Not a dry eye in Southern Alberta today..

Sorry.  I know this blog has suffered over the last few days, but I've really had nothing to say.  Barn Cat Mansion is nestled high on a hillside just beyond what you see here, so we're safe and dry.  Seventeen miles north, an entire town, population 13000 is under water.  They're calling it "Alberta Floods 2013".  The devastation is indescribable.... 

He must have *CADD!!

*(Cat Attention Deficit Disorder)
Shortly after LOBE showed how adept he is at plank walking, he fell off, so Big Kitty is  demonstrating determination and focus.

Focus on the road ahead and

DON'T LOOK DOWN!!!  Well, look down at the plank, but don't look down to the ground!

It's his loss.....

At Barn Cat Mansion, Father's Day lasted all day long with Big Kitty trying to be a father again.

He's already a father, probably 20 times over.

He could have spent the day with everyone, but instead hung out in the junkyard with Timbit.  He'll be sorry when they all leave home and forget about him!

Father's Day at the Mansion

LOBE sends a message
to all "cat fathers"
in the universe

Happy Father's Day

Even if you don't know your own children, you can always mentor a young cat or two along the way.

And LOBE thanks Big Kitty for teaching him everything he knows about walking on corral planks.

No such luck!!

Out behind the fuel tanks, hiding in the junkyard, we spotted Big Kitty hanging out with Timbit.

Big Kitty, leave her alone!!

We were hoping Big Kitty would step aside and let Pinkerton look after at least one future set of kittens at Barn Cat Mansion.

Pink kittens with dark points would be so cute!

Official Photo 2013

Portrait of a King......

Bumble Bee Lion King Orangey Butt

to be exact!!

He is a living testament to the fact that you can be anything you want to be.  He was a bedraggled little orphan when Peyton found him in the field, but look at him today!

Purely majestic!! (AKA Big Kitty)

Stay home!!

SOCKS!!
GET DOWN!!

You're not going to town.  When this truck gets to the highway and shifts into 4th,  you will fall right off!!  Someone on the highway will pick you up and we'll never see you again!!

Safe and secure....

Southern Alberta is known for spectacular mountains, rolling hills, prairie grain fields and.......the Chinook wind.  In winter, a westerly wind blows in and takes a -30 F day to 32 F in two or three hours.

In the spring and summer, it's just annoying!!

Here at 220 Basin Road, Mr. Bluebird is happy to see a "Chinook wind strap" attached to his house.  Nails and screws can't keep a house stable when the air goes by at 65 mph!!

The last supper???

"Aha!!  Now I've got you where I want you, Mother!!"

"Yes child,  you do.  But there are a couple of things you don't know:

  1.  I brought you into this world and I can......
       WEAN you.....anytime I want.
  2.  When I wean you, you will be on your own!!

Just remember, life as a solitary barn cat isn't all it's cracked up to be!!"

Persistance pays off.

To answer a question running through your minds, you haven't seen this cat before because she is a

"Ghost Kitty" and they're not always visible.
(sometimes they live at the neighbor's)

"Anyway!!  Here I have Mom almost in position.  If I root around a little more, she'll finally tip over and I will have a warm and refreshing lunch.

.....ONE MORE BIG PUSH AND.......

Good grief!!

It all started like this:

"I woke my mother!  She said to leave her alone because she was dreaming of a kitten who wasn't so demanding, but she sprung to life.  With sleep still in her eyes, she tried to accommodate me and my unsolicited enthusiasm.  I burrowed between her front legs which caused a back leg to lift and she almost tipped over.  I am getting a bit aggressive, but

 I'M HUNGRY!!"

Get ready, mother!!

 "Lunch time begins now.  I've placed my mother in a comfy location, far away from the puddles outside.  She is sleeping now, but soon she'll get a RUDE awakening.  I'll show you over the next few days how an only kitten acts when it requires lunch.

And be prepared,

....you may find my behaviour disturbing." ;)

Don't look at me!!

You can imagine the surprise when we opened the shop door at Fox Farm and were greeted with this!!

It's a little ghost kitty belonging to one of the Ghost Kitty's who move around the neighborhood, sometimes there.....sometimes not.  And this is what it had to say.

"If you keep staring, I'll run away.  Mom and I stopped in here to get out of the rain.  I'll have lunch and then we'll leave."

It'll be a crash course!

Sitting on the sawhorse with Uncle Pinkerton (on his mother's side) the little kitten wondered who would teach him the finer points of life if Big Kitty didn't have time.

There would be mice to catch, flies to chase, birds to scare and lots of gophers to pounce on and bring back to the Mansion for special occasions.  And there isn't much time, since all four kittens are moving soon.

Uncle Pinkerton has been looking for a project away from the evil eye of Big Kitty.

Maybe he can teach the little cat a thing or two about life! :)

A fact of life......

"Hi Flag."

"Hi Little Almost Orphan AnnieCat."

"Hey Flag.  I met my dad today and he's a real cool dude.  The only problem is, he doesn't seem to like me."

"Ohhhh, little kitten.  He loves you very much, but he's King of the Mansion.  His silence may be deafening, but he has a heart of gold.  If he allows one second of weakness, Pinkerton, Hillside Warrior, will take charge of Barn Cat Mansion and every cat who lives within.  Big Kitty, as he's affectionately known, isn't ready to give up the throne." 

Not a real "dad".....

Big Kitty opened his eyes and said,

"Yes, I am your Dad."

With unbridled excitement, the kitten began to yell,
"I FOUND MY DAD!!  I FOUND MY DAD!
Everyone come over and meet my Dad.  This is the best day ever!!

Little did he know that "cat dads" don't really care........:(