The Cat's Whiskers

Now that they have a second home all the way up in Friesland, Chick's whiskers are getting longer and longer. Chucky no longer cuts them off - he has better things to do, like chase butterflies, mosquito's, mice, birds, chicken, frogs, even mice. His sister's whiskers have benefited enormously.


On this picture, taken about one year ago, she still had a short, Adolf-esque mustache, kept short by Chucky when they were sleeping together. Partly out of boredom, I think, and partly because short hairs prickle more than long ones. As anyone can confirm who has ever kissed a man (or woman) with a five o'clock shadow.

Cat & Car

Chick & Chucky like cars. Whenever a visitor arrives or leaves by car, Chick and/or Chucky will jump in as soon as a car door is opened. It's a need to inspect. They don't mind driving, either (as is obvious from the banner of this blog), as long as it doesn't take too long and the driving takes place in the daytime. Driving in the dark just isn't their thing. And to drive that point home, they meow all the way.

When the traffic is easy, driving from Amsterdam to Friesland takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, which C&C feel is a bit too long. But once we're in the car and on the motorway going north, they are released from their containers, free to roam. Usually they end up taking turns sitting on my lap.

I took this picture with my iPhone while driving.Of course I was keeping one and a half eyes on the road, which I hope accounts for the expression on my face. But when I looked at it the next day, I thought: 'the look on my face resembles my cat's. I am starting to look like Chucky.' Or he is starting to look like me. A case of owner-pet symbiosis?

Chucky & Chickens

He does think they're too big to eat, and he keeps his distance fromt the rooster. But when he feels like it, Chucky likes to scare the chickens. Chase them a bit for fun, not lunch.
But Lenie (the darker chicken on the left) is still very protective of her child, even though Hennie is now an almost grown chicken.
Lenie knows she can put herself between the cat and her child, make herself bigger and trying to look like the ferocious chicken-mother from hell she really isn't. She has done so in the past. And so Chucky leaves them alone. There are lots of other things to amuse oneself with.

Late Night Stroll

When Chick and Chucky reside in the countryside (rural Friesland, to be more exact), they like to join the dogs for the evening walk.
This is both routine and adventure. It means leaving the trusted premises and traveling along the public road, every inch of which has to be inspected. The adjoining gardens and yards have to be inspected, too, of course. This takes time. If C&C see a car, a bike, a strange dog or neighbor approach, they hide till the coast is clear.
When we finally all return to base (the kitchen), the dogs will chew on a snack and Chick and Chucky get their well-deserved saucer with milk. A perfect ending to a perfect evening.