pitipixel

Wicket Wonders

2010-04-28T01:48:00.003+02:00

COMMON WICKET QUESTIONS:

- Where's the bug?

- Is it snack time yet?

- Is it dinner time yet?

- Is it playtime yet?

- Why can't I beat up Chewie for fun?

- Why can't it scratch up all your furniture for fun?

- Is it food time yet?

Etc...

(Thanks Olibith for the photoshop effect ;)

Bug Face

2010-04-27T03:55:00.003+02:00

Wicket was just chillin' in the sun today... minding his own business... being all lion-ey...

When... A! MOSQUITO!

FLEW! IN! MUST! CATCH! MOSQUITO!

"Where's the mosquito Mom? Can you catch it? Please? Please? Mosquito? Please?'

At this time, the big mosquito is still flying around, teasing the cats... and Wicket is still whining a long monologue of frustration, jumping around like it's going out of style... wish him luck (before the whining and yowling drives me nuts)!

...

2010-04-18T04:28:00.002+02:00

Busy busy busy.

Too busy to post. Too lazy as well.

But... I snapped a few good pictures of Isis today.

She's a natural born model, this cat.

Smooches and purrs to all!

LOLCAT

2010-03-02T06:53:00.001+01:00

I haz one!

Pretty in Red

2010-03-01T00:23:00.006+01:00

One chair, one blanket, two happy cats.

Mew reports a few technical difficulties...

Much better!

Buttons

2010-02-28T23:34:00.005+01:00

Une fois n'est pas coutume, there is a new feline guest on the blog: our "cousin" Buttons, who was adopted a couple of months ago by my French friend Nathalie, along with her sister Bettle. These two have turned from shy ladies into beautiful, happy, playful cats, and also jumping/backflip champions!

They are not easy to photograph, as they get easily scared - unlike my monkey crew who won't budge unless you shake a box of dry food! Beetle is a black cat, which makes her especially complicated... so for now, you will have to settle with Buttons' photoshoot!

Never come between a cat and his grass...

Buttons likes to pose... a slightly melancholy air...

She has a really nice view from her balcony!

2010

2010-02-12T01:41:00.003+01:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I just realize it's been a couple of months since my last posts, even though I have a billion pictures to share... ahhh what can I say, I'm lazy... and the longer I indulge, the worse it gets!

But the kitties have been adamant that I should show the world how adorable, hilarious and annoying they can be... so I'm back :)

Let's get started with crappy quality pictures of unhappy cats. We spent a week in Texas for Christmas, and the kitties did NOT approve. Not one bit. They thought if they camped on our luggage then we wouldn't get to leave... of course that didn't work.

The Motherload

2009-12-15T22:51:00.004+01:00

Today Isis batted one of her mousies under the stove, and couldn't get it back. After much pitiful meowing and staring at me with big Disney eyes, she finally convinced me to go get something to get her mousie back.

Oh boy. Did I find a treasure!
After scooping a few times with the Da Bird wand, I retrieved no less than six toy mice, a sharpie marker, a few paperclips and packing peanuts, and enough hair to make a new kitten!

Now the mystery of the disappearing-toys-never-to-be-found-under-the-couch is solved:

Please vote for those rescues!

2009-12-01T22:46:00.005+01:00

Here in the United States, the big bank Chase is going to give away a lot of money to small charities, and they have set up a facebook application with which you can vote for your favorite charity, to try and help them get some much-needed $$$.

Of course, the kitties and I are supporting our two favorite animal rescues!
There is Kitten Rescue, which helps so many unwanted cats and kittens of Los Angeles find loving homes each year...

And the Mutt Scouts, a wonderful dog rescue based in Los Angeles. The Mutt Scouts take in even the broken and sick dogs who need extensive medical treatment... the dogs that have lost their faith in the human race and have to be nursed back to health and trust. The victims of human neglect and cruelty. These people REALLY make a huge difference in the life of so many dogs, please help them get a donation from Chase so they can help even more!

Here is the link, you can only vote once for each charity, but you have a total of 20 votes available, so if you have your own favorite charities, you can help them too :) unfortunately, I think this voting thing is available only on facebook, where you have to become a fan and set up their application (you can delete it when you're done).

Wicket says "pwetty pweeease?!"

Mutt Scouts:
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/1302594

Kitten Rescue:
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/1223343

Please spread the word, and thank you so much for helping!

Virginie and the furries

And links to the rescue groups' websites :
http://www.kittenrescue.org/
http://themuttscouts.wordpress.com/

HO HO HO!

2009-11-29T22:23:00.006+01:00

Today, I would like you to look straight in the eye of Happiness:

Yes, it finally happened... The cats have been spared all this time, but this year I couldn't take it any longer: I had to get them a Santa Paws hat and costume!

Oh , the joy in little furry hearts!

The cheerfulness! The holiday spirit!

Cas really are such naturally graceful animals...

Coming next, the costume!

Stuffing the Kitties!

2009-11-27T07:19:00.005+01:00

So today is the day where everyone is supposed to be thankful, and eat until they explode. The humans felt very grateful today at Casa Nini, but didn't do much eating, being far from their families and all that.

However, to compensate, we stuffed the cats silly! They get raw food a few times a week (should be more, if Mom wasn't in such a rush all the time... ahem), and one of their favorite meals EVER is game hen. You know, those tiny chickens that you buy whole and frozen at the store? Yeah, they LOVE it. Raw, with skin, bones and all. Yums.

Tonight for dinner they devoured a pretty big one, all by themselves, in one setting. All that was left was the back (too much bone) and the wings (they don't like those). Everything else was munched diligently by happy kitty teeth! And you would think that after such a meal they would want to pass out to digest... NOPES! They want to PLAY PLAY PLAY, and have been rocketbutting around the apartment for the past thirty minutes :D

Disclaimer: Do not, EVER, feed COOKED bones to your cats (or dogs)! Cooking makes bones really hard and splintery, and they break into shards that can be extremely dangerous for your pet - the risk of perforation of the stomach, oesophagus or intestines is very high.
Uncooked poultry or rabbit bones, on the other hand, are very soft and easy to chew for a cat used to eating raw. Mine only leave a few dry pieces of bone when they are done - the yummy cartilage is what they like best!

I present you... kitty-stuffing in pictures - true Turkey Day style!

Chewie always gets a drumstick, it's her favorite thing to eat. She LOVES bones, and will not come ask for seconds until her bone is all munched up and there's only a few splinters left. Tonight she took it to the other end of the kitchen, to make sure it was safe. You never know who might want to steal your chicken leg!

Mew is usually very quiet and waits silently while dinner is prepared, but she was so excited about the raw meat that she kept purring, chirping and meowing in my ear all the while I was cutting the bird up. She head bumped my hand a few times, which didn't really help me finish faster... she had seconds AND thirds tonight. Yummers!

