la di da di da

i am 10 minutes away from being COMPLETELY finished with my latest travel journal.  but i'll probably take another week to finish.  i excel at moving in slow motion.  la di da di da.

especially in winter.

slow, slower, and slowest.  those are my top speeds.  unless i'm being chased.  which.  you know.  i'm not right now.

i'm going to really enjoy opening up each page of my san cristobal de las casas travel journal in another decade or so and unfolding all the parts.  and i probably won't care how long it took me to finish.

say hi to TOM.  he's been hanging around since buck took off for the sweet hereafter.  buck used to do all the spraying around the outside of moss cottage environs.  now TOM does it.  he likes to sit outside and meow.  i don't feed him.  i used to scare him off, but he's very persistent.  since i discovered he's not a fighter i tolerate him.  wyatt & corky were scared of him, but now they just sit and stare at each him.  then stare at me to see if i'm staring at him.  TOM is lonely.  i've started talking to him in a cat voice.  but don't think for a minute that i'm going to start feeding him or letting him inside.  no way!

he is kinda cute though.  in a scrappy ginger cat sort of way.

Comments

[peggy mcdevitt]

Ha, I don't believe you. You will feed him, it's just a matter of time. I said the same thing about Boss who stared at us every day, I didn't feed him UNTIL he just kept on coming around. Now he is sleeping in the house whenever and whereever he wants. My one cat hates him the other plays with him. Nope, I don't want him but he wanted us so he seems to be here to stay. Good luck but my money is on the cat.

[Michele R. Unger]

You know you want to feed him....yes, you do....you LIKE him. I can tell. He likes you, too....and you want to feed him. He told me. Loudly. Chicken would be goooooooooooood....... Now. Feed Tom chicken. NOW.

[Lewis]

Hi Tom: you are cute. I like you. Want to be my friend? I want to be your friend. Sincerely yours, Lewis Mulvenon

[Nancy Lynn]

Like we are all going to believe that line.........not in this life or the next. The next thing we will be reading is that Tom is part of the family. I would bet a paycheck on that one......... Have fun with Tom.

[Claire]

Yes, I agree. Tom will win you over with his 'scrappy ginger cat' -- and I love the looks of the journal with all of its folds and secret hiding places!

[jojo]

I'm not even a cat person, but Tom is very cute! he will definitely be part of the cat posse in no time!

Love the journal - looks like there is so many secret happy spots in it!

[Denita]

oh, hell..you are looking at a new family member who seems to have picked you! He is cute and it sounds like he is wooing you. tho may take a while for the rest of the crew to warm up to him. love love love the journals!!!

[KateinCleveland]

Yowza, that travel journal is amazing! I always love the "unveiling" of one of your new travel journals ...such a visual feast.

[Julie]

Hey MA- it's not winter today......you can speed up a little. :)

85 in San Diego today... Hope in guys warmed up too.

[Susie LaFond]

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE your newest journal. Fulltilt awesomeness. The hidey hole pages are so cool. Gotta love a journal with secret hiding places. As for Tom, you see he's chosen Moss Cottage as his vacation rental. He is simply waiting for some formal introductions and for his bed to be turned down. ;) We've got a resident cat which we call stalker kitty since he's always scouting and stalking through the yard. He's quite friendly, his owners don't feed him and he's allowed to roam at will. He'll curl around anyone's legs and used to love to come say Hi to Jazz when we went out for our walks. Jazz didn't mind other animals, far as she was concerned as long as she knew he was top dog, she was willing to share her humans with other animals and critters.

[Jackie]

You know you are going to feed him lol, He is handsome and would be great company . I just love your latest journal it looks fantastic.

[Darla Maple]

Oh you would make such a good mother for Tom; I know he would be forever thankful, and look how cute he is.

[Cynthia]

Aw, poor lonely Tom, just waiting patiently for you to start loving him. How can you resist that face??? And yes, oh my, the journal - love, love, love the fold out bits. Take your time to finish but keep posting photos in the meantime, okay?Please and thank you.

[Jill]

Oh you are totally going to adopt him. Just cave.

[Uma Borden]

I give you two more weeks til he is in your bed. LOL

[Leslie J. Moran]

Those eyes are pleading :) He loves you!

[Susan Engleman]

You are totally going to feed that boy. Don't know why you are trying to kid yourself (or us). You really aren't fooling any of us at all; we've figured out a long time ago what a softy you are... especially for a handsome boy kitty cat!!!

