Arithmecat

Does your cat do your taxes? No? Though we had hope, GG said nope. Off to the accountant. This funny illustration definitely helps our spirits though. [via Karen's Whimsey]

Ciao-cheeky-meow/GG's accountant

Tuesday at the Phillips with GG

GG is having a righteous rumpus. Her feline heart is set on becoming a patroness of the arts, particularly at the Phillips Collection. The day may come when we'll have to rent the café & throw her a big party. The Phillips Collection was voted Washington's best museum AND art gallery by City Paper readers recently. Some young'uns--the hordes of mid-20s-30ish folks recently descended upon our city--think they discovered it. Au contraire, nos amis. (Though we're happy to have you on board.)

The Phillips was a hang-out for GG's editor when she was still an official teenager, recently returned from France. "Meet you under the Matisse" meant she could be found sitting on a lumpy bottle-green velvet sofa in the music room (under a Matisse). We'd love to see GG sleeping on that sofa; we miss it terribly--including the lumps. The jewel-box space has become too manicured for our taste; but like an old friend--you still love them, even with (too much) Botox.

Some favorite paintings at the Collection are by Bonnard. Above, The Palm & La Côte d'Azur, respectively. The museum goer (looking just like GG's editor) is by Nina Leen. She's trying to divine from an egg-shaped objet d'art, "What will the Easter Bunny bring GG?"

ciao-meow/GG's art curator & party planner

[Bonnard images via artchive.com & Nina Leen photograph via LIFE archives]

Made4Aid Monday - Spring Lecture Edition

Update: Monday afternoon: Photographs have disappeared from both of our blogs; we do not know what is going on but we are most irritated. We will try to upload over time. Cheers & we hope the same is not happening on your sites. The Management

Peeps! Please do not tarry--race over to Made4Aid. At least tell them how much you care about their work. Everyone needs a pat now & again. Look here at Rod, another creature by UK-based The Devil Makes Work. You could give him a home.

Also, there is a gorgeous blue, window-paned handmade bag; two beautiful hanks of hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn; & a marvellous selection of photography cards. The cards are not by auction but a set price.

It's so very easy to participate in this. GG's editor hears from nervous Nellies about bidding & paying. Stop yer whinin'. If you're in North America, you can write a check (or cheque, if thou preferest). There's PayPal. Whatever. We know very well that those who have e-mailed buy things on-line nearly every bloody week. Do we sound annoyed? We are. Well, OK, GG is asleep (presently).

Soon, there will be a break at Made4Aid & perhaps it will return in another format. Meanwhile, these items are available through 3 April 2010.

ciao-peevish-meow/GG's editor

[all images via Made4Aid/all rights reserved/used by kind permission]

In Darfur - Theater J Production

Based on true events, this impeccably researched chronicle of the unfolding genocide in Sudan is a searing story of humanitarian urgency and compromised journalistic ethics. Can one woman's story stand for the plight of a nation? And what are the costs of mobilizing world opinion?*

The production begins with two pay-what-you-can shows, 31 March & 1 April. The run continues through 18 April 2010. For box office information, click here. Beyond-the-Stage free discussions will take place throughout the run; here is the schedule. (Ms. Winter Miller, the playwright, & director Derek Goldman will be at the 4 April discussion.)

If you cannot see the play for any reason, please do consider one of the discussions. Hope to see you there!

*This production includes loud gunshots and depicts intense scenes of physical violence. Not recommended for children younger than 13.

[images via Theater J & MiaFarrow.org]

Walking the Old City - Week's End

In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls,

I walk from one epoch to another without a memory

to guide me...-by Mahmoud Darwish

[photograph via we heart it, unattributed from an unidentified tumblr acct. Tell us if it's yours; we'd love a dove hair ornament]

Alice & the Red King Dreaming

Made4Aid's auction item this week is donated by Susan Sanford, of ArtSpark Theatre

Look what GG's editor just bid on. It's gorgeous...look at those colors. Care to make it interesting? It's less money than you think, including shipping.

