Daily Photo: The Dove

August 30, 2020 Bernadette

two black cats at window — There it is, looking right at them.

A mourning dove noisily landed on the top corner of the casement and all feline activity stopped. Bella and Basil froze in place, unblinking, as the dove, apparently ignorant of the danger of fierce and ready predators below, considered the bird feeder.

As the dove shuffled and clicked around on the corner of the window and made little dovey noises, the vigil continued. A few minutes into the event, Hamlet silently joined them. You can see that Bella and Basil have not moved.

three black cats at window — A quiet gathering.

Look at those intent faces.

The event lasted quite some time, but eventually the dove decided she couldn’t fit on the feeder and flew away. Next came a round of long, deep naps. It was a very good day for three formerly feral kitties.

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From Instagram

From the backyard and beyond

Looks like the faeries are planning a big Friday night party underneath the Virginia creeper leaves.

We had heavy storms on Thursday with lots of power outages, then Friday again with a few more storms and crews fixing the lines. My internet and phone had a lot of difficulty, so I just gave up. Instead, I set up one of my new used computers for greater efficiency, supurrvised by all the felines because when you move something out of the place it’s been in for even a short while, everyone has to inspect the “new” area, and sit there for a while. I’ve also a continuation of bigger, time-consuming projects as Deb from Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation and I create a virtual Pet Memorial Sunday celebration with video and slideshow presentations. After this weekend, all of those larger projects, and setting up networking among the new group of computers, should be completed and I’ll be able to spend more time with what I love, painting, writing, creating new things, and sharing all of it with you.

From around this date in past years

Desk Set, 2019

When the boys put their heads together…they fall asleep. But they also make some graceful compositions in the process.

From Instagram

From late last week when I was still getting ready for my exhibit. Where has the time gone?!

Thursday night, late, “Can you just stop working? You are making us very tired with all your busyness.” Mewsette and Bella. We did have late nights all last week ending in me being gone nearly all day for two days…and very late dinners. Now, we can rest.

A meeting of the girls’ club in the basement, making sure I can’t get out the door. Bella, Mimi, Mewsette, Mariposa, Sienna is off to my right.

Laundry cats.

We’re havin’ a party!
It’s dark and the basement door is still open, it’s cool out there with lots of crickets and apparently the nocturnal voles and mice are very active just outside the door. It just makes them feel good. Bella, Mr. Sunshine, Jelly Bean, Basil, Giuseppe, Hamlet Mariposa. Mimi is just off the edge by the washer and Sienna is on the washer. .

Laundry supurrvisorcat apparently approves of my performance this morning.

Another basement catparty this morning. I love how they enjoy being with me. I just love sharing space with them.

All who would enter must be approved by Mimi.

Photos from years past

Daily Photo: Basil in the Basket, 2018

Basil loves baskets (as you’ll also see below), and especially the big yellow basket. Sometimes he just gets downright nuts in the basket, all by himself, without any help from me or other cats. But then a nice belly rub can settle him down. It’s difficult to get his face in focus when he’s feeling like this.

From Instagram

Front row seat. It’s Hamlet, being as small and flat as possible, getting in some birdwatching before breakfast.

I went outside with my garden basket to gather some basil and I got the real thing!

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

Wordless Wednesday: Squirrel!

What's he supposed to do when the squirrel is right out there? — What’s he supposed to do when the squirrel is right out there?

The Blob, 2017

I found The Blob had invaded my kitchen last night.

I went down to the kitchen after I’d been working in my studio last night and this was what I found when I turned on the light. A blob of four black cats. Conspiring purrhaps? It’s Mr. Sunshine, Jelly Bean and Mewsette using Bella for a pillow. Bella, the “kid sister”, was thrilled for her big fur sibs to use her for a pillow, and didn’t even turn to look up at me when I came in. Either that or they were guarding their cans of food. They stayed there as I got my glass of water, waiting for me to leave. I could tell.

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Today’s photos from Instagram and Facebook

Mimi and Mewsette, purrfect fit

Mimi and Mewsette, a purrfect fit. Who knew #littlemimicat‘s kittens would turn out so big? Today’s #laundrycats sharing the shade.

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

Bella’s Baking, 2015

Bella was very pleased I included her in my baking plans this morning. I set everything out to make lemon poppyseed muffins, including two lemons. She couldn’t believe her luck!

Let's push it this way. — Let’s push it this way.

Let’s see if I can make this thing run!

Let's push it that way. — Let’s push it that way.

How about over here?

It’s hiding from me!

I found it! Off the edge!

Back to the other yellow toy, she shoots and scores!

I'm going to hide it in here. — I’m going to hide it in here.

Good thing I needed to juice them anyway with all that bumping around! I don’t let them in the mix when I’m putting things together, but they always need to see what I’m doing and feel they’ve helped just a little bit.

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Today’s photos from Instagram and Facebook

Easy Sundays all around!

Mimi's easy Sunday. — Mimi’s easy Sunday.

Charm's easy Sunday. — Charm’s easy Sunday.

Jelly Bean and Giuseppe's easy Sunday. — Jelly Bean and Giuseppe’s easy Sunday.

Basil's easy Sunday. — Basil’s easy Sunday.

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

Feline Variations, 2012

There are never enough hours in the day, nor photos of black cats posing naturally for an impromptu photo shoot.

It began innocently enough with Giuseppe and Jelly Bean sitting side by side on the stool watching the wildlife on the sidewalk in front of the house, namely a mourning dove and a chipmunk.

Then Mewsette joined them. The stool is really not that big and it was quite the task for the stool to hold all three. Time was running short for me in the afternoon, and the card in my DSLR, which would have taken better photos, was full but I could not pass up the opportunity to catch the three of them in natural poses. I sat on the floor with Sunshine on my shoulders—literally—being the perfect foil for their attention.

However, most of the photos were a little blurry or contrasty since the little camera only sees black when I focus on more than one cat at a time. I’ve been looking at vintage photos and playing around with filters in Photoshop again, and wanted to try out a certain combined filters and techniques, so each photo has a different appearance. Please enjoy the slideshow.

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charcoal sketch of cat watching — “Bella Birdwatching” revised photo reproduction (more accurate), black and white charcoal on gray toned paper, 5.5″ x 8.5″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

So Bella is an avid birdwatcher. She spends long hours by the big north window watching the birds at the feeder. I spend long hours studying her profile while she does so. I decided to finally sketch her and thought of the toned paper with white and black charcoal, and I also added a bit of pale yellow green in her eye. 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.