June 30, 2009

Cat Lady No. 179...Garden Safety

Cat Lady Rachel and Garden Cat Breezy spend a lot of time in the garden, especially this time of year. So Rachel has been researching plants that are toxic to cats and makes sure that they are not in her yard or in her home.

The ASPCA website has a very useful list of plants that don't mix with cats, many with photos to help with identification. There are also descriptions and symptoms, plus a 24-hour hotline: Plants That Are Toxic To Cats

Happy (and safe) Gardening!




This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:

Garden Cat No. 5 ACEO Art

June 29, 2009

Cat Lady No. 178...Helping Cats and Their People

Calico Crazy Cat Lady Dee-Dee is enjoying a group hug with new Cat Mom Beatrice and her three precious kittens, all rescued from a local cat rescue facility.. (Don't delay, neuter or spay!)

Dee-Dee and Beatrice are grateful for all of the loving volunteers who keep cat rescue groups and services going. One such volunteer is Cat Lady Marilyn of ACAT. She reports:

"I work with a foster-based no-kill rescue group here in Albuquerque, NM. I started out as an adoption center volunteer and have moved up to foster coordinator and now operations. We are called Albuquerque Cat Action Team and take in rescued cats and owner surrenders to find them new homes for whatever reasons.

"I also foster kittens and have added to my brood and am now up to 9 in my family. Luckily my adult cats have been accepting of the newcomers and take them under their wings when needed.

"I answer the voice mail messages and email messages about cats needing to be rescued or re-homed and try to help as many as we can. It might not change the whole world but for one cat it will change their world for the better. This is all I do day in and day out since I am retired and find joy in helping the needy cats in the Albuquerque area. Our motto is “Helping Cats and Their People” and we have been around for 9 years now and have adopted out about 300 cats every year and have earned a good reputation in the Albuquerque area."

Thanks Marilyn!

June 28, 2009

Cat Lady No. 177...Everyday Green

Cat Lady Leticia believes that every day is Earth Day and has made some major changes in her lifestyle, as well as some changes in Mister Mambo's lifestyle too.

Leticia recently switched to plant-based cat litter in recyclable containers, and she uses biodegradable cat box liners. To find out why, check out reasons #3 and #5 in this great article by Catster's Karen Nichols:

Thanks for visiting and remember to reduce, re-use, and recycle!



This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Cat Lady ACEO Art

June 27, 2009

Cat Lady No. 176...The Queen of Composting


Cat Lady Colbie loves flower arranging and grows her own flowers with the help of Garden Cat Hector. Colbie attributes the vigor and beauty of her gorgeous blossoms to composting.

Not only does composting reduce the amount of food and yard waste that might otherwise go into the trash bin or down the garbage disposal, it reduces the need for expensive chemical and commercial fertilizers.

An excellent website that Colbie recommends to help you get started is Composting 101

Your plants with thank you. And Hector will thank you too. He's particularly fo
nd of this planet and its posies.

Thanks for visiting!


Compost in style in this handy Garden Goddess apron, available at my Cafepress shop: Garden Cat No. 4 Apron


June 26, 2009

Cat Lady No. 175...Down On The Farm

If you were to ask Tyrone the Tabby this question: "Were you born in a barn?"...he would proudly answer "Meroww!

(Translation: "Yes I was, ain't it grand!")

He takes great pride in helping Country Gal Cat Lady Judy grow a number of different crops on her organic farm.

Here are 10 good reasons to grow, buy and eat organic, according to the Organic Trade Association:

  1. Organic products meet stringent standards
  2. Organic food tastes great!
  3. Organic production reduces health risks
  4. Organic farms respect our water resources
  5. Organic farmers build healthy soil
  6. Organic farmers work in harmony with nature
  7. Organic producers are leaders in innovative research
  8. Organic producers strive to preserve diversity
  9. Organic farming helps keep rural communities healthy
  10. Organic abundance – an ever-growing selection to choose from, foods and non-foods alike!
Happy gardening and thanks for visiting!

