5:01 a.m. this morning a big furry creature jumped on our bed and bit my head. I took that as my cue to get up. Do you too have biting alarm clocks? While I was getting up finding my way in the dark I heard the scrambling about of the same creature who gallop-escorted me down the stairs. The more mature one (Gus) was waiting by the door. They were out.  At 5:50 or maybe 6 a.m. they returned to take my on my walk back to the lovely backyard.  They were served treats while they watched the wildlife.  Afterwards they played their own games.

Ollie sat on the porch wall watching the squirrel while keeping his ears directed back to listen for other squirrels.

Augustus followed me but felt a stare on his back.

It was the same creature who bit my head and he was sitting so innocently.

Augustus looked back again and I knew the furry creature was up to something else.

We could not detect him anywhere!

Augustus and I returned to the condo for his breakfast but he had the suspicious air about him, one never knows what could appear out of no where.

Back in the cement courtyard, which really needs some help,

he sat on the wall eating while I read to him.  We let the orange dude off the hook today.

A few days ago I had to give a talk on the subject of the necessary equality of men and women as a prerequisite to establishing peace in the world.  In my research I came across this passage from Abdul-Baha, a Persian spiritual teacher, and it had me thinking.  This, I shared with Augustus.

“Know thou that the distinction between male and female is an exigency of the physical world and hath no connection with the spirit; for the spirit and the world of the spirit are sanctified above such exigencies; and wholly beyond the reach of such changes as befall the physical body in the contingent world.”

I realized then that when I thought of myself I did not think of myself in gender terms.  Augustus was not sure and got busy thinking.  What about you?  How do you define yourself?  By your gender or your virtues?

All that rain yesterday coaxed this $10 plant that I bought in a garage sale last year to produce a flower.

Cat boys send their love and kisses.  Wishing you a delightful weekend!

Ciao everyone!

Busy busy

This is kind of funny that we have been away for seemingly such a long time that we were not sure where we were with the new blogger appearance.  I have a gazillion photos of cat dudes doing their cat things but who has time to document their daily activities.  I suggested to Mr Sweet Pants and Mr Puffy Pants that they hire an amanuensis for this purpose or that they start learning the type writer!

This is the look that they gave me.

I think it says that I am the amanuensis and that they are not interested in clicking on a typewriter any time soon, at least not as long as there is a vibrant squirrel running around them.

We feel that everyone is busy..busy in good ways!  Busy with life but not so busy that one cannot stop occasionally and look at the deep purple of a flower.

This is early this morning.

I am with the rascals and the three of us were reading while listening to the birds.

"Reflect that every human being is limited through his physical body, but his spirit is free.  The body of man may travel for a few miles and become fatigued, but the spirit untrammeled may go throughout the immensity of space. While walking on earth man's thoughts may grasp the motions of the heavenly bodies and define their course. This demonstrates how man's spirit transcends his environment." (Divine Philosophy)

Though we were seemingly away yet we really were with all of you friends.

 Someone thinks that I cannot see him. (Ollie)

 Someone thinks his orange brother is naive. (Augustus)

Cat boys made pawfuls of kisses and blew them in the air for you.

Ciao everyone!

Our cat boys are tree huggers!

To celebrate earth day the cat boys chose a tree
and hugged it. First, Ollie,
followed promptly by Augustus,
and once more by Ollie.


We reflected upon this:

"Every man of discernment, when walking upon the earth, feeleth indeed abashed, inasmuch as he is fully aware that the thing which is the source of his prosperity, his wealth, his might, his exaltation, his advancement and power is, as ordained by God, the very earth which is trodden beneath the feet of all men."

"Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator ... Nature is God's Will and is its expression ..."

and then the two sweet boys made kisses and blew them in the air for you.


Ciao everyone!

What does beautiful mean?

While Mr Puffy Pants was absorbed in examining the scent of each blade of grass
Mr Sweet Pants had other business to take care of. That business was walking in the bushes and that bothered Gus.
Finally, some time later, Ollie noticed that his brother was engaged in a more interesting activity,
and so he hopped up on the narrow fence to check things out
meanwhile remembering to look back at me with the glance that said 'I am only here
to sniff the leaves, not to meddle in Gus' games!' Yeah, right! Exactly what I thought!
Squirrel wanted to know what was up with the cat boys.
I just focused on the furry beasts and saw nothing but beautiful forms.
Here's one.
Here are two.
And here is another one.
The modern Persian Poet was asked what beautiful meant to him and he said that beautiful meant a loving interpretation of forms.

We three decided to meditate on that thought.

The cat boys had plenty of kisses to make (seeing that they were off so many days), and so they did and blew them in the air for you.

Wishing all a happy Tuesday...Ciao everyone!

At the end of the day...

The days are busy with the expected and the unexpected. There are a lot of good things and some disappointments too. Easter Sunday we expected to see a giant bunny giving out candy. We actually did receive candy and that was unexpected but we did not see the bunny that we expected to see.

You see the neighbor across the street has a giant rabbit the size of a sheep. One year this rabbit escaped from his pen but did not get very far, he ended up in the neighboring complex. The cat boys discovered him but did not know what to make of him. While they were admiring the creature in awe I found the owner who had no idea that her giant rabbit had escaped.

Ever since then we really look forward to giant rabbit sightings, and sadly they are rare.

The late afternoon hours might have lacked rabbits in them but they were filled with other delights...there was a cool and calm serenity that is a rare occurrence in a big city.

Cat boys shook off the idea of the bunny from their heads and assumed the posture of resilient acceptance mingled with a trickle of delight! I am sure you know what that posture is. Mr Sweet Pants sat in his pot still looking in the direction of the gate...what if what if?
Mr Puffy Pants was nearby in hearing distance so we could talk to each other silently.
I wanted to know if Ollie wanted to join his brother for some reflection...his eyes said "Moi?" and I said "Oui, vous"
He was happy to oblige even if Augustus was not quite sure about this arrangement.
I was pleased to see the bundles of love together...
We reflected on this:

“There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear.” John 4:18

“Love is a light that dwelleth not in a heart possessed by fear.” Seven Valleys of Baha’u’llah

The cat boys agreed that with love they would not have to fear or worry about anything.

We meditated, they made kisses and blew them in the air for you.
Ciao everyone!

Back from being away

is kind of like waking up after a short sleep, isn't it? sometimes at least.

I was away for a week and now I have been back for almost a week, that week seemingly far behind me.

I tried to construct the ineffable.

These are some of the random flowers who dare to grow in our complex (there is a reason I say that but I will let it be)
These two doves are welcome additions to our skies, and frankly, I suggested that they sit up even higher because two cat boys really love them.
This squirrel has no fear, he knows that chases may happen but our cat boys have no interest in eating him.
This super cat, Mr Sweet Pants, is one of our two delights. He asked me about where I was and what I did, and when I did he only nodded with approval.
This super cat is Mr Puffy Pants
who always strides delicately like a ballerina...
left,
right, pause! Left, right, pause...left, right pause! He moves so fast that the air molecules around him don't get disturbed!
I thought that I would have a lot to say and to share, and then I got tired of thinking about all of those thoughts, so many of them.

Ollie mainly wanted to know about the storm drains around Vanderbilt, I told him that they had a lot of mice in them. Ahh...so exciting!

No one read and meditated while I was away.

I listened to a talk about a book on architecture called "Constructing the ineffable". I hope to get it some day. I felt that in all surroundings there was a bit of ineffable...something to find delights in.

"Within every blade of grass are enshrined the mysteries of an inscrutable wisdom, and upon every rose-bush a myriad nightingales pour out, in blissful rapture, their melody. Its wondrous tulips unfold the mystery of the undying Fire in the Burning Bush, and its sweet savours of holiness breathe the perfume of the Messianic Spirit. It bestoweth wealth without gold, and conferreth immortality without death. In every leaf ineffable delights are treasured, and within every chamber unnumbered mysteries lie hidden."

We shall resume readings and reflections soon. My time away was their spring break! Happy Wednesday everyone!

Ciao!