Cat On My Head

Henry Sweetly Snoozing

2012-01-25T13:17:00.002-07:00

Here's Henry. He is such a sweet fellow. He has become a father figure for the new kitten BaBu (who is growing like a weed!)

My New Kitten, BaBu

2011-12-01T20:57:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I came home from a staff meeting at work with a new kitten. I've named him BaBu, and he is a sweetheart. He is 4 -5 months old. Here are some photos and videos of him:

Harvesting the Potatoes!

2011-11-03T15:25:00.002-07:00

Here are photos of my two recent potato crops. They are little guys, 'cause they only grew for a couple of months... I found some old sprouting spuds in the back of the fridge when I was moving out of my old house. I thought, hey, why not stick them in dirt and see what happens, and lo and behold, now I've grown my first potatoes!

Wonderful fun. Next year I will do it again, with an earlier planting so they have time to grow to full size. It is such fun digging them up - like digging for buried treasure!!

The first bunch I dug up, a couple of weeks ago:

And my second harvest, which I dug up yesterday:

Gorgeous Chester

2011-10-29T21:42:00.002-07:00

Here is Chester, photographed yesterday as he perched on top of a fence, framed by a bluer than blue New Mexico sky with a fluffy white cloud in it, and some nearly naked branches from a nearby aspen tree. Such beauty!

Tarantula Visitor!

2011-10-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, at I was taking out my trash, I spotted this big, fuzzy, spider in my driveway. Here is a photo of him (or her?) and also a short video I made. What an interesting creature. And while I very much enjoyed watching this spider, I'm glad he (or she) was outside, though, and not inside my house!

Griffin Giving Me 'The Look'

2011-10-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Recent Afternoon Rainbows

2011-10-03T14:51:00.003-07:00

Two days ago, and again today, it has gotten stormy in the afternoon, with rainbows appearing in the sky towards the Sangre de Cristo ('Blood of Christ') mountains. Here are photos I got each day, taken standing right in front of my house south of Taos. The first is of a very high rainbow, a double rainbow, actually, and then the second is of today's low rainbow.

Griffin Snoozing

2011-10-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

I took this photo of Griffin snoozing yesterday. He seems to be enjoying the new bed I've set up for him at our new house.

The Sky Was Filled With Beauty!

2011-09-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

Two photos I took yesterday evening, as I was out walking near my new house... To the west, the sun was dramatically setting. And to the east, there was a fat rainbow seeming to shoot upward from the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Also, though I don't have a photo of this, to the north, ahead of me, in the distance over Taos, there were huge sheets of rain falling, and lightning bolts coming down from the sky! All very dramatic and very beautiful. This is what I've been missing for the past nine years, when I lived in town surrounded by huge trees that blocked the view...

The Sun Sets On The First Day Of Our New Life

2011-08-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken through the window in front of the dining room table. It shows Griffin sitting outside in the enclosed area, watching the sun set. It was taken the evening of our first day at our new home. I think the golden light is symbolic of the happy radiance that is going to be flooding into our lives now that we have relocated to a much nicer place!

* Move In Progress * Please Stand By *

2011-08-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! I wanted to drop a quick note just to say that I've been buried in boxes and mountains of STUFF, as I'm just about to move to a new house. Why? Not because I chose to! About a month ago I got a call from the fellow who manages the property where I've been living for the past nine years. Out of the blue, he told me I had to move out by September 1st, as the owner of the house has decided to do some renovations.

And so my life was turned upside down, and I was instantly in a financial crisis as well. Phew! Luckily, one of my brothers has helped me out with some money, but even so, all my meager savings are being used up on this move.

The good news is that the place I've found to relocate to is much nicer than the place I'm moving out of, and I think I'll enjoy living there. But it may be a while before I post again, as chaos abounds. The actual move is taking place next week. Please wish me luck!!

Griffin & Rexie Snuggling!

2011-07-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

These two are very fond of each other. Recently I turned around at my desk and saw them in this adorable configuration. They are SO sweet! Do your pets enjoy sleeping with each other, too?

Magic Moon Over New Mexico

2011-07-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

Here are a few minutes I recorded from my driveway of the majestic full moon playing peek-a-boo with clouds in the sky around 11 PM. Such beauty!!

Jaya's Gibberish Song (singing mySelf)

2011-07-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

I enjoy singing this sort of gibberish song. When done at full volume it sometimes makes one or more of my cats run over and bit my ankles. Everybody's a critic! But this time I did it at more moderate volume, and recorded it for the first time. I've been singing variations of this for at least 25 years. It always begins with the same three sounds. I have no idea where this comes from, but it feels to me like some ancient connection, and it makes me feel good to sing it.

Upside Down Griffin

2011-06-16T19:34:00.004-07:00

Here is a photo of Griffin I took the other night. He really enjoys lying upside down...
It makes me smile to see him like that!

And here are a couple of kitties I've been boarding recently,

Cyndie, with the blue eyes, and her younger brother, Gato:

TSA --> Enough Already!

2011-06-03T07:01:00.001-07:00

WRONG WRONG WRONG

Griffin On The Back Porch

2011-05-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Very FUNNY News!

2011-05-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is just too good not to share! Enjoy!!

Griffin & I declare it is now Spring...

2011-04-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

The dandelions have bloomed, and here is our official Spring portrait:

The Gaze Of Braco

2011-03-31T21:02:00.004-07:00

I haven't posted in quite a few weeks. I got sidetracked by life! The biggest life event happened this week: I went and experienced being gazed upon by a man named Braco (pronounced 'Brahtz-oh') this past Tuesday in Denver. I was able to attend seven gazing sessions. It was an intoxicating and joyful experience! If you'd like to learn more about Braco, there is a lot of information online, including these two sites: http://www.braco.net/ and https://bracoamerica.com.

Braco stands silently before crowds of people, gazing upon them, and transmitting what I would call Divine unconditional love. While he does not call himself a healer, many experience 'miraculous' healings during and after being gazed upon by him. And these are not just physical healings, but healings of all aspects of life that may be troubled or out of balance. It is common for people to simply say their lives changed for the better thanks to Braco.

Below are two videos. The first is a good introduction to Braco. The second is one I made after I got home from seeing him. I'd been awake for around 23 hours at the time I made it, so I was exhausted, but still elated. In addition to the feeling of being physically pushed backwards and pulled forward during the gazings, which I mention in the video, I also experienced an intense energy in my body several times. It was a surge of an almost electrical feeling going through me, a sort of a buzzing or rapid trembling. Many people see a lot of lights around Braco, and around the audience, during gazing sessions, but I didn't experience much of that. The first session my vision was obscured by the tears of joy that filled my eyes. It is common for people to be moved to tears when experiencing this energy. The second session I did see a golden light around him at times.

At this time, Braco travels to various places in the world, from his home in Croatia, so people can come before his gaze. Over 8,000 people saw him in two days in Denver this week. Thanks to modern technology, soon many more will be able to have the gazing experience, as they are working out a way to be able to live stream it over the internet. That will be a wonderful gift for all.

My Childhood Home

2011-02-20T13:57:00.003-07:00

I finally was able to find my childhood home on Google Maps! Yay... It made me happy to see it again after 44 years. Earlier, when I couldn't find it, I thought the building must have been torn down. But it's still standing, looking much the way it did when I was a child there, even though now it's a Bank of America building. My older sister Paige, who still lives in the area, says it's her bank and since it used to be her home they've given her a free deposit box for life!

The image below is interactive, so you can move around in it, go further down the road, turn left and right, etc... The driveway across the street, a little before my house, was where my best childhood friend, Andy (Andrea) lived. The best tuna sandwiches I've ever eaten were made in that house. I spent a lot of time over there. In fact her mother taught me how to spell my name, by not letting me enter the house until I spelled it correctly for her. I learned it pretty quickly. I also remember us looking at scary photos in the medical books belonging to Andy's father, who was a doctor.

View Larger Map

New Mexico Natural Gas Outage

2011-02-04T20:16:00.002-07:00

It's been an interesting, and cold, few days around here. First we had cold night temperatures that went down past 20 below zero two nights ago. That night I could see my breath as I lay in bed, under a huge pile of blankets.

Then, the next morning, the entire town of Taos, along with many other areas of New Mexico, lost natural gas service. Natural gas is the only, or primary, source of heat for many here, including yours truly. Governor Susana Martinez declared a state of emergency for New Mexico on Thursday. Over 10,000 customers were out of natural gas, just in my area alone.

The local stores immediately sold out of space heaters, electric blankets, etc., yesterday morning. And all the grocery stores and gas stations were also mobbed, as people were concerned about the electric grid failing. There were a few minor power outages last night, but that was all. Shelters were set up for those who needed it, though I heard that not many people took advantage of it.

My personal situation was that I had only one small electric space heater. I went to the stores to try to buy another one, but they were all gone. I fueled up the car, as it was already almost on empty, and then I went home and took a shower with the last of the hot water in my gas water heater. So I was clean, but my house was getting cold. I do have a fireplace, but that is in another part of the house, away from the kitchen and bathroom. My biggest concern was pipes freezing during the night.

In the afternoon, I heard on a local radio station, that the local Ace Hardware store was going to have a truckload of portable heaters delivered. I called them and they told me that the heaters, 1200 of them, were being driven down from Colorado and should be arriving around 9 PM. After closing at their regular time, they would open up again, at 9, to sell the heaters.

I got there a little after 9 PM to a surreal scene of 40 or more cars and trucks sitting out in a dark, icy parking lot in front of the hardware store. There was a police car there also. I was told by the man standing outside the store that the truck had encountered a snow storm up in Colorado, and they were now expecting it to arrive between 10 and 10:30 PM. I drove back home for a little while and returned, with my camera, closer to 10 PM. The scene was the same, except there were now more vehicles parked outside the store. Checking in again, I was told there were further delays and they were expecting the truck to arrive between 11 and 11:30... There were now two or three police cars present.

Shortly afterwards they began to let people inside the store to wait where it was warmer, as the temperatures outside were rapidly dropping. I was among the first group let into the store. As we waited in the store for over an hour, we were given periodic updates as to where the truck was... It's in San Luis, Colorado... It's in Costilla, New Mexico... it's in Questa... it's in Arroyo Hondo... it's in Taos! Then the heaters, in various types and price ranges, began being distributed to the happy crowd. The police were in the store with us now, to ensure all stayed calm, and that all the heaters that were being walked out the door had actually been paid for.

I found a heater that I liked very much, happily paid for it, and, after taking some photos, drove home. I got back home a little before midnight. I'd have to say it was the strangest shopping trip I've ever made! The extra heater was just what was needed here at home. With it, I was able to get the heated area of the house warmed up to sixty degrees... warm enough to take off my big fuzzy coat for the first time that night. And warm enough that I no longer needed to worry about my water pipes freezing in the night. My cats like the new heater too. Rexie and Boo have abandoned the basket by the (now cold) furnace to sit and lie next the new heater.

The local news has reported that around 900 heaters were sold at Rio Grande Ace last night, and there was a crowd waiting when they opened up this morning to buy up all the rest of last night's shipment. I was very appreciative to the store and its employees for getting this emergency shipment down here, and putting in those extra hours to see that everyone who showed up so late in the night got the heaters they needed. Below are some photos from last night.

We arrived in the dark of the night, in search of elusive heat...

The Taos Police were on hand to help...

After a long hour standing in the store waiting, the heaters were about to arrive...

Heaters! Yay!! And I'm not the only one taking photos of the happy event...

Smiles break out in the weary crowd as heaters get distributed...

And the parade of heaters begins to walk out the door into the cold, cold night...

Griffin Howling At Sirens

2011-01-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Griffin Is Such A Handsome Love Boy!

2011-01-22T23:25:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of recent photos of Griffin. I've had him for around 7 weeks now, since adopting him from the local shelter. He is adjusting to his new home very well. He is slowly but surely learning the number one rule: The Cat Is Always Right! (Unless it's the neighbor's naughty cat, Simba, who is generally wrong.)

Henry On The Roof

2011-01-19T21:09:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago, on a sunny afternoon, I was enjoying myself sitting out on the back porch, reading a book, when I heard a sound above me. I looked up, and I saw Henry looking down at me from the roof. He looked so handsome, framed against the clear blue sky that I had to get some photos of him:

Fieldsie Watching 'Video Catnip'

2011-01-07T02:50:00.003-07:00

I recently ordered 'Video Catnip' DVD, a viewing experience created to entertain cats. It has images of birds and squirrels for cats to watch. My order arrived yesterday and when I got home with it I popped it into the computer. Fieldsie was the first of my cats to notice it, and below is a short video of him watching. I think more of my cats will enjoy this soon, once they discover it. I'm planning on leaving it playing for them when I'm away at work.

A Darling Dog

2010-12-19T20:18:00.002-07:00

This evening, shortly before dark, I was out walking my dog Griffin. We were out by the main road which runs at the end of our street, when all of a sudden a dog came charging up to us, trailing a leash behind her. She was very excited, but using her freedom in a dangerous way, running out into the road. Luckily there was no traffic just then, but I was worried about this dog's safety. The dog, a Husky (a breed know for being escape artists), would not come to me, but she was interested in my dog, so I hoped I could get her to follow us away from the main road, and I quickly walked Griffin back to our street and turned in there. She did follow us up, even running ahead of us. She had a LOT of energy! But she still would not come to me when I called her.

I got back to my house and put Griffin inside and grabbed a dog biscuit. Back outside, after following the lost dog around my yard for a while, I finally was able to tempt her with the biscuit to come close enough for me to get a hold on her leash. I brought her inside, much to the horror of several of my cats who saw her. She had tags (one of which read "I'm a lover, not a biter"), and I saw that her name was Darling. And she lived up to her name, too, being a very sweet dog once she calmed down from the excitement of her wild escapade. I tried calling her humans, but there was no answer. Here is a photo of her- you can see she is a beauty!

I kept her separated from my animals, in the cat boarding room, at first. But it was clear that she and Griffin wanted to play with each other, so after a while I opened the door, and here's what happened:

This was the first time I've seen Griffin play with another dog, and it was clear he had a wonderful time!

After their play session I was able to reach Darling's humans, and she was picked up and taken home where she belongs. A happy ending was had by all.

Animals Singing 'Deck The Halls'

2010-12-10T19:42:00.004-07:00

If this sweet video doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will. ENJOY!!

I Push And Pull...

2010-12-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

In my life, I push and I pull, but only with myself. That is what I see, when I look at this old doodle of mine which I recently found in one of my notebooks...

Here's.... ??... Griffin!

