Pumpkin showed up on our doorstep last year on Halloween night with a bunch of Trick or Treaters. She was such a friendly cat, and kept coming around, that we decided to put some food out for her.

Well, of course, she continued to come around. As the nights started to get colder, Angela & I started to worry about her — the cat looked like she might be pregnant. So, we decided to take her in. The first thing we did was take her to the vet. No, she wasn’t pregnant, she was just fat — apparently both our neighbors were leaving food out for her as well.

We decided to name her Pumpkin because of her color and because of her showing up on Halloween night. Her introduction to Miss Kitty wasn’t the smoothest “first contact” ever, but they’ve settled their differences. And, by settled, I mean they attack each other constantly. I’m pretty sure they’re just playing. There’s no hissing involved, just cats chasing each other, pouncing on each other, and wrestling each other to the ground. In a friendly sort of way.

Like Kelly, Pumpkin loves people. It doesn’t take her long to decide someone is ok. Once you pass inspection, you’re her life-long friend, and she will be constantly walking up to you and wiggling her bottom so she can bump against your leg.

Pumpkin is also quite mischievous. I keep telling her the story about how curiosity killed the cat, but I’m not sure she gets it. Or maybe she doesn’t know she’s a cat. Regardless, she has a habit of sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. It’s cute, in a rotten sort of way.

Kelly has been with us for about a year and a half now, and I can’t believe I never got around to posting her picture here. She was given to us by somebody we worked with at the old place. That person had found her on Kelly Ave. (hence the name), and since she already had seven dogs (I. Can’t. Imagine.), thought she should find a new home for Kelly. Angela & I are complete and utter suckers, so we took her.

Around people, Kelly is the sweetest dog in the world. Her only goal in life is to be touched. Whenever she sees us she makes this strange cooing growl, as if we’re in trouble for being out of her sight for so long. She’s the kind of dog you want to have around when you have company, because you know she’ll be the hit of the party.

Around other dogs, however, Kelly is a complete bully. She and Bernie have an understanding, but anytime she gets around other dogs she gets very aggresive — so much so that we don’t tend to take her out in public much.