Alastriona, The Cats & Dogs

The Story of Hershey and Oreo March 2025 (Sunday Selfies)

2026-07-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Before we get down to our story Mom said this picture qualifies as a selfie.

Now without further ado the story of how we came to live with Mom. I just got ~~trapped~~ rescued. They got Hershey the night before, but being super fast and extremely alert I escaped up a very tall tree. This is pretty much where MDad and Mom found us. Out in the middle of nowhere walking in the middle of the road in the dark. Mom said thank God for my white paws and chest because that is how they saw us in time to stop without running us over. For the longest time MDad was convinced there was a white cat, because all he saw was white. Mom convinced him it was me.

Our first stop was Grandma B's house where Hershey was hiding in a closet. He had enjoyed food, water, a litterbox and a warm safe place to sleep while I endured being stuck in a tree by myself all night with nothing to eat or drink. I don't know what he was complaining about when I found him.

Boy were we glad to see each other.

Our next stop was MDad's house, we stayed there about a week until he brought us to Mom's house.

As you can see I take my job of protecting Hershey seriously.

Mom says we are gorgeous.

Oreo, reporting for ATCAD

Caturday Art

2026-07-04T01:00:00.005-05:00

Mini Kit Challenge

Created with Rewards

Daily Download

In a Word: Adventure

Mini Kit Challenge

Another Mini Kit Challenge

Template Challenge

Use It All Challenge

Word Art Challenge

Wild About Styles Challenge

Happy 4th of July everyone! ~ATCAD

(March 2025) Hershey and Oreo Take Over

2026-07-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Yang and Chimera went hid from the kittens in Youngest Boys room.

Fenris and I stuck around to kitten sit. Poor Fen, the kittens stole his bed.

I tried telling Hershey it was a dog bed but he didn't listen to me.

I eventually persuaded them to go find Chimera and Yang.

Yang escaped before they could pounce.

As you can see Hershey had no qualms about pouncing on Chimera.

Youngest boy did keep an eye on him to prevent him from getting into too much trouble.

He eventually came found me again. Mom says he is learning to Yin. MOL he copies everything I do.

Including sitting in the dining room chairs.

When they were little Oreo came too, but she doesn't hang out with me as much as Hershey does.

Oreo has way too much energy to ever successfully Yin. She is usually in motion.

She liked hanging out with Fenris.

Occasionally she tried playing with his tail.

Mom says she thinks Hershey and Oreo have some Siamese in them. While they don't look anything like Siamese they are very vocal, much more than the rest of us. ~Miss Yin, reporting for ATCAD

March 2025 Discussing the Kittens

2026-07-01T07:29:00.000-05:00

Chimera and Fenris discussed the kittens.

They pretty much agreed that the kittens would make a great addition to the family.

Chimera told Ladybug about them.

Chimera was always trying to get Fenris and Ladybug to play with her, but they never would.

Mom says she thinks they were afraid of hurting her she was such a tiny little thing. And she was a baby when she came to live here. Arty Mouse was an adult cat and Fen was just a puppy when they meet so we don't think puppy Fenris realized there was a huge size difference between them, even if he did Arty Mouse was definitely the boss of that pair.

Fenris did a lot of kitten sitting when they first came here. Oreo especially was in to everything. Mom's shoes were treated like toys, (sigh) so was every flower in every vase.

Fenris mainly just watched but if she did anything especially bad he barked to let Mom know.

Fenris really liked cats and got along well with all of us.

Oreo and Hershey really liked him.

They were not as fond of Ladybug. It's not that she chases you or anything but she does want to come over and say hi and stick her nose in your face. Fenris was smart enough to let us say hi to him. Hey we are cats we eventually have to investigate everything even huge dogs.

I would like to say that me and Yang were as welcoming as Chimera when Oreo and Hershey first came but we did grumble about it. Especially me. I eventually decided to adopt them and Hershey is my shadow now, Mom calls him my mini me. ~Miss Yin, reporting for ATCAD

Remembering Chimera and Fenris (March 2025) Chimera and Fenris meet Hershey and Oreo

2026-06-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Me and Chimera liked hanging out in the infirmary even when we weren't sick. Good view of bird TV.

And I of course had my man cave.

Me and Chimera were usually together. She was my best buddy.

Ladybug and Fenris were still going on walks.

Fenris loved his walks even when they wore him out, it hurt our hearts seeing him struggle to walk a path he used to run like the wind multiple times.

