miller moths

Eleven years ago - to the very day! June 19th, 2012 - we adopted Phany.  And Gomez (that's Walter Gomez, who has his very own special people and No Other Cats in St Paul, MN - we continue to adore from afar). But ... who could possibly have a cat called Phany? (we subsequently speculated that Santa Fe Animal Shelter must have thought of "Epiphany," and shortened it.  So what to christen this adorable little kitten?

[she's quite a bit larger, now].  2012 was, like this year, a Miller Moth year - these inch-long moths come out in droves - indoors - and flap around pathetically for a little while, presumably mating and laying eggs that will lie dormant for a number of years more.  I arrived yesterday to scatterings of dead moths on the floor, on the window sills, in the bath, in any stray container - and then when one pulls down a blind, say, out one flutters, still alive.  As you'll see, even from my imperfectly blurry shot, they are different shades of grey and brown - much like that new kitten.  And that is how Moth came to be called Moth.  Happy Gotcha day, Mothy!