Monday, March 03, 2008

The Mother Kitty (198? - February 26, 2008)

The Mother Kitty (198?-February 26, 2008)

The Mother Kitty passed away last Tuesday after a long, fruitful, fascinating life. Kitty came to us from Akron, Ohio, after deciding that college life at the University of Akron was not for her.



At our house, she instead spent her days outside becoming an expert gardener with Mom, lounging in the sun, climbing her favorite tree, or wandering throughout her boundless territory. Sometimes, she stayed indoors, playing with string, watching movies with me or napping on my lap, collecting business cards, paperclips, hair barretts, or anything else she might find on her hunting expeditions throughout the house, and kneading her claws and shedding on anything that required her special touch.


Some of her favorite passtimes were bossing Simon or anyone else around (cat or human), challenging anyone to staring contests (She remains the World Champion.), and rearranging things on my dresser. She was a bonafide food critic, partial to tuna, corn, and Doritos. (Everyone remembers those evenings when she laughed in our faces and walked off whenever we tried to fool her with a meal that wasn't quite worthy of her.) During her 20 years with the Connolly Family, she bore six kittens, including her world-famous son, Gordon.


Our beloved, irreplaceable Kitty will be sorely missed. She and Gordon sparked the start of my drawings years ago, and she'll continue to be in them here because (1) there is no kitty like The Mother Kitty, and, (2) if I stop, she'll find a way to yell at me for it.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Theory

Theory (February 15, 2008)
(Illustration Friday: February 15, 2008)


Dad and I are convinced that Simon is playing for the Boston Celtics under the alias of Rajon Rondo. He disappears during each game and then reappears in our garage sweaty, panting, and ready for a nap. Seeing him "play" in the driveway only whets our suspicions. I mean, who can't see through this disguise?

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Blanket

Blanket (February 1, 2008)
(Illustration Friday: February 1, 2008)


Everyone has a comforter, but Julie gets a special blanket of kitties every night at her house. They all have their own spot.

Tales and Legends

Tales and Legends (January 25, 2008)
(Illustration Friday: January 25, 2008)

Years ago, Gordon left home, determined to see the world over. Some nights, he drags out his chest of souvenirs, and The Kitties gather around for his endless stories of adventure.

Plain?!

Plain?! (January 18, 2008)
(Illustration Friday: January 18, 2008)

The Kitties protested this week's topic. After all, no kitty is plain. Some were mad, some were snobby, some were sad, some left, and one didn't know what all the fuss was about.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Stitch

Stitch (January 11, 2008)
(Illustration Friday: January 11, 2008)


Gordon was immediately inspired by this week's topic. While I can't blame him since I have been just as delirious over Johnny's fantastic new movie and his well-deserved Golden-Globe-winning performance (It's about time!), I told him it would be too gruesome and un-kittylike. But he's proven me wrong again. I don't know where he got the outfit, but he's put the rest of The Kitties in stitches!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

100%

100-percent (January 4, 2008)
(Illustration Friday: January 4, 2008)


Over the holidays, we circulated a lovely stomach bug. To be safe, The Kitties went for their annual check-ups. Don't worry: Everyone's back to 100%.

Soar!

Soar (December 28, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: December 28, 2007)

Simon's flying!

Horizon

Horizon (December 21, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: December 21, 2007)


Some nights, Comet scans the horizon for anyone in need of a Super Kitty.

Backwards

Backwards (December 14, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: December 14, 2007)
The Kitties were just about ready for their holiday photo, but Simon was still a little confused.

Little Things

Little Things (December 7, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: December 7, 2007)

For Simon, there's nothing better like a big whiff of fresh air and some good rolls in the driveway first thing in the morning.

Excess

Excess (November 30, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: November 30, 2007)
Can you ever have an excess of kitties?

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Zoo

Zoo (November 23, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: November 23, 2007)

The Kitties love visiting their favorite animals at the zoo! The Mother Kitty is partial to polar bears, and Gordon has always had a kinship with the lemurs. Comet, BJ, and Ashes like to have philisophical discussions with the big kitties. Norman, as always, is hungry. And Simon, who has made some new friends, isn't sure when he'll be leaving
.

Superstition

Superstition (November 16, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: November 16, 2007)
Ashes is not an unlucky cat, but she gets into her own kind of trouble. And she's a star!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Hats

Hats (November 2, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: November 2, 2007)


Everyone but Norman picked out his/her own hat for this week's topic. Ashes took the liberty to create one specifically for him. We'll see what he thinks of it when he wakes up from his nap (or if he'll even notice). Comet just finished watching Buster Keaton's ultimate collection on DVD and is a little obsessed. Gordon chose one of Johnny Depp's old knit caps (and is doing his best impression!) And Simon spent all afternoon knitting his own special concoction. They are about ready now to hit the town!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Grow

Grow (October 19, 2007)

(Illustration Friday: October 19, 2007)

My nephew's birthday was October 6th, but I'm celebrating this weekend at his fourth celebration. (He's very popular!) The kitties are ready.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Extremes

Extremes (October 12, 2007)
(Illustration Friday: October 14, 2007)


Once upon a time, The Mother Kitty was extremely large, and Gordon was extremely small.