Rain...

meant a little bit of repose for the kitty parents. Don't get me wrong, furry boys still ran out, they could not believe their eyes ... they thought that we had moved the bathroom showers outside, and were a bit angry with me at first. In and out, in and out, they ran with their wet little paws!
Kitty mom took advantage of this downpour...drove out

to a mall to meet up a friend and do some shopping.

Clearing skies the next day...all fresh air and fresh colors...real beauty showing its face here and there:
a fallen branch of palm
golden ginko
orangeish leaves on the tree
and down below in the pool of water
and in the surrounding grass skirt.
Assorted berries, orange
and purple
and fuschia
and red!
Lemons, o lemons,
red leaves,
and an orange Ollie by his salad bowl!
Gussy checking out the street,
and finally dos rascals ready to resume their daily routine!

Having examined so many leaves and branches in my early morning walk I felt the cat boys would benefit from a reading that spoke to nature and its various forms since they too would be going on their own field trips soon.
...Furthermore, the forms and organisms of phenomenal being and existence in each of the kingdoms of the universe are myriad and numberless. The vegetable plane or kingdom, for instance, has its infinite variety of types and material structures of plant life -- each distinct and different within itself, no two exactly alike in composition and detail -- for there are no repetitions in nature, and the augmentative virtue cannot be confined to any given image or shape. Each leaf has its own particular identity -- so to speak, its own individuality as a leaf.
Therefore, each atom of the innumerable elemental atoms, during its ceaseless motion through the kingdoms of existence as a constituent of organic composition, not only becomes imbued with the powers and virtues of the kingdoms it traverses but also reflects the attributes and qualities of the forms and organisms of those kingdoms.
As each of these forms has its individual and particular virtue, therefore, each elemental atom of the universe has the opportunity of expressing an infinite variety of those individual virtues. No atom is bereft or deprived of this opportunity or right of expression. Nor can it be said of any given atom that it is denied equal opportunities with other atoms; nay, all are privileged to possess the virtues existent in these kingdoms and to reflect the attributes of their organisms.
In the various transformations or passages from kingdom to kingdom the virtues expressed by the atoms in each degree are peculiar to that degree. For example, in the world of the mineral the atom does not express the vegetable form and organism, and when through the process of transmutation it assumes the virtues of the vegetable degree, it does not reflect the attributes of animal organisms, and so on.
It is evident, then, that each elemental atom of the universe is possessed of a capacity to express all the virtues of the universe...

They meowed in unison that they appreciated my selection.

Kitties and myself wish everyone a productive and wonderful week ahead, and muchas kitty kisses for courage...

Ciao!

Inspired...I think so

I was telling Ollie last night about this celebration at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (which happens to be right next to where we live.)

As soon as he heard that the event was focused on International Human Rights, and more specifically on Women's Rights he was anxious to get up and go.

(Ollie departing already)

As I was getting ready I said, "Babe, you know that kitties in a crowd of grown ups get lost so you need to stand guard in the courtyard."

Hating to leave him out and alone, I tried not to think about the pussy cats and walked up to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium,

right across from the open air El Paseo Colorado

and took an iphone photo of this

I am glad that I attended the meeting. Living in a large city one often finds oneself overwhelmed by all the troubles around and helpless to be able to make a difference. I firmly believe that the only solution, both to the situation and to maintaining one's mental composure, is to become involved in easing and solving the problems at whatever level possible. We are a part of our environment and undoubtedly are affected by it.

Anyhow last night, the wonderful Mayor of Pasadena, Bill Bogart, quoted Eleanor Roosevelt as to why a small city like Pasadena should care about international human rights, and tonight about worldwide women's rights.

Where after all do universal human rights begin? In small places, closes to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.

Remarks at the United Nations, March 27, 1958

Next, an educational short film prepared by the Nike Foundation was shown. It is called "I Dare You", The most powerful force of change on the planet is a girl. Although I firmly believe that the education of girls is of greater consequence compared with that of boys, I was not aware of the supporting statistical evidence.

Another educational theme for me was self-defense and girls. The keynote speaker, Ellen Snortland (Norwegian last name), author of "Beauty Bites Beast", spoke about her approach to stopping violence, be it at home or on the playground. She discussed how empowerment of girls, specifically, by teaching them how to protect themselves, has far reaching consequences in their future, and suggested that this type of education should be viewed as normal as getting educated on wearing a seatbelt, for example. When she first started talking I was not sure how much I agreed with her but after listening to her I thought, yes, she makes very good points, and not just for families with domestic problems, for everyone. So I bought a couple of copies of her book, one for MOI and one to give to a certain friend who teaches at Mesa College in AZ.

There was a lot more, music, song, poetry, viewing of art work, socializing, getting to know who does what and why, too much to write here in this blog.

As luck would have it, upon my return home, the doodle boys immediately followed me into the house and I said Hallelujah in my heart.

Upstairs in the bedroom, Ollie wrestled his little mouse, and I felt pretty normal for a city-dweller : ), maybe even inspired again!







Wishing all inspiration and empowerment, and cat kisses from the mouse-wrestlers....

