Saturday, August 8, 2015

International Cat Day







To celebrate International Cat Day, here are my three fur-babes.




Teddy


Teddy (AKA Theodorable, The Tedster) is  Chief Executive Officer.
He is eleven years old and has a heart condition.
He takes medicine daily and is, thankfully, doing great.
He is wise beyond his years and is steadfast in his belief that he
must take care of Mum now.
After all, he is the man of the house.

Cassie



This is Cassie (Cassiopeia) the little star.   
She is 5 years old.
She is Mummy's girl and is a Princess.
Scared of her own shadow, she doesn't like visitors.
She curls up next to Mum, sleeps with Mum,
keeps me safe and feeling loved.
She loves to supervise especially when yarn is involved.




Mina



Not to be left out is Mina.
What a hoot she is!
Adopted from a local no kill shelter,
she really is the boss (don't tell Teddy).
She's always into something.
Never met a stranger (wish she was more like Cassie).
Hungry all the time (probably from her early days on the street).
She has hip dysplasia, but it doesn't stop her.


So, I'm a cat lover and according to this article that I found on 
Face Book, there are benefits to being a cat owner.
If you are wondering about being owned by a cat (!!!),
here's what a cat can do for you! 



1. YOU'RE SMART!

A study of British pet owners found that people who owned cats  tended to be smarter than their dog loving counterparts. Both in terms of IQ score and overall level of education, people who own cats come out on top in the brains department. It’s probably not the cat itself making you smarter, though; the researchers conducting the study said that smarter people tend to work longer hours, and since cats require less attention than dogs they are a better choice for the busy intellectual.

2. IT'S BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!

If you're worried about your  carbon footprint, it’s better to own a cat. A 2009 study found that over its lifetime, the resources needed to feed a dog make the same eco-footprint as that of a Hummer. Meanwhile, cats—which eat less in general and are more likely to eat fish than corn or beef flavored products—only have the approximate carbon footprint of a Volkswagen Golf.

3. HELPING YOU COPE!

Losing a loved one is incredibly painful, but one of the best ways of coping is to own a pet. Cats have been shown to help people get over their loss more quickly, and show less physical symptoms of pain, like crying. Despite the fact that they are only animals, cats serve as a social support during difficult times. People in mourning report talking to their pet to work out their feelings, since it is often easier to talk to something that won’t respond and can’t judge than to another human being.

4. HELPING YOU MATE!

If you’re a single guy and you can’t seem to get a date, get a cat! A British poll found that 82 percent of women agreed they are more attracted to men who like animals. And while having a dog will do wonders for your dating life, a whopping 90 percent of single women said that men who own a cat are “ nicer” than other guys. It seems women buy into the stereotype that cat owners are more sensitive and thoughtful, so listing that you own a cat on your dating profile could do wonders for the number of responses you get. But remember, a cat is for life, not just until you find a partner.

5. HEART HEALTH!

Owning any pet is good for your heart. Cats in particular lower your stress level—possibly since they don’t require as much effort as dogs—and lower the amount of anxiety in your life. Petting a cat has a positive calming effect. One study found that over a ten year period cat owners were  30 percent less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than non-cat owners.

6. COMPANIONSHIP!

The stereotype that dogs are more affectionate than cats is just that: a stereotype. In fact, it turns out that cats can be just as good companions as dogs,  especially for women. A 2003 Swiss study found that having a cat in the house is the emotional equivalent of having a romantic partner. As well as initiating contact much of the time, studies have shown cats will remember kindness shown to them and return the favor later.
But cats really do have the upper hand in these relationships. After thousands of years of domestication, cats have learned how to make a half purr/half howl noise that sounds remarkably  like a human baby’s cry. And since our brains are programmed to respond to our children’s distress, it is almost impossible to ignore what a cat wants when it demands it like that.

7. A REFLECTION OF YOUR PERSONALITY!

Owning a cat tells people a lot about your personality. While dog lovers tend to be the life of the party, cat owners are  quieter and more introverted. However, they score very highly when it comes to how trustworthy they are and how much they trust other people. Cat owners are also less manipulative and more modest.
Cats




International Cat Day


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you to the hosts of:





Camera Critters




Friday, July 24, 2015

Is It Fall Yet?






Is it fall yet?!

Feels like temperatures over 105 make me dream of fall.

I get emails daily with previews of fall merchandise
and, occasionally, items for Christmas.

You'd think that would cool me off!

My favorite magazine arrived.
That's good!
The Cottage Journal Autumn issue is full of gorgeous photos.