Wicket got a drumstick too, and was purring to himself as he ate... there was NOTHING left on his plate after five minutes! He too got seconds and thirds, and tried to drag the carcass off the plate to get some more... he's got the Thanksgiving stuffing spirit down pat.

Isis is a little more dainty than the others... she likes to eat the ribs and the cartilage on the bird's chest. She picks it up delicately and then CHOMPCHOMPCHOMP... it's gone.

Note that all cats eat with their eyes closed, and with those contented expressions on their faces... it's so much fun to see them eat and purr and enjoy their meal so much.

I'm very thankful for many things this year, and particularly for my four furry friends. I'm thankful that they are in good health, always silly, always getting in trouble, always making me laugh, always cuddling with me when I'm all doom-and-gloom... Happy Thanksgiving to y'all! Hug your messy beasts for me :)

Weird and Wonderful

2009-11-23T09:31:00.007+01:00

Am I the only one to be amazed that flamingos make such beautiful models?

Their serpentine necks, stilt legs, gorgeous colors and gracious poses... And also their weird, slightly creepy eyes and beaks, and the stink, lord, the stink! Nothing gracious about it!

I do love taking pictures of them though.

Toe Fluff

2009-11-23T09:11:00.002+01:00

I wuvs it!

Back in the loop!

2009-11-23T08:54:00.003+01:00

We're back! It's been a long time, we know, but we've been so busy... what have we been up to, you may ask? Well... there's a lot to be done in this house.

Keeping an eye on the treat bag...

The Cat Who Stares at Spoons

Snoopervising from a safe place...

Trying out new boxes and checking them for comfort...

Keeping an eye on the birds...

Checking in on the plants...

What an exhausting job... but someone has to do it!

Kitten-less

2009-10-15T01:12:00.002+02:00

I dropped the babies off today... their next foster home will be Sheryl's, who works with Kitten Rescue. In the next few weeks they will get treated for fleas and worms, vaccinated, tested for FIV and FeLV, and then spayed/neutered when they get big enough.

And then, we pray they will find the best of home, a home where the humans will truly value the worth of a little feline soul. Or two. Two kittens are so much better than one!

We are going to miss them. I shed a few tears in the car today, after parting with them...
I have to get my carrier back from Sheryl though, what a convenient excuse to go check on them next week ;-p

Gotta go... hug your dog or cat for me today!

Last day with the troublemakers...

2009-10-13T23:44:00.004+02:00

After almost a week of daily heart-melting, today is our last day with the troublemakers... tomorrow they are going to be fostered and taken care of by Kitten Rescue, a wonderful rescue group here in L.A.

We are pretty sure by now that both kittens are boys... there is still a slight doubt about the little grey one, that should be solved tonight by another round of intimate scrutiny (met with indignant meeps). They will be two intense bundles of joy!

"Ehn? Me? I'm a what?!"

"I'm cute and innocent and I love to pose with a serious face... I'm no trouble at all"

They no longer run for cover when we open the bathroom door now, but instead stand there wide-eyed, waiting for whatever is going to come next. Food (most often), playtime (very often), tummy rubs (always!). With time they have gotten very playful and trusting, and they are truly adorable little monsters.

I really hope they will find the best of homes... together. They are so bonded. Don't forget, if you live in the Los Angeles area and want kittens, email me!! I am driving them to a rescue group tomorrow because my family is flying in from France on Saturday, and five people will then share the bathroom they are staying in... which makes it impossible to keep them. But I can still recommend people to Kitten Rescue if they would like to adopt them :)

"Wait a minute... we're going where?!!"

"I'm not so sure I like that idea... would anyone call and adopt us already?! Hmmm?"

I mean, seriously, how could anyone resist those mugs?!!

All warmed up

2009-10-11T04:41:00.005+02:00

So, I think we can safely say the kittens are all warmed up now... judge for yourself:

There's a lot of playing going on...

And some starin' too...

The kittens have spent a lot of time purring and playing today, and getting their tummies rubbed.

When I look at the first pictures I took of them, and the ones I took tonight - there is such a world of difference! It's amazing how fast those tiny creatures respond to love and care, and decide that bipeds aren't such bad companions after all.

They also learned really fast how to master the melt-in-your-boots pose *sigh*

Pounce!

2009-10-09T22:07:00.003+02:00

So... after getting a good, warm bath and being very good about it, the kittens got a bellyful of chicken baby food, licking it off our fingers... yum!

You can tell they feel a lot better already. Still hissy and spitty, but more out of principle than anything else... they are actually pretty friendly, and even purr when we rub their tummies :)

And of course, a full belly only calls for one thing... playtime!

In between wrestling bouts, mousie hunting, feather wand swatting, and a couple of human toe-chomps, time for an innocent pose:

"Qui? Moi?!"

These little guys are truly adorable, and warming up so fast. If you are looking for us, we will be melted with cuteness on the bathroom floor!

Babies

2009-10-08T20:48:00.002+02:00

The babies are filthy... really filthy. And really skinny too. They are probably covered in fleas, as I could feel their fur encrusted with dust and little grainy specks this morning.

Even though they are still very scared, I think I will have to bathe them today. It will make them more comfortable, and should get rid of most of the fleas. They are not going to like it, but really I have to do it before they get strong enough to fight it!

They are hissy and spitty, understandably terrified at the change a human bathroom represents as opposed to under a car, or the bushes - their natural environment so far. I hope they will warm up soon, at least they let me pet them, even though they don't look convinced.

Update with before/after bath pictures soon!

Street Cuteness

2009-10-08T09:48:00.003+02:00

So... Hubby and I have been feeding feral cats on our block for the past two months. We started with four kittens and their mama - the kittens seem to be about 4 months old, so we were just planning on feeding them every night, and trapping them soon to get everyone TNR'ed. (Trapped/Neutered/Returned to their original spot) They are way too skittish to be tamed, especially when L.A. is drowning in homeless cats and kittens, and they would not stand a chance of getting adopted (and I do NOT have room for more cats!!)

Well... long story short, last night as I put the food down, I see a tiny little scruffy thing coming out from under a car, plant his two paws in the plate, and start inhaling the canned food, growling all the while! Seems like mama cat hasn't been idle **sigh** we really need to get her fixed before she gets pregnant again.

Needless to say, it was out of the question for us to leave those babies to grow up on the street and become wild too... so we set out to catch them.
We managed to get two tonight, and I know there is a third, and possibly a fourth one still there. So hopefully we can get them tomorrow night.

Will keep you guys posted... in the meantime, here are the first pictures of the new (scared) kids on the block (or in the bathroom):

"What the heck is going on?!"

"I don't like you. I will hiss!" (and he did, but it was just sad and cute)

Scared little monsters... I hope they stuff their faces overnight, and are in better spirits in the morning!

Back on Track

2009-09-29T22:39:00.003+02:00

Wicket lets it all hang out... in a dignified way.

