Art

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The winners of the poetry books are…

Hiya everyone!

I know you are waiting for this post so, without further ado… here are the winners of the poetry books contest!

The 3 winners of 4 kitty books are:
– Mary
– Eirwena
– Dawn

The 3 winners of a doggie book are:
– Mollie and Alfie
– Marjorie
– Melinda

The winner of the collection of poems “Les Chats de Saint-Sulpice” is:
– Layla

Concatulations to the winners! And thank you to everyone that entered!

You should have received an email from me by now! If you haven’t, please check your spam filter. If it’s still not there, please leave a message in the comments.

I know many of you had hoped to win the books on cats and those that won the book on dogs might be a little disappointed. I am sorry that there were not enough cat books for everyone. If you won one of the books on dogs but are not interested in it, please let me know and I’ll randomly draw someone else!

Phew. All this was a bit tiring. I think I deserve a nap. That is, if a certain someone isn’t asking for a bath…

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Henri Monnier’s Cat Poetry Giveaway: 2 Poems
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Henri Monnier’s Cat Poetry Giveaway: 2 Poems

I decided to wait a couple of days before posting the poems to make sure everyone would see the main post for the giveaway.

Then, when I was ready for my human to post the poems… she was busy reading. She devoted her free time to finishing the lovely book Love Saves the Day, which she absolutely wanted to finish once she had started it!

Anyway, when my human interviewed Henri Monnier, author and publisher of the books you can win, he authorized her to copy and translate 2 poems on my blog, for my readers. All rights reserved.

My human tried her best to translate the two poems I chose, but she thinks a little is lost (most of the time) in translation, especially in poetry with rhymes and sometimes a certain number of feet. Also many words in French which have the syllable “cha” (sounding like “chat” or cat in French), used purposefully by the author, are lost in the translation.

The first poem is a tribute to ladies who give food to feral cats. The poem can be found in the collection of poems “Les Chats de Saint-Sulpice.”

Discrete Charity Charité discrète
I will never say it enough
Oh! all the good we must think of
Brave ladies with their fragile hearts
That travel all the city parts,
To bring enough to erring cats
To let them pounce on this and that.		 Je ne dirai jamais assez
Tout le bien qu’il nous faut penser
Des braves dames au cœur fragile
Qui s’en vont à travers la ville,
Apporter aux chats vagabonds
De quoi faire encore quelques bonds.
They don’t care ’bout those mocking them
People with very little brain,
And other, bigger fish to fry,
The weather might be wet or dry
These ladies leave some sustenance
To cats considered a nuisance.		 Indifférentes aux railleries
Des gens qui n’ont que peu d’esprit,
Et d’autres chats à fouetter,
On les voit hiver comme été
Déposer quelque subsistance
Aux animaux de la malchance.
All these cats with so sad a fate
Were abandoned on any date
Because of undignified people,
They hope for a sign or signal
To be happy just like before,
Is it a plea you can ignore?		 Tous ces chats au triste destin
Abandonnés un beau matin
Par la faute de gens indignes,
Ils n’attendent de vous qu’un signe
Pour être heureux tout comme avant,
N’est-ce pas un peu émouvant.
If you have a delicate heart
To give your smile, it would be smart
To the aspiring old lady
Who heals a cat, or a doggie,
And even if it is not much
Your act is a good cause as such.		 Si vous avez le cœur sensible
Souriez tant qu’il est possible
A la vieille dame qui vient
Soigner un chat, peut-être un chien,
Et même si c’est peu de chose
Vous servirez la bonne cause.
She got no legion of honor,
Never does she get a flower,
She finds her very own reward
In always being straightforward
And she takes from her small pension
What she needs for her good action.		 Elle n’a pas la légion d’honneur,
Jamais elle ne reçoit de fleurs,
Elle trouve sa récompense
En agissant comme elle pense
Et prend sur sa maigre pension
De quoi faire sa bonne action.
She is discrete in her process
She never does try to impress
But do not think for a second
That she doesn’t like the children,
She only endeavors to say
In her own way, a little prayer.		 C’est une personne discrète
Qui ne cherche pas à paraitre,
Mais ne croyez pas pour autant
Qu’elle n’aime pas les enfants,
Elle essaie seulement de faire
A sa manière, une prière.



