Book review: Cats in Paris, a magical coloring book

The idea of this book is a good one, but  the execution of it leaves a lot to be desired.
The drawings are often over detailed, and can even be called scribbly.  This makes coloring an effort, rather than an enjoyment.
Also, several of the pages have repetitive images, something I do not enjoy at all.
This will certainly not be one of my go-to coloring books when I want to de-stress.
Very disappointing.

For more information, follow these links:More Info

Author Bio

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Bad

 

 

 

Today I am sorry to say that my sister had to put down her beloved cat, Bad.  He was 20 years old and was quite sick.  My sympathies go out to her, and I know how hard it is to deal with this outcome.  Bad had a good and long life with you, Tree, and he was very happy all his days.  Someday in the the distant future we will again meet up with all our 4-legged loved ones at the Rainbow Bridge.

The Rainbow Bridge

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
 Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
 Where the friends of man and woman do run,
 When their time on earth is over and done.
 For here, between this world and the next,
 Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
 On this golden land, they wait and they play,
 Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
 No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
 For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
 Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
 Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
 They romp through the grass, without even a care,
 Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
 All ears pricked forward, eyes dart front and back,
 Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
 For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
 Together again, both person and pet.
 So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
 The time of their parting is over at last.
 The sadness they felt while they were apart,
 Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
 They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over . . . together.

and the boys

Last time I posted some pics of Evie's female cats, and here are her two male cats, Sam (white) and Rocky.

Both were rescued from a shelter.
Sam turned out to have some issues.  He is deaf, and seems to have almost autistic tendencies, not making eye contact, etc. And jumping away when you go to pet him often.  He is also endearingly polydactyl.

Rocky was originally going to be fostered by Evie, for a month.  Well, long story short, that turned into Evie keeping him.  He was sick from a babe, about 8 weeks old.  It turned out he had a mass on his brain that was seen on MRI.  He was sent home with tons of medicines, and a prognosis that he would have 6 to 8 weeks of quality life, before he started going blind, falling over, and a host of other horrible things.  Well, we administered all that horrible medicine to him everyday... it was so sad for him, making him froth at the mouth, and he was nearly dead in our arms.  But he would eat... everyday he would eat like a champ.  There were many people praying hard for Rocky.
Well, it is over 2 years later now, and Rocky has rallied, and is such a beautiful healthy cat.  "Getting stronger, getting stronger"... you can almost hear the music every time he walks into the room.

And speaking of boys... here's my great-nephew, Logan, at Pre-K, in his pilgrim hat.  He's going to be 4 years old on Dec 9th!

Now, an  update on me.  Went for my 2nd round of chemo  yesterday.  Have to get the Neulasta injection today.  Going to keep a log of when symptoms of side-effects start, and subside, so I can get an idea of how this process flows.  Feeling fine so far, but it's usually after the shot that stuff starts... at least it did last time.

Sam and The Source

A picture of Evie's cat, Sam, in the afternoon light, and a painting by my friend Jim, which he said I could share on my blog.

Sam

The Source, by Jim Walton

249/365 free draw, Sam

209/365 free draw, still life with cats

190/365 free draw, cat

113/365 favorite cats

My Bud and Coffee were my best cats.  Bud, with his Buddha nature.  His original name was Stormy (the storm king), and he answered to that for a long time.  Then I started calling him my Buddy, or Bud, and so it went.  My friend Evie's cat was named Bud, too, and I like having both our cats with the same name.  As youi can see from the picture below, Bud had a beautiful and gentle face.  He welcomed new cats into the house, and with my Sky gir, he groomed her, because he didn't know how to groom herself.  Bud was missing one of his back legs, and limped when he walked, but when he ran, those 3 legs carried him swiftly.  He loved to play catch with my hair scrunchie tied into a knot.  He'd retrieve it and bring it back, time after time.  Sometimes he'd run so fast to get it, that his stump would open up and bleed.  But that was when he was very young.  Later the stump grew hard and sturdy.  He handled his disability with grace, and lived to be nearly 18 years old.  I miss my Bud.  I losyt him several years ago, back in 2006.
My Coffee was another wonderful cat.  I don't have any digital pics of her unfortunately.  She was beige and white, very beautiful and very large.  She would stick her head in my mocassin, and sleep.  She'd hold my hand with her paw.  She'd bring me tomato bugs from the garden, because she thought it was a good thing to do.

My Bud

30/365 cats

Freewrite* on Cats.

I think back to the first cat I knew, which would be my mother's cat, Susie.  Grey/white tiger stripe - loyal to my mother, and lay in her lap, and no one else's.
I have had cats throughout my life.  Queerly loyal companions -- some so seemingly human, like Coffee, and Bud, that you expected them to say something at any moment.
There is a picture somewhere of a black and white cat (Princess, I think) inside a birdcage, and the parakeet outside the cage.   That was a curious cat.
Now I live with Morrison and Little Guy, but they don't live together.  I keep them separated ever since the bad incident last year, where Little Guy got torn up, and needed surgery.
Morrison is still just a feral creature, able to be a little attentive towards you when he's hungry.  But will not, for the most part, allow petting-- just an occassional head butt with my hand, and he'll let me rub his head for a few seconds.  He'll repeat it 2 or 3 times, and then just walk away.  When I'm on the phone, he'll talk a lot, joining in on the chatter, I guess.
Little Guy, lonely in the bedroom during the day, is happy when I decide to watch tv in the bedroom, and of course, he sleeps right next to me all night.

*A free-write is a type of automatic writing, where you just go with your stream of consciousness non-stop. There's no thought to spelling or grammar, and no editing of words. Supposedly this opens the mind up to greater creativity. They can be 5, 10 or 20 minutes long. Suggestions for freewrites are always welcome. Visit Evie, with whom I freewrite, at the space between colors.

miscellany

Just some pics taken around my friend, evie's place.  Taken with her new Canon Powershot SX150.

(one of evie's brilliant batiks in the frame)

a visit next door

My friend evie's clan.  Sapphire (pictured twice), Sam, Cassie, and Kohlette.

Kohl, Sam and Sapphire asleep...

(click on pics to view larger images)

welcome june and sapphire

I can't believe it's June already. Time goes faster every year.


It feels like August, though. Temps were in the 90's today, with heat indices near 100°.

The bedroom a.c. decided to die last night, which made for little sleep. But then, this afternoon, it seemed to be working again. I have the living room one on now, with a fan, too, and I'm pretty comfortable in here. Past 9pm now, still 85°, feels like 89°. I am not a happy camper.

My friend, evie, adopted another cat from the animal rescue. This little girl is a beauty, and so sweet. Only 4lbs right now, but they say the female Balinese averages 5-6 lbs., and is the most petite of all breeds. She is a Seal-Point Balinese. Welcome, to Sapphire Skye!

click to enlarge

I see you, too

another wordless wednesday with my faithful companions

Little Guy, the shadow

And Morrison in black and white,

cats and more cats

Don't have much to show in the way of pictures these days.  I fainted a couple of weeks ago and broke a rib on falling, so I've been keeping home for the most part.  Not that I venture too far, regularly. :/
So, for the sake of blog amusement, here are a bunch of pics of cats.... some mine (some long gone), and cats of my family and friends.

Country

Sky

Breenie

Emily

Baby

Boo

Bud

Lady

Bad

Cassie

Morrison

Little Guy

Splotchy

Sam

Kohlette

Morrison

I guess my handsome Morrison is a favorite subject of mine.  Here you can see the torn up screen, which occured when he was first here, and very feral.  He has since found this a satisfying place to stay, and has no desire to wander.  And so, in the setting sun....

cats

My cat, Morrison, lazing in the sun, and my friend evie's cat, Sam, who is smiling for the camera.

cats, heart, trees, and shadows