Friday, March 29, 2024
black catscat photographsdaily photojelly bean

Daily Photo: Desk Accessories

The sculptural desk accessory.
The sculptural desk accessory.

Really, everyone should have one of these lovely graceful sculptures on their desk along with their cup of colorful pens. I did try to focus on my work but was completely distracted by the curves and graceful shapes in this nearly abstract nap between brothers Mr. Sunshine and Giuseppe. But no matter how I tried, this little section of it remained in the corner of my eye so I gave in and admired them, and took several photos.

Here is the full scene on the desk.

 

Really, two housepanthers napping.
Really, two housepanthers napping.

 

And here are some awesomely cute toe beans.

Toe beans.
Toe beans nestled in brother’s fur.

From Instagram

We spent the time we’ve been away cleaning and reorganizing the house, partly in preparation for my recovery here after my surgery October 3.

No, girls, no outside yet. I’ve been getting water all over my basement with this past year’s heavy rains. With my hip I’ve been unable to clean gutters, waterproof basement, or clean out larger damaged items. It will be several months before I will be able to take that on. With the help of friends willing to brave the mess phase 1 of basement cleanup removed old appliances and damaged cabinets and shelves and other things. That’s what’s piled outside the door where I’d normally be hanging laundry. Yay! Now we have lots of space back, litterboxes are where they should be and I can get my screen printing and block printing started up again!

Mimi and Mewsette want to go outside!

A new observation platform for kitties! Bella, Giuseppe and Mariposa were right on it. The basement makeover includes something for all of us.

A cat tree right by the door.

The boys are happy with lots of space to wrestle.

Lots of space for a wrestling match.

Mariposa has a place where she can run nearly the length of the house (22 ft.).

Mariposa has a new raceway!

One “before” photo taken after a lot of stuff had actually been removed. Not the prettiest pictures but we’ll get there.

Giuseppe wants to know where all the stuff went.

