Ellie & Waffles in Black & White

ELLIE:  Whoa! Mr. Waffles!!! Where did your orange furs go?

WAFFLES:  It's called black & white photography, Ellie. Didn't you see Gloman sneaking around with his black & white camera while we were doing the holiday decorating? 

ELLIE:  Decorating? You mean with all the tissue paper stuff? I love tissue paper stuff. 

WAFFLES:  And boxes of ornaments. You're not allowed in the ornament boxes though. Only adult cats are allowed ornament access.

ELLIE:  What if the ornaments are on the tree thingy? Can I–

WAFFLES:  No tree access, no ornament access, Ellie.

ELLIE:  But Mr. Waffles, why have a tree and ornaments and stuff if we can't play with them?

WAFFLES:  Good question, Ellie. According to Glogirly, it's one of those because I said so things.

ELLIE:  Mr. Waffles, I'm glad you're here to explain stuff. 

ELLIE:  Even if it doesn't make any sense. 

About Today's Photos

Even though Christmas is SO last week, we thought you might like seeing a little bit of Glogirly's decorating. And if you're curious about Gloman and his black & white photos, it's true...he really does have a camera that shoots only black and white. It's called a monochrome. Don't worry, Waffles still has all of his handsome orange furs. 

Happy Early New Year!

The next time we see you it's going to be NEXT YEAR!!! We don't have any big plans here other than to stay up until midnight for our big countdown. Glogirly and Gloman will probably go out on the deck and yell Happy New Year to the starry sky. And there will likely be some champagne involved. 

It's also possible that Waffles will be donning his famous coat and tails. ...that is, if he can still fit in it! LOL!

WAFFLES:  Whaddya mean, IF I can fit in it???

Meowy Christmas from the Mountains!

ELLIE:  Mr. Santa Waffles! Did you see??? We got TOYS in our stockings!!! That means I must have been on Santa's nice list! How about you?

WAFFLES:  Santa and I are tight. I'm always on his nice list. 

ELLIE:  I got a dangly Christmas tree with a feather! 

WAFFLES:  I think that tree thing requires some adult supervision, Ellie. You better let me help.

ELLIE:  Thanks, Mr. Santa Waffles. I got it. I'm a big girl now. So what did you get?

WAFFLES:  Oh, just elebenty billion kitty dollars.

ELLIE:  That sounds like a LOT. 

WAFFLES:  And treats. Lots and lots of treats. 

ELLIE:  This Christmas stuff is fun! Will it be Christmas again next week?

WAFFLES:  Christmas comes just once a year, Ellie. That's why it's super special. 

So Ellie, do you want to wish our friends and readers a Meowy Christmas?

ELLIE:  I'm not sure I know how. Do I just say Meowy Christmas, Every Buddy?

WAFFLES:  That's a good start, Ellie. Katie was always the one to wish everybody a happy Christmas. She was really good at stuff like that. She also told me there'd come a time when I'd have to do that for her. So here goes–

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Thank you for letting us into your inboxes and hearts all these years. You're like family to us. And that's what today is all about. Family and friends and love. We also want to share our wishes with those that are alone today, missing someone they love, struggling, or sad. Please know that you are in our hearts and never alone. 

ELLIE:  That was really nice, Mr. Santa Waffles. Did Katie teach you all that?

WAFFLES:  Katie, Glogirly, Gloman, and all our friends and readers too. You're part of something big now, Ellie. Big and beautiful and wonderful.

Ellie Discovers Santa

ELLIE:  Mr. Waffles??? Is that you?

WAFFLES:  Whaddya mean is it me? Of course, it's me. 

ELLIE:  So, you mean......are you........are you really.....SANTA???! 

WAFFLES:  Do I look like Santa?

ELLIE:  I've heard stories about you, I mean Santa. About a big, jolly, orange cat in a tight-fitting red coat. 

WAFFLES:  TIGHT FITTING???

ELLIE:  And Santa brings toys and treats and stuff to all the good girl cats and boy cats.

WAFFLES:  Yup, and I've got a list and stuff. And I check it. Lots and lots of times. 

ELLIE:  List??

WAFFLES:  You know, the naughty & nice list.

ELLIE:  Am I on the list? 

WAFFLES:  Your name is Ellie, right?

ELLIE:  Yes!

WAFFLES:  You're on the list alright. 

ELLIE:  Which one, Mr. Santa Waffles?

WAFFLES:  I guess you'll just have to check your stocking on Christmas morning to find out!

About Today's Photos
It's Christmastime in the mountains! This weekend we strung the twinkle lights, hung the stockings, and dusted off our holiday attire. Ellie is pretty perceptive given this is her first Christmas. Waffles' Santa coat DOES look a couple of sizes smaller than we remember. LOL!

Today's holiday photoshoot had Glogirly wrangling Ellie and Waffles with treats and wand toys while Gloman snapped away with his camera. Waffles was posing like a pro and Ellie did a great job following his lead.

The REAL Santa will be sliding down our chimney this Christmas Eve and we're pretty sure he'll have some toys in his bag for Ellie and Waffles. Surely they've landed at the top of his nice list.

Please join us back here Christmas Day for a special edition holiday blog post! 

In the meantime, Happy Christmas week! 

The Purr-fect Assistant

ELLIE:  Hey Mr. Waffles! Did you hear? I got a job!

WAFFLES:  Whaddya mean you got a job? I didn't even know you were looking.

 

ELLIE:  I'm Gloman's new office assistant. 

WAFFLES:  I thought *I* was Gloman's office assistant. What, does he need TWO office assistants now?

ELLIE:  I don't know. He just told me I was his purrfect assistant. 

WAFFLES:  So this isn't a paid gig. 

ELLIE:  Gig?? Like giggle?

WAFFLES:  A job. You know, like with a paycheck and stuff. 

ELLIE:  Paycheck? You mean like real money? 

WAFFLES:  So what do you do all day?

ELLIE:  I sit here in the blue chair. Looking cute while he's on his zoomie calls.

WAFFLES:  That's it? 

ELLIE:  Sometimes I lay here on the rug looking cute. While he's on his zoomie calls.

About Today's Photos

Gloman's home office is prime real estate when it comes to cats. Between the big windows that let the sunshine pour in, the comfy chair and soft rug, and just the fact that Gloman is there, Ellie and Waffles spend LOTS of time assisting him. 

That is until the office shenanigans begin.

Here's Looking at You

ELLIE:  Hello? What's your name? You look kind of familiar and stuff. Have we– Wait!

ELLIE:  Mr. WAFFLES!!! Come quick! There's another CAT here! 

WAFFLES:  That's not another cat, Ellie. It's a mirror. 

ELLIE:   What's a mirror, Mr. Waffles? 

WAFFLES:  It's just something I look at to see how handsome I am. 

ELLIE:  But I don't see you in the mirror, Mr. Waffles. 

WAFFLES:  Maybe you should look again. Because every mirror I've ever looked at had a handsome orange mancat looking back at me. 

ELLIE:  I think Mr. Waffles needs glasses.

About Today's Photos

Ellie recently discovered the mirror. She was pretty surprised to see her little reflection looking back and was quite enamored with herself while Gloman snuck behind her with his camera. Little does she know, Waffles has had this whole mirror thing down for a looooong time. LOL!

Waffles Remembers Katie with Ellie

ELLIE:  So Mr. Waffles? 

WAFFLES:  Ellie?

ELLIE:  So what's all this thanks and giving stuff everyone was celebrating last week? And turkey? The WHOLE house smelled like my very favorite food.

WAFFLES:  Ellie, EVERY food is your very favorite food.

ELLIE:  Yeah, but what does the thanks and giving thing mean?

WAFFLES:  It's Thanksgiving, Ellie. It's a holiday that we all celebrate with turkey and pumpkin pie and stuff. It's a day that we think about what we're thankful for too. 

ELLIE:  I'm thankful for turkey. I LOVE turkey. Everyday should be thanks and giving day! 

WAFFLES:  You're right about that, Ellie. Someone once explained to me how Thanksgiving is so much more than turkey and yummy food smells though.

ELLIE:  What do you mean, Mr. Waffles?

WAFFLES:  Well, she told me that it's hard to put into words, but it's about being thankful for the little things. Just last year, this is how she explained it to me:

"Like the sunshine in the morning that warms us and the blue jays that fly by our window."

"Like how every time I roll over on the rug, Glogirly will pet me in just the right place."

"Like how Glogirly talks to us in her sing-song voice. And how she sometimes even sings to us."

"Like how Gloman picked me out of all the shelter kitties and adopted me for his girl."

ELLIE:  She's a cat??? That Gloman adopted?? She sounds really smart. What's her name? 

WAFFLES:  I called her the Boss. But her real name was Katie. 

ELLIE:  That's a pretty name! It almost sounds like my name. I want to meet her! 

WAFFLES:  I'm sorry Ellie, but you can't meet her. Katie passed away before you joined our family.

ELLIE:  That's sad, Mr. Waffles. Do you miss her?

WAFFLES:  I do, Ellie. And so do Glogirly and Gloman. And lots of other people miss her too. Katie is the whole reason Glogirly started our blog over 11 years ago. And if it weren't for Katie, I might not be here either. 

ELLIE:  I'm really thankful for Katie, Mr. Waffles. Because I really love you. And Glogirly. And Gloman. 

WAFFLES:  Katie would tell you that you're definitely starting to understand the real meaning of what's important, Ellie.

Read Katie's Thanksgiving post from last year HERE. 

About Today's Photos

Glogirly gets a little sentimental and misty when it comes to Thanksgiving. Especially this year. She still misses Katie so very much, but is filled with gratitude for the love that surrounds her and our family. Gloman, Waffles, and Ellie fill her heart with love and laughter every single day. 

We've been waiting for just the right time to share this beautiful windchime with you. It was a gift from a very dear friend of Glogirly's and a special remembrance in honor of Katie. It's from the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah where hundreds of these windchimes hang at Angels Rest, the animal cemetery, singing the songs of beloved animals as the wind blows through them.

This one was designed for Katie and hangs from a beautiful old ponderosa pine tree just outside our windows. We can hear her when the mountain breeze rushes through the canyon.