Jiji Loves Fall


The weekend before Hurricane Sandy hit, I was home in NJ. Of course, I love going home to see my parents and being in the comfort of my own home, but secretly, one of my main reasons for going home is that I miss my cat to bits! (I guess it’s not a secret anymore…) Yes, when I am home, it’s all about my cat, Jiji (or “The Jijipuss”, as I call her).

We have had Jiji for about two years now, although it’s unclear as to who adopted who. At the beginning of summer 2010, this scrawny little black kitten suddenly appeared on our deck, hungry and miserable. Mom and I took pity upon this creature and started to leave food and water out for her. As the summer progressed, this black kitten became courageous and curious. Rather than run away at the sight of me or mom, she would linger, and even rub up against us. Since we thought it odd to just call her “the black cat,” my mom named her “Jiji” after the black cat in one of my favorite childhood films, “Kiki’s Delivery Service”.

All summer, we became friends with Jiji. She was still skittish, but so curious. I think because she was so young, she wasn’t fully feral and there was still room in her heart to be loved by a human. There was another cat that used to also appear on the deck,  but he was much older and too feral. We named him “Totoro” because he was big and gray. Totoro would instantly run away at the sight of humans, but we still fed him.
A very old picture of Jiji when she first appeared on the deck

Fast forward two years, Jiji is now part of the family. She seems to know her name and she is quite affectionate towards me. (She seems to like me best!) She is not fully domesticated, she still begs to go outside and loves being outside, but she certainly enjoys the perks of being a family cat. Free food/treats, a nice big house to explore, access to any couch to sleep on, and most importantly, all the belly rubs/petting that she wants! For a former stray, Jiji has become quite the little spoiled princess! Still, I love and adore her and even though she won’t admit it, I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual.

Anyway, this past weekend, I spent a fair amount of time playing with Jiji in the yard, and I learned that she loves playing in the fallen leaves. It was hilarious watching her pounce and chase leaves. She would disappear and then *BAM!* she would come flying out of a pile of leaves. What a silly girl!
It was especially hilarious watching her on the deck. Jiji would run in circles trying to kill every falling leaf. Her spider senses were definitely working in overdrive! As one point, I saw her quickly scale a tree, all in the name of chasing a leaf! What a crazy cat

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gordon Ramsay's Cheesy Potato Dauphinoise

Image
I am fairly impressionable --- at least when it comes to cooking. When I see a recipe or a dish that intrigues me, I become obsessed and determine to give it a go. I have been obsessively watching Come Dine With Me  for at least one month and a dish that keeps popping up is: Potato Dauphionoise. I've eaten this side dish a couple times in my life, but not recently. It looked so delicious and easy to make, and I was determined to try my hand at this posh looking side. As per usual, I consulted the internet to look for recipes. As most of you know, I am obsessed with Gordon Ramsay. He is always my go to. If he doesn't have a recipe for something I want to make, I'm always feel a little lost, but luckily, that wasn't the case this time. I was delighted to have stumbled upon Gordon Ramsay's "Gratin Dauphonoise." He has yet to let me down and you know what, this dish was a winner! Something that I am adding to my repertoire.  This dish was incredibly e
Read more

Truffle Cream Cheese & Chive Spread

Image
So, I realize that this post is rather late…but I figure, better late than never, right? Over New Years, I was searching for recipes online, when I stumbled upon a new Gordon Ramsay recipe. As we all know, I LOVE Gordon Ramsay, in fact, I should probably just change my username to that.  Chef Ramsay has a recipe for a deliciously decadent, but oh so easy truffle cream cheese spread, and I couldn't resist. The ingredients are simple, you may even have most of them, and it takes no more than ten minutes to make. Oh, and it's delicious.  Whether you are entertaining guests or spending time alone, this spread is perfect for all occasions. It's great with bread and crackers, it's also delicious with grapes. The fluffiness of the cream cheese/sour cream, coupled with the decadence and amazing aroma of the truffle oil makes this a really luxurious spread that everyone will love! For Gordon Ramsay's video, please click this link .  Ingredients: - small con
Read more

Tawaraya - One of Kyoto's Most Famous and Oldest Ryokans

Image
On this visit to Kyoto, rather than stay at a hotel, my parents and I were fortunate enough two spend two nights at the very famous and exclusive Tawaraya ryokan . Tawaraya is considered one of the most famous and posh ryokans in Japan. Past guests have included Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, and even Marlon Brando! (Many famous Japanese people have stayed here as well, but these three just popped into my head). We made our reservation one year in advance, but even then, we had difficulty getting a room!  To quote Wikipedia: "A ryokan ( 旅館 ) is a type of traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo Period (1603 ~ 1868), when such inns served travelers along Japan's highways. They typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner…Most ryokans offer dinner and breakfast, which are often included in the price of the room. Most visitors take their meals at the ryokan, which usuall
Read more