Percy the Cat: An outsider's perspective on a devilish personality

Due to my overwhelming stressed-out-ness from frantically preparing for my upcoming craft show, I've taken the day off from blogging and you get the special treat of a guest post written by fraser! Enjoy!


Greeting Kate lovers!!! My wonderful girlfriend has given me this opportunity to share my thoughts on this most sophisticated house pet. Some of you may have experienced his charming social skills first hand, others may only know him by reputation. Whatever the case, Percy is my most favorite cat in the world, which is saying something as I am allergic to him!!!

First things first. If you are ever going to enjoy an social outing with this feline make sure that you bring lots of Whiskas Temptation brand cat treats. In fact, I just used some of these to lure Percy away from his favorite activity of clawing at my arms while typing this blog post. At least that part of him is predictable. So if you don't have cat treats, I wouldn't bother trying to get on his good side. Second, I would say that Percy takes a long time to warm up to a person. I've known Percy for over 2 years and I still can't make sudden moves towards him. I'm hoping that sometime during 2010 I'm going to be able to give him a nice pat without him hissing at me.

Now after reading this, you might be thinking "How could Percy be your favorite cat in the world Fraser?". The answer is that Percy has individuality. He really is an interesting fellow. I've known lots of cats who do cat things, but I've never met one who not only has to have water drip from the tap at a specific speed, but also needs to drink it by letting it soak into his paws and lick it off. The other thing about him that is great is that he is never predictable (except for treats, see above). Percy most definitely keeps me on my toes around Kate's house. Whether he is blending in with the hardwood floor (conveniently colored for his camouflaged comfort) or hiding on top of the cupboards in a dark kitchen waiting to leap upon me, Percy makes life with a high heart rate easy to find.

And now, I will say goodbye, before a certain cat realizes he is being written about and decides to make some editing decisions.

Sbux Cacti

Starbucks often carries some of the cutest tea cups and mugs out there! Being a mug hoarder (I must have 30+ mugs at this point...and the collection continues to grow...), I feel like I've developed "cute mug radar" and am naturally drawn to attractive cups. As soon as I saw the adorable nesting tea cup set starbucks, I knew I had to snap it up! Recently my mug selecting abilities have teamed up with my mom's cacti collection to come up with this creation:


Aren't they darling? I bought the cacti at "the greenery" in kelowna last time I was there and I am so happy with how well they fit these tea cups. I also really like how my mom put aquarium rocks on top of the cactus soil for a more finished look. Perfect! One more wonderful thing? How easy it was to take that picture! Yet again I've managed to photograph while stinkums (percy) is napping! And boy did he ever look cute...until I woke him up trying to capture his cuteness...


I think at this point he was still deciding whether or not to come attack me, but that glare is priceless. Maybe he's just upset that I brought cacti home and not more spider plants he very much prefers to munch on...tough toots bubba. Those cacti are staying.

Oh Internet...

Oh internet...how I love you...


Thanks to the random site generation of stumble upon we've been blessed with this adorable darth on cat image. I wish mini darth would ride percy around our house...because we all know percy is sith. Sure he's cute, but there is no denying how evil he is. Seriously...

In other wonderful news - Rachel did a sweet "i heart science" post on her blog and included my plush microbes! (link)! Woohoo!

Scarf Update & The Wrath of Percy

Back in january, I whipped up a scarf organizer I modified from one I saw on the internet and was super stoked on my newly achieved closet adornment! (Check it out here). Well I've been living and enjoying this contraption for quite a few months now and a few days ago I came across the most horrifying realization - percy (el gato diablo) has been EATING THE BOTTOM OF MY SCARVES! ACK! I told you that cat was evil. My poor scarves! Look:


*Sob* What a stinker he is! I hope they were tasty! So now I have I've had to modify my scarf organizer to this:


Because clearly that is as attractive as the original...and when I went to give percy heck for his awful doings this is pretty much what I stumbled across:


Yeah. He's adorable. But his cuteness isn't getting those scarf tassels back anytime soon...looks like I need to go shopping for more replacement scarves...what a hard life I live...

April!

My goodness time seems to be flying! I'm sure I say this every month but blogging really reminds me just how quickly the months seem to pass! I mean April? Already? Whew! But you know what that means? Spring! Warmer weather! Being able to walk outside barefoot! Yay! It also means it's time for a new kittens inspired my kittens inspired calender page:


I must say little stripey orange and gray kitties are my favourite types of kitties making this month all the more promising. I've even got some newly revised heath goals as warmer weather trends towards less clothing (well...usually...unless you're me and always cold...) so here's to a month of good choices, backyard yoga, and some immune system boosting vitamins!

