Cat Lady No. 327...Fa La La La La

Cat Lady Monica and Tabby Turbo just finished decking all of their halls with boughs of holly and would like to share some tips with you, provided by Oregon State University:

Did you know that storing holly in the same area with ripening fruit can result in defoliation, due to the ethylene gas given off by the fruit?

Cut your boughs of holly when temperatures are above freezing and when wind and strong sunlight will not cause excessive drying. Holly should be moved into cool, moist storage as soon as possible after cutting.

When using treated holly in the home, give it the same care you would give a flower arrangement, i.e., supply water to the cut stems, keep out of drafts and other places that promote dryness, and keep in a cool room if possible.

For more information, read the whole article: Preserving Cut Holly

Enjoy!

FREE SHIPPING IN MY ETSY SHOP: FREE worldwide shipping on all purchases totaling $20 or more for the entire extended weekend from Thursday Nov 26 through Monday, Nov. 30. You must include the words "Weekend Deals" in the Notes To Seller box when you check out! http://www.SusanFaye.etsy.com

Cat Ladies No. 310 and 311...World Kindness Day

If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~Bob Hope

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson

Cat Lady Krystal and Cat Lady Darcy are participating in World Kindness Day today by sending out Kindness E-cards courtesy of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

The Foundation has no religious or organizational affiliations and encourages the practice of kindness in all sectors of society.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is the United States delegate to the World Kindness Movement, an organization that includes various nations. People in these countries promote kindness within their countries’ borders and are creating a global network of kindness and compassion.

Kitties Cleo and Bathsheba will be practicing kindness today with a generous dose of nuzzling and a profusion of purring. But then they do that EVERY day of the year!!

Thanks for visiting!

Give the gift of original art without breaking the bank! These original ACEO watercolor illustrations have just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...!

Cat Ladies 302 and 303...Gobble Green Idea No. 1

Cat Lady Rebecca and her sister-in-law Roxie have decided to make their Thanksgiving meal a little more earth-friendly by becoming "Locavores" (also known as "Localvores").That means eating foods grown locally and in season.

When you eat locally-grown foods, it means that the food has fewer food miles, meaning the carbon emissions associated with local foods are smaller. An added benefit is that the food is fresher and picked at peak ripeness, meaning more nutrition value for you and your family!

For Thanksgiving menu ideas, visit the 100 Mile Diet website, where you will find links to localvore recipes.

Feline friends Pippi and Chipotle have their own ideas about eating local and have high hopes of catching something right outside their back doors....Doesn't get any fresher than that!




These original ACEO watercolor illustrations have just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...give the gift of original art by visiting
Let it Snow No. 10 ACEO Art
Raindrops and Kittens No. 4 ACEO Art

Cat Lady No. 277...The Geriatric Set

Cat Lady Vernita is looking forward to Tig-Tom's 14th birthday celebration tomorrow. Tig-Tom has officially joined the geriatric set in the cat world and Vernita hopes that he will continue to live a healthy, happy life for as many years as possible.

Vernita recently learned 10 important things she can do for Tig, including dental check-ups, plenty of water, opportunities for exercise, and a high-quality diet formulated for senior cats.

For more great information, read this article from The Cat's Meow blog: Ten Tips to Keep Your Senior Cat Healthy and Happy

Thanks for visiting!


This limited edition print is available in my Etsy shop. Click here for more information:
Tiger Cat Print

Cat Lady No. 274...World Teachers Day

Cat Lady Lolana and her class kitty Gato Bernardo were delighted to receive special e-cards today in honor of World Teachers Day.

World Teachers’ Day, held annually on October 5th since 1994 - when it was created by UNESCO - celebrates teachers worldwide. Its aim is to mobilize support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.

Do you have a teacher you would like to thank? Just visit the World Teachers Day website where you will find free e-cards in five different languages--send one to every teacher you know and tell them how much they mean to you.

