A "Partial" Eclipse of the Heart---Caturday Art

Sooo, while everyone was in the midst of a solar eclipse frenzy on August 22, I never got the special glasses that had to be worn because I  heard we would only experience approximately 80% totality here in Michigan. (Ironically, once you know you CANNOT look up at the sun, all you want to do IS to look up!)

So, here is what it looked like outside our home here in Michigan, (I wasn't smart like some others who photographed their homes INSIDE. Should have done that!)

The top photo on the left is just before it started, the one on the top right was as it was progressing and the bottom one was our final result. Wish I had bought the darn glasses!

But.....Cody thinks that he eclipses any phenomena that happens once in a lifetime!!!

I have to agree!!!

Today we are FINALLY participating in Caturday Art after not participating in AGES!! Head on over to the Caturday Art Blog Hop hosted by GORGEOUS Athena Cat Goddess and her sweet Mum, Marie:

and see some GREAT participants!

Caturday Art: Showing some Squirrel Love on Squirrel Appreciation Day

I LOVE CATS.  That being said there are a few other animals that I am somewhat obsessed with, and Squirrels would be on that list! In honor of today being Squirrel Appreciation Day I just had to show them a little love!! (No worries, there are cat photos here too!)

Saved to my Pinterest Board
Original from CafePress.com

 I could watch squirrels for hours, scurrying here and there, striking hilarious poses, committing acts of thievery.  In my eyes squirrels are ingenious, always busy, always planning, but I often wonder, do they truly REMEMBER where they put their nuts when they bury them in the ground?

Pinned to my Pinterest Board
Original Pin came from cracked.com

As a child, I used to look at trees with "tree holes" and imagine that when the squirrels would go inside they would sit on the teeniest wooden chairs and eat their meals out of hollowed out acorns. Ok, I will confess, I STILL believe that!

Pinned to my Pinterest Board
Original Pin Came From 500px.com

My Angel Bobo had the luxury of living in a first floor apartment  that was situated next to the woods. His window had a window seat as well. Bobo used to spend HOURS in that window chittering at birds and crouching down low to "play attack" the squirrels. The squirrels seemed to relish  cavorting and teasing him knowing they were kept safe by a pane of glass. The photo below (and I apologize for the quality, but I had to take a photo of a photo hanging on the wall in order to share this with you), was taken at my first apartment in Michigan, when Bobo and I moved here together in 2001. That apartment was on the second floor but had the type of balcony where it was still convenient for Bobo to watch his beloved squirrels).

 Poor Cody doesn't have that luxury because while I am still in a second floor unit, I am in a different complex, and  this unit  doesn't lend itself well to "squirrel viewing." Instead, I have chosen to let a couple of MY squirrels infringe on Cody's space. Poor Cody, he isn't loving the intrusion at all.

At one point I was actively feeding the squirrels and got in trouble because what started as two quickly grew to over 10 eating at one time. A number of them took up residence in the "attic" or storage area above some units. They were freaking out a neighbor across the hall because they were running around late at night. Needless to say I was ordered to stop feeding the squirrels.

Oh to live in a cabin in the woods where I can feed them to my heart's content and sit, like a cat and watch them for hours!

Now, my squirrels can just hang out in Cody's cat tree when he isn't around.

For this post I Googled coloring pages of Squirrels and printed one off that I would like to share as a "Caturday Art" submission since it is rare that I post on Saturdays, and we haven't participated in quite some time!

I am pretty pleased with how this turned out. I am a fan of using gel pens much more than I enjoy using colored pencils, so that is what I used to color the squirrel. The only editing I used was a brightener to make it show up better on the blog. To see more great art visit Athena Cat Goddess:

Vote For ArtPrize Entry from Michigan Artist Which Features 300 Animals From Michigan Humane Society (Caturday Art)

We haven't participated in the Caturday Art Blog Hop that is hosted by Athena and her wonderful Mom, Marie,  in quite some time, mostly because we don't usually post on Saturdays, and because things have been kind of crazy at "Casa de Cody." When Michigan Humane contacted me yesterday with this story about this incredible artist, I think you will agree that this HAD to be a part of the Caturday Art Blog Hop, even if it is not the traditional kind of a post that would be seen there.

Photo Courtesy of Michigan Humane

 BIRMINGHAM, MICH. ARTIST WEATHERLY STROH
 LETS THE DOGS, CATS – AND OTHER PETS –
 OUT AT THIS YEAR’S ARTPRIZE Oil painting entitled “300” features animals
 from Michigan Humane Society

Artist Weatherly Stroh is preparing to enter her first ArtPrize competition, and she hopes her piece will go to the dogs – and cats, rabbits and birds – by raising awareness for homeless pets. Stroh’s piece is a 5-ft by 15-ft collage of portraits featuring homeless animals from the Michigan Humane Society. Along with the painting, Stroh’s entry will feature a time-lapse video showing the creation of the piece. ArtPrize 2016, held in Grand Rapids, Mich., runs from Sept. 21 through Oct. 9.