He also dreams of bee-snacks.

Isis, Queen of the House.

He was saved!

2009-08-08T18:42:00.002+02:00

The picture the Mutt Scouts took of that miserable white dog, giving up on life at a crowded, lonely shelter... this picture spread around the Internet like wildfire, shook people up, and finally allowed a network of people to come together and save this dog. Hurrah for the interwebs!!

Turns out he is a Dogo Argentino. He is extremely thin, deaf, covered in scars, sick, with a mass on his back, and lots of healing to do... but a sweet boy with a big smile, who is now given a second chance at life. A chance to be happy with humans who love him. His name is Nico.

Look here for more photos and updates:

http://www.whisperkisses.com/activities/2009/nico09.htm

The Mutt Scouts can still use your help for the other ten+ dogs they took home... so don't hesitate to contact them if you have time/money/items to donate :)

Let's help make more happy endings!

Another plea for help...

2009-07-31T23:37:00.003+02:00

I'm not sure how many people look up this blog... probably not many. And among you, probably not many live in California, or even in the U.S. And among those who live in California, how many want a dog? Yeah... virtually no one.

Still, as useless as it might seem, I want to repost this plea for help from the Mutt Scouts, an awesome rescue group based in L.A. that has saved so many canine lives over the years, and keep going strong despite limited funds. They do more than anyone else I know, often get in way over their heads, trying to mend the traces left by human cruelty, neglect, abuse, and total lack of compassion. More than anything else, they need foster homes - people willing to foster a dog for a week, a month... until a good permanent home is found. Of course money is essential too, to help cover vet bills, food etc. But even little things like blankets, towels, toys, food donations can make a huge difference and contribute to the well-being and rehabilitation of those dogs.

Now I know, I know, there are millions of human beings dying every year at the hands of the same evils. I know, you work hard to get your money. I know, there are "worst" things to worry about in the world than homeless dogs. I apologize in advance for those of you who will be rubbed the wrong way... but knowing they are "just" animals doesn't make me feel less sad, angry and frustrated by their situation. And I want to help.

So... if anyone wants to help too, here is where to start:

http://themuttscouts.wordpress.com/

All photos reposted from the Mutt Scouts' website.

Poseuse

2009-07-24T22:42:00.002+02:00

Isis must have been a surly actress or model in a former life...

There's something about that studied pose...

The affected disinterest...

Or maybe she was a dictator.

The Smile of Wisdom

2009-07-23T18:37:00.000+02:00

Zuma Beach and Highway 23

2009-07-20T04:34:00.004+02:00

Yesterday we went to Zuma Beach, past Malibu, to get some fresh air with two birthday pals...

Don't let the gorgeous blue-green water fool you... it's COLD! The pelicans don't seem to mind though (spot the one in the background? To watch them dive is impressive)

Quite a few birds pooping at random on unsuspecting humans...

This guy was showing off capoeira moves... makes for cool pictures.

Your typical sunset picture... with pudgy dolphins added.

View on the way back from Highway 23 - wish I could move into one of those isolated houses.

Hard to capture the hilltops from the car...

The Happy Company : birthday girl, birthday boy, hubby...

And meh!

Buddha Statue

2009-07-17T23:28:00.001+02:00

Taken at the Hsi Lai Temple.

Mew!

2009-07-17T23:24:00.001+02:00

That's a pretty typical Mew face... "when exactly are you going to start wiggling that feather again?"

Le Cat-ma... or Lacat

2009-07-17T23:10:00.003+02:00

Non non, il ne s'agit pas d'un retour des Mondes Engloutis... juste que Chewie a parfois quelques difficultés à trouver son identité d'ado... chat ou lama? Gargouille peut-être? En tous cas elle garde très bien le placard!

PLEASE HELP - SWEET DOGGIE NEEDS HOME!

2009-06-06T23:31:00.004+02:00

Ever since I adopted my cats and ran into their beautiful ads on Craigslist, I have admired, and tried to support The Mutt Scouts, a local Los Angeles based rescue group. These guys always help the underdog - literally! They rescue the grey muzzles, the sick, maimed, desperate ones... from death-row in shelters, or from the streets, wherever they are in need.

They nurse those love-starved dogs back to health and find them wonderful, loving homes. And when the long-desired home doesn't come, they keep those rescues as part of their family...

Recently, they rescued this gorgeous dog off the streets of L.A... he was filthy, starved, and they found out he had been wandering alone with four broken toes :(

They are running out of room now, and they really, really need a foster home for this sweet dog... or even better, a permanent loving family! So if you know anyone who might be interested in helping out, or looking for their canine best friend... feel free to repost and forward!

Here is the link to the original posting:

http://themuttscouts.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/major-tom/

Look at this adorable face! If only I had a garden or even a bigger appartment, he would come home with ME within the next hour... *sighhhh*

Zoo Series - Gros Nounours!

2009-06-03T07:50:00.006+02:00

Bisou bisou, gentil bisounours... ou pas!

Two-toned, amazingly furry brown bear, with the cutest furrows on his forehead :)

Zoo Series - Les Rominets

2009-06-03T07:40:00.003+02:00

Sleepies... jaguar and serval.

Technically not a big cat, the fossa still has VERY impressive muscles and claws!

Crouching tiger...

Errr... walking tiger :p

More big cats whenever I go back... Didn't take any pictures of the snow leopard because the poor thing looks so hot, so disheveled and so, so depressed. Kept pacing back and forth with a forlorn look on his gorgeous face :'(

The Zoo Series - Birds

2009-06-02T20:41:00.003+02:00

Brown pelicans

Flamingos... pretty from a distance, creepy up close!

Hungry ostrich

Afternoon in Palos Verdes

2009-05-26T05:29:00.005+02:00

Don't say you haven't been warned!

Pieds panés autorisés :)

Lots of pelicans hovering. Hard to snap a good pic though!

This crow kept flying around, waiting for me to get a decent shot.

Weird and beautiful rock flowers.

More gorgeous flowers.

Pretty sea urchin!

Watchoo lookin' at?

2009-05-17T03:54:00.003+02:00

This fish was really funny. He didn't seem too happy to have his picture taken.

Gradually getting more irritated...

Tell me, M'am, what exactly are you looking at?!

Marine Life Pictures

2009-05-17T03:46:00.003+02:00

Seems to be my specialty to take hundreds of pictures when I go somewhere, and then proceed to forget all about them for the next six months or so... So here are a few of my favorite pictures from my last trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA (Nov. '08).

A patchwork of sea urchins, starfish and other pretty creatures.

One of the sea lions. Sad to see them in captivity, but at least they are very well taken care of.

Dancing medusas.

Sea urchins and bubbles.

Starfish wants out!

