Love is in the air

Feind hört mit!

Chucky is chewing - probably on a body part of a mouse or rat. Behind him sits a hungry magpie - bravely or foolishly taking his chances. He would love to have a bite of whatever it is Chucky is having. We watched the two of them, for a while: one sitting and looking, one sitting and snacking taking the risk to be the next bite himself.
But no. Chucky finished his meal and the magpie flew away - Magpies do not seem to grasp the meaning of the concept 'desillusioned'.

Interference

Chucky has decided he needs lots of TLC. Right now. A laptop can rest easily on the knees (why not change the name to kneetop?) while he sneaks up on my lap. It's not ideal: I dont have free movement of my arms without bothering him, and while he likes the warmth coming froming the computer, he doesn't like my arms and hands to move that much. But he went for my lap and he is going to stick to it. Purr, purr, purr.

Trade-off

We've given up trying to rescue the chair from the cats' claws. Let them tear the thing asunder. Chucky has given up trying to escape the camera. He is now turning a blind eye.

Duet for Chucky and Chicken

I looked up straight up from the horses' stable (through the hole we use to get the hay down from the loft into the stable). And there they were, Chucky and Henny, singing in unison. Yet another exclusive from the Hayloft, Woudsend!

Say Cheese

“Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.” ― G.K. Chesterton 

 Sandwich sharing - eating on both ends.

Thick Lip

Both Chick and Chucky are catching mice and rats galore. All kinds: voles and shrews and brown rats and black rats (they have beautiful fur). They bring them in or not. They eat them (whole or party) or not. We find body parts all over the place.
Not all victims die without a struggle, though. Chucky was bitten in his lip by a rodent. It's a bit infected. The left side of his mouth (for the viewer: the right side) is clearly swollen. He doesn't seem to mind much, although he is screaming more for TLC (Tender Loving Care) than ever, especially at five in the morning. And he still loves to jump on a high place (the kitchen cupboards here) and scream for attention. He actually wants you to climb on a chair and stroke him. Sometimes, I do. 

Food Craving

This afternoon, Chick ran into the barn, proudly carrying a dead young black rat in her mouth. Sometimes she put him on the floor to meow and slap the body around like she was Martina Navratilova. Rouschka loves rats, too - to eat. So she stood there, craving rat, knowing  very well it wasn't hers to eat.

Looking at Lunch?

As we were having dinner outside, mother duck and six children dropped in to see if there was any part of the French loaf left for them. (There was.) Chick and Chucky got all excited of course. They had had their dinner already. But I imagined I could see them think about lunch already.

To boldly go...

The rural cat equivalent of a City Trip: visiting a neighboring farm.  Chicky doesn't like to get her paws muddy.

While the humans do their busy work, Chucky goes exploring.

Yes, it is muddy. But there is two of us.

Holes to explore...

 So much to see. So little time.

Back home? Ha! If we stay in the van, sooner or later we will go and have new adventures.

Cat Lick

Present

Chucky brought a gift: a still warm, dead but self-caught brown rat. He has taken a few bites, but we are welcome to most of it.

Catpuchin

Chick and Chucky can still surprise me with their appetites. Sometimes unpleasantly - last week one of them dragged a big dead rat into the bedroom - sometimes striking a happier note. Apparently, Chucky likes the fluid that capuchin beans are kept in. Hopefully, it won't make him fart more.

Too Wet Outside

He could go out - but it's cold and wet and windy. So he keeps warm near the stove instead. The stones are very warm.

Queen B.

Queen B resigned last year as queen - she is back to being princess. This is a reason to party. Princess B (top right) is thanked for her Queen career with a swinging TV show.
We are modestly partying with her at home by preparing - and eating - goose for the first time in our lives.
I think it tastes a bit, well, livery. I don't care much for liver. Fortunately, the Chick loves liver - goose, that is.

Solarium

Is it just the heat, is she being protective or just social? Is she, perhaps tired of being blue and in it for the tan? Fact is, the moment Chick realizes you are in the solarium, she will join you in that lovely warm environment. And she's not one to take no for an answer.