bring you a fresh look of me enjoying Perry’s Point this morning.

It’s been an odd sort of winter here in Newfoundland and Labrador, with less snow than usual, particularly here on the Bonavista North coastline where a strong gale often whisks the flakes away before they can even think about settling. But overnight last night the light wind allowed a pretty layer of snow to fall, and the sun came out, so I couldn’t wait to go outside and explore.

This was my second trip outside this morning.
Time to make more tracks!

I’ve made plenty of paw prints but I look for the dry spots too.

I think I’ve had enough for now. Time to go inside for a cuddle.

“You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place.
That’s why animals are so soft and huggy.” – Bill Watterson

Check out my very short YouTube video below
to see how I try to retrace my snow-prints! ~ love, Vivian

Photo Challenge: Sunday Stills – Another Fresh Look At…

Cats of Christmas Past and Present

Published on December 23, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry26 Comments

Meowy Christmas, peeps and pets! Vivian K. Perry here today, filling in for Jennifer while she finishes getting ready for the holidays.

I got to reminiscing about my sister Maisie this morning, who went over the rainbow bridge in May of 2020. Here we are, together, several Christmases ago:

And here is Maisie, unable to resist our little tree:

Jennifer has many other cats in her extended family.
Here is Joey, one of her daughter’s cats:

. . . and here’s Joey with his sister Ginger:

Jennifer’s sister-in-law owns this fluffy kitty who goes by the name Scotty—aka Butterscotch:

Not long ago, Scotty had a brother named Merlin:

This cat’s name is Gerald. He belongs to Jennifer’s niece:

Jennifer’s sister had a cat named Zoe:

. . . and Jennifer’s son had a cat named Miss Mooch:

Jennifer and I are sending out Season’s Greetings to all of our friends, family, pets and bloggers.
We look forward to catching up with you again in 2022!
~ Love and purrs, Vivian. ❤

Viv in the Moment: An Ordinary Day

Published on October 17, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry39 Comments

Happy Sunday, peeps and pets!

Vivian K. Perry here, filling in for Jennifer who is up to her eyeballs in paint cans, brushes and rollers this weekend. Besides that, she needed a break from her laptop, as she’s been busy this month outlining a new novel.

Anyhoo, I’m sharing several photos of yours truly today. I want to show you a little bit of what an ordinary day looks like for a fourteen year-old feline like moi. I love to explore around Perry’s Point every day, rain or shine, because I’m an excellent watch-cat. These two photos were taken during a misty morning vole hunt.

**I spend a lot of time listening for the tiniest of movements in the grass.**

**No luck this morning. Not even a measly shrew. I’ll try again later.**

I happen to have a fondness for ordinary, drama-free days. No pressure, no worries, and oodles of moments I can spend any way I please.

My peeps noticed that I’m doing something new recently. I look for warm spots! Does this mean I’m finding it colder than I used to? Perhaps it goes along with my advancing years. In the photo below, I am in Jennifer’s recently vacated (warm) spot. I’m always stealing it.

`May I help you? No, this isn't a guilty look. This is my spot now, so kindly buzz off.`

“It has taken awhile, but I certainly do know it now – the most wonderful gift I had, the gift I finally learned to cherish above all else, was the gift of all those perfectly ordinary days.” ~ Katrina Kenison, author of The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother’s Memoir

A little late, but this has been my take on Lens-Artists Photo Challenge 169: The Ordinary

Have a purr-fect week, everyone!
Head bumps and nose kisses, Vivian

Viv in the Moment: Look Who Has a Birthday!

Published on August 16, 2021August 16, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry32 Comments

Hello, my peeps and pets!

Vivian K. Perry here, happy to report that I’m turning fourteen today!

Where have the years gone? Time seems to be flying by ever since we moved out of the city, back when I was only three. And I’m hoping for many more years yet on this side of the sod. My staff is doing everything they can to keep me happy and healthy, I can certainly vouch for that.

**Taking a break from playing fetch** **with my favourite ball**

Anyway, I’m off to celebrate my special day by going outside to explore Perry’s Point for the millionth time.

