On the way into the Taj grounds

If we had gotton there ANY later it would have been somewhat disappointing. It was nice to enjoy a few minutes of sunset and the darkening of the sky while we walked around the grounds gave a pleasant slightly eery feeling.

It was okay, I suppose

We weren't there five minutes before I knocked over a plant; it's pot then knocked over two more on the step below...it was a disaster.

This is looking back at the entrance to the complex.

Sorry it's a bit blurry when it's small. The sign says:

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES HERE

You can't really tell, but the lone figure in the middle, to the left of the crowd, is me!

Who could ask for more preciousness?

Maybe I've put up too many pictures in this post, but whatever, they're just so cute! This is Goat. If I could bring one home, this would have to be the one. Mom....???

Halloumi String Pepperjack.

As soon as you grab the right spot they are in utter bliss.

Jibne liked the bow too!!

Gouda and I have quite a mental bond.

It's the best when all four cats sit on the couch between Shelley (my roommate) and I. I really feel like we're a family.

Jibne's nipples look painful!!

Here's a view of the living room. Jesse, who lives in the apartment above us, is in the chair on the right with Jibne; he adores cats. Andrew, who lives across the hall, hates cats and finds them disgusting. But sometimes even he is obviously overwhelmed by these babies' charm.

Kitties!!!

I have a lot more from the past week (their month birthday celebration and all), but they aren't on my computer yet. Five kittens were born in my roommate's bed while we were out of town for the weekend on March 9. The mother had been hanging out in the evenings with us for the past month and half, and we knew she was preggers, but had no clue we'd left the kitchen window (her regular point of entry) wide open. As we had named the mom Jibne (arabic for cheese) each of the babies were obnoxiously given cheese names. Keshkawan, the orange one that Jibne is delicately holding above, was everyone's favorite, and also the first to die, after one week. The next day I woke to hearing squeals as Jibne was trying to squish one of the gray tort(e?) twins. It had seemed like Jibne was sick, she was acting really crazed and such, so when we got home to discover that she had succeeded in squishing to death a second baby, I had a vet come and make a house call (!) and he said she had eclampsia and was delirious with fever. Oh. But after that everything was much better, and let's be honest, six cats are a bit much to try to manage, so I'm just happy we have the ones who survived.

The fluffy black boy hiding in the back is Gouda, and he's the biggest as well as the most chill and charming. He often sits for hours with us on the couch, totally content not to terrorize around like the others. In the middle is Goat, she's painfully adorable, and squeals less than the others. And then we have Halloumi String Pepperjack in front, who has great potential for cuteness, but her face still looks a little weird. She's the littlest, and the most obnoxious, but she likes to lay out of her back, belly-up, and it's so entertaining.

Just wait till you see them with their bows on!!