Post a picture of your pet helping you.

[Sugar Smack]

This is Sophie. A few mornings ago, she happened to find me struggling with a drawing. She seemed concerned.



She let me know in no uncertain terms that she was available for consultation.



I finished the drawing despite her frequent intervention & protests. Here's a detail from it. And where is she when I need help tidying the house? GONE.

[SallyMander]

1. Squee! I adore you and Sophie

This is me working in the field:






This is what Elmo did while i worked:

[Sugar Smack]

4. Those are great!!

First off, the one of you working in the field is classic, and Elmo overseeing the project- It's comforting to have your pets accompanying you, isn't it?

[SallyMander]

LOL! I always joked that he was the PI (principal investigator)

and i was his field assistant.

Seriously, i would have been SO LONELY without him... i was by myself in the woods way too much! Before i adopted him i was worried about what i'd do with him during my field seasons -- and afterwards, i couldn't imagine having done it without him! I even put him in the acknowledgments of all my papers.

[Sugar Smack]

16. You see, THAT's something I could easily see you doing.

The acknowledgements. That kid's a keeper! I'll bet he's a true professional. And then when you get home, it's total play time.

I love it, I do.

[WinkyDink]

48. Elmo is awesome!

[SallyMander]

93. He says thanks!

I may be biased, but i'm pretty sure he's the best dog in the world.

[ThomCat]

78. Those are awesome photos.

I'm very glad Elmo was there to keep an eye on you. You seem like one of those people who needs intense supervision.

[SallyMander]

94. It's true... sometimes i was like "Elmo, let's just sit around and drink beer today"

And he'd be like, "no Sally, don't you ever want to finish your PhD? You need to get back to WORK!"

[raccoon]

100. That picture of your dog, the landscape looks like the swamp here in SC. nt

[SallyMander]

128. The Carolinas are swarming with salamanders!

This is from southeastern Ohio, which is as good as it gets in this state.

[Haole Girl]

2. Love the drawing!

"Bear" testing the water:



And, "helping me" change the sheets on the waterbed :

[Sugar Smack]

8. Good lord, Sophie does that too,

with the water, I mean. That's such a cute shot, but a still doesn't really capture their ambition. Bear is lovely.

Thank you for the compliment.

Also, I understand cats and waterbeds are a risky combination. I was worried about using my trampoline with Sophie prowling around, too.

[DS1]

3. Sentry Cat guards the car

note glowing eyes on other side of street

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Oops, wrong place.

[Sugar Smack]

10. "The dame had asked me to keep an eye on her worse half. There

I sat, whether in stakeout or ambush I couldn't say. Presently a tattered-looking broad emerged looking as used up as a pint of Old Grandad, and not half as young. Her eyes were on fire. I must say I sneaked a peek at her rear. She had a tail that just wouldn't quit."

[DS1]

14. *g*

Phillip Meowlowe

[Sugar Smack]

17. Raymrowr Chandler!

Seriously, that one picture had too much of Richard "Dig That Crazy Grave" Prather in it to resist. It's pure urban underbelly. I love it.

[DarkTirade]

83. I'm reminded of a book I loved as a kid..

Sam the Cat Detective.

It's about a cat who lives in a bookstore that specifically carries nothing but mystery books. He's trying to clear the good name of a human who he knows isn't guilty of a series of (coincidentally) cat burglaries in the neighborhood. The whole time this cat is trying to play the hard-boiled detective...and of course he's a cat, so it doesn't usually work out as well as it does in the books he reads.

[InternalDialogue]

5. A little white collar work, a little blue collar work.

[Sugar Smack]

19. Same cat? Wotta resume--->

That is completely and profoundly ADORABLE. Your cat's coloring is beautiful, too. Don't you love it when they multi-task, or when they're so well-rounded??

[InternalDialogue]

95. If I were a sculptor, I'd do a version of the second photo.

"Dustpan Sphinx," I'd call it.

[ThomCat]

79. That is a beautifully versatile cat.

I love that picture in the desk drawer.

[InternalDialogue]

96. She's a sweetie.

And that is one of my favorite photos of her, too.

[electron_blue]

97. OMG, those are hilarious.

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Will you draw me a Paris pic? I'll pay you, bijou...

For series. And then I can hang it on my wall in my livingroom. Pweeeese?

[Sugar Smack]

23. Ooooh, petit chou-

Sweet, I could not help but think of you. Thanks for that. I have one sketchbook at this point where I only do Paris drawings and I do not use a pencil. This condition is just for personal development reasons. Long story short, yes. It'll probably be small.

This is from yesterday matin, not finished:

[bicentennial_baby]

26. I love it, so much...

Magnifique...bien sur.

Will I be able to frame it? Frames can run pretty small. And I will pay you, my love

You are my sunshine.

[Sugar Smack]

28. I would do a special Paris-y one for you

that you'd be able to frame. I'd sketch it and show it to you online, m'darlin'. Sometimes, *going back to Paris* is the most wonderful way for me to escape during stressful times.

[bicentennial_baby]

30. Oh, don't I know it...

I look through all of my 1200 pics, read my journal from that month in '05, and watch TV5 (French Station,w00t!). We so need to get together. Can you ever come up? If you can come up after finals, I'll help finance it

And I mean that.

[Sugar Smack]

33. I would really love to - we can call each other when things seem calmer.

We can talk on the phone some time this month; I think it would be wonderful.

[bicentennial_baby]

36. If we can time it right, I want you here for

the party I'm planning to throw at the end of May. It's basically my Econ major friends (I swear they're cool ), probably my lil bro, maybe some other friends.

It's an end of semester/Go Econ Majors!/Yay Graduates!/Farewell to *classmate's name here* for the Summer! party.

It's gonna rawk.

[Guava Jelly]

9. Obie helping me with my guitar

[Sugar Smack]

24. Obie's trying out for "cash collector"

should you get a gig on a busy sidewalk or cafe somewhere. You see that expression on Obie's face? It has a sort of Don't-Fuck-With-Your-Agent flavor to it.

[Guava Jelly]

41. He looks totally like an enforcer in that picture.

You've got a good eye..And very nice lips

[Sugar Smack]

47. Um, thank you...and...

Um, sweetie? I find myself a little transfixed by your sig pic, and doubtless you've gotten a lot of feedback from it, but who on earth came up with such a thing???



That's completely and totally....outree. To say the least!

[Guava Jelly]

51. I found it while doing a purely innocent search for squirrel porn.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Milo attacks a dangerous rubber snake in the living room!

[Sugar Smack]

27. My cat nightly protects me from invisible wolverines.

Hey, your baby's precious. Does Milo ever do that sideways crab-walk hop *that I can't seem to describe* when he's excited? Sophie will sort of jump sideways, hobby horse style, with an alert look on her face.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

46. Yeah, the sideways hop. It's so cute.

My Gang of Fur (all three) do that pretty often, usually when they're play-fighting with each other.

[Sugar Smack]

56. It's so freaking cute!

It's so funny the way they do that ninja-cat thing, always seemingly out of nowhere. Mine has an interior soundtrack, I think. She bops along to Bob Marley or something, then suddenly she's Sophie the incredible flying squirrel. I get such a kick out of her.

[greenbriar]

12. Spooky helping me with laundry

[greenbriar]

15. he sorts too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zcupg43Axw

[ThomCat]

81. You've posted that before.

You have a seriously adorable cat! And it appears that he has a serious laundry fetish.

[redqueen]

123. AWWW!

[Sugar Smack]

31. A cat who pulls her weight around the house

is definitely an asset. Unfortunately, I can't get youtube cause I'm on dialup. So I can't enjoy the "sorting" but I can WELL imagine what that's like. Spooky has a thing for the camera, right? I can see the star-quality. Was the dryer still warm? Fresh warm clothes are like catnip for Soph.

