Friday, February 12, 2021

Happy Chinese New Year 2021 (The Year of the Ox)

 Today marks the official start of the Chinese New Year, and...it's the Year of the Ox!


(Courtesy of  Maggie Swanson)


For the past few years I have been the lucky recipient of the GORGEOUS Chinese New Year cards that talented artist, and fellow blogger, Maggie Swanson (visit her Shelter Cats blog here), has been creating for TWELVE years!!

Are you born in one of the years listed below?


I am always enthralled when I see Maggie's artwork.  Maggie is a  brilliant illustrator, you can read about her, and see some of her gorgeous illustrations  on  her artist  website:

When I was a little girl, we lived in an apartment over our grocery store. My parents sold the basics: canned goods, bread, milk and eggs, fresh vegetables and meat. Customers sat talking to my father while he filled their orders. Sometimes they read to me or we colored pictures together. I spent a lot of time in my nest under the penny candy counter, drawing pictures and sneaking an occasional piece of candy when the coast was clear. I can't remember when I decided to become an artist. It was all I ever really wanted to do.

After graduation from Rhode Island School of Design, I spent three years at Hallmark Cards. In college I learned about drawing and painting and dreaming. Hallmark taught me to start and finish a job in a timely and professional manner. After that, I started my freelance career, and have illustrated over 100 children's books for many different publishers.

Now I live in Connecticut, USA with my husband Rick and our cats Mickey Mouser and Rufus the Red, and In my spare time I like to read, garden, and volunteer at PAWS, my local animal shelter. I also photograph and keep a blog about the shelter cats
 that I meet there. 


We can't thank Maggie enough for taking the time to think of us, and for sending us this darling card. Hoping it brings us some good luck!!!



31 comments:

  1. happy new year to all who celebrate... we prefer the mighty horns of the ox, if the load we carry becomes too heavy, we can use them ;O)

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  2. Nope, no Oxen here at all! I don't offhand even know any!!

    That is a cute card!! I don't think I have ever seen a kitty riding on an ox. MOL!!

    Your friend is VERY talented indeed! Thanks for sharing her with us:)

    And Happy Chinese New Year!!

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  3. Miss Maggie does beautiful work! Happy New Year!

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  4. Year of the ox. Not quite sure what to do with that but hopefully it will bring some sense into this crazy world. Nice card.

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  5. Happy Lunar New Year! No oxen here, either; the biped is a dragon.

    Maggie is an amazing artist, sometimes she'll post something on her Instagram account. Beautiful!

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  6. Interesting facts I never knew about the Year of the Ox. Happy New Year !

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  7. Aww fun, I married an OX and I'm a DRAGON: Ambitious, Energetic, Leadership - Neither fits us to a tee either LOL

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  8. Happy New Year! Our mom was born under the Ox but we won't tell you which year. BOL!

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    1. Ha!! Love it!! I TOTALLY understand!!! I'm no spring chicken!! lol!

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  9. Hi ~ got your comment, we'll work up something on the weekend! By the way: we subscribed when you first set up new blog: but NEVER receive. Just tried to re-subscribe; it says we're already on list; there are errors (?). Don't understand ... would love to get your posts by email (to Zoolatry) so we don't miss them. Want to see Roary and Levi growing up, both are so adorable ... thanks, hugs, Ann

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    1. Thanks Ann!! I'll mention it to Glogirly and see if she knows......I believe we are still on BlogLovin too, but I will for sure mention it to Debbie! (((hugs))) back!! Oh and I don't blog often at all.....maybe once or twice a week or so if I'm lucky!! xoxo

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  10. Maggie is such a cool one and her art is always absolutely stunning!

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  11. We enjoy her blog as well. I didn't know all that about her though. Very impressive.

    Happy Chinese New Year.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend, Caren. Scritches to the babies. ♥

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  12. Beautiful artwork! Happy Chinese New Year. May the Ox guide us through a better year.

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  13. Such a beautiful card from Maggie. Mom and I were surprised to learn that we both were born in the year of the ox.

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  14. What beautiful artwork! Happy Chinese New Year. May the Ox be our guide to a better year.

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  15. Thank you for sharing my art- and my good wishes to all for the Year of the Ox!
    xxoo
    Maggie

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  16. Catzowey & Happy Lunar MEW Year! I was born under the sign of the DOG - hee hee hee! I’m purring getting this blog from ya - 1st time all year. Purrs galore to you and your Staff too

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  17. This card is AWESOME !!!! I'll check out her website after I leave here :) I know your dad would appreciate her work too ♥♥☺☺

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  18. Happy New Year to all who celebrate! That is a nice card indeed!

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  19. I saw that art on her blog and loved it. She is a wonderful artist. I was born in the year of the Rabbit, or as I prefer, the Year of the Cat in the Vietnamese calendar.

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  20. What a great post and we visit Shelter Cats all the time. I am a Pig and Dad a Dragon. I say we should swap

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  21. We read the Shelter Cats blog all the time ! Thank you for telling us more about Maggie !

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  22. This is so beautiful! I see my dad's birth year in that list. (I'm so happy you stumbled upon my Truffles/Cody post! I was going to message you about it but you left a comment before I had a chance to.)

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  23. We love Maggie's work! My human has a book of her Lucky cat stickers.

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  24. Wow Maggie is so talented! Love the calendar!

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  25. Maggie is very talented. I am a rooster. :) XO

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  26. We LOVE Maggie's art work! She is so very talented! Her books are totally awesome! Caren you rock! have a marvellously Happy Day!

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  27. Beautiful calendar and happy year of the ox to everyone.

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  28. Maggie is the best! She is so talented, and such a kindhearted person. We are so grateful for her friendship, and to be fellow PAWS volunteers with her and Rick. XO

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