Happy Fifth Birthday, Chani-chan!

Yesterday was my darling Princess Chani-chan's fifth birthday. My sweet purry girl, who is more than a little temperamental and fickle, is such a wonderful part of our little family. She is the one with the loudest purr and who cuddles next to me in bed, right under my arm or my legs under the covers when it is time to go to sleep. She kneads me (which always lets me know when it is time to give manis and pedis around the house), she curls up next to me and lets me kiss her on the head without trying to dodge me. Although she complains when I pick her up, she still lets me do it. Now, I do call her Princess Chunky Pants because she is a bit heavier than the boys, but still, it's a term of endearment. I love my little princess kitty so much!

 Let's take a look at Chani through the years.

Here she is when I first brought her home. Chani was a bit more reserved than 9, but when she decided to purr, wow, was her motor loud.

Her ears were ginormous in comparison with the rest of her head. She definitely grew into them.

Here she is in her third year with me. Gorgeous and completely relaxed... autumn colors suit her!

Of all 3 of my dear cats, my princess is the best about being dressed up and photographed. Such a good girl!

And so, last night, to celebrate this occasion, everyone got to have tuna for dinner. The boys were very happy to share in the bounty.

Happy 5th birthday, dear Princess Pretty-pants!

All Chani Tuesday

She is pretty darn adorable...

Smack-a-thon

9 and Sheamus decided to have a Smack-a-thon.

It didn't last long.

9 thinks he won.

Chani decided to stay out of it and look cute.

The suitcase is still out because Mom is heading to Vegas with Grandpa and Grandma. It's only from Friday to Sunday, but goodness, how can she leave us again??? At least Sheamus' foster mom will be coming to visit us again... sniff sniff...

A contest and Chani

Sheamus Popoki's foster Mom works for Adobe. She let me and another friend know that Adobe Photoshop Elements is holding a pet photography contest. And so, I decided to submit the above photo. I think it is one of my favorite shots of Chani helping me change the sheets on our bed. I have posted the photo before on this blog. I don't remember when, but it's a couple of years ago.

Here's another shot from the same series, just adjusted a bit differently.

And finally, a recent shot. Yes, she looks a bit worried here, but that's I don't think she really was. She might be worried that one of the boys is going to attack her, but also knows that I won't let them bug her for too much.

If you have a favorite photo of your pet, you might want to consider entering the contest. The prizes are pretty cool.

Cute Chani on a Monday

Would you like some tummy rubs, Chani-chan? Yes? Ok! You got it, Princess Pretty Pants!

Happy Birthday, Chan-Chan girl!

Yes, my dear friends, it is Chani's 4th birthday today.  My darling girl is a wee bit sassy, a wee bit cunning and quite the Diva Princess kitty of this household.

How I love her coat of orange, black and white. And her little pink nose!

I also love how she manages to take over the warm spot I have vacated once I get up in the morning. She's a smart girl.

Tonight, we shall celebrate with treats and some gourmet food before I head off to LA for Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday, Princess Pretty-pants! We love you!

Chani's perch

Chani has two spots in the closet. The lower one where the pajamas are in a bin and the upper one. I had to put a blanket there just for her. I guess it is good that I don't share the closet with any other humans. Sigh...

As for Chani, she's quite pretty while she lounges on the green blanket.

But, she does have to look down below to make sure that Sheamus Popoki minds his manners and doesn't try to sleep on the pajamas... That is also her place, after all. And she must have them both! Although, I did find 9 sitting under her on the pajamas, trying to whap her from below. He was not successful. AND I had to get them both down before they hurt themselves or broke something...

Chani on a Wednesday

Streeeeeetch... Mom says I look much slimmer in this photo than I really am. Seriously, she keeps calling me Princess Chunky Pants. The nerve!

I suppose I shouldn't sulk, but honestly! And really, you, my dear fureinds, had to wait til Wednesday to see pretty me? Seems very wrong to me. Mom! I demand treats and cuddles and warm laundry to lie upon!

Chani

Mr. DeVille, I am ready for some tummy rubs here.

Mom is in love with my orangey bits. Lately, she can't help but pick me up and snuggle me. I have been voicing my disapproval quite loudly, but she ignores my complaints. Oh well, I guess it is just something princesses like me must deal with.

Chani-chan

I found some photos of darling Chani-chan!

Chani loves to claim my spot once I vacate it or when I am not home. It's her 'throne' so to speak.

And here she is under the reading lamp. Such a drama princess. And this time, it is only the lighting. Well, she's got drama on her mind, always does. She loves to be petted on her own terms and complains whenever I pick her up and cuddle her. With her lovely colors and chunkiness, who could resist giving her some snuggles? I sure can't.

