Two beautiful tabby community cats enjoy a (somewhat) sunny warmish afternoon. #communitycats #catsoutdoors #tnrworks

One of my winter boots has eyes. Happy #caturday ! #bellagirl #blackcat

"Wandering in the Snow," pastel, 9" x 12", 2026 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski I painted this on the trial today. So was the trail wandering in the snow or was I? Lots of sun, 50 degrees but still lots of snow, a great day! Read more: portraitsofanimals.net/wandering-in... #enpleinair #landscape

Happy Valentine's Day! Nothing like a fresh bright red geranium flower--and her reflection--to celebrate. Hope you got a flower for your holiday! This is a daughter of Mimi's red geranium that's enjoying winter under the lights on the kitchen windowsill, so she's very special to me today.

Sleepy stepmonster. #hamletistobe #catnaps #blackcat #formerlyferal

Today is going to be my peaceful day. And I am comforted by the thought of being peaceful again tomorrow, when that comes. As lightly as the snowflakes fall on the butterfly's wings.

It's a good day for Bella and Hamlet to have synchronized naps in the baskets by the window. #bellagirl #hamletistobe #blackcats #catsinbaskets #catnaps

Bella enjoys a sunny morning with her favorite mousie in her own special way. We don't get very many so you've got to celebrate when they happen.

Color! Give me color! Making some new things and stocking up for future vendor events this year. I'll share when ready. #handmade #handmadegifts🎁 #artistlife #crafter #buyfromthemaker #shopsmall

Hamlet got a good nose full of 60° air this morning. So did i! We've had the basement door open all day. What a treat in January! Sunday snow will come and the temps will drop even lower than they have been before. #hamletistobe #catenrichment #catbehavior #springinjanuary

Kitties line up for a sunny morning! #mariposawhitemittens #siennafostertortie #hamletistobe In these days of disturbing, shocking and painful news nearly each day, I'll revel in a sunny morning with happy kitties to try to dispel the gloom.

I miss the snow but I'm happy to have arugula in my salad again. Also, colors. #arugula #gardening #backyardgarden #growyourownfood

"In Threes" On Sunday, walking out in the garden, I found three cat treats in my pocket from a morning two years ago when Mr. Sunshine did not eat them. Thinking of him as I did my yoga, I saw three birds fly overhead. They circled back and flew over head two more times, three siblings, together.

"Happy Mew Year!" marker, 7" x 9", 12/31/2012 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski I forgot to share this last week! But even a late good wish is better than none. thecreativecat.net/featured-daily-sketch-happy-mew-year-2012/

Wintered The rocker is wintered by decades, the vine wintered by just weeks, yet they coordinate their results.

“Winter Garden,” acrylic, 5″ x 7″, 2026 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski What my garden looks like right now. Just painted this today! I painted this in acrylic on a little canvas-wrapped primed paint panel and used only two colors: white and burnt umber. That’s the color of things out there.

Sienna, watch out! #mariposawhitemittens #siennafostertortie #catplay #fursisters #formerlyferal

Mariposa wasn't sure what to think so she did laps around the basement stopping to look out the door again, and talking. She spent her first year in a feral colony at an abandoned house with no utilities, maybe she's celebrating. #mariposawhitemittens #catsandsnow #formerlyferal

Girls aren't sure about approaching the basement door. Sienna makes a small comment which turned out to be "no." #siennafostertortie #mariposawhitemittens #tortoiseshellcat #tabbyandwhite #tortiethursday #formerlyferal

Happy New Year Snow on a beautiful sunny morning!

That Magical Light, This Shining Night This Shining Night, pastel, 9″ x 15″, 2023 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski portraitsofanimals.net/that-magical...

Where’s the Seeds? A male goldfinch outside the window lets me know the finch mix feeder is just about empty of seeds. Better refill before this next big snowfall! www.bernadettestoday.com/wheres-the-s... #goldfinch #feederbirds #wildlifeoutsidemywindow

"Cookie Has a Drink", graphite pencil and colored pencil, 6" x 4", 12/20/2011 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski Here's a sweet memory, and another one I'm glad I caught in one of my first daily sketches from 2011, Cookie, having a drink in her favorite water bowl in my studio, in 2011.

The many faces of Mariposa in her meowdeling session. The sun was up and Mariposa found the dramatic light set off her best assets: her loooong whiskers and her big white mittens. thecreativecat.net/daily-photo-...

"When does the show start?" Not sure what I should be doing, or not doing. #bellagirl #hamletistobe #kitchencats #blackcats #blackcat #twoblackcats #formerlyferal

5-cat 3-D Puzzle, 2009 Now, really, what would you have done if you'd come upon this warm pile of black cats purring together like a hive of bees? After the photographs, I dug my hands in there to mix them up a bit—kneading as it were, human style!

