Happy Halloween!

A Photographic Eye

The Art of psycheleyn

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Contemplations

I have read several posts and articles of late about disconnecting from the grid and from the mind set of our current society. 

I'm first going to point you to a great post about a woman who for the course of more than 3 months disconnected herself from the interwebs. Click here to read what Chris Holly wrote!

Next is an article about staying connected. But not via technology, but the old fashioned way -  by spending time face-to-face with other humans. Click here to read what Michelle Nijhuis wrote about living in an off-grid community.

In the September 28th edition of The Sunday Stew, The Good Green Witch wrote about the disposable world we now live in. And how this 'disease' is spreading in great leaps and bounds.

And finally, I ran across a book entitled, "As In the Heart, So In the Earth" by Pierre Rabhi . I haven't read the book but the synopsis sounds right on the money - ecology can only flourish where there is spirituality. A desert in the mind and soul of humanity will subsequently cause a desert on Earth.

I wondered if these ideas were all connected. Maybe. 
I could get into a long complicated theory of isolationism, consumerism, and probably half-a-dozen other "isms". But I'll spare you my soapbox speech and just say, it is NOT healthy for us or the planet to become isolated from each other and what is happening in and to the World around us is certainly not healthy.  Limit that 'screen' time and get outside more! Spend some time talking to your neighbor - face to face! Go hug a tree or walk barefoot through the grass (or sand or dirt). Practice a deliberate way of Life. And your soul will be nourished - and so will Mother Earth's! 

Glass Knitting

The art of Carol Milne

Cat Tales ~ New Trick

Whoever said an Old Dog Human can't learn a new trick or two was wrong!

And Me can prove it!

But let Me start at the beginning...

Mommy's big 'puter recently stopped computing. Mommy was bummed. So Daddy got her a new one. This one is different from the old one. It has a fancy window that let's a person use their paw hand to control the pictures shown. It also has a different sort of brain - more 'advanced' said Mommy. But Mommy has been muttering a lot under her breathe when she uses it. Mommy said it would take her some time to get used to it and Daddy has been teasing her about 'Old Dogs and New Tricks'. That's usually when Mommy throws something at Daddy and Daddy walks away laughing.

Well, that got Me thinking. Could Me possibly teach an old dog or human a new trick or two? So when Mommy was busy, Me got on the new 'puter and did some research about teaching 'new tricks'.  And then Me put into action what Me learned.

First Me squalled to go outside. Then Me jumped up on the shelf by the front door and pushed the big white button. A bell sounded inside and Mommy came to the door. Mommy was so surprised that Me was there. Mommy let me in,exclaiming what a Smart Kitty I was. Me rubbed against Mommy's leg and purred real loud.

A little while later, after Me's nap, Me squalled at the door to go out. Mommy let Me out. After Me took another nap in a nice Sun Puddle, Me jumped up on the shelf and pushed the big white button that makes the bell ring inside. Mommy came to the door once again. Mommy told Me how Cute Me is and how Smart Me is. Me rubbed against Mommy's leg.
So, after Me got a bite to eat and used the litter box, Me squalled once more to go out. Mommy muttered something about needing to hire a doorman as she walked to the door. After Me had inspected the perimeter of the yard, Me once again pushed the big white bell button. This time when Mommy opened the door, she was muttering. Mommy must've been working on the new 'puter.....

Me has managed to teach Mommy to come to the door when me wants in. Me reinforced this new training with ample leg rubs and flashing Mes cute eyes. So take heart all you Kitties out there! It is possible to train your Human, no matter the age!

And on a side note.......Me found the new 'puter quite easy to use. Me just used Mes paw, and even Mes tail, to make the 'puter compute. Me doesn't see why Mommy has a problem...

Purz and Catnip Dreams.......Gomez

Bejeweled Skullduggery

The art of Attilio Codognato

Road Trip ~ Leaf Peeping

Cat Tales ~ REALLY?

*** This is a reprint of a Guest post Gomez wrote for my other blog, Embracing the Elements. Gomez always has something to say... ***

Mommy has been talking to Us Kitties about the changes that will happen next year. She said Wes are going to move back to the country (well, actually she said to the mountains but that's like the country in my book!) but we weren't going to be living in a conventional house. She said that Wes going to lives in something called a TIPI. Then Mommy showed Mes this picture.

Mommy said that the tipi Wes would be living in would be much, much larger than this. Mes wondering why Me can't have Mes own Tipi....

She said that there would be a wood stove in  the winter to curl up next to. And sunny rocks to bask on in the summer sun. And Catnip growing in the Aspen Grove. 

Sounded like Heaven to Me until Mommy said that We would have a job to do. REALLY?

Me? A job? Me thought Mes job was to curl up next to the wood stove and soak up the heat or to bask in the sun or to monitor the growth of the Catnip.

Mommy said that We Kitties would have to catch the Vermin that would sneak into the Tipi. REALLY?

Me catch bugs and mice? REALLY? 

Does Mommy not realize that Me cannot catch "Vermin"? That is a project for the younger Kitties. Mes job is to SUPERVISE the catching of the Vermin! 

Me thinks Me needs to have a talk with Mommy!

Purz and Catnip Dreams.......Gomez

Frighteningly Whimsical

The Art of John Zellner

Weird Wednesday ~ Glow in the Dark Plants

What if plants could glow, like a firefly, at night and we would no longer have a need for power consuming street lights?

image source

This is the brain child of Daan Roosegaarde, a designer and developer who advocates the use of bio-luminescence as an alternative energy source.  Roosegaarde promotes the technology of Dr. Alexander Krichevsky, who splices bioluminescence properties into the DNA of plants. Dr. Krichevsky has successfully created plants which will absorb sunlight and then glow for approx. 8 hrs at night. The only drawback, so far, is that the plants have a short lifespan.

Click Here to Read More!

Click Here to go to the Bioglow site!