Aby-a-Day – 31 Januari: A sad day for the Singapura world (Serious Sunday)

This is really hard to write. I just found out this morning that my friend Pat died suddenly yesterday. Apparently, she’d had a bad fall a couple of days ago…and, something happened. Our friend Linda posted the announcement to the Singapura Facebook group we were all in.

Björn and I only met her in person, when we carried Logan’s mother, Naina, from Boston to Sweden after our wedding. I wish I had met her sooner; she lived in Cambridge and we could have hung out. But we were good friends online, and we had much in common besides cats. Last month, I sent her a copy of Hamilton, because she didn’t have Disney+, and I included a Trump catnip toy, which she loved. We were just chatting a week or so ago.

If it hadn’t been for Linda, Pat and Naina, I don’t I would ever have gotten a Singapura. I will miss her. My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend has stopped running today.

Aby-a-Day – 30 Januari: Off the wall (Swedish Saturday)

These photos are from May 2017. Before Logan died, we had entered him in a cat show in Göteborg. Since we had already paid for the entry, we took Jacoby instead. But he was not allowed into the show because the entry staff misread his vaccination records (they said he wasn’t up to date on his jabs, but he was). It was the same trip where Jake explored Göteborg’s future.

So, we went for a walk around Göteborg with Jake. At Östra Larmgatan 13, we found an interesting black and white mural.

We were particularly enchanted by this cat surfing/skateboarding on a fish.

Oh, everybody’s a critic.

This is the whole mural – it’s actually a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vans shoes! (Photo from Google Earth)

Aby-a-Day 29 Januari: Meow to the Chief (Photoshop Friday)

There’s a famous photo of Socks Clinton sitting at the Resolute Desk. After four long years of no pets in the White House, the Bidens have brought their two dogs to live with them. They are also bringing Winston the cat.

Apparently, Winston hasn’t moved in yet, so I thought Alfred could keep his seat warm for him.

Aby-a-Day – 28 Januari: Izaak’s birthday present (Thursday Things)

Izaak turned three years old on Tuesday, and I got him a little black chirpy bird made by the same company that made the favourite, beloved chirpy mouse he got for his first birthday.

He knew what it was immediately and wanted to play with it immediately, even before we pulled out the little plastic battery thingy.

And once it started making noises…look out!

Usually, Zak prefers light-coloured toys, but he really liked this little black woodpecker.

It picked it up and carried it off. He loves to carry his mousies and birdies.

Happy third birthday, little man!

Aby-a-Day – 27 Januari: Wordless Wednesday (Happy 3rd birthday, Izaak!)

Aby-a-Day – 26 Januari: Misty watercolour memories (Cartoon Tuesday)

This is by no means a cartoon, but I wanted to share this ethereal watercolour of Bugsie that was done by her friend Arlven Leonardor. I think it captures Bugsie’s spirit perfectly.

Aby-a-Day – 25 Januari: My Space Kotty (Hipstamatic Monday)

A while back, I signed up for a Kickstarter project for a supersonic litter box from a company in Poland. However, as sometimes happens, there have been some hiccups; this project was supposed to be finished in March, but now it’s projected to be ready to ship in December. I get it, stuff happens, but the company wanted to make it up to all the backers, so they offered us a free My Kotty scratcher. It’s a laminated cardboard scratcher, and I haven’t had many cats be interested in those…but hey, free 50€ scratcher in exchange for waiting 9 months? I can deal with that.

This all happened last week, and the scratcher arrived today (wicked fast!). Izaak immediately claimed it. I don’t know…maybe it’s a Polish thing.

Lorelai wanted to check out the scratcher, too.

Zak was having none of that, thank you very much.

He got out of the scratcher for a while, so I enticed him back with one of his mousies

That went well.

Then Dashiell came to check out the new scratcher.

Sniffing was okay…but when Dash tried to scratch it…

HOW ABSOLUTE DARE.

Dash seemed confused. “Zak, I thought we were friends!”

Then Rory attempted a sneak takeover of the scratcher.

She was fended off as well. It’s a lonely life, being the king of the new scratcher.

Aby-a-Day – 24 Januari: The good old days of 2019 (Singapura Cat Show Sunday)

Remember when, back in the day, we went to cat shows and didn’t know words like “social distancing”?

Sigh…

I do.

Especially in Sweden, the pariah of Scandinavia. We may never have a show again at the rate we’re going.

These photos are from a show in Västra Frölunda…15 September 2019. Back when the world was…normal.

This is judge Ad De Bruijn from Holland examining Izaak.

Zak really turned it on for the judge, too…but he didn’t get the NOM.

I don’t think I have shared one of these before, but this is Ad De Bruijn’s judging sheet for Zak (these sheets are the BEST thing about FIFe).

Aby-a-Day – 23 Januari: The REAL Abyssinian and Somali Club (Serious Saturday)

This week has been tumultuous for a number of reasons…not the least of which is, through a series of unfortunate events, I was banned from a Facebook Abyssinian group (without cause, but no matter)…and created a group of my own, of which I am the leader and head admin. Never having done anything like this before, it’s a bit…revolutionary. That I did it on Inauguration Day was particularly fitting.

So that happened. If my posts have been a bit patchy, that’s why. It’s a whole new world for me. It’s so much faster than a blog.

If you would like to join, search Facebook for the name (which is the title of this post), request to become a member, and answer the three questions. I still haven’t gotten the answer I was expecting for question #3.

Aby-a-Day – 22 Januari: Feel the Bern! (Photoshop Friday)

The best thing to come out of the Presidential Inauguration on Wednesday (apart from the obvious, of course), was this image of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in full-on New England winter gear, including mittens made from recycled materials by one of his constituents. The minute the cameras turned on Bernie, Twitter and the internet went berserk (in a good way).