Thanks for visiting and have a purr-fect week!
Head bumps and sandpaper kisses,
♥ Vivian ♥

A Cat Pic, Southpaws, and an Abundance of Jennifers

Published on August 8, 2021August 7, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry27 Comments

Happy Sunday, all!

The above photo was taken by my son’s significant other, Jennifer (yes, another Jennifer, but I’ll return to that topic in a bit).

Vivian was enjoying a catnap in our back garden that day. Some days during summer, she crawls into the wild rosebushes in our garden for naps that can last for hours! She hasn’t got the life, I know. Thinking of the photographer reminded me of something I wanted to share.

First, about the southpaws: I am a lefthanded person. I was one of those little girls whose grandmother tried to switch her over to righthandedness, whether I was holding a spoon, fork, crayon or pencil. But I was having none of that. No siree bob. Mom finally convinced my Nanny Lambert that it was useless for her to keep trying.

I was the only lefty in my immediate family. My parents, sister, and brother were all righthanded. But then something interesting happened.

I had: 1 GIRL and 1 BOY

My brother had: 1 BOY

My sister had: 1 BOY and 1 GIRL

Three of those boys, our only sons, were born lefthanded! What are the odds on that?

Now, back to the “Jennifers.”

There are three other Jennifers in my extended family. No, none of them were named after me (shucks).

These other Jennifers are the wives/significant others of mine and my siblings’ three sons! All three couples have been together for years. ❤

Funny how life in all its randomness created such a happenstance. Do you have any strange coincidences in your family? Many southpaws? While thinking on that, have another, more closeup look at our Vivian. Thanks again for the great capture, Jenny!

Vivian’s View From Here: What’s on the Telly?

Published on June 27, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry27 Comments

Happy Sunday, peeps and pets! Vivian K. Perry here, talking today about my television habits, of all things.

Of course, I’m at the mercy of my staff in this area. I don’t have the manual dexterity to use the remote, so what they choose to watch, I am stuck with. Sometimes that’s good, and sometimes not so good.

Playoff hockey is tolerable. I like watching the players chase after the puck like I chase after my favourite ball. But I couldn’t care less who wins!

I lost interest in The Woman in the Window movie. There was a cat in it, but she only had a teeny tiny cameo part. Anyway, my staff said the book was a thousand times better (and the cat was in more scenes).

The Younger series is silly to me, and I usually fall asleep when it comes on. Mom says she never wishes to go back to relive her twenties, and she definitely wouldn’t want to be a millennial in today’s world. Then why does she keep watching it?

Now here’s something I actually love. “Cool cat” 60’s jazz from Dave Brubeck: Take Five. I’m signing off now, but do have a listen below. Have a purr-fect week, everyone!

Vivian’s View From Here: A Little Help From My Friends

Published on April 18, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry31 Comments

Hey peeps and pets! Vivian K. Perry here, guest hosting for Jennifer today.

Since my last post, my humans have noticed something about me. It seems I’ve gained a new appreciation and affection for the other “critters” around my house. Most likely it’s because I’m craving the companionship of my peers, so to speak. I guess I still miss my sister Maisie who had always been a part of my life since we were womb-mates. I can hardly believe it’s been nearly a year since we said our goodbyes.

The first new friend my humans noticed was this stuffed doggie on the spare bed. All of a sudden I’d started taking naps with him.

And this past Easter, I took a noticeable shine to the bunny on our entertainment stand. Jennifer told me she’s made an appearance every spring since I’ve been born, but this is the first year I made her my buddy. While the humans watch TV, I’m usually sprawled out here next to her. Although Easter has passed, my bunny gets to stay.

Here’s another little pal. As much as I know my humans love me, I guess I need a few smaller friends to dote on. They don’t say much, but then, Maisie was pretty quiet too.

“Cats are mysterious; they have more on their minds than we could ever imagine.”
– Walter Scott
“You can’t ever be a cat owner; in the best of cases it allows you to be their companion.”
– Harry Swanson