Cat Pee Lake

On Friday morning, I woke up because Pebbles was sweeping my down comforter with her paw, in the way that cats sweep litter over their poop.

This immediately brought me out of groggy sleep-land, in a very alarming way.
I looked at my lovely down comforter, which I should mention I was underneath.

There was still-wet cat pee on it.

Not a dribble, oh no.  This was a LAKE of cat pee.  New cat pee. Wet cat pee.  Nasty cat pee.

PEBBLES PEED ON ME WHILE I WAS ASLEEP!!!

Before I went to Utah, she was confined to the bathroom when no one was home and overnights.  She was not confined while I was away, and she was good.  So I let her stay out all the time.  She had been so very, very good and then......then.....

SHE PEED *ON ME* WHILE I WAS ASLEEP!!!!

So we went to the vet on Saturday to see what we could see.

Pebbles was not a happy kitty.

She cried all the way to the vet.

Pebbz got some shots, was probed, they took some blood, and tried to get pee but.....she had no pee in her to give. She had no pee when we needed it. Astounding.

So, I have to take her back on Monday to see if we can get pee. In the meantime she is getting bloodwork done to make sure it is ok for her to go on Prozac. 

The vet agrees with me that Pebbles has some kind of attachment anxiety and she is making a statement that I am HERS, and the bed is HERS, and the down comforter is HERS.

NOT happy kitty

Pebbz did not mind scoping out the exam room
She really doesn't pee anywhere else besides my bed and the litter box. So, Prozac. I cried all the way home because  the visit cost exactly $300.
My Sigynn was on Prozac for years because of anxiety peeing, and it worked! So we are fixing Pebbles' mixed up cat-brain and hopefully life will be more harmonious and pee-free from how on. 

I require a pee-free lifestyle. 

Because I cannot tell you- there are no words to adequately express- how sick I am of cat pee. 

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Page of Wands (reversed)

Unsuccessful new visions or new projects, flightiness, scattered, over-reactive, setbacks, wrong approaches in new ventures.  Can also be a person who is immature or has self image problems.

A Whole Lot of Utah Landscape 3

I took a ridiculous amount of landscape pictures in Utah.

It is too much for one post so I am breaking it up.

Click any image to enlarge.  :)

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The Lovers (reversed)

Avoiding responsibility for consequences of your actions, instant gratification, fatal attraction, jealousy, infidelity, disharmony and difficulty, imbalance in a relationship.

Vocation

I have noticed that non-artists really don't understand artists. Sometimes they think they do, but they don't really relate to us on that level.  This is why it is important for artists to have other artist friends.

There is a difference between people who have a passing-interest-sometimes-hobby, curious dabblers, and those of us who have art as part of our core identity.  It isn't something we do, it is something we are.  I really think we artists are just hard-wired differently.

While it is true that in these years of my life I am not especially prolific in my output, I remain deeply involved in my art and I still grow and learn. I am always, constantly analyzing the world around me in terms of painting. I am constantly open to that energy.  My sketchbook goes everywhere with me, and I use it.  It isn't something I can shut off.

Artistic nature is far more than a personality or identity- it is a state of being, a whole way of experiencing life.  I can no more stop being an artist than I can stop being of Italian descent.

I think- when people who are true artists give up their art due to other life obligations, or just letting it slip away and remain dormant, or for whatever reason- it causes problems.for them. Because it is something that requires an outlet.  It is a voice that needs to be heard.

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Hey!  We made it to July double-digits! Congrats!

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3 of Wands (upright)

Results, conclusions of a decision, optimism, Anticipation, Envisioning an outcome. Have patience while awaiting an outcome. Potential.

Utah Plein Air

Of course painting happened in Utah.  I didn't do as much as I thought I might, but that is ok.  My art supplies got packed first, and it is the only thing I tend to over-pack.

Here is a little painting I did from Carey's back deck.  She has such a gorgeous mountain view.

6x8 oil on panel

When we went to the reservoir to paint, I painted a frisbee-status painting with pastels.  Carey said she liked it but I know she was lying just to be nice.  She didn't have to though, I know a frisbee when I paint one,  It happens and it is ok.  Just part of making paintings.

Daya wanted to paint, too, so I set her up with my oils gear.

Daya's painting, 6x8 oil on panel
She did a great job!  I did not help her at all...and her composition is fantastic!!!

