01/01/2016 – A 2015 Recap and Happy 2016!

Zuzu wishes you a very happy 2016! – 2016 © Colehauscats.com

In advance, we apologize for the length of this post. From all of us here at Colehaus Cats, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe 2016! Thank you for visiting us, for reading our words, enjoying our photos, and leaving comments. We hope what we’re doing works for you and that your visit here puts a smile on your face. As always, we’re open to suggestions to help make this a better place to visit.

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Before we get to our 2015 recap, we want to share something very special and dear to our hearts here at Colehaus.

With many thanks going to the generosity of Spitty’s Mom, our first feral shelter arrived last week and has been christened, “Spitty’s Place.” And just in time to avoid our nasty wet, windy, and freezing weather, someone has moved into it! We know our visiting ferals will enjoy this shelter for years of warmth and safety from the elements. Thank you, Mary and Spitty!

Spitty’s Place feral shelter – 2015-2016 © Colehauscats.com

Many more thank you’s go to all of you who purchased Quint paintings toward acquiring a second sturdy shelter which is ready and waiting for an occupant. And thank you again for helping us purchase a true feeding station that will arrive later this month.

Without you, none of this would be possible. We thank you and more importantly, the neighborhood strays and ferals thank you.

Mustacheo, Cocoa, Toughie, Scruffy – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

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Just one more whiff – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

Our 2015 Colehaus Cats recap begins with January 2015, with cats in boxes and a first Mancat Monday post. Later, Ruby shared her version of math and her routine, we kissed a Ginger Patrol Sergeant Zuzu belly, Quint talked a bit about finding inspiration, and Olivia discovered a magic ball. We had some wonky weather reporting, Pia waxed on about slipper aroma, and there were some outside visitors to Colehaus. But if you’ve been visiting here regularly, you know we treasure our visitors.

Maxx – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

February 2015 came with good challenges and some heartbreak – Our boy Maxx, who found his way to us as a dumped, de-clawed kitten, who disliked all other cats, enjoyed with great relish nipping fingers and hands, and loved his humans, took the journey to the Bridge. Quint was interviewed by The Creative Cat and found inspiration to help a kitty in need, Tessa showed off her mad toy and yoga skillz, Viola courted trouble, and Ruby frustrated us with her dislike of toys.

Oh, Ceiling Cat… – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

March 2015 brought forth the softer side of Patrol Sergeant Zuzu (because, apparently, there is one), Ruby Tuesdays continued as did her dislike of offered toys, we gave Miss Newton some color, and Quint showed off some of his spring color. Olivia shared her thoughts on Friday, the thirteenth, Tessa called on Ceiling Cat, and Ruby got a warming bed for her much beloved tower. MultiCat Monday showed some interesting developments and Quint posed for the ladies. Yee-OWWW!

Going in for the kill – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

Togetherness rang in April 2015 with Viola and her mama Zuzu sharing a rare together moment, followed by Tessa and a not-so-rare moment with one of her favorite toys. We still weren’t able to find a toy Ruby liked… until we found something with feathers and sparkly bits. RIP poor feather toy. Pia discovered her own new favorite toy and spent time looking for bugs with Miss Newton, Quint offered tips on photography and later, on taxes, and Olivia felt good about avoiding camera face time (that sneaky panther girl).

Miss Newton – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

It was all about the toys in May 2015 – Kitten toys and baskets of toys, baskets masquerading as toys, and Tickle Pickle toys. But not to be outdone by toys, Ruby showed off her foot (because… why not?), Miss Newton asked herself an important question, and Quint took his annual first walk in the flower garden. Danger Cat Tessa thought she’d be the special snowflake that gets her own place setting at the table, the sun returned to Ruby’s tower, and Pia was embarrassed about her scrumptious and very kissable nose freckles. Finally, Miss Newton shared her nap tips while Tessa showed off her theory of efficiency, like she does. That Danger Cat is always thinking!

Adding a few drag lines – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

Pia started good habits in June 2015, Viola made a confession, Ruby discovered another toy she liked… and didn’t destroy this time, and we shared our Colehaus visitors. Multiple kitties celebrated International Box Day, we learned Zuzu is a slow waker-upper, and out in the garden, Quint could barely decide which flowers he liked best to paint (Answer: ALL of them). And then, our weather turned hot and ice cream was required, even some for that one ginger kitty who was caught complaining.

