THOUGHT PATTERNS

The return of Noonie, the vagabond cat

It's been a while since the last time we saw Noonie, six months or more even, but today she appeared agan, back in her usual spot, taunting the cats behind the window. Looking good and healthy, bigger and stronger. I'm glad she's back as I kept wondering through the months she was gone whether something happened to her. Today she also visited our home as well as our porch and front yard. Here is a little photo-shoot that Noonie and I did...

Noonie in our succulent garden...

Noonie in our front yard... 

Looking as cute as ever...

Exploring...

:)

Hey... play a song for Noonie, why don't you...

Back at the neighbor's back yard...

Deciding to head for home, wherever her home is...

We're glad you're back, Noonie!

xoxoxo

{read more about the adventures of Noonie here, here and here}

{all photos Tina Tarnoff}

Quite amused

...  and stirred out of my blog hibernation by this wonderful book cover, illustrated by Edward Gorey...

... and this photo... I mean, cats are the greatest, truly...

 Edward Gorey and his kitties taking a break

(you can always count on cats to take a nap with you)

... one more, for all you cat lovers out there...

haha

I'll be back tomorrow!

xoxoxo

{first to images via writters and kitties, las via retrogasm}

On apple tarts and lost and found cats

I made this apple tart a few days ago. I don't often bake but when I do I have a tendency and a desire to make something more fancy. Which usually tastes too sweet and not that good. On this occasion I decided to make something with apples as I had tons of Granny Smith apples wasting away (my favorite apples to munch on). I chose Ina Garten's (Barefoot Contessa) recipe as I've already tried several of hers and they tend to turn out well. My edges got burned a bit as I left it in the oven too long, but that was easily fixed. The tart turned out very tasty. Simple ingredients - flour, butter, sugar, apples... + some apricot jam and a lot of brandy for glazing... 

The gorgeous Freesia flowers were brought by a friend. They are incredibly fragrant. 

Our visiting kitty Noonie stopped visiting for a while but appeared again a couple of days ago. While she was "missing" we saw a notice posted in the neighborhood "Tabby cat with white paws found, call Melissa." I was tempted to call and say - hey this might be Noonie, she's not really lost just likes to gallivant - but before I acted upon it (or made Terry act upon it) Noonie appeared again, the notice was gone and all was well in the world again (or our neighborhood at least). So, I guess whoever does own Noonie must have called Melissa.

Noonie, the troublemaker.

Here she is, back at our place...

xoxoxo

Paper, apples, comfort and cats

I love art paper and have tons of it lying around. I finally managed to get all of in order (they were just all over the place, under the bed, on the bookcase, floor, drawers) - now they are nicely displayed and easily found whenever I need them...

I simply cannot resist nice handmade paper.

Aren't these gorgeous?

...

After indulging ourselves on half a dozen cupcakes on Valentine's Day it's back to apple snacking.

Btw, I'm enjoying The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mittford immensely. Perfect comfort reading. If you're into comfort reading ("the literary equivalent of hot chocolate" ) here is a perfect and ultimate comfort reads list compiled by India Knight (quote by her, too). I'm looking forward to reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith next.

...

Our visiting cat - named Noonie by us - stopped by twice in the past week. I even found myself buying some cat food the other day so that I would have a snack for her whenever she comes over. I would like her to stick around longer but usually she's out the door in about a min or so. 

Here she is paying yet another visit to the neighbor's cats.

This whole thing is quite ridiculous. Noonie visits these cats practically every day. Sits in front of the window and stares inside, occasionally tries to break in. At first the cats were ignoring her but now they occasionally engage in a paw tease or two. Always with the glass between them. It drives Noonie crazy.

Btw, how would you like to have a cat sitting in front of the window every day watching your every move?

She spotted me observing her and decided to come over for a brief visit.

Here is Noonie, gallivanting about my studio desk.

And then off she went, in search of another adventure.

xoxoxo

Max

Meet Max, our buddy from the park...

Max is the cutest and the most ridiculous dog we've ever seen.

His hairdo is absolutely outrageous.

And his face is bound to melt away any bad moods. He's the best therapist one could ever have. :)

Curious Max. What's in the bag, I wonder? Cold cuts, perhaps?

No luck, Max, we're a couple of vegans.

And most importantly he luuuurvs cuddles.

xoxoxo

{Photos: Tina Tarnoff}

Visiting kitty

No, this is not our kitty, this little cutie has been visiting our neighbor's backyard for about a month now. They have two cats that sit in the window all the time and out little guy comes every day (climbs over the roofs and fences, he's quite a jumper and climber), sits in front of the window and peeks at the cats inside. The funny thing is that the cats completely ignore him and always turn their backs to him. Or don't sit in the window at all. Until he leaves. Then they come back. Those cats.

Quite entertaining.

{view from our porch into the neighbor's backyard}

At first I thought he was trapped there as I saw him on the roof one day, meowing and trying to climb down. I even made Terry go visit several neighboring houses to inquire about the little fellow. We learned that he comes and goes all the time, looks very healthy and well kept, so he must be a local cat with a home. He's there every morning around 9, sticks around for a while, leaves, comes back in the early afternoon, peeks through the window some more, leaves. He's never there in the evening or on weekends. Hmm. He probably waits until his ma and pa leave for work, sneaks outside and comes to watch the cats. What fun!

He and I even had a little encounter one day when I caught him in our back yard trying to jump over the fence. He was a bit startled at first but then walked over to me and we had a little cuddling session. Even let me pick him up and take him to the apartment to say hello to Terry.

You are guessing right, I want a cat. This cat in particular. I kind of wish he was trapped so that I could rescue him.

xoxoxo

{p.s. my laptop has been healed and returned to me so I'm fully back and ready to blog!}

Have a sweet weekend

I just discovered these wonderful needle felted animals by artist Victor Dubrovsky, and am tempted to spend my weekend just staring at them.

 

 

big hare 

 

 

hen

 

 

boar

 

 

deer and fawn 

 

 

owlet

 

They sure make me want to cuddle up in a cozy quilt with husband, a good book and a furry/felted animal at my feet.

 

Have a lovely weekend.

 

xoxoxo

 

{via The New Victorian Ruralist}

Lethally cute

I'm too busy to give thorough attention to my blog today, so I'm going to succumb to posting a cute animal video on my blog. Anyway, I could do with cuddly and cute after I witnessed a hawk grabbing a morning dove this morning behind our house. I think it was this guy. It's wild west in our North Beach neighborhood of San Francsco! I know it's life, survival and how it's supposed to be, but it makes me feel sad and sorry for the little dove.

Oh well, here is the cure...

(you have to watch)

Till tomorrow!

xoxoxo

{via}

San Francisco Sea Lions

Joanna of Cup of Joe wrote today about the disappearance of the sea lions from Fisherman's Wharf (their home for twenty years now) in San Francisco, which made me think that I have to mention it here too, as they were my neighbors! I live quite close to Fisherman's Wharf and the barking of sea lions was something I had to get used to. Their yelps could be heard almost every night, quite clearly. It's a very throaty, and a bit drunken and goofy sound :). They can get very loud and wild, especially if the night is warm.

Here is how it used to be...

They look like pods! {you can click to expand}

In the last count there was supposed to be exactly 1701 sea lions, but all of a sudden there were only half a dozen left. They were all gone. Quite shocking!

Here is how it looks now. A ghost pier!  

People were very upset that the sea lions were gone as they were a welcome, funny and cute attraction. And they acted like huge dogs, basking in the sun and begging for food. And, the question that was baffling and worrying the experts was why they were suddenly gone? Was there a huge earthquake coming, were the waters so polluted, did we do something to offend them :)!

Then, several days ago there was an article on the front page of SF Chronicle - Thousands of sea lions show up on Oregon coast - are they ours? Aha! They were spotted about 500 miles north of the Golden Gate, 2000 of them. At Sea Lion Caves, a private preserve near the town of Florence.

Sea lions in the cave, Oregon coast. 

It seems that they left SF as there was a shortage of herring, which is their main food, and that the waters were perhaps too warm for them in the Bay. Read the full article here. Sea lions, we want you back!

xoxoxo

{photos via sfgate}

Moo, the Acrobat Cat

It's cold, windy and cloudy in San Francisco today, and I need a little cheering up. I think this might just do it...

{click to expand}

Moo is Color Me Katie's cat. Katie is a freelance photographer and street artist from New York doing, creating and recording wonderful and hilarious things, and has cheered up many of my days since I started following her daily adventures (I discovered her blog thanks to the recommendation from this great girl). Do visit her colorful, funny blog.

You'll also see more pictures of Moo.

Have a lovely day!

xoxoxo

{photo by Katie}