Category: Cats!

Soupy Says Goodbye to the Giant Gnomes

Previously:
Project Giant Gnome
Three Feet Tall
Kinda Done but Not Really
Giant Gnome has a Big New Friend

Just as I’m about to ship the giant gnomes off to Seoul, Soupy finally cozies up to the big guys.

soupy_giantgnomes

Today I’m going to “deflate” them by removing all the stuffing, so that they’re more compact for international shipping. Then once I arrive in Seoul later in May, hopefully they will be waiting for me to stuff them back up and put them in a show at Everyday Mooonday!

By the way, they now have names! Alfred (in the blue shirt) and Omelet (in the green).

Big thanks to Lion Brand for providing the yarn for this epic knitting project. The full show announcement and info are coming soon!

Tired Turkey

It’s become a tradition for me to post a picture of one of my cats looking vaguely turkey-like on Thanksgiving Day. I think we can all relate to this tuckered-out turkey!

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Today I am giving thanks for an awesome husband and two adorable cats, for my larger family and friends, for my assistant Maureen, for art and music and creative encounters, and for getting to do what I love for a job. And anyone who happens to be reading this post, thank YOU for being here and sharing Mochimochi Land with me.

Stay safe this weekend, don’t get into any Black Friday fights, remember to submit your photo contest entries by Monday, and also check back on Monday for the reveal of our 2014 holiday pattern!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Soupy in a Mustache

It’s finally happened: Soupy has given in to the facial hair trend.

soupy_mustache

I especially love this photo because Soupy’s whiskers are also prominently sticking out, giving him the effect of a double mustache. How dapper!

The anthropomorphic mustache is from the Chicago-based plush company Shawnimals.

Soupy and Nipsey’s Outdoor Adventure

Over the past few days we finally experienced what felt like our first absolutely perfect weekend in our new Chicago home. We celebrated by taking Soupy and Nipsey outside for the very first time.

Being sheltered indoor cats, Soupy and Nipsey’s only prior experience with the great outdoors has always been through an open window, or occasionally through the door of a cat carrier as they were taken to the vet. But now we have a backyard for them to play in, so we got a cat tent!

The outdoor adventure got off to a slow start as both cats preferred to say in their carriers for a while.

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Then they got brave!

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Nipsey turned out to be the bravest, spending 15 minutes out of his carrier cautiously stepping around the tent and sniffing the air constantly before ducking back in, then coming out for another 15 minutes or so. He did this a few times.

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John and I made lots of encouraging noises and gave pep talks, while trying not to be pushy cat parents.

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Soupy also made it out once or twice, but he generally preferred the familiar comfort of the carrier.

They spent an hour or so in the tent before we decided it was time to go back inside. I can’t wait to try this again and see how it goes. I wonder if any of you out there have taken your indoor cats out in a similar way?

These exciting cat adventure photos also remind me that today is the last day for entries in our 2014 Photo Series Contest! So don’t forget to add your series to our Flickr group by midnight tonight for them to be eligible. We’ll be announcing the winners soon!

Fresh Air

The warmer weather this week is one reason that the blog has been a little quiet. Yesterday this happened for the first time this year!

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Not only are Soupy and Nipsey excited to smell the fresh air, it’s like they’re getting to smell their new Chicago neighborhood for the first time, since it’s been mostly very cold since we moved here. Hooray for spring!

Bonus bathtub shot with Nipsey!

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Happy Catsgiving

I’ve decided that it’s now a Thanksgiving tradition to share a photo of one of my cats impersonating a turkey.

nipsey_turkey

Nipsey just needs the sides and he’ll be all set!

I have so many things to be thankful for this year: healthy family and friends, a supportive husband, a nice home in a new city, and all of you who give me joy and inspiration and make my job possible. Thank you!

Lots of less fortunate people are dealing with hardship and loss right now. If you can, today’s a great day to give to organizations like Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross, and the UN Refugee Agency.

And this would be the post-turkey scene in our household.

soupy_turkey

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And Happy Hanukkah too!