One day when MDad came to visit we got booted out of the infirmary and Mom started calling it a nursery. This little squeaky thing (Oreo) and her brother (Hershey) got put in there. Oreo is the bravest of the duo and she came to explore the rest of the house when the door was open. She made friends with Fenris. He was really good with cats he basically just laid their and let you walk all over him after he got older. Unless you were Scylla he always chased Scylla it was a game they played. And he and Arty Mouse had a very special relationship, she taught him to play fight like a cat and they did zoomies together and rolled on the floor in sync. Mom loved watching those two play.

Chimera broke into the nursery to meet the kittens. She found where they were sleeping.

Mom was happy that Chimera was basically OK with kittens just like Socks was. She liked watching them until they were old enough to play with and then they became buddies.

You can see Hershey and Oreo didn't think she was much of a threat. ~Yang, reporting for ATCAD

Meowy Monday with Miss Yin

2026-06-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

Hanging on to my favorite bookmark so it doesn't get lost Mom.

What are we going to read today?

Oh I guess I could help you with the housework so we can read later.

Mom I really think you should stop experimenting with the camera.

I mean really you are making me disappear.

Although this is a good picture of Tortuga the Turtle.

What do you mean that Turtle the Turtle is a silly name. I named him Tortuga not Turtle

What do you mean Tortuga is Turtle in Spanish. Turtle should be Turtle in any language. Next you are going to be telling me that I am not a cat in Spanish.

(actually Yin you would be a gata in Spanish since you are a female cat). That makes no sense Mom I am a cat. A cat is a cat. What would Yang be? (Yang is a gato since he is a boy cat) Bizarre we are CATS.

Yin, reporting for ATCAD

PeeS: I am supposed to tell you that Mom and MDad are getting married today. Not sure what that means other than MDad made the yard look super nice and helped Mom clean the house and a whole bunch of stranger showed up for a pre wedding party last night. We also apparently have a turtle he slipped into the garage just like Slippy and refuses to leave. Anyway Mom has been running around getting beautiful today and youngest boy took the day off and Mom says when they come home her and MDad will be married. I am sure at some point there will be pictures and I can tell you more.

Selfie Sunday with Miss Yin

2026-06-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Still loving the turtle.

I think pink and green are my colors Mom.

What do you think. I took a selfie so you could see.

I think this is a nice picture.

OK, time to get up and do some computer work.

Oh Mom, you need to get MDad to hang the picture up.

This is our favorite bookmark. I better hang on to it so it doesn't get lost. ~Miss Yin, reporting for ATCAD

Caturday Art the Engaged Edition with Slippy

2026-06-27T06:50:23.924-05:00

Word Art

Another Word Art challenge. I manage to capture Slippy before he slipped off.

Created with Rewards. He asked again on Top of Pike's Peak complete with another ring. This one is simpler and something I can wear on our adventures without worry. (getting engaged is FUN!) But rest assured I will always say YES. Or at least some version of it.

Font Challenge

Mask Challenge

Mystery Box

Mini Kit Challenge. I said YES to the dress and we found a venue all in the same day.

My Memories Challenge

Signature Challenge

Feline Friday with Yang and Miss Yin

2026-06-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Mom, what are you doing?

(taking pictures of you Miss Yin)

Oh, OK let me put my glamour look on.

That's better now you can see my eyes.

Sorry Mom, you need to do better with the eye thing.

I like the turtle you got for your birthday. He is really sweet. He told me he is a sea turtle.

I think he is my new BFF.

I got replaced by a TURTLE.

Yin, how could you replace me with a stuffed turtle! Go away Mom I am sleeping, I am to depressed for pictures. My sister replaced me with a turtle.

Miss Yin & Mister Yang reporting for ATCAD

Ladybug Barks

2026-06-25T07:29:00.000-05:00

Mom you cut my nose off (you moved).

I am so glad it finally stopped raining. We didn't have much damage from Tropical Storm Arthur some tree limbs came down the garage flooded a little before Mom could close the garage door. But that was it. Some local roads did flood but all the peeps managed to stay safe. Mom did worry youngest boy might not be able to get home one night because of flooded roads but he made it.

But really that is enough rain for a very long time.

