The Amazing Painting Cat!

I couldn't resist this postcard.

It is from the postcard book Cat Artist's And Their Work.

The original is a lithograph poster made around 1887 and can be found in the

Museum of Animal Acts in Wisconsin.

The back of the postcard reads:

"Cat-marking behavior was trivialized in Victorian times, as this poster shows.

While Matissa certainly made marks with paint, Mrs. Broadmoore

(in reality a rather portly man dressed as a woman),

amused the audience by pretending that the cat's simple paintings were

"pawtraits" of people in the audience."

A big thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

I hope this card brought a smile to your face.

Wishing you well and a fun filled weekend!

 

Good Morning!

Reprint of photograph by Rachael Hale from Potpourri

We Said Goodbye Today

We said the final goodbye today to little Miss Riley.

She had enough.

She had the most beautiful green eyes.
In true Riley fashion, she had the last say in the matter ...she stuck her tongue out at us during her last moments!
She left us laughing, once more, at her antics!

She quit eating and taking her medication.

Our wonderful vet assured us we had gone above and beyond.

That everyone was surprised her heart had lasted this long.

With sadness we say Goodbye to the little Impress.

She and her brother Rocky are playing together once again.

I'd like to leave you with one of our favorite kitty poems.

The Singing Cat

It was a little captive cat

Upon a crowded train

His mistress takes him from his box

To ease his fretful pain.

She hold him tight upon her knee

The graceful animal

And all the people look at him

He is so beautiful.

But oh he pricks and oh he prods

And turns upon her knee

Then lifteth up his innocent voice

In plaintive melody.

He lifteth up his innocent voice

He lifteth up, he singeth

And to each human countenance

A smile of grace he bringeth.

He lifeth up his innocent paw

Upon her breast he clingeth

And everybody cries, Behold

The cat, the cat that singeth.

He lifteth up his innocent voice

He lifteth up, he singeth

And all the people warm themselves

In the love his beauty bringeth.

~Stevie Smith 

Peace

Postcard Friendship Friday

Do you think cats can be artists?

From the back cover:

"The fact that some domestic cats are able to make marks with paint has always been explained by biologists as an instinctive form of territorial marking behavior. Now, each one of these lavishly photographed postcards, selected from the book Why Cats Paint (10 Speed Press), provides graphic evidence that some cats' marks are aesthetically motivated and should be regarded as genuine works of non-primate art."

From the back of the postcard: "This medieval bestiary illustration acknowledges the practice of 'painting' by cats in the Middle Ages. Because cats were regarded as agents of the devil during this period, they are depicted here as evil  alchemists about to transmute the caged bird and sleeping dog, prey and enemy of the cat, into gold."

From the back of the postcard: "Whether these cats are engaged in territorial marking behavior, as many biologists would contend, or actually decorating the fish for aesthetic reasons, remains open to debate. However, the fact that the cats showed no aggression towards each other during the two-hour painting session, strongly suggests it was a genuine aesthetic experience."

I think little Miss Cassie could be the next Rembrandt Kitty.

She's been practicing on the bathroom mirror! 

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted by the lovely Beth.
Each week you'll see a variety of postcards from the old to the new, the comic to the serious.
Enjoy the visit!

Happy PFF!

Wishing you well and a JOY filled weekend.

Postcard Friendship Friday

Fall isn't far away and I know that because the lovely Beth has a postcard about cranberries today!

I do love the fall and I love cranberries, but I don't have a postcard that fits so,

here's a postcard that pretty much sums up the week here at Twisty Lane.

The lovely Cassie had an appointment with the Vet this week to be spayed so it has been very quiet the last couple of days as she recuperates. I'm happy to report that she is getting back to full speed and into mischief. 

The back of the postcard reads: "Cat, Rock, and Peonies, 18th century. (Chinese), 

Painting on silk. 

Courtesy of the Freer Gallery of Art,

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.

The card is from a collection of cat postcards published by Running Press Books.

"CATS - what is it about them that appeals to the artist?

Perhaps it's their eyes: now dagger-sharp and penetrating, now new moons of contentment.

Maybe it's their range of attitudes: the hunter-cat, the regal cat, the cat asleep on the windowsill.

Or is it the fluid way these shape-shifting creatures carry themselves as they slink and pounce and curl themselves into drowsy bundles?

The subtlety of their temperament and their magnificence of form have earned cats a place in our hearts and at our hearths. We admire their independence, ponder their secrets (for surely they keep secrets from us), and indulge their idiosyncrasies.

The images in this book, created by artist from divergent cultures and different centuries, attest to the enduring appeal of the creature whose enigmatic personality stirs our curiosity. Here is a living creature that captivates and astonishes us like some mythological beast: here is the Cat."

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted each week by the lovely Beth.

Each week you'll see a variety of postcards from the old to the new, the comic to the serious, a true variety.

