HAPPY HALLOWEEN from ZOOLATRY

 

THE GNCAT GNOMES GARDENS of GOOD and EVIL

Earlier this month, while doing my family genealogy research, I met a few of my rather infamous ancestors, The Cat Addams Family.  Afterwards, my dear friend DANI began to help me look deeper into my background, and she discovered another branch of my family tree ~ the Gncat Gnomes!  Then (with a little help from her Mom, Wendy) she gathered them all together and sent them all the way from Canada to Maryland so I could meet them, joining them for formal introductions.  So, come with us please to meet them in the Gncat Gnome Gardens of Good and Evil.

The garden entrance was forbidding, but the topiary gnome-shaped trees and shrubbery were most imposing.  While I was a bit overwhelmed by the strange gnomes waiting in the shadows to guide us, I did keep my eyes on the threatening one high above.  Meanwhile, DANI had spotted a very welcoming gnome cousin, smiling down upon us and assured me we were indeed welcome. 

We stopped first in a sun-dappled enclosure where DANI introduced me to my Great Aunty TigGNer Gnome and she was charming and so pretty.  The shy flutterby Great Uncle GNeorge spoke little and stayed quiet atop his fence, safely away from we intruders.  He did however, wave a wing with a gentle goodbye as we moved on.

The next stop was definitely one we could have passed by!  We all know that every family has its share of "black sheep" and sad to say, mine was no different.  Admittedly, I enjoyed meeting them ~ albeit from a distance.  DANI said that according to her research, all were just second or third cousins, for which I was thankful.  Gnome Batty intrigued me with her purple sparkles ... Gnome BunEars way in back had adorable pink paws, and that snaggle-toofed nameless one in the middle did remind me a bit of Angel Zoey.  So I politely offered up a soft meow, but no cat cuddling with this clan.  

And then, then!  OhMyGncat Gnome ~ surely I am a direct descendant of her, how could I not be?  Nearly hidden in her paper-tent, little Miss GnomeJuneyOne waited to bid us farewell.  We did touch noses, we did give cheek-rubs and shared some tail wagging and I told her how much I loved my paper-tents.  She agreed they are the best fun and that's why she had channeled her love of them to me!  I will remember and think often of her and it was hard to meow goodbye to her (to all), but our time here had come to an end.  T'was a gnome garden of much good ... only maybe a bit not.  So I left happy and content having met my new family of once upon a time. 

Our visit to the Gnome Gardens to meet and greet would not have happened without our friend DANI ~ so thank you and a very big paws up.  Dani and her creative Mom, Miss Wendy did the art and design for all the "good - and the not so good, too" little gnomes shown here today.  All we did was tuck them into some backgrounds.  So again, thanks for bringing some fun to our month of Boolatry.  You might want to visit Dani, if you don't already know her ... she's a beautiful kitty lady with an amazing blog ~ O DANI GIRL.

QUOTH THE RAVEN ~ Caturday Art

We couldn't really complete the month of Boolatry without a visit to...are you ready?  Yes...a graveyard, a real one!  This one is right here in our own hometown.  A historic place, and the last home of a famous native son (well, maybe, lots of controversy there).

If you want to visit just find your way to 515 West Fayette Street in Baltimore, where you'll discover Westminster Hall, Burying Grounds and Catacombs.  Established in 1786 it is the resting place for hundreds of soldiers from the American Revolution and Civil War as well as political and business leaders of the times.  

It's most well known occupant is certainly Edgar Allan Poe.  I have visited there, today JUNE visits virtually, with a rose and a quote ~ 

" Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.' "

Poe's classic poem of love, loss and descension into madness.  Though one most often hears the above quote, the original poem is very long and thoughtful and can easily be found online.  It was first published in 1845, only a few years before Poe's untimely death.  

And just to lighten up our Caturday Art post, JUNE wears her Baltimore RAVENS cap ... who are standing 5/3/0 at the top of the AFC.   

CATURDAY ART

BOOLATRY FELINE FLASHBACK ~ and a BARK-O-WEEN "BOO" from XANDER

This be my Bark-O-Ween "look" ~ are you frightened?  

Just a little bit, by little me?

... the devil made me do it ...

BOO, XANDER

 

THE WALKING DEAD . . . on the 16th FLOOR !

Those zombies don't scare me!
(And how'd they reach the 16th floor?)
Oh, no, I'm not frightened,
they'll not get in by window or door!

Out in the dark gnashing teeth, dripping blood.

They were last seen on The Walking Dead.

Oh, no, I'm not frightened,

though they're desparate to be fed!

