About Me

My photo
Oregon, United States
loves: you win if you guessed "pets" and "museums". Also books, art history, travel, British punk, Korean kimchi, bindis, martinis, and other things TBD. I will always make it very clear if a post is sponsored in any way. Drop me a line at thepetmuseum AT gmail.com !

Monday, September 29, 2008

welcome to the doghouse!

Her name is Alexis Trice, and she paints your pet's portrait. No, that's too easy. She paints your pet's personality, likes and dislikes, secret desires, inner soul. . .


Lola, for example, doesn't want her brother Roscoe in her her stuff.
You gotta problem with that?

Cosmo holds the truths of the universe in his big Himalayan eyes.


I've never had a pet slug. this one just made me laugh red wine all over. thanks.

All images with kindest permission of Alexis, and taken from her site, welcometothe doghouse.net. Learn some more about Alexis (and Thea and Una!) here.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

elizabeth reads cards

I, your friendly Curator, had a birthday this past weekend and got lovely cards from my nieces and nephews. Here Elizabeth is admiring the portraiture of herself on two of them.

Friday, September 26, 2008

love bunny and more!



(All images copyright Mark Poulin, by kindest permission.)



Remember last summer when I fell in love with a pair of earrings at SFMOMA? Did I tell you I got them for Christmas? They were Mark Poulin's "Love Kitty" earrings, and though I couldn't get their image to save very well, I hope you can see a blue pair here. Kitties and hearts - most of my life summed up in jewelry.
I love them so that it's a great pleasure to bring you a couple of glimpses into Poulin's other work. Here, from top to bottom, is "Love Bunny" and "Dog Star." Could they be any more pure, charming, and all-encompassing? As Mies van der Rohe said, "Less is more." He was talking about International Style buildings (and they always need cheering up), but the idea translates exactly. So go check out some more of less, and find little gems of cheer, at Poulin's website and his Etsy shop.
His sketchbook is delightful, by the way.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

cat balancing act


Remember Oliver Herford and the Rubayyat of a Persian Kitten? Here he is with Ethel Watts Mumford and Addison Mizner on a 1905 day planner called "The Cynic's Calendar" -- this border was printed on every 4th page throughout the book. Note the cat's looking through the glasses the wrong way.

I wish they'd start publishing Cynic's Calendars again. They're elegant and funny - here's one from 1904 on GoogleBooks: "A fool and his honey are soon mated." "A thing of duty is an-noy forever." HA.

trivia!

I'm late for work, so this is one of those posts --
-- but I did find some really neat animal trivia for the marveling at thereof.
Example?
Q: Your pet sardine is four years old. Can you expect him to live another: (a) one year; (b) five years; or (c) 10 years?
A: Assuming he’s an average sardine, he’ll live to be 14.

And I can't help but be tickled by:
Croc Truth: You can shoot a crocodile all day long with a .22 and he won’t even slow down. It takes at least a .45.

Monday, September 22, 2008

kindred souls: a very special pet sanctuary

"Project Homeward Bound?" I asked myself as I picked up the postcard from my vet's office. Looked like fun - a kitty playing poker and a dog thinking "whoa there Nelly." There's a version of the card here. Taking place Saturday September 27, it's a Vegas-style night with gaming, wine tasting, and a light buffet. I wish they would let you hold the dogs and cats on your lap while you play.

And whom is it all for, pray tell? For Kindred Souls Foundation, who "provides sanctuary to dogs and cats of all ages, a holistic approach to their care, and education on the rewards and responsibilities of animals and their care." They are located in charming Steilacoom, WA. Not a shelter, they rely instead on loving foster homes -- ones much bigger than the current Museum, I betcha -- and provide physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual care. How? This page explains it all.

Why not visit and learn even more?

