Miss Molly, the Watcher

     A small thunderstorm passed quickly through the area in the middle of the night. It was unremarkable except for the fact that it did wake me up, and because the wind gusts rearranged some of my outdoor Christmas decorations. As I hunted for and then reattached the wreath bow, then righted the small spiral trees (they have a thin, open build that is supposed to allow winds to blow right through!), I realized I was being observed. Miss Molly's expression seemed almost wistful, though I am not sure if she wanted to join me outside, or was waiting for me to come back inside. Sometimes she can be so sweet!

Miss Molly and the Turtle

     On a recent weekend, there seemed to be more than the average number of box turtles crossing the road, which made me wonder what was on the other side. Anyway we rescued one that narrowly escaped the tires of our truck and brought it home for the neighbor kids, who love wildlife of any kind. Before we turned him over, however, there was a momentary encounter with Miss Molly. I was a bit cautious because I wasn't quite sure what her reaction would be, but I needn't have worried. She only gave that bold wee reptile a passing glance - sometimes she is just the haughtiest little thing!

Finding Miss Molly

     Upon returning from a biweekly shopping trip to the grocery store, there are more than half a dozen bags to carry in from the car. When all of them are lined up on the table to unpack, I shut the door, hang up my coat and begin the tedious task of putting everything away. Today I was startled, however, by an inquisitive little face that seemed to be peeking out of a bag. Little Miss Molly strikes again with her penchant for investigating any new or rearranged household goods!

Boxing Molly

     Putting up the Christmas lights has become easier over the years because I have learned to label each string and the end of each string to correspond with a location on the house, fence or shrub. It has also become customary for Miss Molly to appropriate one of the storage boxes as soon as it is emptied. (Her occupation is temporary, however, because the box is soon relegated back to a shelf in the basement for the season.)

Leafy Kitty

     My ordinarily indoor MollyAnna loves autumn. She becomes much more affectionate in October and returns to lap sitting (if the dog is not in sight). The sunny back porch is transformed into a playground and she abandons her basement litter box for the back lawn - we laugh at the little piles of leaves that mark her business. And she is happiest when one of her humans joins her in the sun, and will strike a pretty pose for the camera that shows off the "M" above her eyes.

Miss Molly on Valentine's Day

     Placing paper or fabric of any kind on the dining room table always draws the attention of Miss Molly. The antique linen tablecloth edged in fine lace was in place only momentarily when I used it as a backdrop for a Valentine photo project, but it was there long enough for kitty to investigate, which made for another photo opportunity.

Ribbons and Reinbeer

     All the boxes and bows and ribbons were gathered at the end of the holiday week to store away for another year. However, Miss Molly, who has some kind of radar for curling ribbon, managed to find a remaining bit for a little play time. In this photo of her is also displayed a gift that I crafted for the men in the family. The pear ale was purchased at the local market and chosen for its seasonal green background but the labels were created and printed from my home PC. The ale turned out to be quite tasty and the guys loved the motif...almost as much as Molly loved her ribbon.

Nice Kitty and the Grouch

     Miss Molly often sits just inside the front door when there is some interesting activity in the yard or street. Here she surveys the new doormat, which was a gift. Pop felt the edict on the mat was insulting until I asked him why he assumed that "old grouch" referred to him! Molly is unconcerned - she is neither a person nor old, though she is a grouch with some visitors.

Miss Molly and Friend

     Like most little girls, Rissy loves animals - be they plush playthings or alive and breathing. Here she has Miss Molly posed with a favorite pal from her toy menagerie, and the two are amazingly similar.

Beige Kitty, The Feral Cat

     There is not much story behind this photograph, at least that I can relate. There has to be an explanation of why and when and where but all are conjecture. Home to this feral cat is an old stone farmhouse that was abandoned by humankind several years ago,  The caretaker of the property explained that she has never gotten within fifteen feet of Beige Kitty but does place food out for him occasionally. On winter days when the sun warms the well-worn boards of the front porch, Beige Kitty claims a resting spot on the steps and while he seems to nap, he is always wary. Our approach and the click of a camera do not startle him, only put him on alert. And though his image is captured, the journey of his life remains entirely his own.