From the Made4Aid blog:

Susan has for some time been delighting blogland with her photography series of Alice in Wonderland and through the Looking Glass. She's produced a calendar and just recently a book "Dreaming Alice"... and this is the photographic print she has donated to made4aid, which is entitled : Alice and The Red King Dreaming.

ciao-curious-meow/GG's editor

[image via Made4Aid/all rights reserved/used by kind permission]

Wednesday Wishes

GG wants to go to a Paris puppet show like these darlings. Now, that was a real edge-of-the-seat show!

ciao-meow/GG's editor

[Famous but always fun photographs by Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1963, LIFE archives]

The Writing on the Wall

"President Barack Obama's signature is seen a health classroom wall at Southwest High School in Green Bay, Wisc., June 11, 2009. The staff at the school, where the President attended a town hall meeting on health care, left a note asking him to sign the wall for future students to see." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

See here for the White House's Health Reform: A Year in Photos.

ciao-meow/GG's Health Care Advisor

Pussy's London Life

There's a bit of mystery here at GG Central. We love these illustrations in the LIFE archives, but find very little information about Mrs. Laura Valentine, English author of Aunt Louisa's Birthday Gift. Or is she? It is also listed that one C.E. Bowen is the author. GG has ordered an investigation; meanwhile, we wish to show our friends these illustrations. If you go here you'll see some horses, cows & sheep, ducks, a know-it-all rooster, more naughty dogs, & a cute squirrel named Frisky.

ciao-mysterious-meow/GG's editor

Three Little Birds

A rainy day here but also happiness that the House of Representatives passed the health care bill late last night. We still have a ways to go (another vote in the Senate tomorrow), so here's a great song to keep spirits high (GG loves it). Those of you elsewhere in the world, we're trying to join you in this commonsense venture. [photograph attributions, here]

ciao-reggae-meow/GG Central

Kitten Brain

It's a silly Sunday here, as you can clearly see!

ciao-goofy-meow/GG Central

[illustration via Please Obey, via we heart it]

Moving by Isabella - Week's End

Watch this mini-movie by Isabella who has the right attitude. (We must speak to GG about attitude.) Most of us don't like moving, even if it's to somewhere great. Just thinking of packing & moving makes our hair hurt. Isabella, whose mum is The English Muse, has a lovely way with the camera. Thanks for making us smile, Bella.

ciao-cheerio-meow/GG Central

[photograph via motley photos, via we heart it]

The End and the Beginning

After every war
someone has to clean up.
Things won’t
straighten themselves up, after all.

In the grass that has overgrown
causes and effects,
someone must be stretched out
blade of grass in his mouth
gazing at the clouds. - Wisława Szymborska

Entire poem, here.

[photograph by random images, via we heart it]

Here's to You & Yours

GG & her editor tip ears & glass, respectively, to you. Have a great holiday. We'll be playing lots of music, including Mary Black CDs. Here's Mary's website. Enjoy! (GG's editor has Irish song videos on her site, here.)

ciao-craic-meow/GG Central

[illustration via Vintage Holiday Crafts--an excellent public domain site]

Made4Aid - Adopt Alfred

Meet Alfred. He hails from the Outer Hebrides Islands; however, he is more than willing, even eager, to relocate. GG is envious of those fabulous ears.

From M4A's website: Alfred is a limited edition hand-made Creature, one of a kind - made for Made4Aid by Woo of The Devil makes Work Alfred is made of genuine Harris Tweed, which is woven by hand on the Outer Hebridean Islands North-West of Scotland. And he is stitched entirely by hand, with vintage button-eyes and a little mother-of-pearl vintage button heart. Alfred is nearly 4inches/10cm tall, excluding his ears. (Including ears: 7inches/ 17.l5cm). Alfred is not a toy, or intended for young children.

He is quite a character.

ciao-meow/GGCM

[photographs by Made4Aid/used by kind permission]

Ante Up for Africa in DC - Save the Date

The high-spirited folks from Ante Up For Africa will be in Washington, DC to raise funds for Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO), Enough Project, & Refugees International on April 14, 2010. Update: Here is Enough Project's blog announcement of registration for Ante Up.

