And Now For Something Completely Different - Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies With A Couple of Guests

Greetings once again, Effurrybuddies!

Today, We invite you to join Us for something new - a chance to meet some of the beautiful Street Cats of Jerusalem. How did this come about, you ask? Well, it's like this. 

Last week, Uncle D. flew back to London. The day before he left, he and Mummy and Auntie N. met up for a late lunch (or early supper, depending on how you look at it) at a restaurant in the centre of town, called The Sea Dolphin - a favourite with Mummy and her biped family. It's situated near one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Jerusalem outside the Old City Walls, Nachalat Shiva, and right next to a piazza known to generations of Jerusalemites as Kikar Hachatulot (Cats' Square). That isn't its real name - probably only a handful of people know that, without googling it - and there are contradicting stories about how it acquired its nickname. Some people say it's because it used to be a popular spot for ladies of - um, a certain profession - to ply their trade. Others assume it's because of the large numbers of kitties who congregate there, possible due to the easy accessibility of good food from the many restaurants in the area.

At any rate, Mummy and her biped siblings met up there for a meal. It's a fish restaurant, and Mummy had the most delicious grilled rainbow trout (of which She did not bring Us back a Single Bite, shame on her!). Auntie N. had salmon - and Uncle D.? Well, although it's offishally a fish restaurant (get it? get it?), there are a few meat dishes available, and Uncle D. let the side down by ordering steak!!!

After the meal, Mummy and Uncle D. decided to walk Auntie N. back home as she is still having to use a walking stick, not having fully recovered from her broken ankle. They decided to go via the park, and on the way, Mummy took several pictures of the pretty felines She met along the road. We thought you might like to see some of them, so We chose a couple, which Mummy then artified and framed, and they will now be purrticipating in this weekend's blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Deliciously and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.
Each kitty was artified twice, once with BeFunky and once with LunaPic (which also supplied the frames).

The furrst feline they spotted after leaving the restaurant, was this little Beauty, obviously the Guardian of the Boutique you can see in the background. Besides restaurants, the Nachalat Shiva neighbourhood is famous for its upmarket boutiques and art-and-craft shops.

Mummy helped Us artify Boutique Kitty, furrst with Expressive Sketch GFX+ by BeFunky and then with Nouveau, by LunaPic at 84%:

As they walked through the park, Mummy snapped several other felines - although not all were as cooperative as Boutique Kitty. 

The last kitty was hiding in the dried grass outside one of the old apartment blocks near to Auntie N's house and the reason We have chosen to share this purrticular photo with you is, because We are still not certain if there is one kitty here or two:

If you biggify the photo, you might just see why We aren't sure. The truth is, Mummy herself didn't even start to wonder until She looked at the artifications - furrst of all, with BeFunky's Watercolour Splash GFX+ filter and then with LunaPic's Tuscany filter at 74%:

Do you see what We mean? It looks as if there is a black kitty behind the mostly white kitty! Either that, or the white kitty has an extra eye!!! And in fact, in the second artification of this kitty, whom We have named Incognita, it even seems as if there might be the shadow of a THIRD kitty, all in red!

All furry mysterious indeed, isn't it? Although for the sake of Fair Disclosure, We must admit that Mummy is pawsitive that when She took the photo, there was only One Kitty.

What do you think? One kitty or two? 
And which is your favourite artification? Let Us know in the Comments section below.

Here, now, are the blog hop badges:

        

And that's just about it for now. We look forward to seeing you all again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel.

Till then, be safe. Be well. We love you all.

Shimshi's Zonked Out Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Greetings, Effurrybuddies!

We are posting a little late today, because Mummy was out the whole morning at a lecture - a virtual tour of some of the lesser-known museums and art galleries of Paris. Purrsonally, We think that the only art galleries worth visiting are the ones with lots and lots of pictures of Cats! 

With that proviso, I believe all of Us would agree that Art broadens the mind and is a furry desirable subject of study. So, without further ado, I, the Mighty Shimshon (Shimshi for short), am honoured to be repurresenting My Fellow J-Cats in this weekend's blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

Furrst of all, here is My Selfie.

Mummy says I look as if I have been out all night on the tiles (mol)!

I say I merely look pensive. Though I must admit it makes me look a little - shall we say portly? Mummy pointed out that I can't quite get my grey waistcoat to close.

We used BeFunky to make three different artsy-fartsy versions of this using the new GFX+ series (all the frames are by LunaPic).

Furrst of all,  Rotoscope:

Next up, NeoComic at 80%:

And finally, SynthWave at 75%:

Now, I must admit, in this last one, I do look completely zonked out (mol)!

Do you have a favourite? Let Us know, in the Comments section below.

