Crab Feast

Its that time of year again -- Crab Season in San Francisco!!

I invited some special friends to help me share it: Precious Flower, Mistrie Rose and Patches all the way from the Big Piney Woods and their blog The Calico Girls.I waited by the window a long time for them to get here. My person said they would arrive mid-morning and then we could all go down to Fishermans Wharf for the day.

And then, like magic they were here! In my living room, the three mostest beautiful and sweet girl kitties ever. As Mistrie Rose is an out door girl and not very comfortable in a small apartment we went right down to the wharf, were all the action takes place.

(No, that isn't one of our famous Cable Cars its just a street car)
Its a nice sunny day not too warm, not too cool. I stayed close to my girls... I didn't want anyone to get lost.
Oh, there are some really great smells here, the salt air and a whiff of crab cooking!

But first a little exploring.
Here are some of the boats going out to sea under the Golden Gate Bridge.
See all the 'Crab Pots' on the deck? That's what they catch the crabs with. Soon they'll be back full of juicy, tasty crab for lots of dinners.

Then we all went over to the beach at Aquatic Park.
The girls had never seen the ocean, or the Bay before. Mistrie Rose said the water lapping made her think of something .... I told her that over behind the rocks was a good place to take care her needs. So, while she was doing the needed, Precious Flower and Patches rested on the sand.
(I don't think anyone saw the little sea bird!)
Precious Flower couldn't sit still so she went and dipped her paw in the water, that girl is just a ball of energy! She jumped back because the water is so well, wet. Then she licked her wet paw and said "Yuck, yuck, yucky!"
"That's salt water, for fish and crabs to live in, not for kitties to drink. But don't worry we have plenty of regular water to drink as well." I told her. "You have 2 kinds of water? Wow!"
The sweet girl is something else, I tell ya.

Mistrie, came running back and told us that she had met the nicest local kitty behind the rocks, a "real salty Tom" he called himself. But she didn't say any more. Just then I heard the horns of the boats coming back.

It was time to go pick out out dinner! The Crab man held up some of his catch that day, and I asked Patches which one she liked best. "I like the ones that are all wiggly." "Good choice," I said, "That means they are the freshest." Then Mistrie Rose and Precious Flower picked out the ones that they thought were the tastiest.
All that needed to be done was to have them cooked up for our dinner. Here's what they looked like just out of the steamer.
Mmmm.... smells so good!
We were all licking our chops! The cook cracked them with his wooden mallet like this ---
tap,tap, CRACK!
tap, tap, CRACK!
tap, tap, tap... CRACK!!
Its a special music you hear only at crab season. This is how you get all the sweet meat out of the hard shell.
You should have seen Precious Flower's eyes. Big as saucers following every tap and keeping time with her tail. Flick, flick, SWISH! Flick, flick SWISH!

Here is what our dinner looked like:I was a little worried about Precious Flower's tummy and didn't want her to have an upset. Being the good sister she is Patches brought along some of her special diet. The cook was nice and saved a little of the broth, so she had a tiny sip. We all watched as she sniffed, and then lapped up the flavorfull broth. when she was done she licked her whiskers and said "That is the best thing I've ever tasted!" Then she gave me a little head butt, that sure is enough to make any host smile. Her sisters dug right in and with purrs they agreed with her. The sweet girl didn't want to go back to her special diet food, but was makin' eyes at my plate. So, I nosed a little morsel over to her, and with a flick it was gone. I nosed a second over to her, really less than half a bite, and she ate that too. "No more," I purred, "think of your tummy."
And with that she went back to her dinner like the good girl she is.

After dinner, we were all very full and in need of a good wash and a nap. My person said that she'd have a blanket for us on the beach, so we all went there.It wasn't long before the fog started rolling in to put a chill in the air, and the sun was starting to set. My person gently said that it was time for the girls to go home because Precious Flower is still young and has to be home before dark. There were purrs and kisses and head butts all around. "Can I come back and visit you again?" Precious Flower said. "Of course you can my dear, it would be a pleasure." I replied. "Maybe Beezie would like to come to the Big Piney Woods" said Mistrie Rose. "And bring a little more Crab?" added Patches. "As long as its in season, we don't have it all year. Just for a short time, its a special treat." I said. We all shared one last purr.
And then they were off.

I'm sure the sweet girls from the Big Piney Woods had as much fun as I did. Its not often that a guy gets to spend the day (and have a great dinner) with 3 of the sweetest, and most wonderful girl-kitties ever. I know that there were a few Toms on the beach that were giving me the evil eye for having all 3 to myself.
He-he, I am truly a lucky guy.