BOL Mom watered her plants the day before the great deluge. ~Ladybug barking for ATCAD

Wordless Wednesday (Tlhe Many Faces of Fenris February 2025)

2026-06-24T07:24:00.000-05:00

Missing Fenris February 2025

2026-06-23T07:21:00.000-05:00

I miss walking with Fenris.

Mom finds it hard to walk me and Maize together. Maize doesn't mind like Fenris did so she has to be on a leash. Mom says she trust me to walk off leash now, but I don't trust myself I like being on a leash it makes me feel safe. So if I don't have a leash on I just go back in the fenced in yard. ~Ladybug, remembering Fenris for ATCAD

February 2025 Remembering Chimera

2026-06-22T07:18:15.533-05:00

Sleeping in Mom's bed is the best.

I miss Chimera. Even though she didn't like to be touched she often slept close to me.

She was always such a sweet girl.

We all still miss her bunches.

I am really glad that Slippy got to meet her before she ran off to the rainbow bridge. ~Yang reporting for ATCAD

Yang spills the tea

2026-06-21T20:17:43.517-05:00

Well honestly I was just napping in youngest room.

But then I went hung out with Miss Yin for awhile. And yes, I was biting my toe. I am weird like that.

Anyway we were discussing the big news. Mom and MDad are ENGAGED!!!

The dogs are ecstatic.

Mom's ecstatic too! Us cats have a few complaints MDad takes Mom on vacations. Really nice vacations like to Chile (where she got to hang out with a Great Pyrenees) Miami, The Florida Keys, The Dry Tortugas, The Smokies, Idaho, Biltmore, Memphis (where he took her on a horse drawn carriage ride) Nashville, Puerto Rico (and honestly I was worried she might stay on Viques they just let their horses roam around for anyone to pet) and who knows where they will zoom off to next. I mean Youngest Boy is good about feeding us but he has to go to work, he isn't home all day with us like Mom used to be. And MDad (Maize's Dad) brought Maize into our lives she is nice but she is exuberant. She tries not to chase us but....Mom says she lacks self control and has a wiggly butt. ~Yang, reporting for ATCAD

Caturday Art Gone To The Birds

2026-06-20T08:37:05.224-05:00

Mini Kit Challenge.

My Memories Challenge.

Mask Challenge, we took this bird to Wild at Heart Rescue and I really hope it made it. Apparently it's wing was injured M found it when he was cutting the grass and the parents dive bombed him to prevent him running over it with the lawn mower. We tried creating a nest for it and putting it inside. I have no doubt the parents would have cared for it, but it kept escaping the nest and trying to fly. Resulting in it crashing to the ground multiple times it was painful to watch. It soon became apparent that it couldn't open one of it's wings.

Mini Kit Challenge

Template Challenge

Use It All Challenge.

Word Art Challenge

Caturday Art all Mom (she keeps leaving us at home)

2026-06-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

This is a challenge over at Just Art. I used to scrap there a long time ago and then it went to a paid subscription and now it's back to being free. This is a fun challenge as you can be creative. I love the colors I had to work with. Teal is one of my favorite colors and when you combine it with horses I am all sorts of happy.

Mini Kit Challenge

Created With Rewards.

Mini Kit Challenge

Daily Download

Jumpstart's Mini Kit Challenge

This is a Progressive Scrap. I thought it turned out really well.

And this is a Template Challenge and it was a pretty awesome template I used about 98% Template and 2% of a mini kit background paper and butterfly). The template itself had some awesome brushes and overlays.

Caturday Art with Cats

2026-06-06T01:00:00.000-05:00

The prompt was Picturesque.

The prompt was proud.

For me this was a hard one the prompt was purpose.

Prompt rainbow.

Prompt story

Template Challenge

Signature Challenge

And Oreo, Hershey and Yang lent a paw with the use it all challenge. ~Thanks for visiting everyone, ATCAD

Caturday Art the Love Edition

2026-05-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

This was a Template Challenge.

Prompt was around here.

Created with Rewards

Mini Kit Challenge

Mystery Box Challenge

Mini Kit Challenge

My Memories Challenge

Petals prompt

I hope you enjoyed today's artwork. ~Sandra

Caturday Art the Paws Edition

2026-05-23T01:00:00.000-05:00

This challenge was to create a pizza.

This challenge was to create one cluster and reuse it multiple times. You could change the size and orientation. Hershey and Oreo were thrilled to lend a paw with what was titled the Art of Being Lazy.

