Sunday, January 31, 2010

Medieval Cats




As you look at your spoilt feline sleeping in the sun, think about the poor cats living in Medieval times. Life was not so good for our little purring friends then. The church, to deflect criticism from it's many faults and failings, needed a scapegoat, and witchcraft proved just the thing. Due to the cats perceived powers of black magic, a frenzy of blame was heeped on it's furry shoulders. According the the majority, any misfortune was brought about by the evil cat, and it's accomplice, the witch. One misfortune was the Bubonic Plague. Tens of thousand of cats were put to death in superstitious revenge. The irony being the plague was carried by fleas and ticks on rats, the very thing cats so often killed. By destroying the cat population, the disease was actually encouraged to spread. 
                                                                                                                                                                         

Fortunately, not everyone felt threatened by cats, millers (for obvious reasons), and sailors encouraged cats to stay close by. In England, an official ship's cat was considered good luck, and if a cat jumped ship bad news was coming. An official cat also resided at Exeter Cathedral in England. Today, the specially cut cat door can still be seen there. You can visit Exeter Cathedral's site by clicking HERE
                                                                                                                                

There's an interesting article about medieval cats at the Gode Cookery site. That's a great site in general if you're intrigued by the medieval era. It's also where I lifted a couple of the pictures included in this entry.
                                                                                                
                                                                                 

Friday, January 29, 2010

National Puzzle Day


The squirrels need to move over, since January twenty-ninth is National Puzzle Day. I bet you didn't even know there WAS a National Puzzle Day! Neither did I, until I read something about it in an email I received. It's not an official national day, that would require an act of Congress, and they're much too busy doing Lord knows what to complicate our lives.  Regardless of that, puzzles are great fun, and help keep our minds active, so we're less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as we age. To celebrate the day; do a crossword, tackle a sudoku, visit the Logic Puzzle Museum, dig out your old Rubik Cube, or do a jigsaw. Here's a LINK  to a pet jigsaw to keep you busy on this special day. If that's not enough, go to a website called Passion For Puzzles for all kinds of puzzle fun and information.
                                                                                    
                                                                     
Speaking of puzzles and websites, I starting designing my own website using Google last night. Talk about a puzzlement! Help!                                  

    

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Great Pet Pictures





Sherman the Pug

I recently found the website and blog of a wonderful pet photography studio named Shine Pet Photos.  Though it's a shame they're in Los Angeles, and I'm way over on the opposite coast, they ARE a tiny bit too expensive for me anyway. Being poor takes all the fun out of everything. So, instead of subjecting my cat Madison to hours of picture taking, I'll show off some other peoples' pet photos instead. I hope they don't mind!    



Mountain Jack the Maltese.



Grey Bear



Nico the Boston Terrier

All these photos are excellent and make mine look amateurish and awful. If you want to visit Shine Pet's blog click HERE.                                              
                        

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Good-Bye Travis

                     
               



I heard the sad news my friend Travis past away last night. He was a wonderful boy who will be greatly missed. There wasn't a person, or animal, Travis didn't love with all his heart. I remember how happy he was to go for a ride in the car at a moment's notice. All summer, while I went yard saling with his mom, Travis would quietly sit in the back, glad to be taken along for the trip. He was so quiet, sometimes we'd forget he was there. When we stopped for a bite to eat, he would wait patiently for his special snack saved from the restaurant. He lived to be sixteen years old, a remarkably long time for a Golden Retriever. It just won't be the same without him. 
                                                                     


                                       
                                   

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Hand Painting






This amazing hand painting was done by the Italian artist Guido Daniele. It was created for an advertising agency, and was the first hand painting Mr. Daniele ever fashioned. The cheetah looks so real! 





The paintings take him an average of three to four hours to complete.
                                                                           


                                                                                                                                                                                                         
This eagle took an amazing ten hours to finish! It's very beautiful. Mr. Daniele says the hardest part of hand painting is watching it go down the sink drain after the photos are taken. I can understand that.





