Be Kind To Cats ~ Neuter and Spay

Tigger The Shadow Cat

It's two weeks today since we took Tigger in. Jerry and I have adjusted nicely to having another house cat. He is so easy going and happy to be at my side and follow me around all day. Our other two house cats are not adjusting as easily, but things are getting better everyday. I sure wish people wouldn't dump their cats off on others! It's an emotional, physical and financial burden I don't wish to have thrown on me. It's not a nice thing to do to people or cats! I just want to scream sometimes, "Be responsible people! Get your animals neutered!
True animal lovers would not do this terrible nasty deed."

My New YouTube Slideshow

Images From The 2006
Spirit Art Blog

I have sent my twice-weekly Spirit Art letter out to Google Group Members since December 2005. My writing is accompanied with a new painting twice a week and is based on art, life and philosophy. The content is motivational, inspirational and uplifting. This slide show of all the images from my 2006 letters is set to the New Age music of Cusco. I encourage you to check out their wonderful music on their official web site. This song is titled Kokopelli's Dream - on Apurimac III - by Cusco.

Bobby Flay Steak at the Borgota Casino

We ate at the Bobby Flay Steak restaurant last night. It's located in the Borgota Casino complex in Atlantic City. I had the AC CHOPPED SALAD with lobster - 26. Jerry had the PHILADELPHIA STYLE STRIP STEAK with provolone cheese sauce and caramelized onions - 44. Both meals and a shrimp cocktail appetizer were awesome.

We were too full for dessert so we didn't even look at the menu. I just looked it up here online. I'm glad we didn't see it last night because I know I would have had to try at least one item (to share). If these taste half as good as they sound,
we're in big trouble!

Feeling Frisky

I ended up working on my horses for about four hours today. They are both shedding out their winter coats big time. It's not such a major chore with Rita, as she stays pretty sleek even in winter. Rudy looked like a big Shetland Pony fuzz ball though.

His white spots especially were really fluffed out where the hair grows really long. In some areas it is about six inches long! Between, brushes, combs, shedding blade and clippers, I finally got him looking more like a horse than a Yak! Now I'm all stuffed up and need to take an extra allergy pill. Frisky after shedding all that hair, Rudy showed off his new spring ensemble for the camera.

Spring Bathroom Art

I finally took my snowman paintings and decorations down in my studio bathroom today. I had just the right little original watercolors to make a fresh new butterfly theme take flight.



I've still got another space to deal with. I'll post that wall and painting when I get it hung. I love working with these little paintings in groupings like this. They go so well in small rooms as decorating accents. When I'm done, I'll have "La Bathroom Gallery".

First Day of Spring

When going out to get the mail today, I noticed that the daffodils have started to bloom here. Easter's early this year and so is spring! I had a guy over yesterday giving us an estimate for Gypsy Moth Control. I'm sure those miserably destructive caterpillars will also be out early this year.
Tiger is doing well after his operation yesterday. He is such a joy! When I gave him his antibiotic pill this morning he swallowed it right down and never stopped purring! Tommy the Terror on the other hand, bit my arm first thing this morning when I tried to pet him.

A Real Trooper

We just talked to our vet and he said Tigger came through his operation like a trooper. He also enthusiastically added that this little cat is one of the nicest animals he has ever worked with. I have to admit, Tigger is very special. I am so glad he came to us. In less than a week, we are already very attached to him and can't wait to get him back home here with us tonight.

Flash Cat

A new cat has moved in with us. This stray kitty showed up outside or home over the weekend. He quickly made his way into our house and hearts and has no intention of leaving either. Obviously not a feral, but an affectionate house cat, Tiger has happily moved in to stay. We trimmed his nails and cleaned his ears this morning and the whole time he just purred and smiled at us. I'm hoping he'll be a calming influence on Tommy the Terror once we can safely introduce them to each other. Tomorrow he gets his veterinary check up and shots, gonads snipped and ears treated for mites. I tried getting a good photo of him, but every time the flash goes off, he shuts his eyes.

St. Patrick's Day Recipe

This Corned Beef Dinner recipe was emailed to me from me dear 'ole Ma. I thought you might like to try it too. Everyone who has tasted it agrees, it's worth the extra effort. I like to make a double batch. It keeps well and makes great leftovers!


Delicious Corned Beef Hash

8 ounces thinly sliced lean deli corned beef (I used 3/4, could use a lb.)
1 lb. small red potatoes - about 8 potatoes,thinly sliced (I used regular potatoes)and 4 med. carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup thinly sliced leek or green onions (I used scallions)
1 10 oz bag angel hair slaw (I used a 16 oz. bag of precut/washed coleslaw)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 tablespoons red wine vinegar ( I adjusted all ingredients to taste.)
2 teaspoons. spicy brown mustard (I used Dijon.)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cut corned beef slices crosswise into thin strips; set aside Place potatoes and carrots in a large saucepan. cover with water, bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes. Add leek or green onion and cook an additional 2 min. Drain well. Combine potato mixture and slaw in a bowl, toss well, set aside. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over med. heat. Add corned beef, sauté 2 min. Add vinegar and next 5 ingredients. (vinegar through pepper) cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour vinaigrette over potato mixture, toss until well blended and wilted. Serve immediately. I like it served with mustard or vinegar. Hope you like it too!

Calories per serving - 218.

I've been making this for several years now and we like it better than cooking corned beef from scratch. Happy St. Patty's day to all you lassies and laddies!

Change Of Pace

Today I spent part of the day doing research and thinking about new shack paintings. Next month I will be doing a painting demonstration at the Tuckerton Seaport Museum and I plan to have some of my coastal shack paintings on display. After evaluating my inventory, seems like I've sold most of my smaller shack and fishing boat paintings! So now I'm headed off in a new direction again. I might even do a few small shack paintings situated in the mountains!
Here is a picture of a famous shack in our area which is located on the Long Beach Island causeway. It's one that I have painted many times. This photo is several years old. The the roof is pretty much nonexistent now. I like painting old buildings and often make them even shackier than they really are.

Signs Of Spring

Today is my fifth day home after my trip to Colorado. I can't seem to get into the swing of things yet, however I did manage to paint today for the first time all week. Spring is definitely in the air here. Flocks of male Red Wing Blackbirds sing their hearts out as they congregate in mass all around my yard; while the male turkeys are constantly strutting their stuff and displaying their finery, trying real hard to impress the ladies.

The Living Camera

Stephen Wiltshire from London is a young savant who can draw aerial views of cities with amazing accuracy. Stephen is autistic and did not speak his first words, "pencil" and "paper", until he was five years old. When he was eleven, he drew a perfect aerial view of London after only one helicopter ride. This film tests the "Living camera" in Rome. After a brief helicopter ride, Stephen drew an almost perfect blueprint of the historic city on five and a half yards of paper in only three days. His gift is simply astonishing. After watching this video, a friend, Carol Anderson writes, "God doesn't make mistakes. His mind is as God wanted it to be. It is up to the rest of us to accept who he is and learn from his presence among us. Thanks for sharing this amazing video." Watch this and eight other inspiring videos of Stephen using his gift here on YouTube: Stephen Wiltshire, The Living Camera.

Unexpected Travel Setbacks

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr said; "Unexpected travel situations are dancing lessons from God." Setbacks are common in today's modern world of air travel. Although I was sheduled to arrive in Philadelphia by 4:00 pm yesterday, It was almost 2:00 am by the time I finally arrived home. I decided it was no big deal and calmly went with the flow. I actually had a really good time. When I arrived in Denver with five hours to kill, I first visited Ben & Jerry's and had a double dip of Cherry Garcia. After loitering there with a new book for over an hour, I decided to go find my gate information. Since I didn't check my luggage, I felt like a refugee lugging around my coat, purse and heavy carry-ons. I didn't want to go far from my gate, so I decided to have a beer at a nearby lounge. I sat at the top center of the horseshoe shaped bar, had a beer and read my book. I noticed lots of guys on their laptops and asked if they had internet connection. Yes, they did, so I whipped out my Mac and ordered another beer and a plate of Nachos with the works. I was able to post my blog and check on my emails. When the order came out, I was overwhelmed by the size. Surely it was enough to feed a party of six! Not wanting to waste it, I asked the bartender for some small plates and proceeded to load up eight or ten snack sized plates and passed them around to folks sitting at the bar. Before I knew it, people were buying my drinks and I ended up with two free beers out of the deal. Needless to say, by the time we rolled out at 7:15, I was ready for a nap which was a good thing and made the final leg of my homebound journey a little easier. I took these two pictures while flying from Gunnison to the airport in Denver.

Airport Blogging

We stopped at "Camp 4 Coffee" on our way to the airport this morning around 6am. My plane was supposed to depart Gunnison, CO at 8:00, but there were several problems and it never happened. It's 4:00 Mountain Time now and I'm sitting here laptopping you from a bar at the Denver airport. My flight doesn't leave here 'til 6:30 and I won't get into Philly until around midnight Eastern Time. Then it's another hour or so back home from there. I am fried, but it has all been worth it. Yesterday, after visiting the Rijks Gallery, I spent the afternoon wandering around the historic town of Crested Butte. I visited the galleries, shops and even a taco stand where I had a Margarita and a taco. I took pictures of some of the more unique structures like this one, "Camp 4 Coffee" covered with license plates.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

I took this picture yesterday on Crested Butte Mountain which has an elevation of 12,162 feet at the peak. Here there's a vertical drop of 2,775 feet, lift served and 3,062 feet for those who are willing to hike to the top. The mountain stats include 121 trails, the longest of which is 2.6 miles. All the beginner and intermediate trails are groomed every night. The conditions of the trails we skied yesterday were excellent.

A Wonderful Ski Day

It's been a great day! Sally and I hit the slopes and I had the most fun I've had in a long time. I had not skied in over ten years but was glad to find out that skiing is somewhat like riding a bike in that once you know how to do it, it all comes back in no time. It wasn't until I was sailing down the slopes that I realized just how much I have missed this sport! This picture is of Sally and me at the end of the day at the Ice Bar on the slopes, half way down the mountain, on our last run of the day.

Another Day In The Mountains

It was a beautiful morning here in Crested Butte Colorado. This picture was taken on a walk up the road from where I am staying. Tonight the winds are really whipping around the Vennel's house, blowing massive amounts of snow about and making the drifts and mountains of shoveled snow even more enormous than they already are. My meeting went very well with the folks at Rijks Family Gallery today. I am really looking forward to working with them. I am meeting with Teresa Rijks again on Thursday to firm up the details of our agreement.

Looking In The Window

I'm laptoping you from Sally and Chuck's beautiful windowed slope side home in Crested Butte Colorado. The view from each room is more breathtaking than the next. Hopefully I'll get some good shots tomorrow. I'm using a new little digital camera that I'm not familiar with yet, so it's going to take some getting use to. Here is a picture of one of Sally's fox babies, Sweet Pea, looking for a handout.

Crested Butte, Colorado

I'll be flying out to the mountains of Colorado tomorrow bright and early. I am really looking forward to the trip. I'll be staying with friends, Sally and Chuck Vennel. Below is a picture of the ski slopes on Crested Butte mountain taken by Sally, photographer extraordinaire. With over 24 feet of snow so far this year, lots of snow = lots of excitement!