Is it the weekend yet?

I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling a bit like this meerkat today. Thank goodness it's almost the weekend.

For Your Monday

Image source.

This is too funny! via Cup of Jo.

Do you remember your dreams? I don't.

Confessions of a reluctant father.

How to pronounce artists' names.

The cutest couple in the animal kingdom.

Happy Caturday!

 Paul George, Paulette and the Cat, 1983, oil on canvas

 Detail:

(Apologies for the not so excellent photo quality. I snap the picture with my iphone at the Portland Art Museum)

Oceanside Getaway

  

This past weekend our friends the Holloways invited us out to their beach house with them.  We only stayed for one night, but it was such a nice break from our normal routine. The weather was super stormy the day we arrived, so besides a quick run to the local brewery for lunch, we stayed comfy cozy inside. 

  

The benefit of the bad weather was a beautiful sunset. 

Gussie is starting to become so social. She loved watching the girls play and had some of her biggest belly laughs to date. The girls were so sweet with her, bringing her different toys to play with and always being gentle.  It's nice to think of them growing up together and sharing lots of memories.

I love how adorable Sasha is in this photo! She looks so proud of herself for holding Gussie.

Thanks for a great weekend Holloways!

Pets on Furniture

Every year, Modernica (a modern furniture manufacturer in Los Angeles) hosts the contest Pets on Furniture where you can submit a photo of your pet on, you guessed it, furniture for a chance to win one of Modernica's great pieces.  We entered the above photo of Jack. There are lots of great entries this year, including Andrew and Whitney's cat, Butters.

Check out the submissions and vote for your favorite here!

I Can Haz Ceiling Cat?

Oh dear, another fail for Sochi's building codes. This time it's a cat failing through the Adler Arena's (the skating venue) ceiling. Hope the little bugger is okay.

For Your Monday

These flowers are to die for! Image source.

The Belmont Goats saga continues.

Ah, this is what makes the Olympics so great.

Also in Olympic news, an illicit Starbucks.

7 steps for the perfect cup of coffee. Lucky for me, Ian has these down pat.

Loving this Portland cottage. 

Happy Caturday!

Bad cat!

My Bird Convention Explained

It looks like someone else also experienced a bird convention in their yard. And here's the reason why.

For Your Monday

Image source.

The ten wildest opening ceremony outfits.

Teaching creativity.

Glad to see Jack the Bulldog is making friends. Hoya Saxa!

In case you were worried, the Belmont goats survived the snowstorm in comfort. Oh Portland...

This made me laugh. Poor guy, who knew flowers were so complicated?

Another Bird Post

I know I just posted about birds yesterday, but I had to share these photos I snapped of a little hummingbird. Isn't he cute!? I was taking pictures of the ice-coated plants in our yard and only noticed the guy when he started moving around. What a treat!

Augusta Jean, Baby Model

I was taking some photos of Gussie the other day, and let me tell you, she's really upped her game. She was working the camera, framing her face with her hands, and looking like an all around baby model professional.  I think she's ready for the cover of Vogue ;).

Happy Caturday (aka the greatest day in Jack's and Lola's lives)

Yesterday, our front yard was taken over by birds! We've never had so many at once! I think at one point Ian counted about 20 in the tree (mostly robins).  Maybe something to something to do with the snow? We have two trees in the yard, one is a Dogwood and I'm not sure what the other one is, but it has little black berries that the birds have been eating. I think with the snow cover the birds were have trouble finding other food options, so they decided to stick close to the berry tree?  Anyway, it provided all day entertainment for the whole family, but especially the cats.

  We even had a few exotic birds. Several cedar waxwings (so pretty!)...

...And a varied thrush

I wonder if they'll be back tomorrow?

Francis Bacon "Three Studies of Lucien Freud"

Last November, Francis Bacon's triptych "Three Studies of Lucien Freud," became the most expensive painting to sell at auction, ever. The painting was purchased anonymously and about a month after the sale, the Portland Art Museum made the surprising announcement that it would have the work on view through March 30th.  Ian and I had been meaning to go see it for weeks and finally got around to it while Ian's mom was in town. Close friends, Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon are among the preeminent painters of the 20th century. "Three Studies of Lucien Freud," is typical of Bacon's work: a lone, emotionally charged, figure set on a flat and abstracted background. The figure is rendered almost grotesque with expressive brushwork and palette. It is a work that hits you immediately with its intensity, but takes a while to sink in (I'm still trying to process it). I recommend a thoughtful piece written by the museum's director of education and public programs about how to engage with "Three Studies of Lucien Freud" and other masterpieces.

Just Because

I love the soft pale peachy color of this rose, don't you?

Sochi Fails

Have you guys seen the live tweets from journalists arriving in Sochi for the winter games? Yikes! Pretty outrageous that the Olympics are being held there for so many reasons. I just hope nothing too disastrous happens...

Thanks Ian, for passing along this link!

For Your Monday

Image source.

The Williamsburg of Portland is Portland.

Crazy!

I'm putting this on my wish list.

Alain de Botton's thoughts on "the news."

Would you try this? The combination of a bad bout of insomnia and a baby who wakes up 3-5 times a night has me willing to try anything to get some sleep...

Happy Caturday!

We were out for a family walk around our neighborhood and noticed this little cat keeping a close eye on us. Can you spot him?