Daya's Painting

Here is Daya painting her second oil painting and her second plein air painting.

She has a wonderful sense of color, and also a natural eye for composition. Her focal point is perfectly placed!  She has depth, atmospheric perspective, and color harmony. And it is a nice moody painting. I don't mean to brag but I think it is rather brilliant for a 9 year old. And it was all her. I don't coach or guide her on how to make a painting. It is better right now to let her do what comes naturally.

And here is her palette, which I kept and hung up.

I also allow Daya to use my camera.  (I also gave her my old Canon powershot) Here she is taking close-ups of giraffes at the Bronx Zoo.

She got some really good shots.

Daya took this picture.

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The Empress (upright)

Fertility, nurturing, Mother Earth. Giving life- can also be applied to a creative endeavor. The natural world and elements.  All things nature. Creativity, new life. Feminine power.

Dear God

Dear God,
Well, here we go again. I have an unresolved situation that is not in my hands to resolve. It is weighing me down.  It makes me sad.  So, I have to give it to you, no matter the outcome, whether it means yet another loss or not.  What will be will be, and I have to trust that no matter how baffling and awful it is, it will work out for my highest good, and the highest good for all involved, because your hand is involved.

So, I officially am letting go and putting this situation in your care.  The one thing I will not do is strike back with intent to hurt, no matter what. Please help me maintain a gentle spirit and embody compassion for all living things, including myself.

Please help me to remember those times where I really had no one and nothing, no matter where I looked, and remember that I came through it and everything will be ok.

Thanks.
xoxo
j

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7 of Swords (reversed)

Swords are mental challenges, and all things mental. Thoughts, intentions, etc. Reversed, this could mean "cleaning up your act", changing old thoughts and patterns.  Crime does not pay, Taking that first step that you know you need, with the right timing. Acting on good advice. Self-sabotage- realize and stop it.

Slinky Inky Inktense

There is a 72 set of Inktense blocks.  Carey and I both have the 24 tins, but that has not stopped us from lusting after the 72 set.

Blick is out of stock for a month.  They are not in the stores.  Jerry's has a crazy ridiculous price.

Amazon (Prime!!) has them, though.

Carey notified me that the price was going up, so she got the 72 set.

This completely broke my willpower, so I also got the 72 set.  Happily, I had a bunch of credit card points, $59 to be exact, which more than half paid for the set!

Here are some pretty pictures.

Incidentally, the 72 inktense blocks match the 72 Inktense pencils,
Why, yes, of course we both also happen to have the 72 set of Inktense pencils.

I got my 72 Inktense pencil set 

with a 40% off coupon at Blick!

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The Inktense blocks are wonderful and smooth and silky and water-soluble.  There are little ink-wells in the storage trays, too!

I was going to do a little painting but I just don't have it in me.  Focus is all gone.  :(

Here are Carey's Slinky Inky Inktense.

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Queen of Coins (upright)
Isn't this a pretty card?

Generosity, care, nurturing.  Beauty. Sensual.  Abundance.  Enjoy what you have.

The Greedy Cat and the Comfy Box

This past week I received two (2) boxes from Amazon, which were about the same size.  They were also nicely cat-sized, so I put one on the floor.  Isis immediately went to the box and would not leave it.

Because Isis was so happy, I thought I would put the second box down so another cat could enjoy it.

One comfy box was not enough.  Isis wanted the second box for herself, too.
So she ensured no one else would want the first box while she was comfy in the second box.

(Use an HTML 5 compatible browser

such as Chrome) 

Having successfully secured the first box. Isis went and occupied the second box.

Mission Accomplished!

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5 of Wands (upright)

Many different energies/focuses/directions from a single source.  All the different things we must put our energy to in life. Being pulled in many different directions. Balancing these different directions, managing conflicts. Can also be conflicted feelings. Different things fighting for attention from one source. Could be healthy competition, could also be fighting/strife within a family or close group.

A Whole Lot of Utah Landscape 2

I took a ridiculous amount of landscape pictures in Utah.

It is too much for one post so I am breaking it up.

Click any image to enlarge.  :)

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9 of Wands (upright)

A final challenge at the end of a long journey. Perseverance.  The moment of deciding to move forward or give up.  Having come so far and gained, with just a little more to go. The final effort. Anticipation. Hidden reserves. Strength.