Red Carpet

I was given this wonderful award, with no help from that stinky dog. My fellow feline, Bobo, was kind enough to think of me, people of fur unite!

Thank you so much Bobo, we love reading about your adventures at Bobo's Fun Place, thanks also to Julie for providing you with a computer.

While I am hesitant to let this well deserved award out of my paws I will gladly share it with other deserving felines and some equally deserving humans.

First the the rules of accepting are as follows and as I see it and there's only one:

Be a super kitty like me.

If you did not meet this stringent requirement and happen to be human than please skip down to rules 1-4.

1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Arista Blog
Art Books, Arte Livros
Drawing to an End
Jennifer Morris Illustration
J. L. Meyer Illustrations
Sketched Out
Studio LoLo

Actually this is such a limited list, everyone at Illustration Friday and beyond has been such an inspiration and over the top supportive, it's better than therapy! Thanks to everyone!

dog day afternoon

I made this sign for our dog in illustrator, the dog only took about ten minutes and the font is classic calvin & hobbes. We had a goodbye party last night (yawn) for my husband's right-hand-man who is moving to Japan (he's actually on a plane right now, talk about cutting it close). Our dog is such a mooch and usually overeats at these events, or should I say gets overfeed, by yes, you Mike! People are such suckers for his big brown eyes.

The party started at five, and in his office that means 5:00 if not eariler. At approximately 4:30 Jenny, super-lab-rescuer, stopped by to take the crazed chocolate lab puppy for a sleepover at his potential forever home. 4:45, husband leaves front door open as he shows the caterers where to set up (best tacos ever!) 4:46 puppy sprints for door, past hubby and caterer, across street, inching by white lincoln ltd (people still drive those boats?), proceeds in an erratic zig-zag motion toward freedom and the promised land down our street with his captors in hot pursuit. Caterer guy provides laugh track. Neighbor catches dog while simultaneously doubling over in laughter induced convulsions, we return to house and the audience of guests which has now formed. I still haven't showered or vacuumed. Party On!

illustration friday - foggy

I'm wiped out from this crazy week of work, husband, husband's work (his entire office will be here in five hours) and puppy-mania. Good news is our crazy, lovable foster pouch is having a sleepover tonight with what maybe his forever home (fingers and toes crossed). I will miss him, the alliance of cat, dog and husband, who all voted him out of the house, will not.

bad dog, down!

It's been like herding cats around here, calgon take me away!

zombies

Every summer the island fills up with visitors escaping the Arizona heat.

the challenge to post continues

Still posting stuff I sketched but didn't have a chance to scan and post with all the mayhem going on around here.

cat soup?

What's all this talk of cat soup?

ketchup

I'm still playing catch-up as I fall further behind -- but will post willy-nilly until I do.

Summer Lovin'

We will be so sad when our young intern finds a full time family, sniff, our cat, not so much.

illustration friday - sour

Sweet and sour, hungry in an hour.
I'm copping out this week, I just can't catch up, (umm ketchup)

life is what happens when you're trying to illustrate

With only three days into my 21 day challenge my hubby unexpectedly returned from the edge of the earth (yay!) and we starting fostering a chocolate (read: crazy) lab t-ween (50lb puppy). So now I'm playing catch-up, as soon as I return my arms to their sockets.

killing time w/jenn

I needed to kill some time before I head out to the airport. Thanks Jenn!! (http://jemorris.blogspot.com)

illustration friday - fierce

all I could think of for this weeks topic is my fierce backyard hunter. when she gets bored chasing moths she usually eats a bunch of grass, comes back into the house and spits it up all over the carpet, what a pain!

woof - day 2

ugh - very late night working, why does the east coast have to wake up so early? I think my dog is in cohoots with my client -- this is the "let's go to the beach" face that I woke up to at the crack of dawn. I kept hitting the snooze but it was all cold and wet.

ack - day 1

okay, gulp, following the lead of one of my inspirers (say that three times fast) sketched out I'm going to try and do the 21-day-self-esteem-buster creative challenge in hopes of improving my technique.

I probably should start this when I have more time, but then that would be never. here's my first installment...a very quick doodle of my kitty helping me last night with my needlepoint. yes, the cat spit did make the yarn easier to use.

illustration friday - hoard

Saving a little somethin-somethin for later (it is the longest day of the year after all.)

illustration friday - punchline

One of my fav-o-rite jokes:

A panda walks into a bar, sits down, and orders a sandwich. He eats the sandwich, pulls out a gun, and shoots the waiter dead. As the panda stands up to go, the manager shouts, "Hey! Where are you going? You just shot my waiter, and you didn't even pay for your sandwich!"

"Hey, man, I'm a PANDA!" the panda shouts back. "Look it up!"

The manager opens his dictionary and reads:

"Panda: A tree-dwelling marsupial of Asian origin, characterized by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves."

church ladies. well, isn't that special?

