12/31/2021 – Recapping 2021 and Happy 2022!

Happy 2022 from Olivia and Quint! © Colehauscats.com
Happy 2022 from Olivia and Quint! © Colehauscats.com

From all of us here at Colehaus Cats, Dad and Mom, Tessa, Pia Bean, Quint, Olivia, and the baby Viola, we wish you a safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. May 2022 be happy, productive, and filled with joy and wonder. Thank you for visiting us over the past year, for enjoying our photos, reading our words, and leaving comments. As always, lurkers are very welcome. We hope what we’re doing works for you and you come away with a smile and warmth in your heart. Let us know how we’re doing and help us make this a better place!

In the meantime, let’s run through a 2021 Colehaus Cats recap:

Quint Scotch Tape Head © Colehauscats.com
Quint Scotch Tape Head © Colehauscats.com

January 2021 brought welcome gifts from Friends of Colehaus (THANK YOU again!), winter naps, long talks, a confession or maybe not, a tiny visitor, and things on cats, because everyone in this house knows if you are looking for a roll of tape, you only need to look to someone’s head.

Ice coated jasmine in the garden © Colehauscats.com
Ice coated jasmine in the garden © Colehauscats.com

In early February, Quint felt under the weather and as it turned out, his teeth decided some antibiotics might be nice, along with a bit of pain medication while waiting for dental surgery a few months out. Viola took the opportunity to lay claim to items around the house just in time for a rare February Pacific Northwest snow and ice storm. Some photo bloopers and miscellaneous stuff sifted to the top of the posting pile, and yes, that included more things on cats. No, Mom’s still not tired of that.

Good girl © Colehauscats.com
Good girl © Colehauscats.com

March 2021 began with a who gets along with who post. Can’t all of you just get along? Later in the month, while Mom and Dad worked on trying to trim their upcoming tax bill, Pia’s pantaloons declared an emergency and the clippers were needed. There were words and busy schedules, questions, and good girls, like all months of March need.

Perfect girl Olivia and her feathery hat © Colehauscats.com
Perfect girl Olivia and her feathery hat © Colehauscats.com

Flowers were bursting out all over by April. Still looking for a better-paying job, Dad learned about job recruiter ghosting *sigh* and Mom took a short spring blog break to whip our garden into shape. In the midst of a month-long email snafu, we found time for a flashback, some facts and fibs, and a perfect cat. . . who just happens to wear a hat. Amazing! Quint lost three toofies to dental surgery and truly wonderful angels and Friends of Colehaus helped with his bill. And sent very welcomed food and necessities for all! THANK YOU!

Flowers all over © Colehauscats.com
Flowers all over © Colehauscats.com

Hey! May 2021 showcased lots of cats! Might be because we’re a cat blog, and so, cat poetry might fit right in there. Also, featured were cat toys, preferential spots, and good cat things like special Tooth Fairy toys for Quint, who shared them; he’s very nice that way. Perfect cat Olivia gave us a bit of a scare but came away with a clean bill of health and becoming our third cat to fully embrace wet canned food over dry kibble. Oh, and more garden flowers.

Waiting for the Cheese season © Colehauscats.com
Waiting for the Cheese season © Colehauscats.com

June heated up quickly and everyone staked out their favorite cool spots. We figured since Olivia became a wet food girl last month, maybe Pia could switch over, too. Nope. Not happening. On top of being a perfect girl, Olivia offered us humans some good life habits to adopt. Tessa wanted the melty summer season renamed Cheese season and then, there’s the morning “snack” routine to remember. Don’t forget the snacks, Mom!

Found work kittens © Colehauscats.com
Found work kittens © Colehauscats.com

We had raccoon babies visit in July! And cat visitor Rusty who still won’t come within ten feet of Mom. Fourth of July fireworks FINALLY were almost nonexistent, meaning no one hid under the bed for the first time in decades! Our area had an all-time high temperature of 117 degrees (F) and a couple of feral kittens were found at Mom’s uncooled work warehouse. July included questions, routines, a story, some singing, and yeah, you probably guessed it, more things on cats. And Dad.

Looking for the toys © Colehauscats.com
Looking for the toys © Colehauscats.com

We were all looking for ways to cool down in August 2021. Well, not the way Pia had envisioned. Mom took time to get house stuff done and get a flat tire, too, because she’s extra productive that way. We shared lots of blooper photos, some craziness, and Dad’s second attempt to convert Pia into a canned food diva. Nope. Still not happening. August’s weather continued to broil through the end but this year’s garden flowers seemed to like the heat. And the raccoon babies didn’t seem to mind either.

Viola's long legs © Colehauscats.com
Viola’s long legs © Colehauscats.com

Reporter Olivia weighed in with some September tattling. We shared a day with Tessa (one of her favorite topics, by the way) and memories of time past. Mom kept trying to accomplish her huge to-do list through house repairs, hot weather, tattle tail kitties, and Dad sharing the flu. And then, she had to remember how to blog. LOL!

Viola says thank you © Colehauscats.com
Viola says thank you © Colehauscats.com

So wildly happy that summer was over and with October 2021 nearly gone too, we spent the rest of the month feeling downright giddy. And then, something miraculous happened. We had a single Non-Chaotic day in which nothing adverse happened here! Yes, we marked our calendar. Wouldn’t you?

Pia waiting for special time © Colehauscats.com
Pia waiting for special time © Colehauscats.com

The garden outside started winding down in November. It was so hot over the summer, many flowers hung on much longer than usual, well into November. And so, Pia told a story, almost everyone shared pictures of their toes, we covered a cat rule, tossed in some fiction, and Mom wrote up yet another to-do list. It was a busy November.