The second one is about how we, kitties, need to be loved, too. It can be found in “Sa Majesté le Chat.”

Cuddles Cajoleries
Jumping about, pouncing, running,
Having fun with next to nothing
You’re so fragile, as you snuggle,
Yet wonderfully indocile
You’re looking for some affection;
Playing the card of seduction,
Like nobody has done before
And when it works you purr some more.		 Tu bondis, tu vas et viens,
En t’amusant d’un presque rien
Et tu te blottis, si fragile,
Merveilleusement indocile
En quête d’un peu d’affection ;
La carte de la séduction,
Tu la joues bien mieux que personne
Et quand c’est parti, tu ronronnes.
You make the most of the torrent
Of cuddles and the contentment
Of my strokes that bring you calmness,
You’re so looking for tenderness
You are using all the assets
That only nice tomcats possess,
We are always caught in your game
You too need to be loved the same.		 Tu profites nonchalamment
Des câlins et de l’agrément
Que te procurent les caresses,
Tu recherches tant la tendresse
En usant de tous les atouts
Que possède un gentil matou,
On est pris à ton stratagème,
Toi aussi, t’as besoin qu’on t’aime.

****You have until tomorrow 11.59 pm to enter the giveaway here. Please enter via Rafflecopter if you want to win one of these books! Good luck everyone!****

Henri Monnier’s Cat Poetry & Denis Boissier’s Cat Illustrations + a Giveaway!
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Henri Monnier’s Cat Poetry & Denis Boissier’s Cat Illustrations + a Giveaway!

About a year ago (I think), my human’s mother went to a book fair in Paris and bought the following books. She sent them to my human and my human and I loved them very much. So we gave a mission to my human’s Mom: get some more copies so I can share them with you, my furriends. I’m glad to say that she completed the mission successfully. Thank you! =^.^=

These are small books (less than 20 pages, except for “Les chats de Saint Sulpice” which is a collection of the others) but very nice books of poetry and illustrations on cats. There are 4 different books of poetry on cats. Oh and yes, there is one on dogs, too.

The poetry is in French. Those who know French will really appreciate the talent of the poet, Henri Monnier, and the way he is playing with words. Poems are sometimes funny, sometimes moving, sometimes both and much more. We can really feel a true cat lover behind the plume.

If you don’t speak French very well or not at all, you can use them to practice ;-) But the books are also full of beautiful black & white illustrations (a couple in color) by artist Denis Boissier.

In any case, it will fit nicely in your cat books collection! And they are not really easy to find, even in France!

Tomorrow, I will feature two poems, both in French and with a tentative translation from my human. Today, I am featuring an interview with the author and publisher, Henri Monnier. He was nice enough to talk on the phone with my human last December.

*** What do you have to do to win one or more of these beautiful books? Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post! Answer the two questions and follow the other options if you want to win more chances of winning. The giveaway will end on Saturday and the winners will be announced on Sunday!
The giveaway is opened to all countries. There are several prizes to win: 3 sets of 4 poem books on cats, 3 poem books on dogs, and 1 collection book of the poems on cats. ***

Now here is the interview with Henri Monnier.

Could you introduce yourself and talk a bit about the books?

I am 81. I am a publisher and I had the opportunity to work with many artists. I have many French as well as foreign artist friends. As a publisher, I dedicated myself to artists.

I wrote on several subjects. I wrote poetry on life, love, death. Cats made the most successful subject though, and they helped me get noticed and better known. Some of my poems were even published by Hachette. Thanks to cats, the public learned about me.

Cats always have a lot of success!

My poems on cats come from my collaboration with an artist friend, Denis Boissier. Unfortunately, he died too young. He was drawing illustrations of cats [those in the books] and I wrote the poems to go with them. He was an incredibly talented artist!

