Saturday, March 5, 2016

Caturday Art: Spring!

You may have already seen my contribution for today's always fun Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the always awesome Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. That's because I'm sharing (or I guess re-sharing) the piece I've just today applied as our blog's new, springtime banner.


Although it may not yet quite feel like Spring for some of us, it's just around the corner nonetheless. Are you excited for warmer weather? How about those April showers?

Now, I can't think of a better post than Caturday Art to tell you a little more about an April art fair benefiting a wonderful animal rescue group in my local area. I mentioned this art fair in a post earlier this week, and have been waiting to give a little more info on it. As I mentioned in that earlier post, I will be participating in this local art fair, where vendors will be selling their goods, and many proceeds from the event go to a local group called Hospice Hearts.

http://www.hospicehearts.org/
(Click on the image to learn more about Hospice Hearts by visiting their website.)

Hospice Hearts is fairly new organization based in my happy home of Central Illinois. What's great is that it caters to a group of animals that I've often felt needs more attention. We've all heard the saddening stories of the sweet animals left behind after their owners are placed in nursing homes or hospice, or whose owners have passed away. Well, Hospice Hearts works to specifically provide foster and ultimately forever homes to these animals left behind by tragedy, animals who are often senior and/or special needs. Not just that, but it works to ensure that these animals are properly tended to following their tragic experiences, and that includes addressing the grief and confusion these animals experience. I have been so intrigued and impressed ever since I first learned about this organization not long ago, and not just because I have a special fondness for senior and special needs animals. Needless to say, when I learned that they were organizing a benefit in the form of an art fair, which is so charmingly being called the French Market, I was more than excited and eager to participate.

I hope that more and more people and organizations jump on this bandwagon, turning attention to those grief-stricken yet still perfectly lovable animals who have lost their owners and homes as a result of sickness or death. Is anyone else aware of a similar organization in their area? If so, I would love to hear about it!

Happy Caturday, everybuddy!

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Our Tip of the Day:
As Spring finally approaches and all sorts of wild flora starts to bloom, keep in mind that your furbabies can potentially have allergies just like humans can. Especially if you know that your furbaby tends to sneeze and sniffle more when things start to enliven in the Spring, try your best to keep the allergens down around them. Although nice, open windows may not always be the best, as anything and everything can blow inside. Also keep in mind that you can bring allergens, such as grass and all sorts of pollen, in on your shoes and other clothing items. If you've been outside doing yard work or in some way attracting your fair share of airborne allergens, don't forget to wipe off or remove your shoes, and perhaps even change into a different set of clothes before smothering your furbaby with cuddles. Taking such precautions can be good for both you and your furbabies during this season of allergens.

18 comments:

Mickey's Musings said...

WE like your Spring banner. It is nice with green grass :)
It is so good that there are places looking out for these special kitties.
We are not aware of any in our area, but our shelters are good.
We wish you and the event good luck!
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ

Marty the Manx said...

What a fantastic Rescue!!!! So glad they have formed. Wish we had something like them in our area. The French Market looks like it is going to be fun too. Love your Spring Art, we keep getting teased and just can't wait!

Kitties Blue said...

We had a bit of a warm day at the beginning of the week, and Mom thought she'd take a tour of the yard to see what needs to be done. Even though she takes an antihistamine everyday, her nose and eyes were running in about 30 seconds. Nonetheless she can't wait to have a warm enough spell to get out and work. The new header is lovely and makes us really wish for spring. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

pilch92 said...

I love your art. That sounds like a wonderful group. I feel so bad for pets that lose their loved ones through the nursing home and death.I wish there were more places like this. I think it would be great if whoever adopts one could bring them in to the nursing home for a visit. Great tip, our Prancie gets so sneezy, but more in the fall than spring.

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

That's a lovely banner! We hope the art fair goes well!

Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty said...

Lovely art and what a great idea it is to have an art fair for rescue animals!

Purrs xx
Athena and Marie

Annie Bear said...

I love your picture. It makes me wish I could draw something similar of Annie and Pierrot. This sounds like a wonderful organization. I don't know of anything similar here. I'm going to go read about them on their site. Places like this hold a very special place in my heart. In Philadelphia, there is a place called The Granny Project that helps senior kitties. They do some amazing work. Anyway, what a privilege to be able to help them with your artwork!

Marg said...

That is a wonderful Spring Banner. And that organization sounds just wonderful.. What a great idea. And we so appreciate you doing some art to help out the group. Your pictures are just great.

The Swiss Cats said...

What a lovely banner ! That's great that you make the group benefit of your drawing talent ! Purrs

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Your spring banner is lovely. Hospice Hearts sounds like it is a wonderful organisation and I hope the fair is a huge success. We have the Cinnamon Trust which is a nationwide organisation to help the elderly and terminally ill and their pets.

The Island Cats said...

We love your art this week. It really makes us long for spring. We hope it gets here soon!

Melissa, Mudpie and Angel Truffles (Mochas, Mysteries and Meows) said...

Your spring banner looks fantastic and Hospice Hearts sounds like an amazing organization!

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

That is an incredible initiative, not sure if something like that exists in Michigan. BTW you write beautifully, so beautifully! LOVE the Spring artwork too! catchatwithcarenandcody

Cathy Keisha said...

Love your Spring painting/banner. During Spring and Summer, TW wipes me down with a damp cloth often to remove any allergens that get on my furs.

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

Hospice Hearts sounds innerestin. We will look it up.

meowmeowmans said...

We love your spring banner! Hospice Hearts sounds like such an amazing organization. Thank you for supporting them with your art. :)

And thanks for those allergy tips. Spring is definitely coming!

Anonymous said...

We like your drawing artwork, MM. It is so good to see an organization like that. Hospice Hearts is such a lovely name too and we like the sign of this organization. It says it all where they stand for. Pawkisses for a Happy Sunday :) <3

sprinkles said...

I love that there are organizations like this! I'm not aware of any in my area, sadly. It's possible that there is and I just haven't heard about it though. What a worthy organization and I only wish I could afford to contribute in some way. I hope they raise a ton of green papers.