Thith-Thith-Thith-Thith

Confused about the title? Nope, I have not all of a sudden discovered a lisp...Say the title quickly and loudly. What does it sound like? A HELICOPTER! Here is a YouTube you can play in the background while reading this post. It's TWELVE HOURS of helicopter sound effects, so you can really get into the spirit of Helicoptering:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOCCY63UOGQ - very confused as to why someone has 12 hours of helicopter sounds, but they would probably be confused as to why someone has a blog about cats and crocs. So, to each their own.

Today's post is all about how I became one of them. One of my most feared nightmares coming to fruition. I became a Helicopter Mother.  We ALLLLLLLL know those parents. The ones who constantly watch their children from the sidelines, or even worse joining in "to play" just to make sure they're being treated okay/adapting well to others. In my head, whether it was an animal parent or people parent, I would always think "They look like idiots. C'mon they'll figure it out, if not- great learning experience." Didn't have much respect for them. Two of the WORST offenders are easily my cousin and sister. Evidence presented below.

Making sure Tucker and Grits get along. 

Everything look normal here?

Thith-Thith-Thith-Thith

About a month ago I heard a saying, "make your words sweet, because you'll never know when you'll have to eat them." Well, I usually don't make my dissenting opinions sweet so now I am eating crow about helicopter parenting. Eating big ole heaps of it.

Being the Cool Aunt is so much different than the Cool Mom. I don't think the Cool Mom exists because everything I do makes me look like a chicken running after Amelia Bedelia with my head cut off. Granted, she is a 10 year old cat and *probably* knows more about catting around than I do, but I'm the human with thumbs so I have convinced myself that I know best.

AB thinking, "yeah right dummy."

Last week, when our dogs were gone, the house was quiet, and Amelia Bedelia had been in her new home over a week, I decided to bring her with me one morning when I got breakfast. She would be going downstairs for the first time since I brought her upstairs from Westcott Acres. It was a little nerve wracking. However, she seemed to enjoy it. She was sniffing, looking around, going into nooks and crannies (helping Grandmaw dust), having a ball, and just generally checking out her home. I tried to keep a very watchful eye on her, but I had just made breakfast so I transferred my attention to eating and not on her exact location for maybe 10 minutes. That's the saying, "it only takes a second." After I finished that last piece of chocolate chip pancake, Panic. Struck. I couldn't hear her and didn't see her. She's a little gal, only 7 pounds 2 ounces and blends very well into those very dark corners she had just been sniffing out. I went into full on chicken with my head cut off mode. I flew around the house looking for her, checked my room fully, checked the upstairs to make sure she hadn't gone back upstairs to her safe spots, and then anxiety really started kicking in.

Squawking around the house worrying sick about her, I quickly turned on my sister who had gone outside for a second to get the paper. I calmly (read insanely) questioned her about HOW LONG THE DOOR HAD BEEN OPEN, DID SHE LEAVE IT OPEN FOR ANY TIME WITHOUT WATCHING IT, AND COULD AMELIA BEDELIA HAVE SLIPPED OUT. Her answers did not pacify me so I got even MORE rattled. I was really worried about this scenario because AB does not have front claws so she could not defend herself against all the monsters that would certainly face her in our yard. Also, we do have a hawk that enjoys our yard. As I was about to go grab my BB gun, to make sure the hawk didn't snatch up my little Amelia, I noticed Grits.

Grits started nosing around our den sofa and meowing trying to get under it. My eagle ears heard him and I swooped in with a 14 foot wingspan. You know the stories of moms and dads lifting cars or performing exaggerated feats of strength to save their children? Well I lifted the sleeper sofa like it was a piece of dollhouse furniture to make sure she was there. I practically wept when I saw her sitting calmly on the heat duct. It was the most terrifying 10 minutes of my life. I was going to call 911 in a minute to get them to help me find her, or commit me for a mental breakdown.  I quickly nestled her back into my bed and we took a cat nap. It had been such a stressful morning, we both needed the calm down time.

Approximately 9:15 am after she was found.

