Puzzling pumpkins

This 1,000-piece "Heirloom Pumpkins" puzzle was a lot harder than I anticipated. The puzzle colors don't match the poster colors and many of the colors are similar. It did provide a nice resting area for Ruby.

This took a long time but I finished before Halloween!

There's one piece missing and I thought I opened this one new. Fortunately, I found the "missing" piece when I was putting the puzzle away!

Ruby the model

These cats usually hide when I pull out my camera but Ruby was very cooperative the other day.

She looks different from the opposite angle. Must be the eyes.

Pretty girl.

D has a stocking

I've been searching all year for a Christmas stocking for D. The one I had been using was a bit too small. When I saw this one - and noticed that it had a D on it - it seemed like it was meant to be. And that Longaberger basket I don't need was $2.09.

Ruby loves it. I may have just purchased a fancy cat bed.

Bird puzzle

Ruby was trying to help put this bird puzzle together.

I got it new so all of the pieces were there and was able to finish it before I leave for Alaska!

Sleeping beauties

Piper ...

and Ruby.

Togetherness.

Gotcha day anniversary

Yesterday, July 26, was the cats' one-year anniversary of being with us. They've grown a lot. They're still more skittish than I'd like but they're still young. Maybe in another year they'll be calmer?

Here's Ruby. She loves to sit like this on the back of the dining room chairs. She seems to like me more than Andy and sits with me in the evenings. She's cuddly but still likes to lick me ... too much.

Piper seems a bit more adventurous. Here she is on the kitchen counter. When I'm getting ready in the morning, she hoos up on the bathroom sink and waits for me to turn on the water so she can get a drink. Usually when I get out of the shower she is sitting on the bed waiting for me. She sits with Andy every night so we say she's "his cat" but she sleeps by my legs. Ruby comes to bed with us too but usually wakes up and starts licking our faces so she gets tossed out.

They both like to play, like treats, enjoy sitting on my puzzles and follow me around all day when I'm home. They're both scared of loud sounds and sudden movements. Let's hope they get calmer and cuddlier in the coming year.

The cats

My cute jungle cat. Should I tell Piper the plant is fake?

Ruby has a knack for looking scared in photos.

Flashback pantry puzzle

I feel like I'm being watched which, while a bit creepy, is better than having Ruby sitting on the puzzle.

This puzzle is called "Mom's Pantry." Just labels of food items a few decades ago and some still look the same, unless they have changed and I just haven't noticed. Complete!

Cat friends

Our neighbors have three indoor/outdoor cats who apparently are very curious why our cats stay inside.

Make yourself at home, cat. I'm not sure what this one's name is but she's a beauty.

This one is funny with their black cat, Frankie, sitting on our air conditioner. The other cat is just chillin' on the sidewalk. Our cats are in the window checking Frankie out.

Cat library puzzle

Piper usually doesn't bother my puzzles, but this one must have been particularly interesting.

Ruby prefers puzzles with bigger boxes. This one doesn't quite fit her.

All done with one piece missing.

I blame Ruby

I grabbed my coat to go move my car during work yesterday and noticed a slit in the back. The stuffing was poking out!

Pretty easy to put the blame on Ruby who loves to sit on the backs of the dining room chairs. And look at those claws! Maybe I'll learn to hang my coat up? Probably not.

New Yorker Impressionism puzzle

I like puzzles of New Yorker magazine covers (they remind me of my mother-in-law who appreciated the cover art) but this Impressionism painting one was hard. I tried to start with the border, then switched to the water and the title. The rest was piece by piece and a lot of luck.

This was a difficult puzzle but it's done ... and surprisingly, complete!

Pretty poses

Piper

and Ruby

Cuddling cats

Well, this is just adorable, but wait. Piper isn't alone ...

she's being cuddled by Ruby. Look at Ruby's paw resting in Piper's tail. Aww.

Enjoying the sun

I ran an errand yesterday, came home and found both cats lounging (napping) in the sun.

It's been a while since we've had warmer, sunny days.

Bad cats

These two cats are something.

Cookbook puzzle

Yes, Ruby likes to sleep in puzzle boxes.

I was almost done with the puzzle when Piper decided she likes the box too.

This was a fun one that I picked up from a neighbor on Christmas Eve. It had all of its pieces!

Cats at Christmas

The cats are enjoying having the folding chairs all over the living room from our family Christmas. They won't be around for long.

This picture of Piper was taken on Christmas.

Kittens and ribbon

I left a roll of curling ribbon on the dining room table in a tin with my wrapping tape, scissors, pens and gift tags. It was still wrapped in the cellophane so I figured it would be OK while I ran out to the store. I was wrong. Piper and Ruby were having a lot of fun with it when I returned. It's now hidden in a cabinet.

Christmas cats

I managed to get a picture of Piper and Ruby in their Christmas bow ties. It's not easy to get a picture of the together. They're not yet the natural models that August and Muffles seemed to be.