Viola loves her dad – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

July 2015 began with life around Colehaus as reported by Olivia, Quint answered email questions about his painting, being an only boy cat at Colehaus, and the ever-changing who-likes-who list, and after an exhausting year of whipping everyone into shape, we put Patrol Sergeant Zuzu on vacation. Not to be outdone by her relaxed mama, Viola showed off her nap skills and later, talked about her Dad, Ruby went on an adventure, and Tessa reminded Mom she’s not a squirrel so she needs to lay off the nuts.

Zuzu’s first photos at Colehaus – 2014 © Colehauscats.com

Ruby continued her adventure in August 2015 and discovered a second tower just like hers, pretty Pia pondered possibilities and later, sent a love note to her boyfriend Dexter, Viola offered a poem while Miss Newton showed off her fiery ears, and Tessa and Olivia comment on “fun” things. Or not. Patrol Sergeant Zuzu went back on duty (because she said we were getting lax), so we thought we’d temper her temper by flashing back to her unofficial Gotcha Day when she was newly found and had just started baking some Niblets.

Rethinking her grumpies – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

September 2015 brought the first rain we and Ruby had seen in months, but the hots returned with a vengeance. Even so, ginger girls dazzled us, Quint showed us what melty AND motivated looked like, we tried to keep up with grumpy Olivia’s logic, and we saw outside Colehaus visitors again (including Unicorn Squirrel!). Tessa’s binary mood had her on and off, on and off, Ruby decided to make friends with Patrol Sergeant Zuzu, Quint painted his last summer series, and Pia proved not to be very good at sharing chairs.

The Niblets Illy, Viola, Robbie, and Russell, November 2013 – 2015 © Colehauscats.com

We started October 2015 with a young Olivia flashback and then, dove headlong into celebrating the Niblets two-year birthday with a Dear Niblets letter and never before seen photos (we took thousands). Zuzu was caught snuggling her bunny, a trio of knowledgeable and opinionated girls showed off the library, and all Ruby wanted was privacy. Everyone got a really big scratcher, Olivia “helped” Mom paint the living room, there was a flying cat, trouble cats, and ginger goodness.

Someone added flair to freshly poured cement – 2015 © Colehaus and Colehauscats.com

November 2015 brought renewed energy and big plans. We explained how eight cats doesn’t seem like eight cats, Miss Newton “shared” what life is all about, and Mom’s showed what she’d been working on over the summer (with outdoor visiting kitty help, of course). Zuzu spent an odd day helping with laundry, our Ruby alarm clock worked a little too well, and we got a jump on creating our holiday cards… by capturing bloopers! With Tessa’s help, Mom shared the teensiest bit about her year and a half of being bullied because she runs a cat blog, our first frost inspired Quint to paint frost of his own, and we published a Thanksgiving grace, Colehaus Cats-style.

Santa’s little helper – 2013-2015 @ Colehauscats.com

The magical month of December 2015 brought shared Christmas cards, lots of Quint painting sales, and the ability to purchase two study shelters for our neighborhood strays and ferals (thank you, Spitty!). We said good-bye to one Colehaus visitor and discovered another visitor had been homeless all along. We used our Christmas wish that he’d find a home… and he has! Our Secret Paws package was sent but not without confusion (we promise to listen to Viola next time!), Ruby disapproved of a color change made to her room, and the perils of decorating with birds kept everyone tense for a week. Princess Tessa’s antics stalled the opening of our Secret Paws package and we shared Mom’s best Christmas story ever. There was a Santa and another Christmas miracle story, and our Secret Paws package was opened and found filled with treats and an army of mousies that has made everyone very happy.

There were ManCat Mondays, MultiCat Mondays, countless Wordless Wednesdays, and every week, Ruby’s Ruby Tuesdays (if you hadn’t heard, per contract, she’s taking 2016 off for vacation).

And that was our 2015. What a ride! Some sadness, a touch of frustration, but over all, so much gratitude and love. We’re looking forward to what 2016 will bring and wish for you all a fabulous new year filled with joy, happiness, and excitement. And most of all, peace and love. Happy New Year!

Thank you for visiting. Thank you for reading us.
The folks of Colehaus Cats