2010-12-02T19:47:00.005-07:00

My dear old dog Lucy, who was with me for 12 or 13 years, recently died. She had not been feeling well for some time, and the vet felt it was time to let her be free of her old body. I agreed. And so she left. But she left a hole in my life. While I am more of a 'cat person', it was the first time in almost 30 years that I'd been without a dog in my house, and it just felt wrong. So I began looking at the photos of the dogs waiting for adoption at my local animal shelter. There was one fellow in particular who captured my attention. Yesterday I went and met him, and today he came home. Right now, he is here as a foster care dog, until I'm sure he is OK with my cats. He's been here about 4 hours so far, and he's doing OK, though he has barked at the cats a couple of times. I'm not ready to let him be around the kitties unsupervised yet, but I think they will all work it out...

He had been at the shelter for about 3 weeks. They said he was clearly scared and depressed when he first arrived, but had been doing better recently. He seemed friendly with all the shelter workers who approached him while I was there. His behavior has been pretty mellow, but I think he's still subdued because of the trauma he's been through. He was found as a stray, so I don't know anything about his past history before he got to the shelter. They estimate his age is somewhere around a year and a half. The shelter has been calling him Duncan, but I think I'm going to name him Dougal, after a childhood friend of mine. I also was contemplating the names Bailey, Emmet, and Bob. UPDATE: After 12 hours together, I find that 'Dougal' does not seem to fit him. I'm now leaning towards the name Griffin. We'll see if that one sticks...

He's tuckered out from his big day, coming home to yet another strange new place. He found his way to the dog bed within an hour of his arrival, and settled in for a nap. That's when I got these first photos of him. I think he's adorable. He looks to me as if he might be some sort of Wheaton Terrier mix. What do you think? UPDATE: My friend MaLu pointed out, after seeing his photos, that he looks like an Irish Wolfhound. After studying photos of that breed (which I was not familiar with), I have to agree. So I think he is part Irish Wolfhound, and part Mystery!

And when he finally fell asleep, he was in this position, using his paws as pillows.

Gavin & Sylvester

2010-12-02T01:06:00.000-07:00

I had two very sweet kitties boarding with me over the Thanksgiving holiday, and I got some photos of them while they were here. The orange and white fellow is 15 year old Gavin, and the grey and white one is enormous 12 year old Sylvester. He would roll around on the floor purring and purring.

Chester Likes The New Heater...

2010-11-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Well, he likes the box the new heater came in, anyway...

Do You Prefer Being Irradiated Or Groped Before Flying?

2010-11-18T22:39:00.005-07:00

I personally have not flown anywhere since 9/11, but I am disgusted by what I'm reading about the new security measures being taken at airports across the US. I'm really glad I'm not planning on flying anywhere over the holidays. If I were to fly, and was randomly selected to go through the new whole body scanning devices, I would not want to be irradiated by them. Nor would I want to choose the alternative and be groped by a TSA agent during an 'enhanced' pat down. This video gives a good look at the issues:

I agree with what was said on November 17th

by Congressman Ron Paul:

Go here: http://www.optoutday.com/ for info on National Opt-Out Day,
November 24th, which Ron Paul mentions in his speech in the video above.

Will you be flying in the US anytime soon?
Do you have concerns about airport security screening?

My Yummy Apple Tart!

2010-11-16T19:57:00.002-07:00

Earlier today I watched a short video of someone baking an apple tart type thing using puff pastry. I very rarely bake anything, but this looked so easy that I was inspired to give it a try. I already had everything except the puff pastry, so I went out and got that at the grocery store. When I came back, I went to work and quickly had created my own version of this apple tart. I made a few mistakes, such as slicing the apples too thick, but it still turned out very well and tasted great. I had intended to take a photo of it when it came out of the oven, but I forgot and ate part of it instead. I took a photo of a corner of it later on though, so you can get some idea of what the whole thing looked like. A link to the recipe for it is below, in case you want to make one yourself. It's quite easy.

Recipe: http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/simple-apple-tart-142590

Sun Filtered Through Marigold

2010-11-14T03:45:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I noticed how pretty one orange marigold looked, as the sun filtered through it. It is growing in a pot with a much bigger plant. They were outside during the summer, but now that it is cold again I have brought them inside, and they are in front of the big window by my desk.

Hot Air Balloons Over Taos

2010-10-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I was at work, where I'd been there all night. Shortly after the sun came up, I stepped outside to get something from my car, and saw the sky was filled with hot air balloons! They were so beautiful. Here are a few photos I was able to get of them as they flew over me, and over the building I work in. The first balloon, the yellow one, was the first one to arrive, passing directly over me, as I stood in the parking lot gawking upward. It came the closest to me of any, so I got more photos of it than any of the others.

Fall Has Fallen

2010-10-25T12:54:00.038-07:00

Yes, autumn is upon us here. I've piled all the blankets on the bed to stay warm at night, the heat has been turned on, and the cats are sleeping cuddled up in piles again. Outside there are even more obvious signs of fall that seem to have rather suddenly appeared... The aspen trees in my neighbors' yard have turned a gorgeous golden orange color, the street in front of my house is full of leaves, and my peek-a-boo view of the mountains shows the tops are covered in snow.

Mom Raps About Foreclosure

2010-10-16T11:10:00.001-07:00

I've been trying to find a house to buy for quite a while, and the foreclosure crisis has been of great interest to me. I just saw this video, which I think does a great job of explaining the situation so many US homeowners have found themselves in recently... Perhaps I'm lucky I didn't find a house to buy!

Zebbie & Fieldsie Napping

2010-10-13T13:34:00.001-07:00

A few minutes ago I looked over and saw this sweet scene, with two of my orange boys, Zebbie and Fieldsie, snuggled up together, snoozing.

Big Fluffy Clouds

2010-10-06T21:02:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the clouds around here almost look solid enough to walk upon. I pulled off the road near Taos to take these photos. You can see the fall colors from the changing aspen trees in the last photo.

Crow Caw

2010-09-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

This crow is often sitting up in the tree by the front door where I work. He usually has a lot to say, and today I snapped a photo of him as he was voicing some of his commentary.

Lucy's Leg

2010-09-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

Below you see my elderly dog, Lucy, with her bandaged up leg. She somehow cut her paw and was leaving puddles of blood all over. After figuring out where the blood was coming from, I bandaged up her paw, to give the cut a chance to heal. Then I decided to treat another issue she has going on with her elbow, a 'hygroma', on the same leg. It needs cushioning to heal. It has several layers of soft sock around it now, in addition to the bandage. Her paw has healed up just fine since I took this photo last week, and that bandage has been removed. The upper arm cushioning will stay on for longer... Lucy has been very tolerant of all this, she's a good dog. We've been together for 11 or 12 years now.

Birthday Sky

2010-09-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, on my birthday, I drove down to Santa Fe. As I drove down there were some heavy rain storms, followed by wonderful rainbows. And as I drove back north again, there were some magnificent sunset cloud formations. It felt as if the sky was celebrating my birthday with me. Here are some photos I took:

Reeds By The Rio Grande

2010-09-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

Driving by the Rio Grande yesterday I stopped to sit by the water for a while. A wind began to blow and I was captivated by the reeds dancing in the breeze.

