FUNdraising News, A Franklin and Daphne Winkler Update!! OH, And Did I Mention There are Babies on Their Way!!

It's always nice to catch up with Daphne (now Madison) and Franklin Winkler! Whenever I put a call out for alumni reports, I can always count on Mama Leslie to send me lots of good stories and many adorable photos of her fabulous tabbies! And belly shots. There's always at least one shot of Daphne showing us her tummy!

Here's what her Winklers have been up to lately:


Hi Laurie, 

The kitties are as goofy as ever. Franklin likes to show off his doughy belly and Madison is sweet and always in mega head butt mode.

I could send you a pic of Mike holding Franklin over his head with all of his cat feet outstretched and his tail in a perfect “candy cane” curl-but I don’t think Mike would approve! LOL That is their "I’m home from work" routine. Franklin gets a big stretch and we get a big laugh from it.

Madison meows in her sleep. I will go check on her and she’s out like a light but having quite an animated conversation. Maybe she is telling Franklin to look at the birds.

Franklin has a favorite spot to sleep on in our room and when you walk in he stretches out and wants his belly rubbed. He always wants his belly rubbed! A hello will cause him to dip his head and roll over. 

Madison gets into thunder cat mode and will run VERY fast around the house. Her brakes don’t work well and she’ll slide across the floor and bump into things. I need to be in my chair by 9:30pm because she expects to be in my lap at that time.

They are best buds and look out for each other. Madison greets Franklin at the food bowl with a chin head butt in the morning and in the evening Franklin goes to look for her. When he finds her sleeping he’ll hug her neck and lick the top of her head.

Happy cats- I love them to pieces!

:)Leslie

Thanks so much for keeping us up to date, Leslie! Your kitties look so happy and I love that they love each other so much. It's so endearing!  We sure do appreciate you taking the time to share lots of stories and photos with us today.  

We still have a few more updates to come!  We will be continuing those this week, so expect LOTS more posts than normal!

I just got word that our phone bank volunteers arrived at the shelter this weekend, and I'll be going in to pick them up later today!  I can't wait -- it sounds like we've got ourselves a batch of cuties!!!    

If I'm able to get any decent pictures this afternoon I'll share them, but most likely you'll get your first peek at them tomorrow morning.  We'll just have to see if they cooperate.

We'll introduce all of the newbies over the next couple of days, and once we've said hello to all of the babies, the naming rights auctions will begin!  For those of you who are new 'round here, each year at fundraising time, we auction off the rights to name one litter of kittens. It's always exciting to watch the high bids get higher and see how much each kitten will fetch!  After the naming rights auctions are done, we've got a few special items we'll be auctioning off, too.  I'll share more with you on that later!

Bright and early on Monday, July 11th, we will announce our goal, our FUNdraising page will go live, and we can begin making donations!  Last year we shortened our fundraising season a bit and found that it works just as well as our previous month-long campaigns.  We're doing that this year, too, and we will wrap things up on Saturday, July 23rd.  We're going to have to work hard with a hair less than two weeks to reach our goal,  but I know we can do it!  OH, yes we can!

If anyone is interested in offering up a matching donation challenge,  please send me an email to let me know how much you're willing to match, and we will get that on the schedule.  These matches are always so great because they inspire others to give, and help us reach our goal so much faster!

OK, folks. Time for me to set up the kitten quarters and go fetch some babies in a bit!

HOORAY!  Babies!









 

Feel-Good, Funny, and Forgotten

I have to say, the past couple of weeks haven't been the best. When I'm feeling like I need my spirits lifted a bit, I often turn to the IBKC archives and do a little digging. Cute kittens make everything better, don't they?

I've been writing this blog for almost nine years and have posted over 3,000 posts (3,222 to be exact!).  There are kittens and moments that stand out, but when I start poking around in the past, I always begin to realize how much I've forgotten.

I churned up a few IBKC moments that I wanted to share with you today because maybe you need a little uplifting yourself. Or, maybe you know someone who does, and you can share it with them.

Well, here you go! Here are a few funny and feel-good moments I rediscovered.

1. Adorable stretching, napping, purring Dearborns.



2. Oh, Eddie. What a tiny heartbreaker you were!



3. Baby Audrey giving baby Wylla a bath!!  This one just KILLS me.



4. That itty-bitty tongue on Daphne!!



5. Young Bean "signaling the mothership". She used to do this all the time and we never knew why. Still don't.  Still funny.



6.  Wiggly little Wiggins!



7. Teeny-tiny Hazel making baby biscuits!!!! Melts me like butter.



8. Pardon the hyaena laughing in the background -- that would be me.  And those are the Gibsons. Normally I can keep myself in check while taking a video, but this was just toooo funny.



