Can I Keep It?

I'm Crazy

I'm craaaazy.  Crazy for feelin' so looooonely!  I'm crazy, crazy for feelin' soooo bluuuuue!

The other day, we walked into the house to Carmen wailing at the top of her lungs.  I ran up the stairs as quickly as possible, fearing she had fallen and could not get up.  Aroooooooo! Ba ba aroooooo! she howled. I rounded the door to our bedroom and there she was lying on her comfy bed singing at the top of her lungs to the wall.

*blink*

When she finally noticed me, standing there, hands on hips, gazing at her in dismay, she appeared startled.  It was as if she were thinking, "Who the hell are you and why are you in my recording session?  Are you a back up singer?  New to the band? What?"

Seems our beautiful sweet fifteen year old Carmen is losing it. 

She'll go to the dining room and stare at a chair, trying to remember what she went in there for.  (Yeah, I can relate, Lady Bug. ) Sometimes she'll ask to go outside, turn around immediately, beep to come inside and go straight to the kitchen and, you know, dump her truck as it were.  (So not into that one, Sugar. ) She'll get up at all hours and demand her dinner, even though she had eaten.  (It's amazing you're as skinny as you are, Baby.)  Just yesterday, Hud went to pet her and she looked at him like he was a total stranger.  (I haven't got a clue who you are, Nice Man!)

Bless her heart.

I'm happy that her personality did not change with the onset of dementia.  She's still the sweet, tender soul she was all those years ago when she ran across a crowded street to plop at my feet and said, "I've been looking for you!  You're tardy!" While the people who were trying to collar her screamed at me, "Put your dog on a leash!"  I yelled to them that I don't have a dog but then she put her left paw up and smiled.

She made a liar out of me that day.  She's been our gentle lady ever since.

So what if she bursts out in a country song every now and again?

As long as she steers clear of show tunes, I'm cool with it.

Furry Loves Her Some Snow

First off, let me say two things emphatically: this is Terra, and I want to apologize up front to Paula and all of our other friends who are snowbound and dog-sick of the white stuff.  Here in Memphis a snowfall is a rare (though getting less rare in the new millennium) and wonderful event.  Memphians, particularly Midtowners like us, feel an urgency to run to Sessell's and buy bread, beer, and milk. Even if we have a house full of it, we just have to do it.  Politicians, being ever-aware of such driven behavior, hurry there at the first announcement of snow possibility and pass out campaign literature. Photographers, such as I, put on our boots and wade out into the wintry wonderland to see if we can find some shape or form that we have not seen and captured in days gone by. Here is what our most recent snowfall looked like through my eyes and lens.
To my eyes, even the ordinary, mundane piece of gardening equipment takes on a new personality when you add snow.

As you can seed, the snow was light and fluffy at the Hudarosa, and, thankfully, covered the remaining dead leaves which have been begging me, to no avail, to rescue them from their watery existence.

Remarkably, Furry's fish are staying awake for the winter in this fountain, thanks to the heater that we replaced last winter.

It was a beautiful, clear day after the snow fell, and looking across the street at our favorite neighbors' homes was a visual gourmet dinner.
Out in the corral, Furry's Mustang waited for the snow to melt.  Though it is 7 years old, it's still our new car, and we take the truck when it rains, snows, or when birds fall from the sky.  I am not kidding.

If there is such a thing as just the right amount of snow, this was it. The pool deck never looked better.

Dr. Freud, call your office, and tell me why, after 50-odd years of making photographs, do I still enjoy looking at the world through the v-neck of a tree?

It's a rare quality of light that opens a shadow up so nicely as these on the chairs.

And nothing is so rare in Memphis as a beautiful, blue sky, framed at the bottom by another very open shadow. Ah, what a beautiful world we have!

The tufts of snow make this already interesting bench embellishment even more so.

A throne fit for a snow king.

More happy fish in a not-so-frozen fountain. Furry loveth well all creatures great and small.

 
The roses will have to wait a few months to put on their climbing shoes.

The carcas of the yard's biggest lily (about 10 feet tall this year) strikes an interesting pose.

The robins were putting on their ice skates when I took this shot.

 
Funky chicken, frozen stiff.

Praying mantis, praying for warmer weather.

