These Guys Don't Think Outside the Box...

and you wonder at that title?






as a matter of fact... these guys don't think much at all!

Especially when there is a box lid near a source of heat!

Cats LOVE cardboard and paper bags! I think they were probably made for one another.

Here Sam and Max demonstrate just how laid-back our life here in the country really is! It's probably not a lot different from our in-town life- but, it's funny to me that they have made the transitions and just keep on doing what they've always done.

Companioning (is that a real word?) has become the norm for almost all our our cats. Yes! I even looked up and discovered that Kittly had allowed Black-kitty to pile up in the recliner with her one afternoon. Must be going to get cold! There really isn't a lot of places for the cats to perch- so, they have to share with us, too. I'm continually having to dump a cat from my lap to go and let another cat in or out.



This is what I come back to.... a cat stretched out so far and comfortable- that I'm unwilling to disturb her again. So, I go find somewhere else to perch!

Eureka! oh. Wait.. maybe not.

I'm up early cuz I had this ah-ha moment in regards to my understanding of the symbology of the Chi Rho page (in the Book of Kells) and rushed in here to the computer to see if I couldn't enlarge the images well enough to figure it out. Yesterday- I inhaled twelve detailed (scholarly articles) and probably understand less than when I began- so went to bed at midnight knowing I'm so out of my league that it'll be a miracle if I'm able to even identify Jesus in the portraits any more.

but... before I could get the computer up and running, I had to:

let two cats in,
one dog out,
figured I'd better try to entice Katrina-cat again with my special concoction (she's still not eating)
figured I'd not survive any of the above without coffee,
made the coffee (only interrupted twice!);
ran interference with Kittly-cat wanting Katrina's food-
Max-cat wanting his bowl replenished,
Sam-cat wanting to know what it was that Kittly and Katrina were yowering about,
Blackie and TabbyTom taking over the table (where Katrina's food WAS- now removed),
tripped over the circling sharks- I mean cats,
let Wrigley back in-
let Blackie out,
keeping Katrina in
referee a flare-up between Katrina and Tom.... geez.

WHY did I get up again?

Oh. Yeah. ART. Fughedaboutit.

after the rains....

there is a lovely FIERY sunset! It looked as if the whole horizon were on FIRE!

I couldn't help but bolt out the door, camera in hand, Wrigley trailing me (thinking there was something BAD wrong!) to see if I could capture it! There is really NO way to get it with just a hand-held digi-camera and no tripod. But- it was a site to behold! I had to try!

Today was a really hard one. But- it's OVER and this was my reward! Ahhhhhh.... hope you enjoy, too!

a country mile....

While it's not West Virginia nor anywhere near the Shenandoah... it is a small country road and it is the one I travel on to go home! I love the views...... and no... it's not a mile!

But it is.....

Peaceful.

At Peace.

I wish everyone in my life could be this way.

At least Kittly-cat is.... she and all the other felines are napping today all over the house. It's a good day for a nap.

Rest. Relax. Refresh.

Enjoy the day and the lyrics...

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue ridge mountains
Shenandoah river -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories gathered round her
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine
Teardrops in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice
In the mornin hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin down the road I get a feelin
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, now country roads
Take me home, now country roads

Words and music by bill danoff, taffy nivert and john denver

Ahhhhhh- ART!

WOW! I'm living a DREAM!

Taking art classes- living with, looking at, breathing in ART!

Colors have always held me transfixed- the way that they meld into one another and then transform into their pure forms and then transition into yet another color is mesmerizing!

BUT! Black & White always holds me spell-bound!

Now just WHY IS THAT? I don't know! I may never figure it out! For now- I'm just going to accept each view as it is; but, I can't help but "colorize" what is originally b&w and gray-scale whatever is in color! So... today- as I was going over the most recent drawing assignment and preparing it for submission- I got "smart" and thought... hey? Why not scan it in and play with it in photo-shop before I apply any more ink to the original? Hey! THIS IS FUN!

Okay. okay. My favorite "transformation" was when I stained-glass it after having applied a few other coloring filters- but, I can't turn THAT in for this particular assignment! Well... when I've got "free-time" on my hands I'll have to committ it to paper, too! This big exam on identification of prehistoric art pieces is looming and I must concentrate and get my formal analysis (a portion of which will be included in my research paper) completed for next week. THAT- and get some Ferncliff artwork created and loaded at CafePress because Ferncliff is only FIVE weeks away, GASP!

PANIC!

HYPERVENTILATE!

BREATHE!

OH! Just glancing around the studio here and gazing on this piece calms me! You know WHY???? I think it's because applying all these teeny weeny little bitty lines is so PEACEFUL! Who KNEW???

Happy Friday! I'm off to tidy up the house, drive into Arkadilly and cut some matboard and take Mae for a pedicure! Then... maybe, we'll head off over the mountain to Hot Springs to see drawing instructor's debut exhibit at the Blue Moon Gallery. The link above is her mentor's, Audrey Flack, site! I'll post Debi's after I've seen the show!

The Homecoming Queen!

Yes... it is Homecoming Week for many places.... and we are celebrating at Saginaw as well!

Kittly came home this morning! After two weeks of independence- she's decided to call US "home"!

Kittly our most reclusive and exclusive (as well as our eldest cat-aged 15+) is home!

What a RELIEF!

Happy Homecoming to the Queen of the Kitchen Counter!

On the way to school...

...this morning! I saw these beautiful horses and could not resist stopping!

The drives into town and then back to the farm are so peaceful! Even better- I'm driving with the sun!

Wrigley seems to enjoy the drives, too. At first he had to sit up the entire way... now- he just sort of knows the drive and lots of times I'll catch him napping back there!

We've seen other interesting views in our new neighborhood- so, I'm trying to remember to carry my camera every time I leave now. Old barns are first on my list to drive around and photograph... I've alerted Kim! I wish Mimi were still alive to share them all with- she loved them, too. Within sight from my side windows is a large red barn and the most well-fed black angus cattle with a few white-faced Hereford.

Yesterday's "cat news" - a gaggle of the next-door Guineas spied a relaxing Tabby-Tom and gave chase! The look of shock and horror on his face was worth a hoot of exclamation from Byron who witnessed the quick "escape" of his Tomness around Clinton's house and away from those awful things! We'd been concerned that the cats might make a dinner out of a guinea; but, apparently- they thought otherwise! I just wish B had had the camera!

Crazy Cat-lady signing off!