A couple of weeks ago we went to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. As we exited the Conservatory, a splash of color caught our eye. It turned out to be a large planter brimming with dahlias. It was stunning. Here is a bit of color for everyone headed into winter. Enjoy 
Continue reading “Dahlias!”
Caturday: The rainy season has begun
The rainy season has now begun. It’s been raining since yesterday and it’s wonderful. It will turn our brown hills green and spring will bring plenty of wildflowers. In the meantime, it tends to make us lazy. Tito and Jenny are no exception. Here they are practicing being lazy. It’s what they do best.
Since we posted photos of the California sea lions at Pier 39, we thought you might enjoy this video from the Alaska SeaLife Center in Alaska. Cute doesn’t always come in small packages. Sometimes they’re big with magnificent whiskers.
Speaking of cute…or bizarre. Recently I wrote a post called Beware of cats bearing gifts. Today, I found this lol pic.
Serious about their sunbathing: The California Sea Lions
The other day we went down to Pier 39 to mingle with the tourists. I had been wanting to take some pics of the sea lions and I finally had my chance.
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François-Auguste-René Rodin, November 12,1840
Known for the elemental nature of his works, Auguste Rodin, the French sculptor perhaps most famous for The Thinker, was born on November 12, 1840. A bronze cast of The Thinker graces the entrance to the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
Inside the museum, there is a large collection of Rodin sculptures.
Please forgive the blue cast in the photos. I was using a camera without flash that couldn’t catch the true colors. The sculptures are truly beautiful.
We recognize our veterans on this day
We would like to take this time to thank the men and women of our armed forces for their service. We hope they have a wonderful day.
We would also like to ask our veterans with working military dogs to pass on some scritches for us. We haven’t forgotten them either.
Caturday: Lazy kitties
It’s Caturday again. The furbabies haven’t been cooperative lately in the fashion department. Tito is easy, but if Miss Jenny sees the camera, she’ll hide. Someday, I’ll get a small camera to use with her. Anyhow, here they are.
For your viewing pleasure, here is a bonus video. Simon’s Cat is a favorite of ours.
Happy Birthday to Dracula’s Creator
Irish writer Bram Stoker was born 165 years ago today on November 8, 1847. He is best known for his gothic horror novel, Dracula. There’s not a lot more to say as words would be wasted. This man gifted us with a wonderful genre of horror that inspires people to this day.
When it comes to movies, my favorite one is the great silent film, Nosferatu (1922) directed by E.W. Murnau and starring Max Schreck. Since Murnau knew he would be sued by Stoker’s widow, he changed the ending and it became the first time that a vampire was killed by sunlight. That detail was NOT in Bram Stoker’s book. A good later movie about Murnau and Nosferatu is Shadow of the Vampire (2000) starting John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. That one is based on the myth that Max Schreck was a real vampire.
My other favorite movie is Dracula (1979) starring Frank Langella. I’m fond of this one only because Langella made for a rather attractive vampire. Ok, I’ll admit it. He made me drool. He still does, come to think of it. Age hasn’t hurt him one bit.
As for cats inspired by Bram Stoker, please go see Adventures of a Naked Cat. It’s a blog written by Nofuratu, a hairless kitty. He has brothers named Count von Count, Vampir, and Vladimir. He also has a wonderful Facebook page. He’s a great adventurer and fashionista.
Tito and the art of the Dead Bug
Tito and Jenny are both nervous wreck kitties. In Tito’s case, it has taken him 4 years to learn to relax…mostly. He’s still terrified of shoes and he smacks the crap out of anything that doesn’t look right to him. Aside from smacking inanimate objects that make him nervous, he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He’s a gentle soul and he adores Miss Jenny.
I managed to get some photos of him practicing the dead bug. He’s getting quite good at holding the position for a long time. Miss Jenny is still too nervous to attempt this position.
Speaking of dead bugs….
YouTube video by Carmichaellynch
Caturday: Basket Case
The furkids love the basket. I put a small basket on the shelf above the computer. It was a refuge for The Boober when Tito was a kitten. Tito was unrelenting about playing and The Boober was fighting cancer. By the time Tito got big enough to get to the basket, he was calm and content with merely snuggling. Now Tito and Miss Jenny use the snuggle box.
I don’t have a much as a bonus pic. However, yesterday we went out to the Conservatory of Flowers.
The Flying Wallendas got nothing on this dog
Ok, it’s a bit of exaggeration. The Flying Wallendas have been defying gravity for a century. Recently, Nik Wallenda became the first aerialist to walk across the Niagara Falls.
This pooch doesn’t walk across the Niagara Falls, but what he does is pretty impressive. According to his Facebook page, Ozbert Humpledink is a 3 yr old collie/kelpie cross. He was born in Wales. With the help of his human, he has learned some amazing tricks.
As you can see, Ozzy really loves to perform for his dad.
Now it’s time for the gratuitous cat pics.
We hope you have enjoyed this acrobatic interlude.