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.

IBKC - A Year in Review!

Here's a little look back at all the kittens we've had the pleasure of hosting in 2011.  What a year it's been!

Hooray for happy, healthy kittens!

Thanks for sharing this wonderful year with us.  We appreciate you stopping by each day and showing your love and support.  

Wishing a  very happy, healthy New Year to ALL of you,

xo xo xo

Laurie, Craig and Charlene





Linus Medley



 Kirby Medley

 

 Freddie Jean Medley

 

 Maxine Medley

 

 Peter Medley

 

 Beezus Medley

 

 Norma Easterbrook

 

 Thurston Easterbrook

 

 Astrid Easterbrook

 

 Sheldon Dearborn

 

 Geraldine Dearborn

 

 Pearla Dearborn

   Phoebe Deaerborn

 

 Marla Dearborn

 

 Priscilla Batsel

 

 Clifford Batsel

 

 Barnum Batsel

 

  Claudius Felix Batsel

 
 Victoria Anne McGillicuddy

 

 Cheryl McGillicuddy

 

Opal McGillicuddy

 

 Buster Wiggins

 

Susanna Rose Wiggins

 

 Tilda Tortellini Wiggins

 

 Kenneth Wiggins

 

 Bess Trimble

 

 Monroe Trimble

 

 Wee Willard Trimble

Dear Departing Dearborns

During the course of just a few hours, all of our Dearborns departed.  First go was Miss Marla.



Julia lost her sweet Siamese to cancer last summer and as you can imagine, it was a  heart-breaking experience.    She had been watching the IBKC for the past few  litters  and finally she decided she was ready to bring home a kitty, so she sent me an email.     Shortly thereafter, an appointment was set and she came with her nephew to meet Miss Marla.

 From the very first second it was so clear that Marla was meant to be hers.     The humans wore huge smiles and Marla purred loudly and looked completely at-ease in their company.     I'm pretty sure it was love at first sight for all parties involved.

Craig nick-named Marla "The Good One".   Not because she was the best kitten in the litter, but because she was always very well-mannered and never, ever naughty.   She loved her siblings, but seemed happiest in the company of us humans and spent many hours curled up on our laps.

As you know, I prefer to send the kittens out in pairs or to homes with other kittens or active cats but we've always felt that Marla would be completely fine going solo.  And it just happened to work out that way.

Julie already emailed to say that Marla has made herself right at home and is already completely adored.





Next to go were Geraldine and Phoebe.

They were adopted by a really wonderful family who like Julia, had lost their big kitty in the past year.  Amy, the mom,  thought it would be best to bring in kittens once school was out so her two boys, Tate and Ryan, could fully enjoy those brief, early kitten days.

I have to say Ryan and Tate made a very good impression on their  visit.  They're very bright boys.   I can tell they'll be taking their roles as kitten care-givers very seriously and those two little girls will be in very good hands.     Tate had already done some research on cats and houseplants, and determined their  Philodendron and Schefflera would have to be relocated because they're not safe for kitten consumption.

Tate told me really liked the name Geraldine.  Bonus points for that comment.

Amy and family just happen  to be the neighbors of Marguerite, director of development at the Humane Society, so we'll be able to keep close tabs on these two!

Amy has already emailed to say the girls are doing really great.   They have had lots of visitors come by to  meet them, and have dazzled every single one of them.





Finally, Sheldon and Pearla left.  I know many of you were hoping they would go together, so I'm sure you're thrilled that they did.

 Carmen adopted the pair.    I could tell from her very first email that  she would make a quality cat owner, so we were excited to meet her.

I think she had fallen for Pearla and her pink nose before she came for a visit, and shortly after she arrived, decided Sheldon would be the perfect mate.

They'll all be living in a townhouse in Seattle lots with windows and lots of room to explore.  They'll be living in the same neighborhood as Marla, too!

They're doing awesome already - here's what Carmen had to say:


Hi Laurie!

I can only say that they are the best!  I have been trying to take some pictures to send your way but they seem to have caught a case of the blurs and anytime they are in motion it's an interesting challenge. I have such appreciation for the pictures you manage to take - hooray for sports mode, huh?

They are settling in great (and so am I!!)  They started playing with toys right away and I get to watch the kitty Olympics every day when they are awake.  You will be happy to know that they excel at wrestling!  They also are so attached to each other - I noticed that they never sleep alone: they are either curled up next to each other or they are somehow touching even if it's just legs.

Pearla is the explorer - she is the first to check out any new space when I open it up to them.  She's purrs less than Sheldon, so when she does I know that she's having a happy day.  She was the first one to come and sit in my lap and fall asleep.  She's got such a sweet face when she looks at you it blows me away

Sheldon was a little shyer at first - but he's not a wallflower by any means.  He is the climber and was the first one to find the partially open window and sat for a good 15 minutes staring out the window on the 3rd floor and smelling the great world outside.  He may get the grumpy look, but he's a big softy and will purr the minute you look at him.  His eyes are just so incredible...

We popped by the vet yesterday just to look at next steps for boosters, etc...everyone is healthy and Sheldon is a chunk at 3 lbs! Pearla weighs in about a half pound behind him.  Everyone said how cute they were and I was hard pressed not to agree that yes, they indeed were the cutest kittens in the history of the universe.


Carmen

Thank you to all the awesome families that adopted our dear Dearborns.  We're so happy they're with you.   I strongly feel all of these little kitties went to where they were supposed to be.   Five perfect matches.

Hooray for happy endings! 

Ain't No Party Like a Kitten Party

YES!  Our shift is over!   Let's get this party started. 



Rrriiiiiiinnnnnng.  Rrriiiiiiinnnnnng.



Wait.  The phone just rang.  We should probably get that. Right?   Even though technically, we're not on the clock. 



Rrriiiiiiinnnnnng. Rrriiiiiiinnnnnng.  Rrriiiiiiinnnnnng.



Rrriiiiiiinnnnnng.  Rrr..........   (rolls to voicemail)




Cue the music Sheldon.  Let's rock it. 




We earned this break.  We've been working our tiny-hinies off for nearly four weeks straight.  Pass me the catnip, please.   I'd like to sprinkle some on my sparkleball and really cut loose.

Go for it Kittens. You deserve it. But please don't trash the set.  We've got a new set of phone bank volunteers on their way.    Yes, thanks to you we cleared 40 squillion.  But we're not done with this FUNdraiser yet.

A Shell and a Pearl

A Few Family Portraits

 Thanks for sitting still, kittens.   And Geraldine, thanks for being you.