Christmas bananas © Colehauscats.com
Christmas bananas © Colehauscats.com

With December’s much cooler temperatures came Quint’s superior toys, Tessa’s Dad realization, a bit of winter sunshine, and someone laundering toys. Who does that?? That person *might* have made up for that by buckling down and creating this year’s Christmas e-cards. And as usual, no one else was happy about that complete turn of events. But then, magic happened! So, there you have it. We started the year with things on cat’s heads and end with happy, happy Christmas banana toys. It all worked out and the cats couldn’t be happier.

Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks for visiting and reading us!

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2020 – No post
2019 – No post
2018 – No post
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015 – No post
2014A 2014 Recap and Happy 2015!
2013The Last Ruby Tuesday
20122012 – Colehaus Cats Recap

Posted in Angels, Flashback Cats, Friends of Colehaus, Holidays, Olivia, Outside Cats, Pia, Quint, Tessa, the Dad, Toys, Vet Visit, Viola, Visitors, Yard and Garden | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

12/29/2021 – Three Word Wednesday

Mom’s cleaning! Why?

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2020 – No post
2019 – No post
2018 – No post
2017Almost Over
2016 – No post
2015Ruby Tuesday
2014This and That Updates
2013 – No post
2012 – No post

Posted in Viola | Tagged | 12 Comments

12/27/2021 – Around Colehaus

New neighborhood/stray Lloyd © Colehauscats.com
New neighborhood/stray Lloyd © Colehauscats.com

Thank you again for your Christmas gifts and cards, in all forms! This is our Christmas and we enjoy and savor each and every one. Thank you, dear Friends of Colehaus!

We were supposed to be hit with a rare Christmas Day snow storm that had Mom and Dad worried. Dad had to work that day, across the river in Portland, and since Mom was off work, she had to drive him there (to save on Lyft ride costs). The morning drive was fine, no problems, it wasn’t even cold enough for snow. And the late evening drive was exactly the same. No rain, no snow, not even cold enough for much of anything. So, no problems. Disappointing? A little, but no worries, either.

Then, snow greeted us Sunday morning on Boxing Day. Thankfully, Dad’s off work until later in the week.

December snow, 2021 © Colehauscats.com
December snow, 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Snowy Christmas lights, 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Snowy Christmas lights, 2021 © Colehauscats.com

Teensy-tiny flakes fell on and off most of the day while the streets stayed pretty much bare. Snow doesn’t stop our visitors. Lloyd (see above) is a new boy in the neighborhood and just as elusive as Rusty. Mom thinks Lloyd is a little deaf; not completely, and she hopes to get to know him better in the future. She keeps saying that about Rusty, too, but nothing has changed Rusty’s mind. He’s his own cat and has little use for some lady shaking a food bowl.

Visitors © Colehauscats.com
Visitors © Colehauscats.com

Raccoons visit every day after dark and Mom was downright squealing with giddiness when she spotted an opossum on our fence Christmas eve. It’s been nearly twenty years since we’ve had a ‘possum on our property and Mom loves them dearly. “A Christmas miracle,” she proclaimed and hopes to see it again soon, if for no other reason than to capture a few photos of “Paulie.”

Pretty perennial, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Pretty perennial, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Rosemary, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Holly berries, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Holly berries, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com

Elsewhere in the garden, two things are flowering including a pretty low-growing perennial that, sadly, we’ve lost the tag for, and a pot of rosemary. The holly bushes are filled with bright red berries and from a window, Quint still enjoys watching the birds flit in and out of the big bushes, nibbling on berries.

Mom's Cyclamen, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Mom’s Cyclamen, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com

Mom’s Cyclamen is doing exceptionally well. She checks it once or twice a month and rakes the hazelnut shells close around the plant. Those shells really do keep the slugs away!

December moss, 2021 © Colehauscats.com
December moss, 2021 © Colehauscats.com

It’s a good thing Mom likes moss, because we have lots of it covering rocks and boulders outside this year. Let’s not forget we’ve had a few moss-less years fairly recently. Because she’s a moss fan, during those moss-less years Mom gave serious thought to creating an indoor Mossarium, which is like a terrarium but with different kinds of moss. There are gorgeous Mossarium photos online, and how-to books and videos and kits and even completed Mossariums to buy and admire, if one were to do so. But since she has little free time, Mom’s decided she already lives in a Mossarium-world that just happens to be called the Pacific Northwest. And that’s good enough for her.

Paperwhites, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Paperwhites, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com

Another thing we haven’t seen in a few years are Paperwhite Narcissus. Both Mom and Dad LOVE Paperwhites, but they can be expensive. We’re lucky to have received a handful of bulbs in late November and all, kept well away from the cats, are now blooming spectacularly! Dad always mentions how he adores the strong fragrance that some people claim smells like dirty litter boxes. Being as he’s the head litter box cleaner around here (twice a day, every day!), he assures those people Paperwhites do not smell like dirty litter boxes, and if yours does, you need to simply send all your Paperwhites to him to enjoy.

Olivia and Quint, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com
Olivia and Quint, December 2021 © Colehauscats.com

Lastly, Olivia and Quint wish you to know it’s definitely time for snuggly and warm flannel sheets and the official sheet changer here needs to get with the program. Okay, kitties. Consider it done!

Thanks for visiting Colehaus! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas weekend!

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2020 – No post
2019 – No post
2018 – No post
2017Holiday Aftermath
2016 – No post
2015 – No post
2014 – No post
2013Colehaus Cats Christmas
2012 – No post

Posted in Olivia, Outside Cats, Quint, the Dad, Visitors, Yard and Garden | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments