Yep, I am officially a crazy cat lady. Today I bought Lily a harness and leash…and took her on a walk! Well, it was more like her exploring and me following, but it’s a start!

After researching online how to train a cat to walk on a leash, I was slightly discouraged. One website was very helpful and descriptive, but included about 9 steps – each of which was supposed to be practiced for DAYS before moving on to the next one.

Well, Lily is a fast learner. She got all the way to Step 8 – TODAY. (She skipped a few ;) ) Here are the steps in Lily’s advanced kitten leash training course:

Step 1 (for advanced kittens like Lily): sniff and explore the harness and leash a bit.

Step 2 (for advanced kittens like Lily): try on the harness and get used to walking around with it on (and give lots of praise and treats!).

Step 3 (for advanced kittens like Lily): attach the leash to the harness and let her explore with the leash dragging.

Step 4 (for advanced kittens like Lily): hold on to the leash while she explores to her heart’s content.

Step 5 is yet to come…that is teaching her to actually walk WITH me. But I am quite pleased with her progress today. :)

taking off the old sheets

doin’ the laundry

tucking in the clean sheets

time for some grooming :)

Photos to show some of the highlights of our family trip to California…

Flying over the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I was so excited to have a bobCAT as our Frontier animal – my family just rolled their eyes. ;)

We spent 2 whole days on the beach – so relaxing! I enjoyed reading and simply lying out under the sun listening to the waves crash on the shore.

Taking a walk along the beach with Stephen – the water was cold!

So cute with their matching hats! :)

Kayaking in the bay with my dad – my favorite part was getting to see the sea lions up close!

This was not exactly a highlight – we got stuck in the terrible California freeway traffic EVERYWHERE we went at EVERY part of the day.

On Friday, Stephen and I walked a few blocks down to Starbucks to surprise my mom for her birthday.

She loved it! :)

We attended a baseball game that night – the Angels vs. the Rays!

It was a fun game! (and the Angels won)

There was a beautiful fireworks display afterwards – we said it was for my mom’s birthday. :)

Soaking up the sun at Sea World, San Diego.

The sea lion show was our favorite!

I explored the wardrobe at our beachside hotel.

I love the waves crashing on the rocks!

Reclining on the beach.

Digging and building on the beach.

My dad’s beach recliner.

Meanwhile in Colorado…Lily enjoyed time with her new buddy, Shakespeare. :)

Got some cleaning done this evening…with “help” from my little gray shadow. ;)

It’s been difficult this summer to develop any routines. Summer is like that. Everything seems to be constantly changing, and for me, every day is different. Some are extremely busy while others are empty. When Lily arrived, I began to form a morning routine that has been wonderful. After snuggling with her in bed for 10-15 minutes, she follows me into the kitchen where I get her wet food.

While she eagerly gobbles it down, I open the window by the couch in my room and settle down for prayer and reading. At first when Lily joined me, she would pounce on my pen as I wrote. It was cute, but a distraction. She would bite at the pages of my journal and attack the dangling ribbon bookmark in my Bible. Having the window open helped. She was drawn to the sights and sounds of the outdoors.

I think she is now getting used to this time first thing in the morning when I read and write. This morning, content with her full tummy, she curled up at the top of the couch, directly above my head. She is happy just to be near me. (Even as I am typing this, she is resting on my lap, watching my fingers type. :) ) What a precious companion the Lord has blessed me with, and what a good God He is, allowing us the comfort of routines.

Back in January I decided that I wanted to get a cat for a pet. I’ve never had one before, but several friends had convinced me that cats are great pets. I performed a cute piece called “Catcerto” with the Longmont Symphony in January, which was what originally brought up the topic of cats. As it turned out, most of the violinists were cat lovers and owned at least one! Somehow I was missing out on part of the violinist stereotype… ;)

I decided to adopt a kitten this summer as soon as I moved into my condo. God provided abundantly, above and beyond what I would have asked for. The first 2 kittens my friend received to foster were gray, which was my first choice. Not only that, but they had wonderful personalities. And so, Lily came into my life. She has to be the most affectionate and loyal kitty of all time. She loves to cuddle and purr like crazy. She follows me around the house. She is the best companion I could have right now. I am thankful that the Lord provided her as my “roommate” for this season.