Chinese New Year 2022-Year of The Tiger!! (Roar!!!)

 The Year 2022 is represented by THE TIGER!!

Here are some interesting facts I found on the website www.chinesenewyear.net 

Lucky and Unlucky Things for Tigers

Lucky Things for Tigers

• Lucky colors: blue, green

• Lucky numbers: 1, 3, 7

• Lucky flowers: plum blossom

• Lucky directions: north

Unlucky Things for Tigers

• Unlucky colors: white

• Unlucky numbers: 4, 9

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) creates every year. I dropped the ball (or so I thought), because the Chinese New Year began February 1st, 2022....then I found out that the Chinese New Year lasts SIXTEEN DAYS!!! Yay! I'm not late!

Please enjoy the beautiful card that Maggie made for the Year of The Tiger!!

GO OUT AND ROAR!!!

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!!!

Chinese New Year Art by Maggie Swanson: The Year of the Rat (Or Cute Mousies, Whatever You Want to Call Them!!)

Hi dear furiends and Happy Chinese New Year! The year 2020 in the Chinese Zodiac is the Year of the Rat.

What a wonderful surprise I received about a week ago when I opened the mail. Inside was a lovely card from our dear furiend and most talented illustrator, Maggie Swanson.

Look at the front of this darling and charming card:

Courtesy of Maggie Swanson

Oh those eyes! Those cheeks! It is also a gray tabby cat like Cody! Maggie's illustrations are some of the most charming I have ever seen. 

About Maggie from her 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! Take a look at the back:

If you were born in the years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 or 2020. Your symbol in the Chinese Zodiac is the Rat.

Looking at the darling illustrations above you can see why I chose to say it could also be the year of the cute mousey. Those little rats are too precious!!

Did You Know:

• The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival
• There is no set date for the Chinese New Year. The dates range from January 21st to February 20th. 
• The most Fireworks in the world are set off that night!
• No showering, sweeping or throwing out garbage is allowed
• You eat dumplings for every meal, every day!

Click To learn more interesting facts/myths, etc., about the Chinese New Year 

I think we may just have to go out to dinner tonight to a nice Chinese Restaurant to celebrate!

Thanks again to sweet Maggie and be sure to click to see all of the precious, adoptable kitties that she features on her blog regularly. 

We love you Maggie!

Happy Year of the Rat all!!!! 

Cat "Mews": Happy "Mew Year's Day for Cats" Coloring and Cabana Cats

Hi my furry furiends, it's Cody! Hope you enjoyed spending New Year's Eve and the "traditional" New Year's Day with your humans! Now this is new to me, but I learned from our Cat Blogosphere calendar that today is "Happy Mew Year's Day for Cats." 

I learned that this day was created by wellcat.com so cats could have their OWN New Year's celebration. Now, that's pretty cool!!

There are many ways to celebrate this day, one of the more obvious is for someone who wants to add a cat to their family (and who DOESN'T?) this would be a purrfect day to do so!

Other ways to celebrate are to share some things that are cat related, and that is exactly what we wanted to do for you today.

Back in November, our furiends at Sundays at the Shelter shared a page with us that we could color. Mom finally got around to completing coloring it the other day.

The artist behind the original drawing is none other than the talented Maggie Swanson, we reviewed a book of hers way back in 2012,  but never realized she has coloring books too! How did we NOT know this?

Mom isn't 100 percent pleased with how the drawing came out. But she sure had fun completing it!

Sweet Nellie
Photo stolen from Nellie on the Edge

The other bit of news we wanted to share is that our precious and cherished, long time friend Nellie isn't feeling well. We know that most of you have already visited and shared some POTP, but for those who didn't know, I know she would appreciate your good wishes!

Nellie is one of the first kitties I became friends with in the Blogosphere. We have shared many, many good times together. She is super special to me and my Mom. I was beyond flattered when she asked ME to be her Cabana Boy on New Year's Eve and make her some "Niptinis", of COURSE I was happy to oblige! Anything for my "Queen Nellie!!"

I make a pretty darned good "Cabana Boy" don't I?

I love Nellie with all of my furry heart,  and KNOW that she LOVES me,  and that is why when she would cavort with other mancats through the years, I didn't mind. I always knew that she had a special place in her heart for ME....and would always touch base with me. I am so happy when she gave me a meow out to help her out on New Year's Eve.

I LOVE YOU sweet Nellie, hoping with all of my heart that you are feeling better soon!!! Not ready to lose you!

Well, my furiends, that's it from me for today, hoping your "Mew Year's Day for Cats" is a special one! Meow to me below and let me know what YOU are going to do to acknowledge this day.

Love to all!

Cody

Lucky Cats Paper Dolls-Maneki Neko-by Maggie Swanson

Many of you are familiar with the Legend of the Maneki Neko, but for those of you aren't:

From Lucky Cats Paper Dolls:

Literally translated as "the beckoning cat," a Maneki Neko is easy to recognize by its raised paw. This traditional symbol of prosperity originated in Japan and can be found around the world especially in shops and restaurants."

Illustrator Maggie Swanson has created a paper doll activity book  starring two of her own cats,"Tommie" and "Gracie" who are based on her own cat family. They are her "lucky cats."

Why?

 When Tommie was about 6 wks old he walked out of the woods by Maggie's house and "into her arms." She considers him to be a "gift from Mother Nature."

Gracie was adopted from the PAWS animal shelter in Norwalk, Connecticut where Maggie volunteers. She also has a blog: Sundays at the Shelter where she photographs and blogs about the "adoptables" that she meets there. Maggie considers Gracie to be her "reward" for all of the litter boxes that she cleans there.

I have to tell you, when I opened this paper doll book the illustrations are breathtakingly exquisite. In my opinion, they are too captivating to take out of the book!

Invite good fortune into your life with these adorable lucky cats!

The above photos are just a teaser of what you will find in this stunning and unique book.

You (or your little ones) can dress up Tommie and Gracie in Egyptian Pharaoh costumes, you can dress Gracie as a Geisha replete with a fan (for friendship, good wishes).

There are more than 40 costumes and accessories in this book that can be put on Tommie or Gracie, each costume has various "lucky" symbols such as:

• A cowboy costume with a lucky horse shoe
• A fisherman costume with a shark's tooth for protection and strength and a fish for abundance and faith.

There is a darling "gardening" outfit that comes with the meanings of various "lucky" flowers:

• tiger lily-wealth and prosperity
• golden rod-success
• clover-good luck
• cattail-peace and prosperity

Near the back of the book you will find a 11x17 poster featuring some of the most unique, captivating and colorful "lucky" kitty stickers that I have seen.

I feel that this is the sort of book that no review or feature can adequately do justice. You must purchase this book and EXPERIENCE it. The illustrations must be SEEN to be appreciated. It would make a wonderful holiday gift for children and adults alike! Who can't use a little good luck in their life? Children will be enthralled with the kitties and their costumes, while adults will be inclined to display the dressed up kitties in various locations in their home or office to encourage good luck!

It is geared for those in Grades 3 and up (ages 8 and up)

Maggie Swanson has illustrated OVER 100 children's books for many different publishers. Check a few of  them out here

You can purchase Lucky Cats Paper Dolls for the most affordable price of $9.99 on the Dover Publications website by clicking right here

Visit: Maggie Swanson Illustration here
Vist Maggie's blog Sundays at the Shelter here

ISBN 10: 0486486826 ISBN 13: 9780486486826