Wishing you well and a wonderful week.

Joy!

Camera Critters

Camera Critters is hosted each Saturday by the lovely Misty. Be sure you visit to enjoy the other participants.

Our vet told us about a very nice lady who was fostering some kittens.
She lives nearby and we just HAD to go see them.

Two males and two females (we think -- they are so tiny -- hard to tell for sure).
This was their first day on solid food and they loved it.

It was very hard to get them all in one shot.

Too much fun! You could sit and watch them for days and never get bored!

This little blond furred, blue eyed beauty will be coming to join our family in a week or so.

Postcard Friendship Friday

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted by the lovely Beth. Be sure you visit.
Today Beth has posted a postcard honoring Memorial Day as
well as a card reminding us that today is Hug A Cat Day!

I knew I could find a Hug A Cat card and here it is:

From the back of the postcard: Woman with a Cat, c. 1875, by Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919), Oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington/Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin E. Levy.

This postcard is just one of many from The Cat Postcard Book by Running Press Book Publishers.

I'm off to hug my kitties!
Oh, Teddy -- Riley ... hug time!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted every week by Beth at The Best Hearts Are Crunchy.
She is celebrating Mother's Day this week with a wonderful postcard and information about Mother's Day in Australia. Be sure you visit.

I didn't have an official Mother's Day postcard, so I thought a cat and kitten might do.

The back of the postcard reads:
Cat and Kitten, 1986, by Pamela Higgins Patrick (American).
Pastel on paper.

From The Cat Postcard Book: A Celebration of cats, with 30 full-color portraits to mail, share, and cherish

Happy PFF and a Happy Mother's Day!

Postcard Friendship Friday

This week Beth has a beautiful little girl posted to start off Postcard Friendship Friday. I looked for a beautiful little girl and stopped when I saw this postcard. She definitely has the cat by the tail! Poor kitty. Just wanted his fair share of dinner!

This postcard is from The Cat Postcard Book (a celebration of cats, with 30 full-color portraits to mail, share and cherish) published by Running Press Book Publishers.
The back of the card reads:
Mischievous Kitty, 19th century (American).
Advertising trade card for E. G. Southwick & Co.
Northampton Historical Society, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Happy PFF!

Camera Critters

Camera Critters is hosted each Saturday by the lovely Misty.
Be sure you visit!

I haven't posted anything about our little Miss Riley in sometime.
I thought today I'd bring you up-to-date.

Riley was Mr. Rocky's litter mate. If you remember, Rocky died of a sudden heart attack.
On Riley's regular visit to the vet, he spent extra time with her and found a heart murmur.

She had an echocardiogram and has a little thin sided heart that has trouble beating.
It is probably the most difficult of the heart conditions to treat.

Right now she is doing fine. She's on two medications that have to be specially compounded into tuna flavored treats. Believe it or not, she quite enjoys her *treats* twice a day.

Here is the little Miss in the bedroom we call the studio.

Miss Riley with one her best friends, Raggedy Ann!

We don't know how long we will be blessed with her presence.
She's a little doll we call the Impress!

Happy Critter Day!

Mail Call!

I won a book from the folks at Craftside. All I had to do was post an answer to a question.

Simple.

Look what arrived in the mail!

The purrrrfect book for a cat lover: Cat Lover's Daily Companion:
365 Days of Insight and Guidance for Living a Joyful Life with Your Cat
by Kristen Hampshire, Iris Bass and Lori Paximadis

Monday listings provide practical information, from welcoming a cat home to understanding his basic needs.

Tuesdays (like the one below) contain engaging tales of cats in history and literature.

Wednesday (like the one below) explore feline health and wellness topics, from acupuncture to the zodiac.

To find out about Thursdays, Fridays and the weekends -- you'll need to find your own copy! I can't share everything! I'm going to enjoy every single page and so will my kitties.

And, last but not least, gorgeous photos of cats.

If you don't regularly follow Craftside, you should. They have almost daily reviews of books on all kinds of crafty subjects -- you name it, they've done it. Try it. Leave a post and win a book! Books are good for you. You can never have too many books!

(Special thank you to Lindsey at the Quayside Publishing Group. Lindsey, the book arrived!)

I Couldn't Resist!

I know. It's Critter day. But Mr. Dragon and I have a big baseball day today!
Rice Alumni Baseball game starting this morning and then an afternoon scrimmage with the *real* team.

BUT
I ask you!
Could you resist?
I couldn't!
I had to share it with you!

Isn't this marvelous? Go over to Red Brolly and get the pattern!
You'll have to scroll down a bit, but you'll find it!
My fingers are itching!

Postcard Friendship Friday/Naughty Puss

Our wonderful postmistress, Marie, is the hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday.

Marie posted a wonderful postcard of a little girl with a pig.
(Pigs fly!)

I didn't have a postcard with a pig but I did have one of a little girl and a cat.
(I'm a big fan of cats, as you know.)




This postcard is from The Cat Postcard Book: A celebration of cats with
30 full color portraits to mail, share, and cherish.

The back of the card reads:
The Cat Postcard Book, copyright 1987 by Running Press Book Publishers

Naughty Puss!, 19th century (American).
Advertising trade card for Jayne's Tonic Vermifuge,
a cough remedy.
Northampton Historical Society, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Looks to me like it should be an ad for something like Bactine!

Ho-Ho-Ho!!!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I Couldn't Resist!

This short little You Tube is worth every second!

It will bring a smile to your face.
I guarantee!

Camera Critters

It's Saturday and that means Camera Critters!

Back to the Houston Zoo Photography Day in the rain
and another kitty -- this beautiful leopard.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Mail Call!!

This is a different kind of Mail Call today.

This is an “I went shopping Mail Call”.

I love Carla Sonheim.
I love her animals, her drawings, her sketches, her little girls.
She makes me smile.

When she posted that she had just listed three new journals in her Etsy store, I made a dash over there. I knew immediately what I wanted. I just had to have the journal with the little red headed girl (me) with the kitty on her head.

Look what arrived and it is wonderful!

There is even a pocket in the back of the journal to keep a pen.

I like it so much, I signed up to take Carla’s Joggles class!

Things have been a little sad around here since Rocky’s passing.

Thank you so much, Carla, for helping to brighten up Twisty Lane!

Did You Know ...

Did you know that September is National Honey Month? Just a thought!

***

(Image from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project Annual Report)

What do you know about gorillas? Mr. Dragon and I learned about Mountain Gorillas at a recent wildlife lecture at the zoo. I’d like to share this from the yearly report from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. “The story of the mountain gorillas begins like many other conservation stories: only 700 left in the wild, threatened by poachers, habitat destruction, and disease transmission from domestic animals and human. But unlike so many other stories of threatened species, this one has taken an optimistic turn: the numbers of Mountain Gorillas are increasing. In fact, mountain gorillas are the only great ape population that is growing, despite the challenges. What explains this success? A focused effort by governments and conservationists working together to overcome the odds. Key to this effort is the work of Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, which not only provides veterinary care to the mountain gorillas in their wild habitat, but also champions the “One Health” approach to conservation. The One Health approach recognizes that to sustain the wild Mountain Gorillas, the health of their environment, including their habitat and the human and domestic animals with which they interact, must be maintained. This approach is the key to the hopeful future for this species, and may provide the most promising prototype for conservation projects elsewhere.”

We spent an evening listening to Dr. Mike Cranfield the Project Director of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project talk about the Mountain Gorillas. It was amazing the work these volunteers are doing, not only for the health of these wonderful animals, but also the health of the people living near them -- vital to the well being of the gorilla. More information can be found at their public web site: Gorilla Docs. It is an amazing story.

It is very apparent, from this lecture and the others we have attended on wildlife that the greatest ape of all -- man -- has not been a very good steward of the earth and its inhabitants. Have you noticed the number of stories in the press lately about tainted water and that its getting worse, right here, now? Will man ever learn? Is it already too late? Mr. Dragon often looks at me and says “What makes you think this is the first time man has been on this earth? He’s probably been here before, destroyed it, returned and didn’t learn again. Perhaps this cycle has been repeated many times.” Our own science fiction story?

***

I thought I’d share with you what our veterinarian believes happened to our little Rocky. There is a syndrome in male cats that causes cardiomyopathy. It is completely without symptoms. No murmurs. No nothing until there is a catastrophic incident. Just like what happened to our little dumpling boy.

I suppose we are getting better. The house is still too quiet. I cry everyday, but can now look at his pictures or remember little things without completely breaking down. Ms. Riley, his litter mate, misses him the most -- her brother, her playmate. Looking at Riley will always remind us of Rocky.

We normally write a check to our local SPCA and Humane Society when one of our companions passes from this life and we will do the same for Rocky. But, Rocky was too special. There was something about him --- perhaps a look on his face that said "I know everything that is of importance in this world"! We decided we need to do a little more in his memory. So, we have arranged for Rocky to have a brick at the entrance to the zoo. It will be at the zoo long after we are gone and will be engraved with the following:

ROCKY

Little Dumpling Boy

We Miss You

Rest

I will leave you with this thought sent to us by our wonderful veternarian and friend.

We were indeed blessed.

***

I am thankful for another day on beautiful Mother Earth.

Joy to You!

Camera Critters 73

Everyone seemed to like Theodorable (Teddy) so much last week, I decided to post some more Teddy photos. I was lucky to get these. He was sunning himself, cat-napping. The light was just right.

Sweet innocent little guy!

Yep. Here I am with the camera again.
Poor Teddy. Too gorgeous for words!

Remember, you can click on the image to enlarge.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Critter Day to You.

Joy!