Photo Courtesy of Michigan Humane

“We are grateful to Weatherly for this unique partnership, which allows us to celebrate the positive impact of our beloved companions through a work of fine art,” said Michigan Humane Society President and CEO Matthew Pepper. 

ArtPrize is an annual creative competition attracting artists from around the world. It has both a juried vote and a public vote. It is free to the public, who are encouraged to vote via social media or email, and takes place at locations throughout the city.

“My goal in creating ‘300’ is to highlight the sheer number of homeless animals that pass through the Michigan Humane Society’s doors each day, as well as the amazing work they do to find these companion animals forever homes where they will receive a lifetime of love and care,” said Stroh. “I started by photographing 300 homeless animals, which gave me a close-up look at just how much time and financial resources go into their care and adoption.”

Stroh’s painting will be displayed at the Richard App Gallery at the City Water Building, located at 1101 Monroe Ave.  Visit weatherlystroh.com or artprize.com for more information and details on casting your vote. To vote for Stroh’s piece, use vote code 62651.

Born in Detroit in 1974, Weatherly Melchers Stroh comes from a long lineage of artists including sculptor, Julius Melchers and American Impressionist painter, Gari Melchers.  Continuing in the family tradition, Stroh is an oil painter and sculptor specializing in animal portraits and landscapes. Stroh’s work can be found in a myriad of public and private art collections both in the United States and abroad. A class member of L. Brooks Patterson’s 2013 Elite 40 under 40, a 2013 MI Great Artist finalist, and the 2014 MI Great Artist winner, Stroh currently works out of her studio in Birmingham, Mich. As an advocate for all animals, a portion of the proceeds of her painting sales goes to the Michigan Humane Society.

Photo Courtesy of Michigan Humane
Weatherly and her dog Kenai

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and most historic animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to its care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values. For more information, visit michiganhumane.org.

For more fabulous art entries visit Athena and Marie's blog right here!

Caturday Art-Dreamscope

Today I am featuring a photo from a blog post I did way back in the day of an orange kitty that was featured.

I took this photo:

and turned it into this:

From an app that I learned about on Tuesday from our friend Ann, at Pawsitively Pets called Dreamscope.   Check out Ann's amazing photos here.

I love the unusual creations that can be made with this app, but what I don't like is that it doesn't feature a cropping option or an option to add text. I had to go to ribbet.com to crop my old text out  and to add new text in.

In fairness, I used the app on my laptop and not the phone. I am going to see if there is a download available for the phone and see if it offers more editing options.

See more amazing Caturday Art here!

SPEAKING OF ART...sometimes it pays to follow a WOOFIE!!!! You can enter Dakota's CanvasPop give-away too, but HURRY, it's ending soon! NOTE:Exceptionally handsome woofie NOT included in give-away!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Caturday Garden Art

I know this isn't a "traditional" Caturday Art piece, but I wanted to share it anyway.

I was at my "bonus daughters" home last weekend and she had this darling cat sculpture (if that is what you would call it), in her yard and I wanted to share......it's just too cute!

I think it is so adorable. She had a number of decorative pieces in her yard and the next one was also a favorite.

Please stop by and see the REAL fabulous artwork over at Athena and Marie's blog by clicking here!

#National Pet Day and #CaturdayArt:It's Cody the "TOYMINATOR!!!"

First on our agenda, is we want to wish EVERYONE a HAPPY NATIONAL PET DAY!!! (yes, yes, for all of you and for us, EVERY DAY is National Pet Day!) If only many in the rest of the world who abandon pets on a daily basis, felt the same.

Photo found on BlogPaws

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
~James Herriot

Quote courtesy of http://www.petdayusa.com/

OMC my furiends!

Wait til you see the Caturday Art submission that Cody received as a present for this birthday!!!!!

It was created by Cody's long-time furiend (and sometime cat-bedmate, hehehe), Nellie, (also sometimes known as Penelope, from The Thoughts and Musings of the Cats From Hell  (also known as, Cat From Hell...confused yet?)! MOL!!!!

Here you go!

I can't begin to tell you how much Cody and I LOVE THIS! It appears that Nellie received her inspiration from Cody's birthday give-away post, with THIS photo:

THANK YOU SO MUCH NELLIE!!!

