Half an hour before Super Bowl kickoff, Alex’s excitement about the game has reached its fever pitch. He can’t wait.

2mo ⋅ ⋅

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About 20 minutes after sunset, Lucy was playing in the fading dusk light when she suddenly ran over and looked up at me like this. The shot was one-sixth of a second, so it’s a miracle she was perfectly still for a change. You can see the reflection of the last light in the sky in her eyes.

5yr ⋅

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A feline neck warmer is the ultimate fashion statement — and it’s perfect for staying warm in cold weather.

6mo ⋅

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My remote webcam just caught Alex, left, and Thomas sleeping together, which is a big deal since Alex just joined the household three months ago and it’s taken Thomas awhile to accept him.

1yr ⋅

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This kitten has been with us for about 48 hours now. The only other cat in the household is still miffed with me, but he’s starting to warm up to the playful interloper.

5mo ⋅

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A friend rescued this kitten whose mother had abandoned him — and this furry baby has come home with me to be buddies with my other cat, who has been lonely since my older cat died nearly two months ago.

6mo ⋅

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Lucy poses on the bed for a very serious evening portrait.

6yr ⋅

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Because of her thick fur, Lucy is happy for slightly cooler weather getting here for fall. She seems to be enjoying the moderate temperatures and falling leaves in the back yard.

7yr ⋅

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Renovations are going on at a house in the neighborhood, so Merlin has been so busy monitoring the activity that he hasn’t had adequate sleep this week.

1yr ⋅

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I just looked across the office and noticed Molly with a deep look of contemplation on her face. I had time to snap just one frame before she moved, but she looked lost in thought for that one second.

5yr ⋅

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About 20 minutes after sunset, Lucy was playing in the fading dusk light when she suddenly ran over and looked up at me like this. The shot was one-sixth of a second, so it’s a miracle she was perfectly still for a change. You can see the reflection of the last light in the sky in her eyes.

5yr ⋅

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Molly looks like a girl with a lot on her mind Thursday night.

5yr ⋅

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Oliver is only about 12 weeks old, but he’s already learned that Saturday afternoons are for napping. It’s hard to wake up.

5mo ⋅

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I’ve been trying for weeks to catch this little stray who lived behind a restaurant where I go. I finally succeeded and he or she will be integrated into the household after a trip to the vet tomorrow. (I can’t tell whether it’s a boy or girl.)

1yr ⋅

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I was really late getting home tonight, but I think Lucy has already forgiven me.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy’s happy to pose for a portrait in the back yard just before sunset.

1yr ⋅

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It makes Lucy happy when I get home in time for us to play in the back yard before it gets dark. You can see that there are some early leaves already falling for autumn back there.

4yr ⋅

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This is what a happy dog looks like when she’s cooling down after a nice, long walk.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy’s happy to pose for a portrait in the back yard just before sunset.

1yr ⋅

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Molly has the trademark feline look of disdain down to an art.

5yr ⋅

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Lucy eagerly awaits the signal that it’s time to head inside for dinner Thursday evening.

7yr ⋅

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Lucy was in hot pursuit of a squirrel in the back yard, but she lost him near this storage shed, so she’s sure he will show up again. Lucy is determined, but she’s slow, so the squirrels and birds are perfectly safe around here.

1yr ⋅

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A neighbor cutting his grass can keep Merlin occupied for an hour or more. He’s ever-vigilant about these potential threats.

5yr ⋅

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It’s chilly enough today that Molly, Thomas and Merlin have been huddling together for a warmer nap.

4yr ⋅

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When I first bought this cat tree a couple of months ago, my three cats ignored it completely for weeks, but they’ve slowly warmed up to it. Tonight is the first time I’ve seen all three in it at once: Molly on the penthouse level, Thomas in the hanging basket and Merlin in the cave.

4yr ⋅

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Anne posed for a portrait on my desk earlier Friday.

5yr ⋅

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If Thomas had a profile on Tinder, this might be his profile picture. It would surely get the ladies interested.

5yr ⋅

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Anne saw me carry a new bag of cat food into the house this evening, and she wants to know why they have to finish the old bag before they get the new flavor. Shouldn’t they have choices?

5yr ⋅

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Merlin is running for president next year. He promises that all cats and dogs will have dinner on time, every night. #Merlin2020

4yr ⋅

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I think Lucy’s happy to have me back home, but I can’t be certain.

6yr ⋅

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The World’s Happiest Dog® is having a good night with her human. She’s a very furry anti-depressant for anyone lucky enough to spend time with her.

6yr ⋅

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Dagny rarely poses this nicely in a place where the light is sufficient to catch her dark fur and green eyes this well. She’s on the end of the fireplace mantle in the office late Wednesday night. This has been her favorite spot lately.

6yr ⋅

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It’s hard to be certain, but this looks makes it seem highly likely that Molly is ready for her dinner and doesn’t want to wait any longer.

5yr ⋅

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Thomas has his paws neatly tucked underneath himself for a long and peaceful morning nap.

6yr ⋅

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Rarely have I caught a photo of Thomas that reveals his true personality as much as this one does. It’s a look that’s halfway between curiosity and caution. He’s a naturally curious fellow, but his early experience of growing up on the streets has remained in him as extreme caution.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy’s keeping my work on track tonight by supervising. It’s amazing to believe this confident girl is the same one who was so scared of everything four years ago.

4yr ⋅

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After I got home, Lucy and I ran around in the back yard for a few minutes and she got really wound up for awhile. When we came back inside, she parked herself on the bed in front of an air conditioner so she could rest and cool off.

6yr ⋅

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I’ve been trying for weeks to catch this little stray who lived behind a restaurant where I go. I finally succeeded and he or she will be integrated into the household after a trip to the vet tomorrow. (I can’t tell whether it’s a boy or girl.)

1yr ⋅

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I bought and assembled a “cat tree” weeks ago, but the three household felines wouldn’t touch it, but Merlin suddenly decided it was acceptable today, so he now rules his kingdom from this upper-level cave.

4yr ⋅

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In just the right light, Dagny’s green eyes can look stunning against her dark black coat.

6yr ⋅

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It’s almost midnight and Molly looks up at me from the foot of my desk as if the ask whether I’m ever going to turn the last light off in here and let them go to sleep.

6yr ⋅

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“My human’s home,” Bessie says, “but I can’t tell whether he brought my dinner.”

6yr ⋅

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Molly looks like a girl with a lot on her mind Thursday night.

5yr ⋅

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Standing on the corner of my desk Thursday evening, Merlin looks like a reigning monarch who’s about to hold court.

6yr ⋅

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Merlin poses in the warm sunshine of an office window late Thursday morning.

6yr ⋅

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I just looked across the office and noticed Molly with a deep look of contemplation on her face. I had time to snap just one frame before she moved, but she looked lost in thought for that one second.

5yr ⋅

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Merlin thinks it’s a nice life to sleep all day in the sun while someone else earns the money to buy his dinner. He has his human trained very well.

6yr ⋅

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Merlin is receiving visitors on top of my desk this morning.

6yr ⋅

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Molly’s Saturday afternoon schedule is filled with lots of naps, punctuated by periodic long stretches and yawns. It’s a busy life.

6yr ⋅

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Molly looks around the corner of a box from an evening nap to see whether the human has really come to relieve her hunger.

6yr ⋅

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Molly has a lot on her mind tonight. She finally got around to reading Jean-Paul Sartre’s play, “No Exit,” and she finally understands that hell is indeed human beings. So far, she’s willing to make an exception for the one human who feeds her.

6yr ⋅

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Molly watches out an office window while she waits for her Caturday dinner.

6yr ⋅

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Merlin is running for president next year. He promises that all cats and dogs will have dinner on time, every night. #Merlin2020

4yr ⋅

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Merlin has been keeping his watchful eyes on activity outside his window Sunday morning.

6yr ⋅

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Molly always seems to have something going on inside that tiny little mind of hers.

5yr ⋅

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I’m trying to watch a movie tonight on my MacBook, but Lucy is convinced that she is more interesting than any movie — and she’s right.

2yr ⋅

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Lucy and I didn’t find a sunset tonight, but she’s as beautiful as a sunset, isn’t she?

8yr ⋅

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Merlin was on guard duty in the office Saturday, protecting the household from whatever dangers lurked beyond the side windows.

6yr ⋅

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Molly seems to see something on the ceiling at midnight that the rest of us haven’t noticed.

6yr ⋅

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Shy little Anne came out of hiding long enough for a Sunday evening portrait.

6yr ⋅

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This is a happy day, because it’s Lucy’s second “adoptiversary.” When she came, she was terrified of the world and I was told she would always be a “special-needs doggie” who wouldn’t do very well with people, but she has developed confidence in herself and become the World’s Happiest Dog®.

6yr ⋅

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Sisters Molly, left, and Bessie have been napping together on a bookshelf in the office Monday morning.

6yr ⋅

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Molly adds another head shot to her modeling portfolio late Friday night.

5yr ⋅

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I made the mistake of lying on my back on the bed, so Dagny quickly climbed onto my chest and then conquered my tummy and started purring. I’m not allowed to get up. Ever.

5yr ⋅

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I’m trying to watch a movie tonight on my MacBook, but Lucy is convinced that she is more interesting than any movie — and she’s right.

2yr ⋅

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“I was sound asleep in that box until you came in here and woke me up,” Molly said with annoyance. “Why can’t you just let a girl get her sleep?”

5yr ⋅

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Thomas sits in an office window Friday morning to keep an eye on his nearby human.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy likes it when I get home earlier enough to take her exploring the neighborhood some more before the sun goes down.

6yr ⋅

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The World’s Happiest Dog® wishes you a very pleasant and happy Sunday evening.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy is standing at the foot of the bed wagging her tail constantly. She’s making her nightly case that it’s past time for her walk.

6yr ⋅

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From the corner of my desk, Thomas is in predator mode, ready to spring upon any prey unfortunate enough to wander into his vision.

6yr ⋅

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Secret Agent Merlin hides in the shadows behind a corner of the desk to spy on happenings in the mysterious world of his human.

6yr ⋅

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Lurleen the cat nursing orphaned week-old pit bull at Cleveland animal shelter

11yr ⋅

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Thomas didn’t think his human could possibly be home while it’s still daylight, but he eventually woke up and emerged from his hiding spot when he heard the sound of the food bag.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy doesn’t ask for much. Most of the time, she’s happy and content if she can just lie quietly in the floor and watch me work.

6yr ⋅

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Now this is a classic Molly modeling pose. When she’s in the mood, she looks like a model from a cat food commercial.

6yr ⋅

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I’m lying in the floor of the bedroom watching a basketball game on my MacBook and I just looked up to see Lucy on the bed watching me.

7yr ⋅

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Every now and then, you would swear Molly is posing for a modeling shot.

5yr ⋅

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Anne is a lot happier since she had her dinner. She thinks she might even make survive until tomorrow now that her human has given her just a bit of food.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy had a playmate for a few minutes this evening, but she’s sad now because he had to go home. This other dog was running up and down the fence line with her, but then someone called her friend to come home — and she wants him to come back.

6yr ⋅

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Anne confidently relaxes in the Sunday afternoon sunshine.

5yr ⋅

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I bought and assembled a “cat tree” weeks ago, but the three household felines wouldn’t touch it, but Merlin suddenly decided it was acceptable today, so he now rules his kingdom from this upper-level cave.

4yr ⋅

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Lucy’s happy with simple things, such as hanging out with her human on a Sunday afternoon. And dinner. She’s happy when it’s time for that, too.

6yr ⋅

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Thomas is mesmerized by birds outside the house Sunday afternoon.

6yr ⋅

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Anne has decided she likes to sleep on the wire mesh on top of Lucy’s crate. How could that be comfortable?

6yr ⋅

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Dagny rarely poses this nicely in a place where the light is sufficient to catch her dark fur and green eyes this well. She’s on the end of the fireplace mantle in the office late Wednesday night. This has been her favorite spot lately.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy wants to use this as her next passport photo. She’s had a walk now, so she’s happy.