Chocolate Cat

2009-05-17T00:18:00.006+02:00

So Miss Chewie does look black, doesn't she? Which is why I always have such a hard time taking good pictures of her... it takes a miracle for retarded me to maneuver the light well enough to get a decently exposed photo:

Every now and then she gives in and agrees to pose to please the silly human. ("Let's look thoughtful and melancholy, and maybe I will get a treat out of it!")

( All I can see is her Chewbacca lips)

When she poses in the sun, however, my black kitty turns into...

Chocolate Cat!

Her fur is so many different colors... deep chocolate brown, black in places still, smoky grey on her belly and armpits, white patches on her chest and tummy... Simplicity is for suckers ;)

The lady's latest favorite toy:

And look at this chocolate toe-fluff!

Flower Power

2009-05-14T21:33:00.003+02:00

Mew's not sure about being a Flower Kitty...

Isis is pretty sure everyone will make fun of her when they see this.

Chewie thinks of it as camouflage while spying on the birds.

Wicket has eluded the Flower Power so far... but not for long, I promise!!

Le philosophe

2009-05-04T23:21:00.005+02:00

Je résiste à l'envie d'assortir cette photo de calembours et jeux de mots divers, variés, et plus ou moins vaseux... mais quand même, une tête de chat philosophant, décapitée, sur la moquette... J'aime bien :)

Et puis si vous voulez y aller quand même de votre petit jeu de mots malin, n'hésitez pas, je suis amateur!!

PS: une tête peut-elle être décapitée? Ou simplement séparée de son hôte?

Pretty in Pink

2009-05-04T01:23:00.002+02:00

Almost forgot to put up Her Ladyship's romantic portrait... Soeur Anne, ne vois-tu rien venir?

Queen Isis

2009-05-04T01:14:00.004+02:00

You know, it's hard to be the Queen... constantly sought after, disturbed, pursued... even in your own castle.

Having to be pretty even when you are sleepy...

Where can a lady hide to have some privacy???

Poor Isis... life is ruthless.

Cannibal Cat

2009-04-22T08:00:00.002+02:00

Where is Chewie's face?! AHHHHHH IT'S BEEN EATEN AWAY!

Mew is such a hungry belly. Time for seconds!

Snoozin'

2009-04-22T07:51:00.001+02:00

We're back! After much craziness in the early part of 2009, much sadness, much happiness, a new apartment and more, I lost touch of the interwebs, but now I will try to post photos regularly again :)

The kitties are loving the new place, even though lately they have been mostly schnoozin' away during the hot days...

Hmmm...

2009-01-26T04:28:00.001+01:00

Assia wonders what kind of trouble she wants to get into next...

Wicket the Adventurer

2009-01-26T04:18:00.006+01:00

Wicket-Butt has taken to pestering us every time we go out to do laundry in the basement... so now we just take him with us and let him hang out in the tiny space on the side of our building for a few minutes every time we do laundry.

And he thinks he is the Bad Kid of the Neighbordhood:

He will also pose, if you ask nicely:

Cute little brat!

Crazy Catnip Dance

2009-01-26T04:17:00.002+01:00

Caaaaaatnip!

What?!

2009-01-26T04:07:00.006+01:00

Mew doesn't know what you are looking at. Not at all.

Erfff!

Warrior

2009-01-26T04:03:00.003+01:00

Finally back, after months of craziness at work and laziness at home...

This kitty is a warrior, living mainly outside because his irresponsible owners won't have him inside. Neighbors feed him and pet him, but he has developed a super thick coat from being outside in the cold all the time - and nights are COLD in Normandy - poor thing.

He is the boss on the block.

Cat in a Bag

2008-10-12T21:51:00.002+02:00

Tea Time

2008-10-12T21:49:00.000+02:00

Separated at birth?

2008-09-30T08:28:00.002+02:00

I know, I know, it's a little far-fetched... but the association popped up immediately in my head. Must be the "proud-parent-syndrom", hehehe ;p

Foggy

2008-09-17T03:20:00.001+02:00

I had forgotten about this photo of Santa Monica beach taken back in May, from the wheel on the Pier... I love the foggy atmosphere and dull colors.

Another cute puppeh

2008-09-06T22:06:00.006+02:00

I've been taking pictures of dogs ready for adoption to help a local rescue group called Happy Ending Rescue. They fly dogs from dog farms (where they are raised for their meat) and shelters in South Korea, and bring them to California to find them good homes.

They happened to have the cutest, sweetest puppy in store this morning, so I thought I would show her off - let me introduce Creamy:

Creamy is looking for a good home to vent her puppy energy... one with another dog to pester would be perfect, but hey, she will study all reasonable offers :)

A shout-out to www.happyendingrescue.org!

The Cutest Dog in the Whole Wide World

2008-09-01T07:05:00.008+02:00

I found out about this adorable creature completely by chance on Cute Overload the other day, and have been compulsively checking her happy owner's Flickr page ever since... I can truly say this is the snuggliest, cutest, most snorgleable pup I have ever seen.

How can you resist that fox-meets-puppy face? You can't, it's as simple as that. Bobisbob, her owner, is an awesome photographer too - I never get tired of his landscape and animal shots.

ME TOO WANT WANT WANT A FOX PUPPY! NOOOOOOW!

Now if you want to melt to goo, go check out Bobisbob's page http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobisbob

Pffrrrrrrrrrrt!

King of the Puppets

2008-09-01T00:23:00.001+02:00

King Wicket and his loyal subjects.

Little Devil

2008-08-31T23:47:00.003+02:00

Now, who chewed a hole through the bag of litter last night, and spilled it all over the place?
Who broke into the closet and stole the Da Bird toy, to dump it by the bed?
Who brings me a pillow every morning as a breakfast offering?
Who chewed through the bag of treats and scarfed them all up?

Not Chewie. Of course not. How could she?

Evening in the 'hood

2008-08-31T01:12:00.002+02:00

K-town isn't all that bad when you look up instead of down...

California Love...

2008-08-31T01:05:00.002+02:00

Spéciale dédicace Lucy in Paris :)

The Zombies are taking over!

2008-08-03T02:39:00.003+02:00

I feed them only the best, purest radioactive food.
Can you tell?

Dare I...

2008-08-02T05:29:00.004+02:00

... to post this impossibly long, but also impossibly uplifting text, that a dear friend just forwarded me?

Answer is: yes.
Those who, put off by the length, decide to ignore this, will miss out on a good dose of stark optimism and sound advice.
Those who feel brave enough to read on... let me know what you think!

www.tomkenyon.com

By Hathors, July 20, 2008 - Paros Island, Greece

We wish to discuss several aspects of human psychological response to the planetary and inter dimensional changes that are now taking place. Sensitive individuals are the most prone to these types of responses, yet they are also showing up for those who are spiritually unaware and primarily focused upon material reality.

