Untitled 60 (oil and cold wax)

Untitled 60.  Oil and cold wax on museum panel.  6" x 24".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

------

We're still here!  Life isn't easy, but we are all still hanging in there.

Technological issues still haven't been solved, but here's a new post, with a new painting, at last. 

This painting has some copper sheen that I couldn't capture on camera.
-----

Snow snout. Mojito.

The boyz: Gadjo and Rumi.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 59 (oil + cold wax)

Untitled 59.  Oil and cold wax on museum panel.  10" x 30".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

------

First new painting in a long time.

I've given up trying to figure out all my technology problems for the moment--the main problem being that I can't access or post my older photos. But since I finally did a few new paintings, I can post them.
-----
Things are still tough, but so far we're all hanging in.
-----

Mojito is turning ten next month. I can't believe how fast the time goes. He's my best friend, my protector, and my baby. I need him so much, and I really hope he has some good years still ahead of him.

Gadjo is doing well lately. The med he's on does quite a good job at controlling his (probably due to being a purebred Siamese) anxiety, and the anxiety is partly what triggers the FHS, so he is experiencing very little FHS anymore, which is wonderful. Nowadays usually the only time it's triggered is when the gray cat from the next building comes and menaces him through the window. That cat infuriates Gadjo to no end. And infuriates me too, because it literally tries to attack Gadjo through the windows. As you can imagine, this is mostly a summer problem, when there's only a screen between them.

Fennie is...busy being Fennie. Lots of napping in his daily agendas, but lately he's become quite active and kittenish (read: hyper) every evening. When your "kitten" weighs close to 20 pounds in a small apartment, it's kind of annoying.

Rumi (who is also doing surprisingly well lately--it's possible that the B12 shots I was taught to give him at the vet are what's really helping him--he's put some weight back on) loves to bug everyone. He is so sweet and funny and endearing, but he adores being a pain, especially when it comes to purposely sitting right in Mojito's favorite spots (and trying to trip people when they walk). 

Mojito really wanted to lay his head down, but Rumi was in the way (and Rumi knew it). Finally Mojito just said screw it, I'm laying down anyway. Rumi was mildly squished and didn't look super comfortable, but stayed there quite a while out of sheer obnoxiousness. He's such a little marshmallow clown.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 304

Untitled 304.  Pastel.  Approx. 9" x 12".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

------

Ballet Leg or Turkey Leg? reprise!

I don't know...it doesn't look comfortable to me, but this is Rumi's preferred position when in his cat bed. He looks like a piranha.

-----

My photo + waterlogue app.

FYI: my website will be back up soon.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 301

Untitled 301.  Pastel.  Approx. 9" x 12".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

------

Please forgive the blog neglect lately.  My sleep disorder always gets worse in the early spring; instead of just being my normal extreme night owl self, it gets even worse and I'm almost exactly opposite of what my schedule should be in terms of day vs. night awakeness. It's been hard, and is truly interfering in my life.

And I had a very big scare with Rumi and his chronic malabsorption issue. In spite of the steroids, he suddenly lost more weight (he's been underweight for quite a while, a few years or so). He seemed weak, tired, didn't want to eat, didn't want to drink much, just wanted to sleep. His eyes seemed to be so far away. His happy, vibrant, social, loud, confident personality was gone. He didn't make a single sound for 2 days, which for noisy little Rumi, was a giant shock to me. Suddenly, the apartment was unbearably silent.

I knew we were probably dealing with the same chronic mystery condition as always, but it had suddenly taken a severe nose-dive. The vet advised me to quadruple his steroid dosage. He was at his lowest adult weight ever. 

He kept losing weight in spite of the steroids. The vet taught me how to give him B12 injections.

Anyway, during the two awful days when he wouldn't eat or move around much and his eyes were so distant, I was pretty sure I was going to have to put him down the next day. I of course don't want him, or any animal, to suffer, and Rumi's prognosis has never been optimistic. My goal with him is to help him any way I can for as long as he is happy and doesn't seem to be suffering. 

