New paintings and regular art updates.
My Cat is like an otter. He loves the rain. He came in from the storm Bram earlier today and I took this photo. He loves standing and staring at me. Generally this means “feed me”, so I did.
I know he has at least two other “homes”, although he has been back here more recently. He comes up amd sleeps on the bed but gets off if I have a disturbed night. (which is most of them these days). He’s just snuck upsts now. Sleep well pusscat.
He was purring happily
When he heard something
That caught his attention
His purr switched off
And after a long stare
He jumped down
Off my lap
Disappearing
Into the kitchen
To say hi
To his sister x
Painted in 1991? that was when I flirted with getting my first studio, but one of the three people sharing it enjoyed playing loud music too much. Eventually it drove me out. I just wanted to paint in quiet and peace.
The cat was one of the first cats I had when I came to live in Stoke on Trent. She was extremely intelligent and followed me everywhere or rode on my shoulder. I was in my early thirties when I painted this. It was acrylic on canvas. Called familiar friends.
She purrs
She sleeps
She loafs.
Upon my bed
In the warm.
No space for me
My feet
My hands
My body
My head
Overcome by a cat!
My Cat is black and white so when he comes in from the rain he often looks like an otter. He’s like that tonight but it’s too dark to get a decent photo so here’s a little illustration I did of a cat walking through the rain… He looks very fed up!
What is good about having a pet?
Cats calm me,
Relax me..
But they trip me up
Knead my stomach
Paw my face
Insist on tasting my food…
But they make me laugh
Purr at me
But then they jump up
On cupboards
Climb up trees
Lie on the stairs
Entertain me,
Keep me company
Cost too much at the vets
Give me love. X
I did this years ago. I still love this little watercolour doodle. I splashed blue paint onto the paper then I think I added the cat… I loved adding his frowny face. Poor cat, getting soaked. X
My old cat seems to be a bit better, he’s eating more and has gone back on to solid foods. He is more friendly and active too.
I thought his life was over, but he’s somehow stabilised. I’m hoping he keeps going, as long as he’s not in pain. The anxiety has settled a bit in me too. I don’t worry about going out as much now. I can’t explain the relief I feel. And he’s getting lots of love. He’s lying on the mat near the heater at the moment. Paws tucked under. Typical loaf position.
Boi he’s big
My big cat,
He’s also fat
Paws stretch
From here to
Eternity
Claws my ankles
While I sleep.
Pulls the bed sheets
Over him.
So my feet freeze
Cat
Sweet
Cheeky
Don’t sneeze!
A soul, a soul, a soul cake,
Please good missus, a soul cake…..
Endlessly ringing through my head. We were singing this minor key song this evening at choir and it’s turned into an ear worm….
When I went to bed a few hours ago I was determined not to be kept awake by intrusive thoughts. I was going to think of the word ‘the’ over and over again to keep my mind on the straight and narrow path to slumber. It almost worked, but the ‘the’s’ started to form into the Soul cake tune, and soon it took over.
It didn’t help that I’d gone to bed on an almost empty stomach, not feeling well, I’d decided just to eat a couple of sandwiches, and I was being kept awake by the feeling of hunger. I’ve come downstairs for something and ended up eating a tub of curried noodles.
Now I’m sitting in my armchair wondering what to do. I can hear traffic outside and the patter of rain on the ground by my front door, almost like the soft sound as a cat licks itself before settling down to sleep.
Maybe I’ll stay downstairs and hope that I can doze, or go back to bed and try and sleep with the radio murmuring softly. Insomnia is not my friend.
Soon it will be dawn again, things to do. But with the change of the clocks I always feel jet-lagged, unsettled, trying to find my comfortable place.
Maybe writing here, using my thoughts of other things will clip the earworm and stop the repetitive tune. I do hope so. Goodnight.
Mallaband-Brown