We had visitors this weekend! My son Connlann and his wife Ji, escorted our grandson Knut on the long drive from Washington state to Morris, Minnesota — and they’re driving all the way back today. My daughter Skatje also decided to trek from Madison, Wisconsin to our house, bringing our granddaughter Iliana. They’ve already gone back home.
So we had two grandchildren here at the same time and same place. Now we’re totally exhausted, but we’d invite them back any time for as long as they want to stay.
Here’s Skatje and Ji at the park.
Meanwhile, Knut was on the splash pad while Major Connlann stood sentry duty.
Iliana was on the playground equipment.
The one downside of this weekend was the Evil Cat, who was at her worst. She hated having company. Her thing was hiding under the furniture, snarling and hissing, reaching out to take swipes with her claws at anyone passing by. Including me. I got my ankles slashed a couple of times.
I hope they come back to visit some day, but the cat doesn’t.
Grandkids are so big, PZ!
my nieces visited this weekend and i took them up to see my cat one at a time. no bloodshed tho it had been a possibility.
Lucky for them ICE didn’t do a Macarthur Park style invasion. They might have all ended up in Alligator Alcatraz. After all children having fun is a definite threat to national security.
Good on your kids and their spouses for making treks to Morris. When I was a kid our family had a toy poodle that would randomly get angry and ambush passers-by from under furniture with a bite to the ankle. Visiting friends were wary.
When guests come to our house, our cat Layla will run up to them and try to sit in their laps. She wasn’t always this way. She’s a Norwegian forest cat, a very energetic and playful breed. We got her as a rescue at about 6 months old. She’d been surrendered because she bit a baby. At first, we feared we’d made a mistake. We both had scratches and slashed clothing. But, over time, she settled down. She’s really a very sweet cat, except for her propensity to get bitey when excited.
I see the major is sporting a beard. Is that his on-leave look?
(OT) About 1,500 tarantulas found hidden in cake boxes at German airport
.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/14/germany-tarantulas-customs-cake-bozes
We’re recovering from my best friend visiting from Texas.
She’s another retired teacher. She has curly red hair and is very excitable. Therefore, our husbands used to call us “Lucy and Ethyl” when we went out on excursions together. They joked that they kept their phones handy just in case they might have to bail us out.
We terrorized the Monterey Peninsula last week by going wine tasting and out for coffee and brunch with another friend of mine.
We all had fun, but now it is definitely time to rest and recover.
John Watts,
We have a large Maine Coon named Worf. He’s the fourth one we’ve had over the years.
Worf is bonded to my husband, but he always runs to greet guests and makes friends like a puppy.
Princess Leia, my Lynx Point Siamese, is a bit more discriminating about friendships, but she adores my best friend.
Therefore, she abandoned my lap for hers during her visit last week.
Even though I’ve had Leia since she was rescued at 4 weeks of age, and she has never had kittens, she has a strong motherly urge. When we brought Worf home four years ago, she went into “Mamma Cat” mode and raised him. She still disciplines him, even though he’s twice her size.
She even has a thing for human babies. She loved my little granddaughter when she was a baby. To this day, when she hears that child’s little voice over the computer, she comes running to peer at the screen. She does the same when we talk to my best friend’s grandson, which thrills him.
Cat personalities can be pretty wonderful!
Cat has a right to defend itself.
Uh, something.
The Major is on leave until the end of the month, when he flies off to South Korea for a year.
I always thought “Evil Cat” was redundant.
–> dog person
Obligate carnivores don’t have much use for pity.