By the way, I see they mention using Bach's flower remedies. I've recently taken to dosing Elizabethasaurus Rex with Bach's Holly tincture as a way to make her be a little less furious in nature. I think it's working!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

some generous mice

I guess it's just another day in the life for Daikoku, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Japan -- here are some mice obligingly bringing him money. And not just that, they are running up into his robe! They must be looking to stick that money right in his pocket! He's the god of wealth and commerce, so that must make him very happy. It would me!
Daikoku is often portrayed with a fellow God of Good Fortune, Ebisu, god of fishers or merchants. He's often depicted carrying a sea bream, so that must be the pink fish under his arm.

This is a print dating from 1889 by Kawanabae Kyosai, called The Munificent Mice.

Friday, September 19, 2008

spanish kitty with subtitles

Gee, the people you meet when you take on the littlest dare. (By the way, Mr. Chen's dare is in the post just before this one. In case that's what you are looking for.)

One of the kind visitors turned out to be Ana, a Spanish-speaking calico with a distinct lack of tolerance for littering. Me too. And since I don't speak Spanish, I was glad indeed of the helpful translations offered under each photo of her own Save the Environment project:

Yo patrullo los montes para que nadie los ensucie ¡¡No más basuras en
nuestros montes!!
I monitor our fields in order that nobody dirties them.
No more garbage in our fields!!


¡¡Las basuras a su contenedor correspondiente o te araño la nariz!!
¡¡Muahahahahahahahá!!

Deposit this garbage in the container. Not in the
field! Or I will scratch and bite your nose! Muahahahahahahahahaha!!!


You tell 'em, Ana! And remember, everyone: Salva el medioambiente!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

cat realm challenge post!

Mr Chen at The Cat Realm dared the Museum to "come up with one creative, fun, useful way to save the environment and put a picture of yourself doing it on your blog!"

Well look here, here's Sallycat of the Museum "staff" wiping down that dusty PC monitor with the soft touch of cat fur rather than harsh environmentally-unfriendly chemicals.

Okay, it's a stretch, but we wipe that nasty monitor all the time.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

a beautiful dog


Byeon Sangbyeok was a Korean painter of the late 17th century, attached to the royal household. Though he was particularly famed for his cats, and they ARE very good cats indeed, I fell in love with the sweet and alert look on this dog's face.
It would be very nice to have more English-language information about Korean artists, as there are many who created work as engaging as this.

pet design that's hip

So, I hear that it's Pet Design Month all September at ApartmentTherapy.com.



There's a lot of cats in the mix. Why, I wonder? Because these are by and large urban spaces, and cats are easier to house in the city? Because cats are easy to fit into the decor?

Anybody have a guess? Meanwhile, here is Elizabeth fitting into my "decor". . .


(Read: wingchair all the staff have stropped their little swiney claws upon.)

Speaking of design, that's a little yellow IKEA lion toy she's got. "King of the jungle, huh? I got your king of the jungle right here."

Sunday, September 14, 2008

this is cute and fun and i have no idea how it works

He's sprightly and orange, has his own blog, and a flying carpet. Or a flying pizza. Hard to tell when it's 8-bit .gif animation. Sometimes he's flying past the pyramids, and other times the mall, or away from a jetpack lizard. Sometimes he's the star in a game, and Lord help me, I do not know how to play any of them. But that serves me right for being a bit controlling around the edges - I mean, what am I going to do with a game that tells me, "You Win! Maybe."

Anyhow, he's Flying Pizza Kitty and his blog is little animations of him going places. There was this one time he took on the Death Star. . .

Friday, September 12, 2008

a horse is a horse, and then there's. . .

. . . Bazzy Boy, "Racing Legend of Sorts."

I don't think too many horsey types visit the Museum, but I guarantee you will find Bazzy a fine brown Aussie Thoroughbred with quite the sense of humor. He is a likable lad and handsome (see the photos). His blog has just stopped being actively continued, as he's gone to live with his "grandmother" a few ranches away, but you'll still enjoy Keith "Bazz's Dad" earlier observations of "something I know nothing about, namely horses ."

The intro will grab you.
The Hall of Fame will make you chuckle.
But Scary Stuff will make you laugh out loud, including "Nasty Furry Little Thing," "Bags of Death," and "House on a Stick."

