little robin redbreast

I think most of us associate robins with springtime. But, I photographed this handsome fellow today. while we were both taking a short rest in the shade. He seemed quite content with having his picture taken, allowing me to snap quite a few shots of him. 

~photo by Inside the Pomegranate~

national hug your cat day 2013

Today is the first time I heard of National Hug Your Cat Day, but it's the kind of "holiday" I can get on board with. For all of us feline lovers, we know there's nothing like the comfort of a cat. They don't show their love to just anyone - theirs is a trust that must be earned - so when it is, it's all the more sweet. No matter if you're young or old, the friendship of a cat is always cherished. 

~photo credits unknown~

a little rest and relaxation

It's too easy to do too much when we have a little downtime, so let's all try to make sure we get in our rest and relaxation! This furry friend looks like he knows what he's doing. What a little Zen master.  

~photo credit unknown~

black and white photography: cats

Perhaps it's because our feline friends are so incredibly photogenic, but they seem to be the subject of so many wonderful photographs. I know my own ginger tom does actually pose for photos. He seems to enjoy having his photo snapped! Here are some beautiful black and white photographs that capture the movement and stillness of their cat subjects.

by Edouard Boubat, 1972

~unless noted, photo credits unknown~

our feline friends, part 2 {black and white}

Of course kiddos aren't the only ones who have feline friends. Here's our part 2 in the "Our Feline Friends" series - a little selection of fun black and white photos of some older cat lovers.  

Steve Martin and one fat cat!

Hemingway - the ultimate cat lover

the Dalai Lama and one beautiful feline
sentient being

I love this photo for the
pure humanity it captures, and the cat's expression is priceless...
maybe something like, "Squeeze nice, but so tight!"

~photo credits unknown~

our feline friends, part 1 {in black and white}

Cats and kids...what a wonderful combination both in life and in the art of photography. These black and white photos capture so much emotion - just look at these children's faces - you'll see a range of calm, comfort, and joy. 

one shoe missing and he's holding
onto his kitty quite tightly...
I wonder what this boy's story is 

someone looks awfully happy!

so sweet

so funny!  what do you think these
two characters see?

this one is my favorite - volumes are spoken in this photo
"Pure Laughter" by Amith Nag

the importance of rest {cat naps}

I've had a bit of a rough weekend - a few days that have required extra sleep at night and lots of rest  and recuperation during the day. With all of this extra sleep, I think I might be nearing in on our cat Nino as "champion napper of the house". 

Without a doubt, cats excel at that fine art of napping; where they can turn off the rest of the world,  sleep, then wake up seemingly quite refreshed and not one bit groggy. I still need to work on the latter part of that formula. Here are a few photos of the real pros for inspiration.  ;-)

~photo credit unknown~

inspiration: reach!

What is it that you want? Be sure to reach for it, however high it is!

~photo credit unknown~

smile: photography in black and white

I came across this adorable photograph on Pinterest recently, and every time I see it, it makes me smile. I love the  expressions of both the little boy and the dog. Just look at the dog's eyes! What do you think he's thinking?

~photo credit unknown~

happy adoption day nino!

Today we celebrate 6 years of having Nino in our lives! Back then Nino was teeny 4lb kitty with a few health problems. Now Nino has a clean bill of health and fills his days running, jumping, watching the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels, and of course, sleeping! He's the most snuggly kitty I've ever known and he brings a smile to our faces each an everyday.

Nino, probably about 8 months old

"talking" on the phone with his gramama
(my mom)  :-)

quality time 

"Sawatdee krap"
yes, Nino "knows" Thai ;-)

enjoying the fire in the wintertime

on the lookout for chipmunks and birdies

I was thinking about all of my closest friends and how they all have pets that enrich their lives. Rooni, Kaia, Milly, and Ellie - you all are so great!  If you're on the fence about adopting a pet, I can't even express how much adopting an animal brings to one's life.

Happy adoption day Nino Clementino! You are so loved.

black and white photography: leap

I love the way these black and white photos capture the motion of their subjects mid-leap. Some are stunningly beautiful, some are full of whimsy, but all are great photos.

Don't these incredible shots make you want to jump?

~photo credits unknown~

this sums it up

I'm back home after a busy few days away for work and to top things off, I have a nasty stomach bug that has rendered me exhausted. This little fellow looks just like I feel. Though he's much cuter! Here's hoping tomorrow will be a better day. 

photo found on Pinterest

a cat, a dog and a toy horse?

I don't know if this photo could possibly be real, regardless of possible inauthenticity, it makes me laugh out loud with its funny cast of characters. Aren't the cat and dog adorable? Their expressions are perfect!  

black & white photography: dance

I like how photography captures movement despite it being a still shot of a moment in time. I think these 3 black and white photos are perfect examples of photography's ability to reflect movement and dance. I wish I could say I took these, but I didn't. I found them all on Pinterest.

I love the movement of her dress

how does he make this look so effortless?

I love these photos!
Dancing kittens = adorable!!

a picture speaks a thousand words

I came across this black and white photo of a pair of gorillas, that I'm guessing are mama and baby, on the Tumblr site http://dontcallmebetty.tumblr.com/. Photography is amazing at capturing emotion. Just look at the mama's expression!

all creatures great and small

Really nothing brings me and my husband more joy than our ginger tom Nino. He's sweet and cuddly and can be very naughty too. And lately, he's been such a happy little boy because he adores the Christmas tree so very much! 

snuggling with his mama (me)  :-)

admiring the Christmas tree

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

cats and dogs

It's been raining heavily today, which made me think of the expression, "raining cats and dogs". The weather has made for one of those fall days when I'd like nothing more than to curl up by the fire with a cozy blanket and a good book and forget about everything. 

The idiom "raining cats and dogs" got me thinking about where and how that saying originated. I did a little googling to see what I could find out, and while it appears that the definite origin is unknown, I came across one explanation that I think is particularly plausible - it suggests that "cats and dogs" is a language corruption of the old French word for waterfall, which is "catadupe". "Raining a waterfall" seems to make a lot of sense to me!

Thinking about cats and dogs I can't help be reminded of the enormous amount of these four legged friends I photographed recently in Turkey. Here's a sampling of the feline and canine subjects I was lucky enough to photograph:

in the St. Savior of Chora
Byzantine church, Istanbul

catching a nap, Istanbul

outside of the Blue Mosque, Istanbul

at the Blue Mosque, Istanbul

looking to share our lunch,
Alacati

this old-timer has
 the saddest face, Alacati

a little kitten perched on a rooftop,
Alacati

perhaps the luckiest dog alive...
his home is the amazing
Tas Otel in Alacati

a family of felines
 near the Aegean Sea

such a friendly fellow!

a feline family in Istanbul

I did a double take when I saw
these two in Istanbul

sound asleep without a care
 in the world, Istanbul

Animals, whether our pets or strays on the streets, always capture my heart with their simple lives and gain my admiration with their ability to relax and take a nap just about anywhere!