Can you tell us a little more about the cats that shared your life?

I had many cats during my entire life. Next to my workshop, there is a little garden and stray and feral cats always come. You give then food and they come back. Sometimes they stay. They climb on the roof to bask in the sun, they walk in the garden. They generally come one at a time. In winter, sometimes they come near the stove to get warm.

Some never come back. Some cats are absconders. I had a tuxedo cat, a grey cat, and a calico female cat who was insolent! You have to be really patient as far as some cats are concerned. You have to adapt to them.

I have just buried a cat. He died of old age. That’s how things are. Most of my cats lived to be about 15. That’s a nice age compared to 1 or 2 years for a cat abandoned outside.

Cats are wonderful. They have their habits and at the same time they’re full of surprise. Sometimes they hide in places we would never imagine. It keeps us entertained!

I also wrote a book about dogs but it was less successful.

Among your poems, what are your favorites?

My first collection of poems on cats [Caresses et coups de pattes — Strokes and Paw Blows] was the most successful one. The cat from “Lapalissade” [play on words between lapalissade – statement of something obvious – and la palissade – the fence], a stray cat, was very successful. He really existed! He was a neighbor’s cat. Actually, all stories are real cats stories. “Mon chat et moi” [“My Cat and I”] was quite popular too.

See you tomorrow for two poems!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!

So, we are late for our giveaway again. Everything’s here and ready but the human wanted to translate something from French to put on my bloggie and hasn’t already. Hmpf. So we will post it tomorrow.

Here is a snippet picture to make you come back tomorrow:

In the meantime, today is Cinco de Mayo! Happy Cinco de Mayo! We know this is a celebration of a Mexican victory against the French, but we really don’t care that much ;-)

And to prove it to you, I’ll have my favorite mojito again!

[If you can’t see the video on the blog, click here]

Have fun!

Review: “The Life and Love of Cats” by Lewis Blackwell
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Review: “The Life and Love of Cats” by Lewis Blackwell

Today, we are reviewing a pawsome book titled “The Life and Love of Cats” by Lewis Blackwell.

Human, please focus your camera on both me AND the book

Human, please focus your camera on both me AND the book

Let's take the picture on the couch

Let’s take the picture on the couch

Can't you focus on BOTH of us?

Can’t you focus on BOTH of us?

I say “we” because Kitshka and I really wanted to do the review ourselves…

…but we’ve agreed to let the human write it because although it is a book about us kitties, the author says it is a book for cat worshipers lovers. Here is a short presentation by the publisher:

Photographer Lewis Blackwell takes readers on the ultimate cat lover’s journey in The Life and Love of Cats, providing a unique perspective on one of our closest companions. Starting with the earliest records of domestic cats nine thousands years ago in Africa and the Mediterranean, Blackwell celebrates and explores the joy of cats in our lives, searching for the essence of our connection with them. Supporting the text is his presentation of a unique range of images shot by leading animal photographers from around the world.

So, without further ado… here is my human’s review.

Thank you, Texas.

I must start by saying that I am quite the cat lover, and anything with a cat on it gets my attention. When I first saw the cover of this book, as well as its title, I was intrigued.

The Life and Love of Cats. The title alone seems to sum up the intention of its author, Lewis Blackwell, and the goal of each of us cat lovers: witnessing and understanding the life of the feline companions we, cat lovers, cherish. Can we ever get an accurate understanding of our cats? That’s the leitmotiv of the book. The author asks the question as if putting a watermark on the pictures… and seems to have his doubts.

Don’t get him wrong: this is not that cats act beyond coherent. Mystery is part of their charm and why we love them so much. Unlike dogs, cats can hardly be trained or expected to act predictably. They seem to see things we don’t, they seem to be deep in thoughts… but are they even thinking, the author wonders? Aren’t we just projecting our way of operating and living on them? Maybe. Probably, in many ways. True, cat blogs and sites filled with cat memes are mixing human traits with human interpretations of feline behavior (I almost felt like writing cattitude, which would only confirm the author’s point). I see it more as a desire to understand them though, as well as to put them on a pedestal: they make our lives so much better, they deserve the glory… the worship?

