Beauty and The Bees

Greetings Miaowleteers!  When FH said she wanted to photograph something beautiful in the paddocks I rightly assumed it was me, what could be more beautiful than Queen Catanian?

So off I sauntered with FH in tow..... this way....

Wait a minute.... she's taking pictures of other stuff!

Time to leap in her lap and knead her with my claws and purr and headbutt til she sees sense.

Doesn't she know that butterflies and bees are for pretend chasing? OK so I never actually manage to catch any (much to FH's pleasure and my despair) but it's a good game!
 

Great White Butterfly... Great for chasing.....

After a while I realised that butterflies and bees are not so bad because they make FH sit quietly and still for ages so that I get lots of attention - definite bonus.  We girls stayed monitoring the local wildlife for ages and here are some of our shots taken in the Muleteers winter paddock residence, whoever said equines, cats and nature can't live in harmony?


Peacock Butterfly



Red Admiral

 

 



Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

 

 

Bee enjoying yarrow and knapweed

 

Fly away home.....

 

Finally FH took some pictures of the real 'wild' life!

 

 

Have a purring good week!  Here's hoping for some sunshine, butterflies to lazily watch and lots of kitty cat play :-)

 

No Bull Mule

I had high hopes this evening of some fun.

Maybe a ride?  But no... FH said as it was raining I had managed to plaster myself with sticky, wet mud and there was no way my finest mule saddle was going near that mud pack.

That was ok though because FH took me for a walk, I am practising that agility, obedience stuff on her so it was a good chance to show her some moves.

So off we pottered up the lane to check on the hedge growth, the neigh-bours and the weather, FH says these last two topics are what most people chat about, so it's not just us mules then?

Catanian decided she needed a walk too, she has been hiding away in her cat palace as she didn't want to get her paws wet but a little persuasion and she was ready for a hike.  That kitty cat is game!



So I tested out the hedgerows and munched on the hogweed, think this should be called 'mule weed' I like it so much, FH says I could be a giraffe in disguise in that first pic, well how rude!

Catanian started out well but then realised quite how wet it was, she was miaowing and complaining but wouldn't go home on her own, she decided the best place to hide was on the human's feet as she could make the most of her coat overhang!

Nearly home and I spied some newcomer neigh-bours.  Hey boys, how you doin'?

Well really anyone would think you'd never seen a mule before, don't stare it's rude!

Mmmm.... that grass near you looks really good to eat, don't mind if I snatch from under your wet noses do you?

Yeah, yeah Catanian I know it's wet and you're not happy and sat there all cat like and sulky but I'm like busy chatting up these boys....

Hey there boys, no wonder you are stunned by my mulificence, think you need some better ears though.

Check out my finest half-ass!

Check out my half-ass!

Nah, looks like there's no bull in this field, all about the bull-ettes I think.  FH says I'm a terrible flirt, not fussy and an embarrassment to mulettas everywhere..... whatever, I am just keeping up with the neigh-bours.  

Time for home Catanian we don't wanna be around when the real bull arrives......

Every Queen Must Find Her King

A throne befitting Queen Catanian

Greetings Miaowleteers!  Those equines have been keeping the blog all to themselves but today I have managed to get my paws on it.  It is only befitting that a Queen should get the chance to address her subjects.  As Queen Catanian of the Queendom Muleteer I wish you good evening!

There are many advantages of being the Queen.  I am always the first to be fed and unlike my hoofed subjects I can go wherever I please, no chance of fencing this kitty cat in!  I have so many acres of farmland, moorland and lanes to roam but I am rarely to be found far from my Queendom, I am most happy when I'm with my Muleteers and enjoy watching my subjects benevolently.

There are two things that a Queen must have.... one is a King and the other is a throne!

As I am a thrifty Queen I am keen to save on expenses wherever I can (except when it comes to my kitty cat food) so I have come up with an ingenious solution.  What if my King can also be my throne?

I summonsed The Mini and commanded him to assist me in my quest...

Oh yes!  This is perfect, Queen Catanian approves of her throne, it is always warm and cosy and I can converse with my King on matters of Queendom importance... I name thee King Mini!

Do I make this throne look good?

A Queen must also have a soft, soft bed to lay on.  As befits my majestic place in life I must have a day bed and an evening bed.  You never know when the need to sleep may overcome you.

A Queen has the right to claim any area of her kingdom that she desires!  So here I have decided that I should like to sleep in the Muleteers straw, no nibbling now my subjects, not when your Queen is in residence.

Finally when night falls and I have finished prowling my Queendom I take up my place in my Queenly night bed.  Here I am all tucked up in my bed, the minis think this is their stable, they are incorrect it is the Queen's Palace. 

When I have dreamed a while I often need a snuffle and pampering so I call upon my King to join me.  Mini comes to stand over me and is rather partial to snuffling and grooming me when I'm dozing in my Queen's Palace.  When FH first saw this on her peeking camera she was so worried, would The Mini stand on me, did he mean me harm? What a silly human, of course he didn't for a King only wishes his Queen to be happy.  What a lucky Kitty Cat Queen I am!

So my dearest subjects as you can see a Queen must have her Queendom and her pleasures....  With King Mini and my loyal band of subjects I really am a lucky Kitty Cat Queen ;-)

Tidy Your Room!

Hey Catanian!  Your room is a mess, you really need to tidy up in here.... it's a disgrace...