It's all about style, what you do with three minutes of sunshine outside on a winter day. Mimi and Mewsette Monday: Two Styles of Enjoying Winter Sun, December 11, 2020 Mewsette always chose to celebrate it in her own unique way while her mother was composed, dignified, serene. wp.me/p2snop-nTt

After the Snow Squall, pastel, 8 x 11, 2004 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski All these amazing snow squalls we've been having (I'm sitting at home) make me think of this painting. I round this bend frequently and it's still a preferred route even if it takes a few more minutes to get where I'm going.

Raining overnight and 60°, 12 hours later snow showers and 20°. Saw this little eartipped gray kitty trotting very quickly up a sidewalk. I turned up the street and followed, saw kitty up on a porch crouched over, his face in a dish of something yummy. White streaks are snow.

What Lights? acrylic on canvas panel, 6 x 6, 2025 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski This year's feline holiday artwork! thecreativecat.net/featured-art...

Welcome the Wonder of the Season This time of year brings observations and celebrations is traditions all over the world.

Name this girl group. #feralcats

Within minutes I heard little shuffling noises in the cubby that seemed to come a little closer, then suddenly there was a paw on my shoulder then there was a tortie on my lap, curled up as if she'd always been there, purring, squinting up at me, blinking and airkneading. bit.ly/SiennaRescue

Bella's nap, gently falling snow, and birds at the feeder... Bella had just settled down into her favorite basket for an all-day nap when the rain turned to snow and the cardinal and wren showed up, just like a quiet little holiday story. That's all!

December 14 was the one year anniversary of the day I let Sweet Basil go after a brief battle with aggressive cancer. thecreativecat.net/sweet-basil-...

Arugula's like, "Yeah, we like snow." Last week it was under 6" of snow, which was great insulation. This morning it was flat, frosted and frozen to the ground. A little later, we're ready for a salad. #arugula #backyardgarden #joyofgardening #winterplants #plantsinsnow

Neighbor's cats enjoying some rare sunshine before the next cold front clouds it up again. #catsinwindows #windowcats #catsinthesun

Some new excitement for kitties--real live fresh catnip in the house! Mimi's Homegrown Catnip seeded itself in the pots from some of my herbs so I brought them inside to see what kitties thought. Mariposa had her face in there immediately and she's a big fan.

Mariposa Models Her Gift Items Mariposa coolly looks off into the distance out the window when I politely ask if she'll look at me as she sits in front of a tile and votive lamp both with her image on them. She knows I want her to look at me, but she isn't giving me that.

"Bottlecap Hockey", brush marker, 7" x 10"11/29/2012 © B.E. Kazmarski That's exactly what it was, a plastic cap from a water bottle upside down that made a really enticing noise when swatted across the floor, or around my feet as I worked at my work table.

What's the Password?, December 5, 2018 "What's the password Hamlet?" Mariposa suddenly became a troll, requiring a password for all who would walk along in front of the shop display--a place that had been one of Hamlet's "safe spots."

From December 6, 2019 The girls were very organized in the kitchen this morning. Three little girls—look how young #mariposawhitemittens looks! And #littlemimicat barely takes up any space in her box. Along with #siennafostercat they were the "little girls club." #tabbytuesday #catsinboxes

Mimi and Mewsette Monday: Negotiating About the Weather, December 6, 2017 What do you think, mom? Should we make a break for it? It's a really sunny morning out there! Mewsette, do you think you're going to open the door? Maybe not. But you can always convince Bernadette we need to go outside!

It's time to share snow artwork! Backyard Birds, a set of four small sketches of literally the birds in my back yard. Counter-clockwise from the top are: Jammin’ Jay Blues, Snowbird, Birds in Snow, and Accent, all pastels in different styles that fit the moment.

"Cool Morning Bath", oil pastel, 5 x 7, 2013 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski Mimi twisted and turned in the diffuse morning light at the door, all those delicate shades reflecting warmer on the floor, cooler on her, but still all in greens and blues and a very pale yellow, the light swirling around her.

This creepy creature showed up in my yard with the snow. Dinosaur? Baby yeti? #snowcreature #snowinthegarden

Was not expecting that much snow, but it's beautiful! #snow #snowday #snowinthegarden

Morty's keeping close watch over the little people and the big trucks out in the street. The little round yellow thing on the left is the wheel of a backhoe which is digging up my neighbor's driveway. No water for a while, surprise!

Sunny frosty morning, sparkles and subtle colors. #frost #frostymorning

Friday Four and More: Winter Naps for Seven Black Cats, December 2016 I happened to scroll through a folder of photos from December 12, 2016 and decided I'd use those photos for this week's Friday Four and More, and I also made a little slideshow video with music by a friend.