Sammy Sam Sams

2010-08-30T19:05:00.001-07:00

Those of you who visit here often may have looked at the photos below and thought I was posting more photos of Chester, who seems to have become my newest cat. But actually these are photos of Sammy, a wonderful kitty who has been boarding with me while his human is in Hawaii. This is Sammy's first visit and I'm really enjoying having him here. In addition to being gorgeous, Sammy is a great big sweetheart, with an excellent purr motor.

Enjoying some crunchies:

Watching the back yard action (note his reflection in the window):

Reacting to something tasty looking he's spotted in the back yard:

Looking out the other window, up at the birds:

iTunes Store FRAUD Warning

2010-08-13T10:44:00.004-07:00

In the past two days I have had over $100 of fraudulent charges from the iTunes store. From what I've learned, there is a LOT of this sort of thing happening now with iTunes.

If you have an iTunes account, there are two simple steps you can take to protect yourself from this type of fraud: First, change your account password. Second, change your payment setting to 'none', which is one of the options, so there is no bank, PayPal, or credit card associated with your iTunes account. If you want to make a purchase, you can add a payment source, make your purchase, and then change your payment setting back to 'none', after the transaction is completed, to protect yourself again.

Earthship Spire Against A New Mexico Sky

2010-08-12T23:50:00.001-07:00

I snapped this photo while out at the visitor's center at the Greater World Earthship Community, west of Taos, New Mexico.

My First Cucumber!

2010-08-02T19:25:00.002-07:00

My cucumber plants survived the recent fire in my yard when they were babies, even though the flames were close enough to melt part of the plastic pot they are in. And lately they've been thriving, as you can see in this photo of them taken this evening:

And while I'd seen there were some cucumbers growing, I thought the biggest ones were only about the size of my little finger, like this one:

But then today, as I was watering the plants, I suddenly saw, much to my surprise, this WAY larger cucumber!

And then on the other side I found one that was even longer, though much skinnier. And I decided to go ahead and pick that one. You can see how big it was, when it is compared to Henry:

It was SO very big that I almost felt I could reach the sky with it...

As you can probably tell, I am very proud of my first cucumber. I brought it inside and ate it right up. I look forward to many more.

Another House I Won't Be Living In

2010-07-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sad to announce that it looks like the deal for the cute little house with the great yard is falling through, and I will not be purchasing that place. There were issues with the septic system, caused by stringent regulations for homes on lots less than 3/4 acre in size.

Yesterday I went and looked at a very reasonably priced house closer to town. This place also unfortunately has the same septic limitations, and other issues which make it not right for me. BUT, that property had the most wonderful views, that I felt elevated just getting to see them. The seller was also a pleasant fellow who I enjoyed talking with. Below are some photos I took of the view, looking out over the Taos valley, and showing the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains in the distance. It was a rainy day, as we are in our summer 'monsoon season'.

Looking East, down the driveway:

Chester In The Flower Pot

2010-07-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing I didn't plant tomatoes in this pot in the front yard, as I'd thought about doing, because Chester has decided it makes a very comfortable bed!

Home Sweet Home

2010-07-17T04:03:00.004-07:00

As I mentioned a few posts ago, when I told you about the fire, I've found a house I want to buy. Happily, the owners agreed to a very fair selling price, and I am scheduled to purchase the house at the end of August, and then move in during early September. Yay!!

It is a humble little house, but in pretty good shape, and the layout will work for me. Ater 8 years of renting I'm REALLY wanting to own my own house again. It is in a rural area about 35 - 40 minutes from where I work, and an hour from Santa Fe.

Below are some photos I took of the house and the yard, which I immediately fell in love with when I first saw it. I think my pets will really enjoy exploring this yard. There are several fruit trees on the property, but I don't know what kind they are yet. It will be fun to find out!

The cool old truck the current owners park there. Don't know if it goes with the house, but I'd love it if it did:

This corner was originally a carport, but is now closed in and used as storage area, which is great, because I need a storage area:

The front porch:

The side of the house further back:

The back of the house, with a little sitting porch:

The front yard, sunny, with room for gardening:

Old log shed in the back yard, once used for goats, I think:

The old well house (well no longer in use):

And here are some other views of the back yard. I love that there are aspen trees:

In this one below, if you look closely, near the middle of the photo, you can see a mountain peak in the distance. That will be my view of La Jicarita Peak, which has an elevation of 12,808 feet.

And, while the house now has a 20 year old shingle roof on it, as part of the agreement I reached with the sellers, there will be a lovely new metal Pro Panel roof put on the house. The color will be a turquoise blue, or teal, which will go nicely with the grey house. It will look like this roof:

I actually owned a home about 15 minutes away from this house, back in 1990, and I had this same color Pro Panel roof put onto that house as well. And I recently discovered that this roofing will also help to keep the house cooler in the hot weather, as it is much better at reflecting heat than a shingle roof, which absorbs more heat.

So, that is my happy news about my soon-to-be new Home Sweet Home!

LaLa Music

2010-07-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

I was standing in the living room, letting my gaze wander, not thinking much. I was looking at the sound system, when I had a bit of a surprise as I realized something was looking back at me! It was LaLa, who had found a new place to nap:

Henry Gets A Scolding

2010-07-05T13:09:00.005-07:00

When I got up this morning, I heard a bunch of magpies complaining about something out in the yard. I went and looked, and saw they were all yelling at my cat Henry. I watched them for a while and then got my camera and recorded the end of it in this short video. After the last magpie leaves, and Henry is just sitting there, Chester walks up and bops him.

Note the "What the heck was that for?" look that Henry gives to Chester, and then the shadow of Henry's twitching tail visible at the very end after Henry has walked off camera. I say Henry's got some real acting talent. What do you think?

Orange Flames & Black Soot

2010-07-03T02:19:00.002-07:00

Saturday night, June 19th, around 8 PM, I was just drifting off to sleep, to nap for a few hours before I had to go into work later that night. I began hearing a strange crackling noise which I couldn't identify. At first I figured that it was probably a cat playing with a plastic bag or something like that. But the noise kept on, and still didn't sound right. Then I wondered if it had begun raining, which would have been good, because everything was very dry. Maybe it was even hailing, I thought. I got up, to check on my little tomato and cucumber plants which were outside, thinking I would move them under cover if it was hailing.

But as I walked over to the window, to see what was going on, I was horrified to see a wall of flames racing toward the house!! It was too big and too fast to even think about trying to put it out. I ran and pulled some pants on, as all I was wearing was a nightie. I ran to the phone by the front door, and saw, as I dialed 911, that the flames were already on all sides of the house. It was terrifying to see. I told the emergency dispatcher that my house was surrounded by fire, grabbed my car keys and ran out the front door.

At that point, I thought the entire house was probably going to burn down, and I would lose everything. I looked at my car, sitting in the driveway, and saw flames in front of it, on both sides, and even a few dancing behind it. I hesitated for a split second, wondering if I should just forget the car and run. But I decided I wanted to at least have the car if at all possible, so I rushed in and drove it as fast as I could away from the flames, backing out the driveway and down the street.