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

specialist spotlight: dachshunds

Today I'm going to send you to one of my favorites, The Long and Short of It All, A Dachshund Dog News Magazine. They have the same passion for pets' lives, times and culture that I do, and with them it's all dachshund all the time. They do a terrific job and you can't go to any better place for wiener dog wisdom.

Please do surf on over and enjoy.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

"mice burying the cat"



This folk print is an example of the Russian art form lubok, simple woodcuts or engraving showing popular sayings or happenings among the people. According to WikiCommons, this is either a parody of Peter the Great's funeral procession, or just an example of a traditional "upside-down day," in which folk of all stations trade places for a day.


Whatever its purpose (anybody read Russian out there?) -- I find it bright, bold, and likable. Look for the mouse blowing a horn, and that one in front of him? That's a bagpipe he's tooting, I think. And I'm partial to the little guy reefing on the reins coming from the cat's muzzle.

Monday, September 08, 2008

robin and finch chitter at a bug



Ah!! Don't you love the way they look imploringly into Tara's camera as if to say, "Do you not SEE that BUG!? Help me get it get it get it!!"

Now why the chittery noise? No one quite knows, though it seems to be an aerial prey thing - that is, cats don't seem to make that noise at rodents. I got that juicy tidbit from Wendy Christensen's book Outwitting Cats, courtesy of Google Books; page should come up here.

is your pet a social animal?

The answer is usually yes, of course. Dogs are social animals. Cats socialize whenever they darn well feel like it. Even hamsters like to show you how cool they are running on their little wheels and stuffing seeds in their cheeks.
You could talk about your pets all day. Luckily, in this brave new world of Facebook and MySpace and ways to find human friends at all hours all over the world, there's a place to meet folks just as pet-happy as yourself.

Get into PetBrags Pet Community.
I'm a member myself though recent events have kept me from visiting much. The community is explicitly child-friendly, well moderated, and full of fun clubs-o-pals. Why, I am a member of "Service Dogs...God's Angels," "Hamstar Club," and "Doggie Dancing." There are contests, games, news . . . it never ends.

I've been thinking over what I know of Western social history and I truly don't think there has ever been a time when pets were so widely used as a means of contact and communication among human beings. Hopefully that means things are looking up.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

they grow up so fast!

Bodie is a Labrador Retriever. He was 7 weeks old, and then he got to be a grownup dog. You can see this happen before your very eyes -- to 6 months old! -- as you watch this YouTube:


So how old does that make him in person years? About 5 and a quarter. Check YOUR dog at Online Conversion's Dog Years calculator!

Friday, September 05, 2008

my bookmark

Oh! That didn't scan very nicely at all. This is the bookmark I created for The Pet Museum. I send them to independent bookstores that have pets, or small pet supply shops. It's much crisper in real life. Anyway, if you'd like one, drop a line to thepetmuseum@gmail.com. I'll tell you where to send a SASE and I'll mail you two: one to keep and one to share!


Thursday, September 04, 2008

the medieval english lion and its lack of fun thereof

So you're a lion and you've somehow fetched up in England in the 13th century.
You're housed on the Tower of London grounds, where hopefully you can at least catch one of those ravens that makes such a point of wandering about. You're part of the Royal Menagerie, but that doesn't mean your house is nice or even very big. In fact it's probably about 6 meters by 6 meters, and you don't get out much except to be baited in lion-vs-dog fights.
And when you die, they dump you unceremoniously in the moat.

You know - this kind of thing is why I find medieval studies so blasted grim.

About that moat? In the 30's excavations turned up two lion skulls, and recent carbon dating reveals one is dated AD 1420-1480, the other AD 1280-1385. Thing sdid get better for the lions and other exotica at the Royal Menagerie n later centuries. Find out all about it here.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

more dog as Romantic foil

Some time ago I posted on Edwin Landseer's 1829 painting, Attachment, portraying the true tale of a Victorian tourist who died in a fall and was watched over by his dog.

