STANDARD CAT TIME

Just realized Tizzycat is operating on Standard Cat Time, 

NOT just showing up an hour early for his snack!  

(Come to think of it.... I prefer SCT to changing clocks twice
a year, too!)


⏰🐱❤️

MY BIRTHDAY BOY AT 17

Summer of 2000,  my Neighbor's son and
his pretty little year old Tortoiseshell
Cat, Nutty, (short for Nutmeg)
arrived from Las Vegas.
Just before leaving Vegas, Nutty got out.
Was gone for 2 weeks returning at
the last minute.

   
   
Tizzy's Mom, Nutmeg





     Arrived here and taken to the Vet for spaying,
Nutty had a surprise. A litter of kittens to deliver first.
What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but
the results happened in Philly.
     July 31, 2000 4 kittens delivered in the back
of a walk in closet. Sadly, one didn't make it.
But 2 tiny tigers and 1 tiny tuxie were fine.
Eyes closed and squeaking.
Nutty kept them fed, clean and together after
they started crawling.
    Picked up the tiny tuxie, he hissed
at me. Love at first hiss!
     Called him Tizzy, nickname of Thomas, the
mischievious little boy from the FLAMBARDS
TV series based on K M Peyton's books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flambards_(TV_series)
     8 weeks later, little Tizzy moved in.
     Showed him his new litterbox, food and water bowls,
new toys and soft new bed. Used the litterbox and
the bowls. Batted and chased the toys and tried out
his bed, my bed, chair, window sill, folded blankets and
daybed. And been doing it all ever since.
    2 weeks later, his sister Jasmine (Jazzy) came to visit.
Greeted her with hisses!! His house and wasn't sharing.
Happy Birthday Tizzybeans!!


    Tizzy going on 18.

 

9 CAT FACES ?

9 kitty faces sitting on the bed…..

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9

Looked again and now there are 10!

Fred E. Cat cannot resist a freshly made bed.

Cute Kitty cushion, a purrfect Christmas present from friends.

WISHING ALL FAMILY & FRIENDS A HEALTHY, 

PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS 2015

WHO KNEW?

December 15 is NATIONAL CAT HERDERS DAY!!
Con molti ringraziamenti al mio grande amico, Tomasso Di Paola
che mi ha mandato questa notizia di oggi.❤❤❤
Without a doubt, my new favorite holiday!!
Finally, something to celebrate on a magnificent scale.
Maybe a RODEO!!
Too late for this year…..but will be ready next time!!

©Tomie DePaola art - all rights reserved 

A PIANO TALE

Because our Mom was the apple of her Daddy's eye,

Mom on her Daddy's shoulder, Atlantic City, NJ around 1926.

He wanted her to have the best of everything.
Mom loved music.

So when she was eight years old, her Dad bought her a

piano. 

And it was GRAND! Actually, a small grand piano,

made by one of the best piano makers in the world.

Krakauer. 

Mom, age about 5 or 6, a few years behore she got her pian

Mom learned to play her beautiful piano.

She had it all her life. 

When she married.

Mom about 20, just before marriage.

Had the 4 of us.

.

We all played UNDER the piano.

We plunked keys.

Some of us took lessons...but only sister Susan

was good at it.

We moved 8 times growing up and Mom's piano

always went with us. It was restored, keys replaced

and refinished. Originally black, then rich auburn.

After each move, Mom had it tuned.

Sadly, Mom left us at the end of May.

Couldn't take anything with her, not even her
precious piano.

We are looking for a new home for her piano.

Happy Birthday Brother

My digi profile sketch "Uncle Jace's" wonderful biscotti recipe for They Draw & Cook http://www.theydrawandcook.com

Dentist, drummer, banjo player, jewelry maker, cook,
animal lover, husband.
Our "baby" brother and BIRTHDAY BOY!!

Wishing brother, Jonathan..... aka Jock, Jace, Jake, JC, Jon and Steve
(its a L O N G story) a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

That's brother Jock in the highchair (middle of the
last century at one of our birthday celebrations.
Just who's is a mystery).

