Walking, thinking and International Tiger Day.

Walking yesterday, just Elmo, and the dogs. Once upon a time there were three, and Martha and Max and Kiffer. Now the house seems quiet. Only Elmo and Max remain.  And since Maurice died the blog has been harder and harder to do. So, for a while Elmo will live over at facebook, perhaps come in through the blogging catflap now and again.

We are a sad house, for last week we buried Pixie in the garden. She had been ill for some time, but we think was attacked by a big dog who was in the garden. Will never know. At least she is now at peace, but we miss her sitting in the sun in the garden, and for a long time we have missed her walking company. She was ill with something that made her seem as if she had a permanent cold, and so she struggled to catch her breath. Such a lovely affectionate cat. Elmo misses her, and so do I and we are thinking of other cats and kittens and what to do. But meanwhile we went walking.

So, if it is quiet here for some time and you wish to find out what happens next you can wander to Her blog on Her website, or pop to facebook for Elmo's page.

But before we go we wanted to tell you about a very special auction. It is International Tiger Day and to celebrate this and to try and raise money to help tigers She gave away a painting to 21st Century Tiger. The auction went live today, and there is a reserve of £1000 on the painting, which comes from the book I am Cat, written and illustrated by Her with the help of all cats in the house, but especially Pixie and Maurice. You can see more of the paintings at The House of Golden Dreams.

Elmo likes tigers.

Elmo the Ginger

Elmo the Ginger. Now on facebook. Join up for the Daily Elmo and more exciting adventures and pictures.

Not yet widely published, but due for release in September, copies are available at Solva Woollen Mill and you can order online, for shipping world wide. Every cat should have one. ( And She has just had a good idea for a new cat book. There can never be too many cat books.) She also has postcards. One of them has Pixie on.

Fifty Shades of Ginger.

"She stroked his ginger fur beneath trembling fingers. Smooth as silk with claws like knives, she trembled at the thought of them slicing through her pale skin. Even as he looked at her, with the eyes of a killer, she knew that her heart would always belong to him. Him alone and no other. She did not care about the hundred who lay dead, littered behind him in the wake of his cruelty. She cared only that he chose her. And so she put the plate of cat food down and waited to discover his next desire. Her only fulfilment would come when all his desires were met. She was his slave." ( Short extract from 50 Shades of Ginger for Kathryn Evans)

Beauty: and the cat book.

Out in the garden the sun was shining. She was photographing pictures to put in her gallery, but we were just making ourselves as beautiful as only a cat can be until she couldn't resist and had to concentrate on trying to capture the 'look'.

And she did take photos of the paintings too and she has put them into her gallery. And the book comes out in August but you can order signed copies from Solva Woollen Mill. And there will be a book launch on 8th August and you are all invited and you can find out more from the mill cats in Middlemill. They will be there.  And we hope that having posed so well and worked so hard that She will at least give us extra cat food and let us sleep in the sunlight pool of warm in the studio.

A Walk in the Morning

Early morning misty walking. The sun already warm, the dew thick on the ground and the air noisy with birds. We walk from soft light to sunshine, through grass and foxgloves and lichens. On top of the hill a pair of chough fly over and horses crop the dewy grass.

On the way home the dogs play 'wild things' in the field.

She has a new book coming out and a booklaunch at Solva Woollen Mill on 8th August. She says 'all are welcome, bring a cat.' You can order signed copies of it here, and other ones too, and the Mill cats will make sure She doodles in it.

Somewhere, a dormouse.

Somewhere a dormouse is hiding. There are new paintings in The House of Golden Dreams. There are dormice in the kitchen and birds in the garden.

Camera Man

Yesterday it was summer. In the garden, birdsong. She took the dogs and these people to see the City of Badgers. It is a while since I have walked and though it was in the heat of the day I thought it would be good. On the high hill top there are skylarks, and the bluebells set off red fur beautifully. 

The man had a camera and took beautiful photographs. He stalks photographs like a cat stalks a mouse. He walks and waits and watches as the light changes over landscape. Night and day and in all weathers, hunting for the right place in the right light. 

Even the snaps he took of my perfect beauty are so fine, but She has spent ages looking through his website at the horses and the stones and the borderlines. 

Chris Tancock. Maybe he will come back and walk again with us.

Easter, a give away: ink on board.

Easter. Hares. Once upon a time hares were called 'woodcats'. As a thank you to all those who have followed on facebook and read Her blogs both here and on Wordpress, she is giving away a drawing of an Easter hare. 

To win you have to go to the gallery, The House of Golden Dreams and 'like' the page, then 'share' the hare image on your page.

If you don't do facebook you can still win a copy of 'I am Cat' by linking to this post and leaving a comment below. The book will be signed by Her, with an elaborate ink cat, and more importantly by me, Elmo.

For now I am resting, It is not easy being such an inspiration. I am doing a stripes and spots combo on a Melin Tregwynt blanket. 

A Cat Called Bob

Walking through London today we met a ginger cat of extraordinary fame, called Bob. City cat, Bob, works with his friend and they have written a book.
This morning they were both on television.

Ink cats

Jumping and Tree Climbing: Lessons for Beginners

Things I have been doing:
Walking.
Sleeping.
Curling up.
Dreaming.
Catching stuff.
Climbing trees.
But mostly, all, sleeping.
And jumping.

Tuesday

Today I will be mostly helping Her out with Her colouring in. To see how well She manages have a look at Her blog.

Personally I think She needs to tidy up a bit before She starts work!

 

A Space Between.

We have been walking, but She has been busy, with a new blog and an exhibition and thoughts and tiredness. We have been walking, but not often, and Maurice is much missed, and Kiffer and Martha. 

We have walked on odd days and beautiful nights when the moon has stolen the colour from the world and made mosaic shadows from bone branches of trees, dark dappled on the garden.

On mild days we have watched over Glyn's house as the jackdaws stake a claim and the mice move in and the rain washes over it all. Glyn is warm, in a home, happy We hope. 

On cold days we have curled tight by the fire and dreamed our dreams.

And now the exhibition is finished and Her studio is in chaos and She is tired tired and walking slowly and sleeping as only a cat can. Reading and sleeping and pretending to tidy and preparing to work again.

Walking after the rain

Today, up the hill, after the rain, slow walking for the first time in months.