Today is our two little leprechaun kitten’s fourth birthday. I can’t believe four years have passed by so quickly. But even at four years of age they still march back together into the back bedroom, eat their mid-day meal together, then leap up onto the bed and take their naps cuddled together. Even when they eat, the eat out of the same big bowl, which they’ve done since they came to live with us as tiny kittens. Luke and Beau are also littermates, and at eight-going-on-nine years they barely tolerate each other’s presence, but the girls are still little snugglers. I hope they keep this bit of behavior up as long as possible. Every time I see them do this I just melt.

Speaking of the boys, this is Beau stretched out in my chair enjoying his mid-afternoon siesta. You can’t see it from this angle, but Beau likes to fold his forepaws together and then rest his head on them. Most of the time I just let Beau be, but on those occasions when I do need to sit I have to gently but firmly lift him up and place him elsewhere before I sit. When I’m sitting comfortably he then leaps up and lies across my lap and continues his nap.

Today’s photos represent a change from past photos. Beau was taken with the M.Zuiko 12mm/2 in black on my Pen F. I’d been wanting that lens ever since it was first released over 12 years ago, but I never could get past the premium price Olympus was asking for it at the time. It was first released in silver, then Olympus decided to release it in a Limited black run. The Limited was even more expensive than the original silver. Then earlier in March I a black version crop up all over for less than half the cost of the original silver, although it wasn’t the Limited version. So after a bit of agonizing I purchased my own copy. I suppose I should write about my experiences with the lens in more detail, but I can’t imagine anyone wanting to know about this lens after 12 years. Suffice to say I’m glad I got it, and that when mounted on the front of my Pen F it looks quite the sexy little camera. There’s only one other prime I would even half-way consider purchasing now, and that’s the OM Systems 20mm/1.4. It’s key feature that attracts me is that it’s sealed against the elements, where the 12mm and the Pen F body aren’t. But then I have my E-M5, OM-D E-M1.2, and my Panasonic Lumix G9, all of which are sealed and still work just dandy. But we’ll have to wait and see on that purchase.