MouseTrap, The Movie Critic

Oh no, not home movies, again!

   

I'm going for the OFF switch!

Hey ... We're Back!

Royal ~ Love of My Life

Three years since I last posted!  Wow, that was one long trail ride.

Much has happened since I last told you what was going on around the farm.  We've added some, which was a very happy thing. And we've lost some, which has broken our hearts.

For awhile it was a bit of a bumpy ride. But now, life is great, again, with all our critters. Everyone is doing wonderfully, being good and doing everything right ... well, most of the time, sorta.

I'll gradually bring you all up to date about our cast of characters. 

There was Little Joey, the starving horse we rescued.  What a sweetheart ... and what a story!

Then there's the Golden Retrievers with their regular dunks in the Pacific Ocean, to mention only one of their many adventures.

And I don't want to miss mentioning Mouse-Trap, the Maine Coon cat who could write his own book ... or Lucy, the chicken that thinks she is a lap sitter.  Well, actually, she is.

And, of course, there was the 'touch and go' situation with Royal. He has recovered from founder and is our miracle boy. I'm overjoyed to say that he is doing fantastic.  He's such a love ... but you already know about that.

I have missed all of you.  However, I've been sleuthing my way through your blogs off and on.  That has always been enjoyable!

I must say ...... it is so nice to be back!

The VOTE Is In! ~ The Envelope, Please

Click on photo to enlarge

Mousetrap wants to thank all of you wonderful people
who helped him to make such a serious career decision.

The vote totals were:

0% = Move To Hollywood
55% = Stay On The Farm
37% = To Ask For Raise
8% = Retire

He has decided not to move to Hollywood.
However, it did require some concessions on his behalf.

1. MouseTrap now has his own personalized Director's Chair
2. He is available for all "Cat-Calls" in Hollywood.
3. He has a Star on Sunset Boulevard

The Management willingly granted all requests
knowing that MouseTrap was essential to the farm.
~~~
There were, also, a few necessary
changes made to MouseTrap's farm contract.
1. no more night duty
2. unlimited sleep hours
3. no more pest patrol

We are happy to report that MouseTrap is happily back
to running the farm ~ and living his life of leisure.

Click on photo to enlarge

Once again, everyone is happy on the farm.

What?! They are not?
Is that another fracus I hear?

Oh no, we're back to contracts, again.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Hey!! Have you heard of Aflac?!

We need to talk.

Mouse-Trap Considers New Career

MouseTrap is seriously thinking
about show-biz.

It has something to do with being
the official Biotin-Plus Cat
for all of their ad campaigns.

Nevermind, that it is a horse product.

His fantasy is to have a career similiar

to Morris, the 9 Lives Cat.

That would, of course,
include a personalized chair.

Therefore,
MouseTrap has been reviewing
his responsibilities around this farm.

It seems there are too many,
and, thus, he is thinking about
moving on to other opportunities.

According to him, this is his work list.

Supervising the entire hay barn,
and being on constant guard against
all manner of beasts, both large and small.

Sharing all meals in a timely
and courteous fashion.

Thoroughly washing up before
returning to work.

Holding down all bales
of very heavy shavings,
and keeping them neatly in place.

Guarding the entire farm from the roof top
for invaders, vagrants and intruders
or any threatening mice or other wild life.

To be prepared and in constant alert
for any coyotes
that wander into the coyote cage.

To keep dad company at all times.

Being the official guard and door man,
which includes keeping the geese out,
and the house cats ... in.

To keep dad's work gloves warm
for those cold mornings.

To carefully guard the family silver
from possible thieves during the night.

MouseTrap is seriously considering the
possibility of a career change,
as well as fame and fortune.

MouseTrap would greatly appreciate
your help in making this decision.
Should he stay on the farm
or seek advancement in the city?
~~~

Please help by voting in the box
on the top right hand side of the page.
~~~

MouseTrap thanks you.

My Dinner Is Ready !

Click photo to enlarge.

We don't need kitchen timers with MouseTrap around.

Did I mention ... no cats are allowed on the counters.

Oh yaaahh ... this is more like it!

MouseTrap gathering those rays ...

About The Christmas Dolly ...

We know it is Christmas time around here
once this little moose-girl is comfy on her chair.

But there is something about this cat.

For MouseTrap, anything new, different, or moved
immediately becomes something to sit on and eventually sleep on.

Now really, how comfortable can it be to sleep sitting up?

Can I Come In, Yet?

As you may recall from an earlier story on MouseTrap, he arrived as a youngster late one stormy night. Since we already had two cats guarding their domain in the house, MouseTrap was offered the hay barn as his personal residence.

That worked out real well for quite a long time. Every corner of the barn was his from top to bottom ... and there was nary a mouse to be found.

MouseTrap became friends with the chickens, horses, ducks and geese. He was soon hanging out with Kayla, the Golden Retriever, almost acting like a dog as he followed us around the yard and horse corrals.

They were pals. The only difference was ... Kayla could come in the house.

Then it got cold.

That is when MouseTrap called for begging support.

"Hey, mom ... please let him come in"!

Amazingly ... that worked.

He had hardly arrived in the house
before he went to work.

There just had to be a mouse in here, somewhere!

Now, with two cats watching his every move,
MouseTrap knew he had to act really cool.

There could be none of the hissing, claws routine ...
or he'd be back in the barn.

C-o-l-d ... remember?

The chair with the blue towel worked for awhile.

But this cat is an adventurer.

Oh yah ... now this is great !

The sunny place by the window was pure heaven.

Well, for a little while.

Lalique found this completely unacceptable.

This was not her plan.
In fact, she considered a good swat appropriate.

It was time for some diversion.

Let's see, maybe a little cat-nap will help.

Oh yes, he's a clever, clever cat !

Without one fight, MouseTrap was part of the group.

Only, he had it even better.
He was an "inside-outside" cat.

MouseTrap was still in charge of the barn.

There was only one desired place left ...

... on dad's lap.

~~~

"... all is calm, all is bright ..."

The View From The Top

Click to enlarge

We thought it only right that Royal should have the best view.

So, with a tractor and lots of pushing and shoving around of a
great deal of dirt, we created switch backs and plateaus on the upper hill for that pretty boy.

There was one stipulation. He had to share it with the alpacas.
Oh, we haven't told you about them? Well, another day.

The agreed procedure was ...
when the gate was closed, no uphill adventures.

Royal has been very cooperative about that
and spends most of his time wandering around the barn areas.

That was until ... today.

This is the pathway to the hill ... with the view.

Notice the bar across the uphill path?
That took Royal only a couple days to figure out.

Chain has now been added.

Around the curve of the pathway is another gate.
Sometimes, this includes a guard at the gate.

(you might notice the strange, tall fence,
... Royal trims roses.)

This is one of the places where Royal wanders.

Notice the gate?

Yep ... it happened, again.
(It's a man thing, I think)
~~~
Remember the other gate that was left open?
(Click here if you forgot.)

Stairway? Not a problem.

He trotted his pretty self up those stairs,
past the closed gate, and around the bend.

He was on his way!

MouseTrap witnessed the whole scene ...
"Was that a horse that just went by?"

Hey Mom ! I'm up here.

Just love this view.

~~~~~~