The book is definitely a book for cat lovers. Blackwell takes us on a journey to discover what made this beautiful animal the emblem of mystery it has become: from being worshiped to being reviled. Humans may have a hard time understanding cats, but they are responsible for many of the attributes they are given today: from the legendary mystery to, sadly, the irrational (my choice of word) curses.

The book is divided into nine chapters, like the nine lives of cats: Evolution; Domestic; Wild; Sense; Breeds; Cute; Healing; Black; Eternal. The text is not all: 117 gorgeous photographs of cats of all sorts make it an art book that any cat lover will be proud to own. The pictures are beautiful. They are also punctuated, as is the text, with quotes and sayings about cats.

What seems to clearly transpire from reading this book is that its author admires cats and is yearning to understand them more than we can. Or is he? Part of the mystery cats will probably long keep makes a good part of their charm: half domestic, half wild, this is that “otherness” mentioned in the book that we admire.

To quote the author,

this is a book for people who love cats. Unashamedly, victoriously, and wonderfully so!

I think this quote sums up the book pretty well. I would bet that many cat lovers who will put their paws hands on this book will want to have it in their collection. This book is a beautiful gift for a cat lover. It is also a beautiful tribute to cats.

The Life and Love of Cats
By Lewis Blackwell
Abrams Books
ISBN: 1-4197-0404-4
Publishing Date: 10/1/2012
Trim Size: 12 x 12
Page Count: 216
Cover: Hardcover with jacket
Illustrations: 117 color photographs

Click here to go to the Publisher’s website. Click here to go to Amazon.

Thank you, human. And I would like to add that despite Mr. Blackwell saying that he has “yet to meet a cat who is interested in reading,” Kitshka and I enjoyed his book. Okay, maybe not in the human way of enjoying a book. But we enjoyed it anyway.

[click on any picture to biggify]



Has any of you seen/read this book? What were your thoughts about it?

We want to thank Abrams Books for sending us a review copy of “The Life and Love of Cats.” Receiving the copy did not influence our review.

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Review & Giveaway: In the Kitchen with Cookie & Compositions in Black and Green 2013 Calendars

We kitties do not need planners or calendars. But our humans do. Are your humans still looking for a 2013 calendar? Read on.

We were recently contacted by animal artist Bernadette Kazmarski, whose blog, The Creative Cat, I’m sure all of you know. If for some reason you don’t, I urge you to visit her website.

Bernadette is a multi-talented artist and an animal lover. My human and I enjoy the many ways she shares her passions on her website: from pictures of the members of her extended family of furry friends, to beautiful paintings, drawings, sketches of kitties (hers and others’), to beautifully written stories of rescued kitties, there is always something funny, moving, or inspiring (usually a combination of the three) to enjoy at her place on the Internet.

So we were thrilled and honored when she contacted us (really me, Texas) to ask if we would be interested in reviewing her 2013 calendars: In the Kitchen with Cookie & Compositions in Black and Green.

Compositions in Black and Green will be sure to meet your daily needs for mischievous kitty prowesses: playing in their human’s bathroom, offering their both cute and majestic mirror reflection to the artist’s camera. Each month offers wonderful and funny pictures of Bernadette’s five black cats in front of the white and green theme of the artist’s kitties’ bathroom.
Mimi, Mewsette, Jelly Bean, Mr. Sunshine and Giuseppe Basil Verdi will assuredly help you start each day of 2013 on the right paw. It will also help you see black cats in a whole new color.

In the Kitchen with Cookie will bring you an assistant chef in form of a calendar. When your name is Cookie, you make it a point to wear your colors (especially when they are tortoiseshell) proudly and that surely gives you a licence to spend more time than any kitty can dream of spending in the kitchen. This calendar is an adorably sweet (and savory) mix of beautiful pictures of Cookie and related (to Cookie’s postures) recipes from the artist. Evidently, Bernadette and Cookie formed a great team in the kitchen.
I tried to convince my human to try the cheesecake recipe (especially since Cookie seemed to require that kitties test the filling) but my human is on a diet too! She preciously kept the recipe though.





