Kitten - the other white meat

I decided to take advantage of the quiet in the house this afternoon to knock out a good chunk on a client project. While working away, it suddenly occurred to me that the house was a little too quiet. And no noise equals no good. And no good equals my cats. A quick check to the bedroom produced a sleepy Zoey napping. That only left one option - Izzy!

As I walked into the kitchen, I immediately stopped in my tracks. And then I yelled, "What the Hell!" Actually I used another curse word, but I'm trying to keep it somewhat PG here. And then instantly I knew what had to be done - grab the camera!




No, this photo was not staged. Yes, she's cute, but not that bright. No, no cats were harmed in the making of this photo. And yes, she's lucky that I'm vegetarian!

Operation Underground Railroad Secret Santa Kitten Rescue

My assignment should I choose to accept it (cue Mission: Impossible music here) - to covertly hide the world's cutest kitten in my house for two days and then ultimately return her to Santa's sneaky elf so that the kitten can be given to a lucky, little girl on Christmas morning.

So my friend Jill had been planning this covert operation for some time. And when she came to my craft faire at Beatnik Studios and told me of her plan - and the complications that it involved with the SPCA being closed at Christmas - I wondered how I could help. Jill's daughter Lily wanted her very own kitty. And what better surprise than to have Santa deliver one on Christmas morning! But the SPCA was closing early on Christmas Eve and wouldn't be open again until after Christmas. So Jill would have to adopt a kitten and then figure out where to hide it until Christmas. And that's when she asked me to join the inner lair of Secret Santa Kitten Rescue. Well, truth be told - I think I actually blurted out, "We can hide her at my house!" Yeah, I'm a sucker for a sweet, little fur ball! So that's what we did.

When Jill dropped off Secret Santa Kitten on day one, the little one was still groggy from her spay surgery earlier that day. So I tucked her into the heated cat bed with her new baby blanket. She slept for there several hours with me petting her every once in a while to see if she would wake up.




When Secret Santa Kitten finally did awake from her long catnap, she was hungry! I put some of her crunchies in a bowl and she chowed down! Here's a photo of my fat cats Zoey and Izzy supervising to make sure that the kitten does it right!




After eating, the kitten needed another nap. Yeah, I tend to do that after a big meal, too. Here's the little one sleeping on the couch next to Zoey. Yeah, Zoey is the raddest cat ever!




After the second nap, Secret Santa Kitten ate her dinner. She has impeccable manners and made sure to wipe the crumbs from her mouth afterwards!




That night, I went to bed and woke up with three kitties snuggled down for warmth. It was a little slice of Heaven!

On day two, Secret Santa Kitten actually wore out Zoey and Izzy with all of her frisky playing! She batted this orange mouse around on the wood floors for about four hours.




Then she moved onto one of Izzy's favorite toys and swatted at this spinning mouse for some time. At one point, she couldn't see where the mouse was hidden in the toy and started looking around the coffee table for it!




She then joined the already exhausted Zoey and Izzy for a nap on the dining room chairs in front of the heater.




Here, she has discovered an Evie's Ark, All Things Animal catnip toy! She may have a future as one of my newest spokescats!




She poses in a Santa hat while I explain that she will soon go to her forever home with a happy, little girl who will love her very much.




Secret Santa Kitten has already fallen in love with her big cousin Zoey and has a little temper tantrum about leaving her. Or perhaps she was just yawning. We may need to arrange for play dates in the future!




One Christmas Eve, Jill came over to pick up the Secret Santa Kitten. While I was sad to see the frisky fur ball leave, I know that she will make a very magical memory for a little girl who will always remember this Christmas.

Mission accomplished.

Update: Lily loves her new kitten and named her Cookie.

Santa's Little Helper

Zoey is pooped from helping out in Santa's workshop making catnip toys for all the good, little kitties in the world!




Happy Holidays from Evie's Ark, All Things Animal!

Home for the Holidays art show

I'm thrilled to be one of the participating artists in the upcoming "Home for the Holidays" art show at Vox Sacramento! I'll have the following new pieces on display during the December Second Saturday Art Walk.

"Soul Mates" is based on the pair of mourning doves who nibble for food in my dewy backyard each day. I enjoy the soothing sounds of their cooing while I sit on my back patio drinking coffee. Acrylic on canvas. Measures 11 x 14.