BIRTHDAY GIRL AT 90

     Our Mom turns 90 today or as she likes to say (nodding to George Carlin) 32 celsius.
     
     Unconditional love, devotion, determination and great humor. 

     Lost her vision to the inherited disorder Retinitis Pigmentosa (ruined retinas due to the inability to metabolize vitamin A).  Completely blind for the last 30 years. 
    With equanimity and grace, accepting that which she could not change. Relinquishing the pleasures of the visual arts, live theater and shopping. Mom has never seen most of my books.
    Yet still taking great pleasure in music and conversation and family adventures. 
Interested in politics, the Franklin Institute Red Tail Hawks and the internet among other things.
     
     In fragile health these last few months.  
     Celebrating your milestone birthday with all our love, hugs, kisses, gourmet lunch and sweet potato pecan cupcakes with cream cheese icing!!


               ❤❤ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MOM!! ❤❤

                                                   
   

Paul Monasevitch / Marvelous New Work

Gorgeous new abstract painting by Paul Monasevitch
click on image to enlarge

So exciting to see this new work by abstract expressionist 

painter, Paul Monasevitch.

Paul Monasevitch is a fine painter and I am delighted 

to admit, my brother in law as well.

I love his paintings for their space, color, movement, 

texture and they are big, but never overwhelming.

Lively yet soothing. 

This new work is so engaging. 

The eye moves through the richly colored and decorative 

elements as they seem to float together and apart as if 

in creamy liquid.

Paul describes his painstakingly careful and time consuming

methodology on his web site http://www.paulmonasevitch.com/

A terrific opportunity to view Paul Monasevitch's work in person, 
including this new gem:

"Paintings by Paul Monasevitch" at the Marlin Gallery, Camden County College. Artist's Reception: May 30, 2012, 5 - 7:00 p.m.; Gallery Talk 6 p.m. 

Press release: http://www.camdencc.edu/pressroom/detail.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1445=24618

Spork Maestro

Recently, searched the Net for a combination fork 
and spoon eating utensil. 
Thought it might help my blind Mom eat more
comfortably.
Discovered the spork.
Familiar to kids and campers.
I wanted one that fit in with regular silverware.
Discovered the ETSY shop bosen / handcrafted
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Bosen

Mom's first Bosen made spork, photo ⓒ Bosen 2012, with permission

 Bosen, the shop proprietor and craftsperson, recycles

old worthy teaspoons of "good quality and with character",

painstakingly searched for in thrift stores and garage sales.

Then careful grinding, sanding and filing transforms them into

these useful and unique utensils. Often completing the

transformation by engraving a word like "NOURISH" or 

"Eat" on the stem. 

Bosen credits trying to eat penne pasta at lunch with 

a rounded spoon. Studying bronze casting at a foundry at

the time encouraged the thought of creating tines on the front

edge of the spoon. 

And it works magnificently! 

My Mom started raving immediately!

Amusingly, she was eating a penne pasta dish 

at the time.

I immediately sent for 2 more of Bosen's sporks for Mom.

Now I want some of my own.

These 2 Bosen sporks arrived yesterday, photos ⓒ Bosen 2012, with permission

When not "sporkifying" spoons, Bosen restores older steel 

bicycles and finds them new owners in the small town in

on the North shore of Monterey Bay in Central California

where Bosen lives. 

Bosen writes, "I am passionate about sustainable human 

powered transportation which means keeping every last 

bicycle out of landfills and scrap piles. I make a life of 

turning beat up, neglected old bicycles into smooth running, 

useful machines that will serve their owners for decades to come. 

I suggest you bring along your trusty unique Bosen spork 
for when you stop for lunch and/or dinner. Enjoy your meal.

Thanking its enigmatic, conscientious creator/ recycler.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Bosen

TZ's First Snowfall

The inspiration for my 2011 holiday card came from

a picture I took of baby Tizzy's first reaction to 

falling snow 11 and a half years ago.

(click image to see snow flakes) ⓒ carolyn croll 2011

It was early evening. Looking out the north window

at the falling flakes chirping his pure enchantment,

tail wagging.

See Dec. 23, 2008 post

A Day That Lives In Family

December 7, 2011, a day that lives in our family.

Wishing Mom a very Happy Birthday!!

So let the celebrating begin!!

Huge hugs and many kisses and all my love,

Carolyn

MyPad

Red Cat, Carolyn Croll ⓒ 2011

One tiny step for cat art, one GIANT step 

for me on my Ipad.

So proud of myself. Did this quickie sketch

of a red cat. 

Marks the first image I made on my Ipad using the SketchPro app

AND then somehow managed to transfer it to my Mac without

quite knowing how I did it. 

If I can figure that out, I intend to do it again.

Stay tuned.......

A Natural Master

bell-flower Frond, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

JoAnne Russo's striking large embellished
pods on their graceful textured branches
drew me in to her display at the 2011
Philadelphia Museum of Art Crafts Show.

blue-bud/ Joanne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

Upon closer inspection her spellbinding naturalistic 
forms become otherworldly in their scale textures 
and colors. Organic in material, waxed

linen cord, Renewable Palm ivory (Tagua nut) 

beads dyed. Looking even more closely, a zipper and/or

ordinary hook and eyes.

chameleon, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

Her love of nature evident in every imaginative piece.
Surprises rewarding those who look a little closer.
JoAnne's enchanted work reflects the skills she has 
acquired over 30 years as a master basket maker.

White-teapot, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

Guild- cactus, JoAnne Russo, photos Jeff Baird & Rachel Portesi, with permission

You can learn more about JoAnne Russo and see much more of her 

extraordinary work at:

http://joannerusso.com/

   

Uncommon Cents

Real change at the Philadelphia Museum of 

Art Crafts Show.

Sculptor, Jeweler Stacey Lee Webber 

is out to nickel and dime us in most 

unusual ways. 

Originally from Indiana, she now

lives and works here in Philadelphia,

PA.

First to catch my eye, copper Abe 

Lincoln silhouette earrings.

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

Made from vintage solid copper US pennies.

There are Washington and Roosevelt pieces

fashioned from antique silver American coins
as well. 

photos: Stacey Webber / with permission

Earrings, cufflinks, bracelets, pendant

necklaces, long coin chains and money

clips.

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

Some of her most unusual pieces, hand tools.

Hammer, mallet, hand saw, architect/builder's

plum, tape measure and full size ladder.

Three American flags made of pennies remind

me of the flags my Grandmother displayed

from her porch railing on the 4th of July.

photo: Stacey Webber / with permission

All constructed with enormous care and craftsmanship

from old coins.

See it all at Stacey Lee Webber's delightful website:

http://staceyleewebber.com/Stacey_Lee_Webber/HOME.html

Love at First Sight

(click on images to enlarge)


Went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Craft Show for inspiration.
What I found was L O V E.
At first sight, Mark A. Perry's fabulous
carved wood goat. 

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

Then I spied the huge Running Sheepdog 

Pie Crimper? 

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

And it was an antique carved
scrimshaw pie crimper that gave
Sculptor Mark A. Perry the inspiration
to carve his gigantic Dog Crimpers.
(Some have dog bone wheel spokes).
The cream colored Sheepdog at full 
sprint, shaggy carved hair blowing 
in the wind. 

There is also the sleek ebony Great Dane
pushing his giant crimper forward.

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

And other breeds can be found among 

Mark A. Perry's FaceBook photos.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-A-Perry-Folk-Art-Sculptor/44280329948?sk=photos


This extraordinary Folk Art Sculptor is self-taught.
A perfectionist, learning his craft studying and duplicating and
taking inspiration from past excellence.
To see more of his exquisite Peacocks, gilded Fish, 
an enormous Grasshopper (sporting glass door knob eyes), 
elegant weather vanes, stoic tobacco shop Native American, 
cocky long necked Rooster and marvelous mysterious modern figures,

reminiscent of antique Italian Santos
visit Mark A. Perry's marvelous website:
http://www.folkartsculptor.com/

photo Mark A. Perry, with permission from the Artist

Still more to come.....stay tuned!