Wordless Wednesday - Tigris

 

Travel Tuesday - Sunshine 2026 - Guadeloupe

 Again, thanks to Tigris for giving us space on the blog to write about our trip.

We selected the ship, the MSC Virtousa, because it is the ship they film Good Ship Murder on. When we were looking for an itinerary we wanted, we knew, when it went to Guadeloupe, aka Saint Marie and the home of Death in Paradise, we knew this was the trip for us. For the 15 months from the time be booked it until we went, we affectionately called it our Murder Cruise.

On Guadeloupe we did the Death in Paradise Tour. Ourselves and a handful of fans went to Honore (Deshaies) in what was one of the highlights of the trip. 

First stop, was the beach where the Detective's shackis build every season. 

Me standing in front of the tree that goes through the home

The beach in front of the shack

A famous path to the beach

Then we drove over to the town and visited the harbour (no good pictures here) before walking towards the police station. 

The police station used to be a church building and being inside was like stepping into the TV show. 

I would have loved to spend time looking at the files, so, so many files.

The last stop was Catherine's Bar. Everyone was excited to have a drink of choice here. 

The Man and I decided to share a rum punch. (If you know you know). I was so excited to try it.

                   

It was one of the worst tasting things I have ever had. It burned and there was no punch taste. Found out later it was 100 proof rum! Needless to say, Man and I did not finish our drink. It was just not drinkable and we laughed and laughed, grateful for this experience. 

We were taken to another part of the island for a drink and snack. Man and I avoided any punch before returning to the ship. It was a super hot day (over 40C/105F, so we were glad to get out of the sun and heat. 

Next week, we will vist St. Lucia. 

Not So Mischief Monday - by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends,

After the naughtiness of last week, we have all been very, very good kitties this week. So good. So good.So good, Man moved our boxes and tried to make us a better box fort.

The only mischief with our fort is we liked it better when it was in the middle of the room and drove Lady crazy.

Back into the box I go!

your pal, Styxy, King of the Boxes

Nature Friday - Here and There by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends,

Since Grissie stole my Mischief Monday post because she was bad, I am taking Friday because I know you all missed your good pal Styxy. 

I am so happy to be back and a big thank you to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this.

Like much of the world, it has been cold, cold, cold here. 

I am happy my Lady is back because when she is home she turns the heat on in her office and it makes the purrfect warm place to sleep. 

This is scene from Lady's walk the other day (why she would want to go out when she doesn't have to, is besides me, but she does).

I will contrast this with a pretty flower Lady saw in Martinique. 

Same world, same time of year, very different climate.

you friend, staying really cozy, Styxy

Lanie's Log - New Wardens were Worse

 It has been 106 days since my capture. While I have complained about my wardens, I must report, the substitute wardens were worse.

The Lady Warden had left very strict instructions to Callie's children to give me space. However, the 10 year old apparently found me irresistible and climbed a chair and got into my face.

This resulted in me being MIA for most of the time the people were gone. 

The Man Warden was thrilled to see me come out of the ceiling at 2:30 am Tuesday morning. He was less thrilled I got back up before he could stop me.

Over the next 3 and a bit days the old wardens put my meds back in my food, tried to trick me to go into the live trap to eat (I fell for that once, I am nothing if not smart) and tried to get me out of the ceiling.

Friday morning, I was super hungry and came down for my food. The Man blocked my favourite parkour spot so I was stuck on the washing machine. Lady then chased me out of the laundry room. I have been unhappily not a ceiling cat ever since. 

You may wonder how I got in the ceiling, as Styx spent time int here and Lady and Man blocked it off. Well it turns out there was a little hole with a pipe that I am small enough to fit through (Styx and Gris are not). This has since been blocked.

A little dirty but no worse for wear

I am now safely back in captivity. 

Lanie - Prisoner number 3

Editor's note: Immediately after she was down, she allowed us to pet her and she was purring. We have not lost any significant gains with her fortunately. If we had mice, we are also guessing this problem has been solved. 

Wordless Wednesday - Fireside

 

Travel Tuesday - Sunshine 2026

To make up for ruining our bedding, Tigris has agreed to allow me to use her Tuesday post to write about our latest adventure. Those who follow us on social media, may have seen some of this.

In October 2024, while on our last cruise, we decided to do a cruise on the MSC Virtuosa . This is the ship they film the show Good Ship Murder on and was one of the reasons we picked this trip (next week we will share the other reason)/

Our trip began on Thursday, January 15, when we drove in a snowstorm to Montreal, as we had an early morning flight on Friday to Martinique.  Not the most fun way to start a trip, but we made is slowly and safely. 

Martinique is French territory in the Caribbean (part of the French West Indies) that was the birth place of Josephine, Napoleon's first wife. It currently has a population of about 350 000 and can have over a million visitors per year. 

We arrived to the island Friday afternoon and after sitting for the 5 hour flight, we were ready to do some exploring before we got on a ship the next day. 

Fort-de-France

Fort Saint Louis - an active French military base

To cross the street you went through a turnstile

The Library

We will return to Martinique at the end of the trip.