So yes, I am a Helicopter Mom and PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!!!! I ain't never letting her go anywhere by herself again. My heart still hasn't recovered. She's now sitting on the heating pad I left for her on low heat in my bed while I'm sitting in class worrying that she isn't warm enough or have enough food/water. These are ridiculous concerns but....thith-thith-thith-thith-thith-thith-thith-thith

Cats Out,

Betsy and Amelia Bedelia

Full Hearts, Cats Eyes, Can't Lose

I never thought I could understand that Friday Night Lights mantra so fully ,as I now do, before December 26, 2015. That was the day I first laid my drowsy hazel eyes on Millie. It was the day after Christmas and my family was relaxing around a fire hanging out, and talking about the holidays. I was tired and sleepy, aimlessly looking around Facebook at people's holiday posts. I then happened upon Westcott Acres Luxury Pet Resort and Rescue's page.  I began following Westcott Acres n Facebook last Spring when we were thinking about boarding our dogs there. Unfortunately (for the dogs!), they did not have space, but I never unfollowed WA.

As I have been quite candid with throughout my blog, I love cats. LOVE them. However, as I am entering my late twenties, I have become less of "any kitten will do, gimme that kitten, I want a cat now" and more of a "I want a long haired dark or tabby cat, preferably female and not necessarily a kitten." I've really come to understand that the cat I choose (and that chooses me) will be with me for a good many years. You have to know what you want. You could say that I have matured. I knew what I wanted in a cat companion so while all the other offers for adoptable cats or kittens were HIGHLY tempting, I held out. Then as I was browsing Facebook for rescue cats (an activity I am EXTREMELY proficient in) on that fateful night, Westcott Acres put up this photo with the captions "Some of our rescues and boarders."

There was Millie. I quickly, with almost saliva running down my chin messaged them asking if she was a rescue or boarder, could she be adopted, and when could I come in? The answers? Yes she's a rescue, come in during these hours, and she has no pending adoption papers. I quickly planned my trip to Irmo... All unknown to my parents 😊😊 but with my sister (a good influence or bad influence depending on how you look at it). I met her casually in the cat room where she came right up to me (NOT Sara) and I fell in love.

Our First Photo, IN LOVE. 

My sister and I stayed in the Cat Room for almost an hour. The room was heaven. It reminded me of a time in Jackson Hole, WY when I was really deprived of cat attention and somehow convinced (actually I probably tricked her) my friend Caroline to visit the Cat Room at a local rescue there. 

I think Caroline actually dry heaved taking this photo

Similar setting and experiences except I did not have a connection with a cat in Jackson Hole despite trying very hard. When I saw Millie, I knew that she was going to be My First Cat. How she ended up at Westcott is sad but what a fairytail (hehe) ending.  She was from a loving household where her parents tragically went through a divorce. Her mom moved in with her brother but the brother did not want a cat in the house so he gave her two weeks to find a new home. She did not have my phone number and could not find anyone in two weeks so made the difficult decision to take her to the vet to have her euthanized. The vet , recognizing the fine specimen that she is,  decided to call Westcott Acres (thank goodness!) to see if they would take her in, and they did! I don't think her former mother was being cruel but had a very difficult decision to make.  Knowing that most people only want kittens/typically don't adopt senior cats, she did not want her to suffer in a pound before then being euthanized. I'm grateful she took her to the vet and Westcott rescued her. Millie is a senior cat at 10 years old which did give me a pause, but age is just a number! She certainly doesn't act it, and let's be honest...she could help me mature. 

I filled out the adoption papers, gave my three references, and was eagerly awaiting the news I could pick up Millie the next day when I found out that since I lived at home....they needed to talk to my parents or "my landlords". EEEEEK. My parents have been VERY candid about the fact that their Cat Days are over after Buster died (RIP). I was trying to go under the radar and show up with her on NYE, and argue "I can't take her back." Since that plan fizzled, I knew I would have to work a miracle. I wrote out a contract, I began begging my mom, I started crying, I spent some anxious hours in my room while she and my dad talked about it, and then the verdict came. While I would not ever declaw a cat, Millie was declawed as a kitten which became a huge plus for me since my parent's just had their living room furniture recovered and some new rugs put in. They wanted to make sure I was ready for the responsibility, knew how to slowly introduce her to the dogs and grits, and made sure I knew it was my cat....but it was A YES!!!!!!!!