I've just found the rest of the story in one of my favorite newspapers, the Manchester Guardian. The young tourist's name was Charles Gough, and his death was as Romantic (read "sublime, poetic and careless") as a young pre-emo buck in 1805 could want. The Guardian's reflection on the story here.

thanks again!

It was fun to get visitors new and old, and kudos to WW for being a swell sport.

Monday, September 01, 2008

cultural exchange!


Oh boy! Today I have a very special treat for Pet Museum patrons: an in-depth glimpse at the life and times of feline gentleman Whicky Whuudler, who hails from southeast England.
* * *

1. What are your favourite cat foods and treats called?

Before I came to live in the west of England, I wasn't that keen on human fuud. Because I had a bladder problem a year ago, I have to have prescription, dried fuud, which is ok and I am allowed occasional treats. I usually get a teaspoon of Felix wet fuud (any flavour does me fine) on my dried fuud too. I am partial to roast chicken. It must be straight from the oven. If it's cold, forget it.

Do not leave an unguarded bacon sandwich anywhere. I have a trick. Think of a magician swiftly whipping out the table cloth from under the crockery of a fully laid table without disturbing the place settings.

Scampi, preferably coated in that disgusting chemical, crispy crumb rubbish. I love it.Freshly poached salmon. Big fat prawns, they taste better when stolen directly from the prawn salad. I am learning to like cheese.


2. Does anybody call you a moggie?

Yes they have done so. I am indeed a moggie. A common cat, a gutter cat. The tough life I led before luxurious living fell to me, was hard. Many fights have left me scarred and battered, but I think it gives me the manly edge. I still have the occasional rumble with cats who dare enter our garden. They don't come back if they have sense. I am often referred to as:- Wuudlermonger, Wuudleesh, Manuudlerz, Nuudles, Nuudler, Whickish, Owlish Boy and Grizzle Arse.

3. What other nicknames for "kitty" do they have over there?

Moggie and Mog are common in the UK. Puss-puss and Puss too. Muggeral is a rare word to denote a thick necked, tough cat, that's me. Tom, self explanatory. Gib, a neutered tom cat (rarely used now)

Caith, is Welsh for cat, I am from Wales (caithau = plural) Cait is Scottish Gaelic for cat. Machka or Mac'ka are romany for cat. There are some Romany speakers not far from where I live and they say it as "mouchkass" and it's an old word for "mouse catcher." But one of the elders in their community say it's from a very old Romany word meaning "unclean" (the cheek of it!). Catte - old English. Catling - still used sometimes, a word for cat from medieval times.



4. Where other than the armchair do you like to be? Do you like to sit on the newspaper? Which one do you like to sit on most?

These days I like to sit on the back of that old armchair (It was brought here with me when my original Mum died, I now live with her daughter). It's a good look out post by the window, handy as I am the resident sentinel cat. I also have my own futon, which I share with the other three cats who live here. I sit or sleep on the back of that too as it also gives me a great view of the street, the comings and goings of people, horses and cars. I do not like humans to sit on my futon.

The shed roof is a good place to sit, it gets super hot and I happily bake myself up there when the sun is out. Sometimes I get too hot for humans to touch me. I will sleep in a good dusty, earthy wallow under the ferns in the garden too. I am often covered in dust and earth, but always keep my paws pristine. I adore sitting on my Dad's chest most of all. I like to pin him down and purr hard. If he moves, I will miaow mightily in his face.

There is a fleecy jumper on the sofa, which was meant for my brother Gerry, but I have taken that over as mine. Only Angel O'Cakes, the most senior cat is allowed to sleep in it. I wouldn't dare cross her, she's eighteen and does not mess about if she is displeased. If I want attention I will sit on whatever a human is reading. Newspapers, books, the post, empty plates, keyboards, I do not care, all are concealed beneath my mighty backside.

If you pet me slightly incorrectly I still don't hesitate in giving you the bitey. I am nothing if not generous. If Elizabeth is a bitey cat, then I would extend my warmest regards to her. I admire a feisty feline.


* * *

Curator here, with sincerest thanks to WW!