This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:

June 25, 2009

Cat Lady No. 174...Poetry Under the Sea



Today's poetry reading is brought to you by Cat Lady Mermaid Loreena and her cat fish kittens Tilda and Tryon.

Loreena's favorite poem is "The Mermaid" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, which she will now recite:




Who would be
A mermaid fair,
Singing alone,
Combing her hair
Under the sea,
In a golden curl
With a comb of pearl,
On a throne?

If you would like to read the entire poem, and learn more about Tennyson, visit this link: Tennyson's The Mermaid

Thanks for visiting!

This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Mermaid No. 8

June 24, 2009

Cat Lady No. 173... A Giveaway for June

Cat Lady June was quite excited to find out about the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for June until she actually read the post and realized that the Giveaway was open to all Cat Ladies and Lads, not just people named June...

June also realized that there are only 6 days left to enter, and all she needs to do is leave a comment about a dream vacation for herself or her ginger cat Rigoletto at the end of the post:

June is the adventurous type and thinks it would be fun to close her eyes and spin a globe and point her finger at a random place and then go there. She enjoyed reading all of the creative and funny entries by various feline fanatics and even a few cats!


The winner will be selected at random and will receive this extra-large canvas bag, which has oodles of room to carry home all of your vacation souvenirs and treasures.

Thanks for visiting!


The purr-fect VacationTote...My 100% cotton canvas tote bags have plenty of room to carry everything you need when you are on the go. They include a bottom gusset and extra long handles for easy carrying. Dozens of Cat Lady designs are available at:

June 23, 2009

Cat Lady No.172...Salsa!

Garden Enthusiast Lupe enjoys growing prize roses with the help of Garden Cat Sarafina. But this year she is trying something new: growing a Salsa Garden.

Inspired by the White House's new garden, Lupe has torn out the grass in her little back yard and is planting tomatoes, chile peppers, bell peppers, cilantro, tomatillos and onions--all of the ingredients necessary for her favorite salsas.

If you live in a warm climate and would like to grow your own salsa garden, here is a website full of great garden tips and recipes: www.SalsaGarden.com

Enjoy! Oh, and don't forget to plant a little catnip on the side while you're at it...

The original artwork for "Garden Cat No. 2" is for sale and has just been listed today in my Etsy online shop: Garden Cat ACEO

This brand new design can also be found on a variety of gifts and apparel for your favorite Garden Goddess, including garden totes, journals and aprons, at my Cafepress online gift shop:
Garden Cat Gifts and T-Shirts


This Garden Cat journal is just the purr-fect thing for collecting all of your favorite salsa recipes!


June 22, 2009

Cat Lady No. 171...Can You Say "Cat Lady" In Portuguese?

Cat Lady Mariana reports that Brazilians "love cats too, but not as much as in the USA. People here usually prefer dogs".

So that is why Mariana and her catty co-editors Bigode, Penetrinha, and Barbarella are authors of a blog devoted entirely to everything feline. It is written in their native language, Portuguese, and is called Reino d'almofado, or "Kingdom of the Cushions" (It's no secret as to who rules the kingdom by the look of the profile picture)...

In Brazil, gatos drink their beverages in a slightly more sophisticated manner than their Norte-Americano friends, as demonstrated by Barbarella in this video: Barbarella bebendo agua

If you would like to read more of this charming and funny blog, but need to brush up on your Portuguese, there are several good translators available on line, such as Babel Fish.

Thanks for visiting!

June 21, 2009

Cat Lad No. 170...Happy Dads Day

Meet Bill Hunt-- our Cat Lad Dad of the Year, nominated by his Cat Lady Sweetheart Sarah.
As Sarah recalls: "When he first brought kittens Kirby and Lucy home, they were about 5 weeks old and very
small. He had them in his sweatshirt like a sling - you know, when you pull the bottom up to cradle something to hold it, and they were peeking over the sides."