The next day, we got on the ship and on Sunday we visited our first port. Next week I will share stop one.

Mischief Monday - The Punishment Fits the Crime - by Tigris

 We are back. We missed you all and send the warmest thought on these cold days and very hard times.  Those suffering at these times are never far from our thoughts. 

On to our own mischief;

Those who follow our people on social media may have realized they left us for 87 million years. During this time Callie's children took care of us.

While there is no proof, I am the guilty party (I deny Lady caught me in the act upon her return), it is fair to say, we cats were not happy with this arrangement. Some cats used Lady and Man's brand new bed as a litter box, repeatedly. 

When I say brand new bed, I mean the bed that was delivered 2 nights before they left. 

Fortunately, Lady had 2 mattress protectors on and the mattress, those and the sheets could be cleaned. Unfortunately the duvet, a blanket and a pillow could not be. 

Lady was so thrilled at 12:45 am to come home to this mess.

The kids would not have known as they didn't go in the bedroom AND we were still using our litter too. 

The bed has new bedding and the bedroom is now a cat free zone.

Lady and Man have no plans to be away until the end of the year and will have to figure out what is best for us.

Tigris - the angry 

Nature Friday

 Thanks to Rosy and Sunny for hosting this event. 

We got a lot of snow last weekend. 

We will be away from our blog for a couple weeks. Take care friends. 

Lanie's Log

Dear log, it has been 86 days since my capture.

I have been a week without my medication and my captures have not noticed a difference, so for now I will not have medication daily. Apparently I will need to continue to have it when I go to to the vet. 

I have had an ok week. I got to scratch Lady Warden for the first time, completely deserved as she tried to pick me up and hug me. I am not ready for that. They were minor scratches. She also tried bringing a chair and standing at my height on my windowsill and I just left the room and hid. I am not going to have people in my space like that. I didn't talk to her for a day, but then, 2 mornings later was desperate for pets, so I caved. 

I have made some gains apparently. I am coming down when the people are in the room more. The Lady Warden makes a big deal about it.

You can see where my hair has not grown in on my belly yet

What are you staring at Lady Warden?

First time I came down for a drink while Lady Warden was in my cell

Apparently my progress is going well, if slowly. Apparently the Wardens love me and love having me here. I can say, I usually don't hate them (except when they are picking me up or trying to hug me).

Jack-O-Lanie - prisioner 3

Wordless Wednesday - Lanie

 

Tuesdays with Tigris - Hanging Out

 Sometimes you just gotta hang out.

Tigris

Mischief Monday - My Twin - by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends, hi friends!

Did I ever tell you that I had a twin? My twin Milo lives next door.  He is one of Callie's cats.

This is him in the fall when Lady was visiting.

When cousin Troy was staying over he thought I had gotten out because he saw Milo on the deck.

Do you have a twin?

Your pal, the slightly more handsome twin Styxy

Nature Friday - Oops - by Styx

 Dear pals,

We have missed some nature Friday posts (sorry hosts Rosy and Sunny) because to be honest, without dogs, Lady doesn't go out as much in this dark, cold weather. This is a work in progress for her. She has all the warm clothes, she just needs the motivation.

I digress, I on the other hand have been enjoying the view at the bird window. Lady has been doing a better job at filling the feeders and I spend many an hour on her desk observing.

Lady was having virtual coffee with a friend recently, before she went out to fill the feeders, and my nemesis the black squirrel, came right up to the window. 

Lady was slow grabbing her phone, but if you look carefully in the left corner, you can see a piece of him.  I think he was coming to complain about the service at the feeders. 

Styx

Lanie's Log - Day 79

 It has been 79 days since my capture. 

The wardens have now given me full access to the house, but I don't use it when they are awake. My cell is my safe place. 

In spite me not leaving the room during the day, the wardens are pleased with my progress. I continue to love pets (who knew people touching you could be nice), I will come down to eat when they are in the room, and sometimes, I just come down and hang out at a distance.  The wardens have noticed I also don't eat all my food right away. I seem to understand more food will be coming. 

Eating while Lady warden is in the cell

Hanging out with Lady warden - first time I came down and sat on the tree with her in the cell

Looking for the other prisoners while Lady is in my cell

The wardens have been experimenting with removing my anxiety meds. They are doing this because they will be away for a few days in January and a substitute guard will be caring for us. This guard will struggle to give me the medication the way it is and the people wanted to see if I needed it and they needed to get it in liquid form, or if I was trusting enough to not have it. Turns out, I am trusting enough to not have it at this time.  This may be a good change.

In other news, Styx comes to visit me. He seems to want to be my friend but can't stop himself from growling at me. I don't react. I know he is not a threat. We will see how this relationship unfolds.

Styx in my windowsill with me

For now, I am sort of glad to not be outside. It has been very, very cold here (-24C/-11F) and I must admit, it is nice to be inside. 

Jack-O-Lanie - prisoner #3

Wordless Wednesday - Nap Time