I had a talk with him between my tears those days and told him it was all about him: if his body wasn't working right and wasn't able to let him be happy or feel good anymore, then the vet and I would help him be free of it.  If he rallied, then the vet and I would support his body for as long as he was still happy and had his normal exuberant personality.

Well, through some kind of miraculous juju or who knows what, Rumi woke up the next day with his normal personality intact, eyes here in the present world again, eating, drinking, and doing his famous talking.

I'm grateful to still have him.  His weight over the last week or so (since he rallied) is mostly stable. It's just a day-at-a-time thing, and I'm so glad he's able to stay in this world with me, happily, for a while longer.

I've been typing all this (slowly) because he's tucked under my chin right now and I'm typing around him and can't fully see my laptop screen, but oh well. He's here and that is making me smile.

Gadjo is having a bout of his chronic health issue too. His FHS suddenly got really bad, and doubling his steroid dosage has helped some, but not enough. So now he is supposed to be trying a med, but I'm unable to pill him, so gonna have to try the med in different forms until I can figure out how to get it into him. He is also now officially underweight, I think because he has to burn so many calories because he can't rest well or sleep as much as he should because the FHS keeps him awake and running around while he's having his twitch attacks.

Presumably because Rumi and Gadjo both have not been feeling well, they have suddenly stopped sleeping and cuddling together. This is unprecedented, and makes me sad.  I've had to order another heated cat bed for Gadjo, since Rumi seems to have claimed the one that they were always curled up together in.  I know they're both stressed from not feeling well, but I'm sure that not being cuddled up together all the time must be adding even more stress, because this non-togetherness has never happened before with these two best buddies. 

Mojito has been having arthritis issues lately too. He's been to a lot of (expensive) physical therapy and is on some meds that he'll likely stay on for the rest of his life. It's so hard for me to believe it, but he's a senior dog now. If I calculated right, he has just turned 9 years old! Apparently, that earns him the right to use Rumi as a pillow...

So Mojito's arthritis issues have been causing him to constantly lick one front wrist and one back foot, because they're achy. This always leaves a wet saliva spot on the couch when he gets up. The other day he left the sweetest spot! I kid you not. I couldn't believe my eyes:

And now, for our grand finale, a very impressive feat: Gadjo and Rumi's sweetness has made them internet-famous! They hit the big time when the mega site Cute Overload featured them during their Feb.14 edition this year.

http://cuteoverload.com/2015/02/14/24-hours-of-cute-happy-valentines-day-410am-pt/

(Unfortunately, they got the link to my blog wrong--it just got fixed today), so I'm pretty sure I missed out on a couple of million new fans for all my animolecules! Oh well. At least Rumi + Gadjo made it to internet stardom! They deserve their fame.)
-------

FYI: My website jalapfaff.com is still defunct.  It's a long, boring saga you don't want to hear. But there is hope that eventually, with enough time, work, bewilderment, frustration, and cursing, it shall rise again like a phoenix.

Untitled 295

Untitled 295.  Pastel.  Approx. 5" x 7".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

------

My friend V. has a Pied Piper effect on animals... every time she comes by for a visit, they all flock to her and want to cuddle with her. This is V.'s hand and lap. My animolecules are in love with her.

Dog paw = cat pillow.  Patient Moji.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 293

Untitled 293.  Pastel.  Approx. 4" x 6".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

------

Cute Rumi feets.
-----

Part of a lovely mosaic table.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 57 (oil and cold wax)

Untitled 57.  Oil and cold wax on museum panel.  10" x 30".   

Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

-------

Gadjo and Rumi, Rumi and Gadjo.

-----

My photo + waterlogue app.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 56 (oil and cold wax)

Untitled 56.  Oil and cold wax on museum panel.  10" x 30".   Sold.

-----

-----

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 54 (oil and cold wax)

Untitled 54.  Oil and cold wax on museum panel.  16" x 16".   Sold.

 -----

Gadjo knows what color to sit on to match his eyes.

Gadjo and Rumi.