What we are describing is a global sense of hopelessness, bordering on despair for some individuals; a sense that there is nothing that one can do to change the course of events. For some this leads to a type of depression, a lack of motivation; and that which gave life meaning, purpose and joy, now seems empty.
For others it is a sense of being extremely disconnected from their lives, as if they are watching a movie. They go through the motions of living a life, but their hearts are not in it. For others who are consciously connected to the web of life, the loss of species, the destruction of the eco-system is especially difficult to contend with. For those who are focused primarily upon their material reality, the 3-D life they live,these times are increasingly anxiety provoking for the financial concerns that we predicted some time ago are now upon you, and they will only worsen.
In addition, the evolutionary and catalytic waves from deep space that we have mentioned before continue to escalate. Those who attempt to control you through economics, politics and religion are finding it increasingly difficult, yet they are strengthening their efforts, and some individuals aware of these tensions feel caught in the middle.

For, indeed, from the standpoint of time and space, you are caught in the middle. You are caught in the middle of the tensions between evolution and devolution, spiritually speaking. You are at the center-point of time and space. This is an energetically intense place to be and from the standpoint of the soul, or the spark of consciousness that you are — your inter dimensional reality, or however you wish to describe this to yourself — these are potent, powerful times.

From our standpoint there is nothing that an individual can do to prevent the dissolution of that which needs to be dissolved. The planetary changes are upon you. If you are able to take collective and individual action, some of the more intense forms of destructive change can be mitigated or lessened. But some of them cannot be stopped, or to be more accurate, we would say that it is improbable.

Your opportunity as a soul — as a spiritual being living a human life — is to navigate through these changes in ways that strengthen you and lift you upward, even as those around you seem to spiral into negativity, despair and acting out of their self-destructiveness. As you look to the human collective and see the self destructiveness, the stubbornness to change, the tendency to stupidity, look also to yourself for these seeds are within you as well.

We have given previously our views of what your near future will unfold, and we shall not describe them again. You can look to the archives if you are interested. What we feel most important to convey at this time is how you must find the spiritual courage to rise up, as many around you seem to be falling. And by falling we mean specifically moving into lower states of spiritual quality.

How do you navigate your life through a sea that is filled with fear, hostility, paranoia, constraint, lies, and manipulation?

The journey of an Initiate, which is the path of living upward in consciousness, regardless of the spiritual lineage or ways of describing it, is quite simply the passage through the eye of a needle, or the eye of the storm.

Let us use the metaphor of hurricanes or cyclones — for they shall be increasing in number and intensity. If you are at the edge of the storm you are exposed to the
destructive power of the wind and water. But if you are in the eye of the storm, it is, paradoxically, calm. You can see the edge of the storm in a circle at the far horizon, but in the center, all is still and calm.

This center point of the storm is what you must find in yourself, from our perspective. This is the path of the Initiate, the spiritual master. There is no one who can teach you this. There is no one who can save you from the storms that
are upon you, and by this we mean both the external storms of your weather, your politics and your economics, as well as earth changes, but we also mean the internal storms, your psychological and emotional conflicts, as you live in the midst of a world that is dissolving into a new world that has not yet become. There is little solid ground here and such states of recognition are anxiety provoking for most humans.

Most of you have not learned how to dance with chaos in a gracious manner, but don't be concerned about this. For soon you shall have many dance lessons and opportunities to be at peace with the partner of chaos, the swirling uncertainty.

In these times it will be easier to surrender to the downward spiral than live upward. And yet, living upward in consciousness is why you are here in this time — from our perspective.

There is a battle taking place on earth for your very spirit, your heart and mind. We have talked before about the nature of this manipulation and so we need not discuss it here. Again, we refer you to the archives if you are so interested. The
essential point we wish to make here is that this is a time to rise upward in yourself, to take the high spiritual ground, to find in yourself the spiritual courage to not succumb to the downward spiral, to find a way to live upward in
yourself even in the midst of increasing chaos, difficulties and seeming disasters.

We say seeming disasters because interdimensionally, the events that take place in your life, such as catastrophes, storms, famine, loss of jobs, and so on, are multi-dimensional in nature. Certainly from the localized space of your being that is locked into time and space, your embodied self, these events are very difficult to deal with, and are catastrophes of varying degrees. But from the standpoint of your interdimensional self — your soul, the spark of consciousness, however you
wish to describe it — these events are opportunities for immense growth and acceleration of spiritual evolution.

It is not the situation that you find yourself in that binds you, it is how you view it that imprisons or frees you.

And so in whatever situations you may find yourself in the coming years, we say to you there are many doorways to freedom in consciousness. Some of these doorways will involve interacting with those around you in new ways — stepping out of the box of perception you have been sold.

Some of these doorways will be finding a common ground with those whom you might call your enemies. Some of these doors are personal and are simply the space of a new relationship between you and your interdimensional realities. Some of these doors will lead you into interaction with the problems of this earth, of humanity, discovering new ways to solve problems that are outside the constraints of your current thinking, and some of these doors will lead you beyond earth, into other
spiritual realities. The doors you choose lead you into new destinies.

If you continue to use the doors that have been given to you by
your culture through their lies and manipulation, you will participate in a vast catastrophe. But we wish you to understand clearly a phenomenon of creation. The doors you open will lead you to a destiny that is unique, even if many around you enter through other doorways. In other words, do not buy into the mass hypnosis of what door you should open and enter through.

What we mean by the door of mass hypnosis is that those who wish to control you through economics, politics and religion, do so through subtle and not so subtle suggestion. It is not for us to say to you which doors you should open, for that is your task as a spiritual master, but what we can say to you is the obvious.

Each door leads to a unique destination, or destiny, and you can choose doors that lead you into joy and happiness, even as others are choosing doors that lead them to despair and sadness. Again, it is not the situation that binds you; it is your perception of it.

Let us get a little more concrete here. Let us say that you have lost your job, the source of your income. This is a very challenging and anxiety-provoking situation. Panic is one of the doors that are available to you. Blame is another door that is
always available. Curiosity as to what might open next is also a door that is available to you. If you choose the door of curiosity, you open yourself to new possibilities. You will then have not shut your consciousness down into the lower vibrations of panic, anger and blame. They may surface from time to time, but if you keep your focus upon curiosity regarding what chaos will bring you next, you can discover new solutions to your problems in a much quicker way.

There is a tendency for human consciousness to repeat old patterns; this is based upon expectation, which is a form of memory rooted in the illusion of time, as you perceive it. It is possible to cut through your perception of time and accelerate to solutions to problems faster than would normally take place, but this is done through the door of consciousness that only you can open. It is done through both personal intent and action.

