Sunday, March 16, 2008

Little Six Toes

Recently I took some time off and traveled to the Sunshine State. I spent a few days in Orlando and escaped without stepping foot in any kind of Disney facility. After that I enjoyed three eighty-degree days in Key West. Of course, I had to check out the six-toed Hemingway House cats. Little did I know that I would love the house they reside in too. There are over fifty cats living on the property and most are descendants of the six-toed cat that was given to Hemingway by a sea captain.

How they all manage to get along remains a mystery to me. I can't even get my two cats to quit fussing. As you can see they are living large and relaxing in the easy life that Key West is famous for. Look at where they get to live. How cool.







There were many bookcases showcasing Hemingway works, but here is a bookshelf housing the works of some of Hemingway's contemporaries.




Many of them are signed editions.





A detail of the beautiful woodwork on one of the bookcases.



I suppose this is where Papa wrote.




Check out the tile in this bathroom! I loved this room.



Kittycats were everywhere. Here's one sneaking a nap on this lovely bed. I don't think she was supposed to be there.



This one is Archie. He was shooed away by a caretaker shortly after this photo was taken. Why this house didn't smell like a giant cat box is another mystery.



The cats are very well cared for, but as you can see they have a hard life.



Not all the cats had six toes. But you couldn't mistake the ones that did. They looked like little catcher's mitts.



They were everywhere. Everywhere, I tell you.

Whether you are fan of the Hemingway writing style or not, the house and surrounding gardens are a treat to go through. And the cats are a large part of the charm.

Ann

1 comment:

Mrs.French said...

I would love to go and see everthing, but the cats would be my favorite. We have a six toed cat in my neighborhood, I wonder if he is a descendent?