[Cat]

When you said Tom was lonely it just broke my heart. All too often we don't get to choose love, love chooses us!! No--we don't get to choose who, when or where. It seems that you, my friend, have been chosen. Yup, check and mate!! Your move!! It doesn't stink that he is a handsome devil!! Good luck.

P.S. (Can you tell where my priorities lie?) Your travel journal is A-MAZING!! I love all the tip-outs/fold-outs and just EVERYTHING!!

[Brian Kasstle]

Tom has a very sweet face! Adopt him!!! Love him!!!

[Violet Cadburry]

Awwww, he is totally handsome in a disheveled sort of way...kinda like Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise. And, he has bedroom eyes! You won't last another 24 hours, his charms are calling. Maybe Buck sent him to keep watch over you and keep all the demented felines at bay. Love your journal, so colorful, and all the fold outs are fun.

[Sandy]

Oh how can you resist Tom? You can't, I KNOW you can't - and you shouldn't. He's sooooo cute. Poor little guy just wants to join your family! :)

Love the travel journal too!

[Leslie Gardiner]

Hi Mary Ann, I say ditto, along with all other commenters, about Tom( I melted at his picture.) How can you resist????? And I LOVE this most recent travel journal! I want to learn how to do all those folds and flips and EVERYTHING. Which of your classes would you suggest? Thanks, Leslie

[kristi]

Ha! I think that Tom showed up at the best house in the neighborhood; word gets around, don't ya know . . . He's looks very sweet and those eyes have that sort of sad, hopeless, "love me" look about them. I hope he becomes part of the posse soon! Your travel journal is stunning. I want to try some of those cool fold outs in my next one. How big is this journal?

[robin]

Just look at that face! You're sunk and you know it! LOL

[Debbie G]

I love the journal . . . how your pages fold out. I've usually avoided books that size but now I am going to totally rethink that! BTW, I think Tom has come your way with Buck's blessings. One need fills another's.

[Carol Gossett]

I dunno...I'm thinking that ginger boy's got a face that is hard to resist!

[Philippa, New Zealand]

Tom <3

[Liz in Oregon]

Yeah, good luck with that M.A. This one had me at pre-hello. You just have to wonder why he showed up at your place - maybe just Bucky come 'round in another form. Who knows, eh? "Therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." xxoo

[Caatje]

Your journal is spectacular, what a wonderful memory to treasure. And that cat is adorable, you will so give in to him in the end. He is just very slowly moving in with you and you will let him. Yes you will. (been there, done that)

[donna, doni, lady d]

Your journal looks tantalizingly exquisite. I'd love to get my hands on it and take it for a spin. Tom? Well, you know how men are when they decide to pursue you ..... persistent. :o) Enjoy. xodonna

[Margit]

I love the way Tom's two stripes line up across his front paws - as he sits elegantly waiting for you! He seems the persistent type, and you are just going to give in. And just read all the comments. We're all shouting FEED HIM, FEED HIM. Never mind that another cat would cost you money. WE want to see more pictures of Tom and hear about his misdemeanours. The price of having a fan following!!!!!

[jen@thecottagenest]

Oh please adopt Tom. I can't stand that sad look in his eyes. I'm pretty sure he is pleading with you. I fear how many cats I would rescue if I didn't have my hubby hear as the voice of reason. Your journal is just gorgeous! A visual delight!

[Kip]

ah go ahead and feed him....you know you're going to, lol!

[Márcia]

Ohhhh, Pretty Please Adopt Tom, he is so cute...you know ya love him already, look at those eyes :)

[anna maria]

You might as well, because he can probably stare longer than you can.

[brigitte]

Your travel journal is wonderful!! as for Tom, a little bit of food wouldn't hurt. It's great that you know his name. :)

[jan]

He's staked his claim ... you initiated the conversation ... of course you'll invite him in.

[Carol Kitchell]

Journal is awesome, of course. As for kitty boy, you'll fold since you have the willpower of a gnat when it comes to animals.

[Linda]

LOVE the journal! And the new kitty :)

[Mary Ann Moss]

TOM is being fed very very well by my neighbor across the street, but he likes it over here for some reason. Likes to sleep out back on the patio furniture and go all around the house and meow. When I look out the window hes staring at me. Hes a peeping Tom! My neighbor adores him and has a nice set up for mr. Tom and feeds him special food. Hes very pampered, but wants to get inside moss cottage! Silly cat!