[greenbriar]

50. yea, the dryer was warm

the sorting is funny

I toss the clothes into piles like whites, jeans, towels ect...he jumps in the air to catch them

[spooky3]

42. Otis helping to foster some rescued kittens last year

(you have to turn your computer on its side):

[Sugar Smack]

61. There's nothing like a cat-pile.

Those babies are so lovely. I like the way the one closest to the heat duct seems the most blissful, as well.

[spooky3]

65. Definitely! They were the sweetest little guys - nearly wild when rescued, now

crazy about their "parents", a nice young couple - and the feeling is mutual.

[Lex]

13. Here's my cat Oz helping me drink my coffee.

She is a coffee-stealing mofo. She loves it. Even black coffee (so it's not the cream necessarily that she's after).

[nam78_two]

21. That picture is hilarious

What a bad kitty . My cat is the same way-only with beer and wine. She regular tries to get inside our recycle bin to sniff old beer bottles if my SO ever forgets to rinse em out -ick...
She doesn't actually try to taste alcohol, but she seems to be fascinated by the smell.

[Sugar Smack]

32. Lex, you and me and Oz and Sophie need to get together and

have coffee!! I don't know where I've seen pics that cute. That studied look on Oz's face just reminds me of some of the local restaurant critics in The Independent. *Hm. I discern a hint of Arabican sweat in this particular blend. It's mellow but with a faint hint of je ne sais quoi. And I believe the beans were picked two weeks too soon.*

[Starbucks Anarchist]

18. Aww...

[Sugar Smack]

34. Did I tell you she works as a part-time alarm clock, too?

Steps on my closed eyelids at 8 am every morning.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

35. That would scare the bejeezus out of me.

[Bluesplayer]

20. Our herd

helping us clean up corn from our patio.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2354137363_d8004cf5...

[Sugar Smack]

37. That's sublime beauty & function, Bluesplayer.

They have such a childlike goodness and curiosity. What a peaceful picture.

[Orsino]

92. Dear god. The cute. It burns!

That's a wonderful shot.

[mikita]

22. what a great thread!

my animules are all gone, but this was great fun to view!

Thanks!

Mikita

[Sugar Smack]

38. I'm so glad if you're getting a kick out of it..

It really does seem to be in the mindframe of pets that they're being helpful. And to me that's too cute.

[Pithlet]

25. Kittensitting

Of course, baby brother is now full grown

[Sugar Smack]

40. OK, that first one

utterly melted me. I'd say that's a job that kitty could probably do with more aplomb than any human.

*My Sophie wants to help me type right now, apparently.

[Pithlet]

70. Thanks! I hadn't looked at that picture in a long time.

I forgot how fuzzy and little he was.

[Lorien]

88. So cute! They look very happy together

My big guy Oberon LOVES to "kitten sit". He gives my foster kittens a little paternal lovin"

[Sugar Smack]

102. OMG I am dead of the cuteness!!!!!!

Oberon is the ultimate picture of dignity. Magnificence. That is no ordinary freaking cat, & you know it, & Oberon knows it! And his charges!!

We all want to be Oberons.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

29. Sophie and you are a great team Sugz :)

That's a fantastic drawing!

Daisy, doing what she does best, cheering me up and directing me to the kitchen

[Sugar Smack]

43. Thank you so much, SalmonChantedEvening-

Daisy's a HOOT. Pure-bred sweetness. I can see it, because my family used to have a dog who was constantly convinced we'd forgotten our way to the kitchen. I know you & your writing well enough to know that you could probably get into a doggie's frame of mind easily.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

49. That I can

Love me.

Love me more. This means food.

Play. You bought me these toys for a reason, dintcha?

My people. You no hurt.

Outside! I really, really mean this.


She's a rescue pup, once timid and fearful of all, now boisterous and sure of herself. She trusts again, and I'm so happy she picked me to trust



Goin back to bed, a stomach virus has left me exhausted and begging for snoring

[Sugar Smack]

53. Hey, get well. You KNOW Daisy'll be right there

in your face going, "You're not happy? I'M here! How anything POSSIBLY be wrong with ME looking out for you. See there? I take good care of my man."

[triguy46]

39. That is a fine lookin' cat.

[Sugar Smack]

44. Oh, triguy. Thanks. Sophie says

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnbytttttttttttttt3333333333332

back at you. I think that means

[malta blue]

45. this is Doobie trying to wash those tats off

his daddy's arms ...

edit: I forgot the link

[Sugar Smack]

57. Yours are gorgeous!!

My!! What a family! That's a beautiful picture. It's cozy. And the pup's taking his job as tattoo doctorer very, very seriously.

[malta blue]

64. Merci sugar.

That is my little girl and my beloved cousin. He adores his little niece and has a large copy of that print hanging in his office. He is the manager of a nightclub in Manhattan and gets all kids of looks from suppliers because they all tease him for being a playboy type creature of the night, and then look at this precious picture.

[Sugar Smack]

67. See, that's the kind of happiness that turns ordinary people to goo.

And that picture. I'll bet people smile when they see it whether or not they know they're smiling.

[Inchworm]

52. Bed Warmer in Action

[Sugar Smack]

58. I think I just fell in love with a pair of floppy ears.

That kind of profound cuteness turns me to goo. I'm useless. I'm goo-ified.

Give your bedwarmer a bonus for arduous task. I CANNOT get over that little forehead, the sweet mouth, those paws. Big puppy paws. That wee smile.

[ThomCat]

82. Awww! I wish I could have one of those.

[1]

54. a different warmer in action...

my friend's kitties ensure she never has to put on a cold bra.

[Sugar Smack]

59. Someone's got to copyright that picture.

That's beautiful!!! I think we have a winner, seriously.

[electron_blue]

98. LOL! What beautiful 'kittens' that woman has.

[Xipe Totec]

55. Since you asked...

[Sugar Smack]

60. The noble cat. Assisting you with your studies.

You're a stronger person than I am. First of all, your cat looks like a Botticelli painting, and second of all, the pure sweetness on that one's face would drive me to distraction.

[Xipe Totec]

124. Botticelli - I like that description

I'll have to tell my son, who took this picture; he'll be pleased.

[DarkTirade]

62. My gecko, bein' my mascot. :)

[Sugar Smack]

63. Those are simply some of the most amazing animals on the earth.

I can't ever get tired of watching them because they always seem to be on their own trip. So independent. My only tattoo is of a chameleon. I got it in Florida. It's on my ankle.

Yours has a bit of a personality, too, right?

That looks like it'll be my next sketch.

[DarkTirade]

66. She definately had her own personality.

For some reason she liked to crawl over my shoulder and cling onto the back of my shirt, between my shoulderblades. Which terrified me to no end, because I couldn't see her back there and I couldn't tell if she was about to fall or perhaps I might forget about her and accidentally sit back and squish her or something. So it was always a contest, she'd try to run up my chest unexpectly and go over the shoulder, and I'd scoop her back up and set her down on my arm or chest again.

And she definately liked me more than other people. Whenever someone else was holding her, she'd gravitate back towards me. I'm sure it was just a scent recognition where she remembered me as being safe and warm, but still. It was nice to be loved, even if it was in a cold reptilian kind of way.

[Sugar Smack]

69. "loved, even if it was in a cold reptilian kind of way"

*lol*

I bet she'd have acted too fast for you to have sat down & squished her, but I understand your terror at it. What a beauty. What a beauty.

[DarkTirade]

71. Actually leos aren't that fast compared to a lot of other lizards.

They can do quick little pounces when they see food, but as far as running speed goes they don't go all that fast.

At least not compared to the little anoles I saw everywhere in Florida when I lived there. Those little suckers were FAST. Not very bright, tiny little brains. But fast.

[spooky3]

68. Thanks for a great thread. And Sophie is very talented too.

Beautiful drawing.

[Sugar Smack]

73. Spooky3, thanks for that!!

I love this thread now because there are so many pics of pets just LOVING the camera. I'm still smiling at all the goofiness & the animal pride. You all are right to adore your critters, as am I. Makes for a sweet night.

[prole_for_peace]

72. My Molly "helps" me more than the other two.

This is her helping me finish my lemonade


Helping me read DU


Helping make my shopping list

[Sugar Smack]

74. Oh. My. God.

Molly is such a cool character. You know, I didn't post the pictures, but that could be the parallel existence of Sophie. That is the perfect series of pics for this thread. What's just right about it is how approximate her actions to her "motives". I just loved your response.



Helping make my shopping list. Many thanks for that.

[Richardo]

75. Another Sophie, another species, sings popular songs:

"Everybody Ought To Have a Maid" while doing the windows:


"It's Your Thing" while holding down the lawn:


"Someone To Watch Over Me" while monitoring my respiration during reading:



to you and your Sophie from me and MY Sophie! Sugie!!

[Sugar Smack]

76. Hey, Love!!! Loves>

I'm on my 3rd cup of hot cocoa & getting sleepy. I LOVE our Sophies. D'you know, I was going to start a thread: "Post your Sophies here" because there seemed to be an inordinate # of them. Yours is such a little doll. That "Someone to watch over me" is dreamy & cute. It looks like utter bliss. I'd want that one as a desktop image.

I want to smooch those paws.

[Richardo]

77. Good night, Sug.

I smooched them paws for ya.

[Contrary1]

80. B.T. and Baby

Guarding against evil hummingbird infiltrators:

[Sugar Smack]

103. Aren't you lucky to have them protecting you from the hummingbirds?

I love it when there's more than one cat and they like to hang out together. That's a really sweet picture.

[AggieGal]

84. My dog helps me drive.

Looking both ways


Looking ahead

[Sugar Smack]

104. Oh, I see your dog's nose is a good navigational device-

Your pup looks alert. So noble, too. I wish I could drive around with the cat in the car, but dogs are SO much better for that. The few times I've let her do that, she began crawling around. I was terrified and that never happened again.

[huskerlaw]

85. More kittensitting...

Helping with nap time


...and bath time

[spooky3]

89. awww - so cute!

Did you see my photo above?

[Sugar Smack]

105. Your cat's such a class act. A lil domestic

sweetie. That bath time pic is great. I get a kick out of watching Soph give herself a bath. Cats get so wrapped up in it. Their concentration & intent are unbreakable.

[elleng]

86. Toni is waiting to meet me!

Not quite what you had in mind, but but but

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~btca/BTCA-Liber...

[Sugar Smack]

106. Damn, the link wasn't working for me.

Rats.

[elleng]

112. SHOOT!

Doesn't work for me, either!

Try again?

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~btca/BTCA-Liber...

[Sugar Smack]

114. I'm sorry. It's still not working. I know it's frustrating; I've had that happen plenty.

I wonder what's going on.

[elleng]

129. Lets see if this works,

I'll spell the url for you: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com./~btca/BTCA-Libe...

I see that it didn't; after the ..., goes rty's%20Devonshire%20Temptress.htm

OR go to google: Liberty's Devonshire Temptress

[Lorien]

87. All three help with Christmas packages:

[Sugar Smack]

108. They KNOW Xmas is meant for them, and the

hell with whatever junk was in those FABulous boxes. I never have the heart to remove whatever box Sophie chooses as her favorite for that day. I let it hang around til she gets bored of it. You have the most beautiful babies.

[mikeytherat]

90. OK:

Ferrets help de-fuzz and re-fuzz a blanket:


Charlie protects his food-givers by absorbing dangerous UV radiation:


The cats toast the bed:


mikey_the_rat

[Sugar Smack]

109. They all let you live in their house? That's an amazing amount of ferrets.

I always remember you for your gorgeous animals. I especially love the black and white shots you take of your cats. Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed by the ferret-volume? Do they ever get into things? What I mean is, have you ferret-proofed your living quarters?

[Orsino]

91. Obie helping me keep the lakeside goose-free.

They don't know he's a big chicken, so they make way.

[Sugar Smack]

110. I SWEAR I saw Obie in a Bugs Bunny cartoon once.

I never forget a face. Your dog's a work of art, with those ears and that nose and those eyes. That alertness, that keen sense of propriety. God, both of y'all are handsome.

[applegrove]

99. Great drawing. Cute cat.

[Sugar Smack]

111. Thanks, applegrove.

I really appreciate it. I have your thread with the email you got-the horses-bookmarked.

[jgraz]

101. Gnocchi helping to keep the camera lens free of fuzz

[Sugar Smack]

113. A freaking studio assistant! God knows the world needs more of those.

I must say that cage looks like bird bliss. A lot of distractions to keep Gnocchi from more worldly worries. I have a basket full of toys for Sophie, but this is the only one she likes. I won it at the State Fair:

[ThomCat]

132. Hi Gnocchi!

That's a beautiful bird. Is it a boy or a girl? And how old?

[jgraz]

135. Thanks! Gnocchi's a boy and he'll be 4 on July 1st.

He's also the canonical blue-crowned conure on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-crowned_conure

[lost-in-nj]

107. She's saying

iz cheezeburger palace???


NO ???....

cant haz back... pfft

lost


adorable!!!

[Sugar Smack]

115. Wrong on the first count, but right on the second.

Sophie loves her dry food. But she'll be damned if she gives me my sketchbook back without a fight. Right also about the "pfft". Sophie says thank you!

[KG]

116. this is Jet, making my day brighter.

[Sugar Smack]

120. Jet's a little wonder.

Such a beautiful, wise expression. Is Jet a boy or girl? I can't tell from the name. I love it when a pet's helpful; Sophie brightens my day too. She & the drawings I do keep me off the streets.

[KG]

130. yes, he is a wonder.

[lizerdbits]

117. Max helps when I'm sick

the last few days.

Keeping the couch warm while I get some food. (More like stealing the warm spot.)


"Cleaning" the counter.


And sleeping on my arm to make sure I get enough rest.

[Sugar Smack]

122. This is just begging to be analyzed-

Max REALLY IS keeping the couch warm. And the machine-like purring action suffuses the couch with kitty-warmth, which scientifically lingers longer than human warmth.

Max's inbuilt stove duster insures that whatever morsels are lying about, they'll certainly be swept up by his custom-made brush. And likely dispatched into his mouth. Stoves aren't self-cleaning, but cats are.

Max knows better than you do what's good for you (Sophie has that keen ability too) so he's literally holding you in place until he feels you've rested enough to get up and feed him.

That Max is a good egg.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

118. When they were babies

they made sure that none of the down comforters escaped...

[Sugar Smack]

125. It's so good to see you again, you have no idea.

And your pets, who are so helpfully preventing a down comforter escape- not only are they outrageously cute, but it looks like they both leapt from some height, landed with a soft *poof*, and fell asleep in their exact landing positions. *lol*

[QueenOfCalifornia]

131. They are bestest friends

and are playing right now together! All grown up and everything. They are a hoot.

Nice to see you too SS!

[seemunkee]

119. Luna fighting for Truth, Justice, and the American Way

[Sugar Smack]

126. I'm so glad Luna's looking out for us as a nation :D

She looks so graceful! I love the expression on her face.

[redqueen]

121. Awwww...

cute pics! Are you an illustrator? You must be...


I only have hermit crabs. They're not helpful.

Here they are helping themselves to some cheerios though:




The one in the red shell has passed on.
Here it is perched on a small pretend tree:





We got a new one though!

[Sugar Smack]

127. Hey, redqueen!

Thank you!! I let my drawing drop for a while but I've got back into it. I've put a lot of older ones in my DU journal.

"I only have hermit crabs. They're not helpful." *LOL* But they'e cute. They don't necessarily have to be "cuddly" to be loved. I like the digs you set up for them, too.

[Richard Steele]

133. If either of our two furry "cat food black holes" ever HELPS me, I'll be sure to let you know. nm

[amerikat]

134. Mose helping me retieve paper from the printer

ah yes, a resume full of holes.

[Political Heretic]

136. Owl Cat watches over u

Owl Cat watches over u


Sentry Cat guards your puter work


Stress Management Cat wants you to take a pet-the-cat time out


Shy Cat says stop taking mah picture!