Cat Show

We went to the Cat Fanciers' Association Inc. Cat Show in Atlanta and I of course took my camera. For more information on the association or to see the winners go to http://www.cfa.org/awards/top25-championship.html


There were several hundred cats there. As you may have guessed, I love cats. We currently live with my Grand kitty Spontaneous (who has been pictured on this blog several times.) This is the first cat show we have attended and I hope it won't be the last. The first two pictures are shelter kitties who went to the show to find new homes and raise money for their shelter. I
don't know if they were adopted but they sure

were cute. I don't imagine they will be homeless for long. All of these kitties were quite
Charming seeking attention. They "mushed" their chins up to the bars and purred whenever anyone came close. The shelter kitties were arrayed quite near the entrance.
The IAMS stage was set by the shelter kitties. I did not catch the man's name, it was rather hard to hear what he was saying. Hearing was not required to enjoy the show. He claims to have trained his cats. Everyone knows you can't train a cat. His must really love him though as they were quite cooperative. These kitties literally jumped through hoops for him. They also and walked on tightropes, climbed ladders .
There were I believe twelve different arenas for judging and they were busy. That is a lot of

beautiful kitties! This photo is a group of
Birman's. Lucky judges got to play with all that
fluff. The grey sweet heart with the big eyes is
named "Diamond Dust".
I also took photos of some of the cat's carriers. Some of their owners have really decorated them up. These cat's deserve to be pampered.
The Persian with the pink bib looks just a little grumpy. (Isn't it adorable?) The bib is to keep him (His name is Joey, maybe the pink bib is why he looks grumpy?) pretty and neat for the judges when he has his snack.
Last but not least, Spontaneous, I brought her a new toy back from the show. Generously donated by the people from IAMS.

For more information see

http://www.havacat.com/

http://www.oberlincattery.com/

http://www.inquizakittysphynxcattery.com/

http://www.hadakatsphynx.com/

http://www.catsapurrin.com/

www.dotdotdotocicats.com/

http://www.rescuecats.org/

See you next post,

Kat

Thanks!

With Thanksgiving this coming week, I wanted to take just a moment to let you all know that you, my family and friends, (including the new friends I have met through my blogs), are what I am the most thankful for. There are so many wonderful people in my life!
I am thankful to have such a lovely roof over my head and with special thanks to my Dear Hubby, plenty of good food to eat.
I am thankful for these beautiful woods and the ability to walk in, and appreciate them.
I am grateful to have a job where I feel like sometimes I really do make a difference.
I am thankful for my health.
I am glad to be able to participate in all my various hobbies and to travel as much as we do.
I love the Holidays!
As you probably know, I love cats. (One of which is currently a purring bundle on my lap.) We went to Atlanta this weekend to the Cat Fancier's Association Inc. Cat Show. I was surrounded in FUR! I of course took my camera along. My next posting will be in celebration of the event.
See you then.
Kat

Cozy

OK, I know, there really should be a limit to the number of autumn leaf pictures any one should be subject too. I just could not resist one more. :) I hope it looks as nice on your computer as it does on mine. Hubby and I were out for a walk the other evening. We left a little later than we meant to. By the time we got to the far end of the road, The sun was starting to set and the leaves were just glowing. This particular bunch is right next to a lovely little stream. After I took this photo, I just stood there in wonder for a few minutes. The leaves were magical, birds were

singing, I could just hear the stream merrily going by. The woods smelled fresh and clean. That was one of those moments that keeps me whole. When I find them, I try to take time to appreciate them, hold them close. When I am stressed, that moment will be waiting for me, carefully stashed away.

The next morning, we woke up to this wet and rainy view. I did not mind in the least. Isn't it pretty? We need the rain, and, what a lovely excuse for a lazy, cozy day off. I had homework to do of course, but no where I needed to be.

It was chilly in the house to start with so my sweet Hubby lit a fire in the fireplace. Our second

fire of the season. All that work a few months ago is certainly paying off.

I love to be cozy! I do not like to be too cold, but in order to truly appreciate cozy, you need a little chill in the air. This is what we call "SNUGGLE SEASON". I fall asleep best tucked up close to my Hubby with the blankets pulled close around my ears. In the morning, the day just starts better if I can hit the snooze button a few more times and snuggle back in under the blankets.