We realize that there are many levels of understanding on the part of those who read these words. The challenge for us is to communicate something that will be practical for all of those reading this. Some of you already know exactly what we are speaking to, and know that there are doors within you that you can open that will lead you to higher destinies, fast resolutions to problems without getting bogged down like many of those around you. Some of you think and feel that you do not have the right for happiness or freedom of mind and heart, while others are suffering and imprisoned. But we say to you that the greater service you can render to your follow humanity, is to free yourself from the imprisonment of limited consciousness, for then you can interact with others in new ways, and through those interactions new doors can reveal themselves.

And so when you find yourself disheartened, disillusioned, disconnected, and with no desire for your life, realize that you have simply wandered through one of the doors of your own consciousness, and that there are forces who celebrate your apathy, for then you are more easily controlled. In these moments of recognition that you are in a lower vibratory expression of your potential, seize the moment, step out of that doorway into another.

Now, the difficulties that some of you may be experiencing may seemingly preclude any choice in your outer reality, but we say to you that the power of choice resides within you, regardless of the conditions you find yourself in. In the most
difficult moments, when all doors seem closed to you, when there are no options seemingly available, we have a simple suggestion. It may sound trite and too simple, but it is simply a leverage point. For all that is required to change a situation is a small movement in consciousness, and then as you build upon this movement, vast powers within you are released. But until you have movement within you, of some kind, nothing can change.

And so this is our suggestion for how to create a small movement within you when everything else has failed. Even in the midst of personal torment, external difficulties, whatever presents itself to you as the difficulty, find something to
appreciate.

It might be as simple as that you can breathe, or if your breath is constrained, when you can take a breath, you appreciate the breath. Or it could be appreciating a color in the sky or something that made you laugh. What is important here is that
when all options are closed, if you find something to feel appreciation for, no matter how small, you have created a small movement in consciousness, and with that movement great things can unfold.

We sense that some of you will ride through these storms that are upon you, the winds of change, more gracefully than others. But even you, who consider yourselves to be spiritually evolved, may be challenged from time to time as the old world dissolves into something new. And we sense that some of you will be caught in the grips of the chaotic times, and it is our hope that you will recall this simple suggestion, and remember to find something to appreciate, and with that movement in
consciousness you will find new doors to open.

We hold in our hearts, our minds, a vision of great new realities for you and your human family. May it be so. May you make it so.

- If that's not inspiring, then I don't know what is ;)

Inspiration...

2008-07-16T05:33:00.008+02:00

For whomever feels overwhelmed, oppressed, depressed, tiny, stuck in a situation too big and too nasty for us small specks of dust... there is inspiration to be found.

This is a very uplifting and thought-provoking blog, with contributions from a bunch of very talented authors. I highly recommend it to treat acute cases of over-pessimism ;)

An extract to get started...

Peek-a-boo

2008-07-13T22:23:00.001+02:00

The Wicketeer

2008-07-13T22:05:00.001+02:00

The cutest nose of felinedom...

Attempts in black and white

2008-06-23T05:39:00.006+02:00

Spent ten minutes lying down on the floor of my balcony bugging Mew and Chewie today... My neighbors must think I've finally lost it completely!

I'm pleased with the results, though :)

Yawning Central (i.e. You Boring Camera-Wielding Human)

I'm with you, girl!

2008-06-23T05:33:00.003+02:00

This what Chewie thinks "helping your human focus on work" means... How am I supposed to refrain both from fondling that paw, and from grabbing my camera every two minutes to try and capture the cuteness?! Eh?!

Needless to say the translation didn't go too fast, that day :p

Soon

2008-06-19T08:19:00.003+02:00

Soon... I'll get my life back. Hopefully.
For now, all my free time is being consumed by my brain-hungry translation, and trying to deal with crazy California heat. Stupid state, I WANT RAIN! RAIN! RAIN! NOW!

No kitty pictures today. I have a few that might turn out neat, but I'm too pooped to put them on right now... so tomorrow or over the weekend.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying themselves.
Spéciale dédicace Ben: j'attends toujours ton démarrage de blog, de pied ferme!!

>..<

Don't ask me...

2008-06-11T04:35:00.004+02:00

... why cats are such weird animals.

Look at Mew. She looks perfectly normal, just yawning at the perspective of a very long day made of naps and fly-chasing and staring down other cats from the balcony. So normal.

But can a cat really be normal?

Nope.

Normal things cats do that humans find odd... the start of a very long series!!

Odd Behavior #1 : Biting your toenails.

With gusto. Repeatedly. Til human begins to feel worried and checks paws, expecting to find mangled stumps instead of perfectly normal toes.

Odd Behavior #2 : Chewing on windows.

Preferably freshly painted.

Vigorous and systematic shooing away was ignored, as were my numerous lectures on the toxicity of cheap paint used by cheap owner to resfresh this particular window. Luckily, the feline rebel consented to compromise and just rub against the paint without eating it. Phew.

To be continued... very soon!
Feel free to contribute ;)

Non-cooperative cats

2008-06-01T03:06:00.007+02:00

Chewie and Wicket have decided that passive resistance was the best weapon against their camera-wielding human... They now officially fall asleep as soon as they see the dreaded Nikon, and totally refuse to cooperate. From kitty to heap of soft, purring fur...

It's already hard to get good shots of a black cat in a dark apartment... Chewie is not making it any easier!!

- Hmmmm? Did you just say sum'fin?

Just a teaser...

2008-05-25T20:55:00.003+02:00

Haven't had much time to play with the camera lately... busy translating Grand Guignol plays into English... about thirty more to go! It's fun but very demanding...

So here's a picture of King Wicket of the Meatloaf, showing off his mane, and his ear-tufts.
This cat is the softest, purriest, and also heaviest living pillow we ever had :)

A handshake of carbon monoxide

2008-05-17T03:55:00.004+02:00

Been listening to oldies over the past few days, and it struck me that Let Down and No Surprises really are some of the saddest, most depressing songs Radiohead ever wrote... They still wring my insides every time I hear them. And I've been listening to them again and again and again lately. Ca fait du bien là où ça fait mal, comme un Synthol musical.

For those who have been living under a rock for a long time and would not know about these songs, here is a chance to catch up ;)

Let Down

Transport, motorways and tramlines,
Starting and then stopping,
Taking off and landing,
The emptiest of feelings,
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles,
And when it comes it's so, so, disappointing.

Let down and hanging around,
Crushed like a bug in the ground.
Let down and hanging around.

Shell smashed, juices flowing, wings twitch, legs are going,
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel.
One day, I'm gonna grow wings, a chemical reaction,
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and let down and hanging around,
Crushed like a bug in the ground.
Let down and hanging around.
Let down, let down, let down.

You know, you know where you are with,
You know where you are with,
Floor collapsing, falling, bouncing back and one day,
I'm gonna grow wings, a chemical reaction,
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and let down and hanging around,
Crushed like a bug in the ground.
Let down and hanging around.

No Surprises

A heart that's full up like a landfill,
A job that slowly kills you,
Bruises that won't heal.

You look so tired-unhappy,
Bring down the government,
They don't, they don't speak for us.