On My WAY!!!

The next day was New Years Eve, I went and picked up my glorious, majestic beast and have taken over 1,000 photos and videos of her since! I will definitely be updating my blog more frequently especially telling stories of how she is doing with the dogs, Grits, and me. It's been such a wonderful experience. I could write a 20 page essay on our first week together, but for the sake of y'all's attention span I won't. 

Here she is helping me write, and edit today's post.

When Westcott allowed me to take Millie home, they said we would have a 2 week trial and if anything was wrong/didn't feel right/just didn't work out; no questions asked she could come back there. As. If. I'm more worried they're going to think we are TOO obsessed with each other (or more accurately, I am TOO obsessed with her) and want her back. I do love her name Millie but wanted a full name for her so I've settled on Amelia Bedelia Shrimp Casserole W, Millie for short. She's agreed on the name and you'll be hearing more from us! 

Millie's Mom Out, 

BetC 

PS--- Seriously. How BEAUTIFUL IS SHE?

Crocin' Out in Maine!

It's been a strange summer. Two things were weird, I had limited to zero interactions with cats and then our family cat Buster died! Let me tell you, losing a pet is one of the hardest deaths to handle in your life. I am happy to say that Buster is now interred in our backyard with a beautiful Easter Lily growing magnificently on top of him.

You know he is enjoying the life up there with all the treats he can get from the Big Man (or Woman!).

On to happier things though! We will miss Buster and loved him dearly, perhaps now C&C will follow my journey of convincing my parents to get another family cat? It's worth a shot. My birthday is coming up.....

Off topic again! 

SO this summer since I did not have cats, y'all saw I got pretty creative with my time doing crafts. However, I also picked up a new sport! Water Aerobics. Now, when I first heard the idea of me doing W.A., I will admit I scoffed, eye rolled, and had the "yeah I can do that attitude." I went in the first day like, "Whateverrrrrrrr, I go to CROSSFIT EVER HEARD OF IT? This will be a piece of cake." Nope. Nope. Nope. While I may have been the youngest person by twenty years, those women had me HUSTLING. I didn't know you could run tires in water. I wish I didn't know that you could. It was tough and I did not know sweating in a pool was possible. Also, drowning was a very good possibility. Luckily there were always two lifeguards on hand (and I really think one was assigned just to make sure I didn't go under). 

I got my fanny and ego handed to me so I knew it was time to get to work! I stuck very close to the teacher Barbara so I knew exactly what she was doing every second of the workout.... May have looked like a lost duckling trying to find its mother. My grandmother also did the workouts and has done them for several years. She found it hilarious I thought it would be so easy. On our ways home, after which I would have tried to convince her to drive me home, I would always complain about how sore I was going to be, how hungry I was, and how much water I swallowed. I bet she put in earplugs during the ride home. I would have.

 So while I was putting my body through water torture, my mind would go to a happier place of Cats and Crocs....and I began to notice things around the pool. These things? CROCS! OH MAN. So glad to have found something fun to concentrate on!!!!!! I then decided that my next blog post would be a trip to the pool with my Crocs with a VERY, VERY special ending to the blog. Okay fine, I'll tell y'all: it's my Water Aerobics class doing our choreographed dance to Shake it Off by Taylor Swift! WE CAN MOVE AND SHAKE!! It's so fun.

Here we go....
Going to the pool with Crocs

First things first, we have to shower before getting into the pool. It's important to rinse off any germs before getting in (actually IDK why we did it, other people did so we did too...and yes I would jump off a bridge if other people were too) 

They got their own shower. 

Ooooooo at the COLD waters edge. The Mainer's always said the pool water was warm....don't ever listen to Mainer's when asking the temperature of water. 

Barbara (the Mother Duck....also the instructor) and I in our Crocs at the water's edge! I stalled as much as I could to avoid getting in the freezing pool at 8 am. 

Met some BEAUTIFUL neon green Crocs on the way to the pool. The toes (not pictured) also matched. FAB. 

Purple Crocs without their owners. I never knew the owners to these Crocs, but I bet they were worried I would steal them when they saw me taking photos of them. 