It's also time for more musical wonderment, as indicated by my sparkly new april playlist. This month's picks were inspired by the awesome indie folk concerts and albums I experienced in march. I'm also aiming to finally purchase a banjo and start my toe tapping twangy journey! (I actually had a day picked out last month to go instrument shopping with a musicial friend of mine but ended up with that rough spout of extreme illness and had to rain cheque. Rats!). One more musical goal? Finally learn the awesome dance moves from tegan & sara's alligator video. Behold:

Come on lucas! I'm sure we can do it this month! Maybe we could even make some lightweight spring snowsuit/wooly scarf-esque outfits to match! Or not...but I'm sure we can learn the dance moves, which I'm sure will come in handy in almost all social occasions...seriously...

*Update - I recommend this wonderful april desktop too!

the cutest sneeze in the world

Not too long ago, fraser and I road tripped to the wonders of salmon arm! (Why yes, I love going to salmon arm - just like I did here and here in fact!). Yet again I didn't manage to take any super fun road trip pictures, but I did manage to buy a boatload of cool stuff! I think this is the first time I've actually ever really gone there when it wasn't sunday (when half the stores are closed). Bonus! I actually may have over splurged a bit at my favourite salmony store, the lake effect, but hey - that's half the fun right? My best find? The most percy like postcards ever:


Talk about perfectly illustrating a cat's personality! Wowee! Super cute too! There were 30 postcards in that sweet deal package but I figured those 4 best describe typical percy behavior. Especially this panel:


Hahaha. Check out those teeth. Too funny.

I also managed to pick up a bunch of fantastic necklaces I can't wait to work into my wardrobe. You may even be privileged enough to catch a glimpse of them if I ever get around to being a bloganista. For now you can just imagine how awesome my outfits are though....that's just as good right?

New Magnets too!

After feeling ridiculously ill for way too long, I decided to try to push the flu/dizziness aside and tackle a few items on my to do list! So with the towels and sheets in the wash, I was ready to make some of my new button sets into magnets! Hooray! Behold the photographic evidence:


Oh how lovely! Now all my sets are available in magnet form in the shop! There was much better lighting than the last time I tried to take pictures of my new sets too. Wonderful! It was curious how I managed to get the photos done so quickly and then realized why that was....here's a hint:

Oh stinkums. Those are some cute little feet sticking out of that blanket. I couldn't resist the under blanket peek:


So cute! If only he wasn't so evil! Now I just need to try to schedule my picture taking around percy's nap times! Theoretically that shouldn't be too hard since he naps like 18 hours a day...but you'd be surprised. That cat is pure evil. Pure adorable evil.

Nom Nom Nom

Nom nom nom! What yummy buttons! Damn, that cat is adorable!


But you know what this means? My buttons are finally complete! Hooray! Time to restock the shop with all my sold out sets (microbes, scientists, love robots, and mustache kitties) as well as the sweet new ones (geek wear, lab ware, mushrooms, tea, and rain! - veg to come later in limited edition form). Now I just need to find some time to photograph them! Exciting!

I've got some other big plans for my pinback collection...perhaps another giveaway? Hmm...we'll see...

Simon's Cat

Just in case you haven't seen this video yet...



Simon's cat is pretty much the cutest cartoon kitty on the internet! And if you've enjoyed this one there are six adorable videos to fill up your morning! Enjoy!

An Afternoon with Anthrax

As I mentioned on saturday, I had quite the time taking pictures of my cute previously sold out plush bacilli. As always, one mischievous kitty (el gato diablo) also enjoyed my makeshift photo shoot and had quite the time playing/attacking anthrax. Take a look this adorable action sequence:


I wish I'd caught one of those "fangs sunk into gold anthrax flesh with rage" shots but unfortunately am still a little amateur at photography. I'm sure you can imagine just how charming it was though. As soon as he clued into the fact that I was trying to get a nice picture of him he lost interest, especially when chlamydia and e. coli came to join in. Behold:


Yup. That is one unimpressed cat. Alas. One day Percy. At least you've got your looks going for you...

How to store and organize cats

Clearly leslie's time on the internet has been well spent. After a thorough search on digg she sent me this picture:


Now those are some cute (and organized) kitties! If only percy could fall in line like these cats! Adorable!

Happy February!

New month, new playlist, new kittens inspired by kittens inspired calendar page to enjoy!


Loads of exciting things happening this month too! I'm looking forward to a february of crafting, road trips, anti-valentine's day, bdays, and dan mangan! What wonderful things does your february promise?

More mail!

Remember how my mom won that giveaway of ink and buttons a while back (which, p.s. I totally signed her up for)? Well it arrived! And she should totally give it to me! Haha! Take a look:



What a super awesome brooch! And in a neat little cotton bag too! And better yet? The entertainment of percy (el gato diablo) trying to sneakily catch the first glimpse.