Then I saw my elderly dog, Lucy, walking toward the house, I was able to catch her- she was confused about what was happening- and I ran her back to the car and put her in there for safe keeping. By then the fire engines, and police, had arrived. I think a couple of my neighbors, including the fellow next door who had accidentally started the fire while welding outside, had called the fire in before I did. I also heard that the fire engines had just pulled into the fire house, returning from another call, when they were called out, so their response was even faster. I do believe the house would have at least partially burned if the fire crew had not gotten there so quickly. As it was, fire burned right up to the house, and right up to the garage. It burned the part of the wooden latilla fencing between my yard and the next door neighbors' yard. The keep an RV parked right next to that fence, and the cover that was on the RV melted away on that side. The RV's propane tank is also on that side, so it was a real blessing that it didn't blow, or the whole situation could have been dramatically worse.   The giant willow tree in that area got charred, but I think it will be OK. The tree house that was in it, which my cats enjoyed, was a total loss. One pine tree looks like a total loss.   And a lot of the trees which looked alright the day after the fire, showed the heat damage they had suffered a day or two later, and their leaves turned brown. They'll be fine next year, but for this summer they have lost some of their greenery.

My cats took off, and I was worried about them... later they started returning, one by one. About two hours after the firemen had left, the last missing cat, Tobias, made an appearance and they were all accounted for. Now there is just a black, charred yard all around, and black soot being tracked in by me, the cats, and the dog. It's a mess, but when I think of how much worse it could have been I feel very lucky.   The house was filled with smoke, and stank for a while, but it's back to normal now unless the wind blows in smell from the yard.

I think this was the most frightening experience I've ever been through. Even though the fire was put out pretty quickly, those moments of raw terror seeing the flames all around the house made a powerful impression upon my psyche. Several times in the past couple of weeks since the fire, I have suddenly jerked awake from sleep in fear over some noise, thinking of fire.   Maybe I will move, as the black yard is a sad reminder of what happened, and I don't like seeing it.  I'm hoping the landlord will have the yard cleaned up, but I'm not quite sure what is going on with that right now... (Who knows, maybe this will be what motivates me to buy a place of my own, which would really make me happy. I have found a sweet place, which I may make an offer on... I can't quite afford what they are asking, so it will be a low offer, but, maybe maybe maybe my dream will come true! Keep your fingers crossed for me.)

Now look below to see some photos I took the night of the fire. And tell me, have you ever experienced a fire? It sure makes me appreciate firefighters. I don't think I'd be brave enought to do that job, but I am so glad that there are people who are that brave!

This is the spot where the fire jumped from the neighbor's up into my yard:

This is the big willow tree that got scorched, and the latilla fence:

This is the side and rear of the house:

And the side of the garage:

And here is 'Lenny', my guardian lion, who seems to have stopped the fire in one area:

There were only a few burned spots out by my cat crossing sign:

And this last photo, though blurry, made me very happy, because the flash just happened to catch Henry returning home for the first time after the fire. I'd been worried about him!

FOOD: The Currency Of The Future!

2010-06-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

Listen up everyone, because this is exciting!

Sundance Global is giving away FREE meals to spread the word about their food products and upcoming business opportunity. Click here to go get your own free food. I've just ordered mine, and it was easy!

Sundance Global, after 27 years in the food business, has made the call to go to person to person marketing. During this introductory period, up until 10-20-10, you can go to the site below to pre-register as a distributor for FREE. There is no future obligation of any kind. After you enroll you can get 8 free meals sent right to your door. These meals can be stored for up to 25 years and they taste great! You will also get a free website that you can use to share this with others! During the introductory period, for every 2 folks you share this with, who request their own free food, you get 8 more meals! How great is that? You do have to pay $5.95 for shipping per 8 meals.

Sundance Global offers ready to eat meals that are dehydrated from #1 grade fresh raw foods and have a shelf life of 15 years. They do not add any MSG, genetically altered food, hydrogenated oils or foods from counties that utilize illegal fertilizers and insecticides. All the meals are vegetarian, but includes a natural meat substitute that provides the needed protein in your diet. At the site below you can also see the foods they offer.

Give Some, Use Some, Store Some

Sundance Global is open for pre-launch up through 10-19-10 up to that point you can get a lot of free food, just by sharing this with everyone you know, so they can also get free food! At least that is the hope of Sundance Global: Get 2 people to order their free food and you'll get 8 more meals. Then when the company launches you can start to earn income from those you introduce to Sundance, those who understand how important it is to keep a store of food handy just in case of emergency!

Go to http://jaya.sundanceglobal.com

for you own free food today!

My New Painting

2010-06-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

I hadn't painted in a while, but I created this over the past few days. It is titled 'Ancient #1'.

Saturday Sunrise Over New Mexico

2010-06-05T16:15:00.001-07:00

I was at work from Friday night into Saturday morning. As it began to get light out, I happened to glance out the front door and saw a magnificent sunrise lighting up the sky with color. Happily, I had my camera with me, and below are some photos I took, looking across the parking area, as the sky grew lighter:

At The Old Dog House

2010-06-01T12:15:00.001-07:00

In the back yard of the house I live in there is an old, weathered dog house. About a month ago I was outside and I noticed Henry on top of the dog house. He looked quite scenic, so I grabbed my camera. As I snapped a few photos of Henry, some of the other cats, Rexie, Boo, and Fieldsie, came over to see what was going on, and to explore the dog house.

Finally A Survivor!

2010-05-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

It's not uncommon for me to find a pile of feathers in the house, indicating that one of my cats has made a snack of one of the local birds. Today I heard one of the cats come inside meowing the deep yowling meow that seems to mean: "I am a great hunter, returned to my lair with my prey."

I got up and saw it was Boo, with a dark colored bird in his mouth. The bird wasn't moving, and I assumed it was already dead. I shooed Boo, with his bird, back outside, so as to avoid another pile of feathers being left inside for me to clean up.

I watched Boo as he went out, and then I saw him put the bird down, and much to my surprise, the bird flapped away a couple of feet, with Boo jumping right after him. I ran and put on some clothes and shoes, and rushed outside. I found Boo in the bushes, crouched over the motionless bird. I picked the bird up and he struggled a little and escaped from my hands, gliding down and landing in the grass a few feet away. Beating out several cats who were heading his way, I scooped him up again and took him inside. He seemed alert enough, but clearly not up to flying, so I didn't think he'd be safe outside on his own.

I've set him up in one of the kitty condo cages I have for when I board cats, giving him some food, water, and sticks to perch on. He seems quite well, as far as I can tell, but I'm going to have him stay for a few days of rest and recuperation just to be on the safe side. He is quite a lovely little fellow. Below are some photos I just took of him. Can anyone tell me what type of bird he is??

Chester's Prayers

2010-05-16T12:24:00.006-07:00

When I arrived home from work yesterday morning, I found Chester on top of the refrigerator, with his paws together in a position of prayer.

I wondered what he was praying about,

but whatever it was, he chose to keep it private...

Sun Through The Willow Tree

2010-05-12T10:39:00.001-07:00

As I drove into my driveway this morning, and pulled up next to the big willow tree to park, I looked up and noticed how lovely the sun looked, filtered through the spring growth of the old willow tree. I took a few photos, and these are my favorite:

Tuesday Night Moonrise

2010-04-28T23:01:00.001-07:00

As I drove home Tuesday night, coming north from Santa Fe, the moon began to rise above the hills. It was quite a beautiful sight, and I pulled over to snap a few photos.

Chester, Part 2...

2010-04-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Well... Chester, the handsome orange kitty I introduced in my last post, is really making himself at home here! I was walking around the kitchen a little while ago, and happened to look up, and discovered Chester snoozing in the cat bed on top of the fridge!! I still don't know if he is my next door neighbor's cat, or if he might be a stray who actually needs a home. It occurred to me last night, when he was also in and out of my house, that if he is the neighbor's cat, he might be unhappy at home because of Crazy Simba being there. I can't imagine Simba being at all pleasant to a new cat in the house! So maybe Chester is just hanging out here to get a little peace, without having Simba glaring at him... Whatever the issue is, Chester's not telling me. Here is on top of the fridge, where he still is as I write this:

Chester Comes Calling

2010-04-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous new kitty appeared in my yard yesterday. He stayed around my house most of the afternoon and evening, and I even spotted him IN my house twice, once helping himself to a snack up on my cats' feeding table! I don't know who he is, but I suspect he may be the adopted brother of Crazy Simba, my next door neighbor's cat. I had recently heard they now have an orange & white cat, but I'd never met him. I have no idea what this cat's name is, but I've begun calling him Chester. He's a sweetie. Here are some photos he posed for yesterday:

Spring Is Springing

2010-04-03T16:07:00.004-07:00

The photos below speak of spring in northern New Mexico to me. The first photos show early morning ice crystals on the rear window and front windshield of my car, taken yesterday morning. Aren't these formations beautiful? And the last three photos show one of the many robins that seem to have suddenly appeared in great abundance around here, taken this morning... Ah, such charming little creatures!

Scribble I Scribbled

2010-04-02T04:48:00.002-07:00

A recent staff meeting scribble...

I Drove Through Beauty

2010-03-27T11:18:00.003-07:00

Last week I went out for a drive, heading south and east, up into the mountains. It was very beautiful... I wish I lived up there. Actually, there is a house for sale that I would like to own, but it costs about $50,000 more than I can afford. If you happen to have $50,000 you would like to donate towards making me happy, please do let me know!

Meanwhile, below are a few photos I stopped to take along the way. Once I got up into the mountains, where the altitude was over 8,000 feet, there was still a lot of snow on the ground. This first photo gives you a good idea of just how much snow there was, as you can just barely see the very tips of fence posts that are probably 4 or 5 feet tall.

These next ones are of a stream that was still partly frozen. I was taken with this beautiful weathered tangle of roots from a fallen tree which was resting in the stream. In the first photo I really like the green reflection of the wood in the still water. And in the last photo you can almost make out the figures in the roots; they look as if they are hugging each other, or perhaps dancing together!

Another site that caught my attention was 'El Lodge', with it's funky old sign directing you to a driveway filled with several feet of snow...

And these last photos are my favorite, of the clouds that so clearly look like smoke signals coming off of the hilltop.

Raggedy Ears

2010-03-22T21:03:00.001-07:00

I've noticed some of my older cats have ears that reveal their history as warriors. Take a look:

(cough, cough) Flu (cough, cough)

2010-03-15T12:21:00.002-07:00

I've been very sick with flu for the past week. Blechhhhhh. The house has been filling up with snot filled tissues. Happily, today I am feeling a wee bit better, and was able to take out the trash before the cats and I became totally buried under disease debris.

My illness doesn't seem to be bothering the cats, as long as I'm able to keep on filling their bowls. Above is Gracie, taken a few minutes ago, relaxing on a window sill by my desk. She looks pretty content, don't you think? Or is there a certain sadness in her expression, one that is saying, "Gosh, I wish the human felt better..."?

Alright, now that I have posted this, I shall return to my coughing and nose blowing activities. Please send me good juju for a speedy recovery. Thanks!

A Portrait Of Me In (Way) Younger Days

2010-03-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

My previous post showed X-rays of my teeth, from age 16 - 19. Sometime during that same period I flew over to Switzerland to visit my brother Richard and his wife Lilia. Lilia had me sit for a portrait while I was there. I've had it all these years, and it just occurred to me I should photograph it and post it here on my blog. Anyway, here it is. Sadly, it has been folded up for many years, and you can see that, but still, the photo came out pretty well.

The Decline of my Teenage Teeth

2010-03-09T00:52:00.004-07:00

I was poking around out in the garage a couple of days ago, looking for something. I didn't find it, but I did come across an envelope which contained dental X-rays of my teeth from back in the 1970s! There were X-rays taken from 1971,1973,and 1974, when I would have been 16,18, and 19. I was surprised to see how many fillings I already had, at that young age, and how rapidly more were being put in over those few years. I have no memory of all that dental work, or who the dentist was. I do see that the name shows 'Julie Aaron'. My first name back then was Julia, and for a period of time I was called 'Julie', which I never liked. I can also see my sideways sitting wisdom teeth still in place in these X-rays. If memory serves, I had all four of those extracted in one session when I was 21. What about you- have you had your wisdom teeth extracted, and if so, at what age?

Herman Rutgers LeRoy Emmet

2010-02-28T20:24:00.007-07:00

I've already written about my father's father, Herman Aaron, in other posts. Now I want to share a photo I recently found of my mother's father, Herman Emmet. Yes, both my grandfathers were named Herman! That seems rather unlikely to me, but that's the way it was. Herman Aaron died before I was born, but Herman Emmet lived until I was 12. I remember him as a sweet old man, who would feel my shoulder blades when I was a little girl and tell me he could feel my angel wings growing. I don't recall ever seeing any photos of him as a young man, though, until I found the photo below while doing a Google search. This is copied from the yearbook of the 1912 graduating class of Yale University. I was very pleased to see this photo of my grandfather as a young man of 22. They also included his autograph below his photo. I've included the text from the yearbook as well, which includes some biographical information and a few details of his time at Yale, which he was attending 100 years ago.

"Herman Rutgers LeRoy Emmet was born September 26, 1889 in New Rochell, New York.

Robert Temple Emmet, his father, born May 25, 1854, in New York, graduated from West Point, 1876, and is a retired army officer residing at Ashfield, Massachusetts. Mrs. Emmet's maiden name was Helena Van Courtland Phelps.

Emmet prepared at St. Mark's School. He was on the Freshman and Junior Class Crew, the Varsity Crew and Hockey Squads, the Freshman Gun Team, Varsity Gun Team, assistant manager and manager in Junior and Senior years; secretary of the Corinthian Yacht Club, Sophomore year; Fleet Captain Junior year; governor of the University Club Sophomore year, secretary Junior year and president Senior year. He was a Wrangler, a Cup Man, "Chief" of the Mohicans, Cardinal's, Kelly's and Burgundians. He was active in work for Yale in China. Delta Kappa Epsilon. Scroll and Key.

In Freshman year he roomed with Ely at 242 York Street; in Sophmore year with Ely, Cornwall, G.C. Murphy and Carhart at the Hutch; in Junior and Senior years with Ely in 254 Durfee and 76 Conneticut.

Emmet expects to enter the concrete brick business. His permanent address is Ashfield, Massachusetts."

Cat Pile!

2010-02-24T01:00:00.003-07:00

Last night I looked over to the left of my computer and caught Fieldsie, Zebbie, and Boo all piled on top of Rexie. I grabbed my camera to document the occaision. The cats were sleepy and not really in the mood for posing for photos, but I got a few quick shots to show you how cute they were. Right now the same four cats are cuddled up in the same place again, but tonight Boo is the pillow. Here is last night's cat pile:

Weeds In Snow

2010-02-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Early one day last week I stepped outside with my camera, into the morning light, and took a few photos. This one was my favorite, of a clump of dead weeds, looking lovely in the snow:

When I Was Almost Arrested

2010-02-14T15:48:00.002-07:00

I've never actually been arrested, though there was one time it almost happened. I just came across photos from then, so I thought I would post about it. I think it was back (way back) around the summer of 1979, when I was in my mid-20s. I'd gotten involved with a group that was opposed to nuclear power. This was in Charlottesville, Virginia, where I lived at the time.

