#0389 "Tobey !"

 

#389 "Tobey !" 
8x10 inches oils on stretched canvas

One of the Watershed Farm barn cats was the alpha male of the area until the Maine Coon entered the scene as the Queen. 

Watershed Farm Front Entry
A rare occurrence with no Cat on the Mat 

The Queen and the Cat Sauna

However, Tobey embraced the many improvements to the facilities including the cat sauna. Tobey also really enjoyed reclining on the braided front door mat of the addition in the summer of 1995. My Dad built a cat door into the main entrance to the barn and all of the cats could come and go as they pleased. 

Tobey and the Main Coon Jo-Boo never really got along and would have loud discussions about who owned the new porch. For this particular afternoon in March of 1996, the mat on the front porch belonged to Tobey. The sweet contentment of basking in the spring sun was written everywhere in the feline expression. Tobey's claws stretched into the coarse weave of the warm, braided mat spelling out pure contentment. 

People can learn a lot from cats. Cats might even be Zen Masters. Some things that our cats have taught us... 

• Live in the Moment and enjoy it.
• Watch, Listen and Be Aware... that sound could be the vacuum approaching. 
• Make Eye Contact like a firm handshake. Own it.
• Learn to Trust. The hand is really going to just caress your ears and chin.
• Give and Receive Affection and learn how to purr. 
• Explore with extreme curiosity between Long Naps. 
• Look after your health and hygiene. You are never too busy for a good lick and manicure.
• Listen to Your Body and eat simply. 
• Learn to Play More.
• Cough up those fur balls of life, let them go and leave them in the past. 
• Enjoy the Simple Things - food, a place to sleep, love, a sandbox, a cardboard box ...

For this and much more art, click on Pixels.

Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick