Calling All Cat Ladies and Friends!

The Food Lady has added some fantastic prizes to her raffle, including more Laurel Burch bags AND a fetching pair of cat-eye glasses (in pink, of course!). Today is the last day to enter by making a donation to the 2010 Susan G. Komen San Francisco Bay Area 3-Day for the Cure, as Karen participates in a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. Net proceeds from the walk are invested in breast cancer research and community programs. Karen's goal: To raise $3000 for the Cure!

One of the raffle prizes is this Susan Faye original jewelry set (value $32). To see the other fabulous prizes and for instructions on how to donate, visit Skeezix's blog post. You can go directly to Karen's donation page here: DONATE

Entry deadline is tonight at midnight. Thanks for participating!!!

Cat Lady Goes To The Dogs...Part 2

Yesterday we met Cat Lady Monetta and learned how Boomer came into her life. In Part 2, we meet another canine who stole her heart (hankie alert--be prepared):

"Then there was my Piggy.

"I found him sitting on the side of the road in a bad part of town where it's rumored that people fight dogs, if you can even imagine such a thing. I don't think I'll ever forget how stoic he was, looking down the road, as if he knew someone was coming for him. It was one of the coldest February days and Piggy had only a few tufts of hair along his spine. He was bright red, like he was sunburned, but that turned out to be a bacterial skin infection. On top of the mange. On top of heart worms. On top of he was starving to death. His little belly was bloated, yet you could see his ribs. I've rarely seen fewer things in person that are more pitiful than my Piggy was that day. He looked like a little pig. I was actually afraid that he would not survive the car trip to the vet.

"Once at the vet, it was recommended that he be put down. But he had survived so much I wasn't about to do that! It took a long, long, long time, but Piggy finally overcame all of those initial maladies and was the absolute sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known.

"He loved to do anything that Boomer did. The first time she ran full throttle into a lake to chase some ducks, he was two paces behind her. Only he'd never been swimming before and he sank like a rock! I was running and screaming and he finally popped up, and that's how he 'learned' to swim. After that, he loved to go swimming, he especially loved our trips to the beach and would swim longshore like an old pro.

"Piggy was the greatest dog I'll ever have. And when he died in my arms last November--he was only 9--- it completely broke my heart. I buried him in my backyard in his 'power spot' with all of his favorite toys and I said a prayer for him and I asked him to come back and be with me when it's my time. He was such a good boy...I thought for the longest time that I was the one that was doing such a good thing by saving him, but in actual fact, Piggy was teaching me all sorts of wonderful lessons about life and living. He was so sweet, he was unbelievably sweet...He was a real special boy and everyone who
met him fell in love with him."

Monetta has since fostered two more dogs for ARF in Mobile, but says she was a failure at fostering--instead of providing temporary shelter then sending them off to their forever homes, you guessed it-- she adopted them: Rocket, a little pit mix and Turner (aka Buddy Boy) a "big ol' magnificent pit bull".

"And of course I still have Boomer. But Officially, I remain....a cat person!"

Cat Lady Goes To The Dogs...Part 1

Animal lover Monetta claims that she is a true blue Cat Lady through and through. So why are there two dogs in her portrait? The Cat Lady explains:

When I was married in my 20s, I insisted on having a cat. "Must have cat!" I proclaimed one day. The groom wasn't crazy about the idea but set out to get me a cat. How he managed to find a three-quarter feral, woman-hating kitten, I still don't know! But that's what he brought home.

JukeTaylor [the cat, not the groom] routinely attacked me, and only me, even though I lavished love and kindness upon him. The groom was stern and unforgiving, and the less loving he was towards Juke Taylor, the more Juke Taylor worshipped and adored him!

There was a particularly traumatic episode when Juke Taylor had escaped and had been cornered under the house by the groom. There was yelling and cussing and cat-howling and man-screaming when Juke Taylor sank a fang or two into the groom's hand. They both came out alive, and were bonded closer than ever henceforth.

I still don't understand, but after that afternoon, Juke Taylor, by then a 15-pounder if an ounce, began riding on the groom's shoulder, like a parrot. It goes without saying that when the wedded bliss ended and the split came, we didn't even need to discuss who'd get custody of the cat.

Years later, I was at a 5K bridge race in Luling, LA and had won a bit of money in the women's racewalk event. The local animal shelter had a tent set up there with baby animals and I definitely recall saying, "Aw, let's go look at the baby kittens!" Next thing I knew, I was walking out with Boomer, an adorable little pup. I have no idea what happened in between!

She was speckled like a butterbean and they said she was a Catahoula Leopard Hound Cur, the state dog of Louisiana. Cool name, cool look. It wasn't 'til I got her back to Mobile and looked up Catahoula that I saw this: "WARNING: This dog MUST run one hour every day!" And boy, they were not kidding!

During her puppy years she was more like a dingo---all energy all the time, and heaven help me when we got around a crowd, 'cause she went into hyperdrive. Loves people, or I should say, LOVES people, and fully expects that the entire world loves her in return.

And she's so smart, I give her full credit for being as smart as me. She understands things a dog ought not understand---but I know she does. She's eleven now, losing her eyesight in one eye, and takes meds for her lumbar spine. Still if we don't get a "good" daily walk in, she'll lay her chin flat on the floor and assume a look like life isn't worth living...

Tomorrow: All about Piggy in Part 2!

Featured Cat Lady: Angelcat's Angel Angela

Ready for a little heavenly inspiration?

Angelcat Haven, a foster home-based cat rescue operation in Massachusetts, will be celebrating its four-year anniversary on November 11th. Not long ago, co-founders Cat Lady Angela and Cat Lady Rose celebrated the rescue of their 500th cat, named Bory.

Says Angela, (pictured here with her own cats Simba, Patches, Jerry, Honey and Dorey), "We are especially proud that this milestone comes after only four years in operation as a 501c3 non-profit rescue! On behalf of the rescued cats, I would like to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff of volunteers and supporters, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has chosen to adopt a rescued cat or kitten from us!"

Rose fills us in on a little history: "For many years Angela and I volunteered together at the town shelter. She was the president of the volunteer organization, set up all of the policies, chaired all of the fundraisers, and was the resident Feline Care Coordinator, adoption coordinator and medical and behavioral expert.

"Although we learned a lot at the city shelter and made many positive contributions to the care of the cats there, there was much more we felt could be accomplished and ultimately decided to start Angelcat Haven. Here it is 4 years later and 500+ cats later!"

The goal of Angelcat Haven is to help the cats that fall through the cracks of the existing shelters, to work on reducing overpopulation through education, reduced cost spay-neuter programs, and community trap and rescue programs, and to work with and socialize the strays and ferals so that they can live out their lives in a warm, loving new home.

"Angela is a non-stop hardworking force of nature. She is a strong, opinionated, and intelligent woman who is always right, (just ask her!) but she has a heart of gold. Her sacrifices for the cats are many. She takes in the overflow when there are no foster homes available and allows the volunteers access to her home and workplace to care for the rescued cats. She oversees the volunteer organization as well as running her own business, caring for two foster children, her own pets and somehow finds time to coach girls field hockey!

"There would be no Angelcat Haven without her guidance and insight. I think the world of her and want to let her know how much she is appreciated!"

Congratulations and best wishes to two very determined and devoted Cat Ladies for all that they have accomplished on behalf of our furry friends!

As a fundraiser, Angelcat Haven sells colorful catnip mats for your feline's endless enjoyment. Buttonwillow owns one, and gives it her endorsement--not only does it give your kitty a great "buzz", it's a lovely place to nap when the "buzz" wears off... Get yours today at: Catnip Mats

Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady Club Membership Drive--Buy One Get One Free

The harvest moon made a guest appearance this week, so that means it's time for our autumnal membership drive for the Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady Club.

Haven't heard about the club? Meet Kittie B. Wilderd, spokesperson and card-carrying Crazy Cat Lady who represents loving ladies from around the world who just can't resist a whiskered face and a sweet meow. She carries her I.D. card wherever she goes to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is a "Class A Feline Fanatic." She is a proud member of the Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady Club (the CCCCLC)!

Just like Kitty, you too can be a Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady with your very own personalized I.D card, official pinback button, Club Guidelines, and Club Creed.

AND for this weekend only, when you buy one Cat Lady Club kit, you will receive another one absolutely free for a friend. Already a member? Surprise two Cat Lady friends with their very own kits. This kit makes a great gift for your pet sitter, veterinarian, or that crazy lady down the street who has more cats than you do!

♥♥♥ And with the purchase of each kit, $1.00 will be donated to the Oregon Humane Society.!

What are you waiting for?! Just visit this special listing for complete details on the special offer:

Buy One Get One Free
CCCCL CLUB KITS

Calling All Cat Ladies and Friends

The Food Lady (aka Karen Nichols, Cat Lady extraordinaire) needs your help!

In just one week, she will be participating in the 2010 Susan G. Komen San Francisco Bay Area 3-Day for the Cure, a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. Net proceeds from the walk are invested in breast cancer research and community programs.

Karen's goal: To raise $3000 for the Cure!

Ready to help out? Need a little extra incentive? Good news: Skeezix the Cat is hosting "a big blow-out raffle to help the Food Lady meet her fun-razing gole for her brest canser walk. She is waaaaaay behind and needs to meet her gole beefore the walk starts on Oktober 1st. Heer's how it werks. For each $5 yoo donate, you'll git one raffle tikket. When the raffle closes, we'll pik five entries at randum."


One of the raffle prizes is this Susan Faye original jewelry set (value $32). To see the other fabulous prizes and for instructions on how to donate, visit Skeezix's blog post. You can go directly to Karen's donation page here: DONATE

Entry deadline is September 30th.

Thanks for participating!!!

Today is The International Day of Peace

It's a long held belief that cats and dogs are natural enemies. And yet, as many pet owners can tell you, it IS possible to be peaceable. In many households across the land, canines and felines have formed countless truces and have even forged loving and enduring friendships.

The International Day of Peace was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 for 'commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace within and among all nations and people.' Twenty years later, the General Assembly decided that 21 September would be observed annually as a 'day of global ceasefire and non-violence' and invited all Member States, organizations and individuals to commemorate the day, including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United Nations in the establishment of a global ceasefire.

What will you do today to bring peace into our world?

Special Offer: Send a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope to this address: Susan Faye Peace Print, P.O. Box 145, Willamina, OR 97396 and receive a mini print (4" x 6") of the poster pictured above, suitable for framing!

It's Talk (or Meow) Like a Pirate Day!

Arrrr, mateys, thar be bilge rats and rapscallions afoot. Cat Lady Lulu and her shipmate Captain Mackerel be thinkin that all ye landlubbers best be gettin some learnin in the finer art of Pirate Talkin, fer this day be "International Talk Like A Pirate Day".

Avast and hoist your sails fer these faraway and mysterious shores where thar be lessons and tips on such things:

Talk Like a Pirate Day
Meow Like a Pirate
Pirate Translator

Here's to smooth sailin fer ya, me hearties!

This fair paintin o' Cat lady Lulu and Mackerel be makin an appearance in me ol' Etsy shoppe today: Bewitched No. 6 Drop an anchor there and see what treasures lie before ye!

Physical Phitness with Buttonwillow

So you discovered dark chocolate peanut butter cups over the summer, or perhaps you chowed down on one too many bags of Sun Chips because of your fascination with that impossibly crackly compostable bag. Never fear. Fitness guru Buttonwillow has a simple calisthenics routine that will help firm up any fluffy tummies.

(For those of you who are too young to have benefited from Physical Education programs at school, calisthenics is defined as "a form of dynamic exercise consisting of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using minimal equipment or apparatus.")

Ready to begin?

First find a comfortable place to sit and stretch your back paws out as far as they will go.

Now look to the left and stretch that leg out even further. C'mon, reach a little further. You can do it!

Even though you are feeling the burn, try to look stoic.

Now, reach out and try to touch the toes on your right footsie. Make it look easy like I do.

Next, look over your shoulder and touch your ear while you pivot your waist (if you can find your waist--mine seems to be awol at the moment...).


Now twist the other way and look over your left shoulder. Hold it to the count of one, two, three, four...

Does anyone know what comes after four?


Now reach back over to your toes on the right side. Oh the anguish. Just put your paw in your mouth to stifle any yelps that might alarm the neighbors .


Now try to touch both sets of toes at once! Have you worked up a sweat yet? Not me. I don't sweat. I glow. Ever-so-radiantly, don't you think?


Okay, one last reach for that right foot. I think you did it! Hooray for you!

It's time to collapse on the floor in a dramatic heap and take a cat nap. Go on, you deserve it!

Thanks for visiting!

Party Animal Turns Six!

Skeezix Glass will tell you that the color pink and getting cool birthday presents are two of his favorite things, but when you get right down to it, there's nothing better than friends and family who love you.

For example, there are friends like Katie Tulip, Shabby, and Angel Kalin who commissioned this brand new Skeezix family portrait as a gift to commemorate Skeezix's sixth birthday today!

Then there are family members like Rocky the Gutter Cat (Rocky's Ramblings), Tripper (Life's a Trip!), and big brother Mao (Mao's Mews). Best of all are the Food Lady (The Cat's Meow) and Mr. Tasty Face. Mr. Tasty Face doesn't seem to have his own blog, but he gets an occasional starring role in each one, plus he has the tastiest face in town, so that's okay.

To find out more about how Skeezix is spending his Big Day with friends and family, click here: Happy Berthday... to ME!

PARTY ON, PARTY ANIMAL!!

A Proverb for the Ages

Illustration Friday

(theme:"proverb")

Here is a little proverb that I made up. I believe it to be very good advice for cats and cat lovers of all ages. It is wisdom gleaned from years of indulging my inner child who obviously never outgrew her love of the deluxe box of 64 Crayolas, the one with the built-in sharpener and colors like cornflower and copper. Oh how I loved that copper crayon!

What was or is your favorite Crayola color?

The design "Kittens at Play" is available on clothing and gifts for kids and adults at this link: Kittens at Play

Thanks for visiting!

Back To School Giveaway

Have you noticed? Fashion-correct Cat Ladies have retired their white shoes and handbags, fluttering leaves are changing their hues, and the school crossing signs are blinking once again. That can only mean one thing: it's time to introduce my new back-to-school-inspired pendants and have a GIVEAWAY!









































Inspired by cat-loving teachers, librarians, students, and book club buddies, these designs celebrate the love of books and reading!

A mini print of my artwork has been preserved under crystal-clear glass, then hand-crafted into a sparkling pendant. The rectangle glass tile is 7/8-inch wide and 1-1/4 inches tall and features a silvertone bail. Here is your chance to win one:

Just leave a comment at the end of the post and mention the name of your favorite teacher, librarian, student, or bibliophile and your name will be entered into a random drawing! Giveaway ends Friday, Sept 17 at 10 p.m. PST. One name will be drawn at random and will receive their choice of one of these pendants, including a 24" silvertone petite ball chain. Open to book lovers and feline fanatics world-wide!

Please make sure that I have a way to contact you in case you are the lucky winner, such as a link to your blog or e-mail address included in your comment.

Also, if you encounter trouble with the Comments feature, please contact me by e-mail --you'll find a link under my Profile.

Thanks for participating!

The 10 new pendants pictured are now available for sale at my online Etsy shop. Just click on an image to find out more information about that item!

MORE Pet Portraits

Due to popular demand, I am now offering Custom Pet Portraits like these in my Etsy shop. Here's another little stroll down memory lane highlighting some portraits from the past year:

The Parlor Panther Pair

Samantha Jo

Montana and Friends

There is a "basic" portrait in both aceo mini size and in a 4.5 x 6.5" size (this one comes in an 11 x 14" matting). These feature a simple background with your choice of one flower, leaves, and/or a collar.

I'm also offering a DELUXE portrait where you may let your imagination run wild with the background, accessories, and the theme. No idea is too crazy, so send me your ideas and I'll let you know if I think I can handle it.

Thanks for visiting!

Summer Friends

It's back-to-school time already?! Although Paddy is looking forward to resuming his very important job at the Pacelli High School Library, there are still 15 official days of summer left on the calendar!

Hi everybody! Summer is all about new adventures and making new friends from faraway places. Here are some photos that my Cat Lady took of me and my housemates and two new friends that we met this summer.

The first new friend is a funny little feline named Breezy who came all the way from Oregon to visit. She smells very pretty, like a summer garden, but she tickles my nose...

Me and Breezy

Chessie and Breezy

Tillamook and Breezy

Scotty and Breezy

The last picture is of a very special and mysterious kitten who came to visit at the beginning of summer and still has not left yet:


Look at those fancy stripes! Or are they spots? His name is AleXander. Can you guess what kind of kitten he is? I'll tell you more about him soon...

See you back at school!

Editor's note: Do you have any photos of you or your pets enjoying something you have received from my Etsy or Cafepress online shops? I'd love to see them, and with your permission, post them here on my blog! Send them to my email: art [at]undertheoaks.net

By Popular Demand...

Over the past two years I've had the pleasure of painting hundreds of pet owners and their delightful pets. But once in a great while, there have been requests and opportunities to paint portraits of PETS ONLY. Here are a few examples that have been featured on this blog:

Maddie's Garden

High-Flying Miles

Pumpkin The Bee Keeper

Chester, Greyhound Tester

"T" With the Queen

I'm pleased to announce that I now have options for Custom Pet Portraits like these in my Etsy shop. In addition to cats, I love to paint dogs, bunnies, hamsters, horses, birds, or reptiles. There is a "basic" option in both aceo mini size and in a 4.5 x 6.5" size (that comes in an 11 x 14" matting). These feature a simple background with your choice of one flower, leaves, and/or a collar.

I'm also offering a DELUXE portrait where you may let your imagination run wild with the background, accessories, and the theme. No idea is too crazy, so send me your ideas and I'll let you know if I think I can handle it. Like the pet people portraits, the turnaround time is usually 3-4 weeks and the cut-off date for holiday orders will be November 15, in order for items to arrive in time for Christmas...

Thanks for visiting!!

Art Appreciation 101

It's back to school time and what could be more important than a lesson in art appreciation? Crazy Cat Lady Carm (who happens to be a retired school teacher) has a house full of cats who are obviously well-versed in the appreciation of the arts.




When Carm recently received a matted print from me as a blog giveaway prize, her seven kitties gave it a careful evaluation:

Pride liked the fact that the kitty in the print bore a striking resemblance to his own magnificent coloring and thinks the sunflower looks just like the one outside the window, which you can see here: Carm and Randy's sunflower ...



All photos courtesy of Carm... To see the rest of Carm's great photos, visit her blog Crazy Cat Lady Carm

Thanks for visiting!!

Do you have a photo of you or your pets enjoying something you have purchased from my Etsy or Cafepress shops? I'd love to see them, and with your permission, post them here on my blog! Send them to my email: art [at] undertheoaks.net