We had organized a protest of a nearby nuclear power plant that had some particularly disturbing safety issues. The protest involved marching onto the power plant's property, trespassing, as a way to get the most publicity for the issues.

The day of the protest it was raining. We all got put into police wagons and sat in there for a while, but in the end the authorities really didn't want the hassle of having to process us all, and so most of us were let go. A few of us were held in jail for a few days, but I wasn't one of them.

Here are a few photos I have from back then. The first photo shows our group as we walked toward the power plant, soggy from the rain, but full of conviction. I'm the one in the white shirt. The second, grainy, one was in the local paper, and was taken as several of us were being led to the police van. (The caption has my original first name of 'Julia'. I would not become a 'Jaya' for another 24 years.). And the last one is of some of us lying on the lawn of the courthouse after the ones who had been jailed had been released (without being charged, if I'm remembering correctly).

Ahhh, so long ago... It almost seems as if it was in another lifetime.

Revisiting (Crazy) Simba

2010-02-09T20:34:00.002-07:00

Here are some more photos of my neighbor's crazy cat, Simba, from last summer when he was up in an old tree house in the giant willow tree in my yard. He was growling at me part of the time, but he did let me get some nice photos of him. He may be crazy, but he sure is a handsome kitty, isn't he?

Grumpy (with headache)

2010-02-04T15:38:00.004-07:00

I began my day in a good mood, but after a few hours in a meeting at work I was grumpy and had a headache. I drew these as I waited for the meeting to end.

Christmas In Taos

2010-01-27T01:29:00.002-07:00

On the night of December 23rd, I had to go out and run a quick errand. I happened to drive through the Plaza, in the center of Taos, and it was so beautiful with all the Christmas lights and decorations, and the frosting of snow that had fallen that night, that I had to take some photos. First, here is a hotel I passed on the way to the Plaza:

And then photos taken on the Plaza:

I love the farolitos which are used as decorations here in New Mexico. They are paper bags with a layer of sand in them, onto which a small votive candle is placed. They are very beautiful, shining through the dark.

Then on my way home I wanted to take photos of the pretty display of lights around a courtyard entryway near where I live. I parked at the end of my street, and walked about a half block. Here were my footsteps in the snow, and the lights I found so pleasing:

And then I walked back to my car, and continued driving on up my street, where warmth and cats awaited me...

A New Cat In The Neighborhood

2010-01-21T16:35:00.005-07:00

A couple of days ago I spotted a strange cat out in my yard. My cats had also spotted him, surrounded him, actually.

He did not seem all that concerned, though he kept down low in the the weeds and slowly backed away from my Tobias and Henry who were growling at him. He even took time to stick out his tongue at them!

Then he just kept moving further away from Tobias & Henry, towards my garage... slowly, slowly, easy does it...

He paused for a while, perhaps thinking he was well camouflaged by the weeds, while peeking out at us from between them.

But then he decided he'd had enough, and tried to duck into my garage, not realizing that my Zebbie was already in there. Zebbie was not at all amused by that move, and he expressed his displeasure at full volume!

So New Cat quickly trotted around the corner of the garage, and then with one last look over his shoulder he was gone. I have not seen him since then.

With Dad, In The Past...

2010-01-16T10:40:00.011-07:00

My oldest brother, Bev, was the family photographer for many years. He has just begun going through hundreds of old negatives of family photos, scanning them in to digitalize the images. (Hooray for Bev!)

One of the first images he did, which he sent to me last night, was the one below, which shows me with my father. I look to be around six years old, which means the photo would have been taken in 1961 or 1962.

Dad and I both have odd expressions on our faces, which makes me wonder just what was going on in that moment almost 50 years ago.

And here is a second photo, taken just before or after the one above. In this one both of us are looking down at the little pad of paper, or book, which my father is holding. Had I drawn a picture for him? I don't actually remember being artistic as a child, but I like the idea.

Boo's Warm Belly

2010-01-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

In the kitchen there is a wall heater, and there is a kitty basket in front of it. This sleeping spot is very popular in the cold weather. A couple of nights ago I noticed Boo in the basket, positioned so his belly was exposed to the heater. It was very cute. I especially liked the way his paws were arranged.

Gamma Crosses Over

2010-01-10T22:41:00.003-07:00

My beloved Gamma, the oldest of my cats, has crossed over to the other side of the veil. She had been sick for quite some time, but still seemed to be enjoying life, until just a few days ago. I took her to the vet on Friday and she was given that final shot, given release. Gams and I had been together for around 16 years, and she was a grand old kitty. The name I originally gave her, all those years ago, when she first found me, was Blessing. And she certainly was a blessing in my life. I love you, Gams.

After Gamma left, the veterinary clinic I take all my pets to, Salazar Road Veterinary Clinic, in Taos, NM, sent me a condolence card, which you can see below. Everyone who works there signed it. How thoughtful, even though it did make me get all weepy in the post office. If you are in the Taos area and need a vet, I can recommend the group over on Salazar Road.

Happy Brion New Gysin Year from 1976

2010-01-07T01:02:00.006-07:00

As a new year begins, I find myself thinking of time, and I found this old card sent to me by Brion Gysin from across the ocean back in 1976. I received it with great pleasure, a pleasure that still echoes today. To wherever your spirit now wanders, Brion, I send thanks, from this future of our past...

Brion Gysin, on right, shown with his friend,

author William Burroughs.

Henry's Paw Pads

2010-01-04T14:39:00.002-07:00

Henry is resting in the basket in the window on the north side of the kitchen. I noticed he had all his paws stretched out together, and snapped this photo:

Gracie's New Year Resolutions

2009-12-30T22:38:00.000-07:00

Meowie Christmas & A Purry New Year!

2009-12-23T15:40:00.007-07:00

This image was sent to me in an email from my sister Paige, and it was just too cute not to post! (Kudos to whoever created it.) I'm wishing all the best to each and every one of my blog visitors during this holiday season and the new year to come. 2010! How did that get here so fast?? It seems to me that it was just turning into year 2000 a little while ago, with all that Y2K drama, and now, whooosh, ten more years have rushed by. Does the time seem to have gone by fast for you as well?

A Drive...

2009-12-17T00:51:00.004-07:00

I went for a drive through northern New Mexico a couple of months ago. I went from flat, sage covered mesa land up towards San Antonio Mountain, near which I saw a handsome red horse standing down a lonesome dirt drive. An extinct volcano about 9 miles south of the Colorado boarder, San Antonio Mountain rises to a height of 10,908 feet. As I got closer to the mountain, the sky grew stormy, with more and more clouds gathering up above.

Zebbie's Secret Smile

2009-12-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Kiss

2009-12-10T11:03:00.008-07:00

This drawing was done in staff meeting last week.

Abandon The Japanese Spam Comments!

2009-12-05T16:04:00.009-07:00

I have comments on this blog moderated, so spam does not get posted. In the past I haven't actually gotten many spammy comments, but enought to justify keeping the comment moderation in place. In the last couple of weeks, however, I've gotten numerous comments left here, in Japanese (!) that are clearly spam. It may even just be the same comment over and over again. I don't know, because I do not speak Japanese. I'm guessing that the vast majority of my readers also do not understand Japanese.