TO SEE MORE

CATURDAY ART:

CLICK HERE

It's Art! It's Cats! It's A Book! It's Double Trouble A-Z: The Adventures of Bugsy And Knuckles By Lou Belcher

Welcome to the wacky, whimsical world of Bugsy and Knuckles, better known as Double Trouble, and who are the inspiration for the delightful book:

Book Cover Courtesy of Lou Belcher

Many in the cat world know that  Bugsy and Knuckles are kitty brothers, better known as The Boys who get along so well, and are so deeply attached to each other,  that they appear to have some sort of telepathic communication system that only they understand! Most of their antics take place on the blog that they share with "HH" aka Her Highness, who is known to the rest of the world as Lou Belcher, Author of The Zen of Max, and the blog (Before You Write), that she shares with Bugsy, Knuckles and their special friend, Checkers the Mouse.  In addition to being a superb author/free-lance writer, Lou is  also a talented artist.

Many of us have had the unique pleasure of watching her latest book: Double Trouble: The Adventures of Bugsy and Knuckles begin to come to life on her blog! We also have the distinct honor of remembering when Bugsy and Knuckles first came into Lou's life, when she adopted them from the SPCA of North Brevard three and a half years ago.

This is "Bugsy"
(Photo Courtesy of Lou Belcher)
"He is mellow most of the time
and rarely takes the lead.
Consequently, he doesn't end up
in trouble as often as Knuckles."

This is "Knuckles"
 Photo Courtesy of  Lou Belcher
"He is full of energy
and is always planning
an assault of some sort.
He usually fails,
consequently, he is the
comic relief in my life."

Bugsy and Knuckles are REAL LIFE brothers! They are litter mates! Where one is, the other is sure to follow. They share a passion for play and their special telepathic communication system allows them to "pull off capers that have earned them the title DOUBLE TROUBLE"

"Bugsy and Knuckles"
Illustration Courtesy of Lou Belcher

How did the book come to be?
Initially Lou planned to write a story about The Boys and realized that she had enough material for several books (which will follow!). She had a "board meeting" with Bugsy, Knuckles and their mouse friend Checkers, and decided that a cartoon book would be a good place to start!

Who are the characters in the book?
Well, Bugsy and Knuckles of course, and "HH" and as a special treat, The Boys decided that their best friend, Checkers the Mouse should narrate the book!  Checkers normally likes to stay out of the limelight but he said that HH promised him a substantial amount of cheese as payment for narration and he just couldn't refuse!!

"Checkers The Mouse"
Illustration Courtesy of Lou Belcher

Why an alphabet book?
From Lou:The idea for the cartoon book to be structured as an alphabet book came from The Boys wanting to show you all of their favorite things and activities.

Bugsy and Knuckles
love to SKYDIVE
one of the words featured in Double Trouble!
Illustration Courtesy of Lou Belcher

 In their enthusiasm, the list of what they wanted to show you grew longer and longer. So I gave them the assignment of choosing only four words for each letter of the alphabet, and I promised them we'd build a little glimpse into their lives from that.

"Double Trouble Trouble!!"
Illustration courtesy of Lou Belcher

Double Trouble is a "book about pictures, NOT reading", which makes it an ideal book to set out on the coffee table, to give as a gift to your humor/cat-loving friends for the holidays, or for ANY time!

I was particularly smitten with Double Trouble for a couple of reasons.

The Drawings Were Done By Hand
I am drawn to, and appreciate art (particularly cartooning, and art that is NOT computer generated). Having grown up with a father who was a famous Editorial Cartoonist, I have an understanding of the time it takes to create a drawing (with one's own HAND). The drawings may have a simplistic look, but achieving simplicity in a cartoon while evoking a response, is a talent that many would love to have, and few possess. Lou's drawings are light and playful and purrfectly capture the mischief making personalities of The Boys.

Non-Traditional Words Are Used For The Alphabet
Which makes Double Trouble a suitable read for ADULTS! It doesn't contain the usual "A is for apple", "H is for Horse", but instead there are words such as Amok, Acrobat, Jam, Jazz, Knickknacks and Octopus. Each word has it's own page with a corresponding witty caption depicting a unique adventure or experience that Bugsy and Knuckles had that involve that word. While children will also enjoy Double Trouble, it is far from being a book that is geared just towards children.

Whether Lou is writing or painting, she LOVES to make people laugh and smile! Another of her passions is cats. Lou succeeds in combining all of her passions in Double Trouble! If you can relate to,  and appreciate the antics of cats, and if you love humor and cartoons, you will find Double Trouble A-Z The Adventures of Bugsy and Knuckles to be the purrfect antidote for a stress-filled day!

AS WITH THE ZEN OF MAX, A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM DOUBLE TROUBLE WILL GO TO HELPING ANIMALS IN SHELTERS.

YOU CAN PURCHASE
DOUBLE TROUBLE A-Z THE ADVENTURES OF BUGSY AND KNUCKLES ON AMAZON, NEW GALLERY AND THERE IS A LINK ON LOU'S WEBSITE AS WELL. YOU CAN ALSO:

ENTER TO WIN!!
Lou is kindly offering TWO OF OUR READERS WHO RESIDE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD the chance to win a copy of Double Trouble A-Z The Adventures Of Bugsy And Knuckles!  (An approximate $10 value).  Entering is easy! Just enter on the rafflecopter below!!  THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON DECEMBER 20TH! 