YELLOW! and with decorations! TOO cute. I need to get some of those (color and decorations). 

Look at us!!!!! This is just delightful to have made so many friends in Maine that also own Crocs. You can truly tell the character about a person by how the feel about Crocs. 

If this doesn't make your heart soar, I really don't know what will. This is just such a calming photo. I could look at this for days. In fact, I am looking at it right now just smiling. So happy. 

Okay, the grand finale! Our wonderful Water Aerobics instructors led us through a choreographed dance every Tuesday and Thursday, and I was by FAR the worst one.  It's fun and funny. I love it so much. You may need to play the song along with the video because it is a little hard to hear...but one thing that isn't hard to see is how good I got at SWIMMING! Crocs were unfortunately not allowed in the pool but they watched with the lifeguards to make sure we were okay. Enjoy!

Water Aerobics!

Maybe some of y'all should try it..............

Crocs Out!

Bets

Rest in Cat Heaven Sweet Buster Williamson.

Buster, Baus, Bussy, Mr. Bus- anything you called him, he did not answer. He was his own Cat and as his bio in The Real HouseCats of South Carolina said "Life in South Carolina is a game, and I make the rules."  He was born on October 6th, 2000 in the chair in our den. My mom was not too pleased initially because my little brother Locke ran in screaming that Callie (a calico cat…how original!) had a rat. Well, she wasn't pleased any further when it turns out Callie was having 5 kitten babies in the most commonly used room, in the most sat in chair. Buster was the first out and we always joked that he came out first so he could begin eating first. He was a lover of food, who can fault him?

 There's the little cutie in the top right after they were born.

Locke appointed himself as their godfather and watched them everyday.

Buster had a great life though growing up with four Williamson children could be tiresome, chaotic,  and ______ (insert any adjective to describe pandemonium). He got used to being chased around, held so tight he almost died, and placed in dolls clothes.  He did not fault us, but developed into a very chill cat that knew how to hide…well. He lived through the sad deaths of our first beloved cat Polly Wally Wing Wong, and our first dog Duke. He lovingly looked over the additions of Colonel, Buncombe, and temporary guests Grits, and Hampton. 

Oddly, Buster was most at home with the dogs. He knew he was top dog and demanded to be treated as their equal.

Buster as a kitten with Duke and Maggie- brother and sister pair

Waiting to be served first as was the protocol of Top Dog to youngest

Buster was around for fifteen long years and we love him dearly. I know he's up in Cat Heaven purring in some cat nip, and sunning himself on a warm bed. He was fit to be a king while on Earth so I can only imagine he's living out that dream up there. I'll miss him dearly, but one day…We'll be reunited. He was a good one. 

A little slide show with photos and videos of Buster during his best days. 

For non-mobile users

For those on the mobile and if the video won't work, I have uploaded to youtube
Buster Memorial

Lovingly Cats Out,

BetC

My Achy Breaky Heart

Random Factoid: I looked up the lyrics to Achy Breaky Heart by the more talented Cyrus, and had NO idea of the true lyrics. My cousins and I always sang it as "Don't break my heart, my achy breaky heart." However, it's actually "Don't TELL my heart…" Whoa, but not surprising we messed up the lyrics. What IS surprising is that our parents are not in a mental institution for how many times we ONLY sang that line of the song in the mid-90's.

Back to C&C:

It's now been a LONG month and a half since I have laid my sausage fingers on the soft pelt of a domestic cat. Typing that sentence made me imagine being back in South Carolina, surrounded by Buster and Grits purring in their Catnip and just giggling about the day. I stare off into the distance with a slight smile every time I read that sentence.

WELL, today y'all are in for a real clawtastic treat. I've decided to NOT only do a post about my newest DIFYC project, but to include a BONUS section about a Maine Coon Cat named Willy. I heard about Willy over the weekend, and was blown away. So keep reading! 

Now, without Buster and Grits occupying my time I've had to become creative. I decided to pick up a DIFYC (Do It For Yo Cat) project to cope with my animal loneliness.  I'm sure some of my loyal followers will remember my last DIFYC was actually a DIFYCr (Do It For Yo Croc) project, and was over a year ago! I cleaned up my Crocs for the start of the summer so I could look so fresh at my water aerobics class. It worked. This summer, I'm going to….drum roll………….. 

