Lazy day

Beaker found a half full can of cat food that was supposed to go to the outdoor cats and had a pig out.  So stuffed he could hardly move. I am so surprised that the rest of the Underfeet didn't join in.

What happens when momma takes a potty break.

Catification

You know you have too many cats when you download 250 pictures from your camera, and they are ALL pix of your cats.

Maybe I should change the name of this blog to "Too Many Cats" ... ?

Quinn trying to find some space at the foot of the bed

How many cats can fit in one laundry basket?

Two is decidedly more comfortable.

Newest Underfeet (Domino and Beaker) helping Dad pay the bills.

Zinger and Quinn vying for a bit of winter sun.

Stupor Times

Not much is going on creatively these days.  I am in the midst of my winter stupor.  Kinda like the bear (that Lord Opuson insists is my totem), I tend to hibernate during the greys.  I have gotten several new books that I have been reading and thinking VERY hard about, but the drive to actually DO something just isn't there. The SAD really has a grip on me hard this year.

A huge bright spot in my life these last couple of weeks,  has been the addition of the Mighty Little Quinn.  I know that I am already deemed the crazy cat lady, so what is one more?

She and the rest of her siblings were found under the house when DH crawled under there  to turn on the water for our new refrigerator (which started leaking yesterday, causing a mad scrabble back under the house - no new kittens this time, thank goodness).

Found homes for the 4 other babies, but this cutie I just couldn't resist (I know that I should say no to more, but when you see her pix, you will understand).  She gets along so well with the boys, she follows them around like a little sister (which was what we were calling her till I could find a good name).  According to the "name your cat" source I found on-line, Quinn is Celtic for "fifth".

Quinn bonding with Lord Opuson

Quinn and Zinger Looking down on us mere mortals from the lofty height
of their cat perch

This little face just melts my heart.

Totally Catified

I am totally gaga over the kittens.  I know that I will not be able to keep them, but am totally enjoying them while they are here.
   Nermal has been such a good mother to the brood, which I am very grateful for as she looks to be very young herself.  She is really starting to trust us, which I hope will make it easier to get her spayed when this is over.  Still won't let us pick her up, but we are slowly gaining her confidence.
  The little ones are starting to explore their world.  Two are very brave and have started to come towards the door every time it opens.  Opuson says not to name them, as it will make it that much harder to part with them when the time comes, but I just can't help it. The really adventurous little boy I am calling Tofur and his almost as brave brother is Tiger.
   The other 4 tend to stay in their basket or the immediate area and one refuses to leave it at all (I think she is the only girl of the bunch - still not 100% on the sex of all of them as they are so hard to tell apart).  She is Mynee.  Eenie, Meenie and Moe have yet to id themselves.
    If you are tired of kitten pictures, just skip the rest of this post, as that is all there is for today.  Tomorrow I start working on my Bead Soup Blog Hop mix .... today I play with the kittens.

Tofur was already heading out as I snapped this one

Feeling a bit crowded here

Yep, I'm sure ... definitely crowded.  

Momma wanted to see what I was up to.  She how brave she is getting!

This is either Tiger or Tofur.

Little Mynee doesn't feel safe leaving the nest yet.

Kitten Momma

   We have cats - mainly the Underfoot Clan, indoor and spoiled.
   We also have ferals that show up periodically. They took shelter in the blackberry vines that used to grow in our backyard.  We had the vines cleaned out this past summer and the ferals moved on, except for one.  He became more and more brave, coming up to the back porch.  We could not resist feeding him, and he became our outdoor cat, or O.D. We believe he has been neutered by the catch and release people, as he has a notched ear and does not spray.  He has thus far resisted all attempts to pick up, but will allow a few gentle pets when eating.  After Prince passed on, Opus started taking more of an interest in OD. He got a bed for him on the porch, put a tarp shelter around it when the weather got bad, and got him a water dispenser. And he claims not to like cats ...  doesn't fool me for a second.
   A short time ago, another cat showed up and O.D. took a real liking to her.  They played together and he even shares his bed with her.  I noticed that she was getting a little fat, and at first thought it was because we were feeding her regular meals.  Then it dawned on me that she was expecting ... oh, dear.  She is so shy - we have yet to be able pet her even when feeding.
   I was very worried about her as I know the survival rate for kittens in the winter is not high, and she looks to be barely out of kitten hood herself.  I was afraid that the first time she left her kittens to get food, they would freeze. She apparently knows suckers when she sees them, because .... what greets Opus when he left for PT this morning?  Kittens on our front porch!!!  She was having kittens in the kitty bed she shares with OD.  Oh, dear .... now what?  I can't get near her to move her anywhere warmer ... The most I can do is move a heater out in there (even that freaked her out).
  When I took this pix earlier today, the count was 4 kittens.  I came back from my Dr appointment and there are 2 more.  I hope they survive ( then we will be a "cat house" for sure - 10 cats .... oh myyyy).
  After all this I am definitely getting her to a vet and neutered. Just have to catch her.There might be hope, she at least let me get close enough for this one picture before panic took over.