I'll take a quiet life,
A handshake of carbon monoxide,
With no alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises,
Silent silence.

This is my final fit,
My final bellyache,
With no alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises please.

Such a pretty house and such a pretty garden.
No alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises,
No alarms and no surprises please.

You guessed it, misery LOVES company...

Kitty cats - part I

2008-05-15T05:53:00.005+02:00

So I'm back and still adjusting... feeling a little homesick, especially missing my darling little Assia... I apologize to all my dear friends back home whom I have left without any news at all. I just can't find it in me right now to communicate, just like I could not say goobye... living in denial, I know :/

On the bright side, the Fantastischen Vier have been very friendly ever since I came back, and are always happy to provide comic and purring relief whenever I'm home with them. So here goes for a few pics of the terror sisters:

Mew hears dead people...

Nomming the catnip mousie (cause for picture number one?!)

Entertaining Isis...

If cats had a myspace page...

Assia

2008-04-17T18:08:00.001+02:00

Voilà ce qui explique la raréfaction du temps passé dans la communauté virtuelle... je papouille, et promis la semaine prochaine je reviens un peu!

New camera

2008-04-05T06:46:00.004+02:00

I finally received my new camera, a Nikon D40 and its basic 18-55mm lens... I haven't had much time to play with it yet, but I already love the couple of test shots I took of Isis and Mew.

Can't wait to try it out more :)

Yummy yummy in your tummy (not mine!)

2008-03-25T17:34:00.001+01:00

I was reminded of this wonderful video on a French forum, and now I feel obligated to post it... for all the junk food fans (if there are any left):

Expérience McDonalds
by PeteRock

MIAM!

Iron and Wine

2008-03-25T05:48:00.006+01:00

Just thought I would mention one of my favorite artists, for once: Sam Beam, the man behind Iron and Wine. I have been listening to his stuff so much lately, and it's so beautiful, it feels unfair not to share with those of you who don't know about him yet! ;)

Sam Beam is a true gentle soul, a whisper in your ear; a soft, mellow voice and a gorgeous acoustic guitar. Words of hope and melancholy, of the beauty of simple things. So uplifting, yet so poignant. You finish an album with the thought "wow, we need more people like him"...

He has a new album out, called The Shepherd Dog, but I wanted to post the lyrics to one of my favorite songs of his, from the album Our Endless Numbered Days.

- Passing Afternoon -

There are times that walk from you like some passing afternoon
Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon
And she chose a yard to burn but the ground remembers her
Wooden spoons, her children stir her Bougainvillea blooms

There are things that drift away like our endless, numbered days
Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made
And she's chosen to believe in the hymns her mother sings
Sunday pulls its children from their piles of fallen leaves

There are sailing ships that pass all our bodies in the grass
Springtime calls her children until she lets them go at last
And she's chosen where to be, though she's lost her wedding ring
Somewhere near her misplaced jar of Bougainvillea seeds

There are things we can't recall,
Blind as night that finds us all,
Winter tucks her children in, her fragile china dolls
But my hands remember hers, rolling around the shaded ferns
Naked arms, her secrets still like songs I'd never learned

There are names across the sea, only now I do believe
Sometimes, with the window closed, she'll sit and think of me
But she'll mend his tattered clothes and they'll kiss as if they know
A baby sleeps in all our bones, so scared to be alone...

- Iron and Wine -

http://www.ironandwine.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ironandwine

Go check him out! Lots of live music available for download!

(photo from the wonderful lyrics website www.alwaysontherun.net)

A chair and a paperbag handle...

2008-03-23T07:22:00.003+01:00

Illuminated

2008-03-16T17:39:00.000+01:00

Scottish Wildcats

2008-03-12T07:41:00.001+01:00

A fascinating species, on the verge of extinction... The website is very instructive, and the cats truly gorgeous and awe-some.

Chomp chomp chomp

2008-03-09T07:47:00.001+01:00

I wish I could make longer videos with my crappy little camera... I could have had one instead of those two.

Anyhow... whoever said cats should eat kibble?!

Cadeau de Noyel

2008-02-17T18:16:00.005+01:00

Magnifique cadeau de ma Môman pour Noyel, fraîchement arrivé de ma Normandie natale... j'aime!!!

J'ai dû entendre cette phrase au moins 100 milliards de fois au cours des dernières 28 années ;)

Allez donc visiter ce site somme toute bien sympathique... une initiative rigolote d'une bande de Normands: http://www.heula.fr/

The Holidays are over...

2008-01-04T05:44:00.001+01:00

Chewie finds it very hard to be back to work.

Poor thing...

*sigh*

Doggie update!

2007-12-31T23:23:00.001+01:00

I have great news coming from the Bill Foundation who helped us rescuing Samantha and her puppies: Dundee and Darius have been adopted together a couple of weeks ago, by the veterinarian who gave them their check-up at the animal hospital - so they get to stay together, and get the best medical care ever :) No photos for now, but I hope to get some after the holidays...

Samantha thrived in her foster home, and rapidly turned into the gorgeous dog she was meant to be... Look at that smile, that beautiful fur and that confident expression! It is such a joy to see her so happy, with the love and care she deserves.

She recently got adopted by a very nice person, who is looking to adopt a second dog to give her a buddy. It doesn't get much better than this does it?

Sawyer and Mathilda are still living a happy, carefree life in their wonderful foster home... Sawyer's adoption is pending, he may well have found his perfect, forever home! Mathilda is the only one left, so if any of you need an adorable puppy to love and spoil...

How could you possibly resist those chubby faces?

www.billfoundation.org

Pacific Ocean

2007-12-28T22:55:00.001+01:00

L.A. by night

2007-12-24T01:32:00.000+01:00

Hollywood

2007-12-24T00:42:00.000+01:00

Hollywood, always classy and in good taste...

The Wicked Witch Musical:

Saved!

2007-12-09T07:37:00.000+01:00

Samantha and her four puppies were locked away in a tiny, dirty kennel their whole - short - lives... on bare wood, with not even a blanket to cuddle on. Water and food? Once a day! Walks? Never! The Korean family who kept them (and let the dog breed with her own brother) obviously did not have much interest in them.

It was quite a heartwrenching sight...

Luckily, it did not take much to convince their "owners" to give them up, and we found a wonderful rescue group to foster the whole family. Those babies are going to be BIG, so it had to be someone with plenty of space. As it is, the family will be fostered in a nice property in Beverly Hills... from rags to riches ;)

Darius

Dundee the Fearless

Mathilda Sawyer

I am hoping to receive an update about them and maybe some pics, early next week... I will post everything here. It will be fun to see how the pups turn out!

More kitty pictures

2007-12-09T07:31:00.001+01:00

Boy, do they love their cat tree...