9.  Remember that one time when the tables were turned and Bean got a bath from a kitten? Not me, it totally slipped my mind! What a treat to rediscover this one!




10.  Well, I know I'll never forget this one, but it always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I play it.   It's never not funny, and that's why I put it on the list.




Tell me please, do you have a favorite IBKC feel-good video or post you like to visit when you're feeling down?  I was thinking it might be nice to have a page devoted to some of our best spirit-lifters for such times.  Let me know what you would like to see on your list.

Kittens in Glasses

Yay! It's time for KITTENS IN GLASSES!

How many of these IBKs can you identify?  Post your guesses in the comments, and we'll see who  gets this right.  I'll share the answers tomorrow!    Answers are now posted.

1. Fergus Mayfield



2. Wiley Knapp



3. Kenneth Wiggins



4. Aloysius Rosebud Petrie



5. Franklin Winkler



 6. Daphne Winkler

Winklers: Then and Now

Remember this adorable pair? It's Daphne (now Madison) and Franklin Winkler. Mama Leslie has been really great about keeping us updated on her tabbies over the years, and we always enjoy seeing what they're up to!

 First, here they are the day they left our nest.  Franklin's on the left and Madison's on the right.

 


And here they are today!

From Leslie:
My Mom sent me my old 1975 JC Penney “retro” Horse feed design sleeping bag to me recently. The kitties set upon it immediately and claimed it as theirs. So, instead of moving to my studio to keep me legs warm on chilly days-it remains in the living room. This pic of Franklin is a classic. I am reminded of the video that you have of them both lounging in a comfy cat bed and Franklin is all relaxed on his back. As he stretches he sticks his back foot in Madison’s face-and she just graciously deals with it. They still interact the with each other the same way today. It is very sweet. We love them to pieces!

 Thanks for sharing these awesome photos and update, Leslie! It's always good to see what those Winklers are up to - it's always hilarious! They always seem to nap in the craziest positions!

Please give them our love!

Nice to See You Again, Franklin and Daphne!!

HOORAY!  I'm so thrilled to be able to share another alumni update with you today!

Remember that fabulous pack of tabbies, the Winklers?

Well, Leslie, mom to Franklin and Daphne (now Madison)  just sent me a few photos of her pair.  First, let's take a look back at how adorable they were when they were wee.

Here's Franklin.



And here's Daphne.



Here they are together.

 

Here they are today!











And here's what Leslie had to day...

 Hi Laurie, 

 The kitties are terrific and as silly as ever. The sleep more since they have gotten older but they chase each other every day, love their feather wands and are always on bug patrol for ladybugs and moths.

Madison still sleeps on hard surfaces and totally approves of the table runner on the dining room table. She is quite the headbutter/chinrubber and we are afraid she'll get a concussion or a splinter with her enthusiasm some days! 

Franklin loves his sister. He seeks Madison out for head licks and won't let her nap in peace. Madison has overcome her litter pan issues with reminders at breakfast, lunch and dinner to "go potty" and will run downstairs under meowy protest. She'll return some time later in triumph sailing over the top two steps and will bound into the living room to play. 

 Madison is independent. Franklin likes to be close by his sis or peoples. He still loves to stretch and roll over sticking his feet in whoevers face is close by just like in your IBKC movies and pics. Thank you for including Franklin and Madison in your wonderful book! 

Best Wishes, Leslie, Mike, Madison and Franklin (aka Missy and Bud)


Thank you so much for sharing the update, Leslie!   Franklin and Madison have grown up to be such lovely cats, and I love how they are such a bonded pair.

Please give them some love from all of us!


________

One last thing before I go today, I wanted to let you all know that our friend Robyn over at Covered in Cat Hair is hosting a IBKC book giveaway!

For full contest details, a review, and a little interview, please visit her lovely blog!

Thanks so much Robyn!  We appreciate your support to so much!

Daphne and Franklin Winkler!!

We've got another alumni update for you!  Daphne (now Madison) and Franklin Winkler's mom, Leslie, sent me a sweet batch of pictures and a few words too.

Here's what she has to say....

I thought I'd share with you how Madison and Franklin keep me company in my studio. They spend the morning in the guest room looking out the window-it has a good view of the road and our neighbors cat who roams the hillside looking for mice and hummingbirds(!).

The afternoons are spent in my studio. I made a basket for them but they usually opt for the tabletop (sticking with their preference for hard surfaces). The lamp in the corner is a transient desktop object that I have to remove almost daily because the pull chain is of endless amusement for Madison.