"Family Reunion" was inspired by a conversation that occurred during a road trip from South Carolina to Florida with my mom. Whenever we saw a group of birds gathered along the telephone wires, my mom would shout out, "Look! It's a family reunion!" Acrylic on canvas. Measures 8 x 10.




"One" was inspired after a recent journal entry. One lone bird sits upon an old and barren tree. And while there is sadness at that exact moment, the rising sun sheds light on a new beginning. Acrylic on canvas. Measures 11 x 14.




"Proud." This wintery cardinal is happy that it's almost Christmas! Acrylic on canvas. Measures 8 x 10.




This reunion art show will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 5-10pm and will feature many of the artists who have shown at Vox since its inception. And for the art collectors, this is a great opportunity to get a deal on some original art for those on your holiday gift giving list! Also, proceeds from a silent auction/drawing that evening will raise funds to support Vox and the work that they do in our art community.

Photo of the week - Peeping Tom

I am one step closer to uncovering the identity of the peeping tom who watches me shower every morning!

Photo of the week - There's no place like home!

Halloween is right around the corner, so a friend and I headed to Evangeline's in Old Sacramento to look at costumes. Old Sac was a crazy mess of tourists and horse-drawn carriages. Evangeline's was even worse with pushy wanna-be teenagers looking for trampy costumes. Disappointed, we decided to try our luck elsewhere. Upon returning to the car, which we had to park on the roof of the garage, we stopped to admire Old Sac from up above the chaos. And I'm thankful we did.

The golden Tower Bridge in the City of Trees.




Old Sac restaurants, tug boats on the water, and the Ziggurat building on the skyline.

Photo of the week - Stickin' it to the man!

This is what Izzy thinks of the PG&E bill! I couldn't agree with her more!

"Sisters," newest art

Here's a peek at a new piece that I just created and will donate to the Pit Bull awareness fundraiser on October 10, 2009. "Sisters" is based on my dog Betsy, who was by far the best dog that a little girl could have while growing up!




When I was very small, family friends would comment to my mom about how much she and my little brother looked alike with their blond hair and green eyes. Then they would look at me with my red hair and blue eyes and say nothing! After developing a huge complex, I did what any normal 5-year-old would do and started telling people that my parents had kidnapped me! So after several parent-teacher conferences, many conversations about how red hair is a recessive gene, and a quick trip to the pet store for someone who looked a little more like me, I decided to stay with this family.

I'll always remember the ride home from the pet store in our brown station wagon holding this tiny, squirmy ball of puppy breath and telling her that her name is Betsy. My dad explained to me that I shouldn't call her Betsy just yet because she might get used to her new name on the ride home, even though it was only a 5-minute drive. And if we all decided to call her by another name, the puppy would then be confused. But I wouldn't listen.

Betsy turned out to not be just a dog, but instead became a member of our family. My mom always laughed when I would roll the dog over on her back and dig through the hair on her stomach. Apparently, I was looking for the zipper because I knew that she was really a person inside that fur coat! I also gave Betsy my middle name because I imagined that's what a big sister would do. Betsy and I spent countless hours of my childhood digging a large hole in the backyard in order to get to China, reading Encyclopedia Brown mysteries together by flashlight in our blanket fort, and sharing a bowl of popcorn while watching Saturday morning cartons.

Betsy lived a long and happy life and died in my mom's arms at the age of 18-years-old. And while there have been countless other dogs since her, Betsy will always be my first love. Red heads share a bond that can never be broken.

In honor of Betsy's memory, this piece will be donated as a silent auction item to the "Pits and Fash" Fashion and Trunk Show Fundraiser promoting the documentary, "Beyond the Myth." The benefit will be held on Saturday, October 10 at 7pm at the Retro Lodge located at 1111 H Street.

Call For Artists - Byron Blackburn Celebration of Life Event

On September 18, 2009, we lost a beloved friend. Byron Blackburn fought a fierce battle with Sarcoma, and he always said that he had cancer, but that cancer did not have him. Byron's brave spirit and his kind soul touched so many of us. His passion for music had a monumental impact on our community. And his love of the arts was obvious in his support of the Second Saturday art scene.

To celebrate Byron's life, his wife Kathy will host a public memorial service on October 16 at Beatnik Studios, located at 17th and Broadway. The tribute will feature performances by local musicians and a silent auction of art. Proceeds from the evening will be used to set up a scholarship fund for a local music charity in Byron's name.

To donate art to the Byron Blackburn Celebration of Life Event, please contact Evie Turner at eviesark {at} gmail {dot} com by October 5 for further details.

Thank you.

Dogs. Treat equal.

This video truly moved me with its powerful message.

Trick or treat?

So my neighbor bought a Halloween clown wig for her cat. And when she asked me if I wanted to try it on Zoey...well, who am I to deny my cat the right to celebrate pagan holidays? Afterall, Halloween is everyone's favorite holiday in our household!




May I present you you: Zoey, the mullet-clown-feline! She's all business in the front and a party in the back!




PS - I fear that Zoey may try to suffocate me tonight while I am sleeping.

Afternoon delight!

It's only occasionally that my house is completely silent. This afternoon was one of those rare times. I immediately knew that the cats were up to something sneaky. So I quietly tip toed around the house hoping to catch them in the act of their something troublesome. And when I entered the bedroom, this is what I discovered!




I'll take some catnap spoonin' over their normal laps around the house like a herd of buffalo stampeding any day!

Back to the work grind

Monday at 8am:
I'm in your brief case and ready to go to the office, Mommy!




Monday at 9pm:
Whew - Monday kicked my ass!

Photo of the week - Paparazzi

Please! No more with the paparazzi photos! I need my privacy!

"The Girl Who Cried Love, " a new art piece

Here's a new piece that I have wanted to work on for some time now, but somehow just couldn't bring myself to do it. "The Girl Who Cried Love" was created after my greatest heartbreak - the second of two over a period of 17 years by the same man.




The words on her dress are actually from a cut out of a love letter that I wrote to him, but never sent. I felt that it was more important for me to write the letter, and get the words on paper so that the feelings were no longer trapped inside me. The bottom edge of the canvas reads: I will always love you. Just turn my key.




Time does heal all wounds, or so they say. My broken heart just took a little longer than expected to mend itself.

"The Girl Who Cried Love" is acrylic on wrapped canvas and measures 11" x 14". This piece will be available at Side Show's Friend and Family art show on September 12, 2009.

An open letter to Banana Bread

Dear Banana Bread,

You've been there for me for most of my life. Through the good times and the bad times, through the heartbreak and the hunger pains. You've been my source of comfort, right behind ice cream of course. Yes, we've had our ups and downs. But time after time, you've come to be my trusty stand-by. And for that, I am thankful.

But there comes a time in a girl's life when the regular ho-hum just won't do. Call it a mid-life crisis if you will. Please be assured that it's me and not you. I will always cherish the smell of your soothing aroma wafting from my oven, but feel the need to explore other options. I know that our paths will cross again. And I hope that you will always hold safe our dear memories together.

Love,
me


And now I present you with Banana Blueberry Muffins! Yumm-o!




Banana Blueberry Muffin Recipe
Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed over-ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1 egg
1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray muffin cups with a non-stick spray. I like to use unique muffin pans, rather than the typical round kind. I think it makes the muffins taste better! But back to the recipe. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a smaller bowl, mix the mashed bananas, egg, melted butter, milk, vanilla extract, orange zest, and walnuts. Stir the dry ingredients into the banana mixture until blended, but make sure not to overmix. Gently fold in the blueberries.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Sprinkle a generous pinch of sugar onto the tops of each muffin. This gives the muffin a crystallized crunchiness on the top. Bake muffins until tops are pale golden color and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a rack to cool. Or you can be a pig like I was and eat them warm right out of the oven. Enjoy!

Photo of the week - Sew very naughty!

I can helpz you sewz de catnip toyz, Momma?

Tested and approved!

Izzy is the newest spokescat for Evie's Ark, All Things Animal organic catnip toys!

Photo of the week - Dinner time!

Kitten: it's what's for dinner!

Photo of the week - BBQ time!

Izzy has good taste in beer! She approves of Blue Moon for the 3rd annual G-spot summertime BBQ!

Photo of the week - Best friends

This just melts my heart!

Photo of the week - Nap junkie

Because you can never nap too much!

Photo of the week - TV junkie

Izzy also loves the show about nothing!

Photo of the week - Ninja Kitten!

"If you take one more photo of me, I'll assassinate you with my warrior skills!"
~Izzy, Ninja Kitten

Yoga for felines

Zoey does yoga! She calls this pose "Downward Cat." Om......

Photo of the week - No cavities!

Izzy looked so sweet sleeping in her kitty bed with her green and orange mouse. I immediately grabbed the camera so that I could capture the precious moment. But then she yawned!

How I fell madly in love!

Yesterday was the Happy Tails Kitten Adopt-A-Thon, which I had been looking forward to for many months. I had been thinking about adding another cat to the family, but didn't want to bring home just any kitten. I wanted to make sure that I had the perfect match for Zoey's spunky personality. So a friend and I headed over to the Adopt-A-Thon event a half hour before it started. And when we got there, the room was already packed with people snatching kittens out of cages and furiously filling out adoption papers! It was beautiful chaos!

The small lobby of the storage company was packed with wire cages filled with nearly 50 kittens. I saw a sweet little tortie kitten that reminded me of my first cat Taz. I also spotted an all-white kitten with one blue eye and one green eye! Then my heart skipped a beat when I saw a fuzzy gray and white kitten with green eyes. She shared a cage with 5 tuxedo boy kittens who were swinging from the top of the cage like monkeys. She calmly took it all in stride. And I knew I had my new kitten.

Meet Isadora, or Izzy for short.




Izzy stakes her claim on the cat bed. Zoey settles for the king sized comforter.




Sisters.




And the best news - all 49 of the kittens that were available for adoption found forever homes with permanent families!

Kitten Adopt-A-Thon!

It’s “kitten season” and animal shelters are overrun with kittens needing loving, permanent homes! So Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary will hold a Kitten Adopt-A-Thon this Saturday! The event will be held at Extra Space Storage located at 30th & B Street in East Sacramento from 10am - 4pm. Bring the family out for refreshments and fun giveaways — and maybe take home a new furry family member!

Who thinks that Zoey needs a little sister?

For more information about Happy Tails, visit their website. Meows!

Arrgh, mateys!

"Feed me some cat treats grub, or I'll make ye walk the plank!"
~Cap'n Zoey

She: an all-female art show

Just a quick reminder about my upcoming art show. Hope you'll stop by Vox's new location to celebrate their grand re-opening with an all-female art show! In addition to the amazing art by so many talented women, there will be live music by Reggie Ginn and Ricky Berger. And this show will benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. See you there!

Vox Gallery
Saturday, June 13 from 5-10pm
20th and H Streets in Sacramento

Why my quilting mom is a rock star!

Yesterday, I was thrilled to discover that my mom's "Tattoo Girl" quilt was featured in the Quilt Beauty online gallery! Mom is thrilled!

The image on the website links back to my blog entry "Like Mother, Like Daughter" where I wrote about the fabric challenge that mom and I did when we created our tattoo inspired quilts. And here's the image caption on the Quilt Beauty website: Quilted by Evie's Ark's mom. Isn't that sweet? Even though her name is Gale, you can all still call her Mom!




Mom's "Tattoo Girl" art quilt was on display at Side Show Studios' Second Saturday Art Walks for the March "Tattoo" art show and the April "Textiles" art show. You can next see this stunning quilt at the River City Quilters' Guild annual show in November. And you'll also be able to meet my rock star mom then, too!

Photo of the week - Ding! Your time is up!

So while in San Francisco yesterday, I came upon this sight - a permanent porta-potty! At first I thought it was a genius idea. I mean really, if you can cut down on public urination on sidewalks and building facades, then you're surely on to something.




But as I got closer and saw the sign on the side of the porta-potty, I had second thoughts about how great of an idea it truly was.




A 20-minute maximum limit?!? Um, ew! So what happens if someone reaches the 20 minute limit? Suddenly, I had a vision of a loud warning bell ringing, the porta-potty door swinging wildly open, and a man with his pants down around his ankles being booted out upon the sidewalk!

Thankfully, I always take Mom's advice: Hit the bathroom before you leave the house!