Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Friday, December 28, 2012
Gratitude
Gratitude is a wonderous thing. Anyone who cannot find a thing to be grateful for has had too much. Anyone who cannot be grateful has never walked through the fire.
As I grow older, I find myself being grateful for many things that I used to take for granted. I am grateful for each new sunrise. I am grateful for the full moon. I am grateful that I can walk the icey winded walk from my car into work and grateful for the job that I walk to.
I am very grateful that all of my fuzzy tails seem to be over the sniffles now!!! Yippee! It was rough there for awhile.
As I grow older, I find myself being grateful for many things that I used to take for granted. I am grateful for each new sunrise. I am grateful for the full moon. I am grateful that I can walk the icey winded walk from my car into work and grateful for the job that I walk to.
I am very grateful that all of my fuzzy tails seem to be over the sniffles now!!! Yippee! It was rough there for awhile.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Christmas 2012 Scant Highlights
It snowed on Christmas Day 2012. Last night, we went to see "Les Miserables".
My niece, Lea Ann modeling a 'cat's Christmas hat'. Her daughter, Victoria, in the background taking a picture of me taking a picture of Lea Ann.
Oh yeah, we had fun!
My niece, Lea Ann modeling a 'cat's Christmas hat'. Her daughter, Victoria, in the background taking a picture of me taking a picture of Lea Ann.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Synthetic Bokeh
Look what I did to this picture using Glaze. It did not have any bokeh in it at all until I created it.
By the way, my entire kitten family has been sick for the past two weeks with an upper respiratory infection which in kittens is very similar to the common cold in humans. However, for felines this condition is much, much more serious. But I am keeping a close eye on all of them and I am very happy to report that so far, so good.
By the way, my entire kitten family has been sick for the past two weeks with an upper respiratory infection which in kittens is very similar to the common cold in humans. However, for felines this condition is much, much more serious. But I am keeping a close eye on all of them and I am very happy to report that so far, so good.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Friend? Really?
Remember about 3 or 4 posts back, I posted a picture of the 'furniture friend' that was 'supposed' to keep 'furniture enemies' away?
Okay, now I am not so sure if this furniture thing is a friend, an enemy or maybe we are merely acquaintances. At any rate, it really seems to be a friend to Nigel who has figured out how to wrap himself up in it sort of like a sleeping bag.
It is like my mother always said. "I can't have anything because I have a cat." I keep reminding myself that it is my choice and to stop with my complaining. I mean that thing under the furniture friend is really the most beautiful thing I have and I wouldn't trade him for a gazillion sofas.
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| Nigel Under Cover |
It is like my mother always said. "I can't have anything because I have a cat." I keep reminding myself that it is my choice and to stop with my complaining. I mean that thing under the furniture friend is really the most beautiful thing I have and I wouldn't trade him for a gazillion sofas.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Prince Moon and Stars
Anyone that even occassionally visits my blog knows I am an ardent angliophile. I was born this way. Long after reaching adulthood when investigating my own deep roots, it was not a surprise when I discovered 80% of my ancestry was British.
Then it makes sense that my little Jakey is the Prince Moon and Stars, right?
Plus, I think everyone is very familiar with my love for British music. Along about this time last year, I remember making a post about one of my favorite Christmas songs to hear, "Last Christmas" by George Michael. That does not mean that I do not like it by a cool, Austin,Texas group called Dexter Freebish. We have cool stuff here in Texas too.
I love how these guys rock this song. You cannot listen to it without really getting into it. There is no video really just the song but hey, that is all you really want, right?
Then it makes sense that my little Jakey is the Prince Moon and Stars, right?
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| He is a prince but he maybe wearing the crown of a duke. |
I love how these guys rock this song. You cannot listen to it without really getting into it. There is no video really just the song but hey, that is all you really want, right?
Monday, December 10, 2012
Look What I Did!
I am an upholstering fool! I upholstered this coffee table.
Here it is out in the garage where I spent a week scrubbing around on the floor with it trying to get it painted then upholstered. It would have been simple enough except lately I have been dealing with a bum knee. My bum knee is caused from certain movements that I can no longer do with my leg without tearing the meniscus.
That is at least one other entire blog post but not this one. This one is about upholstery! Long story short, I needed to make those movements when down on the floor with this table but I had to be creative and find a way to deal with it. I dealt with it and this is how it turned out.
Look at that beautiful cat prancing by it! It is in his colors! Moon and Stars can hide on that table now and believe me, he does. It is soft and comfy just for him or so he thinks.