The High Chair

     This high white child's chair used to gleam a lot whiter. And the tiny decoupaged Beatrix Potter motifs were once whole and intact. But years of use by grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors has taken its toll and despite a renovation with new enamel paint several years ago, all those little hands and fingers have left a legacy of loving attention. I found the chair nearly two decades ago in an antique shop and was smitten with it immediately because it reminded me of an illustration in James Whitcomb Riley's Child-Rhymes with Hoosier Pictures (a book that originally belonged to my mother as a child and that thoroughly intrigued me as a child). Anyway the chair was relegated to the basement laundry room last year because everyone had outgrown it. Rissy spied it during the holidays and begged to have it returned to the dining room, initially I suspect, for a nostalgic bit of use for herself, but finding her long legs now a very ill fit she decided to employ it for her doll.

     As soon as dinner was over and the chair pulled away from the table, little Miss Molly, never one to let a room configuration change, however slight, go uninvestigated, perched herself comfortably in the seat. Several times over the next few days, I would find the chair appropriated thus and I firmly believe that Miss Molly has claimed it for her own!

Hangin' Kitty

     Even while resting, Little Miss Molly has a penchant for "hanging around".

Cupcakes with Caramel Apple Frosting

     Boss's Day coincides with apple season so these cupcakes were a no-brainer. A quart of apple butter in the refrigerator was begging for some use other than biscuits or toast, so I combined and adapted a couple of recipes and the result was Caramel Apple Frosting. Cooked butter and brown sugar provided the caramel aspect, and then the apple butter, cinnamon, milk and confectioners sugar were stirred in. The cupcakes were simply homemade vanilla, a good foil for the flavorful frosting. The cakes were pretty on a red serving plate with a fall theme and the boss loved them!

(Didn't notice Miss Molly inching into the photo shoot till her inquisitive little nose was over the plate! Hmm maybe she thinks she's the boss.)

Molly Goes Fishing

     Our small backyard pond is home to several koi, goldfish and an occasional tadpole. Frequent wildlife visitors include various thirsty birds and squirrels. Two domestic types also rendezvous near the water hole - Nikki, the husky, who prefers the pond to his water bowl, and Miss Molly, who is entranced with the movement of the fish. To my knowledge she has never caught one but will watch their shimmery activity for hours.

Cat on the News

     There is someone else in the house who enjoys the daily newspaper as much as I do. This morning Miss Molly was quite reluctant to share any headlines at all!

Hello Kitty Cake

     Little Miss Molly seemed quite interested in her birthday cake but finicky eater that she is, commercial cat food and an occasional piece of chicken are all that really appeals to her. (We had a cat once who adored cookies, especially oatmeal!) Anyway the humans at her birthday dinner appreciated the adorable cake - the layer that was frosted and decorated, and the layer that was only frosted. Simple and fun!

Golfcart Escape

     Pop, the golfer, thoroughly enjoyed this personalized Father's Day card. I took a stock image and inserted playful photos of Pop's faithful and devoted companions, Nikki and Miss Molly. Since the two are partners in crime anyway, they were perfect foils for operating the runaway golf cart. In this portayal, the husky, as usual, thinks he is in charge but it is the feline with a guileless grin who contrives the entire caper.

Cat on a Ladder

     The step-ladder is a magnet for Miss Molly. Whenever it is brought into the house (to access the attic or to paint cathedral ceilings), the project takes longer because it must be shared by an inquisitive cat. She likes to sit upon the highest rungs and survey the room, almost as if to say, "I'm pretty cool cuz I got up here by myself and now I'm higher than everybody else!"

Catnapping

     A taste of summer weather yesterday prompted lots of activities, including an afternoon nap. Miss Molly and her Pop shared a quiet time in the cool dark bedroom after a morning of yard work.

Miss Molly Helps with Duck Party Decorations

     For the birthday party, multi-colored ducks were printed on paper, cut into discs and attached by thread to the dining room chandelier. Miss Molly was quite fascinated with them, especially when a breeze caused the little fellows to flutter.