.
I woke up to this the other day.
.
.
Husband was having his coffee, I was reading the news and Lord Dudley went running to the back door.
.
.
Where a little inter species communication commenced.
I was all for letting our little back deck visitor in, but was prohibited to do so by my grumpy husband.
Boo to unadventurous spouses.
.
.
There are multiple reasons I blog from my phone instead of my computer… convenience, speed, user friendly app, etc.
But there’s also a more organic reason :
.
.
And it’s name is Lord Dudley Mountcatten.
.
.
The beast has completely taken over my office chair and has shed so many pounds of fur on its black surface I had to cover it with a towel.
He has a rough life, this cat.
.
.
As you know, our cat Lord Dudley Mountcatten is spoiled. He is not however, ill mannered.. and never tries to jump on the dining room table during meals. But for those of you who have misbehaving felines? I offer a solution:
.
.
You’re welcome.
.
.
What do you do when a friend recommends a fabulous blueberry vodka but you have no space on your man cave bar shelves?
.
.
You pack them a little tighter and hope the shelves are up for the extra weight.
.
.
We seem to be down to three baby woodchucks from seven. I prefer to think this is a result of momma chuck kicking a few of the kids out of the den and not the result of predation. But this little guy?
He’s still trying to move in with us.
🙂
.
.
The woodchucks are still hiding in their tunnel…
.
.
And it’s proving to be quite an effective escape hatch.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten is undeterred.
.
.
And extremely hopeful.
.
.
Patience, thy name is cat.
🤣
.
.
I think he does it just to aggravate me.
.
.
On every walk, he will find every patch of dirt.
.
.
And roll until he and his harness are filthy. The spot underneath the bird feeders that’s mixed with empty seed husks and poo is a favorite.
.
.
And when you can’t find a woodchuck to play with? Peonies have to do.
Hard to believe in the year since we adopted his Lordship, he’s never made it out to the man cave. There’s something about the barn which always gives him pause. Oh, he’ll walk around it and try to crawl underneath it.. but it took me a good 9 months to get him comfortable sitting on the porch. Then yesterday out of nowhere he scratched on the door….
.
.
And viola!
.
.
A whole new area to explore.
.
.
I thought he’d enjoy it, but before long he was whining and pawing at the windows to get out.
He’s a strange little dude our Dudley.
.
.
While I’m usually not a recipe poster, my husband raved about this one after the first bite… and he’s not a man for random compliments. I’ve been cooking for him for 38 years and while I’m no Julia Child, I can hold my own in the kitchen. But when I find a quick and easy recipe? I have to share.
.
.
.
This works just as well with haddock, as long as the pieces are thick.
.
.
Spoiled cat? No. What gave you that idea…
.
.
Proof positive there is something worse than dishwater beer.
🤢
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten is an odd bird. His latest quirk is stealing a few sips of my husband’s coffee in the morning.
.
.
I thought he was attracted to the cream, but pouring him a bowl of that of his own earned me nothing but a turned up nose.
.
.
This is his favorite hosta. Every time we go for a walk he’s determined to find something to chase in there.
.
.
The cat knows how to chill, no doubt.
.
.
Until the dreaded vacuum is turned on. Then the ears go back and he beats feet to hide under the bed and dream of vengeance.
.
.
.
While Lord Dudley Mountcatten prefers watching squirrels and birds, the abundance of baby woodchucks scampering around the royal landscape can be perplexing. He spots them, but then they scurry into a hole.
.
.
Usually this hole, which is really more of a tunnel dug under a burning bush after we removed a dead cedar.
.
.
His Lordship is a patient soul and knows they’ll pop their heads up sooner or later.
.
.
Catching them? Well that’s a whole other issue.
.
.
After he sees one, he searches everywhere.
.
.
Sorry buddy. I don’t think they’re in there…
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten is the king of chill.
.
.
The beast sleeps an average of 20 hours a day and woe be to the pesky human who disturbs his dream time.
.
.
This infraction will not go unpunished.
.
.
Hear him roar.
.
.
Baby woodchucks are starting to explore the back deck.
.
.
And have quickly figured out it’s a nice place to sit in the sun.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten assured me this beats watching Animal Planet on tv hands paws down.
.
.
Baby whistle pigs are fast, and fun to watch scampering around the deck.
.
.
His Lordship agrees .
.
.
River's world..... 