LOUIS WAIN'S CATS

 Yesterday I looked at the clock.  The time was 12:12.  This happens to us a lot.....seeing the same sequence of numbers.  After pointing the time out to my boyfriend, he was quick to add, "Yah, and it's also the 12th day of the 12th month!"

Some call this "seeing angel numbers."  Others call it "synchronizing with the universe."  I wonder if the universe communicates with us through numbers.  When we consider that the Fibonacci numbers apply to the number of petals in flowers and their spiraling seed patterns, sea shells, tree branches, pine cones, pineapples an other fruits and vegetables.....it makes sense that numbers might be the language used by the universe to tell us we're maybe on the right path.  If nothing else, the same sequence of numbers gives us a choice of meaning.  If seeing the same numbers gives me a feeling of reassurance, then so be it. We're free to think whatever we like and feel inspired and satisfied.

Shortly after 12:12, our dear Judy stopped over bearing gifts, as always.  Coincidence???  Earlier, she and her little granddaughter rescued a baby kitten, and now little Gracie is a ruling member of the household.  Judy gave me permission to post this photo she took of Gracie spending time in their Christmas tree.....  

Gracie

Our pets, those beloved fur babies, play an integral part of Christmas, sometimes in cute and mischievous ways.  Seeing a cat in a Christmas tree reminds me of Chevy Chase's Lampoon Christmas Vacation with Cousin Eddy and the crew.  The cat gets fried into the carpet when it chews on the electric cord to the tree lights.  That movie, in my opinion, is the funniest ever made.  

Which makes me think that I'm always posting about dogs..... and not cats.  You see, I'm a dog person, as they say.  So, let's see what I can find about our feline friends in the world of Christmas art..........

Louis William Wain (1860-1939) was an English artist known for his drawings of cats with human characteristics.  Wain was born in London and produced hundreds of drawings and paintings for periodicals and books from 1901 to 1921.  He did not become wealthy, because he sold his works at low prices and relinquished copyright. 

Wain began illustrating cats when he was in his 20s as a way to entertain his wife, who was dying of cancer.  After she passed away, those illustrations won him international fame.  Without going into detail, Wain's life was a sad one of mental health and personal tragedy.  Wain had a cat named Peter.  The death of Peter in 1898 was a terrible blow to Wain's mental health.  Peter was his only living connection to his wife, and after losing Peter, he went into deep depression. 

Wayne is known for his paintings of cats playing golf or having tea or a cocktail.  Author H. G. Wells said of him, "He has made the cat his own.  He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world."  Let's look at some of his works......

Cats Nightmare

Note:  This one with the owls is my personal favorite.  I think I'd have named this piece "EYES."

A Merry Christmas Party
(complete with gag exploding cigars)

Cat Christmas