What'd you mean I'm not supposed to be here?  The door was open and there's a mule shaped space so I thought I pop in and do inspection duty.

It's a good job I did! Would you look at this mess! Your room is a disgrace... there is hay all over the floor, here let me help you tidy that up... don't look so unamused!  What's that you say that I'll get stuck?  No don't be silly I can turn in the tightest spaces, some of us watch our waistline unlike those boys!

And what's this you've got hidden in here?  That looks like my favourite food.... hang on a minute the bag seems to be empty... where have you hidden it naughty kitty?!

Is it in here, gosh it's such a mess!  Don't miaow at me that it was human's fault and they were trying to make space for my straw....and it's not your room anyway, of course it is! The minis have one stable, I have the other and you have the smallest room at the end surely?

Look, evidence!  I found your stinky kitty cat food...

What's that you said?  You don't bother sleeping in here any longer as it's soooo messy, you've found a tidy bedroom?  With THE BOYS?!  What?!  They are not tidy!  I've seen their bedroom in the morning, it looks like they've had a party, food everywhere, mini nuggets sprinkled far and wide and buckets up ended.  I don't know how a lady can live in such a place?

What do you mean you have a deal?  The Minis check when you're in residence (your ladyship)....

Then they guard you and snuggle down with you...

All that in exchange for some mouse deterrent duties and a little friendship.... 

Hmmm I'm sticking with the lady's bedroom next-door.... think you need to tidy those boys up!  

FH come here and tidy this store room up.... it's a disgrace! Otherwise I'm calling Granny Human and she'll make you as only Mum's can ;-)

Walking The Mini Mule

Hey Catanian!  Let's take FH for a walk!  She needs to keep fit and it's a lovely evening so I think it's only fair that we take her out to see what's happening don't you?

You should never pass up the opportunity for a walk with good friends, especially when the sun shines, the grass is green and there is mischief to be made ;-)

Let's drag FH up the lane to go check out what's happening in the neighbrayhood.

Who says that going for a walk is only for the canine members of the clan?  I see no reason that walking a mini mule and his feline friend is not more common?  Anyway we're in charge of the human so off we go.








Come on Mini hurry up!  Stop stuffing your face all the time....

I'm walking and eating, walking and eating, now who's left behind Catanian, stop chasing the small furries in the hedge, you've already had dinner.. I however, am starving! Mmmm loving the dandelions!

Yum!  These primroses look tasty too....mmmm..... FH is so mean with the green stuff at home, it's so nice to take her out for a picnic!  Now what's next on the menu? Hey Catanian get off FH's feet will you!  I've got places to go, plants to eat and you're holding me up!

What do you mean you'll try standing on my feet too?  You pesky kitty what are you doing playing under my tummy???  Hmmmmmmm..........

OK enough of this lack of concentration, let's go check out the grass down here, it looks yummy! What are you doing in that drainage pipe kitty?

Hey come back here, stop taking the shortcut to the next field down that pipe!

It's not fair I won't fit.... come back here! Pesky cat..... Oh well time for some more munching.

Well if Catanian's taking the shortcut I better get my walking trousers on and drag FH up this hill, care to join me for a stroll?

Oh look! Lots of big cattle, their ears are quite lacking though aren't they?  Hope my kitty cat's careful, her shortcut takes her through their field!

Ah, phew!  Here she is... that cat has 9 million lives, she seems to think if she lives with us mules those cow things are nothing to be afraid of!

Time for home now girls, what a nice way to spend a sunny evening, I'm never one to turn down an invitation for a walk, seems the girls aren't either.... same time tomorrow?

Cat and Mules

Miaow, Dragon, I'm bored!  

The mice have all run away and there's no one to play 'Cat and Mouse' with.  

Please will you play with me?  We could make a new game called 'Cat and Mule'! You'd love it!

No Catanian, go away I'm eating!!  Can't you see I have important things to do!

Fine then I'll go and play on my own..... those mules like rolling around, I'll give it a go too!

It's no good I'm still BORED!

Oh come on Dragon, stop standing there stuffing your face, a minute on the lips an inch on the hips remember!  I'm bored and I'm just gonna keep annoying you til you play with me!

"Oh for Goodness sake Catanian!  OK, OK, what are the rules of the game?"

"Well Dragon it's like playing chase, today I'll be the mouse and you can be the cat (confusing hey?!), you need to try and catch me and I'll try to get away!"

Hmmm, sounds quite easy, I can catch that pesky cat!

Come on Dragon, ready, let's go!!  What do you mean you can't catch me up here? 

That's the idea!  The game of Cat and Mule is impossible.....for once I get to be the hunted and hah!  You Can't Get Me! ..... What do you mean you don't wanna play anymore?  We've only just started!

Come back here kitty cat!! You're not supposed to be running away to the other side of the fence where I can't get you..... I am not impressed at this game.  We mules are not outsmarted often!  If I could somehow get over this gate I'd catch you!

Hehehe, that got the mule angry!  Oops!  

It's interesting to know what it feels like to be the mouse and just sit tantalisingly out of reach ;-)  I seem to have found myself in the fire pile, yikes, best get out of here quick before Dragon gets over here and starts breathing fire..... I might be in trouble then!

Here's to my new game Cat and Mule - how to frustrate your long eared friends in one easy step..... I did rather enjoy it ;-)