This fireplace is in our library. When we bought this lovely old house the chimneys were threatening to fall in and none of the fireplaces were usable. Most were boarded up. We had the chimneys rebuilt and four fireplaces restored. My Hubby found the bricks in the arch on the premises and had them incorporated into the design. This is a nice cozy fire and makes for a nice cozy room. In another corner of the same room, my grandkitty Spontaneous is demonstrating her version of cozy. She is curled up on a tuffet. What could be

cozier than that?

Once the fire was going well, we proceeded to spend most of a lovely rainy day in this cozy room. A long and scrumptious breakfast, (Guacamole omelets) and plenty of Nice British tea. One of the most delicious things about this lovely day was the fact that the season is just beginning.

How do you get cozy this time of year?

Mood Improvement

This list started out as "Ten things that improve my mood as the days grow shorter." However, it grew so fast, I didn't see any point in limiting it.
1- Snuggling in on a cold morning.
2- Walks in the woods. (With camera and Hubby of course.)
3- Holiday specials on TV.
4- A good book that I have not already read by one of my favorite authors. (I recently found an Agatha Christie I had not read yet "N or M" Pure Bliss!)

5- A great book that I have read before and

loved. (Anything by Charles De Lint, Anna Mcaffery, Mercedes Lackey, Agatha Christie, Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown, and many more.)

6- Traveling and seeing new things with my family.
7- Having someone tell me I helped them to feel better.
8- A fire in the fireplace.
9- Sitting on the balcony when it is warm out.
10- Writing in my blogs and reading other peoples blogs.
11- Reading my collection of Christmas Magazines. (I only save the Christmas ones,
I have some going back into the 1980's. Even the

adds are fun.
12- Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit.
13- Rain on my metal roof at night.
14- A lovely cup of hot tea. Today it is "PG Tips" a British tea we are lucky enough to be able to obtain from the Commissary. It is shown here in an Old Russian Tea Glass with scenes commemorating the launch of Sputnik by the former Soviet Union. (Do you remember Sputnik? How about Sky Lab?)
15- Hot Chocolate.
16- The sound of our clocks chiming.
17- Christmas music. (I will start out early in the
season with it on my Ipod so I won't make the

family crazy before the day actually arrives.)
18- Candles, not the scented ones, just the lovely soft glow.
19- Baking cookies. (Need I say more?)
20- A purring cat.

I keep thinking of more things to add, like the Frankencense and Myrrh my sweet hubby will soon be burning to scent the house, or vintage buttons, or finding a dandelion to photograph in November. So even though I really do not like to be cold. I love this time of year.
What improves your mood when the days get darker?
Kat

P.S. In the new issue of Artful Blogging, (The magazine that got me started on this lovely pass time)I read about http://shabbyscraps.typepad.com/ and how her husband did not like her dress form. Several people sent photos of their dress forms and she was able to convince him. Well, my dress form holds a set of Sixteenth Century Footman's armor. I posted a photo here so she could see it.

Awesome Autumn

Wow, not long ago we drove up to the mountains to see the leaves changing. Now all I have to do is step outside. This is by far the most spectacular year so far. I must confess, I would rather be outside taking photos than anything else right now.
The first photo may be a familiar setting. This is my barn with the autumn trees around it. It looks a little different because we had a tree that was endagering it removed. I love my trees, but in this case, the barn was there first. This lovely old structure is just not replaceable. I do not know how old it is, the house was built in 1825.

What nails are visible are the old handmade type with square heads and you can see where tree trunks were used in part of the construction. At one point we had an owl nesting out there. Anyway, all the seasons look good around it.
A couple of days ago, my sweet hubby and I took a drive in the local area. Some of these photos were taken then. None are more than 15 minutes drive from our house. My sweet heart has been incredibly patient with my cries of "Stop for a minute," or "back up a little please" while we drove through the country side. Good thing these are not busy roads.
The first set of photos were still on the camera when we went for our walk today. We went early for the light. I took a whole bunch more. The colors are so clear and the sky is so blue. The temperature is just right today. I know the cold is just around the corner. I can't wait for more fireplace mornings and snuggling in. Don't get me wrong here, I do not like to be cold.
Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons here in the south. It is not too hot or too cold, but as "Baby Bear" would say "Just right". Days like today are good for the soul.
I may post more pictures later, but I have to get some homework done.