What you doing in there?

Why does my cat Buddy have a special fascination with the bathroom while I'm using it?

If I don't let him in with me, he meows mournfully on the other side of the door. If that approach doesn't work, he will put his paws under the door and wave desperately. Does he think I'm going to be swallowed by the toilet? Is he guarding me in moments of vulnerability? Or maybe he just enjoys watching the water swirl around the bowl...it's a mystery!

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge

Crazy Cat Lady Day....

I'm not a crazy cat lady but sometimes cats are the answer to everything. 

Having a bad day? Cats. Having a bad week? Cats. Having a bad year? Cats. 

They can somehow make everything better... How?  Because they're cats, that's how. 

These made me smile today......

"His arrival was foretold in the ancient murals!" 

"The Slippery Struggle of Ice Fishing..."

Hope your week is going well, If not I hope the kittens helped!

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

BOO Y'ALL....

As seen on all*you blog

Make a Kittycat Pumpkin Craft for Halloween

Craft this adorable pumpkin overflowing with kitties for the cutest Halloween decoration.

YOU'LL NEED

• Scissors
• Ribbon in a variety of widths and patterns
• Large pumpkin, hollowed out
• Craft glue
• Thumbtacks
•  Ear Template
• Black cardstock
• Pencil
• Patterned scrapbook paper
• 5 small foam pumpkins
• Hot glue gun
• 10 black thumbtacks or 10 1/4" black buttons
• Black floral wire
• 5 pencils, sharpened
• Florist foam

1. Cut pieces of ribbon long enough to extend from inside top edge of large pumpkin to the underside. Starting at bottom, use craft glue to attach ribbon pieces one by one to each pumpkin rib (the raised part between the grooves). Secure end inside pumpkin with a thumbtack.

2. Print templates and cut out. Place ear and nose templates on black card stock and trace around, making 5 noses and 5 pairs of ears. Cut out. Place inner-ear template on patterned paper and trace around, making 5 pairs. Cut out.

3. Use craft glue to attach a patterned-paper inner ear to each black-card-stock outer ear. Let dry. Hot-glue one pair of ears to each small pumpkin.

4. For eyes, insert a pair of black thumbtacks into each pumpkin, or use craft glue to attach a pair of black buttons. Attach a nose to each pumpkin with craft glue. Cut four 1½″-long pieces of wire for each pumpkin. Attach two wires on either side of nose with hot glue.

5. Arrange foam in bottom of large pumpkin. Insert sharpened end of a pencil into bottom of each kitten pumpkin and insert other end into foam. Prop top of pumpkin on kittens.

(As seen on all*you blog)

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

10 Reasons Why Cats Love Camping



1)      Relaxation - an endless sun spot for warmth, no shifting required.

2)      Family Time – no one is in a hurry, there are many folding chairs to lounge on.

3)      Amusements – an abundance of new toys: falling leaves, rolling acorns, fuzzy

dandelions, wild catnip, hidey holes in tree stumps and tall grass…

4)      Bird Watching – unlimited opportunities to view new feathered friends.

5)      Career Advancement – a new position in the pack as Lookout. Keeping pesky bears (moose, raccoons, armadillos, coyotes, etc.) at bay.

6)      Sleep Options – anywhere; nothing is off limits when camping.

7)      Hunting – a million bugs to chase down and extinguish.

8)      Claw Maintenance – after hunting bugs and such, there are scratching posts everywhere!

9)      Sleeping Bags – purrrrfect for a cozy cat nap.

10)   A Giant Litter Box – no time outs for going "outside" the litter box.



Oh yes, cats LOVE camping!

(Vintage post card)

She's on her broomstick again.....

Witches and black cats have become the standard symbols of Halloween.

But where did these traditions come from?

Legend tells of witches arriving on broomsticks and gathering each year on Halloween to celebrate at a party hosted by the devil. The superstitious claimed that witches cast spells on unsuspecting people, could change themselves into different forms, and caused other magical mischief. One superstition said if you wanted to meet a witch, you had to put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night, at midnight a witch would appear. When European settlers arrived in America they brought many superstitions with them, including their belief in witches and the mischief they take pleasure in on Halloween.


Original Art Available on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82093506/halloween-wicked-witch-original-art
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72329769/halloween-owl-picture-horned-owl-photo
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58542704/scrabble-tile-pendant-are-you-afraid-of

The black cat has often been associated with a witch. One old tale said that a witch could shape shift into a cat. Other tales said black cats were the spirits of the dead. The most common superstition, "if a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck" still causes people to go in the opposite direction to avoid a stretch of bad luck.

Original Art on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79927363/mean-kitty-bites-jack-o-lantern-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75052838/halloween-gift-tags-scary-witch-be
http://www.etsy.com/listing/54386345/love-under-the-moonlight-original


 There are many other superstitions associated with Halloween.

For example, the Welsh believed that when you sneezed you blew the soul out of the body. this is where “God bless you” originated. If someone sneezed on Halloween, it was especially dangerous because the devil could capture their soul.

Other cultures believed that owls swooped down to eat the souls of the dying. If an owl was heard hooting, the superstitious would get scared and believed that turning pockets inside out would keep them safe from Owls.

While eating dinner on Halloween, Africans brought to America as slaves would eat in complete silence to encourage spirits to come to the table.

There is also a lot to be said about babies born on Halloween. It once was thought children born on this day could see and talk to ghosts and spirits, it was called the gift of second sight. Additionally, Halloween babies are supposed to enjoy lifelong protection against evil spirits.

 

Halloween is one of the oldest and the second most popular holiday (only to Christmas) in America. Today it is portrayed as time for fun, friends and family. Some still see it's superstitious nature or ties to the deceased. Some religions even view it as an unholy holiday. But whatever your view, you can't deny the fascinating nature of Halloween.

Don't forget the Kitty .....

 

It's official, we will be moving within the next 30 days. Our cat is a little anxious about moving again, he seems to be making sure that he is not left behind. No worries Beau... you're going with us.

I'm excited about the move; my lampwork studio will be back in business.  For the last two years we have been living in a townhouse that does not have space for my studio, and every room has automatic sprinklers. I didn't want to take a chance by firing up the torch, kiln, and other heat producing gadgets; sudden rain inside the house is never good!  The new house will have a room just for my studio...Yippeee!