Photos from years past

Daily Photo: A Basil-in-the-Box, 2017

Basil-in-the-box
Basil-in-the-box

Basil found a perfectly Basil-sized box and settled right into it. His big round eyes might be from his surprise that the box fits so well, or it might be because of the big scary kitty staring at him from the bag just behind him. You just never know with Basil.

~~~

From Instagram

Mimi is not pleased with her leash, but she does love to be outdoors, especially now that I’ve cleaned off the bricks on the patio by the basement door. I believe she was watching a bee, but someday I may add a butterfly to that phlox and do a painting of this.

My little flower enjoys a flower.

Instagram version.
Instagram version.

Above is the filtered instagram version, but I kind of like the regular version too, below.

My little flower enjoys a flower.
My little flower enjoys a flower.

And then earlier the young’ns were lined up in their favorite spots getting some sun.

Lined up for the sun.
Lined up for the sun.

. . . . . . .

What other photos have I shared on or around this date?

.

Kittens On the Loose, and a Visitor, 2015
All three kittens enjoy the new channel on Cat TV.
All three kittens enjoy the new channel on Cat TV.

They all love the windowsill and spent most of their time there!

Theodore and Simon enjoy the windowsill.
Theodore and Simon enjoy the windowsill.

Kittens had another “day out” in the upstairs yesterday and are obviously becoming more accustomed to the upstairs and all its interesting piles of boxes and packing materials and the computer and all sorts of other things.

Simon wants to know what's next?
Simon wants to know what’s next?

All the adults greet them differently, mostly with interest though Mr. Sunshine likes to hiss to make sure they know who is the mancat. Kittens respond appropriately, sitting down to think about what meaningless crumbs they are, but everyone gets over it pretty quickly.

Basil watches the chickadees with Theodore.
Basil watches the chickadees with Theodore.

Basil is less shocked at the magical appearance of three little cats and more curious. One by one they are fine, and it’s so funny to look at this and remember that a year ago he was a little smaller than them and now he’s nearly a grown up. Soon I’ll be able to let them downstairs too, and then the basement! I’m not sure I’m ready for that.

I have some lovely photos of them from today in addition to these, but with those I’m setting up gallery posts for each of the kittens to promote their adoption. I’ll be posting those today and tomorrow, and I can’t wait to share! In the meantime…

. . . . . . .

Today’s photos from Instagram and Facebook

Today’s studio supervisory staff, Simon, Alvina and Theodore. Ninjas are waiting in the wings (napping on the bed) in case instruction is needed (or a piece of kitten food is found in the bathroom).

My studio supervisors, learning early.
My studio supervisors, learning early.

They discovered the bedroom too, and that nice big fluffy bed, and a window full of critters!

Enjoying the windowsill and bed.
Enjoying the windowsill and bed.

Lots for kittens to see! Theodore and Simon. Don’t forget, these little fluffballs are up for adoption!

Theodore and Simon butt to butt on the windowsill.
Theodore and Simon butt to butt on the windowsill.

Simon learns the meaning of “no”. It took 27 tries and some pieces of waxed paper backing from double-sided tape.

Simon learns the meaning of "no" while I'm working on some framing.
Simon learns the meaning of “no” while I’m working on some framing.

. . . . . . .

And we had some exciting visitors!

Maureen and Cecil Chatwin visited us all the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada! They were visiting their daughter in Philadelphia and decided to visit a few others in the U.S., and since Pittsburgh is on their route back home Maureen said they’d like to visit here and meet Mimi and the kids and all the fosters. Maureen has been a Creative Cat reader for at least three years and found me through another reader in Winnipeg, Denise Sitter, who will also (finally) be getting her framed Daily Sketch to add to her gallery of daily sketches and prints.

Just about all the adult cats greeted Maureen and Cecil at the door and kept them busy when they came in. I was surprised that Basil and Bella, who are usually shy at first, stayed put and greeted them with the rest. When Cecil used my computer for hotel reservations Bella stayed right where she was, and Mimi kept an eye on him too. Charm really enjoyed the scalp massage, and Mimi helped Maureen to choose some greeting cards too.

Maureen greets at least five of the black cats.
Maureen greets at least five of the black cats.

Visitors are fun, especially those from our neighbors to the north! Giuseppe sent a special face rub message to Mlle., and even though our visitors aren’t traveling anywhere near Steel City North, we are sure Mlle. will get the message as they go across the border!

. . . . . . .

What other photos have I shared on or around this date?

.

Impostor! 2014
Impostor!
Impostor!

Kennedy is clearly not amused that Giuseppe is sitting at the baby gate trying to imitate him in order to get Kennedy’s treats and special foods.

That didn’t stop Giuseppe from giving the big-eyed sad kitten look through the baby gate. He has no shame.

He eve hung out bu the baby gate with the big sad kitty eyes.
He even hung out by the baby gate with the big sad kitty eyes.

It all started when I was getting ready in the bathroom in the morning, and Kennedy always sits and watches then walks figure 8s around my ankles. I turned around and instead of seeing the one black cat I’d expected I saw two.

I turned around and saw two black cats.
I turned around and saw two black cats.

Kennedy is doing extremely well. I’d been very concerned last week when he just quit eating and though he was still active he seemed despondent. It was serious enough that I thought it might be his time to let go. I got him to the veterinarian (thanks to all who donated!) and then had two reiki sessions to help him balance his energy and to help me pinpoint where he needed help. It seemed that right side was giving him trouble though he felt happy and didn’t seem ready to go. Between that and a bit more accupuncture, then an herb Dr. Michelle prescribed, he’s a new cat. No more restless energy and wandering, aimless vocalizing and litterbox issues as well as lack of appetite. Where he used to wake up when I walked past the room he sleeps soundly and I have to wake him up sometimes. When he’s up he’s much more graceful and measured, and that stiff spine is supple enough that it curves, and sometimes I really do mistake him for one of the other black cats. I hope this is the next step toward greater healing.

. . . . . . .

What other photos did I feature on or around this date?

.

Only the Shadows Know, 2012
shadows of two cats
Conspiring.

So what were the boys up to, as I looked around the corner to see their shadows on the floor, but not them?

Probably just conspiring in a little brotherly bathing, I think!

It’s Giuseppe and Mr. Sunshine, not the typical partners in crime, all the more reason to wonder.

Nothing transpired from the conspiracy, except some play and a bath and a nap in the tub.

. . . . . . .

More Pretty Kitty Things

Kitty number 1.
Kitty number 1.

Yes, that’s right, I just walked right up on my neighbor’s porch on a walk to Main Street and photographed a few things. But I can’t resist these colorful vintage ceramic planters. Right after WWII, hospital stays and more hospital care became far more commonplace than they had been prior to the war, a combination of returning GIs needing more hospital care and more advances in medicine during the war. Get well gifts have always been popular, and this was one more reason.

Kitty number 2.
Kitty number 2.

They were finished in the popular colors of the time, bright, often primary colors, that would match the person’s home, and almost always contained an indestructible philodendron with its dark green heart-shaped leaves. Did you ever wonder where all the grandmothers, or great-grandmothers, got those philodendrons?

Eventually manufacturers started painting or air-brushing more details into the finish. This one is from the 1950s or possibly even later.

Kitty nuber 3 on the windowsill.
Kitty number 3 on the windowsill.

Animals were most popular, though flowers and children were also popular figures.

Bird things.
Bird things.

Art and Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals

Fine Art • Photography • Gifts • Greeting Cards • Books • Commissioned Portraits & Artwork

~~~

Feline Images from Portraits of Animals!

ink and marker sketch of cat
“Napping With Colors in Mind”, Ink drawing pen and marker, 5.5″ x 7″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

 

Giuseppe must surely be absorbing some of the colors of the pens in my pen cup. I certainly thought the colors were inspiring next to Giuseppe’s black fur! Because he was sleeping I had the time to get more detail on his face than usual.

Read more and purchase.



Copyright

All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.


Subscribe to my e-newsletter

Subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter.


© 2022 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Weekly schedule of features:

Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life

Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters

Tuesday: Rescue Stories

Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork

Thursday: New Merchandise

Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy

Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats

And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!

 
PORTRAITS OF ANIMALS WEBSITE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE| EMAIL | PATREON

HOME

Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this:
Verified by ExactMetrics