MAKE CAT NIP! 

Y'all know I'm a southern transplant in Maine, but may NOT know that I have ZERO, ZILCH, NOTHING knowledge about plants. It's crazy, I know, since I am pretty intellectual on the subject about Cats and Crocs.  Luckily I have a grandmother and aunt who have a magical garden in Maine just for cats! Just joking, they're both hiding a glowing adoration of cats behind a face of indifference towards them. I know the love is there…It'll come out.

 So imagine my surprise when my grandmother tells me that she has TONS of Catmint growing in her garden. Say What. First, I had to Google what Catmint was because even though it had the word Cat in it… I did not know what it was…But you know it's going to be a good thing when this is the first photo that pops up- 

Talk about jackpot!! 

A little tidbit from a lesser known website named azarius "Most cats find eating and rolling in catmint to be pleasurable and intoxicating. There is an old saying about this plant: 'If you set it, the cats will eat it, if you sow it, the cats don't know it." Oh my cats are going to know it. I don't know how to sow, but it's not happening around here. It also has a calming effect on human stomachs and can bring down human fevers. Don't Care. Cats only please. 

Now that I know that this Catmint (or Nepeta Faassenii for your gardening nerds!) is a version of Catnip and adored by cats, these brain wheels are A TURNIN'.  I decide to put my cat-less summer to good use and make Catmint pillows for Buster, Grits, and NEW KITTEN COUSIN TUCKER! 

Step 1: Identifying Catmint. 

Unfortunately, we do not have a fun kitty rolling around in our Catmint. 

Only bees

What happens when you try to take bees' flowers away….

Step Two: Harvest and then hang to dry upside down

Reppin' my blog life!! 

Step 3: Get impatient and decide to dry in oven instead.

Tip: Use lowest setting on oven and be prepared for a intoxicating smell. Actually intoxicating, I was very loopy. 

Step 4: When leaves are dry, crinkle up into a fine powder

Step 5: Make your own pouches! Now, I haven't used a sewing machine since 7th grade, but they're pretty easy! Only sewed my finger to the pouches once. 

Meow those look good!

I can't give you tips on how to sew, because I was under the constant supervision of my grandmother after that finger incident. :) So my advice is to get a wiser human (or cat) to watch you while you sew.

Step 6: Put the Catmint in the pouches and give to your wonderfully kittens!

An UPDATE will be coming in the next few days/week about how the cats loved them!! I hope they make it through the mail, because the drug sniffing cats may decide to keep it for themselves. Those feline snitches are the WORST.

Good luck Cat Nippin!!

BONUS CATURE!

For the second half of the blog post I will recount what happened when I went to the wedding of one of my dearest friends. It was a beautiful wedding weekend in Maine and could not have been more picturesque. One of MY MOST FAVORITE parts (besides the obvious to die for dress, heart warming ceremony, AND Marshall marrying a woman that goes by Kat...) was meeting his aunt and first cousin. Conversation turned, as they naturally do, to our pet cats where I learned they had a Maine Coon Cat named Willy. However, the best part was not only that they had a Maine Coon but that their MCC (Maine Coon Cat) LOVED dogs and puppies. You can imagine my bewilderment as my interactions with a MCC (Grits) and our dogs has not been ever one of love….

Bunc feeling uneasy...

Getting there...

There's the look of "love"!

They purrceed to tell me that their cat Willy actually took these adorable puppies on as his own, and truly loved to play and snuggle with them. I could not believe it. In fact, I DID not believe it! I naturally, as any respected blogger such as myself would do, asked for proof…

Maannnnnnn Ohhhhh Mannnnnn. I got so much more than I bargained for and have unabashedly watched the video everyday since…at least once. Trust me, this link is worth the click 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-StMTsrjSA&list=LLA178yE9PSmmSiGBEzkpUAA&feature=mh_lolz

Uncle Willy 

(click here if you can't copy and paste that youtube link)

To Juxtapose that loving MCC named Willy, let me show you how Grits interacts with his brother Buncombe. 