Sarah already had a cat, Winfield, whose favorite game was "Knock-the-glasses-off-the-Cat-Dad's-face". (The burning popcorn in the background is another whole story...)

Many years later, the cat family has grown considerably, and Kirby and Lucy just celebrated their 17th birthdays!! Here is the official birthday portrait: Kirby and Lucy at 17

So here's to all the Feline Fellas and Cat Lad Dads out there! Hope your Dads Day is purrfect!


In addition to being a feline fella extraordinaire, Bill Hunt is the co-creator and editor of the highly popular website The Digital Bits and is co-author of The Digital Bits: Insider's Guide to DVD. Check them out!

June 20, 2009

Cat Lady No. 169...Midsummer's Eve Frog Dancing

Cat Lady Sigrid and Feline Friend Petronella are sleeping late this morning after a night of revelry that involved hopping around a maypole, singing Små Grodorna, and doing the Swedish Frog Dance.

It was all a part of last night's Midsummer's Eve celebrations, with festivities continuing throughout the weekend. Here are the lyrics to Små Grodorna, to be sung at the top of one's lungs while cavorting around the maypole:


Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.

English translation:

The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to observe.
The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to observe.
No ears, no ears no tails do they possess.
No ears, no ears no tails do they possess.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
And here’s a vocabulary list for your Midsommar meal:

Potatis – potatoes
Inlagd sill – pickled herring
Gräddfil – sour cream
Dill – dill
Jordgubbar – strawberries
And of course snaps.

Hope your Summer Solstice celebration is just purrfect!

This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Nature Lovers No. 4

June 19, 2009

Cat Lady No. 168..It's June Giveaway Time!

Summer fun is just around the corner and it's time to start thinking about the purrfect getaway.

Cat Lady Noreen's vacation dream is to save her p
ennies and visit Venice one day. Feline Friend Spatter would like to tour the kitchens of Fishermans' Wharf , while Timmy the Turtle dreams of visiting the Galapagos Islands.

Do you or your cat have a dream vacation in mind?

Tell us in the comments section of this post and you will be entered into a drawing to win the Nature Lover Cat Lady tote bag pictured below!


This extra-large canvas bag has oodles of room to carry home all of your vacation souvenirs and treasures.

Contest ends the evening of June 30 and winner will be selected at random.

Happy trails to you!



Noreen and her friends, also known as "Nature Lovers No. 6", is available on giftware and t-shirts at my CafePress Shop:
www.cafepress.com/SusanFaye


June 18, 2009

Cat Lady No. 167...Spread Your Wings

Illustration Friday
(theme:"unfold" )


Cat Lady Dorelle and Nature Lover Jericho think there is nothing more magical than a butterfly unfolding its wings for the very first time...

The Children's Butterfly Site puts it this way: "Despite their small size, butterflies and moths are some of the World's most wondrous animals. Their beauty, seemingly miraculous metamorphosis, and apparently carefree flight all spark our imaginations."

Nature Children of all ages can find fascinating and useful information at their website! Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Lepidoptera: Butterfly FAQs

Thanks for visiting! And by the way, here is the link to my OTHER entry for Illustration Friday which I could not get to upload for the life of me: Unfold

The original ACEO watercolor illustration of Dorelle and Jericho is currently up for sale in my Etsy shop: Nature Lovers No. 5

"Nature Lovers No. 5" is also available on giftware and t-shirts at my CafePress Shop:
www.cafepress.com/SusanFaye



June 17, 2009

Cat Lady No. 166...The Chosen One

As Cat Lady Mary Beth and Gaby prepare for today's birthday festivities, Cat Lady Sister Paula takes a stroll down memory lane:

"My sister Mary Beth and her cat Gaby are two of a kind. ...How is such a perfect match made? By the cat, of course.

