Trilling Tankene

Our kitchen smelled like heaven -what with the blueberry pancakes and the scrambled eggs and bacon a' frying in the pan. Real Maple syrup drizzled over this wonderous concoction. I'd already indulged in my favorite- Friskies- when what do you know? Papa started singing along with the radio. "Cloudy" by Simon and Garfunkle. I trilled along and kept tune. No I really trilled to this tune. MaaMaa picked me up and gave me a big scrumptious hug that made me purr. This pancake mix was Blueberry Krusteaz from the great northwest and she said it was very yummy.Have you a favorite sing along song?

Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Bedtime for Bonzo

Here's a story about MaaMaa putting my " brother" Blake to bed when we have a "sleepover."

Blake is a 7 year old power house of energy. When he visits MaaMaa and Papa they have fun from morning until evening. So when it's time for bed MaaMaa does the following:
Blake takes a long bath and brushes his teeth.
He picks out 4-5 favorite, scrunchy stuffed animals.
A cold glass of milk and a chocolate cookie -yum!
What movie to watch? Star Wars-the latest favorite.
MaaMaa & Papa kiss him goodnight.
Everyone hopes he falls asleep. We are tired.
Mr. Chub and me jump on the bed and snuggle in. We love our Blake and guard him from nightmares . Blake is a blessing from God.
Love, Tankene
Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Tankene takes another bath

Here I am as clean and white as ever but last week:

We had an invasion of fleas when the weather got hot. MaaMaa gave me two baths if you can imagine that.

Cattily,Tankene

PS. Why in the world would any self respecting feline want to take a bath with all that soapy water falling into your eyes?

Hug your Cat Day May 24th

Tankene has to let all you cat people know how important it is to " Hug your Cat" on May 24th. I plan to hug MaaMaa, Popa, Sinatra ( if she'll let me) and Chubs.If you have time hug your other people too. Check out your local cat rescue groups and rescue a friend. Purrs, Tankene

Son Shine

A cat without catnip is like a day without sunshine. MaaMaa says Easter is the time to see the Son Shine and thank Jesus for the blessing of eternal life. Have a joyous Easter from all of us at Sparklewood. Purrs, Tankene

Date Delight part 2

Hopefully by now you have the date mixture ready. Let it cool and begin making the crust. Get out a Pyrex glass dish , grease it with margarine, and set aside. Measure 2 cups oatmeal,2 cups flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup butter. Mix together. Chop 1/2 cup walnuts and almonds very fine and mix in the batter. Separate 1/2 dough and smoosh into bottom of the glass pan. Pour the Date Delight all over and than add the remaining batter on top. Temperature of 350 for 25 minutes. Check it and make sure it's browned. We sincerely hope you delight in our Date Delight. Purrs, Tankene and Maa Maa

Sneaky Sinatra

  Sneaky Sinatra (and I don't mean Frank) but the princess - Nancy Sinatra has decided that she no longer likes using the litter box. Poor MaaMaa scrubbed Sinatra's cat box, put in fresh litter and rub-a- dubbed the floor that Sinatra used as her new "spot." Help! Tankene

                        I had a bath and am a very clean white Lion.

Tankene climbs a Redwood

Did I tell you I pushed open the screen and was climbing up the Redwood after a Raccoon when Papa found me? I almost got to go time traveling. I wonder what the Racoons would have thought about a white cat?

Clowder of Cats

Hey Purrfriends, How many of you have heard of a " Clowder of Cats; Poems and Photographs" by Joan Digby. I just laughed when I heard this title. I have heard of a Murder of Crows but never a Clowder of Cats. Kind of sounds like a chowder of cats - (Cat-friends forgive me!) Purrs, Tankene

Monday Meows

I was hissing and running from window to window and who jumps up to the screen but our neighbor's big tom cat, Keiko. He seems to think that Sparklewood is his new home. Poor MaaMaa  comes home to three outside cats meowing for food even before she opens the door and is greeted by me, Chub, and Princess Sinatra meowing for food. Papa says she gets more of a welcoming committee than the Queen herself. What happens at your house when you come home? Purrs, Tankene

Furday Fights

Chubby and Tankene rolled and hissed until MaaMaa's carpet was covered with white hair. Who do you think who won? Purrs, Tankene

Bark and Hide Motel has unexpected guest

Guess who?

Hi i Furfriends.

