Caturday Art - In Tribute to Pixie

Hallo, Effurrybody!

Many of you will no doubt remember Princess PixieCato aka Pixie, who came before Us and who flew away to the Rainbow Bridge on December 23, 2011.

Since Mummy and We are Mewish, it seemed to Us fitting to commemorate the Hebrew date of her receiving her Angel Wings. This would have been three days ago, on Wednesday, when We lit the fourth Hanukkah candle - but We thought it would be nice to wait until today, and to honour Pixie by featuring her in our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.

Mummy's beloved Pixie succumbed to kidney disease at the age of sixteen and a half - but in this picture, she was just seven years old, in the peak of health and at the height of her Beauty. Mummy used LunaPic to blend Pixie's picture with a Menorah which She found on a clipart site, as it was at Hanukkah that Pixie had to leave for the Bridge and because this evening, We light the seventh Hanukkah candle.








Then, She chose the Floating Art effect and added a picture frame border.  









Of course, no picture could really do her justice, but We think this gives you a good idea - and We think that Pixie herself would have liked the artwork.

Mummy misses Pixie - and Pixie's brofur Possum - furry much, and her eyes still get leaky when She thinks about them, but She knows that both of them are watching over her from the Rainbow Bridge and that She will see them again one day.

Now, before We wish you all  Shavoua Tov (A Good Week) and go to light the Hanukkah candles, here is the link to the blog hop. First, Athena's logo: 


  


And off We go....

A Basket Case of Caturday Art.

Hallo, Effurrybuddies!


It is MY turn today, to star in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena.

Who am I, do I hear you ask?

Well, hard as it is for Me to believe that there could be anyone out there who does not recognise Me, even in this artified portrait, just in case you have been living on Alpha Centauri for the last zillion years - know that I am the Mighty Shimshon (Shimshi for short) aka the Little Purrince, Captain of the Impurrial Guard and Master of the Queen's Mischiefs.

Mummy actually prepurred this picture a while back, in the summer, and She can't remember exactly what She used to edit it with. She thinks it might have been the Paper Artist app on her smartphone, but on the other hand, it might also have been something She found on LunaPic or one of the other online photo editing websites. Purrhaps some of you recognise the style and can enlighten Us...

Anyway, We see that a lot of you are prepurring for Chrissymouse, even though that is weeks and weeks away. Well, We are prepurring for Hanukkah, which starts tomorrow night. We shall purrobably be furry busy and might not have time to visit effurrybody this coming week BUT - We are going to have a Hanukkah pawty at 6 pm Israel Time next Caturday evening, when We light the SEVENTH Hanukkah candle. As it is a bit chilly outside, even in the Enchanted Forest, We are going to have the pawty indoors this time, in Our Humble Abode, so you need to reset the coordinates on your Tunnels, or other Teleporting Devices, and We will see you this time next Caturday night.
Of course, that does not mean you aren't welcome to visit any time this week and if you should happen to drop in at candle-lighting time, you can be sure of a warm welcome with catnip latkes, sufganiyot, and other goodies (mol).

Now, it is time to wish you all Shavoua Tov (a good week), as well as a Happy Hanukkah, before We join the blog hop.

Here is the badge:


   






And here We go:

Caturday Art With Caspurr

Hallo, Effurryone!


We find We quite like this artsy fartsy thingy, and as they say, purr-actice makes purr-fect, so We are once again joining in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena.

So here is a picture of Me, Sir Caspurr the Courageous, King of the Tigger Tabbies and Commander-in-Chief of the Impurrial Forces.

In this portrait, I am admiring my reflection in a beautiful lake. My Human helped me create this Masterpiece using LunaPic's Water filter and Reflecting Water animation effect. The animation part doesn't seem to work, no doubt because Mummy also resized the picture, using PicResize. But I think it still looks furry nice, don't you?
In addition, We used a Picture Frame border from LunaPic, which gives it a nice, elegant finish.

Before We go live, and link to the Blog Hop, We want to wish you all Shavoua Tov - a Good Week.

Now, let's make sure We follow all the rules propurrly. We have already added the link to Athena's bloggie. And here is her logo:  

And here, finally,  is the link to the Blog Hop (isn't this fun?)

Caturday Art

Hallo, Effurrybody!