"Many years ago -- Gaby has forbidden me from saying just how many -- one of Mary Beth's coworkers , Joan, brought in a box of kittens. Joan invited all of her coworkers to come fawn over the kittens in the lobby. Ahhh, coworkers... they buy our kids' candy, sign up for our Pampered Chef parties, and adopt the kittens of our wayward teenage mother cats.

"Mary Beth and I grew up with cats, and she often entertained the thought of adopting one of her own. She was sure, though, that she didn't have the time to raise a young cat. As a dutiful coworker, she was willing to play with and cuddle the kitties, but soon returned to her desk without committing to taking one home.

"After a few minutes, Mary Beth was once again deeply focused on her work. Well, she tried to focus. A little ball of black and white cattitude had other plans. Mary Beth looked down to find one of the kittens playing with the the cuff of her pants... one of the kittens she had just put back in its box. Mary Beth's desk was 20 feet or so from the lobby where the kittens were on display. This little ball of fuzzy determination toddled down the hall passing by several other offices to find her future mom.

"Mary Beth realized that she had been chosen -- no small thing in the cat world. She couldn't deny that it was finally time to adopt a cat. I mean, the cat said so!

"Now Mary Beth and Gaby share a lovely house in rural Pennsylvania. They have their routines and special rites, like all cat families. Gaby often drives Mary Beth crazy, though I'm sure that was all part of her grand design, right from the start."

Happy Birthday Mary Beth!
Hope your day is just PURRfect!


A special thank you to Cat Lady Karen Nichols for the fun interview on her wonderful Catster blog:
The Cat's Meow

June 16, 2009

Cat Lady No. 165...When Do We Blow Out The Candles?

It's a special day for Cat Lady Patricia. The twins, Sassy and Tails, and big guy Midnight can't wait for the festivities to begin.

But first, Patricia's daughter Stacie would like to share some tidbits about this handsome feline family:


"We found all three cats as strays, Midnight about 10 years ago and the two new ones I found on the side of the road this year.

"They're all indoor cats, so they love pestering us in any way possible...whenever we cook, all three are patiently waiting for their share...Sassy and Tails play fetch and are still at the stage that if they're not playing with each other, they're sleeping.

"Midnight, the big guy, is a very loving and affectionate cat, following us around where ever we go. My mom loves to garden and they all watch her from the window..We let Midnight out every now and then, and he sits by my mom as she gardens.

"In all they're all really good friends and love just being around all of us."


Okay, it's time now...everybody ready? Quiet now, here she comes....

SURPRISE!!!!!!
Happy Birthday Patricia! Hope your day is just PURRfect!



A special thank you to Cat Lady Karen Nichols for the fun interview on her wonderful blog today: The Cat's Meow


June 15, 2009

Cat Lady No. 164...Perennial Favorites

Cat Lady Tamara has earned Garden Goddess status with the help of Winifred, who has a discerning eye for prize-winning perennials.

Some of Winifred's purrsonal favorites are: Foxgloves, Butterfly Bush, and Black-Eyed Susans.


For answers about perennials, Tamara often turns to Backyard Gardener, a website with tons of useful information and links about every aspect of gardening.


To find out more about perennials visit this link: All About Perennials

Thanks for visiting!



This brand new design can be found on a variety of gifts and apparel for your favorite Garden Goddess, including garden totes, journals and aprons, at my Cafepress online gift shop:
Garden Cat 01














The original artwork is also available for sale at my Etsy online shop: Garden Cat ACEO

June 14, 2009

Cat Lady No. 163...School's Out!

The grades are turned in, the desk is cleaned out and it's time to hit the road!

A well-deserved vacation at the coast awaits Cat Lady Coretta but teacher's pet Bernie must stay behind--all of that sand and water gives him a headache.

So how to find a reliable and loving pet sitter? Luckily Coretta found a very useful article on The Cat's Meow blog which includes all of the important questions to ask a potential cat sitter. Read the whole article here: How to Select a Cat Sitter

Thanks for visiting!

"Teacher's Pet" is a brand new series of original ACEO art cards that I am working on. This is No. 1 in the series. Add it to your ACEO collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Teacher's Pet No. 1


June 13, 2009

Cat Lady No. 162...Shopping For Dad

Karina is an avid nature lover thanks to her father, who led nature hikes every Sunday afternoon during Karina's childhood.

Feline Friend Tuxie Lula is also an avid nature lover. She never met her own father but imagines that he was a wild and handsome black cougar who also enjoyed nature hikes.

With Father's Day just a week away Lula and Karina will spend the afternoon picking out a gift for Karina's dad at the Nature Conservancy website.

Whether it's adopting an acre of rainforest, planting trees in Brazil, or giving carbon offsets, Karina's dad will be delighted to receive a gift that keeps on giving to the planet.

Thanks for visiting!

June 12, 2009

Cat Lady No. 161...A Different Kind of Green

Cat Lady Raylene and Feline Friend Armani are saying goodbye to the front lawn this weekend.

Inspired by articles such as the recent one on the Nature Concervancy's conservation blog Cool Green Science, Raylene is going to replace that green stuff with more earth-friendly landscaping that won't require toxic sprays, chemical fertilizers, excessive water, or gas-powered lawnmowers. Raylene is choosing native and drought-tolerant plants with attractive mulch to keep down the need for watering.

Oh, and a few catnip plants too, at Armani's insistence...

To find out more, click here: How "Green" Is Your Lawn?

June 11, 2009

Cat Lady No. 160...Story Time













Once upon a time
there was a Cat Lady named Kathy. A school librarian and avid reader, Kathy enjoyed time with her favorite books, her beautiful granddaughters Lily and Violet, and two fabulous felines.

Then one fateful day, she decided to adopt a third kitty and leave it at that.

As fate would have it, and unbeknownst to Kathy, the new adoptee "was with kitten", and soon there were an additional three new arrivals.

Bonding ensued and the math was elementary: 1 loving cat lady + 2 cats +1 kitty mama + 3 adorable kittens = Kathy's Purrsonal Book Club. Members Gracie, Charlie, Coconut, "Big" Ernie, Lavern and Shirley are enjoying today's selection, a gripping whodunnit murder mystery.

And they all lived happily ever after. The end.

Thanks for visiting!

June 10, 2009

Cat Lady No. 159...Poetry Reading of the Week

Cat Lady Maria and Best Friend Conchita like nothing better than a traditional afternoon siesta, so it should be no surprise that this is one of their favorite poems:

Cat's Dream
by Pablo Neruda, Translated by Alastair Reid


How neatly a cat sleeps,
sleeps with its paws and its posture,
sleeps with its wicked claws,
and with its unfeeling blood,
sleeps with all the rings--
a series of burnt circles--
which have formed the odd geology
of its sand-colored tail.

I should like to sleep like a cat,
with all the fur of time,
with a tongue rough as flint,
with the dry sex of fire;
and after speaking to no one,
stretch myself over the world,
over roofs and landscapes,
with a passionate desire
to hunt the rats in my dreams.

I have seen how the cat asleep
would undulate, how the night
flowed through it like dark water;
and at times, it was going to fall
or possibly plunge into
the bare deserted snowdrifts.
Sometimes it grew so much in sleep
like a tiger's great-grandfather,
and would leap in the darkness over
rooftops, clouds and volcanoes.

Sleep, sleep cat of the night,
with episcopal ceremony
and your stone-carved moustache.
Take care of all our dreams;
control the obscurity
of our slumbering prowess
with your relentless heart
and the great ruff of your tail.

Thanks for visiting!

June 9, 2009

Cat Lady No. 158...Gemini Tales

Cat Lady and Astronomer Fiona has her hands full of Calicos: Cat Mom Callie and her darling twins!

It just so happens that Fiona is a twin too--she and her sister were born under the sign of Gemini . In honor of Callie's twins, tonight's bedtime story will be about those famous twins Castor and Polydeuces, whose stars shine brightly in the night sky.

