Orange-striped Office-Mates

Mike took this photo of me at my desk with a cat on either side of me. He thinks it's pretty funny the way the cats have "arranged" my workspace to suit themselves. Actually, this crazy set-up has just sort of evolved over the past week or so.

First, Scout was being a super-pest, always wanting to be in my lap while I'm trying to work. Then Jack would get up on my desk and squeeze himself behind my laptop (where it's warm) and lay on top of the wires and cables for a nap. After awhile I was tired of Scout being on my lap all the time so I opened up one of the top side drawers on my desk and placed a folded blanket in it. She took to it immediately.

Well, it wasn't long before Jack started bulldozing his way onto Scout's spot and then Scout was back to insisting on sitting on my lap.

The other top side drawer was opened, another blanket folded up and placed there, and now they are both happy. Anytime I'm in the office, they are, too. Now, if I could just get them to help me with some of my work!

When I've had enough of the computer I like to relax with a piece of needlework like this:
Just one of my many in-work projects!

The Orange Tabby Cat and the Mockingbird

Cat people will understand this cross-stitch picture. I love how the mockingbird is pulling out tufts of the cat's fur to build his nest!

We have lots of mockingbirds in northern California, and they do NOT like cats! Our Burmese cat, Tony, used to get dive-bombed constantly by the mockingbirds that frequented our yard. He would simply continue strolling across the yard, he was too high-and-mighty to even acknowledge them. More recently, this summer I saw "our" mockingbirds perched on the cat fencing scolding Jack and Scout(our orange tabbie sibs) as they rolled in the warm dirt, or chased bugs. The cats ignore the birds. It's an interesting "relationship," to say the least!

Since we have both mockingbirds and cats, this cross-stitch pattern was one I wanted to stitch, and I had a great time stitching it. A lot of the work was done during last year's sailing trip with the Baja Ha-Ha. So it has double the meaning to me, and I'll remember all of these things every time I look at it: Baja Ha-Ha, sailing with Mike, Mexico, Tony, Jack, Scout, and our lovely and entertaining mockingbirds.

The needlework was framed by Lowell and Carol of Benicia Frame. I trust them with ALL my special framing needs, and have done so for over a decade. Their work is exquisite, thoughtful, and always looks gorgeous.