And here are the blog hop badges:

        

That's it for now. We look forward to seeing you again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel.

Till then, be safe. Be well. We love you all!

Caspurr's Snoozy Weekend: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Hallo there, Effurryone!

Furrst of all, I, Caspurr, the King of the Tigger-Tabbies, would like to say (on behalf of My Fursibs and Our Human) that We hope Our Furriends in the United States of America had an Absolutely Spiffing Independence Day yesterday and that all of Our Furriends around the World are having a wonderful weekend!

Weekends are, of course, time for the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Deliciously and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

I, Caspurr, the Snuggle-Bug, will be repurresenting My Fellow J-Cats on these two blog hops, with this beautiful snoozy picture which was taken using the zoom-out lens on Mummy's phone. That is why My Hind-Paws look so huge while the rest of Me does not (mol).

 

We created three pawsome artifications of this picture, with the help of BeFunky's new GFX filters. All the frames came from LunaPic.

Furrst of all, see the mewtiful effect of the Impressionist Soft filter:

Mummy says this one enhances My Tummy in the sweetest way and makes it look eminently smoochable (which it is - but you had better ask My Purrmission before you touch me or there will be Consequences!!!)

This next one uses the Action Ink effect, very clean-cut:

The final one is an artsy-fartsy explosion of Wild Wackiness, using Pixel Art GFX:

Needless to say, each one of Us, including Mummy, has a different favourite.  Do you? Have a Favourite, that is? Let Us know in the Comments section below.

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Uncle D. has been with Us for two and a half weeks now and effurry weekend, he has cooked the Shabbat meal for Mummy. He is an absolute Master-Chef! This last Friday, Auntie N and Uncle B. came over and dined with Us, and Uncle D. cooked a delicious Chinese-style meal. But Mummy wouldn't share any of it with Us, because She said it contained things like onion and garlic, which are furry bad for kitties. Well, in that case, why didn't She tell Uncle D. to leave out those things???

We will sign off now, to give Mummy time for a nice long Nap Snooze Siesta before going out to her Caterwauling Club. This will be the furrst time She has gone out since her Opurration. But furrst of all, We will post the blog hop badges:

        

That's it for now. We look forward to seeing you again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel.

Till then, be safe. Be well. We love you all!

Trixie and the Joys of Summer: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Hallo again, Effurrybody!

We are so happy to be back once more, now that Mummy's surgery is safely behind her and She is home again. The Opurration went well, with no Complications and now, We are waiting for the pathology report to be certain that they managed to get all of the Bad Cells out of Mummy. Then She will be called back to discuss any further treatment that may be necessary.

In the meantime, We will be getting on as best We can with our normal lives - although Mummy won't be going caterwauling this evening. She'll wait a few more days for that, because She is supposed to be resting at home for a week and taking things easy.

Howeffur, She was determined to help Us with Our Blog today, so that We can join the weekend blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

As you have undoubtedly surmised, I, Queen Trixie, will be repurresenting the J-Cats this week.  So without further ado, here is My Selfie. I was chillaxing on one of the chairs under the dining-room table:

Mummy made a purrty frame, combining Our Flag with elements hinting at summer, because We are now fully into that season. She did this with the help of the cyber-gremlins at LunaPic, who also helped with the artifications (mol).

The furrst of those artifications uses the Candy effect, at 58%:

Next, in complete contrast, was another version, this time using the Dark effect, at 42%:

Last, but by no means least, an artsy-fartsy combination of Beauty (55%) and Heatmap (42%):

Do you have a favourite? Let Us know in the Comments section below.

Next, here are the blog hop badges:

        

We are not sure how many of you We will manage to visit today, as Mummy is feeling furry, furry tired, but We will do Our best to get round to all Our Furriends - if not today, then later in the Week. And, of course, We look forward to seeing you again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. Till then - be safe. Be well. We love you all!

Summer is Just Around the Corner: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies with Shimshi

Hallo, Effurrybuddies!

 

Guess whose turn it is this week to lead the J-Cats on the weekend blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet!

Yes, you have guessed aright! It is I, the Mighty Shimshon (Shimshi for short), Furrst of My Name, the Little Purrince a.k.a. The Baby Mancat, Master of the Queen's Mischiefs and Captain of the Guard!

We will kick off right away with My Official Pawtrait, which Mummy has adorned with a beautiful summery frame She created with the help of LunaPic:

Of course, Summer doesn't officially start till next week, but We probably won't be posting then, as that is the week of Mummy's opurration, and She has a great deal to do. So, since the weather here in Israel is definitely Summer weather, We will celebrate it right now :-)

All of this week's art is also from from LunaPic, as are the elegant frames. 

For starters, We used the bright and cheerful Delaunay effect at 68% - colourful as a summer garden:

Artification no.2 used the more sober tints of Colour Sketch at 85% - quieter and less flashy, but excellent for bringing out detail:

And finally, Bridge Art at full power:

And there you have it - three furry different manifestations of My Magnificent Self (mol). Did I say three? Nay, Four - let Us not forget the Original Me! Do you have a favourite? Do let Us know in the Comments section below.

And here are the blog hop badges:

        

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This Thursday, Uncle D. should be arriving. Yay!

As We mentioned above, Mummy has her surgery next week, so We don't expect to be posting next Sunday, when She is supposed to be spending most of the day at the hospital for something called a "Pre-Op Evaluation". They told her to bring something to drink and some sandwiches, as well as some light reading, as it could take several hours. Her opurration is scheduled for next Thursday and the plan is for her to spend one night at the hospital. If all goes well - and We purray, naturally, that it will -  We will be back here in two weeks time, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. 

Till then, be safe. Be well. We love you all!

Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies with Caspurr the Snuggle-Bug

Hallo again, Effurryone! 

Here I am once more! Once again, I, Sir Caspurr the Courageous, the Caspicatious , Furrst of My Name, the Snuggle-Bug, Commander-in-Chief of the Impurrial Forces, King of the Tigger-Tabbies, will be leading My Fellow J-Cats on the weekend blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Snoozies Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Deliciously and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet!

And without further ado, here is this week's Meowsterpiece. It's got it all - tummy, paws, head upside down, cute Meowna Lisa "smile"...What more could the Pawpawrazzi ask of Me (MOL)?

And now for the artsy-fartsy part - all created with LunaPic, as were the frames.

Furrst of all, an elegant drawing using Sketch2:

We do love colour, it's true, but all the greatest artists used to make black-and-white sketches before applying paint to canvas. Signor Leonardo da Vinci, for example ...

Our next artification used the Edtaonisi effect at 58%:

We think this one shows up My Tiggerish Tabbiness to great advantage!

And finally, We used one of Mummy's favourite filters - Frida, at 84%:

Let Us know in the Comments section below, which is your favourite, and why.

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Mummy had a furry successful Gala evening last week with her Caterwauling friends and will no doubt write about it soon in her own bloggie, hopefully later this week. Their upcoming concert isn't till the end of July, but next week is still going to be a furry busy one for Mummy, with a nature hike, a couple of lectures/concerts and finally, an opurra. And, of course, Uncle D. will be arriving.

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What have We forgotten? Oh, yes - the blog hop badges!

Here they are!

        

We think that just about wraps it up for this week. We will be here again next week, COD-willing - same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. Till then, be safe. Be well. We love you all.

How Does My Garden Grow - Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies with Trixie

Greetings, Effurrybody! 

Well, I'm back again - Queen Trixie, Furrst of My Name, Empurress of Jerusalem, Israel and the Entire Middle East, Queen of Hearts, the Panfur Princess, Purrtector of the Library, Guardian of the Boudoir, Alpha-Kitty Extraordinaire!

Once again, it falls to My Lot to repurresent the J-Cats in this weekend's blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

Here is this week's selfie, embellished by Mummy with a lovely frame, featuring  Our National Flag, as well as a bevy of flowers. She did this with the help of LunaPic. And then, of course, the bed-linen, too, is adorned with flowers. I get to enjoy My Own Private Garden, without having to move from Mummy's My Bed or leave My Boudoir. How cool is that?

The selfie itself (can one say that?) is furry artsy-fartsy, but Mummy made three more artifications using filters from BeFunky and frames from LunaPic.  All of them are brilliantly coloured, just like the Original.

The furrst version uses Sticker Art - one of the new GFX+ filters. We simply love what it does to my ears (mol)!

For the next one, We chose Pop Comic GFX. Just look at that gorgeous midnight blue tint it imparts to my beautiful furs!

And finally, a longstanding favourite - Pastel GFX:

Let Us know in the Comments section below which one you like best!

Before We forget, here are the blog hop badges:

        

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And now for the rest of the week's news.  Furrst of all, for those of you who missed it, the final episode of Mummy's adventures last autumn in the Peloponnese is now live on her own bloggie.

Next, We are happy to announce that Uncle D. will be arriving in the middle of next month, to give Mummy some Help and Encouragement when She has her Opurration.

Finally, this coming Wednesday, Mummy and her caterwauling friends have their end-of-the-year Gala. That means, of course, that She has Caterwauling Practice this evening, so She needs to have a nice long Siesta (aka - a NAP) this afternoon. Howeffur, She will try to visit as many of you as She can before that.

That's all for now. We will be here again, COD-willing, next week - same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. Till then, be safe. Be well. We love you all.