Caturday

A BI-EYED BVI BEAUTY

Caturday Art

P4150107-004Today’s Caturday Art creation features a cat from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. This adorable little girl has one pale green (left) and one pale blue eye (right) and a little pink tongue. I have cropped and enlarged just her head so you can see these features. Her tongue is quite evident. Unfortunately, her eye color is not as deliniated.

The art piece was created using PicMonkey, except for the frame. I wanted to complement the various textures (metal, brick and wood with a painted, white stripe) already in the photo. I am sorry to say that I don’t recall exactly which effects I used.

 

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I am entering Athena and Marie’s Caturday Art Blog Hop. I am hopeful that more of your consider to join. The experimentation with different editing techniques is fun and educational. And you do not need to be an expert in PhotoShop. The number of free photo-editing applications continues to grow. To join this hop or view the other submissions, click on Athena and Marie’s badge.

The Good, the Bad and the Furry Winners

I’d like to thank all of those who left a comment on our post to giveaway copies of the Tom Cox book, The Good, the Bad, and the Furry. There were 121 comments on the post and 113 of those were qualified (U.S. residents) to be included in the drawing conducted using Random.org.

And the winners are: Adam, Johnna Correll, D, Marty the Manx and Pipo, Minko and Mr. Jack Freckles. Congratulations all. I wish it were in my power to give each and everyone of those who visited a copy of this wonderful book. 

I will be notifying the winners by e-mail to secure their snail mail addresses.

Sunday Selfies Blog Hop

Are you ready? Have you taken your selfies yet? Do you have something special to show us? However your selfies turned out this week, Fiona is looking forward to you joining her tomorrow. We’ll go live at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Fiona started to get her grump on while half way through her photo session, when I continually asked her snap just one more and then one more after that… She has asked me to share only the “good” photos of her tomorrow. Being the super accommodating mom, I agreed. You can bet, the grumpy photos will show up eventually. I am just not that nice.

CATURDAY ART BLOG HOP/SATURDAY PHOTO HUNTERS: RIPPLE

Athena, Cat Goddess is trying to establish a new series entitled, Caturday Art Blog Hop. This will be her second posting, and we will be joining in this week.

But, of course, this is also the day for Saturday Photo Hunters, in which we occasionally like to pawticipate. Today’s theme is ripple. As it happens, we have some photos that will work for both of these themes so decided to do both today.

We shared a photo with you last August on a Wordless Wednesday. It was supposed to be part of a series entitled, Astrid Photo Experiment, but we have not shared another until now. So without further ado, here is Astrid Photo Experiment #2: Ripples.

Astrid2

If you are wondering where the ripples come in, we believe her furs, especially her tail furs look as if they are rippling.

We are all feeling a little miffed that Astrid is featured in two consecutive posts, but we’ll figure out some way to get back at her.

Have a terrific weekend.

Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Misty May, Mauricio, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

CATURDAY AT CAT SCOUTS AND THE CARDWOOD DERBY

Yesterday was the start of the Cardwood Derby for Cat Scouts. My troop, the Worldwide Wildcats, are pawticipating. Many of us are entering and others are acting as pit crew or cheering us on as we take our places at the starting line.

My car prior to the removal of the seat.

My car prior to the removal of the seat.

We were required to construct our own cars, which must consist of at least 80 percent cardboard. My car is a cardboard box (duh) with a clear plastic windshield and bubble-wrap/electric tea light headlamps. My wheels are cardboard with aluminum foil wheel covers. My steering wheel is a cardboard spool with the Worldwide Wildcats seal on top and bottom, a paw-print ribbon trim and wooden dowel steering column. My backrest is animal-print fabric with a little quilt batting.

As Cat Scouts are resourceful, Mom said we had to construct my car from items we already had around the house. This was not a rule of Cat Scouts, but my family strongly believes in the principles of reuse, repurpose and recycle.

My car after the seat was removed. I did retain my back rest and thats my seat belt hanging out the side of the car.

My car after the seat was removed. I did retain my back rest and thats my seat belt hanging out the side of the car.

So the bright blue car I wanted ended up being desert sand in color, and it is not very aerodynamic. As Mom and I worked hard at constructing it, I was wishing that we were fans of NASCAR so we might have had a better idea of what we were doing.

Nonetheless, my car is complete, and I am revving up my engine. I am car number 11 as that is my placement number among past and present cats in our household. I am not expecting to win the Derby, but I sure hope I don’t come in any lower than 11th place. In reality, I just hope to finish the Derby, which concludes on November 20. The win most likely will go to the Cat Scout requiring the fewest number of naps and stops for refueling.

Lisbeth checks my steering wheel and speedometer while I check out my wheels.

Lisbeth checks my steering wheel and speedometer while I check out my wheels.

Sisfur Lisbeth is acting as my pit crew. You’ll see her in the photos helping me check-out my car to make certain it’s in good working order.

We did need to modify our design at the last minute as I refused to sit in the very nice and safe seat Mom made. I wasn’t very good about keeping my seatbelt on for photos, but I have promised to wear it for the entire length of the race.

Our final check prior to me starting the engine. (How do you like my car's headlights?)

Our final check prior to me starting the engine. (How do you like my car’s headlights?)

All the cars will be on the Cat Scout’s Facebook page as well as Pinterest. I really hope you will check them out.

See you at the track!

Purrs and hugs, Mauricio (Andretti)

 

I'm already to hit the track, as soon as Lisbeth backs away and gives me a paw's up sign.

I’m ready to hit the track, as soon as Lisbeth backs away and gives me a paw’s up sign.

CATURDAY CONFESSION

Hi Efurrybuddy,

Have you missed us? Our visiting and commenting have been minimal and sporadic. But it is not our fault. Our lame-a-roo, gallivanting, thoughtless and neglectful humans left us again. This time they were gone for ten months weeks.

What? Days? No way. That’s just a big, fat fabrication on Mom’s part.

Though we managed to post a few times and leave a few comments, we had to do it by sending smoke signals to Mom in Canada ’cause that’s where she and our dad went. As usual, she took all the electronic devices with her. Without being able to keep up with our friends, we know we missed birthdays and other events, which, of course, has our furs ruffled.

And, the humans did not even visit our sisfur Nylablue while they were in Canada. We think the fact that she lives about 1,000 miles from where they visited is an excuse with no merit whatsoever.

We’ve been bored to hissing and growling without being able to go out on the catio (and it was 89 degrees F. yesterday). We can see a couple of our bird feeders from the kitchen window, but the minimal counter space requires us to take turns…more hissing and growling.

And, of course, Fiona is required to go UTB when Maggie comes to feed us. The rest of us made appearances, and Giulietta even let Maggie pet her, but that doesn’t mean we were happy about having a stand-in.

The humans arrived home as scheduled last night. That doesn’t happen too often. All of us, except Astrid, who was staring down from the top of the stairs, were swarming around the foyer by the time Dad got all the luggage inside. But only three of us, Mauricio, Misty May and Calista Jo, deigned to sleep with them. Lily Olivia managed to get herself closed up in the guest room overnight. Mom didn’t even see her dash in when she opened the door a fraction of an inch to switch off a light she accidentally left on when she left.

We were absolute angels during the absence. We only left three big hurls and threw another and different lamp on the floor busting the bulb. And Fiona got and still is nekkid.

Mauricio was fitted with a calming collar before the humans deserted us and did not manage to remove it. Mom hasn’t as yet had the opportunity to inspect the entire house for spray, and Mauricio is not talking.

Even Astrid is enjoying the catio today. Sorry her eyes are close, but we wanted to use the photo that showed her cute little buff-colored paw.

Even Astrid is enjoying the catio today. Sorry her eyes are closed and the photo is a little blurry, but we wanted to use the photo that showed her cute, little, buff-colored paw.

We are all looking forward to life getting back to normal. We are enjoying the catio right now and can’t wait to start visiting and letting all of our friends know what we think about their recent comings and goings.

Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

P.S., Mom only saw two live kitties while she was away. She was having withdrawals when she got home. That should get us even more attention that usual. Bonus!

P.P.S. Mauricio got his official Cat Scout membership card in the mail! He is itching to get back to earning merit badges now that the humans are home. His friend, Wally, from The Island Cats has surged way ahead with Karma points which has Mauricio’s competitiveness revved up and raring to go.

CATURDAY BONUS: SATURDAY PHOTO HUNTERS

Today’s word is Spark so we couldn’t resist showing you a photo of our handsome, neighbor, man-cat, Sparky. Sparky spends lots of time hanging out at our house, including in this photo, which we originally posted on September 23, 2012.

Sparky settles in on our upper deck after our pusses have come inside for the night.

Sparky settled in on our upper deck after our pusses had come inside for the night. Now that we have the catio on the lower deck, Sparky no longer has access to the back decks.

 

CATNIP CATURDAY

So, it has been raining for most of the day here in Southwestern Virginia. Hence, most of the kitties have been inside; though, some brave souls have ventured out to the front porch or the catio.

Lisbeth finds a roll of fleece to use as a pillow.

Lisbeth finds a roll of fleece to use as a pillow.

A day when most of the cats are hanging around inside is not a good day for making catnip toys. I need some, however, to include with our blogoversary prizes for Cathy Keisha (Stunning Keisha) and Banjo (Corner of a Cat’s Mind).

Lisbeth as seen through the side of the tub.

Lisbeth as seen through the side of the tub. (Sorry for the flash glare.)

Lisbeth, with glare from the window instead of the flash.

Lisbeth, with glare from the window instead of the flash.

Astrid and Lisbeth soon took it upon themselves to become the self-appointed snoopervisors. However, before I knew it, they were both lying down on the job. I am not sure if it was from residual nip fumes in the container, boredom or just the need for a nap, but they were of little help, even in a snoopervising capacity.

In their defense, I must admit that I was not to the nip-filling point in the process as yet. So they were right in realizing that they should store up some energy for when they were called into action for that stage.

That’s supposed to happen today but may be put off until tomorrow with the hope that I can shoo them outside while I do it. Whenever nip toys are made, they demand that one should be

 

made for them. Their toy basket is already overflowing with nip pillows and a variety of nip critters as well as a sundry of other items. But it doesn’t matter how old the nip toys get, they still drag them out and play.

Astrid keeping her eye on the already sewn pouches in anticipation of the catnip being added.

Astrid keeping her eye on the already sewn pouches in anticipation of the catnip being added.

They did get a new toy for our blogoversary, which we’ll tell you about in a future post. With that in mind, I am hoping I can eliminate the need to make them another catnip pillow.

CATURDAY WITH LISBETH AND FIONA OR…

WHO TURNED OFF BIRD TV?

We’ve all been behaving like good little kits just as we promised; though, we’re feeling pretty conflicted. Some of our friends have been very supportive of our promise to Mom, but others still think we should throw another big trashing pawty just as we did the last time the humans deserted us.

With eight of us voting on how we should spend our long, boring, tedious days and nights, we have had a really hard time coming to a majority decision. So far the inability to come up with a plan, we can all accept, has kept us from doing anything naughty. We hope Mom is reading this so she knows that as of now, at least, we have maintained our composure.

But it is getting hardener and harder, and here’s why?

Lisbeth: "Gosh, I am so bored. I think it's time for a little bird and squirrel TV."

Lisbeth: “Gosh, I am so bored. I think it’s time for a little bird and squirrel TV.”

"Let's check out the action. What? Who turned off birdy and squirty TV?"

“Let’s check out the action. What? Who turned off birdy and squirty TV?”

"Hey, Fiona, did you notice that all the feeders are empty and bridy and squirty TV is turned off."

“Hey, Fiona, did you notice that all the feeders are empty and birdy and squirty TV is turned off.”

Fiona; "Really. You mean they ate everything and went away?"

Fiona; “Really. You mean they ate all the sunflower seeds and went away?”

"Yeah, and Dad's the one who always fills the feeders. I don't think they left any instructions for Maggie to refill them."

“Yeah, and Dad’s the one who always fills the feeders. I don’t think they left any instructions for Maggie to refill them. Should we ask her when she comes?”

"Well, I can think of only one thing left to do: PAWTY TIME!"

“I don’t think we should impose on her like that.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s only one thing to do then: LET’S PAWTY!

Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

P.S. Please, please don’t tell Mom we are contemplating getting into a just an itty-bitty amount of trouble. We have no doubt that Maggie will tell on us in her daily notes. But Mom and Dad won’t see those until they get home!

CATURDAY BOX WAR

We all know that any cardboard box entering the house is a much sought after object of affection. Whoever gets to it first is likely to stake claim for an extended nap. That’s just what happened with this rather small and shallow box which arrived recently.

The bigger cats checked it out but found it less than comfy and so left it to the littler kits. However, a bit of jockeying for possession ensued prior to the final occupation.

Calista Jo was he first to discover the box and used it to try and trap her tail.

Calista Jo is the first to discover the box and uses it in an attempt to trap her tail.

Astrid tried it on for size while Lisbeth gave it the sniff test.

Astrid tries it on for size while Lisbeth gives it the sniff test.

Calista decides she wants the box back and considers challenging Astrid for possession.

Calista decides she wants the box back and considers challenging Astrid for possession.

Calista takes the plunge in an attempt to oust Astrid.

Calista takes the plunge in an attempt to oust Astrid.

Calista wins the challenge and settles in for a snooze.

Calista wins the challenge and settles in for a snooze.

Astrid decides to stick around just in case Calista decides she has better things to do.

Astrid sticks around just in case Calista decides she has better things to do.

She didn’t, and the box became Calista Jo’s for the long awaited nap.

 

 

 

TGICATURDAY

Mauricio ready for his trip to the veterinarian's office.

Mauricio ready for his trip to the veterinarian’s office.

Mauricio is beginning to feel very put upon. First it was Calista bad-mouthing him in “The Kitten’s Choice Awards” and then yesterday he had to visit Dr. Neel. He’s had a bad case of the sneezies for a couple of days; and though he’s been gobbling up his food per usual, he’s been a little lethargic and just hanging out inside. Now granted, we had a heavy, wet snow on Thursday making outside less than appealing. As he normally just curls up on the front porch rocker, however, we knew when he wanted to stay in bed or sprawled out on the heated kitchen floor that he was feeling under the weather.

The male human, Tom, took him to the vet (usually my job) and just like Lily Olivia last fall, he didn’t sneeze once while Dr. Neel was examining him. Prior to her coming in the room, Tom said he got out a good one and sprayed snot all over the room. Way to go, buddy!

Snow falling Thursday night.

Snow falling Thursday night.

And, of course, the exam did not get a rave review as it included having his temperature taken and getting a shot!

As lots of snow is still about, he has selected to stay inside today. Had he not done so, we would have demanded it. And, as expected, he’s snoozing away atop the warm kitchen tile.