[Susan]

I think Buck gave Tom a little push towards your place....work gets around in the neighborhood....who's house is the best for cats!! You know he'll be inside before you know it!!

[Jan]

I love your journal. It looks like such a nice mixture of written and visual. Love the way the pages fold out. Very intriguing ... calls to be touched and looked at, over and over ...

[Alisa]

That is so awesome.

If you can resist that face, you're stronger than me... and that's said coming from a dog person.

[A Facebook User]

I think Buck sent a Little Lion to protect you and the posse!

[Corky]

For a slow mover you sure produce an amazing amount of visual goodness, esp. since you deal with craft monkeys all day and peeping Tom's at night. So glad you said you don't mind being slow when you enjoy it a decade from now. Makes me feel a bit better about my own snail's pace. Maybe Mr. Tom is applying for the sheriff's position? Who wouldn't want to be inside Moss Cottage?

[photocatseyes]

That is one jewel of an album... Love it all. The flip outs, flip ins, color, writing. I wished you would live around the corner so I could come and visit you and actually touch the journals. You are able to give your journals that extra touch of magic...
I hope that we will be able to browse through a (yeah, big, big) part of it... if it is shareable online that is...
And Tom, well Tom, he knows that he has a space to fill. He was probably put on your path because you need him, even if you don't realize it yet. Animals never just show up for nothing... I think he looks fierce and he has taste obviously in picking out humans to live with... (Forget about you choosing a cat, a cat chooses you...)

[Cheryl's Excellent Adventure]

In case you didn't know, cats choose us. We don't choose them. Tom has chosen you. go with it. I love your travel journals period but this one is uber-delicious. Are the pages made separately? then sewn in? or how?

[Paula S In New Mexico]

AW, come on now Mary Ann, you know you want to feed him, let him in, give him some love. He is really beautiful. Looks to me like he's adopted your family.

[sarah]

i was lured by the call of a scrappy ginger. now he spoons with me in bed.

[Mary Ann Moss]

Cheryl, I painted some of the pages then folded, assembled , and sewed them into the book cover. Wrote and collaged in Mexico then came home and added photos I print on my computer. Make sense? If you look in the travel journal section you can see the pages before I sewed them in.

[Laurie J.M.]

Your journal is too fabulous for words. OK, now that I have your attention.......what are you giving Tom for dinner? You know you want to. We all want you to. It's fate. You have to. He chose you.

[Judy H.]

Fabulous journal!
Lovely Tom (I've got a lovely ginger Daisy who adopted us while we were at Table Rock Lake).

[magpie]

Tom is an emissary from
ALL OF US. WE ALL WANT IN.

[Monica Smith]

of course you would never dream of adopting Tom. First come the Tom journal, then the phot journal of Tome, followed by Toms Chair and finally a bad. Some where in Heaven for Cats a certain buck is transmitting messages on how to capture Momma Cat MA.

[Jeanne]

I'm the same way about taking forever to finish a project. I think a little part of me doesn't want the project to end. You little visitor Tom looks kind of cute. I'm sure sweet Buck would approve.
xo
jeanne

[Elizabeth A]

Whatever are you thinking? Cats always win. They have never quite forgotten that they were once worshiped as gods you know. On a different note, I LOVE your ROD class. Gave you a plug on my blog today. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Kathy L.]

OMG - that face!!! I keep telling whoever is in charge of this nonsense that the Inn is closed dammit!!! We're now up to five.........I think whoever is in charge doesn't listen very well.........

Please feed and love TOM. He needs you.

I would - but I live 1,000 miles away. And, um, that five thing............

[Jonna]

It does not matter if you feed him or not as you said someone is already feeding him. But Tom has already adopted Moss cottage as part of his life and you really have no choice in the matter. He has taken up residence. That's just how cats are and we have no choice but to accept them. ;) I know 3 gingers adopted me when they were very little and have never left.

[Kris]

That FACE ... those eyes. Wow, you have more willpower than me.

Love all the flippy pages in the journal!

[susan]

HA! His name is MikeyMike and your friend and neighbor across the street--that would be me, Susan, has been feeding him--like--for months! But now he only stops by every few days. He likes to eat Fussy Cat with just a little bit of dry food and a bit of 'catmilk' on top. He is a very sweet cat. Please tell him to stay in touch!

[Rainy]

OMG I'm a dog person but I can tell you he has totally been a person in his prior life. The face and expression and his body I just want to squeeze him and have a conversation the pic almost looks fake.