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.)
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.
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.
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. 
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.] 
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.
"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). 
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. 
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]
All things feline. What's not to love? We Say Meow, here. [vintage illustration via Karen's Whimsy]
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.
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
Dodging red dragons, leek-wearing hockey fans (we remain neutral in public), & poets declaiming Wordsworth (it's a pretty interesting neighborhood), we're off to purchase party supplies. Giulia remains in loaf mode, mooching about the house. She has appointed her editor as chief organizer of GG Central's St. David's Day Celebration (1 March 2010). This is not very sporting of her but she does not care because she is a cat. Therefore, without further ado, we present a gorgeous shot of two lovely daffodils & must run to the store. 
The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.-Zora Neale Hurston 
We're late! We have excuses! You don't care? OK, great. These brightly colored photographs are from last year's generous (& mysterious) waxOr. Hope you had a great time if you celebrated. We called friends in Louisiana & lived vicariously. Maybe next year we'll visit again. (And no, GG will definitely not be going to any Mardi Gras/Carnevale/Fasching festival. Never. Rome, si. London if they'd have her--fume. Strasbourg, oui. But not on a certain Tuesday in February. We must draw the line somewhere.) Buona sera, buona notte, bambini...
GG & her editor are back home after a week in exile from a freezing apartment. We're looking to spiff things up around here, mainly through sewing curtains & such. However, this project from design*sponge caught our eye. The idea is made all the more attractive by the impossibility of GG Vandalism. (OK, it was a mistake, those purple tulips all over the floor last night...fume). Go here for all the details. By Lindsay & Tayor of purr design, can you stand it? Wait until you see their logo. It was meant to be, GG. [photographs via design*sponge, by purr design] 
If you're in the Washington, DC area, Catapalooza II at the Washington Animal Rescue League is ON for Sunday. Stop by even if you're not adopting because the shelter is a great place to meet people, too. GG needs a lot of consoling today because she's had a very difficult week. Even her ears are drooping. Her editor will try to take her home very soon. (We promise, GG!) Meanwhile, she's lying on a sofa watching The AristoCats (at her friend Hermione's house) & pretending to be French.
This is what GG's editor told the feline in question about our lack of heat & so on. Her little paw pads were nearly frozen & she was squealing like a cornered rabbit. We were rescued on Monday evening & are in an undisclosed location. So far with power, coffee, books, & other amusements. Four days of below 40 degrees can leave two girls feeling mighty cranky & upset. (You have no idea.) We'll be posting on GG's editor's blog later & you can comment there if you like. Don't forget Haitians & Sudanese (among others, including your neighbors)!
GG Central is awaiting a snowpocalypse. We've imported mass quantities of GG food, tulips, & other necessities. Also, the ingredients for snow ice cream which we've not made for at least a decade. We'll report back over the weekend (if the power stays on). GG is asleep in her little house, wrapped in a Pringle of Scotland cashmere pullover. (Of course, she is, the lil devil.)
If you're in the Washington, DC-area (or will be on Valentine's Day), you might want to stop by the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) for the Second Annual Catapalooza Celebration. See here for last year's (longish) post. It was so much more fun than we thought it would be--it was very funny. Maria Caterina di Perugia, a friend of GG Central, even won the gift basket raffle. A great time was had by all. It's during the day, so you can attend to your Valentine later. Ahem. [photograph by Ralph Crane via LIFE Archives]
So Long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen, Tai Shan (from DCist).GG & her editor tried to avoid posting about this but we can't help it. We're big panda fans (forever!)...check out the link to see lots of terrific shots from the National Zoo farewell party for Tai Shan. He leaves for China Thursday morning on a special FedEx "Panda Express." Farewell, Butterstick. 
GG & her editor love this cool customer. He can pull off a vest, for sure. Makes us want a gin & tonic--if we drank G&Ts. GG continues to long for a playmate. This is as close as she'll get anytime soon.
While GG is busy attending to her ailing editor (lap sitting), we bring good news. Now go away. OK, a little joke. Please visit Made4Aid & see a number of lovely & varied bags for sale to benefit Haiti, via Oxfam, this week. This is a bit of a detour from their Darfur WFP project & a worthy one, of course. There is a very cool stripy laptop bag that beckons. There are also gorgeous photographs available for a set price. Please do visit & perhaps make a bid. It is easier than you can possibly imagine. We can vouch for them completely, having made three transactions last summer & autumn. All these auctions end on Sunday 31st January, 9pm New York time.
While we are (still) under the weather, we're still grazing for images. This little lamb is so cute (of course) but the amused facial expression sets it apart from other cute lamb photographs. GG still wants a little lamb following her about...it's not going to happen but she will meet a little lamb later in the spring. There will be photographs.
Yéle Haiti has announced a partnership among several organizations, including AmeriCares, called Haiti Earthquake Alliance. This is to avoid duplication of effort. Here is text from today's website (Friday, 15 January): 
Many of our friends around the world will awake to news of the major earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, late afternoon. News is still trickling out & there are few photographs yet. This photo was sent out from the AP, via Twitpic. Please go to World Vision, the Red Cross to see what you might do to help. More organization links as things become more organized. Here is the latest BBC link, & the latest New York Times link. UPDATE: Yéle Haiti Foundation now has a donation page.
A great woman & hero died yesterday at age 100. Please visit the Miep Gies & Anne Frank websites. You can leave condolences here. (Yes, we know that Miep famously said that she was not a hero but did what was necessary. We think otherwise because most people did not do what was necessary.) [photographs via Miep Gies & Anne Frank websites]
GG received this wonderful holiday gift on Saturday from her friends Maria Caterina & Hermione the Cat. She's ever so busy making a wish-list for furnishings, looking at swatches for wallpaper (well, she's lounging on Elle Decor at the moment), & generally making a nuisance of herself (when she's not sleeping on one of her two new floors). Thank you MCat & Hermione! (*Below is a description & link to the new & non-embarrassing cat item to have 'round the house via DrsFosterSmith.com)
Have an elegant weekend. Here's a great photograph from one of our favorite blogs, Cycle Chic from Copenhagen. We have the Italian red gloves..& that's about it--for now. [photograph by Mikael via flickr.]ciao-rushed-meow/GG Central
We interrupt our tiresome complaining about the cold weather to tell you about a great new program; it's starting in Washington, DC but will be expanding nationwide (perhaps worldwide--wouldn't that be great?). GG collage of Chip & Dale, Lily, Taylor, Floyd, Hazel, & Zoey (with their humans) via Athletes for Animals.
It's so so so so cold that sometimes a person does something goofy (see above). GG is asleep & would not dream of going out with snow on the way. [photograph by D Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography's Free For All Creative Commons]
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO) has been designated as Dining for Women’s Featured Program for January 2010. Money raised during January dinners will be donated to DPDO’s Women’s Center Program. For more information on Dining for Women, or how you can get involved in their January fundraising activities, please visit www.diningforwomen.org.
Cheers to a New Year & a better decade than the last. Some people think we're being negative; we don't think so. Just telling the truth, as it has been here, where we live.