We don't usually post on Caturday, because of the Sabbath. But since Shabbat ends so early during the winter months, there is still plenty of Caturday left, even though Shabbat is already over and so We are going to take the oppurrtunity to purrticipate, for the furry furrst time, in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena and her Human, Marie.

We still need to remind ourself how to do this, step-by-step.

First, here is Athena's Caturday Art logo:

And here is Our Artistic Creation! This is Moi, Queen Trixie, the Black Panfur, Empurress of Jerusalem, Israel and the Entire Middle East, Guardian of the Boudoir, Alpha-Kitty Extraordinaire!






In this picture, I am curled up trying to sleep but keeping an eye on Mummy and her Flashy Box. Can you see my beautiful, sharp white Fangs?

For this picture, Mummy, who is new to these online photo-editing thingies, used the LunaPic Beauty Tool and added a Picture Frame border. Quite simple really, as We are just beginners at this kind of photo editing.

We hope you like it. I certainly enjoyed getting to try out all kinds of filters and so on, before choosing this one.


Before We post the link to the Blog Hop, We wanted to wish you all Shavoua Tov - A Good Week.

And also, one other thing. We know a lot of you enjoyed reading about Flat Moo's Visit and all the places she went to see in Jerusalem, and We thought that you and your Humans might enjoy seeing some other places in Israel which Mummy sometimes writes about in her own, purrsonal blog. So here is a link to Mummy's blog.


And now, here are all the purrticipants in the Blog Hop:

Meet the Community Cats

Hallo again, Effurrybody!

We purromised, a while back, to keep you updated about the feral kitties Mummy feeds effurry evening and to introduce you to some more of them.
Mummy gives them all names now, you remember - although sometimes, She isn't quite sure which is which, because She only sees most of them after dark, when She goes down to feed them. 

There are a couple, however, who come bounding up to Mummy whenever She leaves the house, so Mummy knows them purrty well.

This is one of them. Mummy calls her Callie and She is a sweet, friendly little kitty girl.








This sweet boy, who comes rushing up the moment Mummy sets foot outside the house, and who often seems more interested in Mummy's company than in the food She brings, is called Mishmish (Hebrew for "apricot"). You can purrobably guess why (mol).

Mummy's other pictures didn't turn out so well, so She'll try and take some more this evening - if it isn't raining. It isn't easy to handle a camera when you are trying to hold an umbrella as well as a box full of kitty food. Last night, Mummy went down to feed the Homeless Kitties earlier than usual - which is just as well, because later on, it started pouring and there were thunder boomies all night long.  And now, We are in for three days of rain, Mummy says. 

We hate the thought of all the poor, homeless kitties being out in the rain and cold without shelter. Mummy checked all along Our Street and She says there are several places all along the street where the kitties can find at least some shelter, like covered garages and basements. But sometimes, kitties curl up under the engine covers of cars, to keep warm - which is furry dangerous for them. Please remember, before you start up your car, to check that no kitty has taken shelter there.

And those of you who live in the UK and are celebrating Guy Fawkes Night - please make sure there are no kitties or other anipals around when you set off your fireworks this evening and that all pets are safely indoors. In fact - it would be better not to set off any fireworks at all. Animals are terrified by them.  

That's all for now, kitties. Mummy isn't feeling well and wants to go and take a nap.

Be well and be safe.



Trixie, Caspurr and Shimshi

Farewell to Flat Moo

Greetings, Effurrybuddies!

They say all good things must come to an end, and it is true. Yesterday, We bade fur-well to Flat Moo, Joanie's Travelling Cow from the 15 and Meowing blog, who has been staying with Us here in Jerusalem for the past few weeks. We were furry sad to see her go, but She has lots of other places to visit on her World Tour and lots of other anipals to meet - and We mustn't be selfish.

As We purr-omised, before she left, We took Moo to Tel Aviv for a day at the seaside. We went first to the Old Port, which was built in the 1930s to replace the Port of Jaffa, when the latter became too dangerous for Jews to use, because of the Arab riots. The port is no longer in use for maritime commerce but it was completely restored in the early years of this century, and now teems with restaurants and cafes. Well, what else could We do? We needed sustenance to give Us plenty of energy for the day's adventures (mol)!

Here We all are, #MooToo, at the port.









We strolled along the wooden deck which runs along the shore, until We met this kitty, who was on her way to her favourite eatery (she looks as if she needs feeding, don't you think?) and didn't really have time to stop and chat.