I've translated the most recent spam, and given it below. It sort of has that odd poorly translated tone that makes it sound like a spam fortune cookie...

"It is the guide of the sight where you can obtain secondary earnings with the association which one evening divides.Also you can challenge in part-time job feeling, because we adopt the free register system of relief, as for the one which has interest please view this site by all means."

To whoever keeps posting this comment (perhaps a Japanese bot, and not an actual human), I say this: "Give it up. I will not allow your spam to be posted. Go away!" According to the translator, in Japanese that would be: "それをあきらめなさい。私によってはあなたのスパムが掲示されない注意しない。立ち去りなさい!" And when I take it one step further, and translate that Japanese back into English again, it comes out as this somehow more charming message: "Abandon that. Depending upon me your [supamu] does not note is not posted. Depart! "

Storm Coming (another staff meeting doodle)

2009-12-02T07:39:00.001-07:00

Post Thanksgiving Relaxation

2009-11-29T10:48:00.005-07:00

My sister sent me this cute squirrel massage animation in an email today. It looks like just the thing for everyone who overexerted themselves by lifting all those Thanksgiving leftovers to their mouths!

Ahhhhhh....

Random Image

2009-11-24T07:48:00.002-07:00

I liked the look of the stuff on my desk, as seen through the coils of a DSL wire that was lying there, and snapped this photo. I'm not sure why it pleases me, but it does, and here it is so you can see it too.

'Cat Ladies' Documentary

2009-11-18T17:43:00.005-07:00

I just watched a video clip from this documentary, and I find it absolutely fascinating, as I can so relate to these cat fixated women. While I only have 9 cats, I could be happy with many more. But I don't have enough space or $$ to care for more. All the same, given the importance of cats in my life, and the fact that I do prefer the company of cats to that of humans, I probably already fit into the definition of a 'crazy cat lady'...

Below is the description of this film, taken from the film's website. Click HERE to go to the website where you can learn more, watch a clip from the documentary, or order the DVD.

About the Film

Cat Ladies is a verité documentary that unravels the real story behind the oft ridiculed ‘crazy cat lady’.

Through intimate access with Diane, Margot, Sigi and Jenny, we create a sensitive and emotionally honest portrait of women whose lives and self-worth have become intractably linked to cats.

Some of these women have only a few cats; others share their small homes with hundreds. It’s not the number of cats that defines them as a ‘crazy cat lady’, but rather their attachment, or non-attachment, to human beings. They share backgrounds that usually include abuse, death, rejection and loneliness. Because of this they turn their natural instinct to love and nurture to an alternative society of felines, creating a world with their cats in which they feel reward and acceptance - a world where they ultimately have value.

The cat lady comes in three basic forms. There is the person who is obsessed by cats and has a unique personal relationship with her wards that goes far beyond the average human-pet bond. Then there are the ‘cat rescuers’, who are self-appointed protectors of abandoned cats. They start taking in cats later in life, often after a failed marriage, the loss of a job, death of a relative, or the estrangement of children. Someone or some incident turns them onto the plight of the unwanted cat and their homes gradually become sanctuaries. Finally there is the ‘cat hoarder’, perhaps the least understood of all. The hoarder collects cats to the detriment of their health and her own. She may have started with the best intentions, but some crisis or break with reality pushes her past the point of being able to cope.

It’s a murky world, secretive by nature and horribly misunderstood. Local authorities are ill-equipped and uneducated and cannot accurately deduce who is a destructive cat hoarder and who is an enthusiastic cat rescuer or an obsessed cat lover. City bylaws are arbitrary and very rarely acted upon. At best, a few cats might be removed from the home, but the women themselves almost never receive treatment or counseling. One thing we know for sure: the recidivism rate for hoarders is 100% when left untreated, which is almost always the case.

Margot
Margot's universe revolves round her three cats – Bongo, Fritz and Little One. She skips work to stay at home with them and has re-designed her entire apartment to accommodate them. But the love and connection she gets from her cats is also getting in the way of her developing any relationships with human beings - and it's only through tragedy that she can glimpse an alternative.

Jenny
In her mid 30s, Jenny appears to have it all – an attractive, fiercely independent sales agent with her own home that she just happens to share with 16 cats. It's not that she wouldn't want to find a partner or have children, but the experiences she endured as a child have prevented her from having healthy adult relationships. Jenny knows she's on the cusp of becoming "the Crazy Cat Lady". All it would take is a few more cats…

Diane

Diane is a vivacious former banker whose early and un-wanted retirement turned her to a life of saving cats from the streets. Now, she's sharing her home with 123 felines and when she's not feeding, cleaning and nursing them she's feeding and trapping feral cats in the wild. Diane wants to stop – but the thought of a cat starving or suffering breaks her heart. It's also ruining her health, sucking her bank account dry and alienating her from friends and family.

Sigi
Sigi is on a mission to save cats. Like Diane, she's turned her house over to hundreds of the furry creatures, but unlike Diane she's unapologetic about her choices. If women like her didn't take matters into their own hands, who else would? Sigi's mission isn't one that her neighbours are buying into – the acrid smell and noise is an intolerable toll on anyone living close by – but Sigi's been a fighter all her life and being on the margins only makes her more defiant.

Women like Margot, Jenny, Diane and Sigi are easily dismissed as "crazy cat ladies", but these women deal with the issues that all of us face to some degree – alienation, loss and loneliness in a society that devalues the "different".

Gamma Dreams

2009-11-17T02:18:00.004-07:00

Just after I took the photo of Fieldsie in the post below, Gamma got into the basket and went to sleep, snuggled up against Fieldsie. In no time at all, she was dreaming her Gamma dreams...

Foxy Fieldsie

2009-11-16T22:37:00.002-07:00

While playing around taking photos with aperture priority in low lighting, I got this sweet close up of Fieldsie as he was falling asleep... He looks a bit like a fox to me in this photo!

Cat Eating Off Chopsticks!

2009-11-15T05:06:00.003-07:00

Some people might think this is just crazy, but I think it's crazy CUTE! I especially like it when the cat gets impatient and bats his paws at the chopsticks or the hand. And why is the cat called 'squirrel-like' in the video title? Because he is standing up? Or do sqirrels also enjoy eating off of chopsticks?

Handsome Henry

2009-11-12T23:12:00.002-07:00

This was Henry, snoozing next to my computer last night. Henry is an exceptionally wonderful cat. I always feel happy when I see him. I suspect he may be some being of higher intelligence pretending to be a cat. I'm very glad he is part of my group of furry loves.

Beautiful Bella

2009-11-08T01:12:00.003-07:00

Now and then I board other people's cats in my home. I always enjoy the chance to have more cats to play with and love. The cat shown below, a beautiful calico named Bella, was a delightful kitty guest. She has a wonderful personality and I really enjoyed getting to know her.

Bella is highly skilled at playing with this cat toy. If there was an Olympic competition for this game, she might take the gold medal.

And I was especially charmed by the pose she would take up in the window, with her legs stretched out behind her. Adorable!

Under The Storm Cloud

2009-11-04T20:47:00.007-07:00

The image above was something I doodled during a staff meeting at work a few months ago... Due to my weird schedule, I often am not able to get enough sleep before having to go to staff meetings. I'm guessing this image was drawn on one of those low energy mornings.