Both calendars allow for you to input important appointments and some notes. Yet they are small enough to fit in a hand bag if necessary. They both exist bound either on the top (as a wall calendar) or to the left (as a journal calendar). My human had a preference for the journal calendar, but it all depends how you expect to use it. Both versions of both calendars can be ordered here.

Bernadette has kindly offered to giveaway one copy of In the Kitchen with Cookie (wall calendar) and of Compositions in Black and Green (journal calendar).
To win a copy, please leave a comment telling us which calendar you prefer and why. Don’t forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you win. You have until Saturday, Jan. 26, 9.00 pm EST. A random drawing will give us the two winners, that I will announce on Sunday.

***Receiving a copy of the calendars did not influence this kitty’s or his human’s opinion.***

2013 Third Annual “Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter”
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2013 Third Annual “Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter”


My human went to the Third Annual “Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter” event last Thursday. This project, which was launched in 2010, aims at helping NYC feral cats:



Every year since 2010, some of New York’s most prestigious architectural designers, through an inventive project called Architects for Animals, have been helping New York City’s feral cats by creating imaginative winter shelters to provide them with a refuge from the cold. We are delighted to present these collections of unique, inspired winter shelters for public viewing at the Architects for Animals: Giving Shelter exhibit before they are placed in locations throughout the city to provide comfort for the cats. This annual exhibition benefits the New York City Feral Cat Initiative of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.

It was taking place in the place called Manhattan, very close to Columbus Circle.

I would like to start by thanking Sparkle for posting so quickly about the event (that’s how we learned, and we live in NY!), and Tamar of I Have Cat for sending the info to bloggers.

Thankfully, a lot of people showed up; the showroom was crowded.

So of course, my human didn’t even offer to bring me to the event. Okay, there was a LOT of people, but she could have offered still.

My human took the pictures during the event, so the pictures tend to be crowded too. You can see good shots of each shelter at Cat Wisdom 101 and I Have Cat. But here are my human’s.

Leslie Farrell, founder of Architects for Animals, made a short speech to thank everyone. She got a little emotional.

She invited everyone to pick some kibbles at the buffet to put in their favorite shelter’s bowl, in order to vote. Yes, furriends, despite my human pretending there would be only human food at the buffet, there were kitty kibbles!

The first one is by M. Moser Associates. You can click on the third picture to read more about these kitty pods.
See the bowl on the floor? That’s in those that people could vote by throwing kibbles in there.

AFA_04

The following one, Shelter A, was created by Callison Barteluce. You can also click on the third pic to see details (although the quality isn’t that great)

The following one, Swiss Cheese by Stonehill & Taylor, was entirely made of recycled materials.

The next one is a simple, one cat shelter, by H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture. You can click on this one.

Since this is NYC, it’s only fair that kitties have their skyscraper (okay kinda) too. This one is by Francis Cauffman.

The last one my human took pictures of (apparently, she missed one) is quite original. It is made with recycled cat food cans (yes, cat food cans!) that are insulated. The shelter is made so that 2 to 4 cats can be inside it at the same time, but still not be too close to one another (I am not sure it is very visible on the third picture, but the inside kind of has corners). It was made by the American Street Cat. This shelter is aready being used (check here).

Last but not least, this DIY NYC Cat Fort, by Pilot Projects. Isn’t that cool?! You can find the details here.

My human was glad to see Tamar of I Have Cat and Layla of Cat Wisdom 101, that she had both met at the Rentaneko projection. She was also very glad to meet Kevin and Tracey of Animal Shelter Volunteer Life. I wish I could have meet them too!

All in all, my human says the event appeared to be successful. Let’s hope it will be able to do its part to help NYC feral kitties.