A little further along, We met another one of the locals, who didn't want to let go of the Fishie between her teeth to answer Our query, but pointed Us with a toss of her glossy black head in the direction of one of the jetties.

We eventually stumbled upon a long, stone wall jutting into the waves. From a distance, it looks like the deck of a half-submerged submarine, doesn't it (mol)?

We didn't think anyone but a sure-footed Feline would brave the wet, slippery stones, but there were fishermen there and Moo summoned up all her courage and posed for a photo with them.

The fishermen were quite surprised because, although they are used to kitties hoping for some fishy tidbits, they had neffur met a travelling cow before. Still, they were furry kind and shared their catch with Us.

By now, it was getting quite late, so We walked back along the wooden deck and down to the seashore, where We had some ice-cream and enjoyed the beautiful sunset.

Then it was time to head back home to Jerusalem, where We had a Fur-well Supper with Moo and helped her to pack.

This morning, We said Our goodbyes and waved her on her way. We shall miss her furry much - but We are somewhat comforted by the fact that Mummy remembered that She, too, has a travelling cow, Milka, who came from Switzerland as the representative of a Chocolate Manufacturer, and liked it so much in Israel that she decided to stay. Here she is, with Flat Moo:

We are looking forward to reading about Moo's adventures at her next port of call.

Bon voyage, Moo - or, as We say in Hebrew, Nessia Tova  (נסיעה טובה).

Flat Moo Comes To Town - Part 7

Hallo again, Effurrybody!

Here We are again - which is to say, Moi, Queen Trixie and My brofurs, Caspurr and Shimshi, and Our Special Guest, Joanie's Travelling Cow from the 15 and Meowing blog, Flat Moo.

Flat Moo has been with Us for several weeks now and her visit is drawing to a close. We will be furry sorry to see her go - but We were furry glad that she was able to spend the High Holy Days with Us and also to enjoy Sukkot (Tabernacles) here in Jerusalem. We were effur so glad to be able to welcome her to Our Sukkah:

Earlier this week, We took her to visit the Nachlaot neighbourhood, where there are lots of quaint little houses built around picturesque, interconnected  courtyards, each courtyard a mini-neighbourhood originally populated by a different Jewish community - Syrian Jews, Iraqi Jews, Sephardic and Ashkenazi, etc.  

Once one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Jerusalem, it has now become gentrified and the tiny one-room and two-room houses are gradually being replaced by extremely expensive houses which the local people cannot afford and which are being bought up by outsiders:

As you would expect, each of the courtyards of Nachlaot has its own resident cat population, and naturally, the local population treat them with the Respect to which We Felines are entitled, which includes feeding them furry well - as you can see from this picture:

In fact, this kitty was definitely a bit - well, chubby.

And we also made the acquaintance of this elegant panfur, in one of the courtyards:

There are many synagogues in Nachlaot, some of them tiny little enclaves in the middle of the famous Machane Yehuda market (which lies at the heart of Nachlaot and about which, more later), like this one, sandwiched between two shops: 

and some of them quite impressive, like the Hesed VeRahamim synagogue, seen below, where Moo and Caspurr posed for a picture outside its silver-covered doors, which have twelve panels depicting the Twelve Tribes of Israel:  







The Chubby Kitty whom We met earlier told Us that, as well as being fed by the humans who lived there, they could always find plenty to eat in the Machane Yehuda market, commonly known as HaShuk (THE Market).
I should explain that when Jerusalemites talk about going to "the market" - they mean Machane Yehuda, where now, in addition to all the food stalls, there are also more and more cafes and restaurants.  

We all enjoyed the market. Here I am, outside one of the shops:

And then Our Official Photographer (aka Mummy) found a Sweet Shop:   






If you look carefully, you can just about see Me in the lower right-hand corner.


Shimshi, of course, hit the jackpot:

Unfortunately, the one thing that did not appear to be for sale in the Shuk was grass, so, as Moo was now beginning to feel rather hungry, We decided to head back home.

Before Moo leaves, We want to take her to the seaside at Tel Aviv, so watch out for next week's blog. We hope the weather will hold. On Shemini Atzeret, which immediately follows Sukkot, the Humans start to pray for rain. It is officially autumn. But so far, you would neffur guess that (mol). So We are hopeful that We will be able to enjoy a fun day with Moo at the beach, before We have to say goodbye to her.

Have a lovely weekend, Effurryone!
And Moooooooo from Our Guest!