When I saw Bernie, the first thing I thought of was Logan in his coat. I thought maybe Bernie just needed some company at the Inauguration.

But then I realised that the real meme is more about putting Bernie in places, including practically any place on Earth. So…Here’s Bernie sitting in my front yard, watching Jacoby and Olaf.

Bernie loves him some Social Democracy, but maybe Sweden’s a little too far away for him to commute from his day job. Better keep him in New England. He seems like he’d enjoy Rolling Bridge Park. And if you were wondering what Bernie’s reaction is to all this, Seth Myers asked him about that, and here’s what he had to say.

Aby-a-Day – 21 Januari: Junie-Purr, Bugsie…and StarClan (Thursday Things)

After a day of joy…a day of sadness.

Dashiell’s sister, Junie-Purr, had a singleton kitten five weeks ago. She was very sick with pneumonia during her pregnancy and needed emergency antibiotics. Then, suddenly, last Friday, Meg found Junie dead in her bed cuddling her kitten. She isn’t sure what caused it, as Junie seemed to be doing better, but she has sent Junie’s body to Tufts Veterinary for a necropsy to find out what happened.

Yesterday, Bugsie, Dash’s little niece, started refusing to eat.

Meg cuddled her and kept her warm and tried to get her to eat whilst watching the Inauguration.

Later in the evening, little Bugsie seemed to be perking up a little. She cuddled Meg and they watched the Inauguration Celebration together. Then they went to bed.

Unfortunately, this morning, little Bugsie was gone. She just wasn’t strong enough. Meg’s vet says it is likely she was damaged from the strong antibiotics the ER vets had to use to save her mother. Her little gut was not able to handle solid food, and her little bones were soft.

My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend has stopped running today. Sleep well in Tuonela, dear, sweet Junie, with your beloved kitten Bugsie.

Aby-a-Day – 20 Januari: Wordless Wednesday (History has its eyes on you)

Aby-a-Day – 19 Januari 2020: Progress! (Cartoon Tuesday)

I have done a bunch of new ideas, but now it’s time to finish old projects. This sketch and ink from 2018 really needs to be finished. I started today, and here is the base colour. Then my iPad needed charging…stay tuned.

Aby-a-Day – 18 Januari: “I climbed a tree to see the world” (Movie Monday)

When we were outside yesterday, I noticed that Izaak’s tree was looking pretty darn picturesque with all the snow and everything. Zak loves to pose in that tree, so I thought we’d have a little photo session.

I was right.

Since I lost Jacoby, Zak is pretty much my best poser. I can put him in his tree, and he’ll stay there and let me snap photos.

He really likes this tree. It’s just the right height, and it has a little spot between the branches that he feels quite comfortable in.

People were sledding down the hill, and Zak watched them from his vantage point.

For being an engineered purebred cat, he looks really natural in a snowy tree. I love the snow flakes frosting his fur.

I also love that I am reflected in his eyes.

After he got down from his tree. I made a little video of him walking back to our front door.

Aby-a-Day – 17 Januari: Let’s go outside! (Swedish Cinema Sunday)

We went outside with the cats today. Lorelai was the most eager, as usual…

She has zero fat and thin, sleek fur, but she doesn’t seem to feel the cold at all.

The boys, on the other hand, kind of hovered by the door.

Finally, Alfred decided to explore. Seeing as he’s got the most insulation, he should do…

Our upstairs neighbours were outside sledding. Oksana is always happy to see Freddy.

He and Rory explored their sleds.

Eventually, everyone decided they had had enough snow and wanted to go back inside.

I also made a little video of our outing. Enjoy!

Aby-a-Day – 16 Januari: Sometimes, you just need a partner to nap with (Swedish Saturday)

It’s been a busy week…and I got to today and couldn’t think of anything to post.

So, here are Alfred and Izaak, the nap partners.

Aby-a-Day – 15 Januari: Looks like 2020 doesn’t believe in a peaceful transition of power, either (Photoshop Friday)

So, after the last two Wednesdays, there hasn’t been a whole lot to laugh about…but this meme resurrecting Smudge and the yelling woman, 2021-style, really did make me LOL. Just one thing bothered me about it…the crap Photoshopping. I knew I could do better.

Yep. I think that’s better. And, I learned a little bit more about painting realistic fur, touching up the “shaman’s” coyote-tail headdress.

Aby-a-Day – 14 Januari: More snow, more fun (Thursday Things)

Since I posted last week, we’ve had a bit more snow here. I took the cats outside again on Tuesday; it was actually rather warm and the snow was perfect and not too wet or icy.

Lorelai, of course, went pelting off into the whiteness.

The boys, however, were less enthusiastic (and yes, I made Dashiell come out with us).

Eventually, Alfred stretched his legs.

Dash even took a little walk around the building.

Izaak…was displeased.

Rory, on the other hand, was playing with the snow.

She was having so much fun out there.

One cool thing happened, though. Watching Rory run, I saw some movement in the background. At first I thought it was Freddy, but it was a hare! I wish one of the cats had seen it, though. I’d love to see what their reaction would be!

Aby-a-Day – 13 Januari: Wordless Wednesday (Magpies and cats in the snow)

Aby-a-Day – 12 Januari: Zak sleeps with the fishes (Cartoon Tuesday)

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to see Men in Black: International on television. At the very beginning of the film, we see a cute little blue Terrantian in the lead character’s childhood bedroom. Molly helps the little guy escape from the Men in Black and as he leaves, he says something to her.

He was a stocky little guy with big, round eyes…so of course I had to draw Izaak as him.

I did most of the work on this in Procreate; just the background, signature and lighting effects were done in Photoshop. Playing with feathers was a lot of fun. Here’s the time-lapse of the drawing process for those who are interested (click on the image to watch in another tab on Flickr).