I've sharpened my fangs,

my claws are so ready.

But I don't live on Elm Street,

so I don't fear ole Freddy!

But I will scream quite loudly

to all of my friends!!!

"I'm so over Boolatry ~

I'll be thankful when it ends!"

 

WORDLESS

 

AWWW

Like mine Mommy, I enjoy my walk-abouts.  Hers are outdoors, mine seem to be limited to the 16th floor hallway which is okay, though it's beginning to get somewhat boring, always seeing the same thing.  Anyway, a recent stroll was not at all boring, let me tell you ... I started out, same as usual, an easy walk, past the elly-bator (the lady in there who talks and scares me was thankfully silent) and then, there at the very end of the hallway ... what do I see?  OMC ... 👻

I turned to see if mine Mommy was in the doorway, watching over me.  She was not.  I picked up my pace and high-tailed it toward home.  But I think I was being followed!  Now I was almost hoping for elly-bator lady to open up and save me, but it was not to be.  I was almost to Miss P's door with the autumn wreath.  I hurried, one more door, oh, how I purred my door would be open!  And then ...

 Safe.  Inside.  Though my furs stood high upon my back, 

and my tail had grown big.  But I was safe again.  Home.

Or was I?

SUNDAY SELFIES and BOOLATRY

I still can't decide "who or what" to be for Meow-O-Ween. Every day it gets closer to the big day!  The other day mine Mommy got all my old costumes from a box and we had a little runway show ~ she had me try them all on.  Each time she ooohed-and aaahed and said, "oh you look so cute!".  But I complained and meowed that all my furriends have already seen me in these and I must have something new!  Every kid kit gets a new costume each year, right? So, two new costumes have been made for me!  Meow!  I wonder if you can guess who I am?

Here is the first clue ... mine Mommy likes to do art stuff and so do I.  This man did lots of it on TV, he always said things like "I do happy", I can't paint or draw quite so good, so right now I do paint by numbers, but I'm not sure what color to paint my happy-ghost.  Do you know who I am?

And the next clue ... playing video games is so much fun.  This game is easy for me and this is my favorite character, but actually I am a "powerful jumper" (which this one is not) and I am not humble (which this one is) and I prefer blue polka dots up top!  Do you know who I am?

BOOLATRY ART

Today ~ a look back at our Boolatry family of pets 
as they celebrated this fun month with 
Caturday Art images from our archives.  

GrandDog Dougie Dog ~ Angel Zoey ~ Angel Maggy

 

MEET THE CAT-ADDAMS FAMILY

You may (or may not) know that mine Mommy's last name is Adamus, so supposedly that is my last name too!  Recently however I received an anonymous gift that allowed me to do a "feline-dna and cat-genealogy search" which was very exciting and led to a very interesting discovery!  Read on ......  extensive data revealed that I am actually a direct descendant of the famous CatAddams Family of television and movie fame!  I can hear the music now!  And of course, am feeling a bit hissy-fit-fied that this amazing part of my purrsonal history had not been previously revealed to me. In any case, I reached, er, pawed out, immediately to THING (whose contact information was readily available online). Thing was so gracious and helpful, offering a purrsonal tour of the now abandoned family mansion and also suggesting I bring my own portrait to hang in the family gallery there.  I was so excited and thrilled by the warm welcome, and now my day for the tour has arrived.  Read on......    

THING met me at the entrance to the Addams Family mansion

and though dark and a bit scary, he assured me he would stay

close at hand during our tour.

And he handily approved of the portrait I brought for the family gallery,

claiming it was "most handsome."

We stepped into the grand entrance, it was dank and dark.  

Cobwebs hung low from a chandelier 

and spiders scurried away from my paws.

To my left I saw the magnificent portraits of my ancestors,

I could almost smell Go-Meezer's cigar and Mor-Tushie's rose ...

and in the near silence I know I heard whispers of

"cara mia" ... "mon cher" ...

THING drew my attention toward the other side of the grand hall

and there was Cuzzin Anyday.  Now I do remember her reputation as 

Wednesday, in particular, she was a bit of a rebel, with a dark side.

But on every other day of the week, she was daddy's little girl,

mischievous or not!

And look there ~ Hello Kitty, Hello Itties!

In a place of honor!  Big Cuz Itty and adorable

Itty Bitty Kitty, a Polka Dot Princess of the Past!

🔵

Suddenly, THING turned toward me, hand on my back, saying we must go.  Oh, not yet I meowed, it's too soon ... what of all the others, so many others?  We cannot go up the staircase, he replied, it is broken and splintered, you will be harmed, danger lurks in the shadows and up and beyond.  I must keep you safe little one. There will be another time.  Boolatry will come again.

Copied with permission from the Diary of June Addams, October 15, 2022

DING DONG

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.
W.Shakespeare

 

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

I can't sleep.  There's something under the bed.

Nothing is under the bed, it's your 'magination.

Please get up.  Look under the bed.  S'riously, I can't sleep!

Sigh.  It's purrably just a tiny little bug, not to worry.

 A bug?  Protein?  I can eat it, midnight snacks help me sleep better.

Things that go bump in the night are so bothersome.

CATURDAY BOOLATRY ART

 A Walk on the Wild Side

FLASHBACK and FELINE FRIDAY, Angel Zoey

When October and Boolatry time came 'round, Angel Zoey (also known as our "Send In The Clowns" kitty) was always the first to paw forward ready for fun and to be funny, or frightening as needed.  So here are a few look-backs at Zoey and her Boolatry days ~ 

A HALLOWEEN HAUNTING 2021

Temptations and treats, that's what we want, 

on Halloween night, when we go to haunt.

A bone or a chew stick to sharpen these fangs, 

then away we will go without bumps or bangs!

We are goblins 'n' ghosts off to houses on hills, 

searching for spine tingling, fur raising thrills.

We are witches 'n' pumpkins, monsters 'n' more. 

Be careful!  Watch out!  When we claw at your door.

These claws, yes, they'll scratch and these tails will swish.  

Most often whiskers tickle.  Now voices hiss.

We are slinky and stealthy, we are graceful, we are sly.  

Silent through the shadows of a moonlit sky.

Sometimes a purr.  A grrr or a growl.  

Be afraid of all Halloween furries out on the prowl!

We are looking to fill up our goody treat bags.  

Then we'll be gone, all we ghouls, witches and hags.

Cause we're really not frightening, not creepy, not daunting.  

We're just your kitties, your woofies on our Halloween Haunting!

 

THE LAST COSTUME ~ CATURDAY ART

It wasn't too hard to figure out my "last Halloween costume" ... even though I know Thanksgiving will arrive in a few weeks, soon after, here comes Santa Claus Paws!  So I told my Mom ... I want to dress-up all pretty and bright just like a Christmas Tree.  So I did ...

. . . and I'm making all kinds of lists . . .

Holidays Past

But before I do anything else, I'm going over to visit
Athena, Cat Goddess Wise Kitty
for todays
CATURDAY ART BLOG HOP

A REAL GHOST STORY

Some ghost stories are just made-up.  But did you know that some ghost stories are real?  This one is real!  JUNE was adopted in early October 2020, and I first posted pictures of her throughout the month, though not many Halloween images, she was just an itty-bitty-kitty.

And as a kitty she spent a lot of time during the month exploring her new living quarters.  In one corner is a big basket where I keep extra blankets, and of course, she had to jump into it ... and this photo was snapped as she pawed across it.  This picture (BELOW) was originally posted to Zoolatry on October 25, 2020.  

Do you think there was a ghost visiting us that day?  A playful spirit in our little studio apartment?  Following JUNE around and about as she explored?  I do ... look at the photo (ABOVE) again.  It is not altered, it is not retouched, not Photoshopped in anyway.  It is straight from my camera.  Now look at the photo (BELOW).

This is the same photo (ABOVE).  Unretouched or altered.  It is just tightly cropped for a closer look at the blanket.  What do you see?  How can that be?  I did not see this as I took this photo.  I did not see what the camera saw.  Was it because it was not there?  

As our month of BOOLATRY comes to an end, we share our little

Ghost Story with you.  A real one.  Not a made-up one.

A ghost joined us once upon a time.  For real.

Do you believe?  We do.

THANKFUL THURSDAY, MMmmm GOOD

MMmmm Good!
I'm "thankful" for the yummy treats I found in Mom's Halloween stash ...

 

BOOLATRY, BATTY

 

TUESDAY TEASER CLASS ~ HALLOWEEN CONTEST

What would Halloween be without a Costume Contest?

And Teddy's Tuesday Teaser Class has just that ~ today!

Students (and their furriends) have gone crazee-creative.

So you just have to paw over to the classroom

and see how they've each dressed-up for the event!

And while you're there, vote for your favorite costume,

though we're sure every one will get an A+.

Don't call in sick today!  Don't be tardy!

Class is in session now, so just click below to attend!

TWO SPOILED CATS

While you're there, you might spot Jessie-June and her pal, Woody!