Happy (Early) Gotcha Day to Shimshi: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Hallo there, Effurrybuddies!

I, the Mighty Shimshon (Shimshi for short) am back again - the Little Purrince, Furrst of My Name, Master of the Queen's Mischiefs and Captain of the Guard -  to lead My Fellow J-Cats on this weekend's blog hops: the Caturday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Snoozies Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightfully and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

It's My Turn because - well, it's My Turn this week, since Caspurr led Us on last week's blog hops and Trixie, the week before. But it works out furry nicely, because this coming Thursday is My Gotcha Day, May 15th, so I can take the op-purr-tunity to invite you all to My Pawty up in the Enchanted Forest at 4pm, Israel Summer Time. You know the drill by now, right? Coordinates will be sent to your transportation devices later in the week.

Thursday evening is also Lag Ba'Omer, so We can celebrate that too.

And now for the bloggie hops. 

We have chosen three mewtiful pawtraits of Me, all of which have been artified with LunaPic's lovely filters.

Furrst up, here I am relaxing on the sofa next to Mummy, trying to get her to look at ME, rather than at whatever stupid programme She was watching on TeeVee - and obviously succeeding, by dint of being impawssibly cute (mol):

Since I was so impurressed by Trixie's Negative selfie a few weeks ago, I asked Mummy if We might achieve something similar for Myself. This is the result, using the Negative filter at full strength, followed by an overlay of Night at 23%:

Next, here I am all wide-eyed on the bed, with such a purrty coverlet to enhance the artiness even of the Original picture:

For this one, We chose a truly artsy-fartsy blend of Smoke at 70% followed by Beauty at 51%:

For My third selfie, We chose this stately pawtrait of Myself enjoying a Sun-Puddle on the sofa, It would have been a much bigger Sun-Puddle, only Mummy pulled down the shutters so She could see the TeeVee better:

It was only Right and Natural that this last one be artified with the Sunshine filter at 64%, with an overlay of Dark at 32%:

But We're not quite finished yet. In honour of My Gotcha Day on Thursday, We dropped in on PhotoFunia to create a Gold Commemorative Coin:

So, dear Furriends - which do you like best?

Now, here are the blog hop badges:

        

Before We go, since today is Mother's Day in the USA, where many of you live, We wish you and your HuMoms a Happy Mother's Day.

Don't forget to join Us on Thursday up in the Enchanted Forest. Since the Summer seems to be upon Us (it's 31 degrees C here!), it's going to be a Picnic and Barbecue. Anyone willing to come a bit early and help set up the Bar will be welcomed with open paws (but don't feel obligated, come when you can).

That's it for now. See you all next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel.

Till then, be well. Be safe. We love you all.

May the 4th Be With You: Caspurr's Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Greetings, Effurryone!

As you can see, I am back again - Me, Sir Caspurr the Courageous, the Caspicatious, Furrst of My Name, The Snuggle-Bug, Commander-in-Chief of the Impurrial Forces, King of the Tigger-Tabbies. It falls to My Lot today to lead My Fellow J-Cats on this weekend's blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

We have had a furry eventful few days. The Evil Humans in Yemen, with whom We have no common border nor any quarrel really (apart from the fact that they keep firing ballistic missiles at Us) fired several of said missiles at Us over the past week, including this morning! Nobody was seriously hurt, fortunately, but We can't keep trusting to luck or to Divine Providence!!! Then on Wednesday, the day before Independence Day (on Miaowmorial Day, in fact), there were huge forest fires in the Jerusalem Hills - some of them apparently started deliberately by terrorists. It took the firefighters a day and a half to get them under control and they caused a lot of damage. This also caused the cancellation of the beacon-lighting ceremony at Mt. Herzl, which always marks the start of Independence Day the evening before, because you can't have a ceremony involving beacons and fireworks displays without Fire Brigade supervision and, of course, there was no purr-sonel to spare, as they were all busy fighting the Raging In-furr-no! So they decided to broadcast the recording of the previous day's Dress Rehearsal instead. And of course Some People weren't happy about that either because Some People will always find something to complain about!

Now, to the business at hand. We chose three pawtraits of Me, but We had some trouble with the artifications because there seems to be some kind of outage on LunaPic. It hasn't affected effurrything, and it only happened after Mummy had already artified the furrst picture, but for the second picture, She went over to PhotoFunia. For the third, She thought She would try BeFunky, but it wouldn't let her save anything unless She upgraded to a paid account, so She went back to LunaPic and made do with what was available. Tell Us what you think of the results.

Furrst of all, here is a picture of Me enjoying My Own Couchie again, now that Uncle D. is no longer here (he flew back to England on Wednesday - and he was lucky to make it to the airport in light of the fact that the fires caused the closure of Route 1, the main motorway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and even of the railway which runs directly between Jerusalem and the airport).

Yes, furriends, it's nice to be able to sleep on One's Own Couchie and eat in one's own room again - though We do miss Uncle D.

And here is Mummy's artsy-fartsy creation, using LunaPic's Neon and Glow effects at 69% and 52% respectively:

Next up, here I am getting in Mummy's face up close and purrsonal as Mummy watches tries to watch TeeVee:

For this one, We dropped in on PhotoFunia and after trying several filters, none of which We found acceptable, We used the Watercolours effect:

Actually, We also tried one of their Cloudy filters, but that didn't seem quite right either:

For My final selfie, We went back to LunaPic. The AI art effects were still down, but the filters seemed to be working.  Here is the original picture:

And here is the artified version, for which We used the Surreal Painting filter, with an overlay of the Skeletor effect at 15%:

As We mentioned before, We aren't really satisfied with any of these, but We did Our Best.

And here, now, are the blog hop badges:

        

Before We go, We want to remind you (as if you needed a reminder - MOL) that today, May 4th, is Star Wars Day.

We will be back again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. Till then, be well. Be safe. We love you all!

And - MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!

Independence Day: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies with Trixie

Greetings, Effurrybody!

This is ME, Queen Trixie, Furrst of My Name, Empurress of Jerusalem, Israel and the Entire Middle East, Queen of Hearts, the Panfur Princess, Guardian of the Boudoir and Alpha Kitty Extraordinaire!

I am here to lead My Fellow J-Cats on this weekend's blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Snoozies Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Deliciously and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

As usual, We have chosen three new pawtraits of MOI, each of which has been artified with a combination of LunaPic filters. All three were taken within the space of a couple of minutes, during which time I was rudely awakened by the Pawpawrazzi, photographed and then went right back to sleep.

So, here is the furrst picture, in which I was barely awake:

   

The artification here was achieved with a combination of Clown at 24% and Dark at 53%. Only it wasn't dark enough for Me. I hate having the light in My Eyes when I am trying to sleep - don't you? I tried to cover them with My Paws, but it didn't really help.

I had a little Stretch then, in an effort to wake up sufficiently to pose, because to be honest, I feel that if one MUST have one's pawtrait taken, one should at least be looking one's best - wouldn't you agree?

This time, We used the Beauty and Graffiti Art effects at 63% and 16% respectively, to artify the photo:

Finally, I rolled onto My back and stuck My Feets in the Air, and simply went back to sleep:

The artsy-fartsy effects in this last picture were obtained by overlaying the Dark filter (60%) with the completely contrasting Nouveau filter (39%), thus adding plenty of colour to balance the Dark:

In the background, you can see two of My Pawcelain Dolly sisters, Miss Dorothea and Miss Laura.

And here, before We forget, are the blog hop badges:

        

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Right after Pessach, Uncle D. went to stay with Auntie N. and Uncle B., who live in another neighbourhood of Jerusalem - so We have Our Room back again, although, of course, We would all have been happy if he had stayed with Us a little longer. Later this week, he will be returning to England and We won't see him again for at least six months, assuming he comes (as he usually does) for the High Holy Days.

It's a pity he can't stay a few more days, to be with Us for Independence Day (or, as We kitties call it - Yom Ha'atzmiaow'ut). Though, to tell the truth, none of Us feels much like celebrating this year...

In spite of that, We will be having Our Customary Independence Day Picnic on Thursday afternoon, May 1st, at 2:30 pm Israel time, up in the Enchanted Forest, and of course, you are all invited. The co-ordinates have, of course, been sent directly to your Transportation Devices.

Cod-Willing, We will be back again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. Till then - be well. Be safe. We love you all.

Happy Easter: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Greetings, Effurrybody!

Happy Easter to all those who are celebrating it!

Today, strictly speaking, it is Trixie's Turn to repurresent the J-Cats on the weekend blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful, Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet. But since it has been two whole weeks since We last posted, We are bringing you artified selfies of all three of Us.

Furrst of all, Queen Trixie, as it is Her Rightful Turn this week. Here she is with her Headlamps turned on at full power:

And here is the artified version. All We did was simply turn it into a negative. Not that Trixie could effur be described as anything but Entirely Pawsitive (mol):

Next up, here is Caspurr, with a Sunday Snoozie:

This one was artified with Lunapic's Sunshine filter, at 52%:

Last, but by no means least, here is Shimshi, who celebrated his 11th Birthday last Thursday, April 17th:

And here is an artsy-fartsy version, using the Landscape and Dark filters, at  79% and 39% respectively:

Finally, here is an Easter card from Trixie, who, as We said, should rightfully be leading the J-Cats on the blog hops this week:

All the art was made with the help of LunaPic, with the exception of the Easter card, for which We used PhotoFunia.

Next week, We hope to be returning to the Normal Order of things. 

Tomorrow, Mummy has another field-trip, and there is no telling when She will actually get round to writing about it, She's so busy these days. She has only just posted about her last outing, at the end of March!!!

Now, before We Mummy forgets, here are the blog hop badges:

        

See you all again next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel!

Till then - be well. Be safe. We love you all.

Prepurring for Pessach with Shimshi: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Greetings, Effurrybuddies!

It's Me again, the Mighty Shimshon (Shimshi for short). The Little Purrince, Fursst of My Name, a.k.a. The Baby Mancat, Master of the Queen's Mischiefs, and Captain-of-the-Guard. I am here to repurresent my Fellow J-Cats on this weekend's blog hops -  the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie, and the Sunday Selfies blog, hosted by the Deliciously and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

This week, We welcomed the arrival of Mummy's brother, Uncle D. (to whom We graciously gave up Our Room). He has come for Pessach (Passover) and will be here the whole month (although he may go to stay with Mummy's sister Auntie N. at some stage).

We picked out a couple of selfies this week, which We artified in many different ways. Let's start off with the originals.

In this furrst picture, I was proving to Mummy that despite still being - how does She put it? Somewhat -well, Rotund - I can still touch My Toesies.

In the second selfie, We used the Wide frame angle on Mummy's meowbile phone, which made my ears look big and my arm furry long:

Then We found a couple of frames on PhotoFunia so Mummy could always keep these photos on her dressing-table:

I don't know about you, but purr-sonally, I feel these frames are more suited to autumn or winter, so I made Mummy take me over to LunaPic, where We artified the pawtraits in a much more Spring-like spirit. 

The furrst one, where I was demonstrating my toe-touching prowess, We artified with Dawn at 64%, with an Acid overlay at 16%:

The second one, which Mummy thought looked quite artful as it was, given the unusual angle, was given a touch-up with Courtisane at 59%, followed by K2 Art at 32%:

But it didn't end there. Mummy took Us back to PhotoFunia, where We created Greetings cards for Pessach:

I know they look like Easter eggs, but hardboiled eggs are also a traditional part of the Passover Seder, which will take place next Caturday night, April 12th.

Before Pessach, however, We have two other impawtant events to celebrate. This Tuesday, April 8th, Mummy will be celebrating her gazillionth Birthday. And on Furriday, April 11th, We will be celebrating Caspurr's Gotcha Day with a big picnic at 2pm Israel time, up in the Enchanted Forest. You know the drill - and are all invited. 

Here, now, are the blog hop badges:

        

Since next Sunday is Pessach, and Mummy stays away from the Computer on Shabbat and Holy Days, We will most likely not be here till the week after next - same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. 

To those of you who celebrate Pessach - Chag Sameach - חג שמח!

And to those of you who will be celebrating Easter in two weeks time - Happy Easter!

Whatever you celebrate - be well. Be safe. We love you all!

Stolen Hours: Caturday Art and Sunday Selfies

Greetings, Effurryone!

Sir Caspurr the Courageous here, the Caspicatious, Furrst of My Name, the Snuggle-Bug, Commander in-Chief of the Impurrial Forces, King of the Tigger-Tabbies!
But you knew that already, didn't you?
I'm sure you remembered that We do things in turn here, and that it's MY Turn to lead My Fellow J-Cats on this weekend's blog hops - the Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the Wise and Beautiful Athena and her HuMum, Marie,  and the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Delightful and Predictably Unpredictable Kitties Blue and their HuMom, Janet.

This past week has been a busy one (for Mummy, at any rate. We kitties have too much sense to go tiring Ourselves out with so much Activity!).

She had a field-trip in the Western Shomron region, two choir practices AND an O-purra! And She arrived more than half an hour late at the O-purra because of &@#$%! demonstrators who caused absolute havoc in the streets of Tel Aviv - so much so that while it took her only an hour by car from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, it took another hour and a half stuck in traffic jams to reach the O-purra House. That meant She couldn't get to her seat until the interval and had to watch the furrst half from the Balcony. However, it wasn't a total disaster, because so many people were late that the performance itself was delayed by 15 - 20 minutes and so at least Mummy didn't miss any of her favourite arias - and the moment she sat down and let the Mewsic wash over her, all her anger dissipated - well, most of it, anyway.

Of course, since the O-purra started late, it also finished later than expected, so Mummy didn't get back to Jerusalem till almost midnight. And then She had to feed Us. And then She was hungry too and it was almost 2 am before She actually got to bed. Which, when you come to think of it, was kind of convenient, because at 2 am that night, the clocks went forward and Israel moved to Daylight Savings Time. 
So - I suppose that means She went to bed at 3 am!!! 

So, for the furrst of My Selfies, here is a picture of Me, keeping a watchful eye open, because I knew they were going to steal an hour of Mummy's Beauty Sleep (Cod knows She needs it - MOL) and I wanted to catch the Thief for her. But I must have blinked, because they got away again. Why does that always happen?

We made a lovely, artsy-fartsy version of this, using LunaPic's new Skeletor effect at 35%, followed by Dreaming at 20%.

My next selfie shows off My Tummy. When I was a little kitty, the heart-shaped belly patch was much more clearly defined, but - We know it's there, don't We? And if you don't - you will just have to take My word for it!

We artified this picture with the Barcelona effect at 36%, to which We added the Soft Lighting filter.  As far as We recall, We have not used Barcelona before, although it has been around for quite a while.

Finally, Mummy and I sometimes enjoy a spot of "Pillow Talk" - usually at what Mummy calls an Uncodly Hour (MOL):

This final pawtrait was artified with a single filter - Acid at 34%:

All three pawtraits will be on display at the National Gallery until after Pessach (Passover) which starts on Caturday night, April 12th.

Speaking of Pessach, of course, Mummy's brother, Uncle D., will be coming to Israel to spend the holiday with Us. In fact, he is arriving the day after tomorrow!

In case you missed it, Mummy blogged last week about some of the books She has been reading over the past few months, including the one We won on Erin's giveaway, so don't forget to take a look.

Time to wrap things up now, so that Mummy can do her boring old Human things, like hanging up the laundry, and resting before Caterwauling Practice. Before We go, here are the Blog Hop Badges:

                

See you all next week, same Cat Time, same Cat Channel. Till then - be well. Be safe. We love you all.