You can find more pictures here, as well as “in progress photos of a habitat for NYC’s homeless animals,” Stonehill & Taylor’s shelter, on Stonehill & Taylor’s Facebook page.

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Wonderful Christmas ornaments for a good cause – with our names on the ornaments!!

[The awards post will come later today – I have something to show you first]

Did you know that our furriends Star and Leo, from Celestial Kitties, and their human, are running a Christmas Fundraiser for Winnie’s Wish?

WWchristmas fundraiser banner

Star’s and Leo’s human, Andrea, is making (herself! – it’s not my human who could do that!) beautiful Christmas ornaments, some of which can even be purrsonalized with our names!

Here are ours:

Xmas-Ornaments_01

You can even ask for catnip inside. Since the humans won’t have a Christmas Tree (they are afraid we Kitshka will destroy it), the ornaments serve as toys for us. Yep. Ours have catnip.

For a donation of $15 you get three ornaments. Additional ornaments are $3 each.

Every dollar above postage and a very tiny materials amount goes to Winnie’s Wish! That’s about $12 a basic set! Winnie’s Wish is dedicated to rescuing abandoned or feral kitties and finding them great homes where they can be loved for the rest of their lives!

Go check the details here!

They were instantly successful with us. They are beautiful, smell sooooo good and make great pillows too!

Look at my reaction first!
[click on any picture to biggify]

Kitshka was first hesitant, but that didn’t last long!
[click on any picture to biggify]

Milou was a little shy because he’s not used to being featured on a blog…
[click on any picture to biggify]

Okay Milou. Thanks for this but the goal was to play with the ornament. Never mind.

As the nip guru, I of course had to try each and every ornament, to make sure the nip was extra great quality. It was.

What? I know it's Milou's!

What? I know it’s Milou’s!

Yes, I know it's Kitshka's!

Yes, I know it’s Kitshka’s!

I'm not stealing them I'm testing them!

I’m not stealing them I’m testing them!

Look!

Look!

You know what?

You know what?

I love this ornaments

I love these ornaments

Be sure to check the fundraiser.

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Dear Sparkle – Cat-to-Cat Advice from the world’s foremost feline columnist: A review

A little less than a month ago, I pawticipated in my first ever Twitter pawty. It was organized by Baby Patches of Nip and Bones and the beautiful Sparkle. It was a virtual book signing pawty for Sparkle’s book!

I was very excited and liked every minute of it. The beautiful Sparkle answered questions and pawtographed books like a pro. Of course, being a kitty, she is a pro!

The pawty ended with the olive on the tuna cake when I was first to answer the question asked to win a pawtographed copy! Look at the beauty on the right! (click for a bigger version)

“Dear Sparkle: Cat-to-Cat Advice from the World’s Foremost Feline Columnist” is a must-have for any feline, my furriends, and for many reasons.

The book is full of colored pictures of the beautiful Sparkle, and this only is a reason to own it. But the book is so much more.

Sparkle has collected letters from kitties from around the world that sent her their questions about kitty issues that you and I may well have encountered: from toys and games to dealing with strange human habits to litter box issues. Sparkle answers with wits, humor and charm (is there anything more charming than a Ladycat with repartie?).

I liked that the book was divided into sections related to different kinds of issues. I also absolutely loved the little “Sparkle Says” tidbits of wisdom here and there.

The book reads well and you can either read it from cover to cover, or pick and choose a letter and Sparkle’s answer. Even if you don’t have the issue mentioned in the letter, there is always something to learn from the expert. What better expert can you ask for as a kitty than a kitty? This book has been written by a kitty and you can clearly see it.

Open-minded humans will read this book and take it as a way to better understand their master kitty friend.

Conclusion: we give it four paws!

I mentioned above that I answered a question to win the book. It was about her next book, and it is going to be about cat rules for humans. I am eagerly waiting for this book and Kitshka and I have started applying rule #882, as you can see below (we were on the human’s hubby’s chair).

THANK YOU Sparkle, for this great book!
Furriends, Christmas is coming, this could be added to your list to Santa Paws ;-)