 They are getting bigger for sure. Franklin is longer and lankier and lighter than Madison. Her nickname is "Football" because she is round like football and easy to carry like one too. Franklin has taken to waiting for Mike to get home so he can get his nightly massage and belly rub-Haggis used to do this too. :o)

 My Winklers are very sweet and doing just dandy.














Thanks so much for sharing this update with us, Leslie!  It's so nice to see how happy your Winklers are!

A Franklin and Daphne Update!

Leslie, Franklin and Daphne Winkler's mom, was kind enough to send me a little update on her not-so-little ones.

I was going to hold off posting this until we met our big match. But I need to step out,  we're getting close.  I  have a feeling we'll meet it while I'm gone, so I'm just going to share it now.



Here's what she had to say..

They are so rambunctious and run around the house about 3 times a day-seems to be their routine. They like to lay on flat, hard surfaces-happy to sleep on the heat grates, on the marble in front of the fireplace and on the tile in the bathroom.

Madison (formerly Daphne)  purrs instantly-did she do this as a wee kitten? You say her name or pet her head and off she goes. She loves to play with your face and fingers. She body slams herself up into your lap and onto your legs.

 Franklin is a little more low key-loves being in front of a screen door and still obsesses over his toys. It changes day to day which toy his his alone and he plays "keep away" with Madison.

They both have a tail swish twitch tell...when the tail goes back and forth...look out! They are either going to pounce or they are so happy they will twist themselves underfoot till you pick them up. When Madison wakes up from a nap she mew-meows until I say something to her. We have conversations.

They do a great job of keeping me company while I work and definitely the house doesn't feel empty anymore.

Thanks so much for the update, Leslie.  It's so great to see your happy, healthy kittens again!  They sure are lovely, and we're thrilled they bring you so much joy!   

What's to Come

I know everyone is anxious to see what litter is next, but it's going to be a few days.   But you're not going to mind at all, I swear.

You see, I'm heading back to Iowa to visit my folks, so until Monday, it will be ALL Mimsey and Nigel Frost updates!!!

I'm so excited!! This is the first time I'll be seeing them since they were adopted.  I know Mom,  I really need to get home more often.   


I can't wait to see them, and see my folks with them.

When I return, there should be some kittens waiting in the wings for us and then our big, annual FUNdraiser will begin!!!     I've finished up the kitten-sized telethon set so those new babies will get dropped into the set for their first day working the phone banks.

For those of you new to the blog, the FUNdraiser truly is a fun time.   Expect lots of

posts,  surprises, cheering, and some crying of happy tears.  Good times guaranteed.   And we raise a whole lot of money for the kitties while we're doing it.

I've got a plane to catch, so I better sign off.  I'll leave you with this cute little clip of dear Daphne and Franklin.




Tune in tomorrow for Mimsey and Nigel!

Parting Ways with the Last of the Winklers

After a long, tough, battle with cancer,  Leslie and Mike said goodbye to their sweet kitty, Haggis.   The emptiness and sadness in the home was hard to bear,  so Leslie contacted me shortly after the Winklers arrived, to see who might be available.

Leonard was already spoken for.  We had an appointment set for Rachel and Daniel to meet the kittens,  so I told Leslie they could have next pick.  

They picked Franklin and Daphne.   Well, they picked Franklin,  and Daphne picked them.  

Everyone was bouncing around when they first arrived for the meeting.   We sat on the floor with the kittens and watched them play.   Leslie and Mike settled on the couch after a bit and Miss Daphne hopped right up there and took a nap on Leslie's knee.   The deal was sealed.  

They stood up to leave and Leslie held Daphne in her hands for a moment to say goodbye.  Daphne threw her tiny paw over Leslie's hand in the most comforting way.

I have been accused of reading too much into cat behavior, and I will admit to over-anlyzing many a kitten, but I think everyone one in the room at that moment felt Daphne was trying to say something.   And whatever it was she communicated with that sweet gesture, I think, made Leslie feel better, and it seemed like a little bit of her sadness may have lifted.  

Kittens are magical that way.  

When they came back for the adoption this weekend, Daphne and Franklin were just winding down.   Franklin wedged himself between Leslie and a pillow and fell asleep.  Daphne jumped up onto Mike's lap and curled up into a ball.   They were completely comfortable and at ease with their new parents.  I truly believe, these kittens were meant to be theirs.



I'm really pleased how everything worked out with the Winklers.  I love how the pairs were paired and Leonard was the perfect choice for his new home too.    

It all worked out perfectly, just like it always does.

Once again, thank you Universe.

And thank you Leslie and Mike for adopting Daphne and Franklin.  We are so happy for these precious kittens and you too!