Here is their story:
Gemini Tales


Thanks for visiting!




Purrfect for jotting down your own mythology:
This
Wire-O bound, 160 page blank book has your choice of papers and measures 5" x 8", a handy on-the-go size to fit in your backpack.

  • Back cover made of thin black flexible textured plastic, measures 16/1000" thick
  • Front cover made of 12pt glossy paper, laminated for durability
  • Filled with your choice of 60lb bookweight (24 lb bond) paper -- blank, dot grid, lined college-ruled, or a task journal.
I have dozens of journal designs to choose from at
Susan Faye Blank Books

June 8, 2009

Cat Lady No. 157...Bliss In A Box

Cat Lady Chandra is a Mathematics Professor and when she adopted Krayola Kitty she discovered a brand new equation:

Cat + Box= Blissful Contentment

Whenever she needs a smile, she visits one of a plethora of websites devoted to Cat Bliss In A Box. Here are a few samples:

http://catinabox.com/

http://www.catsinboxes.com/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/catsinboxes/

http://catinabox.org/blog/

Thanks for visiting!

June 7, 2009

Cat Lady No. 156...Tropical Birthday Wishes

Cat Lady Lucinda and feline friend Tig are ready to blow out the candles on Tig's birthday cake. This terrific tabby shares her birthday with painter Paul Gauguin, which may explain her passion for exotic tropical fish and post-impressionist artwork.

Tig's favorite painting by Gauguin is Mimi And Her Cat, a little study painted with
gouache on cardboard in 1890.

As for her birthday wish, Tig is hoping for a 50 gallon salt-water aquarium, but may have to settle for a 3-pack of brightly colored catnip mice.

Thanks for visiting!


Ready to celebrate? Whether it's a birthday, holiday or other special occasion, you'll find Cat Lady cards, invitations, party favors, hostess aprons and more at my Cafepress shop:
Party Animals


June 6, 2009

Cat Lady No. 155...A Day to Draw

Cat Lady Drianna is an aspiring artist and can't wait to participate in Drawing Day 2009.

Drawing Day is a worldwide drawing event encouraging everyone to drop everything and draw for the sake of art. Help us create 1 million drawings online this day.

There are dozens of ways to participate and share your art with the world today: How to Participate

Drianna plans to share her latest drawing of Dexter, her favorite subject. Dexter is pleased.

Enjoy a day of creative self-expression!

June 5, 2009

Cat Lady No. 154...Craving Doughnuts


Illustration Friday
(theme:
"craving" )






It's time for tea...and Cat Lady Phoebe and the triplets are craving doughnuts!





Today is Salvation Army Doughnut Day.

Observed on the first Friday and Saturday of June, Doughnut Day was established in 1938 to honor the work of Salvation Army volunteers who prepared doughnuts for thousands of soldiers in World War I.

Here is the original recipe for enough doughnuts to feed an army, reprinted from the Salvation Army website:


Salvation Army Doughboy Doughnut
    7-1/2 cups sugar
    3/4 cup lard
    8 eggs
    3 large cans evaporated milk
    3 large cans water
    18 cups flour
    18 teaspoons baking powder
    7-1/2 teaspoons salt
    8 teaspoons nutmeg

Cream sugar and lard together, beat eggs, add evaporated milk and water. Add liquid to creamed mixture. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in large sieve and sift into other mixture. Add enough flour to make e stiff dough. Roll and cut. Five pounds of lard are required to fry the doughnuts. Yield: approximately 250 doughnuts

Happy dunking!


The purrfect mug for dunking doughnuts!

This ceramic mug features Susan Faye art and a large, easy-grip handle. Treat yourself or give as a gift to someone special.
  • Measures 3.75" tall, 3" diameter
  • Dishwasher and microwave safe
You will find dozens of Cat Lady mugs available at my Cafepress shop: Susan Faye Mugs