"Twas the Night Before Christmas...

...and our Dex has been stirring. We've had several Dex sightings today after setting up a webcam in our front window. Hoping that he is safe and warm again in our home tonight.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa...

All I want for Christmas is our Dexi home again! Please, please, please!

I know that I have not been the best kitty mom since the arrival of our non-furry baby, but I promise to be a better one from now on. I've missed Dex so much these past few days and can't bear the thought of him out in the cold on his own for another night. He is the most loving cat I've had the pleasure of knowing. He is part of our family. Please let him find his way back to us, safe and sound.

We could really use a Christmas miracle.

Love, Cathy, Matt, Suki and Whitney

Our boy cat, Dex, managed to get outside on Sunday morning and has not been back since, at least not that we know of. We've searched and searched around our neighbourhood, posted signs, called the Humane Society and Animal Services, talked to neighbours and crossed our fingers that he is okay. It was a cold one last night and I just hope he found somewhere to keep warm. I left food out for him and it was eaten last night at some point, but it could have been a raccoon, another cat or animal. I've set up a box for him on our porch with some of his things and hope it draws him back to us. I'm hoping and praying...

Special Delivery

Christmas came early to our house this year, in the form of a red vintage kitchen, c/o Fedex and KidKraft. I was hoping to surprise Whitney with it on Christmas day, but I couldn't hide my excitement when the box arrived last week, so she knew it was for her. Plus we were supposed to put it together to make sure all the parts were there, so...

...many parts and several hours later, we had the cutest kitchen you've ever seen up and running and Whitney has been cooking things up everyday.

Speaking of surprises and gifts, I got a nice one over the weekend when I checked my email. My Owl and Pussycats calendar was featured among other 2012 calendars on Etsy Finds. And Stephanie over at Catsparella also included my calendar among some other great cat calendars.

So I was a busy elf this past weekend because of it.



I'm feeling more festive with each passing day. We picked up a holiday wreath this morning and since my office is by the front door, I keep getting little wafts of fresh pine every now and then. I can't wait to get a little tree this weekend and for Whitney to experience her second Christmas.

The shop is only open until this weekend and I may close it sooner, so I can focus my energies on the book. My publishers have been so patient and understanding with me so far, but I know I really need to buckle down in order to do some great work.

Good night for now.

New Holiday Cards

After 7 years of pushing the same holiday cards, I finally got around to designing some new ones. They are now in the shop.


Dex even made it onto one of them. I think I need more practice drawing his mug though.

A few more holiday things to come before I really dig into working on "the book". Meow for now.

Slowly but Surely

I feel like I'm moving at a snail's pace keeping up with things these days. Christmas is just over a month away and I only listed my first holiday item in the shop today.

More things are in the works and will hopefully be ready for listing by the weekend.

How other moms juggle their creative workload with their mothering duties without extra help, I don't know. Most days I don't get nearly as much work done as I'd like (or plan) to, either because a little someone wakes up early from her nap, or else because that little someone wants me to play with her. But that's life. Plus how can I resist this face?

Whitney is getting better at playing on her own these days though... five or ten minutes if I'm lucky, as opposed to her previous window of 1 or 2 minutes. Funnily enough, a mother I met while out last week said the solution for a less needy child was to have another! Ha!

And if all else fails, get daddy to help out :)

Hello November...

And hello again!
I can't believe we're already into the second week of November. We still have our Halloween decorations up but the pumpkins will be finding themselves in the green bin in the next few days.





The past several weeks saw a few birthdays celebrated, (grand)parents visiting, a few meltdowns, a first trick-or-treating and real Halloween experience and also some much needed work slotted into the spare moments.

Actually, I got quite a bit of book work done which I definitely could not have managed without my mom's help. For about 2 and a half weeks, she cooked and cleaned for us and entertained Whitney without any complaints. I know that Whitney can wear me out after just a half day sometimes, so I just have to say how amazing my mom was and is! And I think Whitney enjoyed her time with her grandparents too.



Today, I'm focusing on computer work. I'll be listing a few new items in the shop shortly, so pop on by soon.

New Items in the Shop

Some new items have hit the shop! There's something for Halloween.

And some things for all year round.



I love this time of year, with the cooler weather and all the leaves on the ground, although it has been a pretty warm Autumn so far. We just got back from New Brunswick visiting my in-laws and enjoyed what must have been the warmest day before Thanksgiving in all my years. It was almost 30 degrees celsius!

Hope my fellow patriots had a great Turkey day too! Happy Thursday to you!