FRIENDS FRIDAY ~ Laila Lou

Meet LAILA LOU ~ pretty as a picture!

Original photo by Laila's Mom

Meet LAILA LOU, such a pretty girl ~ she lives in the warmth and sunshine of Florida with a dear friend of ours from years past.  When we had our vacation month in January we had the pleasure of getting together with Laila's Mom for lunch.  Once upon a time we were coworkers and had lived not to far from one another ... but it had been many, many years since we had visited with each other.

Lunch became a several-hours-long talkathon!   I think that speaks to true friendship, enduring ~ surviving the test of time.  Though not seeing one another for maybe as much as ten years, within moments it seemed liked "yesterday".  I truly enjoyed our time together ... Laila Lou is a lucky girl to have such a wonderful Mom!  She's also blessed with some furry-siblings at home, little kits and a pup and a gardenful of feral kitties who are always welcome at mealtime.  Happy Friday to these good friends.  

FLORIDA BIRDS ~ Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

When I lived in East Central Florida, ten years where spent in Cocoa and ten years were spent living on Merritt Island.  I cannot count the number of times over those years that I drove the Black Point Wildlife Drive at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  I drove it in all seasons, at all times of day ~ at sunrise, at sunset.  I drove through when it was overflowing and flooded from tropical storms and I drove through during times when the marshes were little but dry mud flats.  It was a changing landscape of plant life, an abundance of water birds, alligator moving slowly from wind swept marsh grass in search of a spot to sun themselves.

Last weekend, before my flight home to Maryland, we enjoyed yet one more drive here.  A brisk, light jacket kind of day under a sun filled blue sky.  The waters were high.  The air to chilled for alligators this day, but the birds were out, everywhere, busy with morning fishing.  If you'd like to read more about the refuge, click here.

THANKFUL THURSDAY and SAM'S POETRY CORNER

The letter for last week with Sam's Poetry Corner was "F".  We missed taking part and "F" is just so right for us this week, we can't not choose to write for that letter.  Our poem also speaks to Brian's Thankful Thursday ... so hoping Angel Sammy will allow a little "poetic license", here we go ...

FLORIDA FUN

We've had a month of Florida fun.

Some sand, some surf, the warmth of sun.

Time with family, visits with friends.

Sadly now this time must end.

We'll chin-scritch farewell to the little kitties three.

And a goodbye hug with special friend Dee.

Pack up the suitcase and be on our way.

It'll all be here when we return some day.

Thanks ~ Sunshine State!

PS  taking a few days away from blogging now,
see you when when the bags are unpacked and we're settled back in

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

SUNDAY SELFIE

... purr please ... no more photos ... purr please ...

Joining Sunday Selfies, sponsored by The Cat On My Head.  Click here for more.

THE RV LIFE OF THREE KITTIES

Kitties lovin' their RV life ~ top to bottom:

Pip in the rounder.

TK and Pip at a window.

Pip and TK at the screen door.

Pip, TK and Zoey chillin'.

AH, THE BEACH

Ah, the sweet smell of the salt air breeze.

Ah, the sweet sounds of the waves upon the shore.

Ah, the soft sand between my toes ...

I LOVE THE BEACH.

Well, maybe I'm only imagining sand between my toes ...

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Peaceful.  Beautiful  I am thankful. 

Join BRIAN'S THANKFUL THURSDAY,

click here.

WEDNESDAY IN WHITE

A GOOD MORNING KISS

Above: Little Chewy gives Dio a good morning kiss.

Below: A wonderful long weekend with my Florida family.

MARVELOUS MONDAY

Florida fun with my two grands

and their new pup along Lake Monroe riverwalk.

SUNDAY SELFIE ~ THE HAT ON MY HEAD

  

THE CAT HAT ON MY HEAD

So, here's our little "cat on my head" tale ~ when Dee has been brushing TK, Pip and Zoey over the past week or more, she's been collecting their furs into a little pile.  A day or so ago, (being the creative individual she is!) she spent considerable time fashioning their furs (it's a three-cat-fur-hat) into this little hat. 

Now came the question of "who" would wear it?  Well, turned out to be Miss Zoey, who willingly posed and modeled for a series of photos of the new, little, soft and furry "cat hat".  Thanks, Zo ... Thanks, Dee!  And of course, thanks to all kitties who contributed to the making of the hat for todays Sunday Selfie presentation!  

For more Sunday Selfies, just hop over to THE CAT ON MY HEAD ... that's CAT on my Head, not HAT on my Head! 

CATURDAY ART

Caturday Art, sponsored each week by Athena and Marie,

click here to view more.

Here, Zoey, Lunapic overlaid on Photoshop and framed.

LITTLE CAT NAPS

Wednesday, yesterday and today ~ all from a series of photos taken of ZOEY on the couch (the bed, at night when lowered and extended) at the back of the RV.  She loves to curl up ~ or stretch out ~ here in the daytime, when often the Florida sun will stream in the rear windows filling the space with light and warmth.  It is without question the perfect place for little cats and little cat naps. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Brian's Thankful Thursday  

There is much to be thankful for today ~ I am enjoying a months vacation in the warm Florida

sunshine, with a dear friend ... with other good friends ... family nearby I will visit ... 

three sweet kitties, one my old love Zoey ... 

above a few photos of this little girl kitty at rest.

I am in a place where I lived for twenty years ... and yes, some sad memories also live here, but even more so 

I am now able to find good and sweet memories, those that bring smiles.  

A street sign, a restaurant, waves on the Indian River ... 

driving by this, or that or the other, triggers things forgotten over recent years.  

It is good to return, it refreshes my spirit, and so I am thankful.  You can go home again.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

PUPS BY THE POOL

I stole this photo from my daughter-in-law's Facebook page!!!

Dio and Chewy relax poolside at my sons home in central Florida.

Early morning with a little mist atop the water and a spot of sunshine.

Excited to go visit them all this coming long weekend, 

snuggle with dear old Dio ... meet this new Chewy pup 

and it will be so great to see my grandkids!

THE CAT HOTEL

For anyone who just might be wondering, Horton, the RV, is really "a cat hotel" ...

TK, Pip and Zoey have the purrfect traveling accommodations here.

There are several cat trees to choose from, of course, a "hammie" by one window which Pip

in particular enjoys!  TK often chooses his comfy little "burrito" tucked behind the drivers seat.

In back are the "birds nests" ... boxes with blankies inside, for any kitty who wants a little privacy at some point.  Toys?  Well, they are here, there, everywhere!   Breakfast and dinner are served, on time, each and every day, treats are available on demand.  The litter box, well, of course, no need to discuss that.  When Horton is at rest, open windows beckon one and all and sun spots are many!

So ... did you want something?

Nothing to want for ... in this Five-Star Cat Hotel!

SUNDAY SELFIE: THREE CATS

Sunday Selfie

sponsored each week by

THE CAT ON MY HEAD

for more

please click here.

CATURDAY ART

More traveling cats ~ Zoey and Pip, relaxing together as the RV rolls along towards Florida.

Image simply sepia-toned, and bordered with the "cloned blanket" for CATURDAY ART.

For more Caturday Art, sponsored each week by Athena and Marie,

please click here.