Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Contented Cats










Happiness
is a sunbeam...




...or a stack
of warm laundry.






A catnip toy....





A warm lap.




A kitty friend...





...and stuffy friends.






A nibble...







...and a kiss.








Happiness
is winning
the staredown....






...or winning
the morning
puff-paw
battle.






Happiness
is a scratch
under the chin




...and a man
who adores me.





Happiness
more than
anything...



...is being

a Steussy-Williams cat.



Monday, November 29, 2010

Dog Escape!







I love to run!




After all,
running...








...and smelling
are what life's
all about.



That's why
I hate
this fence.





It traps me.






....jails me.





I can't run free
as long as
these white bars
hem me in.





Luckily
I've learned
how to dig.






Escape!

Freedom is sweet!





But short lived.





My nemesis is
that Tom.





He chains me...





...while he blocks
my escape
with logs, boards
and the kids' old slide.







He thinks
he has me licked.






I pretend I'm beaten.

But
when no one
is looking....





I sniff it out.

I think I can get around this.





A little digging.






A twist...

and...




I'm out!

I'm free!




Sorry, Koda!

You're too big and bulky
to escape like me.




I roam
the neighborhood
like a king.





While poor Helen
goes looking for me
in her Prius.




Am I
at the Animal shelter
again?





Am I
once again
on the neighbor's couch?





Nope.




I'm waiting
for her
at the front door.




Back again
with my Koda...






I'm happy to run around
my own back yard.




...until
the next
escape.


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Christmas shopping






Today
is my Christmas
shopping day!













I last went 
to Lebanon
on my 
Blue Sky Century.









The sky is blue
and the wind gusts
today in November...

...as I return to
The Friendly City.






Spoiler Alert!

If you're my sister Cally
read no farther
or you'll spoil 
your Christmas surprise!




Back I go
to the Stained Glass
workshop.




Diana is retiring
after 24 years
of selling...





...the most
beautiful 
stained glass.





Each pane
of rich color
embedded
in classic designs.




I love
being able 
to see her work 
in progress.




And I love
the intense colors
of her window work.






But here 
in the corner
I find Cally's lamp.




A wonderful 
warm
light
for the corner
of her new sunroom.




I have 
a new philosophy 
this year.

I want to buy gifts
where I can see the faces
of the people
who made them.




Diana has helped me
with Sister Cal.


Now I'm on a roll.




I stop at the corner
gift shop.




Hand made wreaths.

Pretty, but I like
a more natural look.





Soy candles.

the kind made 
from the soybeans 
of Indiana.

Not paraffin made
from the oilfields of Iraq.




Bought surprises there.


Shhhh.

Can't tell you though.





On to Becky's market.





I loved her
home grown
apples
this September.






Now she is busy
making 
Christmas wreaths
with her sister Diane.





Her daughter's 
snowman
watches them.





These are more
my kinds 
of wreaths.




One more stop.





On my way home
I pass Nature's Karma.






I can't see 
my gift makers 
here.





They are 
from Africa

India

Honduras




Places
where women 
need our help.





They make beauty
from unlikely sources.

Our thrown away 
magazines....





newspapers...






circuit boards.




I love this basket
made from
discarded
industrial wire.





I love
the beadwork
on this clutch purse!





But I tell
Nigelle
I need to buy
this incredibly soft scarf.





Hand woven, 
of course.



Okay, one more stop.

Whole Foods next door.





Organic snack
for the drive home.







Oh! 
I wish Chris and Norma
were bringing 
the kids to Indiana
in time
for gingerbread houses!





Flowers
for Beth's 
surprise 
birthday party 
tonight.



And home 
to make plans
for the best Christmas ever!