 I just  received an urgent message from the Bark and Hide Hotel that Miz'  Skunk was visiting again. She has little ones tucked away in the nest but must still be  out for some night life. I hear that that doggone Raccoon was staying at Buggy House not far away- so look out tonight you may hear another ruckus at Sparklewood.

 We are  sending in my Ninja to set things right.

 Purrs, Tankene

Nature, Caws and Coos

Hi Furfriends, MaaMaa found me staring out the window when she came home from work. Guess what she brought me? Another black Raven feather. It seems a Raven was seen perching on our roof one morning. Cawing, Cooing  and making quite a ruckus. Have you any bird tails for me? Purrs, Tankene

This is a picture MaaMaa took of a meadow near our house where lots of birds hang out in the trees.

Mr. Chub

Thanks Fur-Friends. for your advice. MaaMaa  took him to the Vet and it looks like he did have an infection.Mr. Chub seems better today. His tooth doesn't look like it hurts so perhaps all will be ok. I wonder if he chomped down on something that caused the pain? Wait til you see the climbing magic MaaMaa created just for us cats. There's feathers and a perch and lots of places to strectch. Here's a picure of Mr. Chub's ears. Happy MaaMaa Day. Purrs, Tankene

A Cat's Meow

Meow my dear Friends,  The Academy Awards were on last night . I liked Meryl Street's classy  white and MaaMaa liked Kate Winslet's gown. Did you enjoy the outfits too?
      If you went to the Academy Awards -what would you wear? I would wear  my gorgeous white coat with a sassy sash made of black silk. I am posting an outfit Angel Sly wore for a Christmas party that was rather sparkly. He was handsome in silver wasn't he?
Meow. What would you wear? Purrs, Tankene

Tuxedos & Love

Hello Furfriends, I wanted to introduce you to my girlfriend, Princess Nancy Sinatra, She's tiny girl of only 6 Lbs, born along the railroad tracks, and adopted by my MaaMaa at the age of 14 weeks. She is now 8 years old but as spry as any kitten. She sports a stylish tuxedo everywhere she goes. I like to chase her around the living room but her temper stops me in my tracks. A curling lip and a snarl are all she will give me. Never the less, I sure have fun playing chase. Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Blue Moon

Hey Furfriends, January is finally folding into February.Before I let go of the month, I want to remind all my furfriends to gaze at the moon this evening. You will see a Blue Moon. Is the moon really blue? All I can say is it is the 2nd full moon of the dark month of January and will light up the sky, looking as large as a frisbee.I will be in my kidskastle standing on the upper deck to get the best view. So enjoy and talk to you in February.By the way that is a picture of grandson Blake acting silly as always!Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

January Blessing- Squirrels

Hi Furfriends, I wanted to report the exciting news that the squirrels are so clever they have squiggled through the very tiny opening in the birdhouse outside. How do I know this? I saw two eyes peering at me from inside the birdhouse. I think the squirrels are pushing the birdseed to the rear of the bird house hoping the Blue Jays and Finches don't see or smell it. How clever are the bushy-tailed scampering squirrels of Sparklewood! It is truly amazing to observe God's handiwork. Nature Blessings! What's new with you? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

New Year's Feather Jump

Happy New Year to all my furfriends. MaaMaa was on a long,Winter's vacation and stayed home and played with me every day. My favorite new game is " Feather Jump" with a Raven feather. ( pix by Daniel Cardiff) Here's how we play. MaaMaa places the feather on the edge of the towel cupboard, just barely seeable from my angle four feet down on the floor. She says "jump" and I jump up and knock the feather down. We must have played this game at least ten times a morning. My special feather is a large, black Raven's feather MaaMaa found while hiking. Did you know that the Raven is one of the smartest of birds? What games did you play over the holidays? Purrs, Tankene

Wind Whispers

Hi Furfriends, MaaMaa's been busy so we haven't had time to post. Thanksgiving blew past with a waterfall of sparkling leaves. I watched glorious golden cherry and birch leaves cascade as the gusts kicked up. The red and orange leaves trickled next as the gusts died down to wind whispers.A tapestry of color painted the patio that I observe from my cat perch. My white coat is thickening now and covering me with a lush Norwegian Forest Cat coat.MaaMaa thinks I would have lived in the far north of Norway where the winds holler down the fiords and the snow blankets the earth in preparation for winter. Do you feel Jesus talking quietly to your soul as you watch the leaves fall? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist