Oh friends, what a week this has been! This week has been a parade of tiny delights, not least of which is this incredible painting my friend Laura sent me. Look!
Most of you don’t know, I have an obsession with hairless cats. They are my thing. It started years ago when I worked in an office with my friend Noeleen who HATES the very sight of hairless cats, and then when she would get up from her desk I would swap out her screen saver for a photo of a hairless cat in a sweater, or cleaning himself, or just looking plain evil. Sometimes I’d send emails with businessish subject headings and attachments like “monthly report” but then the monthly report would be a photo of…you guessed it: a hairless cat family dressed as Elvis impersonators.
It’s a good thing I no longer work in a an office.
But, my fixation continues. I follow a bunch of hairless cat accounts on Instagram (one of my favorites) and even though my cat is the very opposite of hairless, she is okay with me admiring from afar. As my creepy, and very-much-married, junior high school principal once said whilst ogling the hot moms in the carpool line; “Just because your full don’t mean you can’t read the menu.”
In any case, Laura’s talent for rendering animals is just remarkable. Now that I am getting more serious about my painting skills, I find myself with new admiration for people who can render with such accuracy. I’m okay with style and color, but rendering something to look like that person/place/thing has never been my strong suit. Laura’s cat here has blown me away! I’m still deciding where to hang it. My art situation at home is in chaos right now as is the rest of the house.
Don’t believe me? Look.
Yeah. This brings new meaning to the term “hot mess.”
I could lie and say this was cleaned up shortly thereafter, but no, it’s been like this a few days and will likely be this way at least a couple more. I’m revisiting that Japanese decluttering book I told you about, and I need to do some deep level purging before I can get to the fun stuff like rearranging art. That top bag there – the oversized one intended for fall leaves – is comprised of around 200 scarves. I don’t wear them like I used to, so it’s time to go! Along with a bunch of other stuff. Holy cow is it liberating (or should I say, Holy cats!)
Thanks again to Laura for this treasure. Check out her shop!
Kara
I have found that I put that book down and come back to it too. Glad to know that I’m not the only one!
Nancy
What a cool gift! Lucky you!
That Instagram account is a good one. The cats are so affectionate with one another.
I have never seen a hairless cat in person.
Do all cats look like that (lanky and wrinkly) under their fur?
patricia tencats
can I have the scarves if they are vintage? I want to make curtains with vintage scarves….
patricia tencats
…sorry, i made a mistake. I should have said: MAY I have the scarves?
Thank you.
See, my Mother used to torture my brother and me. We would say something like, “Can I have a piece of that cake?” and my Mother would say, Of course you can. But you may not! sigh.
Laura
PEACHES! Kjsfghkuvyfbkjbyig!!!! Thank you, dear! Wowie wow! I’m in Heaven.
Beth
KondoMari method for the win! I have half of my scrapbooks/photographs to go through and then I’m pretty much done Kondo-ing my life. I have a garage staff full of s&*# to sell to show for it too. Life is just so much more simple now. Clean-up is a breeze and I love having things I love out on display now that the junk is gone. And I owe ya a cocktail for it. 🙂
Keep going! Way to go!
karen
I began reading the book a week before my basement studio suffered major water damage due to an A/C malfunction. Same said week I get a flyer in the mail for collection of donations for a Veteran’s group. Fate done kicked me in the ‘pro-crass-tination’ big time. Easy to chuck the stuff that was water soaked or moldy but the shock & depression brought me to the point of “does this inspire joy?” and ” do I really have a place for this in my life? does it serve me?” while sorting out the survivors. Probably long overdue but a rude wake up call. Moving forward in a positive mindset. Are you having a fundraiser garage sale for all of your cool castoffs?
Deb 'N Cats
On your recommendation, Peaches, I bought and read that book. I couldn’t do the deep clean all at one time that she recommends. I have RA and I have to break tasks down into small chunks to not over tire myself. But what a life changer. I have the book on the ottoman (which I need to clean off. Flat surface=storage place, you know.) to refer to if I need it. I cleaned my clothes closet and just finished the dresser. When the washer died and I knew I would have to clean the basement in order to get the old one out and the new one in, all the boxes were viewed with an eye toward “Do I really need this?” I just finished another small pile last night. It opened up a small spot in the back bedroom. I couldn’t believe how liberated I felt after cleaning the basement area and I feel the same way just removing that one stack of stuff from the bedroom. I thank you, Peaches, every time I clean some spot and stuff a bunch of unused things in garbage bags for the next Veteran’s group to call. “Would you have any clothing or small household items you’d wish to donate?” Heck yeah. How much will you take? The biggest take-away is, however, the whole change in mindset. I look at things differently. Is this something I really want. Is this something meaningful to me. Many, many times now, I find myself putting said item back on the shelf. I don’t need another whatzit.
Jennifer O'Neil
Keep the yellow ladder, AP. It works!
Linda Bator
Wow are you ever talented!!
Dee
Your friend Laura is amazing. I too send delightful hairless cat photos to my husband at work. It means something entirely different. Sorry Mom!!