01/24/2020 – Around Colehaus

Winter Violas © Colehauscats.com
Winter Violas © Colehauscats.com

Around Colehaus, we’re entering deep winter. Ice and snow have already come and gone, not that these seed-grown Violas would care. They’re living in a succulent pot close to the house, under a roof eave and loving the chill.

Wild Strawberry © Colehauscats.com
Wild Strawberry © Colehauscats.com

One of a few wild strawberry plants, also grown from seed though not intentionally (thanks to the birds) doesn’t seem to mind the cold either. Mom plans to put all the wild strawberries into one pot in the spring to keep them from taking over the flower beds but if that gets out of control, into the yard debris bin they’ll go. But what about wild strawberries to eat? Oh, sure, sure, Mom says. But with our eyes on an uncertain future, it’s all about keeping the outside looking neat as a pin this year. Thankfully, the yards are easier to maintain than ever before. All that hard work of digging and clearing overgrown plants and trees over the past summers has paid off.

W helps with winter gardening © Colehauscats.com
W helps with winter gardening © Colehauscats.com

Neighbor cat W promises to help with gardening this year.

Oh, who are we kidding? W just wants to watch the visiting birds and mooch Greenie treats from an old, half-opened bag we found in the garage, as any self-respecting outdoor cat would do. Here, he was racing toward Mom in hopes she had treats hidden in a pocket, and when she didn’t, he just kept walking and went home.

Joe Frog's ferny house © Colehauscats.com
Joe Frog’s ferny house © Colehauscats.com

A decade or so ago, we had lots of little green frogs that lived in our backyard and then, one summer, they all up and moved away, probably to a different part of town with a better school system and an award-winning volunteer fire department. You know, some place that little green frogs could raise their tadpoles to become young, confident frogs with bright futures.

One frog has stayed with us for five years. We call him Joe. Now, you might speculate that no frog lives for five years, and we’d probably agree with you. But the fact remains, there’s this one, single, medium-sized frog living in our backyard, a hermit frog, if you will, who just happens to live in the rocks surrounding our fountain. And there’s a fern growing next to his home’s entrance. And someday, Mom will get a photo of Joe and his front door fern. For now, just imagine Joe out there, croaking away at all hours of the day and night, perhaps singing to his fern because he certainly isn’t singing to any other frogs.

Mom's Cyclamen © Colehauscats.com
Mom’s Cyclamen © Colehauscats.com

Mom’s Cyclamen is hanging in there through the cold and she’s pretty happy about that. It has extra bark mulch tucked in around it and though it looks like someone’s been munching on a few leaves here and there, it’s looks pretty good for a greenhouse-grown florists’ plant that most people would have tossed out after blooming back in 2017.

Star Magnolia flower buds © Colehauscats.com
Star Magnolia flower buds © Colehauscats.com

The Star Magnolia is covered in pussy-willow tail buds, waiting for spring.

Who is this? © Colehauscats.com
Who is this? © Colehauscats.com

Peeking out the front window, who do we have here? We don’t know but we’ve seen this kitty before. We’ve never gotten within thirty feet of him but oddly enough, he looked up at us peeking at him from inside and he didn’t bolt, and in fact, sat there on the chair cushion for another hour. Mom says he probably already feels safe here. It’s just a matter of time before we’re all friends.

New neighborhood cat? © Colehauscats.com
New neighborhood cat? © Colehauscats.com

Here’s a shot of him taken back in December. He’s a good, healthy-looking boy. Yeah, he’s gonna need a name sooner or later. Mom’s vote is for Rusty.

Neighborhood cat Scruffy. January 2020 © Colehauscats.com
Neighborhood cat Scruffy. January 2020 © Colehauscats.com

Neighborhood cat Scruffy, who’s pushing sixteen years old this year, is still around and appreciates this fine personal fountain we happen to have for him in our backyard.

Scratchy Post-lovin' Viola © Colehauscats.com
Scratchy Post-lovin’ Viola © Colehauscats.com

Back inside, Viola doesn’t care about what’s going on outside. Just give her her scratchy post tower and any leftover Fancy Feast from Quint’s dinner and she’s okay with the world.

Quint and Olivia lovebugs © Colehauscats.com
Quint and Olivia lovebugs © Colehauscats.com

Lovebugs Quint and Olivia have spent a good portion of this winter sleeping and lounging around together. You’d never guess they once disliked each other with all the fury of a thousand raging blow torches.

Pia contemplates everything © Colehauscats.com
Pia contemplates everything © Colehauscats.com

Lastly, Ginger Princess Pia’s spent a good portion of this chilly time of year contemplating life, love and nose freckles, like you do. Not photographed was Tessa because we all know she was sitting somewhere plotting her next bout of grumpiness. Oops, here she is:

Tessa, always plotting © Colehauscats.com
Tessa, always plotting © Colehauscats.com

Yep, grumpy. The airplane ears kind of tell-all, don’t they?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2019 – No post
2018Napping Newton
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015 – No post
2014Flashback Friday
2013 – No post
2012 – No post

This entry was posted in Olivia, Outside Cats, Pia, Quint, Tessa, Viola, Visitors, Yard and Garden and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

20 Responses to 01/24/2020 – Around Colehaus

  1. Emilia says:

    You have a lovely bunch of neighborhood furballs don’t you? I could see a frog living 5 years reptiles are long lived.

  2. Who is that introoder??????

    The Florida Furkids

  3. Katie Isabella says:

    I love meeting everyone! And Quint, I didn’t know you and Olivia were cuddle buds! Tessa, my gosh. Consider giving it a rest!

  4. Rene S says:

    We can’t believe you have any signs of green in your yard! That’s impressive. We like Rusty as a kitty name.

  5. Whoever said winter was a dull season? All those critters and plants and kitties, and before you know it spring will be here. Glad Quint and Olivia remember they are siblings.

  6. Your new neighbourhood cat looks just like a cat we had long before Eric and Flynn. He was all white apart from his ginger tail and a bit of ginger on his face around his ears.

  7. So many wonderful kitties coming to visit you all. We hope that you are making new friends. Viola, we are just like you. Just give us the simple things in life and we will be ok. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. Have a wonderful day.

  8. da tabbies o trout towne says:

    guyz thiz post rox…all round…plane & simpull !!! well rited 🙂 ♥♥

  9. So nice to see greenery…when we have snow on the ground.

  10. Winter looks pretty in your neck of the woods. Happy Friday!

  11. Cathy Keisha says:

    The unnamed cat sure looks like a Herbie to me. No greens or frog ’round here.

  12. Mary McNeil says:

    We hope you are still all together and enjoying the yard and fountains and each other for a long time to come.

  13. Ellen Pilch says:

    Nice to see all you cuties. The outdoor kitties are cute too.

  14. I hope your neighbors don’t get too cold out there. Nice to see them.

  15. Brian says:

    Y’all have some interesting neighbors, howdy Joe!

  16. Summer says:

    You have a lot of activity in your yard!

  17. Mark's Mews says:

    Hmmm. we think we will tell TBT ta move the deck Pansy pots up against the hpuse. A little extra warmth might help.

  18. Poor Tessa! She should NEVER be last! She’s plotting her revenge.

  19. meowmeowmans says:

    Tessa, all that plotting must be exhausting! Maybe you can take a day off sometime. Quint and Olivia, being friends is much nicer than hating on each other, huh? 🙂

    We like the name Rusty for your introoder, too!

  20. Nice to meet your neighbors ! Your yard looks like the place to be for these kitties. Purrs

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