Wins

A few recent wins that I am thankful for:

The Hubby and I walked to the farmer's market, and I was treated to the largest hot Earl Grey tea they have at a local coffee shop: The Black Cat.  The Hubby had cataract surgery on his left eye last week, and the right eye will be next week, and he's doing fabulously enough to walk with me.

My 'hood friend Sly is thin under that fur, yet he still greets me whenever I come near.

I have new ink, and have two completed sleeves.  The watermelon slice and Sherlock Holmes are easy to understand.  The diamond shapes are an adaptation of Irish neolithic petroglyph designs. 

After searching for a year, I found a new mug that holds 14 oz. of hot beverage, has a handle that fits my hand, and keeps the drink warm longer that other mugs.

Henry makes me happy, as he's gotten comfortable with his inside existence.

Chili Bruce enjoys summer sunpuddles, while stretched out on the Pink Blue chair on the south side of the house.

Manny hides his face, as he spills out of his beddy, on the north side of the house.

❤️❤️❤️

Let's Hop!

Hooty

8/4 is International Owl Awareness Day.

Learn more here at European Wilderness Society.

I adore owls!  Have done since I was a kid.

That's why I have a top-hat-wearing, be-monocoled owl carrying books tattooed on my right arm!

I call him Mr. Owl.

Brandon, the tattoo artist, did a fabulous job here.

And a few owls with cats found-on-social-media images to your entertainment for today's 'holiday':

🦉 🦉 🦉

HB Chuck & Angel!

July 18, 2004 was the birthday of Celestial Chuck and Angel!

Their mama had four kittens; we adopted two.

I've called them twins, which isn't exact, but what the hey, right?

For Caturday, we've artified one of our favorite images of Chuck and Angel in Lunapic, K3 art effect.

Click on the image to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

My tattoo!

❤️Happy Heavenly Birthday Angel and Chuck, and we miss you.❤️

Let's Hop!

Celebrate The Ink

July 17 is National Tattoo Day!

How 'bout a few sillies to celebrate?

My next tattoo appointment is August 21.

~~~

Hugs and purrs to all those being hit by uncontrollable weather issues: heat, rain and floods, smoke.

Take care, my friends.

Ahem

Our Thankful Thursday

1. Someone...*ahem*...lost their keys while out on a neighborhood walk.

It was hot and very muggy, yet the look on The Hubby's face when I told him I'd lost my keys galvanized me into going back out to retrace my steps.

Then, I recalled that I'd stopped to snap pics of a new-to-me kitty, and my phone tracks where my photos are taken.

Beelining back; lo and behold!...there were my keys happily nestled in the lawn next to where Bruce Wayne came out to flirt with me.

Dodged a bullet, and am thankful for that.

Keys: front door key, back door key, barn/garage key, Cat Car key, and defense whistle.

2. After only a few mini-freakouts by someone...*ahem*...Henry received his first chemo capsule, and so far he seems to be fine.

There was concern about Henry's licks (he loves to lick my hands and arms), and he had a moment where he frothed at the mouth, but being careful to wash with soap and water, and using puppy pee pads have put everything to rights.

For a few days after a chemo treatment, the humans must avoid coming in contact with any excretions by the patient, hence wearing gloves when scooping the litter box, and washing/bleaching accidents. 

Chores for today: buy more nitrile gloves, and be thankful for this first step into helping Henry overcome his intestinal woes.

Henry will need a chemo pill every two weeks, for up to five months.

3. Someone...*ahem*...was in the tattoo chair yesterday, getting new ink.

The sea monster isn't very monstrous; rather a cutie pie!

Was thankful to be in an air-conditioned place, as our local temps were high, with high humidity.

Also, I managed to complete a long audiobook started on Tuesday, and an entire novella audiobook, while chatting away to the ink artist, and all of the other artists who had to visit to see what we've cooked up this time.

Will show the other art, once they've healed.

Let's Hop!

Ancient Art

 It's Caturday!

In honor of Henry's 1st Gotchaversary, I used his pic from yesterday and just dolled it up a tiny bit in iPhoto.

Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle!

Oddly enough, today, October 18, 2025 is International Archeology Day.

Being a historian, today is special to me.

So, guess what?

I got a tattoo of stylized Irish petroglyphs:

Loosely based on the images below:

Loughcrew Cairns, in County Meath, Ireland

Kerbstone 52 at Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland

So, celebrate anything REALLY OLD today!

Let's Hop!

Put Some Ink on It

"National Tattoo Day is celebrated on July 17th each year to honor the history, culture, and artistry of tattooing. 

It's a day for tattoo enthusiasts to celebrate their ink, share their stories, and perhaps even get new tattoos to commemorate the occasion. 

While not an official holiday, it's a widely recognized day for appreciating the personal and cultural significance of tattoos."

In honor of the day, pics of my most recent ink:

The City Battycat

Art by Maggie Vandenwalle

Josephine Knot Spiral

Henry as Space Cat Maneki-Neko

This is on my right arm, and it's really hard to get an image of, so here is the template that Brandon used.

My Wishnick Troll Doll, played with as a kid.

The lace dress was made by my sister, and Brandon inked her so very well!

My goal is to have both arms completely covered in tattoos; these are called sleeves.

I have a few open areas waiting for images, then we'll fill the gaps with swirls, stars, color, and mini-tats.

Current tat count: 15

Did You Know?

According to Smithsonian Science News, the first known tattoo belongs to Ötzi who was “the European Tyrolean Iceman who died and was buried beneath an Alpine glacier along the Austrian–Italian border around 3250 B.C.” 

Ötzi had 61 tattoos on his body including his wrist, lower legs, lower back and torso.

~~~

Thank you all for your well-wishes on my recovery from the delayed flight out of New York.

What an experience!

Let's Hop!

Disorderly Giggles

We need some humor up in here!

The meme above was so impactful to me, that I asked my tattoo artist, Brandon Scott at Studio Seven Tattoos, to incorporate it to a work he'd recently inked on me:

The hat and the monocle!

The is Mr. Owl, and notice that he's holding books.

Am very thankful to have found this ink artist, who is vegan (like me), is a cat servant (same), is planting native Michigan plants (ditto!), AND we gab endlessly about our favorite artists and art museums.

In honor of June is Audiobook Month, I recommend:

Ashley Weaver's Electra McDonnell series and her Amory Ames Mysteries.

Electra McDonnell: London, during WWII when the British Army asks for the assistance of the safe-cracking McDonnell family:

1 A Peculiar Combination (2021)

2 The Key to Deceit (2022)

3 Playing It Safe (2023)

4 Locked in Pursuit (2024)

5 One Final Turn (2025)

 

Amory Ames: Set in 1930's England, where Amory and Milo use their sleuthing skills in the jet-set world of upscale London.

1. Murder At the Brightwell (2014)

   2. Death Wears a Mask (2015)

   3. A Most Novel Revenge (2016)

   3.5. Intrigue in Capri (2017)

   4. The Essence of Malice (2017)

   5. An Act of Villainy (2018)

   6. A Dangerous Engagement (2019)

   7. A Deception at Thornecrest (2020)

Most above are narrated by Alison Larkin

Let's Hop!

Newest Ink

Today, I am thankful that I can express myself with body art.

Chuck and Angel, wrestling as kittens, in December 2024.

Book reading dragon, with a cat on it's head, last week.

Brandon at Studio Seven Tattoos really gets my vibe, and I am so very glad to have found him.

Seriously, I was at the UPS Store in the same strip mall, and while waiting for traffic to clear enough to get to The Cat Car, I saw the 'tattoo' sign, and I walked right in.

The woman at the desk and I hit it off like we were old friends: cat lovers, book lovers, and live in the same city.

Once I'd described my intentions, she recommended Brandon, and the rest, as they say, is history.

*whispers: don't tell him that I'm the same age as his MOM!*

Let's Hop!

Two Years

It's PO'Monday!

Guess what?

It's been two years since my Paddy O'Malley tattoo.

Yes, it's unconventional and silly, and so was he.

Seeing Himself often, as artwork on my body, has helped ease the grief that I'd felt since losing him in such a surprising way.

He was my ❤️ cat.

Since the above, I've been inked with Da Boyz and Sweetie, as well as a crescent moon holding a cat, a homage to the Solar Eclipse from April, 2024, and a sparkling star.

Next on my hit list:

Angel and Chuck

Won't show a pic of the new tat; will reveal when it's properly unwrapped and healed.

When the artist stepped away and turned off his tattoo pen, I looked at my Celestial Babies, and whispered, "Oh, it's so good to see you two again!"