Please visit Ante Up for Africa for details. GG wants to go, of course. (We do not expect an invitation but have yet to break this dreadful news. A disappointed orange cat is not a happy sight.)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

[image via lilitu/catland gallery]

Showers of Flowers - Week's End

April showers bring May flowers; however, it is raining cats & dogs right now & all weekend here. We assume that this rain will also be directed towards the approaching blooming season. This wonderful photograph was taken by English writer/photographer Susannah Conway. (She's a madly creative Polaroider, too.) Susannah created & teaches the popular Unravelling e-course, details here. Visit her at Ink on My Fingers. We think she could help us figure out how to wrest control of the house from GG. Or at least to let go...gracefully. Have a lovely weekend.

ciao-rosy-meow/GGCM

GG Goes Fishing

GG's editor thought about getting a goldfish (or two)...& then she saw this series of silhouettes on Karen's Whimsy (lower right hand column links). Nope. [No fish were harmed in the production of this post.]

ciao-gulp-meow/The Management

The Plum Plum

Even though GG is a feline, one of her favorite people is a very Clever Pup. Big news: The Clever Pup's artistry is available via her new shop The Plum Plum. See here for a hint about the name if you're in a fog. (We were & it's one of our favorite novels & film! Evidently, we need to do more crosswords.) Anyway, GG Central awaits an order of The Plum Tarts & we're quite interested in the new notebooks as well. Everything is very well-priced & there's more to come.

Yesterday while marketing, we looked at cards & pretty journals for this month's birthdays in GG World. They were quite nice but nowhere near as lovely those above (& they were twice the price, too). Congratulations to our pal, C-Pup!

ciao-woof-meow/GG & her editor

[collage of images from The Plum Plum/The Clever Pup-used by kind permission/all rights reserved]

Flora's Feast, A Masque of Flowers

"Walter Crane was a Victorian illustrator, designer, poet, teacher, Socialist, and painter whose advocacy of affordable colored picture books helped influence the look of nineteenth-century British children's literature." (from bookrags.com).

Look what we found in the LIFE archives...three of many images of Walter Crane's charming lithographs. We heartily approve of advocates of affordable books.

ciao-flowery-meow/GGCM

Bouquets of Yellow Mimosa on International Women's Day

To all our friends--near & far--on International Women's Day! We are reduced to using last year's illustration but we are no less sincere in our good wishes. For an Italian-American-living-in-Italy perspective, please visit one of our favorite blogs, Bleeding Espresso.

ciao-meow & baci! GG & her editor

Pasta for Pets - Week's End

If you don't laugh out loud at this then you need an attitude adjustment. This is Mr. Jack Turner, press photographer, Sydney, Australia in 1914. It was taken by our favorite dashing photographer, Sam Hood. Visit the State Library of New South Wales archives & be charmed. [cat genius typing masterpiece via LIFE archives, unattributed]

Now what's all this about pets, pasta? The Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) will have its annual spaghetti dinner on Saturday, 13 March 2010 at the Metropolitan Methodist Memorial Church on Nebraska Avenue, NW (near American University, yay, ahem).

ciao-macaroni-meow/GGCM

PS: If you can't be there, here's a recipe tribute to Lady & The Tramp.

Attention - GG Says Meow

All things feline. What's not to love? We Say Meow, here. [vintage illustration via Karen's Whimsy]

Villa Ada

This is one point of view, Giampaolo Macorig's, from one of Rome's largest parks. You can take a little visit, here. As for GG--she's sleeping in her little townhouse & she won't come out. Do we need to remind anyone that pouting is unattractive? Have a great evening.

ciao-meow/GG's put-upon editor

Chile - País de poetas

Isla Negra: Neruda's house Bell.. , originally uploaded by B'Rob.

Mexican peasant, our homeland, Ameríca, has magnificent mountains,/rivers, deserts and mines rich in minerals. Yet the inhabitants of this/generous land live in great poverty. What then should be the poet’s duty?”- Pablo Neruda

We hope that you will help this wonderful country & its people in whatever way you can. Here is a list of highly-rated humanitarian organizations working in Chile via Charity Navigator. Here is the Chilean Embassy's link with additional information. We know it is easy to become fatigued by so much bad news, but a small donation goes a long way--just make sure it goes to an organization that uses money wisely. Here is a link about Chilean poets.

ciao-subdued-meow/GG & her editor