I did a Glaze of the she-arts on the wall. The part I love best about this Glazed picture are the two toy balls laying on the floor. See them?
Here it is out in the garage where I spent a week scrubbing around on the floor with it trying to get it painted then upholstered. It would have been simple enough except lately I have been dealing with a bum knee. My bum knee is caused from certain movements that I can no longer do with my leg without tearing the meniscus.
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| Table Before Refurb |
That is at least one other entire blog post but not this one. This one is about upholstery! Long story short, I needed to make those movements when down on the floor with this table but I had to be creative and find a way to deal with it. I dealt with it and this is how it turned out.
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| Refurbed Table |
I did a Glaze of the she-arts on the wall. The part I love best about this Glazed picture are the two toy balls laying on the floor. See them?
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| Glazed Cat Toys |
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
What's Been On My Mind
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about a little island that I love. The oddest thing about this little island is that it produces some extraordinary musicians. Musicians with their roots far across the Atlantic in the bluesy deep, south. Strangers in another land putting their own flavor on something already beautiful.
I have most particularly been thinking about George Harrison which led me to thinking about Eric Clapton and how they really know their way around a guitar. Speaking of George reminds me that one of the many beautiful things about the Beatles were that each one of them individually was awesome in their own right. Each of them knicked off traits of American singers/musicians of the time. Yet, as a whole no Beatles song sounded like Elvis, Carl Perkins or Little Richard.
If I could interview Paul McCartney, I would love to ask him what particularly was going through his mind when he wrote the words to "Long and Winding Road". What/who was he thinking about when he wrote "the wild and windy night that the rain washed away has left a pool of tears crying for the day" ? Those are awesome words. I would love to know what he was thinking about when he put those down on paper.
Okay, time for some Glazed.
I have most particularly been thinking about George Harrison which led me to thinking about Eric Clapton and how they really know their way around a guitar. Speaking of George reminds me that one of the many beautiful things about the Beatles were that each one of them individually was awesome in their own right. Each of them knicked off traits of American singers/musicians of the time. Yet, as a whole no Beatles song sounded like Elvis, Carl Perkins or Little Richard.
If I could interview Paul McCartney, I would love to ask him what particularly was going through his mind when he wrote the words to "Long and Winding Road". What/who was he thinking about when he wrote "the wild and windy night that the rain washed away has left a pool of tears crying for the day" ? Those are awesome words. I would love to know what he was thinking about when he put those down on paper.
Okay, time for some Glazed.
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| The Counting House, London |
Monday, December 3, 2012
A Dozen Glazed, Please!
Well, I don't have a dozen glazed but how about 1/4 of a dozen? I have been playing with this Glazed app and having loads of fun. I feel like Claude Monet!
It has caused me to go digging for pictures. This is so much fun. I am glazing the world. Here are a few examples.
It has caused me to go digging for pictures. This is so much fun. I am glazing the world. Here are a few examples.
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| Moon and Stars |
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| Eiffel Tower |
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| Malibu, CA |
Friday, November 30, 2012
Horseless Steeple Chase
I had a very scarey dream the other night. Remember the commercial that showed during the days around Halloween regarding the horseless headsman for Snickers? I thought it was a really cute commercial. I liked it.
Well, I dreamed a few days ago that this type creature was chasing me. Except it was not this guy. It was very similar, in fact exactly the same, EXCEPT the head was that of Tom Cruise. His teeth were HUGE. I was so frightened. I have NO idea why Tom Cruise. I am sure it means something but I can't explain 'em. I can only dream 'em. Also, I do not know why it was so frightening to me. I am not sure what he intended to do once he caught me. Perhaps roll over me with his big head. I never found out because I did escape him.
Well, I dreamed a few days ago that this type creature was chasing me. Except it was not this guy. It was very similar, in fact exactly the same, EXCEPT the head was that of Tom Cruise. His teeth were HUGE. I was so frightened. I have NO idea why Tom Cruise. I am sure it means something but I can't explain 'em. I can only dream 'em. Also, I do not know why it was so frightening to me. I am not sure what he intended to do once he caught me. Perhaps roll over me with his big head. I never found out because I did escape him.
Monday, November 12, 2012
And I Would Like to Thank...
I would like to thank all of my friends for the best birthday ever. Really. I don't know why but this year was just really special. Maybe because as I am getting older and my future birthdays are fewer in number than my past birthdays, birthdays are becoming more special to me. This year was no exception.