Okay I'll stop complaining about poor grammar because these goofs really made me smile.

Thank goodness for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced during church services.

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you..

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours".

freerice.com

I've been feeling really sad for the people of Burma (maynmar) as of late. I guess since no aid is getting to them all we can do is send them our prayers. Freerice.com helps feed the world, it's the least we can do.

illustration friday - forgotten

Have you forgotten we have illustration friday to do?

pet peeve

Why does the NYT and the AP insist on misspelling Navy SEALs? Does this bug anyone else? The editors seem to think Navy SEALs are pinnipeds and constantly refer to them as Seals. Ouch, it's like nails on a chalkboard, much like when people say they are doing good, instead of well. My husband has started calling me "Orwell" because of my habit of saying under my breath, "or well" when people misuse the word good. He claims it is perfectly correct to use the word "good" as long as it is modified by "pretty" and you add a slight twang to your voice.

illustration friday - baby

Hey Baby!
Let the cat calls begin, summer's here!

missing cap'n crunch

My mother-in-law worries about what I'm eating. My husband is the cook in the family and he's away for a while doing that military thing. I reassure her that I have a great recipe for cap'n crunch and milk (my cat loves that one), the dog prefers pb&j's, easy on the j.

illustration friday - worry

I waste a lot of time worrying, I'm trying to "newman-out" like my furballs.

illustration friday - wide

An on going problem here, recycled cat food, ick!

chucks

Here is a doodle of my chucks. I also have a pair of black high tops.

flowers from jenny

My dear friend Jenny sent me flowers to cheer me up, and it worked! They are wonderful purple tulips.

Illustration Friday - electricity

Q. How Many Dogs Does It Take to Change A Light Bulb?

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

Rottweiler: Make me.

Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I lead these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb?

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there ...

Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

Australian Cattle Dog: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little cluster...

Toy Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

and a last minute addition the Couture Dog (aka mixed breed) Let's get Brian to do it, (thanks Connie, didn't mean to leave them off the list).

The Cat's Answer: Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is: How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?

shelter tails

There are so many reasons to adopt a dog out of a shelter here are just three, Max, Bruce and Roxy. I met them on the beach this morning.Max is a doberman puppy extremely sweet and loveable, made extra cute 'cause he hasn't had his ears or tail docked. Bruce is a basset hound and little older. His owners couldn't keep him because of the new baby, but he found an excellent home with Anya.

Roxy is a rottie-shepard mix, another sweetie-pie, with huge paws. It was her first time at the beach and she loved it!

demand-o-cat

I've been trying to get some work done today, but apparently someone needs some attention.

mad-dog

Another attempt at my niece, sans monkey. I think this one is a little better.

monkey

This is my niece and her best friend. Well she's really much, much cuter than this, I'm still experimenting with my new watercolours.

illustration friday - seed

"Everyone who enjoys, thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed. Herein lies the difference between them that create and them that enjoy." Nietzsche

Here is a little tribute to the seed packages that my grandmother used to have. I'm also trying out my new watercolours, yea.

illustration friday - wrinkles

Animals (people-of-fur) help so much in dealing with life's wrinkles,
and I'm having a very wrinkly week right now.

illustration friday - primitive

Due to her primitive methods, success was elusive.

illustration friday - fail

We FAIL to see why you go away on business trips when you know you work for us!

memories

missing my old cat the raven.

illustration friday - save

Save a shelter animal today! Beware of cats trying to pawn off the family dog.

Illustration Friday - Homage

Just another day at "Cleo-cat-tra" central.

Illustration Friday - Pet Pees

what's that? peeves? oooohh...

Illustration Friday - heavy

In preparation for st. patrick's day I wanted to send out a reminder to all, don't forget to have plenty of the black stuff with lots-o-craic (that's guinness and lots-o-fun). Fé thuairim sláinte do cat!

speaking of dinner

apparently i'm late...

soup

my husband made me spinach soup, ummmm. he's such a great cook and i'm so happy he's finally home.

illustration friday - garden

I was going through some boxes and came across some photos I took of the tree of life in Bahrain. Its survival is a mystery, living in the desert without any apparent water source for over 600 years. Maybe it lives off of coffee like I do. So, for no apparent reason, I doodled the garden of eden. (I also realized I still draw like I did in the third grade so not everything evolves).

neighbor's dog

he's not as innocent as he looks

illustration friday - leap

Yea I love extra days plus today is my sister's actual birthday, ribbit, so just a quick doodle, we're off (and leaving too) to celebrate.

illustration friday - multiple

Before we went to the v-e-t yesterday, my kitty got an acute case of multiple-leg syndrome when I tried to get her into the carrier.

Illustration Friday - theory

After all, gravity is only a theory isn't it?

Illustration Friday - Tails and legends

Tails and legends. I haven't posted in so long I felt I just needed to get something up here, so here it is, the tails and legends around our house. If only they could talk they'd have some tales to tell.