I've included one more just because it's a cat. Click HERE to visit the Reader's Digest article about the artist.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Catster





My cat Madison is now an official member of Catster. Catster is dedicated to providing a friendly place for cat people to congregate and discuss their felines, learn about their care, show off pictures, adopt a cat, and meet other cat people just as obsessed as themselves. There are many, many, forums about all kinds of subject matter including; breed identification, health, funny stories, etc. Each cat can have his or her own page. Madison's page includes pictures and his personal diary. Though much of this is very silly, it's also a lot of fun. Some of the members go all out with special backgrounds and even music. To take a look at Catster click HERE.
                                                                            


Madison wants to know what you think of his new mustache. I think he looks very dashing! Don't you? He would also like you to take a look at his Catster page. Click right HERE to do so.
                                       

Friday, January 22, 2010

Sixties Madison





I'm having a flashback to the sixties! My kitty Madison looks cool multicolored.

 

Thursday, January 21, 2010

National Squirrel Appreciation Day






I understand today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day. It's that time of year to thank those dapper, furry, entertaining, annoying, and opinionated liitle souls who wreak our bird feeders and drive us crazy. Let's take a moment to consider their many talents, and truly show our gratitude for all they do so well.
                                                                          



                                                                    
They're excellent parents, and firmly believe in the importance of education.
                                                          


            


They teach their children to bravely fight for what they believe in!     
                                                                              

                                                                            

There can be a few bad apples in the bunch.
                                                                                


                                                                                

However, when the going gets rough, squirrels do indeed reveal themselves to be the super heroes of all infuriating small rodents.


     
                                                                                           

So the next time you see a squirrel eating all the bird seed, tell him to have a cold wet one on us!
                                                   
                                                                                                                                                            

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Portrait Artist






I recently found the website of a wonderful artist named Darla Dixon. She's a pencil portrait artist who specializes in people and pets. As the portraits are all done from photographs, there is no need for the client to sit for the picture. I used to draw myself, but I got away from it. Maybe I should get some pencils and draw again. If you would like to visit Ms. Dixon's website click HERE.





Baxter is a very handsome Sheltie.





This little blonde girl is one of her human subjects.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Stuff My Dog Chewed






I just found a hilarious blog called Stuff My Dog Chewed. Anyone who has had a dog can seriously relate to this blog. When I was a girl, we had a Labrador puppy who chewed and SWALLOWED a pair of  my mother's stockings. Fortunately, by some miracle, they went right through his digestive track. He did need a little help though to complete the "process." I can still see my mother in the yard with a shovel holding down part of the stockings while saying, "Go Baron! Go!" Baron ran forward, and the problem was taken care of!





Yes! This must definitely be the reincarnation of Baron!





These might as well be a pair of my glasses!  To visit the blog go HERE.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Nash and Keela






How's this for a handsome guy! His name is Nash, and he's a brand new fur client of mine. He's the still small runt of his litter, who makes up for his size with a sweet and gentle disposition. Entering and leaving his home is a challenge though, since he wants to visit the elderly Labrador across the street. Nash also has a certain delicate frame of mind in matters of the bathroom. He goes in the yard's corner for optimum privacy. At least he POOPS, which is more than I can say for SOMEONE I know!






Nash has a sister by the name of Keela. She's an Airedale nicknamed Mrs. Fonzy Bear, and with one glance at her face, you can understand why. She looks just like him. Keela loves to bark at any small noise she hears. She finds these noises a big distraction when she's supposed to be POOPING. Pooping is an issue with Keela. Being a spoilt little girl, she's used to going out many, many, times during the day. Unfortunately, this does not happen when the house is empty of humans, and a sitter comes at night to let her out. Though I stay for almost two hours, she still does not POOP. Also, horrors of horrors, it rained last night! You can't expect a girl to POOP in the rain, now can you? The outrage of it all!


Sunday, January 17, 2010

Reading Glasses





This cute little Pomeranian is looking at a picture of my welcome gadget. I knew a great Pomeranian once named Adonis. He was black and white, instead of orange, and loved everybody. I can understand this guy's need for glasses. About two years ago, I found myself squinting at the newspaper. Now I have a collection of reading glasses in all different colors. There's a pair in my purse, one by my computer, a pair in my bedroom, the living room, the kitchen, and who knows how many I've left at clients' homes. I also have a talent for breaking them. It's a very sad case!


Saturday, January 16, 2010

Dog Collar Museum






On the subject of oddities, one of the most unusual museums in the world is the Dog Collar Museum of Leeds Castle in England. The original collection belonged to an Irish medieval collector named John Hurt and his wife Gertrude. The collars were donated to Leeds Castle in 1979, and their numbers have since been added upon. There are currently over one hundred collars on display. They represent 500 years of dog history, comprising everything from 15th century spiked nightmares, to modern indulgences for pampered pooches. If you want to learn more, click HERE.


Thursday, January 14, 2010

National Dress Up Your Pet Day






In case you haven't heard, today is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. Pets everywhere are being forced to wear dresses, boots, and funny wigs to amuse their families and have their pictures taken. It's a testament to their patience and love that they tolerate our ridiculous nonsense and don't leave us in a huff.





To see more photos of garbed, and otherwise festooned dogs, go to http://www.stuffonmymutt.com/.





Not to leave cats out, the equally crazed http://www.stuffonmycat.com/ will show felines dressed at the whims of their people.




Who needs dignity anyway?!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I Decide to be Ornery






I met with a potential client yesterday. I was number six on her list of ten or so interviewees being seen during the week. After talking about caring for her pet, and learning the routine, she told me I was really nice, but another pet sitter was cheaper. I think from now on, I'll start being ornery, but cheap. She did tell me later, the other sitter was overweight, and feared the woman might fall on the icy sidewalks and sue. The sitter also expressed an unwillingness to visit during a storm. Ah! What to do? What to do? She IS cheaper than me! I must work on being ornery.


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Jo and Charlie






This is Jo and Charlie, a pair of Toy Poodles I care for sometimes in Providence. Though they look a good deal alike, their personalities are quite different. Charlie is full steam ahead, tugging on his leash and leaping excitedly in the snow. He comes in quickly when called from the yard. Jo walks politely, but takes her time about returning to the house. There's always something important to check out in the corners of the yard.





Here's Jo, looking a little blurry. It's hard to get them to hold still long enough to get a good picture! I first started sitting Jo when she was a tiny puppy. She was such a cute little mite, people would stop their cars to look at her.





Charlie looks like he's telling me off about something!

 

Monday, January 11, 2010

A Cube!






I made a cube! It doesn't take much to make me happy. :)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Menagerie






Ben, as you can see, is mostly Labrador. The not mostly part must be Malamute though, as his large and elegant tail curls over his back as he dillydallyies in the yard ignoring the cold. In the summer, it's a challenge getting Ben to hop down the stairs to the yard, in the winter the opposite is true. Ben does not want to come in! He stands and listens, sniffs the gound, and stands some more. Sometimes, he chases his sister Buddy all around the bushes and trees looking for an excuse not to return to his nice home.





This is Ben's sister Buddy. Buddy is a Whippet mix who hates fireworks, but loves to eat Ben's food. Though their food is exactly the same, Buddy thinks Ben's is magically better. Ben, the tough guy, allows this to happen. Ben is just an old softy at heart.





I love a home with many pets. One of the funniest is a tabby named Tobias. Tobias asks for attention one minute, and takes a swipe at you the next. He also likes to drag articles of clothing out, and leave them all over the floor. You never have to go far to find your old socks with Tobias around. They're usually in the kitchen for all the plumbers and electricians of the world to see.





These are the twins. That's Emma on the left, and Aretha on the right. They can be told apart as Aretha has a somewhat larger white locket on her chest. They're sweet little cats who live in terror of Pedra the Menacing.


      


Here is blurry picture of Pedra the Menacing. She spends most of her time sleeping in her cube, or under the bed. I don't see the menace myself, but I guess you have to be a cat to understand. When Pedra enters the twins' space, they cry and carry on as if attacked by wild monkeys.




This is not Natural B the fish. Natural B lives in a little bowl and I couldn't get a good picture of him. He's a great guy though, and gets three pellets of Betta food twice a day. Normally very greedy about food, this time he didn't show much interest in his round little food bits. Maybe the coolness of his winter home made him sluggish.