Hey, Cory, remember when we shot these fans on the pool deck.  It wasn't much warmer, like February or some such.  Earliest we ever opened the pool.

Something smells farty, Dad.

 
Love the shadows and the snow on the bench.

 
Simone, catching the rays, or else the last little snippet of Zoe's flatulence. You decide.

Simone wants to do the ASPCA shots with Sarah McLachlan. She certainly has the cinematic chops for it.

This one's for you, Duffy Lou.  Come rescue me now.  These people are bastards, I promise you.

This is my best side. Or maybe it's the other side. Hell, I'm beautiful from any side. Get over it!

Ok, now it's Zali's turn. Mommy is sorta like a montessori school teacher.

Anybody got any wine they don't need. Preferably French, like me.

Somebody dropped some food around here.

My beautiful tail is getting all snowy, and my handsome feet are cold.  This stuff is cwap, I tell ya.

 
Say goodnight, Gracie. Goodnight, Simone and Zoe. Goodnight, Monsieur Zali. Thanks for letting me hijack you blog, Furry.

Tigers Love Bacon

My friend Vickie in Gatlinburg, sent this to me this morning.  I DID NOT beleive it in all of its adorableness.

In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth

to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs

Unfortunately,
Due to complications in the pregnancy,

the cubs were born prematurely

and due to their tiny size,

they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery,

suddenly started to decline in health,

Although physically she was fine.

The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter

had caused the tigress to fall into a depression.

The doctors decided

that if the tigress could surrogate

another mother's cubs,

perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country,

the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs

of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother..

The veterinarians decided to try something

that had never been tried in a zoo environment.

 

Sometimes a mother of one species

will take on the care of a different species.

The only orphans' that could be found quickly,

were a litter of weanling pigs.

The zoo keepers and vets

wrapped the piglets in tiger skin

and placed the babies around the mother tiger...

Would they become cubs or pork chops?

 

I looked it up folks, except for the fact that it is not a zoo in California, but one in Thailand (Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand, near Bangkok)that specializes in raising species thought to be enemies, it is all true.  The tigress was raised by a pig herself.  She considers them to be the same species. 

 

Let's all sing Kumbaya, shall we?

Furry and Terra at The Tower Center

Gentle Readers,

Make no mistake about it: Furry and I love, in this order, each other, our furkids, and wonderful food. Sadly, the Zali Lama and Simone were not able to accompany us as we journeyed recently to The Tower Room, Memphis's newest and tastiest place to have Sunday Brunch. Our new best friend, Wade Hartsfield, has been catering fabulous events for some time and decided that it would be great to use the top floor of Clark Tower as a restaurant, but only on Sunday for brunch.  We visited back in November during their soft opening and were blown completely away by their fantastic food, attentive service, and warm, friendly atmosphere.

And, omg, the view of Memphis from this place is unmatched.

It turns out to be true: We DO live in an oak forest!

Here we are, having a wonderful time, wishing you were here with us.  Our waiter, Michael, was kind enough to take this for us.

But sincee it's not all about us (though it probably really should be), let's talk about the food. There is an individual table for starters, where you will find the grilled and smoked artichokes, which are nothing short of amazing....probably the best thing on this delicious menu. There were also marinated mushrooms and grilled asparagus, and mesclun salad with dried apricots, walnuts, and cranberries. You could make a complete meal and never leave the salad table, but you must resist this temptation.

In the distance, far left, is the waffle-making station.  He made mine with chocolate chips in the batter, covered with strawberries and topped with whipped cream. It was the best I have ever eaten. And your waiter brings it, and your omelet, to your table when it is ready. That won't be happening at The Peabody.

Here is a closeup of the carving station...

where you get your prime rib (truth be told, we went off our no-red-meat high horse and had a small slice....very, very tasty). Hidden under the covers are shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, eggs, and sausage patties.They also have a station where a lovely chef makes a perfectly-cooked French omelet, so thin and scrumptious. However, I was busy drooling and forgot to get the shot.

For dessert we had strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, bread pudding with rum sauce, chocolate mousse cake, and carrot cake. It was a feast fit for the Furry Godmother.Wade even took Angela's suggestions at the soft opening and now provides black napkins and fresh silverware with each course. Purr-fect in every way.