GOOD LUCK!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


In full disclosure: We were not compensated for this review/give-away. We were sent a copy of Double Trouble A-Z The Adventures of Bugsy and Knuckles in exchange for our honest review.

We are also proud to have this review/give-away be a part of the Caturday Art Blog Hop kindly hosted by Marie and Athena!    Check out the other Caturday Art Participants!

Caturday Art: Studio Emma Kaufmann

It has been a while since Cody and I participated in the Caturday Art Hop, hosted by Athena and Marie,  but we couldn't let another Caturday go by without telling you about a magically mystical portrait that was done for us by:

Emma's Pet Portraits

Click here to visit her website!

When Emma and I connected, she mentioned to me that she had become inspired by one of Cody's cat horoscope posts which led her to create a pastel portrait of "Mystical Cody," I think she was channeling Van Gogh that day!! Emma has named this:

"Starry Starry Cody"

The use of color, the movement, even the detail showing the texture of Cody's fur is just amazing!!!!  Emma captured Cody's signature "stare"  and the clear, green pools that are his eyes. The relaxing purple-pink-gray-lavender hues are peaceful and serene. This is definitely a favorite of mine, and I am blessed to have received it. I am still searching for the perfect frame, the dimensions of this portrait are (18x24), when I find it, it will be hung with pride in my office with the rest of my cat art.

I am beyond grateful to Emma for creating this ethereal portrait that I will cherish always.

About Emma:

This London City Chick swapped life in the fast lane for the slow pace of Baltimore, USA fourteen years ago. She  swapped crumpets for crab cakes and incessant rain for the Ravens and has never been happier!

Her pet portrait blog is Emma's Pet Portraits, she works in pastel or watercolor or other mediums on request.

Emma has also penned a hilarious book for the first year after giving birth called Cocktails at Naptime Cocktails at Naptime - A Woefully Inadequate Guide to Early Motherhood.

Click here for more info

You can also find Emma on Facebook!!!!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE HOP!!

Cat Greeting Cards from The Paper Cats, Cards that are ART!

I have said this a zillion times and I will say it for the zillion and ONE time, one of the MANY things I love about blogging are the talented people I am blessed to meet along the way.

A few weeks back, an auction was held for "The Baby" from The Katnip Lounge, and I was the incredibly LUCKY, highest bidder of greeting cards that were created by Lisa-Lin from the blog:

CLICK TO VISIT!!!

I must have been living under a rock, because I had never known about Lisa's blog until the auction! Now I am not only thrilled to have made a new friend, but I am EXTRA THRILLED to have learned about Lisa's  beautiful shop on Etsy:

 CLICK TO VISIT!!!

From Lisa's shop:Welcome to The Paper Cats--a place for the cat lover you know and/or the cat lover in YOU.Once upon a long ago time, before e-mail even existed, and postage stamps were just 8 cents, my life was in a small Iowa town, I had 50 pen pals all over the world. My favorite spot was a drawer stashed with stationery. The two best presents my parents could surprise me were a Nancy Drew mystery and a box of new stationery--especially if a cat graced it. I loved which paper to use for each pen pal. My love of cats continues to evolve on other items--and stay tuned to The Paper Cats!

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

I RECEIVED 18 CARDS!!!

There were 5 different styles

and I received 3 of each

My photos do NOT

do them justice

This is one of the cards
I am particularly partial to
I LOVE MY TABBY CATS!!!
It also looks a little like Cody!

Adore this one too!
Reminds me of my Angel Bobo

TO SEE MUCH BETTER PHOTOS OF THESE CARDS

VISIT LISA'S ETSY SHOP HERE

Lisa's cards are so beautiful and are made on such superb quality card paper, that to me, they qualify for ART, rather than just greeting cards. I am hoping that I can bring myself to use them!!!  I just might have to frame one of each type and then send the rest. Brilliant idea if I do say so myself!!!

THANKS SO MUCH LISA AND I AM THRILLED TO HAVE MET YOU!!!

Now, if you haven't already, visit all of the participating kitties in Athena's:

CLICK HERE TO VISIT!

Caturday Art-Tagxedo!!!

I was going through the blogs that I follow and ran across something super cool on the blog,  The Teacher's Pets . It's called TAGXEDO and what it is is this:

From their website:
Tagxedo turns words -- famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes, even your love letters -- into a visually stunning word cloud, words individually sized appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurrence within the body of text.

The above is the one that I made using my twitter profile link.  it is FUN! I just didn't have the patience to really sit and work on mine. It was interesting to see what words came up!

Have fun and check out Tagexdo!

We are participating in Caturday Art, hosted by Athena, Cat Goddess, see the other posts here