EASY, LIKE SUNDAY

Easy, like Sunday... and Monday, Tuesday, and so on and so forth. It's not goodbye... just a little rest and relaxation time for the Zoolatry Human ... and a chance for her to visit lots of other kitty bloggers throughout the week, which she has not been able to do much lately.

We (Maggy and Zoey) thought we could post in her absence,

but she changed the password,

so guess we'll have some R & R time too! Be back soon...

SATURDAY, Thank You

Sealed with a kiss.
Home.

It's been a great week, we hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane.

It's been a great year.

We look forward to the coming year with all of you.

Now, for a bit of rest, at home.

FASHION FRIDAY

Maggy, fabulous in fur.
Earrings, nose rings, tooth rings. Fashion forward Zoey.

THANKFUL, for Maggy

Beautiful blue eyes.
Perfect in profile and ears of gold.
Maggy is a tapestry.
Maggy is a masterpiece.
Topped with a star.

THANKFUL, for Zoey

Zoey and her big eyes.
Softly.
A face to love.
Sweet as a rose.
Let a little light shine down.

WACKY WEDNESDAY, Sorry, But Maggy Does Not Do Wacky

"Glory is fleeting, obscurity is forever." N. Zoey Bonaparte
"It doesn't matter how you feel inside you know. It's what shows up on the surface that counts." M. Zoey Simpson
"Not if anything to say about it I have." Master Y. Zoey
"I yam what I yam." P. Zoey Sailorman
"Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"

TUESDAY, Togetherness

Dinner At Eight. White paws and tails, please.

Girls Gone Wild.
Automated Cat Machine.
Z-Avatars. All cats should have them.

MONDAY MEMORIES, Silly and Sweet

This was Zoey as she appeared on our first banner, and our name then was Zoolatry and Zooanthropy. Zoey was a bit miffed about this picture because she prefers wine to beer, never ever smokes and peanuts, well, they get stuck on that tooth of hers.
This is Zoey, as a water color painting, a kitten of about six months. She was resting in the rocking chair The Zoolatry Human used for rocking her own babies and grandbabies.

It's an old chair that belongs to an old human! Although it's not an old cat or an old picture, just a favorite cat and a favorite picture.
This is Maggy. In the mirror is Maggy's worst nightmare!
We have an old doll house, tucked in a closet, and it is one of Maggy's favorite hiding spots. She will get inside of it when she doesn't want to be bothered. (This is not the dollhouse in the picture, though.) But The Zoolatry Human thought Maggy deserved her own house.

ZOOLATRY IS ONE YEAR OLD

Once upon a time we had a blog, but no one ever came to visit. Lots of cool art pictures, and photos of family. Once in awhile, there was a picture of Maggy or a picture of Zoey... and those pictures sometimes drew comments. So, The Zoolatry Human shook the cobwebs out of her head and said, "Maggy and Zoey should have a blog" and thus, Zoolatry was born.
This is Margaret Mary, best known as Maggy (also Magoogster, Magoogy, and MagMag) ... our three and a half year old tortie-point Himalayan. She's sweet and calm, ever the elegant lady, a bit of a talker and quite independent, here we picture all her wonderful parts.
This is Zoey... silly, funny, charming Zoey (ZoZo, Zosters and sometimes "Oh No"). She's a two year old blue point Himalayan girl who keeps us laughing and has been the spirit and life of Zoolatry. Here are pictured all her special parts and bits and pieces, of course, not giving any special mention to that very special snaggly tooth.
All week long The Zoolatry Human is posting her own personal favorite photo art of Maggy and Zoey. You may have seen some before (we hope we don't bore you)... but they are the ones she likes best, and we (M and Z) didn't have any say in the matter this time.

It's been quite a year for us here at Zoolatry. In total we've done nearly 2,000 pictures for other kitties all around the cat world, we've met wonderful people and enjoyed reading their stories and seeing the photos of their kitties. We've celebrated birthdays and weddings, and holidays and special times.

We've played football, read poems, welcomed new little ones to the world,

partied and traveled far and wide. Here at the Zoolatry home we met a new little family of ferals and you shared with us the fun of getting to know them, and care for them.

We've sent get well wishes, and when the time came, we said goodbye to special friends who crossed the rainbow bridge.

There have been tears. There has been laughter. It's been a very good year.

Thank You.

THE STORY OF CHARLIELOCKS AND THE THREE BOWLS

A slightly altered version of The Story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears, originally written in 1837 by Robert Southey.

Once upon a time, there was a little feral kitten named Charlie. She went for a walk, out of the woods and into a human yard. Soon she saw a human house and a human front porch. She pawed at the door, but no one answered. Then she noticed many colorful bowls on the front porch. There were three bowls of porridge (er, kitty foods) and Charlie was very, very hungry. "This yellow bowl is just too small and I'm not quite sure about tuna with garden greens," she exclaimed. But she tasted a bit just the same. "This green bowl looks about right," she said, "tho I've never had chicken in gravy". But she tasted a bit just the same. "And this really big blue bowl is full of crunchies which sound funny when I eat them," she whined. But she tasted a bit just the same. Then Charlie thought to herself, "why this porridge (er, kitty foods) is certainly tastier than the lizards 'n bugs ' n leaves I've been eating." So Charlie went back to the small yellow bowl, and she went back to the medium size green bowl, and she went back to the really big blue bowl... and she ate all the tuna and garden greens, all the chicken in gravy, and most all of the noise making crunchies! She ate so very much she fell asleep on the human front porch. When she woke up she saw two big fluffy furry flat-nosed cats peering out the window and she was very, very much frightened and she ran as fast as she could back into the woods. There in the woods Charlie took another nap, dreaming a little dream to herself, "I think I'll go back to that human house and that human porch and that very, very, very good porridge (er, kitty foods).

THE END.

HUMMER THE HIMMIE

Zoey: "Annie, Bravo, Charlie, Delta... isn't that enough new cats in one week?"

Maggy: "Silly Zoey, that's our new Webkinz from the grandbean."

TATTLE TAILS ON THURSDAY

Hi... Maggy here. The Zoolatry Human has been preoccupied with Annie, Bravo, Charlie and Delta... so, even though I have no thumbs I have become quite adept at the keyboard and today I'm "taking over" to tell some "tails" about Zoey.

Once upon a time, I was the queen of the house, the only one, the magnificent Margaret Mary a/k/a Maggy.

Then my humans brought this little interloper into the family, they named her Zoey.

Now, mind you, I didn't mind her too much, and I have gotten used to her and her antics. The only time I really did not like her was (with all due respect to my strikingly handsome friends Dragonheart and Merlin) during those few months when she was "nekked". She just didn't look or smell or feel like Zoey. But now her furs are back... and she is the same as always. She's the mischief maker, trouble with a capital "T". If there's something to get into, she'll get into it (just like FaithBoo). Curiousity is her middle name. I swear (hiss hiss) she's used up 8.5 of her 9 lives!

So, with the Zoolatry Human tending to other things, I've accessed her files and found some of my favorite pictures of this Mischief Maker... hope you enjoy going down memory lane with me.

TATTLE TAILS, VOLUME I

The Zoolatry Human and grand-daughter bean planned a play for everyone in the family and made this stage, they even had the spotlight ready to shine on the actors. Needless to say, Zoey thought she should take center stage! Acatemy award - NOT!
Well, the Zoolatry Dad might not mind cat fur all over his clothes, but the Zoolatry Human is tired of taking sticky-stuff to get all the cat hair off his clothes. Can't you find another place for afternoon naps?
This is an old Hoosier cabinet the Zoolatry Dad restored, it has books and games in it for when the grand-beans come to play. Zoey likes to play the games too... her favorite I think is "Sorry", the game of sweet revenge.
We all know she's a thief! Everytime the Zoolatry Human leaves her bag anywhere, trouble with a capital "T" finds it! No green papers today, sorry (sweet revenge).
She's only here temporarily. But I, Maggy, will NOT be the one to bail her out!

TATTLE TAILS, VOLUME II

I found Zoey's daily prayer in the files. Personally I think she may need to pray multiple times a day, and of course, she needs to ask for forgiveness (at least from me).
Even when she was little, she was the Mischief Maker. Growing up has not brought about any improvement. She might help organize the Zoolatry Dad's files, but you can bet your furry paws she isn't paying any of the bills in there.
I know she doesn't read too well... maybe if she did she wouldn't wind up in the stocks, and I don't mean the ones in the library. She's often in the Temptations stock, the Friskies stock, the Kibbles stock, and oh yes... always the SHRIMP stock.
Notice how often she winds up here. I got the lock, but looks like she's got the key!
Yes, Zoey... time to hide your face.

CENTER STAGE PLEASE, AND A STANDING OVATION FOR OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS

The story of Annie, Bravo, Charlie and Delta has unfolded over the last six weeks, most of the drama taking place in the final act of the last few days. We want to thank all of you -- over 150 who have commented, offered support and shown your love for all of our wonderful feline friends. And to all of you who have sent kind words by email.

Though many of you have complimented Zoolatry - please know that none of this would have come about without the caring love of others - our Guardian Angels, a very special lady and her very special friend, who offered the financial assistance needed to provide the best in care for each member of this little feral family.

All our local low cost spay/neuter clinics have been on overload, and none were willing to help. The cost of private veterinary care was substantial. And we cannot say thank you often enough, or warmly enough, to our wonderful benefactors.

Annie, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Thank You.

CURTAIN CALL

The final act. As most of you know, we lost little DELTA who seemed to have had a weak heart, though even those with a weak heart can be strong of heart. And we've had no more sightings at all of BRAVO... but knowing his adverturesome and brave spirit, he's probably already made it to Cocoa Beach... or maybe he's at KSC preparing for the next launch! Though we won't give up on him, and who knows... he might just find his way back to us sometime. It's been quite a week here at Zoolatry... Comedy and Tragedy, Laughter and Tears, Joy and Sorrow. Late afternoon yesterday we released ANNIE. She was yearning so to be uncaged and have her freedom returned. She flew into the woods... and we thought, "we'll not see her again". CHARLIE was recovering quickly and well in her trap, and was already anxious to be on her way, but it was just too soon. She cried and fussed a great deal. Suppertime: Annie cautiously came down the sidewalk, and approached Charlie's trap. She paced around it, pawing, soft meows. Charlie reached two tiny paws through the metal trap and held Annie's face. We had no camera, it was a moment forever imprinted into memory. The two whined and talked and caressed through the cage. We knew it was time to release Charlie, they couldn't be kept apart. At our approach, Annie ran. Opening the cage, Charlie followed. And we thought, "we'll not see them again." Now dusk was arriving and, just like in the Christmas story... "what to my wondering eyes should appear?" there were Annie and Charlie, running in the yard, playing, exploring... perhaps also searching for Bravo and Delta... but they are home... and home we think they'll stay.

8:30 PM, Eastern Time, Tuesday

We had a post planned for tomorrow... Welcome Wednesday... to show off the new friends we've met recently: Sweet Praline, Jazz, and Ernie & Wally. However, tomorrow morning we will have a post, a final update for now, on Our Feral Family:

Annie, Bravo, Charlie and Delta.

12:30 PM, ET, Tuesday

CHARLIE (now officially known to be Charlotte) came through surgery wonderfully, will be back home later this afternoon ... thank you, Dr Sarah.

ANNIE is on the way back home; she tagged along just to keep Charlie company.

Now we'll set up for BRAVO!

Perhaps with Annie out on the front porch, Bravo will be inclined to visit...

A TUESDAY TAIL

Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 AM ET

CHARLIE is all set to soon head off for a visit with Dr Sarah.

ANNIE will go with Charlie, as it is obvious to us that he remains calmer when she is near.

She won't stay, it's just to keep him company during the trip.

A new trap will be set this morning for BRAVO.

Check back later today (Eastern Time) for updates on everyone.

And from all of us at Zoolatry -- the animals and the humans --

heartfelt thanks for your comments and your support.

It means a great deal to us.

6:00 PM, Monday, The Wonders of Life

We wrote earlier today about losing DELTA. The twists and turns of life continue to amaze. Within an hour of the phone call from Dr Sarah, CHARLIE entered the cage in back. It was pouring down rain, thunder and lightening. But there he was, our wet and scraggly tiger baby. We brought the cage inside to the back porch where ANNIE was resting. Charlie was not at all frantic as Delta had been. He seems calm to be beside Annie. We managed to get toweling into his cage, he has dutifully bathed himself. He was served dinner and fresh water. He played happily with a fevver at one end of the cage, while food was put in through the other end. It is too late to take him to the clinic, so together they will spend the night on the porch and off he'll go in the morning. Right now he's snuggled up napping.

Maggy and Zoey are the sentinels... their little flat himmie noses getting flatter by the minute for being pressed against the French doors wondering "who can that be?"

My husband ran off to the store... and pulling into the driveway just a short time ago, saw BRAVO running into the woods, right to the spot where the family had made their nest a week or more ago. We are short any more traps, but may be able to hand-catch him this evening, and if not we'll have one of the cages free as of tomorrow morning.

Hey DELTA... thank you little one... you sent some important messages out to your siblings before you traveled to the bridge... I know you did... you told them to come home to us.

4:30 PM, Monday

Delta Dawn was Delta Don... and sadly has gone to the Rainbow Bridge at just two months of age. His little heart... we know it was a good one, gave out during surgery.

Dr Sarah tried hard to revive him, but it was not to be.

Goodbye little one.

Annie is resting comfortably on our back porch. She did well with surgery and is slowly waking, though listless. Her favorite food and cold water are in the cage with her.

Charlie and Bravo have yet to appear.

THE STORY OF ANNIE, BRAVO, CHARLIE and DELTA DAWN

Our Annie, formerly Little Black Stray Kitty Girl.
Waiting and watching: Delta Dawn, Charlie and Bravo.

For those who have followed the story, or not: in early May a tiny little black stray kitty wandered past my window. A day or two later, she came by again, with a wee little one carried in her mouth. Within minutes, she came past again, carrying a second, then a third. All were safely tucked away into a wood pile behind the fence. For weeks we watched the progress of this little feral family. Of course, food and water were set out for the mommy. In time, she seemed to be quite comfortable coming to our front porch for breakfast and dinner. Once in awhile we got the briefest glimpse of a kitten. Then near the end of May, the little ones started to venture forth, to play, for bathing from mom, to nurse with her neath a big palm tree. In early June, she started bringing her babies to the porch. Now we set out soft food, kitten crunchies, kitten milk. In the early mornings and at dusk they would gather in the front yard and garden area to play. More and more bowls of food were supplied, along with a variety of toys, and a sleeping box (which they didn't seem to like). Within a short time, the little family of four were regulars. In spite of the poor real estate market, they'd "bought" a new home. As we watched and enjoyed, our attachment grew... fast and furious. Soon the personalities became evident and it was time to name them. No more LBSKG, no more wee ones, kits, babies. LBSKG was named ANNIE for one of the most charismatic cats we know, Annie Mosaic. Annie had two babies who were her clones... a fluffy chubby all black ball of fur: he was rambunctious and bold... seemingly fearless, and he was named BRAVO. Next came our little tiger stripe, playful, energetic, curious and he became CHARLIE (could be Charles or Charlotte). Lastly, was the sleek and smooth smallest one of the family, she seemed a bit shy and stayed close to Annie most times, and she was called DELTA DAWN (or maybe Delta Don?). This evolving story now had a future... how could we help them, what could we do, what would we do? In our community, every low cost spay/neuter clinic is on overload, not only do they have the usual number of kits coming in from the spring birthing season, but the numbers of abandoned animals has increased tenfold, and it is believed this is due to current economic conditions with many families no longer able to care for their pets. Every clinic turned us down for spay/neuter and other needed care. We began to search for private vet clinics -- many of those (a dozen or so) turned us down for a variety of reasons, and we also quickly learned the cost to properly care for our family of four would be substantially greater than through the volunteer and TNR clinics. Yet it would be irresponsible and also heart breaking to ignore their needs, to let them roam and breed and face environmental dangers. Two guardian angels came forth, offering financial assistance so the family could have all the care they might need. A blessing from beautiful and caring people. Last week we found a wonderful trapper, and arrangements were made with her, and with an accepting veterinary clinic for this week. Everyone was full of excitement and hope. On Friday, when our feral family came for breakfast, BRAVO was not with them. As the day and then the weekend rolled past, we did not see him again. But then, he had been named Bravo... so his adventuresome and brave personality may have led him elsewhere, we can only hope to a safe, secure and welcoming place. Last evening, Father's Day... with the noise and clatter of our family of nine gathered for dinner... lovely Lisa came, set the traps and within minutes, we had Annie. She was not happy, but she had food, water and the safety of our indoor back porch for the night. This morning at 6:30 am Annie left for the vet's office and we'll have her back later today. Meanwhile, traps were left out until dark in the hopes of capturing Charlie and Delta, but there was no success. At dawn, the traps were again set out with a trail of tuna leading to them. We are hoping and praying they'll find the courage (or perhaps hunger will drive them) to come out of the woods and we can capture and tend to their needs. We know they are frightened and missing their mom, Annie... but we're all doing our best, hour by hour.

We share our story... and we send our deepest thanks to our benefactors who have helped to make this happen, to our trapper Lisa, a caring woman who has done this for years to help the feral populations, and to the clinic that kindly agreed to take them all in.

What will be Chapter Two? It is yet to be written...

If you would like to see more photos and postings about

Annie, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Dawn,

click on Our Feral Family under Zoolatry Zoo in right sidebar.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A COMPANION

STORY ABOUT ANNIE and ANNIE.

1:00 PM Eastern Time -- DELTA has launched. She entered the trap (no doubt starving by now poor baby) and is already on her way (or his way) to the vet as I write. ANNIE came through with flying colors, healthy, no diseases, and she is in recovery already and due back home around 4:00 PM today. Now CHARLIE where are you? BRAVO... come back!