We were once huge fans of The Peabody for holiday brunches, but now have seen the light and the realm of possibilites.  The truth be told, we waited until the Sunday after Christmas to have our Christmas Brunch, because they were closed on Christmas Day. People who provide such wonderful fare definitely merit the day off, and we were glad we waited. I have no reservations as I encourage you to call 901-767-8776 for reservations. You owe it to yourself; make your day! Thanks to Furry for letting me hijack her bully pulpit.

Terra

Random Acts of Photography

And now for your viewing pleasure, a gratuitous shot of Simone:

Accompanied by Zali's beautiful posterior.

She Liked It! She Really Liked It!

Jeanie from Rhodes ordered an ornament for her brother of his cat for Christmas.  She sent me this yesterday to show me how I did:

Score! He exclained upon opening it, "It looks just like her!" 

She wrly replied, " Of course it does, you idiot." 

Ain't having a sibling grand?

Have a ball, Kitty.  Enjoy your doppleganger.

Don't forget to get your order in for an original painting of your true love's one true love (and by that I mean their furry, finned or feathered friend, not you, knucklehead) for Valentine's Day.  I am waving the fifty dollar creation fee for the holiday.  Check out the website for pricing at Can I Keep It? today!

It Wasn't Me!

The loveliest snow fell two nights ago. 

Four or five inches of it.  That's a real white-out for Memphis.  And it's still hanging around.  A miracle for Memphis.  Usually, we get a dusting and it's burned off by lunch.  The Pappies and I have been enjoying it's beauty from the safe warmth of the house.  None of us like to get our feet wet that much. 

 

Zoe and Hud however, have been out playing since the crack of dawn.  Zoe may not love to swim, but she has never minded getting her feet sogging wet and stinging cold.  Hud has to force her to come back inside.

We're bracing for the plunge tonight.  Fifteen degrees, here we come!

Twelfth Night

It's the twelfth day of Christmas, the feast of the Epiphany.  The day the kings arrived at the Christ child's manger in Bethlehem, baring all sorts of wonderful gifts.  Although, I'm quite sure he would have preferred baby Einstein or some Lego's to gold and myrrh.

The Wise Men have had a go of it on their journey to see the new born King.  Camels are so Year Zero, so they have taken to driving an old red pickup truck.  Old white king was being a diva about his "parched throat" so they stopped off for a case of cokes and a Snicker's bar.  On their way out of the parking lot, he ran smack dab into a snowman admiring a billboard of Howard, the dalmatian.

Dude.  Cannot. Drive.

 

At least frankincense is sturdy.  The myrrh only had a few nicks in it.  The snowman, however, is at the Med in critical condition.

Happens. Every. Year. 

The other two need to get a driver's license before the next holiday season.

Eventually, they wound their way onto the creche with the Giant Merman and the Folgers Sprocket Robot, bringing an end to a very happy holiday season at the Hudarosa.

Only eleven ten more months till we put the trees back up!

Pampered Pet Portraits

The Furry Godmother has been incredibly busy as of late, composing portraits of pampered pooches.  That's bragging, not complaining, by the way. 

Oh the cute puppies I have seen over the holidays!  I have paintied many breeds these ten years, but never a Yorkie.  This year, all the way from Chicago, came the most precious pictures of this little guy, Anemal.

Anemal like to nap in the dirty clothes basket.  I call it, Everything Comes Out in the Wash.  He came to me by way of another commission done a while back of Frida, the chihuahua.

Chicago must be the land of adorable toy dogs. 

Don't tell Zali and Simone.

Playing Favorites

Thanks, Terra for all the guest posting about what a great time we had on Christmas.  I thought I'd do a brief post showing you our favorite gifts.

Three words.  Sock. Monkey.  Slippers.

Folger's.  Sprocket.  Robot.

Fuzzy.  Dog.  Toys.

One for Zoe.

One for Zali.

And last but not least, one for wee Simone.

Of course they played with them until they were a slobbery wet mess.

We hardly got to have any fun ourselves with all the stirring and growling and flopping soggy toys all over the Furry Godmother.

We all enjoyed this Christmas.

And are looking forward to a bright and happy new year! 

Have the best year ever, Bloglings!  You deserve it!