The Christmas Invader

Every year around this time, my friend takes a few weeks off and heads back home to visit her family. If her husband can get time off, he goes too which means I get to look after their beautiful lab Indie!

She’s grown accustomed to my house being her home for the holidays, so she makes herself at home quite nicely and settles in. She has a beautiful temperament – very excitable though – and would love to get to know my cats a little better but they are just not coming to the party at the moment. Indie has had previous exposure to Mojo last holidays – he quickly laid down the law and said “I’m boss” and Indie being the smart dog that she is, readily agreed. But being Rosie’s first Christmas here, she isn’t accustomed to the Christmas dog invasion as yet. She likes her well enough so long as she keeps her distance, which is easy enough while Indie is outside.

In the meantime, there is a strengthened border patrol presence to prevent the invader from encroaching on their turf. Not to worry…I’m pretty sure Indie knows better than to cross the border into moggie territory. *hehe*

Hide and seek??

This is one of my favourite moments captured in time. It was taken Christmas last year when I had the dubious task of looking after Max (my sister’s cat) and Mischa was staying with me while mum went on holidays. I was working on a scrapbooking project in my study when I heard a small thud – so Mischa went to investigate with me close out her heels. The photo was exactly what I saw when I walked in the bathroom door. Now I’m not sure exactly what Max was trying to achieve here but I think maybe he was playing a little hide and seek with Mojo. Mojo wandered in, busted him perched on top of the shower recess and when he jumped down, he jumped the wrong way and ended up on the inside. Surprisingly, there was no barking, meowing or hissing. Just the three of them staring at each other waiting for someone to make a move. *hehe*

Rosie hasn’t quite mastered the art of hide and seek – you’re supposed to hide Rosie! Mojo on the other hand is a master at it by now.

Not a moggie but a doggy!

Okay so she’s not a moggie. This is Mischa, a 9yr old ridgeback cross who I found in a tiny pet store in Rockhampton when she was around 8 wks old. She was the last of her litter, the runt and the pet store owner was going to take her to the pound the next day. She had a small patch of ringworm on her flank, which the pet store owner knew about but had done nothing to treat. Consequently, even though she was lovely natured and sweet, no one was interested in buying her. Ringworm is so easily treated that I could not let her go to the pound where she probably would have been put to sleep. As it was, we took her home, the ringworm was treated and cleared up in no time. She loves cats to bits having lived the best part of her life with one – Mojo has her well and truly under his thumb even though they no longer live together. She has left her puppyhood behind now and is a good solid companion for my mum. I took this photo of her yesterday looking out over Moreton Bay from the pier at Wynnum beach.

Another shot I took once we got home. I think Mojo is just a little bit jealous that Mischa gets to check out the new deck and he doesn’t.