Hello and Welcome To My 100th Blog!

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening...

...to all my readers and visitors. This is a very special blog because its my One Hundredth. Since the beginning, when I first started on January 22nd of 2012, I have been mixing things up with a variety of offerings. Most of them are about cats, with a few that are off-topic. So I thought I'd share a little more about who I am and why I'm doing this everyday. I know from cruising the net that not all bloggers post a daily entry; I do because some of my readers have told me they like coming to my blog for that very reason. This blog has also become an important creative venue for me over the past, almost three months, and I enjoy it very much. 

Who I am! I'm a writer and not just any writer. One of my strengths seems to be writing descriptive stories. I say 'seems to be' because I am still exploring my writing style. If you've been following my blogs, I began a story the week before introducing it on February 24th, 2012; Sailor and the Ruined Castle. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I can tell you its worth more than that! The most interesting aspect of this story is its inception, I am writing it based completely on pictures I find on the net. The story writes itself from there. I'm not one of those sit-in-front-of-a-blank-paper writers; I let the picture inspire the story and follow it from there and each picture inspires the direction the story takes. I also have journals that date back to the 1980's, full of stories and poetry that I go back to every now and again. 

Why do I blog everyday? Its my favorite creative outlet for my story and for everything else I like to share with you, my readers. One reader told me she likes the fact that I post every single day; another said she comes back because there is always new and different content. I like variety myself and loads of pictures so that is what I use for the base of all my blogs. Since I will only settle for original, written~personally~by~me content; while I will take an idea from a different web page I will also rewrite it my own words, keeping the original content and context, intact. I don't mislead my readers and visitors. I also love to hear comments about what I am offering to as to gauge the relevance of my content. 

So, H~A~P~P~Y 100th Blog Anniversary to ME!!

I hope you have enjoyed my blogs thus far and will keep returning, especially to follow Sailor in his adventures; which incidentally, is now in the Chapter 2 phase. 

I would like to extend a 'Thank You' to all my faithful readers and new visitors to my blog, I wouldn't continue if I did not have both your interest and your support. I thank you and Sailor thanks you. And Thank you for your comments. 

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Sailor started violently awake, frightening several seagulls into sudden flight who were fighting over the contents of the gutting bucket. Half sitting he stared about him wondering where he was. The heat of the day had past into a cooler early evening sunshine; the slop bucket was half full again, thanks in part to the sea birds. He had missed the day on the fishing boat! Still somewhat disoriented from his strange dream he climbed out of his nook and wandered the streets of the village. After a time he turned down a whitewashed byway and past a fisherman mending his lines. His mind was still preoccupied by the dream to really notice what the man was doing. His dream town and castle were so different from this place, how could that be and why was he dreaming about them more often? Questions, always questions.

What's coming in the next few parts of this story is really unbelievable. Stay tuned. 

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

This store could be anywhere on the street. Join the story and choose where for yourself.

Before the dawn could light the harbour, Sailor was still curled into a ball in the rigging sound asleep. Hunting seagulls circling and crying out woke him from his long slumber and he stretched before cleaning his coat. The day was calm and soon the sky lightened into a deep shade of blue while the sun sent her warmth towards the awakening town. A rat caught Sailor's attention and held it for several seconds but the cat had other plans for his morning meal. He wanted fish and he knew just where to get it so he set off for the fish monger's shop again. As Sailor dropped to the deck the rat made a mad scramble to secure the dock and safety, but the feline past him by. Climbing the step and gaining the breakaway, Sailor meandered past the houses where people were rising to greet the day and shops were being opened for business. He stopped before the door of the fish monger shop, sat and waited patiently to be noticed. Midday found Sailor resting in a shaded corner across from the shop. 

Catspaw 

Photo from:  Fishmonger Stock Photo Images. 619 fishmonger royalty free ...   www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/fishmonger.html

We feature 11100000 royalty free photos, 95000 stock footage clips, digital videos, vector clip art images, clipart pictures, ... The World's Stock Photography - One Website ™ ... Fishmonger behind counter in shop, holding out fish, portrait ..

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

The harbour neighbored the hamlet closely enough to catch the swish and slap of the waves as they struck against the sides of fishing boats and small skiffs that bobbed on the tide. Sailor took to his paws and bolted along the cobblestones until he reached the edge of town, then out towards the harbour along the stone breakaway that separated the village proper from the rest of the sea. Silently he crept down the stone steps and carefully walked the dock below until he reached the first moored fishing boat; here he was welcomed aboard by the skipper and deckhands as a member of their crew. As he gained the vessel and dropped over the side the coiled rigging that was his special place loomed into view. He took his place and stared out over the glowing water as the vessel gently undulated on the undercurrent. All that could be seen was the outline of a cat on the deck of the fishing boat. 

Revisit Sailor's story from February 21st

Catspaw 

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't ~~~

The town sloped down the hillside and sat in a lurid mixture of moonlight and town lamps. Many of the windows were lit from within and cast yellow pools just outside on the cobblestones. A small wharf opened itself to the sea in the middle of town.

On the darkest of nights the patchwork buildings became indistinct shadows so it was only by day could you appreciate the pretty village with its different colored and shaped buildings, some of which operated as both residence and shop for many of the denizens. 

 

As he neared an unlit house Sailor could hear other night wandering felines making their own rounds of the village. He waited till they past his hiding place before quickly moving down the wet road to the local fish monger shop. If you arrived in time, there was always something to be had that would quiet the noises in your belly. After a quick meal gained from a recent gutting bucket that had been left out for the night, Sailor continued his way through town till he reached the harbor.

Sailor

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

There was a shadow flitting across the shattered courtyard; Sailor could just hear the faint footfalls and the tumbling pebbles where something had just passed but all he could perceive moving in the darkness was a quick crimean shape before it was gone again. There was little use in pursuing it so Sailor let it go, it would come back and when it did it, warranted further observation. Slipping from the castle walls Sailor headed towards the lake and for the nearby fishing village where his home now lay. 

 

Part of the fishing village Sailor calls home

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

For reasons Sailor didn't understand, he was reluctant to go any further. He didn't like that he heard no bird call and the fish, if there were any, were silent. Although he could detect no threat in the air the whole place made him feel uncomfortable. Finally after much deliberation he crept forward and hastily reached the other side. Sailor headed up the slope but lingered at the fence, sniffing it for any sign that another animal had past this way; nothing. It was as before, no living thing had left its scent and yet he perceived no danger, just stillness and solitude. Now the remnant of the once great tower and wall presented itself before him but he knew of another in and with the awareness that he was indeed alone here, Sailor no longer hesitated to move toward the castle.

The Mysterious Ruined Castle

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

He had been born here a year ago but his mother and his siblings had simply vanished without a trace. The only sound that had reverberated off the ancient, human-made walls had been his hungry cry. Sailor had heard the noises, hearkened to them because he could not yet see. Something warm and gentle had lifted him and given him the milk he so desperately needed for survival before setting him down again to sleep. He always felt tired after the 'something' had fed him. It was strange that he had no fear of whatever force had its life within those walls. Now, he crouched just outside this same relic of a building once again. 

 Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

He started off again picking his way and carefully jumping from rock to stone. At one point his hind leg slipped and went down into the estuary. Sailor hastily retrieved it and shook it wildly before licking off the rest of the moisture before continuing on. The sky was a pure dark blue as the ruins and trees reflected themselves in the waters below. Sailor paused a moment, squatting on a stone. As he pricked his ears to listen he heard nothing, absolutely nothing. No bird flew, no frog jumped, not even a cricket chirped. He look about nervously remembering the reason no one ever ventured this way.

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle

Here is the story I've just started working on... As promised, I will post a part of it every day to every other day so come back again to read the next exploit in the adventure that Sailor undertakes in his journey to uncover the mystery of the ruined castle.

Chapter One

Sailor hesitated at the edge of the enclosed lake, from this vantage point he could see what he'd journeyed here for. The old dilapidated white fence was still leaning against some trees on the other side; it would be a small matter to attain the castle side of the briny, he just had to travel from rock to rock all the way around. It was late autumn and nature was browning up before winter struck, but there were still some trees with green left on them. The sun was so warm and soft as it illuminated the ruins of the baked and brown castle that Sailor felt himself starting to doze. But No! He shook himself awake, he had to ford the lagoon and reach the monument by nightfall at the very latest, everything depended on it now. 

Can you find the white fence?

 

Catspaw

William Wallace, A Commoner, Unites The 13th Century Scots In Their Battle To Overthrow English Rule.

Braveheart, a 1995 movie with director Mel Gibson and starring Mel as William Wallace.  A must see for period buff's like me.

The storyline's about William Wallace, a Scottish rebel who leads an uprising against the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks who wishes to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. When he was a young boy William's father and brother, along with many others, lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once he loses another of his loved ones, Wallace begins his long quest to make Scotland free once and for all, with the assistance of Robert the Bruce. Fascinating part of Scotland's history. Why am I going on about it? 

Its a great movie and a great name for my nephew, Dietrich Wiebe's cat - I give you... Sir Wallace:

Dietrich bought him for $50, his former owner told him there was something unusal about him; can you see it?

Catspaw 

Who Is Catspaw?

Catspaw

Born in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory as a sourdough; I have yet to figure why Yukoners are considered such by doing a little research on it, should be interesting. In my formal years teachers recognized my writing abilities and started me on a path to nurture them. I loved words and the power they have to create imagery with all I was worth; I practiced writing every type of story and poem that came to me. Those journals, some going back years, go with me no matter where I am; so I take after my Dad who was a writer himself.

I was in my teens before we left Whitehorse for Vancouver, BC. I became a Vancouverite. We left in the early 70's because for some reason there were many suicides that year and some were people my family knew; sometimes the Land of the Midnight Sun lives up to its name and causes people to go a little stir-crazy, especially in winter. Then after 25 years there I moved to Kelowna, BC and met my husband online; after we were married, we moved to Calgary, Alberta (Albertan) and out to the farms I've been telling you about. I had grown up with cats since my early childhood and we had some pretty special ones in Alberta.

