Getzger « 365 days of 2011

I eat toast and marmalade while Mr. Getzger Cat exits frame right.

“Marmalade, I like marmalade.”

It’s one of my favourite sayings – and true to boot.After church I put in another day helping with the logging. It was hard hot and dirty work. I’m already aching from Friday’s exertions, so no doubt I’ll really be regretting it by Tuesday.

By bed time I was hungry again, so toast and marmalade seemed appropriate, not to mention a picture opportunity. Getzger also decided to get in on the action, and I decided to go with this shot showing his tail about to exit the picture.

My picture as I envisioned it

I eat toast and marmalade while Mr. Getzger Cat exits frame right.

Getzger's take on things.

September 25, 2011 | Categories: Around the house, Home, Remote Shutter Release, Tripod | Tags: 365 Days, Artificial light, Available Light, Black and White, Gary Allman, Getzger, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait, Spot Colour | Leave A Comment »

Living with cats

Today I almost committed the ultimate 365 Days faux pas,

because for the first time this year I forgot to take my picture. I was just climbing into bed when I realised. I threw on my dressing gown and headed off to the kitchen table for today’s picture.

The day started slowly, with a Sunday off from church. Lanie’s been in KC since after school on Friday at a diocesan youth event. This removed our need to attend the 9 am service at church, which we normally do so that so she can be in choir or acolyte. It was nice to take a break, and we sat in bed surfing and chatting all morning. I spent what was left of my day on the Interwebs and caught up on some outstanding voluntary work, as Monday I have some web development work to do.

Having had my bedtime postponed for photographic purposes, I wanted to get today’s picture out of the way as quickly as possible, I even left off my glasses, which meant I couldn’t check any pictures I took (it shows). So I proceeded to press the shutter and get it over with.

There is something about the sound of the lens focusing, the ‘beep’ of the focus confirmation and the clunk of the mirror and shutter operating that attracts cats. Normally Tubby is the most inquisitive, but today before I could count to one, Getzger was up on the kitchen table trying to get in on the act. In the end I gave up, so this picture which includes Mr. G. Cat Esquire (Not sure that any Americans, even if they are pure bred Abyssinian really qualify for the ‘Esquire’ bit) will do for today.

Footnote: The plaque on the wall behind me in the alternate shot reads: “Everything tastes better with cat fur in it” I can’t attest to this as I’ve not had much opportunity to try meals without cat fur in them to enable me to confirm or refute this statement.

Today’s alternate shot

Getzger Cat gets in the way of my attempts at late night self portraiture

May 1, 2011 | Categories: Activity, Arm's Length Self Portrait, Around Springfield, Around the house, Home, Idling | Tags: 365 Days, Abyssinian, Artificial light, Available Light, Black and White, Cat, Gary Allman, Getzger, Photography, Self Portrait | Leave A Comment »

Morning rituals

I think we need a bigger bed.

Weekdays, after the school run we often enjoy our morning coffee in bed. We’ll chat about plans for the day, or further ahead, discuss our projects, shopping, the kids or whatever things are going on. This morning we were discussing some of the things I learned in last night’s class. It seems that every week I come away with a nugget of inspiration in addition to the things I’ve learned. Good stuff. And sometimes, not often we’ll have our cereal in bed too.

Getzger has his morning rituals too. As soon as the cereal is ready, he positions himself in a conspicuous spot and makes his presence felt. He knows I leave a little milk in the bottom of my bowl for him to lap up when I’m finished. The poor chap has trouble with his bones and joints, and a little bit of extra calcium will do him good. Well, that’s my excuse for encouraging him.

As we had our cereal in bed this morning Getzger sat and watched my every move. Sometimes, just for the fun of it, I make a big fuss over emptying my bowl with lots of slurping and muttering. That really gets him going.

The kittehs

I’m sure they are going to appear in a lot of these pictures so here’s a little introduction to our cats, in order from the camera.

Getzger (Abyssinian), aka Mr Cat, MC, Getzger Cat, Geggers, Geggie, PLG as in ‘Peg Leg Geg’ and as part of a family cat intelligence (contradiction in terms there I know) experiment was also briefly known as Meowkovich-Meowcovich. When not sleeping, on patrol checking for squirrels, or inspecting the kitchen faucet, Getzger will have his head stuck in the food bowl.

Sprinky (Maine Coon), aka Sprinkles. Sprinky often replaces Lanie at the dinner table, and is entranced by music, whistling and singing.

Tubby (Burmese), aka Tubmiester, Rotro, Rotters, imbecile, and Irritant. Tubby’s ambition is to own an Uzi and get his own back on his captors and torturers.

Blue Kitteh (Maine Coon), aka Madame Bleu, and Floofy pants. Madame is far too aloof to join in the fun with the other cats. She deeply dislikes ‘Cat Dancing’.