Resistance is Futile

Frog and Toad are Friends

I am convinced that God brings things across our path so that we can delight in his creation more and learn to glorify him. We are forever finding incredible stuff in our back yard and each new discovery takes us in unexpected directions.

If "the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork", then my window wells are proof positive of his sense of humor.

Zoom in and see if you can count all of the toads. Don't forget the one half buried in the mud. We have three window wells. Only one of them is big enough to climb down into to rescue these guys, but we've gotten creative. It gets pretty silly when they don't want to be rescued. I've lost track of how many dozens we've pulled out (8 this morning), but it would do Pharaoh proud.

This year, we found someone new. This is a Green Frog (identifiable by the fold behind her tympanic membrane and dorsal stripe. Don't worry. I had to ask too). She is about three inches long (males have a tympanum larger than their eye). Compared to the toads, boy, could she hop! High, far, and in unpredictable directions, thus causing delighted shrieks all around.

She found her way in, and out, of the girls' wading pool. I can't believe people eat frogs. Nu-uh. No way.
Several of our recent finds identified a hole in my library (don't gasp, it does happen). I did not have any kind of field guide for reptiles or amphibians. That problem has since been corrected. Hooray for Roger Tory Peterson!

Caper got to make a new friend too.

PussyCat

The first of the stamps designed after the mobile characters:

"Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?"
"I've been to London to visit the Queen."
"Pussycat, pussycat, what did you dare?"
"I frightened a little mouse under her chair."
"MEOW!"

**all of these stamps from the mobile will be listed in my Etsy store.

Puss in Boots

This is the last of the Kliban Qats...for now. I saved the line dancin' cat for last. Most of my childhood memories of my Uncle Bob and Aunt Bonnie revolve around guitars and singing. "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer" and "Little Brown Shack out Back" were silly favorites of all the little cousins.
I may post a collage of all of the B. Kliban cats on Saturday*, but other than that, the Bonnie Project is complete. Unless, of course, I decide to stamp them "just in case" before I mail them off to her. ;)

And since These Boots were made for Walkin', this cat exits stage right.

*Upon further reflection, the girls and I have decided that this project might not be quite done.

Feline Feng Shui

Expert sources suggest that cats can help with blood pressure problems. While there is no more serene way of spending an afternoon than with a fuzzy blanket, warm beverage of choice, good book and cat on lap, the jury is still out on their overall effect on blood pressure in this household.
In spite of their selective digestion (read that as "can puke at will"), passive aggressive shedding, and casual disdain for our affections, there is something about them that makes me want to scoop them up and squeeze them until they object, which may or may not involve a blood letting on my part. One minute they are looking at me with an owly expression from the top of the bookcase, tail lashing in a threatening manner; and the next they are burrowing under the covers and curling up around my feet, purring ridiculously.

Truth be told, I'm not really sure that we are the more "evolved" species. Think about it: we wear their hair on our best outfits, feed them better than we eat ourselves, buy them silly jingly toys and even flush their toilets for them. We vacuum twice as often as we'd like and cover our plants (and sometimes our carpet) with aluminum foil to keep them away. And what do they do in return? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Occupied

Sorry, can't fold the laundry today...
...it's Occupied.

Speaking of being occupied~my posting might taper off for a little while. I'm in the middle of several projects that I want to write about, but they are pretty involved and will take some time to complete.
In the mean time, you're stuck with banalities like pictures of my cats.

A Bonnie Project

Recently, my Aunt Bonnie came up from Alabama for a visit. It was such a delight to get to see her, especially since it doesn't happen very often. The last time she was here was during a horrible family tragedy. My Grandfather has passed away, and the morning of his funeral service, my Uncle Bob, Bonnie's husband, had a heart attack and died also. Needless to say, this visit was much more pleasant.
Aunt Bonnie likes to makes card, and due to some debilitating health issues, has very little extra money and has a difficult time getting out of the house. She also loves cats. I mean really loves cats. She is particularly fond of the B. Kliban Qats. But due to the restrictions on fun money, can't justify purchasing the stamps for her cards. Hmmm....now who do I know that could fix that problem? Oh, wait. It's Me! And so begins the Aunt Bonnie/B. Kliban project.
I have a confession to make. The first Kliban book that arrived from the library was the one about not eating anything bigger than your head (or something like that) and I could not get it out of the house fast enough. Thankfully, my FiL returned it before either of the girls ever saw it. Not a good first impression. Fortunately the next book to arrive was Cat Dreams, which was much better. It was such fun to watch Bonnie page through the book as I made mental notes on with pictures she liked best for future reference. We scanned half the book into the computer and started carving yesterday.
Just for the record, I debated for a long time about the Angel Qat. One reason being that I have never actually met a cat that was angelic. Even my little sweetheart has a naughty streak six miles wide, as the window sills and door frames in our house will testify. The other reason is that I have serious issues with how our culture portrays angels (just ask my Sunday School class). In scripture they are the warriors and messangers of a Holy God, which is a far cry from what you see at Hallmark. In the end, I decided to carve the stamp because this project is more about love for my Aunt than it is about doctrinal accuracy.

We have a number of other images to do, but they are fun and carve up pretty quickly. I'll post the pictures once they are all done.

Like a moth to the flame

Cats just can't resist an empty cardboard box.