-----

Somewhere in my neighborhood.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 53 (oil and cold wax)

Untitled 53.  Oil and cold wax on museum panel.  10" x 30".   Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

 -----

My old food processor died, so I got a new cheap one (because one must eat pesto in the summertime). Never before have I gotten something packed in a box that was so cat-ready.

Mojito waiting for me to apply his shampoo, so he can get this over with...  (He's very good about it, but really dislikes being bathed.)

Gadjo and Rumi, the little lovebugs.

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 289

Untitled 289.  Pastel.  Approx. 6" x 4".   Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

 -----
Life continues to be a bit overwhelming...

But at least here's a small painting for you, and some pics of the ridiculous, inseparable, adorable, obnoxious duo, Rumi and Gadjo.

 (Feet in face = no problem.)

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 288

Untitled 288.  Pastel.  Approx. 4" x 4".   Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

-----

Long time no blog, I know. I haven't literally disappeared--just been kind of exhausted running around trying to deal with stuff, make ends meet and keep me and my animolecules afloat. So far, we're all still here. Have you missed us?

No time to paint lately, either. The pastel above is from a couple of months ago.

Relatedly, I decided not to participate in Open Studios this October. It was a hard decision and makes me sad, but this year I just don't have the funds to apply or to participate (two different fees), or the physical and mental energy to do all the work that's involved in getting ready for, and actually doing, those two weekends. 

I'll try to remember to send out an announcement about it in the fall, so that anyone who was planning on visiting will know I won't be in it. 

I'm always happy to make appointments for people to come look at my art anytime, though, so please let me know if you'd like to.
-----
The only bad thing about the cat bed is that they're in it so often, they don't cuddle with me as much now! 

 The size difference with my cats always amazes me. Gadjo and Rumi each weigh about eight pounds. They're both still underweight--by one pound (Gadjo) and two pounds (Rumi)--but at least they haven't been losing any more lately.

Fennec--and this is a major accomplishment--is a little below 18 pounds. His heaviest (19.6? pounds) was when he turned 1 year old and I took him for his one-year checkup. The vet hadn't seen him since he was 12 weeks old, and her jaw practically dropped to the floor. For a while, Fennec's head looked too small for his body. It's starting to be more in proportion now.

What can I say, Fennec is a monster. I have to remember to bend my knees when I have to pick him up (and I never pick him up just for fun, the way I do with the other two). When I have to trim his claws, it's a full-body contact sport. It's like wrestling a puma. He would've given Steve Irwin a run for his money. (Fennec is truly a very passive, mellow, sweet cat...except when you try to mess with his raptor-sized talons.)

-----

Gorgeous Easter eggs, no? 

I saw these at a friend's house and remarked on the wonderful, rich, deep colors. She said (and I love this--both for her ingenuity and because this is such a Boulder anecdote) she had everything prepared to dye the eggs, but then realized she was out of vinegar. 

...So she used imported Italian balsamic. Those were some sophisticated, expensive Easter eggs!

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com

Untitled 287

Untitled 287.  Pastel.  Approx. 6" x 8".   Purchase information: jala [at] jalapfaff [dot com]

-----
I've never bought a cat bed before--I mean, cats sleep anywhere and everywhere. But my vet said a heated cat bed might help Gadjo with his FHS. 

So I ordered an inexpensive "self-heating" (has a layer of that silver space-blanket stuff in it, no electricity or anything) bed. It does get warmer than if it didn't have that layer, although I'm sure an electric one would be even warmer. But I figured they would like it no matter what, since it has cozy padding and is kitty-sized.

I read the description online (19" diameter, "fits one medium-sized cat") and estimated that that would be just about right for Rumi and Gadjo together.

This bed is rarely unoccupied.  I knew these two were gonna love it:

Fennec uses it less often... My theory is that he produces a lot of heat already--you know, all that mass--merely in the act of existing.  Made me laugh to see how he doesn't even really fit in it.  He has to sit on it rather than in it:

More art on my website: jalapfaff.com