After being away, all that kneading makes me feel special.

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For most of August, we were in Michigan, New York, then we went back to Phoenix, AZ for a bit, then we drove down to Tucson, AZ. Now we're back! 

I'm somewhere in this crowd :) I have a few more photos here.

Today China Cat is 16!

 Today is China Cat's 16th Birthday! 

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She was hoping to nap in some sun puddles but it's raining. We are getting lots of rain from that Hurricane Isaac and that means we will probably get thunder too.....that means that I will have to hide under the bed! 

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But until it thunders I told China Cat that I would snuggle with her on the couch so she can stay warm, even without a sun puddle! 

I am a very warm big cat and I love China Cat.

Denim and Flowers

Okay, I am going to start off by telling you this is not my most favorite suit, but it is still a pretty good suit. Please do not pay attention to the fact that the skirt is flipped up in back. This was a mistake by my stylist...

I can just ignore the flipped up flap in back and model real good. I think the denim and flowery fabrics look nice together. What do you think?

I know! Maybe my fancy blond hairs will help my look!

Or maybe not.

ps: Exciting news! Harley and I were interviewed by the Funny Farmer Felines! You can read our interview on Mousebreath, or by clicking on the cool badge, below.

 

Harleymaniac Eyes

I LIKE to be on CAMERA.  My Mommeh says I am a HAM.  Daisy says I am more like a TURKEY though.  

Here is a great MOVIE of me, and you can see my EYEBALLS moving just like a KIT KAT CLOCK!

If you cannot SEE  the movie HERE, you can watch it in FULL SIZE on YouTube!

Society of Feline Gardeners- Thursday in the Garden with Jonesie

 ::Meowwww::

 

I've been enjoying the dry warm days of late summer.  The weather has been purrfect!  Mom picked some of the basil I grew and she made a batch of pesto.  She thanked me since it wouldn't have been possible without my garden paw and tender loving care.

 

Which brings me to a point...

 You may have read the nonsense posted by my brothers earlier this week, all claiming to be mom's favorite.   I hate to burst their bubble, because I'm nice that way, but I know the truth.

 

Mom loves ME best!  Not that I like to brag or anything. I'm a rather modest cat and I don't much like the attention.  I prefer to be low key.  My purr is tender and sweet.  You may not know this but I too sing to toys in the middle of the night.  It's not just Cory.  I don't sing opera, but I sing light pop...very sweet and not very complicated.

 I love my garden and all the plants and bugs and trees and grass all love me.  I spend my days in the garden, but come in before dark.  I play a game with mom and dad and I pretend I don't want to come in.  I let them chase me for a few seconds and then I flop and make them carry me inside.  I would hate to spend the night outside. 

 

I was homeless once and I know what it feels like to be alone in the dark.  I hated it.

 

So not only does my mom love me best, my dad loves me best and the best of all?  Grete loves me best too!  As my good pal Alfie Marshall would say...Fact!

Sports vest

As much as I may lack talent for any sports - and sadly I do  - this slight inadvertence doesn't stop me from coveting the amazing sportswear of the 20's and 30's. Can't even legitimate my love for this gear through attending sports events as a spectator, I'm that disinterested.

Luckily, the modern ways of wearing sports clothing as casual wear are for once in favour of my inclinations. It is still tough to push through an equestrian outfit when missing the horse, but I reckon this cricket looking little number won't have to face the same challenges.

As you can see it was inspired by the beautiful fair isle example above. Unfortunately mother doesn't do fair isle, but what I wanted was to replicate the shape, which went pretty well. 

It's also done in a coarser Shetland type wool, which means the overall effect is somewhat bulkier and rougher. I love very textured yarns that cry out loud their provenance. 

I've been wearing this the other day when it started raining, and the wool immediately gave that typical sheep whiff. I was instantly transported back into my childhood to those moments when I was helping my grandmother wash the sheared wool at the river. Actually, the natural, undyed wool in this vest still comes from that village. Good.

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Wordy Wednesday

 Hi there pals!  I heard that yesterday Ginger and Madison caused a fuss because they claimed to be mom's favorite.  Well guess what?

 

They're wrong!!!

 

Oh yeah, that's right because...::shhh:: don't tell anyone...but I'm mom's favorite!

 

Mom tells me so all the time!  I'm her most favorite beefy black house panther boy on the planet! 

 She adores me because when I came to live here I was a total basket case.  So afraid of everything and everyone.   But not anymore!  Now I hang out with the other kitties and while I am invisible to ALL but mom and dad, I know that mom waits for me at night and I alone snuggle up with her and mash my cute and mighty nose into her hands.  Ok, I grind my nose as hard as I can into my mom.  That's how much we love each other.  Sometimes I drool.   Mom says I have the softest manfur and I am her sweet and gentle boy.

