Christmas 2011

December

Hands

Strombeek thinks it's really lame when I'm using my hands to type comments on student papers instead of using them to pet her.

2012 Calendar!

October was the last month I had left to complete for the 2012 calendar.

Monkey on Her Back

Strombeek has a monkey on her back.

Cat in the Cupboard

November!

October

The Citroen!

As the approach of the Citroen nears, the cats get more and more excited. See, those burst coming from their little heads--that's excitement.

Or possibly fear. 


It's difficult to tell with cats.

Someone Call Hoaders!

The cats are stockpiling the cardboard boxes and packing paper. It's totally out of control.

Nesting #2

 More nesting!

What Louie Does When He Hears Arthur Approaching

Louie is afraid of Arthur, like he is of anyone who isn't me. He tolerates him when he's lying down, but he likes to stay out of his way when he's standing and walking.

Nesting

What did Strombeek and Louie do today?


As usual, they nested in the enrichment box filled with packing paper. This is pretty much their favorite way to spend the day.

September

Hurricane Irene

Earthquakes in Virginia! Now Hurricane Irene!






But Louie isn't worried about the house crumbling or getting flooded or blowing away.

2012 Calendar Reject

August

Coming Home Presents

Whenever we come back from a trip, we make sure to bring something home for the cats. This time it was sparkly bow ties from Claire's Boutique. When I bought them, the girl behind the counter said something about wanting to get one for her cat too--what a good idea!

Strombeek is very obviously excited about her present, as I'm sure the salesgirl's cat will be.

Fourth of July

June 2011

The Enrichment Box

Just like animals at the zoo, house cats need enrichment. Otherwise they (um, Strombeek) get lazy and fat.

I'd picked some catnip growing in the yard, but they just kicked it around the house and made a big mess. Until I put it in this box...and added some toys and packing paper--their favorite!

Arthur's B-Day

The only thing Strombeek loves more than cake is candles.

Yosemite Fantasy #2

Mountain Cat Alley

Earth-Bound Pets

Since Louie and Strombeek found out that they don't have immortal souls, they've been more than a little concerned about The Rapture.

10 Great iPhotos of Strombeek

Usually when you try to take a picture of a cat with a cell phone, it looks something like this.

However, with some patience and practice Art actually got a number of good picts for all the mothers out there.

May Day

Space Out

So, I didn't get an Easter photo together yet, and won't foreseeably in the next few days. So in the meantime, enjoy this clip of my sister's cat floating through space!

Strombeek's Album Cover

First, there was Ruth's Chris Steakhouse...Then there was...

Writers and Their Cats

There's this cool website that has pictures of famous authors with their cats. Maybe you've seen it?

 It has pictures like this with Allen Ginsberg and his cat.

April

It has been so rainy and dreary out that this year April would seem an appropriate month of the frogs.

Cherry Blossoms!

Strombeek likes hanging out in the cherry blossoms.

The Leprechauns Came Late this Year

The leprechauns came a couple days late this year and really freaked Louie out.

March Madness

Lost in the Louis

When discussing Kathryn Davis's novel, Versailles,  someone in class remarked that it was easy to get "lost in the Louis." Of course Louis, in French, is pronounced just like Louie in English. So I found this quite amusing and stored away the idea for a blog in which I could demystify the Louis lineage. But there are a lot of Louis, so I'm not going to set you straight on all of them.

Cat Sushi Ichiban

Gettysburg

Strombeek & Louie didn't get to accompany us on our day trip to Gettysburg, PA this weekend, but this is something along the lines of what they imagine the battlefield would be like.

Strombeek's Valentine's Day Personal Ad

Perhaps this explains why she's so popular at the vet's.

Strombeek's AWP Swag

If there's anything Strombeek loves as much as food, it has got to be books. 

Groundhog Day

Happy Groundhog Day! Punxsy Phil didn't see his shadow! Spring is on the way!

Grading and Teaching

Strombeek considers how she might grade my students' papers.  She takes this opportunity very seriously.

Row Boats of Rhetoric

Strombeek and Louie have finally made the switch over to their new beds, or rowboats, as we call them.

Christmas Beds

So even though the cats got new beds for Christmas, they're still sleeping in the old ones!

Gingerbread House

One of Strombeek's favorite Christmas presents is the gingerbread house. It's like the cat tent, only better because of the hanging ball and festive gingerbread design.

January

Strombeek'll See the Hummingbirds Soon Enough