Since the boys are so buddy buddy, Chani is left on her own for the most part. She does like to play with 9 on occasion and she still expects to be cleaned when she is sleepy and one of the boys comes around her.

Chani is definitely the Princess here in this household.

Weekend Portraits

 Chani Princess Pretty Pants on my kitty pj bottoms.

 9 looking up at Chani

Sheamus Popoki being coy

Happy Weekend everyone!

Chani loves laundry

Why yes, I am quite comfortable here. What do you mean you do not want fur on your freshly laundered clothing? I see no clothing, just a comfy pile of warm...

Merry Christmas!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas! Chani is dreaming of treats, tuna, warmth and when Mom comes home again.

And doing her best to block out the trouble the boys are getting into.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Grumpy Chani

After viewing Scarlett's grumpy face, I just had to add this photo

What you don't see is 9 sleeping comfortably between my legs and Sheamus Popoki sleeping on my other side. I was propped up rather uncomfortably against some pillows and my head was leaning on the corner of the headboard. Still, it was a bit heavenly having all 3 cats in bed with me.

For the most part, there is peace at Chez Marlene's. 9 and Chani have accepted their new little brother and Sheamus Popoki is kind of oblivious to the disruption he has caused by living here. Chani does still snuggle with me, but has a hard time relaxing when she hears little SPAM-chan play. I think she remember when she was a tiny kitten and picked on by the other kitties her foster mom was fostering.

At any rate... oh, Chani has something to say here:

That orange interloper ate from MY food dish on MY tower. And you expected me to actually eat from the same dish he had eaten from! How dare you??? Yes, you bet I refused to eat until you gave me a new dish to eat my dinner from. Harumph...


Though, I do have to say, I will deign to allow him to share under the kotatsu with me and I won't hiss at him when he walks by. I'll even sniff him. BUT no eating from MY dish in MY tower! It's bad enough that he sleeps in my tower when I'm not there.


Mom, will you please train him that the green tower is his???

Ok, that's what Chani had to say. And yes, I will do my best to train Sheamus Popoki to go to his tower. He's kind of... well, laid back and does his own thing. So his personality is great for joining our little family.

Chani loves when the bed is made

Chani loves it when I change the sheets.

And she looks quite adorable when she's under the sheets too.

Resting and relaxing

Mom is so happy to have a phone that takes photos again. She has completely foregone using the big black camera and is just taking photos of us using her phone. (She bought an iPhone 4s, if anyone is interested... We think the phone is doing weird things to Mom, she gets all giggly when holding the phone... do you think that it's emitting some sort of weird energy aura to make our Mom silly?)

At any rate, we had a nice snuggle sleeping on her last night while she was relaxing on the couch. 9 decided to clean my ears. He can be nice to me, I suppose.
 

I think he wanted to get closer to Mom... he likes sleeping on her chest, but I was in the way tee hee...

I love sleeping on Mom. So comfy.

And, at the end, I got all adorable and covered my eyes from the overhead light. Do I know how to work the cute or what?

Chani in a Kimono part 2

Greeting friends, Mom dressed me up in my second kimono. I was quite sad. But I did make it out of the bedroom and lay on the cool tile to console myself.

Then my dear brother, 9, decided to try and fight me. I think he got jealous because Mom was taking so many photos of me. Do you think I stood for that? No, I held my ground!

He eventually lost interest...

And I was left to sit pretty on the tile.

And to contemplate the unfairness of it all...

Note from Marlene: When Chani sits in her kimono with her paws in front of her, I keep thinking that she looks like one of those proper, noble Japanese ladies kneeling in their kimonos. She's so pretty! Also, since Chani's gained a bit of girth after losing her tapeworm, the kimono no longer closes like it used to hehehe... So, it's good that I take photos of her lying down. Teehee... Also, I think this kimono's colors look better on her. She really does do well with the Autumn color palette.

Chani on a Tuesday and toesies!

9 here. I'm getting a little put out. Mom is taking a ton of pictures of Chani but not of me!How wrong is that? She says it's because I refuse to sit still, but seriously. I'm so handsome. She should move faster.

This past weekend, Mom was selling her painted plates at a show in San Francisco. She made her table fee plus a little bit more. If anything it was a great marketing show.

AND, she came back inspired to draw more. Below you see a blurry Chani (hehehe...) And the drawing she worked on last night. Mom was too tired to paint, but she just had to draw. And she said that it was quite the reminder to work in pencil without an option to CTRL-Z something... no undo button??? hehehe

Then Chani started with the beauty poses...

And finally, her toesies.