Firstly, I would like to say that God certainly smiled on me when he passed out friends. I have THE BEST FRIENDS anyone could ever hope to have! I have been so blessed in this aspect of my life. I love my family but I love my friends too. I would NOT be happy without both categories. One is as important as the other to my way of thinking. Your family 'has' to put up with your shenanigans but your friends do not. They are good barometers of one's behavior. You can tell by their reactions as to whether or not you might be going a little bit too extreme. See, both categories are necessary, are they not?
It is sad for me to say that I have lost a friend or two along the way. I have not lost any lately though meaning in the past two or three decades. One lives and learns. Unfortunately, some learning experiences have costly consequences. However, one learns the most from these expensive experiences. As Oscar Wilde would say "Experience is the name people give to their mistakes." It is a good school but the tuition is high. No one has ever accused me of being a poor student and that goes for the school of experience too. I have learned much.
My special friends, Carol, Vickie, Shelly and Ellen all made my birthday extra special this year. I feel so lucky and so fortunate.
Okay, I am changing gears here slightly.
Shelly and Ellen decided I would do well to get one of these. This is called the Furniture Friend sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. We noticed some slubby snags on the sofa that this might divert against any future slubby snags.
Never let it be said that cats lack an inventive mind. Nigel is providing the service to the other cats of removing the furniture friend so more slubby snags can be gained!
Oh yeah, cat shaped universe and all of that....
Firstly, I would like to say that God certainly smiled on me when he passed out friends. I have THE BEST FRIENDS anyone could ever hope to have! I have been so blessed in this aspect of my life. I love my family but I love my friends too. I would NOT be happy without both categories. One is as important as the other to my way of thinking. Your family 'has' to put up with your shenanigans but your friends do not. They are good barometers of one's behavior. You can tell by their reactions as to whether or not you might be going a little bit too extreme. See, both categories are necessary, are they not?
It is sad for me to say that I have lost a friend or two along the way. I have not lost any lately though meaning in the past two or three decades. One lives and learns. Unfortunately, some learning experiences have costly consequences. However, one learns the most from these expensive experiences. As Oscar Wilde would say "Experience is the name people give to their mistakes." It is a good school but the tuition is high. No one has ever accused me of being a poor student and that goes for the school of experience too. I have learned much.
My special friends, Carol, Vickie, Shelly and Ellen all made my birthday extra special this year. I feel so lucky and so fortunate.
Okay, I am changing gears here slightly.
Shelly and Ellen decided I would do well to get one of these. This is called the Furniture Friend sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. We noticed some slubby snags on the sofa that this might divert against any future slubby snags.
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| Furniture Friend |
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| Nige Gets Jiggy |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
There was once an old woman that lived in a...
...cat shaped universe and it was me.
I am weird. At least I am when I compare myself to others. The truth is and really this is the truth, I am one of the happiest people on the planet...UNTIL...I begin comparing myself to others. As long as I am not comparing, I am happy, happy, happy flitting around in my world kind of like a bumble bee from flower to flower.
But when the comparisons begin, the doubts creep in. Should I have zigged when I zagged? Should I have turned right instead of left? Comparisons are wrong, aren't they? We are all the same yet we are all individuals. What is right for me, is probably not what is right for you and vice versa. So goes the story, there are many truths. There is my truth and there is your truth. Then, there are the millions of other truths on the planet.
Often I have to remind myself to stop with the comparisons. As long as I stay in my cat shaped universe, I am on cloud nine. A happier woman has never lived.
This is how it looks inside my cat shaped universe. Other people that live in cat shaped universes will get it.
"Once upon a time, a woman living in a cat shaped universe bought a chair. It turned out to be a cat shaped chair but only she could see that. Well, not only 'she' could see it but 'someone' else saw that too.
That someone else made it 'his' chair. The woman was happy with that because she did live in a cat shaped universe after all. Then, the woman decided that she needed another chair. This time she would get a human shaped chair because she was a human living in a cat shaped universe. She wanted her own chair that fit her. But as it turned out...
But when the comparisons begin, the doubts creep in. Should I have zigged when I zagged? Should I have turned right instead of left? Comparisons are wrong, aren't they? We are all the same yet we are all individuals. What is right for me, is probably not what is right for you and vice versa. So goes the story, there are many truths. There is my truth and there is your truth. Then, there are the millions of other truths on the planet.
Often I have to remind myself to stop with the comparisons. As long as I stay in my cat shaped universe, I am on cloud nine. A happier woman has never lived.
This is how it looks inside my cat shaped universe. Other people that live in cat shaped universes will get it.
Once There Was a Woman
This chair was also cat shaped. What to do? What to do? There is only one thing to do. Just be happy and live. Cat shaped universes are all about sharing."
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