Stinkums - sorry dude but your lack of opposable thumbs gives me the clear advantage. You can have the box though...

Kittens inspired by kittens!

If you haven't seen this video before, you should probably watch it now. Other etsyians are blogging about it too (link)! Ridiculously cute kittens and ridiculously random little kid statements for each one! Best of all? I was lucky enough to receive a "kittens inspired by kittens custom 2010 calendar" from quinn! (Conveniently going with the kittens theme of my xmas presents this year). Now I get to enjoy fuzzy kitty adorableness each and ever day with their own hilarious quote for each month. Take a glimpse at what I get to enjoy all January:


So cute! And if you're interested in seeing the rest of the calender you'll have to be patient...didn't you know it's bad luck to turn ahead your calendar?

ps. Woo! 100th post!

El Gato Diablo

As I've mentioned a few times before (i.e. here, here, and here), Percy is one heck of an evil cat. Adorable? You bet! But very much satan spawn. He'll win you over with his overwhelming cuteness (especially that fuzzy kitty tummy) then sneak attack in an unstoppable hissing batting claw-y tornado. I'm fairly sure one of his favourite past times is getting conveniently right in the way of my etsy photo shoots too. Not that he is all bad - just bad to a few people...and strangers...and males...and probably 90% of the people who come into this household...but still... he is awfully adorable. So adorable in fact that my mom likes to take loads of pictures of him and send them to everyone in our family. One person in particular being my sister - who doesn't really know what she's supposed to do with all these pictures since stinkums doesn't really like her anyways.

Well, this past xmas I bought my sister these cool magnets that are shaped like speech bubbles that you can write on with dry erase marker to creatively (and wittily) jazz up your fridge with. They were so cool in fact that I got them way back in September when I went on my second excursion to Victoria! Best of all they give purpose to all those Percy photos!!! What a great combo: evil kitty pics + sweet write on magnets = pure awesome. Take a look:

and my personal fav:

Hahaha - yup, still think they're hilarious. How about you?

McCurrach Family Xmas

Well it's the last day of December and the holiday season is wrapping up to a close so I thought I'd conclude the year with a heart warming summary of my xmas memories of 2009. Ok, forget that - I'm not the "heart warming tale" type (or at least I pretend to be). So you just get pictures and notes instead...hope you can deal with that. My top three favourite things I managed to take pictures of this holiday (that I haven't already blogged about):

1) Laying under the tree



Probably one of my favourite festive activities and the best thing about the tree this year? I didn't have anything to do with it! Thanks for selecting, chopping, lighting, decorating, and (eventually) disassembling it for me mom and dad! You're the best!

2) Family hilarity



Behold! Card selection so awesome that both my mom and I received this gem from different people. Also peek at my dad balancing a dishwashing scrubbie on his head and my sister scheming xmas morning. Oh, and who can forget the clear favourite of the family - Percy (aka spawn of satan/el gato diablo):



Yup, santa's even kept for ransom by this evil kitty. I think he was pre-pounce attack in this picture (presumably with laser lock vision on neal).

and finally...
3) The loot!



Ok, not really a favourite per say, but I did want to document the clear themes of the presents I was given this year. Gifts fell under the categories of crafting, kittens, and vegetarian cuisine (with a few undertones of tea, cuteness, and ipodery). Bonus points to lindsay for giving me the most randomly hilarious present of all time - mini toques from her trip to England (which you can spot keeping my floss and glue stick cozy!).

All in all it has been a super awesome holiday season this year which will hopefully only be followed by an amazingly awesome 2010! And even if it isn't stupendously wonderful at least my floss with be warm...

Cute

Bringing organization to a whole new level!

Now, if only percy would fall into line like the cats of adelie and the orca...

Unadorned wrist? No problem!

For the last few months I've been trying to brainstorm a neat way to showcase my darling pinback buttons and at long last the crafting process is complete! Success! I've created a series of charming wristlet clutch bags adorn with my adorably geeky button sets.




I had to change my design plan a bit once I discovered how impossible it is to find quality linen in kamloops, but am quite pleased with the finished product. I'm particularly fond with how the colour combinations worked out. Best of all I've got a new product to test out on my etsy site and I get the joy of crossing this little gem off my to-do list. Sweet deal. Now if only I could get a few more projects completed...

Button update

My woodland and mustached kitten buttons are finally complete!



I think one of my least favourite etsy tasks is trying to take semi decent pictures of shiny things. I am far from mastering low budget pinback button photography as of yet, but maybe one day when I have some extra time on my hands I can redo them. Super reflective item pictures are extra difficult to take, especially when demon cat decides to help....



Thanks stinkums. I hope you enjoyed tormenting me.