Connie Prince Mini Kit

Daily Download, we had a hummingbird visit the Hummingbird Cottage and Mom was lucky enough to capture it.

Mask Challenge Slippy Strutting his stuff for the Mask Challenge.

Template Challenge with Miss Maize and Mr Yang lending a paw.

Use it All Challenge

Remembering December 2024 as told by Yang

2026-05-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

Fenris was still with us. I sure did love my brother. We hung out a lot, especially after Socks died. The girls were always getting hissed off at me.

Sometimes I had to find a man cave.

Mom says she needs to clean up the garage.

This is a favorite spot of mine and Yin's.

Chimera liked to hang out with the dog guy and Mom, when she didn't feel good.

We think she fell on a nail in the garage. The cabinets (where she liked to get) started falling and there was a nail poking out.

Dr. Lisa fixed her up.

Fenris spent most of his time indoors with Mom.

And Scylla supervised the Holiday decorations.

This picture was taken shortly before Scylla died.

Yang, reporting for ATCAD

Remembering Chimera and Scylla as told by Yang

2026-05-17T13:57:00.135-05:00

Chimera really liked the dog guy, when she got a puncture wound on her face he helped take care of her.

Scylla liked him to he feed her treats.

Alas the dog guy wasn't here when Scylla died so youngest boy had to bury her. He and Mom decided to bury her in the Charybdis bed, so they would be together again.

I watched the proceedings and paid my last respects.

Ladybug likes it when the dog guy is here he buys them hamburgers, and after Fenris died he started bringing Maize with him when he came. Maize is his dog. Eventually he decided to just leave Maize here.

Yang, reporting for ATCAD

Caturday Art The Bird Edition

2026-05-16T01:00:00.000-05:00

Pop Culture - I choose a song that has special meaning to us.

Mask Challenge

9 +1 ( Nine embellishments plus one paper)

Gallery Challenge

I didn't like this one you used AI to create a text for your picture. I would have preferred to create my own text.

Brush or Blending Challenge

Negative Space Challenge

Alphabet Challenge, I don't usually use alphas as I prefer fonts but this one was easy to work with.

Thanks for visiting everyone, Sandra for ATCAD

Caturday Art with Slippy and Yin

2026-05-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

This was Connie Prince's Mini Kit Challenge since Mom has been busy working in the yard Slippy and Miss Yin lent a paw.

Created with rewards. Doesn't the black cat look a lot like Hershey?

Daily Download with Slippy & Miss Yin, they were helping with the yard work too.

Slippy and Miss Maize helped with the Jumpstart Mini. Miss Maize is M's dog but she lives with us now. Alas M doesn't, he only gets to visit sometimes.

This is a mask challenge. Mom always has trouble with them but she thinks this turned out pretty good.

Mini kit Challenge.

Another Mini Kit Challenge. We just love the bunny.

This was a Template Challenge.

Hope you enjoyed our artwork. ~Miss Maize, Miss Yin, and Slippy

Remembering Jackie

2026-05-04T07:44:24.651-05:00

Jackie traditionally posted each Friday for Flashback Friday and Caturday Art.

A direct LINK to what is now her final post on May 1 is shown below.

Her dear husband, of over fifty years, Ivor, will be able to read any

comments of condolence you may wish to leave on this post.

https://twodevoncats.blogspot.com/2026/05/friday-flashback-and-caturday-art-flynn.html

Eric and Flynn use to go on adventures with Socks, oh those were the days! In later years Jackie never failed to comment on our Caturday Art post, we so looked forward to reading her kind words. And we always enjoyed stopping by her blog to remember Eric and Flynn's past adventures and admire Jackie's artwork of the boys. She will be missed so very much.

The Art of Memories

2026-05-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Instead of Scrap Bingo this month Pickleberrypop did the Art of Memories. It's harder for me to do as you have lots more requirements and less artistic freedom. This was the art of mixing. You had to mix different kits together and you weren't allowed to recolor.

This was a single line of focus.

The Art of Extracting. I find extracting easier now thanks to the new software. I actually do a lot of the extracting on my iPhone.

Use it All Challenge. This was one of the easiest to do.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge, you had to pick a row and follow the requirements for that row.

Decorate a Face. This was one of my favorites.

The Art of Thinking Inside the Box. This was the hardest for me. But thankfully Oreo and Ladybug were willing to help.

The Art of Balance.

Thanks for visiting us. ~Sandra