u/Brilliant_Activity39

Zeke and Homer were very glad the thunderstorms we had for July 4th were brief, and they weren't as bothered by all the fireworks and gunshots here in hillbilly land. I hope everyone else's companions weren't too stressed by all the booming these past few days. ETA: To everyone concerned about their immensity, they are on diets for their weight and are being monitored closely by their vet. They were allowed to eat crunchies whenever they wanted for too long, and they both ate when bored instead of being engaged in active play, but no longer. They get a lot of playtime now (they had a 30 minute session before this picture), and they only eat low-calorie/high protein food now. We hope to get their weights down by 10 pounds or so each in a few years' time, since we can't do it faster for their health. Fat cats may look cute, but it puts too much stress on their cardiovascular system, their joints, and their happiness. The last cat we had to help lose weight went from 28 pounds to 15 in seven years, and he lived to be 24, which would never have happened if he continued his prior lifestyle. We hope these two have the same chance that he did, and they're on their way to recovery. TL/DR Thanks, they're on diets because they are too damn fat for their health. Thanks for being concerned. ❤️❤️

Sylvester and his penchant for shellfish are, I believe, unmatched in catdom.

She has an affinity for her rug, and only a few are allowed to touch it. Gilgamesh (back) is one of those who may.

This is our second oldest cat, the mighty Gilgamesh. Gil has megacolon, hypothyroidism and possible kidney disease that he is managing rather well. He gets Miralax and Epakitin twice a day in a churu (chicken and cheese is his fave). He's the only cat I know who is happy to take his medicine (cisapride) in a pill pocket every eight hours and doesn't mind his periodic butt shaving. He's really been the sweetest kid, though he tends to bully our youngest occasionally, and he never fails to snuggle when he wants to. His favorite way of waking my wife and I is by placing his head on ours if we sleep past his hunger threshold, but since he gets his first pill at 7 am, that's not often an issue. He has his on days and off days, but also long as his on days are more frequent, and he can still eat and walk well, we're hopeful to have him for a while longer.

Someone a few weeks ago wanted a clear version if this scene, so... here it is.

Zeke was comfortable, so Homer just tolerated him.

Sage turns 13 this August, and I just wanted to share a few pictures of the emerald-eyed queen of our home. I apologize for the quality of the last pic (taken with a potato, apparently), but that was the day my wife luckily spotted this tiny creature in the passing lane of a highway and scooped her up. Her eyes were crusted over, and she weighed 220 grams. Thanks to sheer determination on her part, this little 26-toed weasel managed to muscle her way into the family. So, here's to Sagewyn of Catoctin.

This is Purrcy. He appeared in our house one day back in January 2024, and I had never seen him before. He had quite the set of trouble puffs on him, but he looked otherwise healthy. He simply ate a bowl of crunchies, meowed loudly and left through the pet door, leaving my wife and I rather confused as to who he was and how he had figured out a pet door if he was feral. We managed to trap him to get him his shots, but because our mobile vet lacked the surgical facilities to neuter him at the time, he just got his shots and was released. Over the course of 18 months, he would show up periodically for food, but never wanted to fight anyone (though he was body slammed by our eldest, Simon once), and he never wanted to be handled. I could hold my hand out for him to sniff, but I wasn't able (or allowed) to touch him no matter how close he would get. Whenever he showed up with a wound, we woukd give him a course of antibiotics that he always took willingly. He always thanked us for his care by loudly meowing before he would leave, and often stayed in our heated cathouse when it was cold, snowy or raining. The final picture was taken on the last day we saw him in June 2025, and though I never got too close to him, I still miss his sweet nature. I just wish I had been able to get him neutered, because I am sure that's what ultimately led to his disappearance (and possibly a few feral kittens, though there aren't many unfixes cats in our forest). Rest easy wherever you are, Purrcy.

This watch was given to my (then) 16-year-old great-grandmother as a Christmas gift in 1898. I haven't yet opened the back to see the movement, but mainly because I didn't want to damage the case by doing it incorrectly. I'll post the innards once I find the proper way to open it. With her family being German, the swastika is a controversial adornment to the chain, though I understand it was typically just a good luck symbol back then.

Homer is on a strict diet for weight loss, and he tries his wiles on me to get more food. I resist, but he doesn't make it easy.

This watch belonged to my paternal 2nd great-grandfather, and was apparently given to him by his father (after he'd lost his own while farming.) I don't know anything about its operational status, since I lack the key for winding it, but I gather it's from the 1880s. It is in a silver case with a 3mm thick crystal and some cracking in the enamel on the face. The works don't seem to fit into the case well, though I can't tell what would make it loose enough to rattle about. There is a small pin at the 11 position for placement into the case which fits, but am I missing something that would help keep it tighter? I know these were farm folk with no real need to keep super accurate time, and it isn't railroad grade, but I can't imagine that shaking around in the case while wearing would have helped its accuracy too much. Any suggestions?

Just a few pics from April 27th at Epcot. Sorry for the slightly smudged lens.

Marley at age 21 and her Da Bird toy she got at 7 years old.

Sorry it isn't the best pic, but I just wanted to show my cat's appreciation of the replacement top on my 96 XJS. I'm sure some will gasp or cringe at the thought, but I keep a blanket or sheet on top for her, because top up or down, she has to be on it (or the parade cover). It's been in the family since new, and I guess now she wants to be the next to inherit it. As long as you take her for a ride in it, that is - top up, only of course!

I have ridden SE ao many times since the 90's, and ever since the screens that show your future arrived, I have never had an actual picture of myself. My wife has no real problems, and even people I've ridden with have not, so am I the only person who will apparently be headless, regardless of what future I choose? 😂