 

I used to be outside and alone and now I won't go near a door.  I still worry that if I go outside I might never get back in. 

 

And that breaks mom's heart.  She would do anything to protect me.

 

That's why I know she loves me best.

Work wear?

Well, I guess it depends on the line of work. It is work wear for me, because I am lucky in that I can wear what I like at work, so I keep it smart-casual whilst wearing my vintage, mixed, or vintage inspired wardrobe like in this case. After some years of imposed dress code or even uniform, I am appreciative of this freedom.

All clothes are modern, the blouse is a French Connection ebay buy,  a chiffon silk little thing which I thought had nice vintage lines. Paired with a newly acquired butterfly guilloche vintage necklace (that may or may not make it in  to my shop) and with Deco end of day beads.

Say Cheese!

Harley. Hey... Harley! Give us your best smile for the camera!

 

Um, maybe don't smile quite so big this time...

Okay, now give hugs!

And for this photo, your choice of expressions.

HARLEY!

Recovering a Lampshade

Continuing on the same theme as my last post (lamps for my living room), I had two brass lamps I painted a pale blue color.  I had found a lampshade at a thrift store for one of them, but was trying to find a shade to fit the second.  On a trip to Lowe's one day I walked by this:

For a second I hesitated and thought, "Is that a mistake?" Then I realized it might have something to do with the fabric starting to fall off (which I didn't care about because I was going to replace the fabric anyway). Luckily it was the right shape for my lamp (some other shades I had seen were too short and looked odd with my tall, skinny lamp) and was definitely within my budget!

I brought it home and pulled off the outer fabric completely. The inner fabric was fine and I decided to leave it that way. When I got the outer fabric off the frame I laid it on top of the new fabric I was going to use and cut out two of the same shape (leaving some extra around the edges for seam allowance and for attaching to the frame).

After cutting out the two pieces I sewed them together, slipped it onto the lampshade frame and folded up the raw edges along the bottom and top openings, securing with hot glue.

After gluing I trimmed the excess and glued a strip of bias tape around the inside to cover the raw edge, folding over the end to make a nice, clean finish.

Thus completed my second living room lamp!

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I'll be linking up to these fabulous link parties:

The DIY Showoff Project Parade -- Sunday Showcase Party -- Think Pink Sundays

Tabby Tattletale Tuesday

 

Hey there pals!  Last week furriends of ours posted about how each and every one of their family is special and unique. 

 

I thought I'd do my own take on this...you know.

 

Why I'm my mom's favorite!

 

Of course each and every one of us thinks WE are the favorite...but I KNOW it's ME!

 

No one can grind the leaves and dirt into their furs like I can.  I'm smart, sassy and give the best bear hugs in the world.  Did you know that I also give kissies at the same time I'm giving bear hugs?   Even though I'm a big beefy mancat, I have a squeaky little meow.  I love being brushed.   When mom calls me I come running like a woofie.  I also was smart enough to pick my own name.  When I was first rescued, Mom bought a bag of gingersnaps from the store and every time she talked about the cookies I responded.  I love my name.

 

 Hey wait a minute Ginger...I'm mom's favorite! 

 

HA!  No way Madison, it's ME!

 

Nuh-uh Ginger...I'll tell you why...

 

I've been with mom for 16 whole years now and mom says that she loves me every day but not as much as she'll love me tomorrow since she'll love me another whole days worth.  I got 16 years worth on you!  She loves the way I waddle around and holler and stuff over nothing.  I'm handsome and I love to be brushed WAY more than anyone...I come running when I see the Furminator.   I used to be kinda goofy and semi-feral, but now I let mom pick me up and kiss on me whenever she wants.   Mom adores the way I snore.  I've always snuffled and snored since I was a baby kitten.   It's adorable.

 

 

Monday Funnies

ps: Today on the PetMeds Pet Talk blog, I have a little confession to make: I done a bad thing...

 

Hi there!  I know this is a silly picture of me, but mom says I'm silly sometimes.

 

In honor of my furriend Brulee's 1st Birthday today, a bunch of my furriends and I are going to the party.  It's a circus theme, so we are all dressed as clowns.  Can you tell which one is me?  How about my boyfurriend Alfie (yes he's there too)?

 

Hope to see you at the party!

When I wake up, he runs away.

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Just an FYI, I’m still out. 

I'm Going to Disneyland... Right?

This is a super-special suit! Here are all the special things it has: pink, sparkles, Minnie mouse, tulle, and a pretty bow. Oh, and it has me wearing it!

WHAT?!?!? I cannot go to Disneyland, even though I am wearing my special Minnie Mouse suit? Apparently I am not tall enough to ride the rides.

This makes me very sad because I already have my E ticket and everything. Rats

HEY! How did this picture get published?! MOMMEH!