When mentioned to Grits' handler and my younger sister of why Grits couldn't be more like Willy, she delusionally replied, "He's just a kitten, he'll learn one day!" He's 3…growing out of the kitten years to learn.

Still can hope and dream we can one day get a video as GLORIOUS as the one of Uncle Willy.

Cats Out!

Betsy

Crocs in the News

You know, it's going to be a hard post to top my Catersize video… but I'm going to try my damnedest. I'm thinking of making that a monthly routine with different workouts to help everyone keep in cat shape! Does that sound good? Maybe I'll be introducing you to another cat to help us…A girl can dream!

It's been almost a month without Cats, and let me tell you…it has been a hard month! I have attempted to steal two cats, both clearly well fed and clearly in someone's yard…I have tried to lure a fox into my car… I have tried to make a chipmunk my new friend…Today there was an American Black Duck (very pretty) in the pond and I just loved that little girl. I got out the binoculars and watched her for about 3 hours, named her, and cried when she flew south for the summer… but the worst thing to befall me…the worst. thought. ever. I have begun to think about volunteering at a SPCA here in Maine. Now, me volunteering at an SPCA is JUST like Augustus Gloop

If you don't remember him, he's the one that fell into the chocolate river because he was so greedy.

I figure I'll come back with about 7 cats…maybe 20. That's a good range, right?? When looking on the website for one such non-profit they write, "Volunteers who like cats are always welcome to spend some one-on-one time with cats needing further socialization. This requires patience and can be very rewarding. Personal contact on a regular basis can make a cat more interested in human attention thereby increasing the likelihood of adoption." Ummmmm yeah, you will increase the likelihood of me adopting those cute little furballs! I'll keep y'all updated if I decide to enter the gates of my ,figuratively, Willy Wonka Chocolate factory. 

Well enough about Cats (for the time being)! Let's talk about the other main subject in this world, Crocs. Crocs have had a KINDA big emergence recently. Unless you have been living under a rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean under a squid, you have seen Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge ROCKING an adorable pair of Crocs (here on the C&C blog, we think of him fondly as PG).

Is there anything more adorable than that????

No. 

The next step is getting Princess Kate to wear them too!

We've been in touch…she's considering it. 

I'm sure that shoe is out of stock right now and it should be! Crocs are the most amazing shoes ever. 

Me when you diss Crocs. 

Next: I recently got an email from the sister of my best roommate (Clare). Ali (Clare's sister) was writing me to see if I had seen the cover of the most recent People Magazine, because Crocs were featured TWICE… "No WAY!" I replied.  Now, the sisters Clare and Ali were at the oldest sister's (Congratulations Emma and Curtis!!) wedding weekend, BUT she took time out of her busy day to send me a photo of the People magazine! Such a Croc Lover she is, we appreciate that devotion here at C&C! I will be making a donation of one kitten and one pair of Crocs to her whenever she reads this…If she can raise the kitten right, she will get the Crocs. Gotta make sure she is a good mom!! Anyway, here is the People cover:

You're probably thinking, Bets we already saw this. We know PG wears Crocs like nobodies business.

Let's zoom in. 

and again.

annndddd one more time.

UGHHHH PG is doing all this GREAT PR for Crocs and they just HAVE to put another pair of Crocs on the cover with him, and that person HAPPENS to be a criminal?? This sounds like a conspiracy. Also, prisoners get Crocs? Better hide your cats, because I am coming a catnappin'. JK, I'll probably just stop doing my taxes so I can go to the Martha Stewart prison. I will then start a cat therapy program similar to the dog therapy program they have in the big houses. See above about the cat socialization program. Y'all, this is starting to sound like a good scheme! I've got at least a 10 year going here. 

Back to the cover of People, I cannot believe they put that horrible lady on the front cover with Crocs along with PG wearing Crocs. I mean, when else has Crocs EVER, EVER been on People much less TWICE? I really think someone deeply hates Crocs over there and heads should roll. Time to move me in for the fashion and cover spreads. Your girl is moving on up!

I'll be back soon with some adventures that I have taken my Crocs on in Maine! We've been quiteeee busy. Remember: stay safe and cute in your Crocs, but if you have to go to prison, at least you'll get a free pair!

Crocs Out,

Betsy