6yr ⋅

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Standing on the corner of my desk Thursday evening, Merlin looks like a reigning monarch who’s about to hold court.

6yr ⋅

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Late last night, Dagny posed for a contemplative portrait on the bed.

5yr ⋅

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Late Thursday night, Anne, left, and Molly seem to be winding down for bedtime. Molly is Anne’s mother.

6yr ⋅

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I’m sitting in the bedroom floor watching a movie and Lucy is on the bed right over my shoulder watching with me.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy and I just got finished watching a beautiful sunset together.

6yr ⋅

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I’m awake far later than I should be and Lucy hopes this means another late-night walk for her, so she stares at me expectantly from the foot of the bed

7yr ⋅

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[OC] I found two baby raccoons in my back yard today. I hope their mom is coming back for them.

2yr ⋅

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In the minutes before sunset, Lucy patrolled the neighborhood with a serious face, giving all potential ne’er-do-wells fair warning to stay away.

5yr ⋅

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From his perch on the office mantle, Thomas is king of as far as his eyes can see.

6yr ⋅

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My friend Lucy enjoying a fall afternoon in the back yard

8yr ⋅

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Lucy might be cooped up in the house all weekend in Birmingham waiting for snow to melt, so I took her for a short ride to the post office just before the bad weather started Friday afternoon — and she loved it

7yr ⋅

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With a jaunty turn of her head, Lucy makes it clear she’s ready for her evening walk.

6yr ⋅

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I was working at my desk when I saw two tiny ears and eyes emerge from the far side; Bessie was spying on me

9yr ⋅

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You can see that Lucy was excited about the basketball game we just watched. She doesn’t quite understand the game, but she thinks it’s fun to follow the bouncing ball.

7yr ⋅

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Merlin is hanging out with me in the floor of the bedroom late Saturday night while I write.

6yr ⋅

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Molly has taken over the left end of the fireplace mantle Wednesday morning. There’s a tropical storm a couple of hundred miles away, but she wants a front-row seat next to an office window just in case it heads this way.

6yr ⋅

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Dagny enjoys the warm sunshine of Saturday morning on the corner of my desk.

7yr ⋅

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Molly thinks it’s never too early in the day to stare longingly at her food bowl and worry about whether this might be the day the human finally forgets to feed her.

6yr ⋅

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Molly thinks it’s too cold today to wake up and deal with the world, so she went back to sleep.

5yr ⋅

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Lucy’s watching the Alabama basketball game with me. She barks at the officials on bad calls.

6yr ⋅

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Dagny has the neighborhood under surveillance at lunchtime Friday.

5yr ⋅

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I can’t say for certain, but I suspect Lucy is here to let me know it’s past time for her evening walk.

7yr ⋅

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Thomas thinks it’s way past time for his dinner. He’s starting to think about sneaking outside to kill a bird or two.

6yr ⋅

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This was the Birmingham, Ala., sunset about 20 minutes ago.

6yr ⋅

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Thomas can’t help but have a worried expression on his face almost every minute when he’s awake. He will always have that feral fear that something bad might happen.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy had a playmate for a few minutes this evening, but she’s missing him now because he had to go home. This other dog was running up and down the fence line with her, but then someone called her friend to come home — and she wants him to come back.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy says if you sniff the breeze outside just right, you can smell autumn coming in the distance.

6yr ⋅

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Merlin gets obsessed with potential prey outside the window when he’s locked onto a target. If he were outside, the birds and squirrels of the neighborhood wouldn’t stand a chance.

6yr ⋅

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Here’s the Sunday evening sunset in Birmingham, Ala., about half an hour ago

7yr ⋅

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Here’s Lucy in the car on sunset patrol with me earlier this evening. She helps me spot great sunset pictures to take. :-)

6yr ⋅

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Bessie relaxes in the warm sun on the floor of the office Saturday afternoon.

6yr ⋅

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Dagny leans over from the top of the mantle to see which of the other cats are in the office floor beneath her.

5yr ⋅

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Bessie’s ready for me to leave for work so she won’t have her naps interrupted.