More adventures can be found at the Carival Of The Cats this week at Scribblings.

Gotcha!

Seven years ago a little kitten came into my life who is the embodiment of the saying 'love purrs'. Beezer's official, legal Gotcha! date is November 25 1999. It was the Wednseday before Thanksgiving (the last Thursday in November) in the US, so no matter the date we celebrate on the Wednseday before Thanksgiving.

During the summer the kitty who came before had gone to the Bridge after 18 and a half years. Charlotte and I were together more than half my life and I was quite heart broken. I was sure that I wanted another kitty in my life, but wasn't sure that I was ready.

The San Francisco SPCA has, for the past 20 years, has held a home for the holidays adoption program called 'Holiday Windows'. That year, I don't remember the theme, but it was in the window display of Neiman Marcus on Union Square in San Francisco. It was a half day at work so I thought I'd just go and see what there was to see.
Well .... what I saw was this ...(Sorry I don't have a better pic, this is a snapshot from a film camara shortly after he came home)

I was sitting in this strange place, although nice, with a few other kittens none were from my family. I don't remember much and there is little known about the time before I came to the SF-SPCA, but everyone was nice to me -- even the Vet who did something to my little bottom to fix it.

I could tell that the person who was standing on the street in front of the glass was a little lonely and a little sad. Still, she looked nice and I wanted to go home so I said "Hello".

He was so self possessed, just sitting there, with another kitten sleeping a few feet away. He looked up and meowed. I stood there a while thinking about if it was a good idea. I had thought about getting a kitty that was in need of a good home but might be harder to place. But, after all that goes with having an older cat and her elder cat health issues, and then her passing, a kitten that would be with me for a long time also had a lot of appeal. So after making eye contact and faces at the little guy for a while I went in and adopted him. He was the first to be adopted that year.I Grew up to be quite the handsome fellow, don't you think? I knew that I would be happy with her as my person and I was right! We like to sit and watch TV, play with the feather on a stick, the rollie balls and ribbon. She also likes to give me treats. Ok, ok I *LOVE* treats!

Every year we celebrate our special day with Tuna-tini's and a hug and lap sit. Oh, and she gives me treats! She also brushes, scratches and pets me in all the places I really like so I give her the love eyes.

Happy Gotcha! day Beezer. I love you my sweet boy. A day without you is a day without sunshine.

More well loved special friends can be found at the Friday Ark
If its Sunday I'll be at the Carnival Of The Cats this week at Mind Of Mog

Wide Load Wednesday

Does the carpet make my butt look big?

How Beezer Got 2 Dinners

*Meow*
Whatzza matter, Beezer?
Did you forget something?
Huh?
Umm .... My dish is empty.
Oh, Beezie! I'm so sorry, I came in the door and the phone rang.... It must have slipped my mind. How about some tuna instead of crunchies?
*PURROOOWWW!*
Here ya go. Hey, wait! I *did* give you some crunchies!
She-he-he-he


Other well fed kitties 'n' critters can be found at the Friday Ark

On Sunday mosey on over to the Carnival this week at The Whole Kitten Kaboodle

Sleeps In Strange Places

Kitties like to sleep in strange places, I bet yours has a few places that make you shake your head in wonder. I mean how could a sink be comfortable? Beezer does that, of course, and he has a few that are all his own.

Folks that visit our home often ask why we have a kitty bed in the bathroom. The answer is quite simple. When he was younger Beezer got into the habit of pulling the towels down from the towel bar, wet or dry it didn't matter (I have no idea why). Then he discovered the joy of making a nest to sleep in them. After a while I got tired of stepping out of the shower only to find a lot of kitty fur on my towel. I thought that if he had his own bed there he'd leave my towel alone. (I know, I know, silly human.) But he has found that he likes his bed better than my wet towel. He still pulls it down over himself like a blanket. I can never win.

He also likes to nap in the evil carrier. He out grew the one he had as a kitten. (He's a big boy! )When I brought the new one home I put one of his favorite blankies in it and left it in the living room so he could give it a good sniff and with luck, I thought, get a little used to it so it wouldn't such a pain to get him into it when I had to. One day I walked in and I saw him napping in there. So I left it in the living room -- hey it might be needed in an emergency.

More fine places to sleep can be found at the Firday Ark

On Sunday its the Carnival Of The Cats this week at Crazy Meezer