Nermal and her little ones 

No Privacy

I have no privacy, not even in the bath.

The Underfeet are everywhere.

Wednesday in the park with Prince

   I spent last week getting ready for and finally teaching my first legitimate class in domino art.  It was a very positive experience for me.  I did not stutter too much and only repeated myself a couple of times.  The main problem I did run into was time.  I only had a few people in the class, and since it is such an easy technique to learn, I had time to spare.  We spent it decorating more dominoes than I had planned for. I even made a few as demos and had a give away.

Examples of Domino pendants - same stamp, different colors

So, when I was done with the stress of that, I figured my PC muse would return.  No such luck.  Now I have the spring cleaning bug.  I found a used bookshelf that was in pretty good shape at Value Village.  I spent the early morning hunting down and sorting my beading, PC and jewelry books.  Now I actually have some empty shelves in my studio.  Maybe I can actually get some stuff up off the floor  now - LOL.  Maybe I will have it organized by the time Clay Camp rolls around in a few weeks.

Took Prince to the vet today for his weekly shot.  Since the weather was nicer this week than it has been (in other words, it wasn't raining), we stopped on the way home at the community center park and had a small picnic lunch.   We thought that he might enjoy a bit of a romp in the grass. But I guess it was still a bit too cold for the poor skinny boy. All he wanted to do was snuggle close to daddy. (he actually gained a couple of ounces past week - hurrah).

I smell chicken! 

Successful Transfers at Last

When I first got into Polymer Clay, one of the techniques that really intrigued me was image transfer.  However,  it was one technique that caused me all sorts of trouble. I tried every method that I could find during my first claying year - all without luck.  I gave up, as I was kinda an instant gratification gal and there were so many other avenues to explore that did work. 

Then,  at one Clay Carnival,  Donna Kato showed me her technique.  It worked.  I was happy - for a brief time. Then, as luck had it, the paper Donna recommenced changed. Transfers using her method no longer worked.  So I put transfers aside again, but the desire was always there.

Lynda at SC Diva has been doing wonderful transfers that I have been drooling over. I finally I gave into my Muse,  broke down and purchased her tut.  Success at last.  I am so happy with my results.   Take a look.

Can you tell I like Cats?

A cat  of a different stripe

And something different

Thanks hugely Lynda!

Equal Time

Started to blog about some transfers I did recently, when Prince Pippin Underfoot demanded my attention.  He pointed out, and rightly so, that I have NOT included him in any of my blogs. How dare I forget him!  After all, he is patriarch of the Underfoot Clan.

About Time people see how handsome I am!

Tuesday Afternoon

Amber Fatone says that I pay too much attention to Eyesis.  So she demanded that I post a photo of her. Here she is posing pretty.

I'm so pretty, oh so pretty....how does the rest of that song go ?

Momma's little helper??



But Momma, I'm just trying to help! Really...trust me....

 Eyesis Rue  can't stand not knowing what is happening since I have been cleaning (which means moving stuff around) in my studio.  She is the most curious cat in the whole Underfoot Clan.  Her little nose is into everything. I can not turn around or try to sit down without almost sitting on her.  She has to inspect everything and approve of where I am moving it to.

Smiling Kats part 11

Us??!  What every would make you think we had ANYTHING to  do with that mouse in your shoe?

I liked my little cat pendant so much, that when I discovered I had a reverse stamp of the same image, I just had to  experiment with it too.  The Underfoot Clan were my inspiration for this piece.  Eyesis Rue is, of course, the little black kitty. Her much bigger sister, Amber Fatone, is a tordie and the model for the larger cat. If only they got along as well in real life as these kitties do in the pendant....sigh.

Smiling Kats

I have been experimenting with PanPastel Artist Pastels.  Our guild had a presentation by PC artist Shirley Rufener where she showed techniques utilizing these wonderful chalks.  I sent off for a pack and have had been very happy with them. The color is very intense so a little goes a long way.  Here is a little pendant that was created when I was just playing with a bit of left over clay, but I was very pleased at the result.

One Spoiled Brat Cat

I should be claying, but instead am curled up on the couch watching the pilot episode of  "Harry's Law". I like it, then again I have been a fan of Kathy Bates for a long time.

  Of course, having a free lap is just too much temptation for my littlest Underfoot.  I have always wanted a lap cat that would prefer MY lap (the majority of my furry friends find my hubbies lap more comfortable). The Eyesis Rue (aka "the Bit" or Puff) uses any and every excuse to crawl in and get comfortable.  Took this pix with my cell phone, so it is rather grainy. 

But I do have a piece in the oven baking so this time is not a total waste.  Am also washing the clothes I will be packing for my trip to Tucson this week for the big Bead Show. I have never been and have wanted to go for years. Since I am not getting any younger, I decided to treat myself for my birthday.  I am so excited - will be taking several classes with my favorite polymer clay instructor and all around great person, Christi Friesen. I am  going to be staying with my friend Donna at her sister's house and am also looking forward to see her family again.  This experience should give me a lot to write about.