6yr ⋅

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Merlin conducted an impromptu inspection of my shower, but its cleanliness was not up to his standards

9yr ⋅

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Lucy’s right to complain about her walk tonight. We are way past her usual time — and she’s come to let me know about it.

6yr ⋅

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Molly is trying to sleep, but she still keeps wary eyes on what goes on around her.

6yr ⋅

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Merlin is on a long and lonely vigil as he waits for his dinner to arrive.

6yr ⋅

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When I got home this evening, I couldn’t find Anne anywhere. Just as I was starting to get really concerned, I saw a little black head pop up next to where Merlin was asleep on my desk. She was hiding behind him.

6yr ⋅

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It’s dark and rainy here this afternoon. Bessie is on top of the mantle with her sister Molly just behind. They’ve been watching out the window in the back of this shot, almost as though they were waiting for the storm to start.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy might be happy to have her human home again, but it’s hard to tell for sure. She hides her feelings well.

6yr ⋅

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Dagny rarely poses this nicely in a place where the light is sufficient to catch her dark fur and green eyes this well. She’s on the end of the fireplace mantle in the office late Wednesday night. This has been her favorite spot lately.

6yr ⋅

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In just the right light, Dagny’s green eyes can look stunning against her dark black coat.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy’s begging for just one more quick walk tonight. Could you turn this girl down? I can’t.

6yr ⋅

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Thomas was illuminated by perfect light in an office window Friday morning.

5yr ⋅

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Sunbathing in the bright sunshine on the fireplace mantle makes Dagny drowsy.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy got a quick ride in the car just after sunset. When we’re riding, she’s either in the middle of the car with her paws on the console between the front seats or else she’s in this spot, peering over my left shoulder.

6yr ⋅

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The Saturday afternoon sunshine gives Merlin a bright glow worthy of his regal majesty.

5yr ⋅

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It’s well after midnight and Molly’s ready for sleep. She looks up at me as if to ask when I’m finally going to turn the office lights off so she can go to bed for the night.

6yr ⋅

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In the fading light of twilight, Dagny keeps an eyes on the front yard as her day comes to a close.

6yr ⋅

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The birds and squirrels outside have no idea that they’re protected from certain death only by the sheet of glass that keeps Merlin from going after them.

6yr ⋅

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When Lucy hears an unfamiliar noise in the back yard, she has to rotate her satellite-dish ears into proper position to receive the signal properly for threat evaluation. She takes her guard duties very seriously.

6yr ⋅

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This was sunset over Grayson Valley, just east of Birmingham, Ala., Saturday evening.

6yr ⋅

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Rarely have I caught a photo of Thomas that reveals his true personality as much as this one does. It’s a look that’s halfway between curiosity and caution. He’s a naturally curious fellow, but his early experience of growing up on the streets has remained in him as extreme caution.

6yr ⋅

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Molly has a busy day planned for Caturday, but most of her plans involve napping.

6yr ⋅

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Little Miss Anne waits for a dinner which never comes as early as she thinks it should come.

6yr ⋅

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This was the sunset a few minutes ago just east of Birmingham, Ala., looking over I-20 at the Leeds/Moody exit.

7yr ⋅

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Merlin suns himself in an office window Sunday afternoon.

6yr ⋅

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Three-legged Bessie is a formerly feral 7-year-old little girl who still looks like a kitten

9yr ⋅

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Molly looks up into the warm sunshine coming through an office window Tuesday morning.

6yr ⋅

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We just moved into a new house, but Merlin has already decided the mantle is his throne from which to rule all that he can see

9yr ⋅

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It’s well after midnight and Molly’s ready for sleep. She looks up at me as if to ask when I’m finally going to turn the office lights off so she can go to bed for the night.

6yr ⋅

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Lucy is alert to the ever-present danger of tiny light reflections dancing on the walls and ceiling of the bedroom, so she’s patiently waiting for one to reappear Saturday morning

7yr ⋅

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Pretty little Molly carefully checks out the perimeter of the office before she curls back up for another nap underneath my office chair.

6yr ⋅

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