Ciao!

Ancient Chinese Secret...

Following up on the last blog where the lovely mountaindreamers commented on the beautiful Gingko tree, I thought I'd share a few more pictures that I took last weekend, and earlier during summer. These trees have for some time peaked my curiosity for various reasons. The leaves are gorgeous and I regularly come across jewelry in shape of gingko leaves. The tree goes through distinct seasonal changes all very gracefully. And finally, here in Pasadena, there is always a groups of Chinese people who come by during the fruit season to collect the fruits.
Mountaindreamers mentioned that these trees, hiding in Central China, were once thought to be extinct.

On one occasion I picked up one fruit, crushed it and smelled it, and I thought 'whew, this really stinks'. The next time I saw a Chinese woman picking up fruits I asked her what she did with it. She said that it was medicinal and that she sauteed them. I don't know if she was pulling my leg or if one really sautees these little stink bombs but there you have it.



This is the Gingko during summer months, and once you read about it you will agree that it is a special tree.





One might ask how could you post without mentioning the cat boys...Well, I cannot, and so I share:

Gussy gus taking a peak out the window to see if he can see a Gingko,

and Ollie working on his sit-ups!


A happy Tuesday to all, golden gingko and cat kisses...

Ciao!

In the Gladness of Mine Heart...I see

bright yellow Gingko laying a blanket for me to stroll over,

a precious fluffy Ollie cat waiting for me,

a rascal named Augustus ready for excursions,

and a few purply flowers cheering my eyes!


And you, in the gladness of your heart....?

Best wishes and Cat kisses...

Ciao!

Tapestry

"Our imagination can only picture that which it is able to create." (Paris Talks)

(Persian Rug at Friend's House)

Augustus and Ollie discussing the above over a bowl of water.



Muchas cat kisses to all for a wonderful weekend!

Ciao!

Their Regal Manners...

Gustopher Jones (Augustus) imagines himself in the wild


while Ollie bird practices his Vulcan Ears!


At the end we gathered under this tree

and I read to them another story from the great mystic, Rumi.

Luqman's Master examines him and discovers his Acuteness.
Luqman the Sage who is sometimes identified with Esop, and sometimes with the nephew of the prophet Job, though "gifted with wisdom by God," was a slave. His master, however, discovered his worth, and became extremely attached to him, so that he never received any delicacy without giving Luqman a share of it. One day, having received a watermelon, he gave Luqman the best part of it, and Luqman devoured it with such apparent relish that his master was tempted to taste it. To his surprise he found it very bitter, and asked Luqman why he had not told him of this. Luqman replied that it was not for him, who lived on his master's bounty, to complain if he now and then received disagreeable things at his hands. Thus, though to outward appearance a slave, Luqman showed himself to be a lord.

Love endures hardships at the hands of the Beloved.
Through love bitter things seem sweet,
Through love bits of copper are made gold.
Through love dregs taste like pure wine,
Through love pains are as healing balms.
Through love thorns become roses,
And through love vinegar becomes sweet wine.
Through love the stake becomes a throne,
Through love reverse of fortune seems good fortune.
Through love a prison seems a rose bower,
Without love a grate full of ashes seems a garden.
Through love burning fire is pleasing light,
Through love the Devil becomes a Houri.
Through love hard stones become soft as butter,
Without love soft wax becomes hard iron.
Through love grief is as joy,
Through love Ghouls turn into angels.
Through love stings are as honey,
Through love lions are harmless as mice.
Through love sickness is health,
Through love wrath is as mercy.
Through love the dead rise to life,
Through love the king becomes a slave.
Even when an evil befalls you, have due regard;
Regard well him who does you this ill turn.
The sight, which regards the ebb and flow of good and ill
Opens a passage for you from misfortune to happiness.
Thence you see the one state moves you into the other,
One opposite state generating its opposite in exchange.
..."

We stared at each other lovingly for a few moments and then scattered feeling love in our hearts.

The boys send pawfuls of love and kisses to all...Happy Wednesday!

Ciao!

True to their Own Little Furry Selves...

Ollie pretends to be a lion

while Augustus seems to think he is a jaguar,

and roams about!

Ollie closes his eyes and prays that Augustus is safe!

Soon after the pretend game they come down for a roll on the cement land!

Roll this way and that!


Cat boys asked me to read them something deep, and as I was imagining what these dudes believe their true selves to be, I chose the great mystic, Rumi.

The Truth is yourself, but not your mere bodily self,
Your real self is higher than 'you' and 'me.'
This visible 'you' which you fancy to be yourself
Is limited in place, the real 'you' is not limited.
Why, O pearl, linger you trembling in your shell?
Esteem not yourself mere sugar-cane, but real sugar.

This outward 'you' is foreign to your real ' you;'

Cling to your real self, quit this dual self.
Your last self attains to your first (real) self
Only through your attending earnestly to that union.
Your real self lies hid beneath your outward self,
For 'I am the servant of him who looks into himself.' "
(Mathnavi)

Then they relaxed to this music.

And this was how we spent our early Monday everning.

Buenas Martes and a handful of cat kisses too...

Ciao!