January 3rd of 2008 I joined Ezine and began writing a series of original, web-content articles and quickly reached the platinum level in the directory. I published 38 over the next few years; but I've been away for awhile. I did earn a couple of badges; I've gone from Basic Plus Author to Intermediate Expert to Platinum Expert and have badges for Bookworm, Wordsmith, Scholar, Around the House plus Google +, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Just to name a few. Here is the link, http://my.ezinearticles.com/

A little later on one of my goals with this Blog is to join other article directories like Hotpages and Go Articles so I can pursue more adventurous topics and expand my range of article material. I am currently working on a series of stories based on the Bible for which I have a publisher who is interested in publishing a book of these short stories later this year or next.

For right now I am working from home and as secretary for both my husband and his business partners while he is working on a dairy. We are building, when chance permits, our own home on two acres from scratch; literally from the foundation to the finished home.  Hence my interest in rural living and all it entails.

Some of my hobbies include writing inspirational, how-to and informational articles, digital photography, online scrapbooking, rural living and doing things from scratch and caring for any animals that need my help. For instance, when hubby first brought me to the island he thought I'd enjoy trying things like lobster, it being very popular on PEI and I probably would have had I not learned that I go 'living' to their demise - I'd have them in the bathtub as pets faster than you could turn around!

My favorite movies include Memoirs of a Geisha, Gladiator, Riddick series, all Agatha Christie and Jane Austin movies, Underworld, Van Helsing, Resident Evil series, Immortal Beloved and 13 Ghosts. Favorite authors include Jane Austin and Agatha Cristie and others along that vane. Music, most soft rock.  

So that is a little about Catspaw a.k.a. Stephanie

Molly's Introduction

Cat Friend One

There’s this noise that becomes a scratching, then a weight against my back; my cats are up before I am again this morning and are unobtrusively demanding that I rise to greet the day with them. What does it mean when Emerald sits on top of me, batting my nose at 6 am? Is it a ‘get up already and feed me!’ or a ‘good morning, I clicked the button and the coffee is on.’ You can almost hear the sing-song in her meow, almost.

I’m up. Sassy wants outside, Molly wants to be left alone, Emerald is demanding her treat and laid back Winston is just waiting for something to happen; another typical day in the Stewart household. All four have completely different personalities that clash, rather loudly and dramatically at times. Molly is my drama queen, Emerald is a very moody princess; if there was a cat click, she’d be the one dominating it!  Sassy is the ever practical wise mother/matron and Winston, my schoolboy, just seems confused most of the time about what the big deal is between these three girls. So that’s our warm and fuzzy family. 

I will introduce Molly first. Merrill surprised me with this little bundle of delight just after we lost one of our beloved males one night to a car on the dirt road outside our trailer in Alberta. She was a tiny black and white kitten that grew up with Boo, our remaining male. Boo looked over his whiskers at an over- enthusiastic, bouncy kitten who had moved in just when he’d just lost his brother Greymalk but by the time she was half grown they were inseparable; buddies to the end!  Molly turned out to be rather too clever for her own good at times, even as a baby she’d get herself into trouble with her escapades. Oh the tribulations! 

She was originally raised to be an indoor cat; safety, longer life, health issues and all that. But she would jealously watch whenever Boo was let outside then she’d send up a pitiful wail all full of ‘Life’s just not fair!’ and hammer at the door until it was showing signs of being shredded, after that she dashed from window to window trying to see where Boo was outside. I remember her silently and resolutely plotting my downfall as she sat and scornfully glared at me; seeing I was unmoved by this expression of harrumph she adopted another scheme and would follow me from room to room as I opened the windows early on hot days to cool the trailer. Somewhere in her mind’s eye a strategy was forming.  

Maybe, just maybe if she pushed hard enough on the mesh that covered the open window, she could tear a hole in it and get outside. I became suspicious of her designs on my window screens too late when I realized she was suddenly and unusually too quiet, I went to check on her. Yep, that’s exactly what she did. Now a lovely cool breeze was coming through the flapping mesh along with every flying bug in the neighborhood to take up residence in my spare room. Arrrg!

One Saturday morning when Merrill was working on adjusting the pipes from the hot water heater to the underground tubing under the trailer, Molly found this a fascinating occupation to watch. She also found that she could just squeeze her little body through the opening and the great outdoors awaited. Unfortunately, it was later in the evening while I was wondering where she’d gotten herself to that I realized she might have gotten outside again. That sent hubby out the door, at my express command to crawl under the trailer with a flash light to find her, sitting rather uncertainly, on the end of the pipe at 10 o’clock at night and mount a rescue operation.

Eventually I just gave up and let her go out on supervised excursions when I was working in the garden. She quickly improved her techniques for avoiding capture when it was time to come in but Boo usually knew where she was and kept an eye on her. How she loved being outdoors exploring every nook and cranny of her environment.  

Thus started many an adventure with our new companion and family member that would eventually take us all on a cross Canada road trip from Penhold, AB to Prince Edward Island and to new, more bizarre adventures. 

Catspaw