Cottage Fall Magazine



It made me want to go out and find fall!
So, when I went to the grocery early in the morning I came home
with the closest to fall I could find --
Sunflowers.



Sunflowers


At least they are the right color
and they look fall-like in one of my favorite pitchers 
that I use as a vase.
It is hand built, heavy and, the most important thing, fall like!



Sunflowers




Sunflowers




Sunflower Collage


It makes me smile every time I look into the kitchen.
The sunflowers look happy with my roosters.
Fun!



Sunflowers



Sunflowers Collage
and I guess the random is trying to stay cool!
Wishing YOU well and much joy.
I hope you are staying cool!

I'm joining the Good, the Random and the Fun!
And, the lovely Judith at Mosaic Monday.


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Celebrating the Pansy





I love Miltonia orchids.
For me, they are charming and irresistible.
They bloom profusely.
Miltonias are often called Pansy Orchids because of their flat-faced,
open flowers that resemble pansies in shape and markings.
Richly colored, fragrant flowers.
From the time that the flower bud on the stems open,
they remain in bloom for 4 to 6 weeks.



Miltonia Orchid


**

I thought sharing the Miltonia orchid was the perfect time to share
another new to me teacup.
It was sent to me for my birthday from another of my sisters-by-choice.
This sister is my Saurian sister -- we both love dragons!
And, we both love pansies. 
This is Spring Melody by Queen Anne.



Spring Melody



Queen Anne is a fine quality china produced by Shore and Coggins,
Staffordshire potteries in England from 1911 to 1966.

This is beautiful fine bone china that is very translucent when held to the light.
The background is pure white, and the design is a bouquet of pansies
in colors of purple, pink, blue and yellow.
The teacups are footed and there is gold trim on all the edges and handle.


Tea and Cookies


She also sent me Persian Nectar tea from Serendipi Tea.
Persian Nectar is organic Indian black tea with
organic peach flavoring.
YUM!

A little treat with my tea today.
Key Lime Pie cookies from Oreo.
Oh, my! 

***



Tea



Thank you to the hosts of:



Tea / Watercolor effect



Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!


When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea,
Then cease the useless tedium
And brew a cup of tea.
There is magic in its fragrance,
There is solace in its taste;
And the laden moments vanish
Somehow into space.
And the world becomes a lovely thing!
There's beauty as you'll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea.
~William Gladstone


(Thank you to Marilyn at Delights of the Heart for the poem.)





Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Surprise!







Violet


My African violet is blooming.

It's always a surprise when it blooms! 

YeeHaw!

I'm joining the new meme Tuesday Afternoons.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.




Saturday, July 11, 2015

Why Be In A Hurry?




Did you have a nice holiday weekend?
Hot dogs and hamburgers?

No hot dogs here, but I did have a turkey burger 
and some delicious macaroni salad and a beer (or two).
I watched the 4th of July festivities on TV .. beautiful!
How do people stand being out in the heat??!!

I have taken the red, white and blue buntings off of the balcony.
The Uncle Sam windsock has been replaced by a bright red flag
with a large sun, cactus and red pepper ...
a colorful message that the HOT summer has arrived! 

**

TeaVivre sent me samples of their Spring Green Teas.
I love the TeaVivre packaging ... really sealed!
The first one I tried is La Shan Yun Wu.
Opening the package I could immediately smell the tea ...
sort of a roasted spinach odor.

The dried leaves have an interesting texture.
Really dark green.


Before Brewing

I like brewing the TeaVivre samples in my little red pot.
Perfect size for the sample and it has its own strainer.
I can lift it out, drink the tea, and steep another pot if I like.



Tea


I brewed the tea for 5 minutes.
Such a pretty light green color.

It has a chestnut flavor ... not overpowering and slightly sweet.

I haven't put up all the indoor holiday decorations yet. 
Why be in a hurry?!



Morning Tea




You can see what the leaves look like after one brew.
Still delicate looking, but they really open up. 
TeaVivre said this was a good large mug tea,
so I got out one of my new mugs.
This is one from a set of four given to me on my birthday
 by another of my sisters-by-choice.
She knows how I love my tea and the birds!




Tea Collage


I have a tea quote for you:


“As far as her mom was concerned, tea fixed everything. 
Have a cold? Have some tea. 
Broken bones? There's a tea for that too. 
Somewhere in her mother's pantry, Laurel suspected, 
was a box of tea that said, 
'In case of Armageddon, steep three to five minutes'.” 


Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

Thank you to the hosts of: