In Memoriam - Milo the Cat, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Our dear, sweet, handsome, funny, furry, fun, adorable, lovable and loving cat, Milo, has died. He graced the pages of many of these blog posts over the past  years. I am so sad, I can hardly stand it.

For fourteen years he shared his life with us and asked only for our love in return. And he got a big dose of it  from us. We spoiled him silly and he loved every minute of it - so did we.

He had many talents - identifying and holding down the best warm sunny spot was oftentimes his highest priority.

He often "helped" with my blog - either as a subject or sitting on my lap with half his body on my computer, typing away - his accuracy was pretty poor, though - that's the problem with stubby paws.

He was mostly an indoor kitty but enjoyed occasionally being out and about if it wasn't rainy, snowy, or cold. He especially liked it when big human mommy or big human daddy was with him to provide comfort and protection in the big, wide world. He never wandered far, he always came home - he knew it was his home, where his humans were - he was fed, sheltered, and loved and he knew it and liked it. 

He enjoyed sitting on this big rock in the hot sun watching Amy work in the garden, sometimes writhing on his back to get a good scratch from the rock's rough edges.

He was sure-footed and fearless in walking along a narrow railing, never considering he might fall off - of course he never did fall.

But always, he was way too cute and could melt our hearts in an instant. He was my furry little friend and was a wonderful addition to my life. When I'd get home from a tough day at work he would jump up on my lap and turn on his little purr-motor and instantly my day's problems weren't quite so bad after all.

We brought him home 14 years ago - I  even had brown hair back then. Ian was only eight. And Amy was youngish and beautiful as ever.  Milo spent most of his nights sleeping curled up next to Ian, both of them growing together, side by side, into adulthood .

Here, he is about six months old, "helping" me install a new bathroom sink. Even as a tiny kitten, he always had that penetrating look.

But more than anything else, I'll always remember how much he loved to wrap his little kitty arms around his momma's neck and hug her dearly.  I've never seen a cat before or since that hugged like Milo. He was so sweet and he is so dearly missed. And yeah, maybe he was only a cat, but, he was our cat and we were his humans and that made him special - he was part of our family and we loved him.  The hole in my heart is deep from losing him. He made my life richer and I miss him so much. Goodbye, my sweet Milo, rest in peace.

Sun Worshipper, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Milo the cat is a model of behavior to copy. When it is sunny he always takes full advantage of it. 

He requires no hat, no long sleeves, no sunblock, and has no worries about skin cancer - there are advantages to wearing a fur coat all the time - it's like wearing a  full time blankie. Personally, I'd find lying on the floor to be too hard and uncomfortable, though - I am more of a chaise lounge with a thick cushion type of guy. Perhaps it is a fundamental pleasure of the human condition, and most other critters also, to lay about periodically in the sun and recharge. Milo's batteries should be overflowing...........me, I think I'd better get my blankie and head for the chaise..........

Thanks Milo, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I find that as a retired man, often with neither somewhere I have to be nor something I have to do, it is possible to slow down and re-learn the simple pleasures in life - like sitting in a patch of sunlight, listening to the sounds of the world, and just being in the simple moment of livingness. No need to fret about the things to do, or the things done, or the things not done - just being in the moment. Milo the cat is a good role model. Of course he never had a job so he's been practicing longer than I have.

Milo the Cat, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Generally speaking, Milo seems among the average smarts group as cats go - not that any cat is a rocket scientist of course.  Here he exemplifies a literal understanding of the label on the box - if he lays down upon it with his maximum width, he believes he will receive a double-wide scratch.  Unfortunately, he fails to understand the nuance of the written word sometimes.  He does not seem to grasp that he must be the one that does the scratching.

He gets high marks for optimism though.  He will lay upon the box for hours at a time in the hot sun waiting patiently for that someday when he might receive a scratch from the box. Alas, it will be a very long wait.

Pampered Much?

I think that Milo the cat won the kitty jackpot when he got us for human companions - talk about   spoiled..........Although he will often sleep in odd and uncomfortable places, he still seems to prefer to be lying on and wrapped in a warm polarfleeece blankie.   If I were to say he crawled under there by himself would you believe me?  

But on warm days, when he is not lazing about on a couch or bed, he lazes about on a soft window seat in front of a screened window.  Sort of like being outside but without bugs,  threats, or stress - seems like a good idea.........

Rock Balancing, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This post is about balancing rocks. It is not about Milo the cat although he appears in most photos. He is a convenient living subject who never says "no" - however, he is a poor actor and he does not take stage direction at all - and sometimes he bites or scratches. 

Rusty the tinman keeps a one-eyed watch over the rocks. Rock balancing is an art, hobby, whatever, that requires no tools, adhesives, nor anything other than the rocks at hand. If you follow this Google link to "rock balancing" you can see some AMAZING examples. My efforts are childish by comparison.

Milo thoughtfully observes the stack. And then he rubs against it with cat-like grace and ......... 

........is startled when some of it clatters down in noise and disarray.

I should try bigger rocks like these - I don't think Milo could knock these down. 

Milo has the intensity and focus to balance rocks, he just lacks the desire - and the manual dexterity.

So, go find 8-10 rocks and try to stack them. It's actually a therapeutic exercise that requires focus, concentration, delicacy, and patience - all good things to practice on a daily basis. And you thought retirement was dull................

Milo the Muse? Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

As I sit trying to write words and process photos for a new blog, Milo is always willing to try to sit on my keyboard to provide maximum distraction and interference.  And if I don't stop and pay attention to him, it is at my peril.  I know it and he knows it - muse? - I don't think so but, he is still mostly cute.

Odds and Ends, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I altered the original regular photo image of this Kingfisher by using the Photoshop Elements Palette Knife filter.  Now it looks like a bad painting that you could buy cheaply framed at a flea market - but I like the effect anyway.

And here again is Milo the Spoiled Cat with his mostly one-eyed stare. He's getting ready to go on vacation, too - just not with us. [All natural early morning sunlight with no enhancements in post-processing.]

Stark winter branches. [In Photoshop Elements, I de-saturated what little color there was and increased the contrast to create this cold stark view.]  It's getting colder here in New England and southern and warmer climes are beckoning to me...........in fact, expect some warm weather posts very soon.

Milo the Very Spoiled Cat

So while I was flying around the area (see last five blog posts), this was apparently happening at home. I should maybe be embarrassed to show this picture but....I'm not. When it's chilly inside or outside, Milo the Cat prefers to be bundled in a polarfleece blankie when he takes his naps.  You may scoff, but really, when you think about it, who among us doesn't prefer the very same?  Just sayin'..........

Visual Definition: Catnap

I don't think I've ever created a blog post while lying supine in the couch-potato position but - there is a first time for everything. This demonstrates another good argument for always keeping one's camera handy. The weather really has not even turned cool yet but, the heat-seeker tendencies of Milo the Cat have already been activated.

A favorite nap-on-a-lap position.

Even better is direct skin contact - more heat transfer.

Here's the startled look after being rudely shaken awake by me, the owner of the lap and holder of the camera.

And here is the look that says "if you ever shake me awake like that again I'll claw you to ribbons, you inconsiderate human."

Happy Cat

I told Milo that he should be honored to appear in today's blog. That's because this is the 400th blog post I have published over the past couple years. What began as a way to keep an online photo and journal record without filling boxes or shelves in my home has turned into a regular activity. I never intended it to be a daily thing but lately, that's what it's been. Milo, however, is not impressed. And as nearly as I can tell, he can't read, write, talk, or appreciate my subtle humor. Nevertheless, he seems happy and content just feeling the touch of a human friend. Animals aren't as dim-witted as I sometimes think.

Milo the Cat

Ever have one of those days when you just don't feel like getting out of bed? .....so does Milo. But he's not always a lazy slug........

Sometimes he's a circus performer. Okay, so it's not really much of a high wire act but, I wouldn't walk along this rail any more than I would a real high wire at this point in my life. Must be the caution that comes with aging. I would have a fear of losing my balance and falling off (maybe a ten foot drop).  It is interesting that cats don't seem to have that fear, nor do squirrels as they jump from tree to tree and cavort from branch to branch chasing each other at great speed. Confidence, or lack thereof, doesn't seem to be part of their mental processing. Maybe it's their ability to live in the present and not worry about future consequences. Fascinating critters these four-legged non-humans.

Visual Definition: Catnap*

*Visual demonstrations for this definition provided by Milo the cat.



Milo the Cat, Manomet, Massachusetts, USA

Milo sometimes likes to be held and, sometimes, he doesn't like to be held.  What a surprise, right?  How cat-like.  However, sometimes he expresses his pleasure at being held or, his displeasure at not being held by biting his favorite nearby human - ankles, arms, hands, fingers, whatever body part is within immediate reach.  Sometimes he even throws in a razor sharp claw or two to make it more fun for him. It keeps his life interesting I guess.  After today's bite, I had to counsel him sternly for his behavior. 

He was resting peacefully with a high level of cuteness.......

....when I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck........

.... he listened attentively as I berated him for his behavior.......

.....then, after demonstrating the appropriate level of remorse, I forgave him.  I sure showed him who is boss...... bet he won't bite me again for at least an hour or two........