The Quotable Thoreau

Be not simply good - be good for something.

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.

Beware of all enterprises that require a new set of clothes.

Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.

Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

If a man constantly aspires is he not elevated?

If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see.

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.

All this wordly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU 1817 - 1862

Name Your Strength

I forgot to mention that we have taken to calling the kittens Tumble and Blackie, but I also like Emily and Charlotte (after the Brontes, of course, though we leave out Anne) and occasionally some gibberish nick-name takes on each of these.

Some are concerned I am getting too attached... too late! Better I become attached and make a difference than close the door on this situation. You have to be strong to do any animal rights/rescue/welfare work. Especially considering the many detractors in the world at the ready to share their uninformed, unsolicited opinions.

Strength is in action, not words.

Abstract Picture Poem

Cute Stray, needs a home

Curious Cat wants to roam

Hungry Grey, finds free food

Orange Fluff, not in the mood

Neither curious nor concerned, just comfy.

On the Nature of Progress

At last! A bit of progress with the grey kitten. Last week I made a little bed for them inside an old planter... this week she seemed to discover it~ she eats, drinks, plays with my cats through the glass door and curls up in the little bed to rest, then eats again, etc...

Tonight I finally opened my door (my cats locked out of the room to avoid fur-flying fiasco) and SHE STEPPED INSIDE. After a month this may not seem like great progress, but she is stray and obviously some humans have been unkind to her. She is the friendliest of her sweet family - the rest tend to eat and run, even her little sister (the black kitten.) The Grey stepped in, sniffed around, meowed, stayed by the door, eventually went back out. I stayed relatively still on the other side of the room, ever patient, some day she is going to let me pet her, hold her, brush her and eventually find her (and pray the rest) a good home.

This is patient work, to love someone who won't let you near, and that when she finally does I'll have to let her go.

Currently Reading

I am delighted to be making my way through the pile of books I received for my birthday (eight more added to what was a pile of five unread, now down to nine, this system only works until I get in the mood to re-read something I already have, which happens often, therefore, the pile stays constant. As it should.


I am halfway through IRELAND, by Frank Delaney, and I want to find the author and make him a cake.

For bedside nonfiction reading I am still finishing VIVIEN by Alexander Walker, one of those table-browsing books that get me into trouble on payday. Vivien Leigh is someone I have found myself defending throughout my life, though I am not quite sure why.

Next on the pedestal will be either THE STOLEN CHILD by Keith Donohue or I, ELIZABETH by Rosalind Miles (a favorite author and subject!) and then maybe THE WICKED PAVILLION by Dawn Powell or KNIGHT LIFE by Peter David... but then there is that new copy of THE AGE OF INNOCENCE too... this birthday keeps on giving. So happy I was asked for that wish list.

Katrina Rescues

All I could do was send them money, but here is one of a series of pictures from the wonderful, dedicated animal rescue teams. They gathered all of the scared survivors into the back of this car, and look how well they got on. Break your heart!

Green Woods, Family, Butterflies

This is becoming something of a weekly, isn't it? I know, I know, but you know too... so busy, so busy.

This week past, however, we were on glorious (albeit brief) holiday. So beautiful!
We were greeted by a deer in the yard, always a good omen.

Saw lovable extended family, quality time with Mama, taught her new vegan recipes, loved up the cats at Mama's house (extended family also), bought fresh produce from a local farm, late night swimming, hiking, long walks, a requisite visit to my hometown public library (hallowed ground), fed hometown stray cat, spent a miraculous SIX minutes at the DMV renewing my ID, fed ducks, walked by the river, visited guitar shop, entertained neighborhood kids, even the carnival was in town! My favorite thing of all; waking up and drinking coffee on the deck that faces the woods, reading a book while dozens of birds are the only sound, and anywhere from six to sixteen butterflies flit around... Heaven...

... And the funny thing is, this was all in just two days. Long Amtrak rides filled the rest of our getaway~ but we made the most of that too... the backache is already gone! You know I love reading, but I have to say that when you are exhausted and have a ten hour trip, the portable DVD player is just wonderful. So comforting to put the seats back, the dual headphones on and watch The Simpsons, Frasier, Guinevere and The Philadelphia Story. What makes time pass better than TV? (well, the computer I suppose.)

Anyway we are back in the city appreciating our city things and city family and city cats. The butterflies can flit around in my head for now.

Have you placed your order?

I am not really a fan of Manga, but there was no hesitation in pre-ordering this. Due sometime in August... I will keep my hopes just high enough.

BEWARE THE EYEBEAMS!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life Passages and Raccoon Pictures

Such a crazy wonderful week. Wonderful birthday, one surprise on top of another~ I still haven't landed from being swept off of my feet. I am spoiled rotten by my family, friends, and my true love... I highly recommend family, friends and true love to all, please, if you don't have these things already, go and get them.

The bittersweetness of the week is that our dear friend R. is being moved from the hospital downtown to a rehabilitation center out past JFK. The goodness that he has healed from all surgeries and can now learn how to walk again; the badness that he is so far away from us that he will be lonely and visiting more than once a week will be very difficult. I will call him every day, at least, even when on the road... segue here...

And to add a little more crazy, in five hours we're leaving town for the week~ so much going on... I want a few more hours to sit on the porch with the stray cats, drink frosty cold drinks and read great books. Ah well... Amtrak is fun, too. More adventure! Yay!

At least I finally uploaded the raccoons... get ready...

Another Movie Surprise

I just accidentally discovered that there is a new movie version of THE MAGIC FLUTE, one of the most magical operas you'll ever see. Now, I do think everyone should see opera live, but this story is so compelling I would watch it without songs. There is a wonderful retelling in a book called Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey (the females have more character and power.)

There is no information here other than the director (Kenneth Branagh - he always makes things he truly loves so that is a good sign) and the cast list (happy to say no movie star names I recognize - no distractions from the story - good.)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475331/

Well ~ after a brief search I have learned that the story is being updated to World War I for this, but it will have the songs. Hmmmmmm... I hope they keep the magic intact. I am still adding it to my list of 2007 movies about which I am giddy.

This is pretty

I wish this was my backyard.

$2.00 Vacation

That's right, New York friends: Spend $2.00 on your subway fare and take the 7 Train to the last stop, and go to the Queens Botanical Gardens. Yes, the Bronx and Brooklyn Gardens are beautiful and amazing, but this one is FREE. You do not need money to enjoy so many things in this life.

And if you like trellises, well, then, get thee there at once! It is chock-full of trellises, alluding to the popularity of weddings held and photographed there. Over 10,000 couples have been married here.
Just one fun thing we did last week when we slept in too late to do the other fun things we had meant to do. Good times.

And Here Come the Raccoons!

Gracious, it has been some time since I have posted! Apologies, we had a vacation last week ~ lots of adventures and pictures forthcoming... but for now I must share with you...
RACCOONS.
I put out a plate for the stray kittens, five minutes later, fearless, beautiful, intimidating RACCOONS are about one foot from me and my curious cats inside, digging into prescription Weight Control catfood with those near-human raccoon paws. They were bigger than most of the dogs I know. I am so dumbfounded. RACCOONS? RACCOONS. Sorry for the repetition, it was just one of those "Am I really seeing this?" moments.
It reminds me of the time I saw the Crab Creature on the A train at 4am one night many years ago... but that is another story for another time...

A new catchphrase is coined! "Excuse me, I'm having a RACCOON MOMENT."