Thanks for visiting!



This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...click here:

Cat Lover No. 64

Cat Lady No. 251...Welcome O Bounteous Apples

Illustration Friday
(theme:"welcome" )

“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” Wm. Shakespeare

As Cat Lady Bibi can tell you, if you truly want a merry feast, look no further than your apple tree. Hers is overflowing with the succulent red jewels, so it's time to roll out the welcome mat to all things apple-icious: apple cider,
apple sauce,
apple butter,
apple crisp,
apple streusel,
baked apples,
apple chutney,
apple pie,
apple tarts,
apple turnovers,
and apple fritters

But feline friend Braeburn's favorite is Bibi's Rum Raisin Apple Cake. He doesn't care for the cake itself, but he finds that after Bibi has consumed a considerable portion of the cake, his tuna portions become significantly more generous...

Enjoy!


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FREE worldwide shipping on EVERY item in my Etsy shop Fri Sept 11 through Sun Sept 13 ! Includes original ACEO miniature watercolor paintings like this one...

Just add the code "Weekend Deals" in Message to Seller section during checkout, and shipping fees will be promptly refunded via Paypal.

Cat Lady No. 228...Amusements

Cat Lady Bailie and Feline Friend Ariel agree that there is nothing like a good chuckle, chortle, or guffaw to brighten up a day. Sometimes all it takes is a little smile laced with amusement. With that in mind, they would like to present a few Cat Haikus from the 365 Cat Ladies August Giveaway,
in the hopes that they bring a smile to your face:


From Cat Lady Susy:

I would be a flea
To run in the lush meadow
Of a big cat's fur

From Cat Lady Emily:

Cat one humbly asks
"How can I steal affection
from cat number two?"

From Cat Lady Julie:

A pat to the face
Five Forty Five Saturday
Time to get up...Food!


If you would like to share your own Cat Haiku, please add it to the comments section of the August Giveaway post, where you will be able to read all of the other entries! You will alsot be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a Cat Lady Tote bag.

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 221...Impatience

[Editor's note: Due to an impending camp-out to view the Perseids meteor shower, where there is {{gasp}} no internet, I am doubling up on posts today...Don't miss Cat Ladies 219 and 220...]



Illustration Friday
(theme:
"impatience")






Tumalo Tabby's impatience grew considerably as Cat Lady Sophie continued to do nothing but laugh hysterically, forcing the frustrated feline to attempt reactivating the now motionless, strange, mouse-like creature with his very own paws...






The original ACEO watercolor illustration of Sophie and Tumalo is currently up for sale in my Etsy shop:
CAT AND MOUSE

Cat Lady No. 215...A Little Nip of Tea

Cat Lady Carlotta enjoys stitching catnip mice for her terrific tabby Gunther, but she always sets aside a few pinches of the herb, also known as catmint, to make herself a soothing cup of tea.

She recently learned that, according to Dr. T. Ombrello of the UCC New Jersey Biology Department, catnip has a long history of use as both a beverage and a medicine.

"Before European trade with China began bringing large quantities of fine Eastern Tea to Europe, Catnip tea was a domestic favorite especially among tea loving residents of the British Isles. "When growing the plant for this purpose, mature leaves should be collected while they are still fresh and dried in the shade (not in the sun, or the volatile oil will be lost) for several days. One teaspoon of the dried herb is then added to each cup of boiling water and allowed to steep. The tea should not be boiled or, again, the oil will be lost. The drink is an excellent source of vitamin C."

Read more about the Wonderful World of Catnip in the complete article by Dr. Ombrello: CATNIP

Thanks for visiting!

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

Cat Lady No. 204...Knitting Bugs

Erica has the knitting bug. It begins to set in soon after you have cast on your first row successfully. The bug catches hold when your rows become even, and is fully engaged when you find out how pretty (and easy!) the seed stitch is.

Feline Friend Buster has the yarn bug. Which means whenever the yarn moves, he pretends it's a bug.

Erica often refers to this handy guide when learning a new pattern: Knitting Abbreviations

Happy stitching!


This original ACEO mini watercolor painting has just been listed for sale...Add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
In Stitches No. 5

Cat Lady No. 182...Hug Therapy

Cat Lady Divinia has discovered that when she is tired, sad, or anxious, the best therapy in the world is to hug her furry friend Mackerel, who -hands down- has the loudest purrbox in the entire county.

If Divinia happens to be at work and Mackerel isn't available for hug therapy, she turns to this website:

Hugging Cats.com

Guaranteed to melt your heart or your money back.

Happy Hugging and thanks for visiting! Have a safe and festive holiday weekend!




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

Cat Lover No. 45 ACEO Art

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

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!

Cat Lady No. 101...Earth Day

School librarian and Cat Lady Patti enjoys sharing a book about recycling with library cat Arnold. She is busy setting up a special book display with an Earth Day theme.

She was recently surprised to learn that there are actually TWO Earth Days.

The first was a tradition founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969, and is observed around the world on the March equinox.

The second Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, and is observed on April 22 of each year.

Patti and Arnold hope that their students will be inspired to make every day Earth Day. Patti has gathered together a great assortment of books to introduce her kids to issues such as pollution, over-population, climate change, and species extinction; and she hopes they will begin to think about creative solutions involving renewable resources, conservation, alternative energy, and more...

Arnold will be doing his part by enjoying a nice nap in the solar power that streams through the library window each afternoon at two p.m...

Thanks for visiting!

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• 10 oz heavyweight natural canvas fabric
• Full side and bottom gusset
• 22" reinforced self-fabric handles
• Machine washable
• Measures 15" x 18" x 6"

Cat Lady No. 35...Sunset Time

Cat Lady Georgia and Mister Vincent often enjoy watching the sunset together at the end of the day...

Georgia is happy to note that the sun is setting just a tad later each evening. "You know what that means," she smiles as she scratches Vincent behind the ear. "Spring is on the way! Tulips, garden parties, longer sunsets! "

Vincent knows what it REALLY means. It means that it will soon be time to shed a remarkable percentage of his magnificent fur coat. It means being groomed with that nice soft brush that tickles just a little bit and makes him purr.

It also means more appearances of that wretched vacuum monster that screeches over the carpet and tries to gobble up cats.

But for now, Georgia and Vincent think that tonight's winter sunset is particularly splendid with its warm oranges and glowing yellows...

Would you like a Custom Cat Lady Portrait? ...A one-of-a-kind and very affordable gift for any cat lover...For pricing and options, please visit my Etsy online gallery by clicking here: CUSTOM CAT LADIES

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 19...Let's Party!

Cat Lady Darshana and feline friend Damini always enjoy a good birthday party, especially when it involves confetti and balloons.

Today the confetti is flying in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. As an American whose grandparents were immigrants from India, Darshana greatly admires the work of Dr. King. He reminds her of another great hero of hers: Mahatma Gandhi, who also was a man of great vision and inspiration. As Darshana tells Damini: "Both men believed in peaceful resistance to tyranny and were able to accomplish great things for humankind using this principle. In India this principle is called satyagraha, a word coined by Ghandi to mean truth-force or love-force or soul-force."

Damini appreciates the history lesson, but thinks it's time to break out the birthday cake and tuna. This party animal wants to party!

Send me your Cat Lady story: If I use excerpts of it in this blog, you will receive a free Susan Faye Cat Lady Refrigerator Magnet. Send to: art@undertheoaks.net with "Cat Lady" in the subject line.

Would you like a Custom Cat Lady Portrait? ...A one-of-a-kind and very affordable gift for any cat lover...For pricing and options, please visit my Etsy online gallery by clicking here: CUSTOM CAT LADIES

Thanks for visiting! I'd love to hear your feedback...