Cat Lady No. 339...It's Giveaway Time!

Cat Lady Alena and feline friend Hibiscus would like to announce the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for December!


To enter, leave a comment in the Comments section at the bottom of this post completing this phrase:

"Peace on earth, goodwill toward____________."



You can use a name, a word or many words.
Here are some ideas to get you started:Contest will end Sunday, December 20, at 7:00 p.m. PST. There are three different prizes and one name will be drawn at random for each prize. The prizes feature my "Peaceful Planet" design from my Susan Faye Nature Cafepress Shop:

Tote Bag

Mini Poster Porcelain Ornament

Please make sure that I have a way to contact you if you are a winner, such as a link to your blog or e-mail address, or contact me directly at my e-mail with your info...

Also, if you encounter trouble with the Comments feature, you may send your entry by e-mail by clicking "view my complete profile" at the end of "About Me" where you will find an e-mail link...

Thanks for participating and
Best Wishes for a Blessed Holiday Season
from 365 Cat Ladies!

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 Lady No. 317...In Training

Cat Lady Joni is a crazy-cat-lady-in-training-- she just adopted her very first cat, Precious, and is already both enchanted and enslaved by her new furry friend.

Joni has been carefully studying the comments in the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for November, and was particularly interested in Cat Lady Karen's CCL qualifications:

[editor's note: Karen forgot to mention a rather important one--she is author of The Cat's Meow, which is Catster.com's official cats and kittens blog]
-I lie about how many cats I have and never include Garage Cat in the tally.
-I'm crazy.
-I'm rarely more than an arm's length from a purring ball of fur.
-I do not go to animal shelters because I would come home with another half dozen cats.
-I don't go on vacation because my Siamese suffers from severe separation anxiety.
-All of my cats (except the aforementioned Garage Cat) have their own blogs.
-I dress up my cats in cute outfits and photograph them.
-No kids. And I was a spinster for 46 years.
-I have conversations with my cats.

Joni is looking forward to shopping for an all-new winter wardrobe for Precious and helping her pick out a name for her new blog. Joni is not so crazy about the spinster idea, but if that's what it takes to find someone called "Mr. Tasty Face", it might be worth the wait...

Thanks for visiting!

Give the gift of original art without breaking the bank! This ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop:
Cat in a Box Miniature Watercolor

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 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!


WEEKEND DEALS ON ETSY!

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. 184...Garden Friendly

Green Thumb Cat Lady Nikki and Garden Cat PeeChee enjoy bees, birds and butterflies, so they are careful to keep their garden safe from pesticides.

According to the ASPCA Guide to Pet-Safe Gardening, "The most dangerous forms of pesticides include snail bait with metaldehyde, fly bait with methomyl, systemic insecticides with the ingredients disyston or disulfoton, mole or gopher bait with zinc phosphide and most forms of rat poisons. Always store pesticides in inaccessible areas—and read the manufacturer's label carefully for proper usage and storage."

Better yet, don't use these types of pesticides at all! According to The Organic Gardening Guru: "Less than 1% of the world's insects are considered pests. The other 99% play a pivotal role in our food chain and many are indispensable." He recommends Planet Natural products for earth-friendly pest control.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Pet-Friendly Gardening!

The original artwork for "Garden Cat No. 6" 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 keeping track of all your Late Bloomers!

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.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!

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. 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!

Cat Lady No. 148...Last Chance for TWO Giveaways...

Cat Lady Danica has TWICE the fun with feline friends Jezebel and Geronimo, and wants to remind you that you have TWO chances to win giveaways in May...but time is running out!

The 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for May ends tomorrow, so enter today! Just go to the link and leave a comment at the end of the post about your favorite teacher.

365 Cat Ladies May Giveaway

On May 31st, a name will be drawn at random and the winner will receive this roomy tote bag to carry all of your favorite books!

There is also a May Giveaway at Susan Faye's Picture Show which ends tomorrow.
Visit the link below to find out how you can win this set of magnets.

BIRD BRAINS GIVEAWAY

Thanks for visiting!

Either of these prizes would make a great thank-you gift for your favorite teacher...For more gift ideas please visit my online shops:

www.SusanFaye.etsy.com

www.cafepress/Susan Faye
www.cafepress/SusanFayeNature

Cat Lady 139...Cat and Mouse

Cat Lady Rita knows better than to leave the triplets--Salsa, Taquito, and Margarita--unattended with her computer.

They already spend way too much time jumping around at the cursor every time Rita moves the mouse, and it's just a matter of time before they make the connection and figure out how to work the mouse ... Then before she knows it, the triplets will be demanding to Twitter or to be stars of their own blog.

Case in point: Janet Cox, web-savvy feline.

Janet resides with cat-slave and British writer Tom Cox, author of "Under The Paw". Janet has his own page on Facebook (yes, Janet is a he) with over 2600 friends. Janet recently interviewed another feline web sensation, Sockington the cat, who has 522,668 followers on Twitter. Read this fascinating interview and see pictures at:

Sockington Interview

Cat Ladies and Lads, consider yourself warned. Keep that mouse under lock and key when the kitties are unattended.

Thanks for visiting!

The purrfect accessory for your cat's favorite mouse: a computer mousepad!Keep your mouse rolling in style on this durable cloth top mousepad. A great gift for geeks, gamers, or anyone with a computer. Rubber backing prevents the mousepad from sliding. Machine washable. I have dozens of Cat Lover designs to choose from at my Cafepress Online Shop

Cat Lady No. 114...Bookworm Birthdays

Librarian and Cat Lady Kari enjoys reading aloud to the neighorhood kids at Storytime Hour with the help of Library Cat Skittles...

Today is a special story day because it is Skittles' birthday, and Kari is reading Happy Birthday To You by Dr. Seuss. The book tells about a fantastic land called Katroo, where the Birthday Bird throws everyone an amazing party on their special day. The book itself is having its 50th birthday this year!

After Kari finishes reading the story, Skittles and the kids will visit Seussville on the library computers --an interactive site with lots of fun and games and interesting stories about Dr. Seuss. There is even a Storybook Maker that helps you write your own illustrated storybook with the help of Horton (of Hears a Who fame).

Skittles is fairly certain that if she daintily walks across each and every keyboard, she will get to be the star of at least one storybook. It is her birthday, after all...

Thanks for visiting!

Create your very own Storybook:
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. Get creative and let the muse flow.

• 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

Cat Lady No. 103...Re-use, Reduce, Recycle!

Feline Fanatic Carmina and Gato Florentino enjoy spending time each morning in the greenhouse tending los flores y las verduras.

Carmina and Florentino also enjoy finding new and unusual ways to re-use, reduce and recycle things in the household and garden. They were recently delighted to find this great website:

ToiletPaper Rolls, PaperTowel Rolls and Wrapping Paper Rolls... Waste, Recycle or Reuse?

Carmina found step-by-step instructions for making biodegradable starting pots for seedlings out of paper tubes. Florentino was particularly interested in the section about the hamster and his new paper tube toy.

Thanks for visiting!

Stop using up and throwing away plastic or styrofoam cups at the office or workplace. Be stylish and eco-friendly with a re-usable ceramic mug. I have dozens of designs to choose from: Susan Faye Mugs

Cat Lady No. 89...New Haircut

Cat Lady Louella wonders if Tabby Ted likes her new haircut. Tabby Ted wonders if Louella will scratch his chin soon. Both Louella and Ted are wondering if you've entered the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway for March yet.

Hurry. It's not too late! The giveaway ends tomorrow, and the beautiful and talented Enzie Shahmiri will draw a name at random and some lucky Cat Lady will win the original ACEO watercolor painting pictured below. It could be you! Just click on the link above to visit Enzie's blog and get the complete details.

Thanks for visiting!




As it turns out, Tabby Ted DOES like Louella's new haircut. Do you? Louella and Tabby Ted can be found on a variety of t-shirts, totes, notecards, and other gifts at my CafePress Shop www.cafepress.com/SusanFaye