A walk in the park

2007-12-03T05:18:00.000+01:00

I never know whether I should post in French or English. I'm not sure many people from home actually check this out, and the ones who do should understand the English, so... English it will be!

Went for a walk with Johan and the two dogs in Elysian Park today... the golden light of the late afternoon was simply gorgeous. Even my shitty little digital managed to capture that beauty decently! It felt great to exercize a little, play with the dogs, and forget about the poor locked up, neglected Mama dog and her pups that we saw earlier (will post about that later, for now I'm just too depressed about it, and busy trying to find a way out of this situation).

Pepper would not sit still for the camera... silly girl!

Happy Olivia...

Burp

2007-12-01T07:43:00.001+01:00

Chac-plastique

2007-12-01T07:40:00.001+01:00

Wick-eeeeeeeeeet!

2007-11-13T20:59:00.001+01:00

Photoshoot with a flirt...

Any Given Saturday Night

2007-11-10T07:14:00.000+01:00

Samedi dernier, sur une de mes idées complètement saugrenues, Jason et moi sommes allés voir un match des Trojans, équipe de l'université de Californie du Sud. Tout est parti d'un "Oh tiens j'aimerais bien voir au moins un match de football américain, histoire de ne pas mourir idiote!"... pas de problème, on achète des billets et nous voilà partis.

Alors pour le coup c'est sur je ne mourrai pas idiote (encore que) mais par contre j'ai bien failli mourir d'ennui! Oubliez le papier glacé, les clichés de films américains pour ados, Oliver Stone... le foot US c'est 3h de torture, de dix mètres parcourus et 10 secondes de jeu entrecoupés de diverses pauses et gesticulations énigmatiques pour le profane, une musique kitsch et tonitruante qui te fait te demander si oui ou non c'est encore la pause, bref, on s'enquiquine ferme - sauf Chéri, qui lui est habitué et trouve tout ça normal.

Pffff! On voit bien qu'il n'a jamais regardé la coupe du Monde de foot (soccer ici, peuvent rien faire comme tout le monde) avec la France en finale! Eh oui le foot, ma hantise éternelle, en paraîtrait presque passionnant. C'est dire!

Enfin bon j'ai quand même bien rigolé, méchante commère que je suis, à médire de tous mes petits camarades en transe à chaque mètre parcouru par un joueur sans tomber, s'empiffrant de hot-dogs, de pop corn noyé de beurre vendu au seau, de nachos avec fromage Play-Doh orange fluo, le tout bien arrosé de soda et de Gatorade... eh oui les clichés ont la vie dure :)

J'aurais même vu des cheerleaders et des majorettes, se dandiner et sautiller bêtement alors que personne ne les regarde en vrai... et aussi pris plein de photos pas belles, eh oui mon petit Olympus commence à se fatiguer, vivement le reflex numérique, premier projet à accomplir dès que j'aurais trouvé un travail et reçu des sious!!

Je partage quand même, parce que bon, ce n'est pas comme si le sujet allait pâtir de la qualité des photos ;)

RoBisous à tous!

Je vous ai gardé le meilleur pour la fin: tronches de cake!

PS: Vous remarquerez (ou pas) que j'ai enfin localisé le clavier français dans mes options... ça fait du bien de pouvoir remettre des accents!

2007-11-02T02:01:00.000+01:00

La Smala

2007-10-29T06:44:00.000+01:00

Quatre p'tits chats, quatre p'tits chats, quatre p'tits chats-chats-chats...

Que la vie est dure...

Queen Isis

Mew (aka the Mewsance)

Wicket (Puppy-Boy)

Miss Chewie

__________________________________________

Obi the Monkey... Gone over the Rainbow Bridge, and sorely missed :*(

Cocotte de Paques

2007-10-25T18:22:00.000+02:00

Un peu en avance (ou en retard) cette annee, la Cocotte de Paques...

Roar!

2007-10-23T02:23:00.000+02:00

Pour mon niniversaire, j'ai eu droit a une expedition a Shambala, refuge pour grands felins rescapes de l'industrie du film, d'eleveurs illegaux, ou de proprietaires peu scrupuleux et moyennement malins, qui a un moment ont pense qu'un lionceau ou un bebe tigre feraient de splendides animaux de compagnie... "en les prenant jeunes". Les histoires de ces animaux sont toutes plus douloureusement ridicules les unes que les autres... entre le lionceau offert comme cadeau d'entree a l'universite, le tigre enferme dans un mobile-home pendant des annees, les leopards et lions affames et maltraites, coinces dans des cages grandes comme des mouchoirs de poche dans des "roadside zoos" (litteralement, zoos de bord de route)... la stupidite et cupidite humaines n'ont decidement pas de limites, ni de frontieres!

Le refuge est tenu a environ une heure de Los Angeles, a Acton, dans des montagnes dessechees et eloignees de tout, par la fameuse Tippi Hedren, qui contrairement a toute attente est bien loin de l'image de blonde froide et hautaine entretenue par le mythe Hitchcock. Quand elle parle de ses proteges, son visage s'illumine, et tout visiteur est chaudement remercie de son elan pour aider les fauves. Rien que pour maintenir la propriete et nourrir les animaux, la fondation Roar doit amasser un million de dollar par an!

Soudainement les $40 demandes pour un apres-midi a visiter le parc et se faire raconter l'histoire de chaque animal paraissent bien derisoires... on ne peut visiter Shambala qu'un week-end par mois. Par soucis pour le confort des animaux, qui n'apprecient guere la compagnie d'etrangers a deux pattes (a moins qu'ils ne soient servis encore galopants pour le diner)... inutile de preciser que les finances sont pour le moins perilleuses, et que Shambala n'existerait pas sans les donations du public.

Mais assez blablate a propos de Shambala! J'ai inclus le lien vers leur site Internet pour ceux qui auraient envie de voir tous les animaux heberges au centre (69 en tout!), ou d'en apprendre plus sur la mission de la fondation Roar, a savoir faire passer des lois interdisant la reproduction de felins sauvages pour la possession privee. Car ca en changerait, des choses!

Helas les barreaux n'aident pas ces magnifiques animaux a se montrer sur leur plus beau jour, mais ils sont necessaires... pour les sceptiques, un tigre qui vous regarde dans le blanc de l'oeil avec appetit, a tout juste 30cm de distance... ca vous remet les idees en place!

Enfin, je tire mon chapeau aux soigneurs, a leur devotion, a la tenacite et l'energie des volontaires et employes de la reserve, qui jour apres jour se demenent pour qu'une poignee de fauves puisse vivre une vie tranquille, digne, et au calme, en cage, mais a l'abri... car l'animal humain, encore une fois, est bien plus a craindre que le plus feroce lion!

www.shambala.org

2007-08-08T04:34:00.000+02:00

2007-07-23T02:12:00.000+02:00

2007-07-21T05:55:00.000+02:00

2007-07-21T05:34:00.000+02:00