My name is Natalie and I'm a cat-a-holic...

So in October 2013,  someone tossed three tiny two-week-old kittens into a dumpster in Greece...

These three little angels came into the care of a wonderful woman named Joan, who runs a cat sanctuary on a beautiful Greek island, helping the many poor feline waifs that cross her path. Even though it was difficult, because she already had some many cats in her care, she took in these three.

But they needed a permanent home, and Joan really wanted the three sisters, who shared a strong bond, to find a home together.

For a year, she kept trying to find them a home, but it's hard to find someone to adopt three cats all at once, never mind the logistics of getting them out of Greece.

But after six months of planning with Joan, I can now say that the three girls will always be together...

...because Buttercup, Daisy and Honey now live with us! To make a long story short, Joan's husband flew with them from Athens to Montreal, where we picked them all up at the airport. And here they are!

Honey is super-affectionate, but they are all utterly lovely cats.

I just love it when all three of them sit on my lap at once, purring away.

Daisy approves of her heater! The sheepskin came with her from Greece. The three kittens have slept on it for a very long time and it is truly theirs.

So yes, we now have 13 cats, giving Katnip Lounge and The Maple Syrup Mob a bit of a run for their money.

Remember Mootie and Pip, two more needy kitties that we adopted a little while back?

They are doing great! I think Mootie is Queen of the Barn!

Every day, she comes out of her shell a little bit more, and every day, I give her what she wants most: a good brushing! She ADORES being brushed.

She does look very much like a feminine version of our Julius!

Pip is doing great as well...

She likes running around with Redford a lot.

The ponies?

They love to roll in the mud! As soon as I get them brushed and cleaned, they simply roll in the mud again. 

BRING ON THE SNOW!

Finney photo-bomb.

They are cuter than cute.

So yes, 13 cats. We couldn't be happier!

Pee Ess: SEVEN of our cats are ornj!!!

PS: Joan welcomes donations in support of her excellent work. Visit the God's Little People Facebook page or blog to find out more. You can also sponsor one of her Greek cats on a monthly basis, which helps pay for food, vaccines and medical care.

Esme and Finney

The ponies have names! And because I am not  a Twilight fan, I didn't realize my girl was named after a character until I was informed by other, more savvy people!

Finney is the boy I'm holding, Esme is the gal behind me. I like Albert Finney, and we seem to have a tradition of giving our boy pets surnames as first names (Emerson, Redford.)

My friend Debbie is teaching me to train the ponies. I have to do ten minutes a day of "walk" and "whoa." Esme, who is 12, has no problem with this. She follows me and Finney and does it all on her own. Finney has more attitude but then he is a recently-gelded three-year-old. Still, he's not too bad. A bit nippy but we're working on it. He's such a youngster! Very mischievious. I really like him.

Gordon took them for a spin too.

They both look a little dubious here.

The temperatures are on the rise and everything is a big, sloppy, muddy mess! It's supposed to hit 18C tomorrow before temperatures drop again. But that's okay, because I'm getting a very special "parcel" tomorrow that will appreciate not arriving in the bitter cold. And that's all I'm going to say for now! :)

And I'm grateful I don't live in Buffalo! Those poor people were hammered last week. I have a local friend who was visiting her sister there and decided to leave last Monday instead of Tuesday. She'd still be there now if she hadn't made that decision, because her sister's laneway was just cleared out today.

Here's Gordon walking Finney. Have a happy Sunday!

The new babies

The ponies are doing great! We just love them, although we haven't decided on names for them yet.

They aren't as small as they look in this photo! They're standing downhill from me. They pretty much look me in the eye when I'm standing right next to them on level ground.

Girlie's eye is a bit runny (that's her blind one I'm wiping) but I intend to get them her checked over by the vet soon. And they're both getting a hoof trim asap!

This guy is a cheeky little monkey, as my mother would say! He's three years old, smart and mischievious. He likes to unzip zippers! It cracks me up. He especially loves to unzip my jacket. He has been enjoying the horse ball I gave him to play with. 

Girlie here is just lovely. She is 12 and very sweet. Her head is bigger than his is! I bought them both new halters (the old ones are in these pics) and the pony size is too big for Mr. Gelding.

Our young friend Christina brought some of her friends from the city over last Saturday to see all the animals. Here I am giving the pigs some carrots!

It has snowed quite a bit since then, but nothing like what's going on in Buffalo and surrounding area!!

The girls approved of the pigs.

I realize that I have had that green ski jacket for over 12 years. I got it when I lived in Nova Scotia and it has become my winter barn coat!

Here's Redford keeping an eye on things from the wheel of the tractor.

And our other lovely barn cats are doing well!

Pip seems to be having a blast. She and Redford love running around together. She's a big fan of the heated mats we have for the cats.

Mootie has a special place in my heart. She is apparently about eight years old (I just got her medical records) and when her previous owner adopted her, she had been labelled "unadoptable" at the no-kill shelter because she was so shy. But she already sits on my lap and loves being brushed! All her teeth were pulled because of her horrible gum disease, but she's doing just fine without them. I brush her every day. She's my little sweetheart.

Pip is bold and fun-loving and has no fear!

MIssy thinks the Sweeter Heater is the best thing going!

She is nearly finished with her month-long course of antibiotics for toxoplasmosis. She'll have another blood test at some point but she's doing great and shows no symptoms.

She seems to like the new cats just fine!

She's a super-pretty little lady and very sweet.

Tristan got a new coat!

He doesn't seem to mind it! Came just in time for this...

We weren't hammered the way western New York was, but we've got a few inches on the ground now!

And Gordon's law office is all decorated for Christmas! Our friend Shawn, who also looks after the garden, did a spectacular job, I don't think I've even had a chance to mention that he's already expanding the practice. He has bought another, bigger building up the road in Alexandria, so he'll have two offices on the go. I am happy for him!

Have a great evening.

If you build it, they will come...

...ponies, that is. We finished the fencing and box stalls, and yesterday these two arrived! We adopted them through the SD&G OSPCA.

Mare on the left, gelding on the right. They don't have names yet, poor things!

Girlie is very sweet, 12 years old, and blind in this eye. I want to get that coat and mane of hers all brushed and prettied up.

She's just a lovely pony!

She has a stall next to her boyfriend for now. They are very attached to each other.

He's three years old and you can tell! Btw, my nose is red from the cold, not drunkeness. I woke up to a fine layer of snow on the ground this morning.

Somebody thinks hemlock is tasty. Sigh...

More to come, but I'm already in love.

Cat follies...

All four barn cats are now running free together in the barn! There has been a tiny bit of hissing but apart from that, they are getting along amazingly well.

Mootie has been spurning Redford's advances.

"Nothing to see here! Move along!"

It's chilly today. Pip and Mootie have been snoozing under their "Sweeter Heater"!

I think Pip exhausted herself running around the barn all night.

Redford finds Mootie most attractive. Mootie finds Redford somewhat repulsive. :)

Missy isn't too sure about Mootie's tail-sniffing, but they've been getting along fine.

And...

I'm as ready as I'll ever be for the ponies. I'm just waiting for them to show up sometime this afternoon!

Stay tuned!