"It's cold outside!"

That, Susan, is why Snowball is spending more time inside. (Could you look at that little face pressed against the patio door glass while cold rain slashes down?) And why his house has moved into our unheated, but certainly windproof and rain proof garage. And why he is getting fed as much as his little heart desires, to keep the calories up.

I'm trying to give Tommy tons of extra attention, especially when Snowball is in the house. At least the beatings-up are so far bloodless, for all the pitiful noises out of Snowball - he really is mostly fluff, there isn't a lot of cat under that fur... but it slightly worries me that he has ginormous paws, compared to Tommy's neat little feet.

And (sigh!) it has just started snowing quite heavily, ice has formed a skim on the North side of the lake. Tommy's curled up asleep on the couch, and Snowball... is curled up asleep on the foot of the bed upstairs.

But don't kid yerself, I am still looking for a permanent home for the sneaky little freeloader!