Bernadette E. Kazmarski
banner
bernadettek.bsky.social
Bernadette E. Kazmarski
@bernadettek.bsky.social
Artist, writer, cat rescuer, and a lot of other things.

Linktree: linktr.ee/bernadetteekazmarski
I remember how brave Basil was, all the decisions we made, and how oddly healthy he looked through it all. That's the way I'll always remember him with his fluffy, shiny fur, curly whiskers and big bright green eyes.
December 18, 2025 at 7:32 PM
December 14 was the one year anniversary of the day I let Sweet Basil go after a brief battle with aggressive cancer.

thecreativecat.net/sweet-basil-...
December 18, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Arugula's like, "Yeah, we like snow." Last week it was under 6" of snow, which was great insulation. This morning it was flat, frosted and frozen to the ground. A little later, we're ready for a salad.

#arugula #backyardgarden #joyofgardening #winterplants #plantsinsnow
December 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Neighbor's cats enjoying some rare sunshine before the next cold front clouds it up again.

#catsinwindows #windowcats #catsinthesun
December 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Some new excitement for kitties--real live fresh catnip in the house! Mimi's Homegrown Catnip seeded itself in the pots from some of my herbs so I brought them inside to see what kitties thought. Mariposa had her face in there immediately and she's a big fan.
December 17, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I think she wants me to make a fool of myself trying to get her to look at me.

And then I tell her that the things behind her are gift items with her on them! She's always asking me when she will be on these things. Well, here she is.

Yes, it's you! She has to get a good close look at this.
December 17, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Mariposa Models Her Gift Items

Mariposa coolly looks off into the distance out the window when I politely ask if she'll look at me as she sits in front of a tile and votive lamp both with her image on them. She knows I want her to look at me, but she isn't giving me that.
December 17, 2025 at 2:12 AM
"Bottlecap Hockey", brush marker, 7" x 10"11/29/2012 © B.E. Kazmarski

That's exactly what it was, a plastic cap from a water bottle upside down that made a really enticing noise when swatted across the floor, or around my feet as I worked at my work table.
December 17, 2025 at 1:58 AM
"I helped to make them too, and I sit here all the time. (I don't know what to do.)"
December 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
"Well there's a password now, Hamlet, and you'd better start thinking about it or you don't get to walk here. I helped to make these things so I get to make the rules."

Mariposa gets right-in-his-face.
December 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The tables have turned from last week when Hamlet was there and Mariposa came down the steps for the first time!

Really, she only did this to Hamlet. They've been starting little bits of play lately.

"There's never been a password to walk here, Mariposa. You just made that up."
December 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
What's the Password?, December 5, 2018

"What's the password Hamlet?"

Mariposa suddenly became a troll, requiring a password for all who would walk along in front of the shop display--a place that had been one of Hamlet's "safe spots."
December 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
From December 6, 2019

The girls were very organized in the kitchen this morning.

Three little girls—look how young #mariposawhitemittens looks! And #littlemimicat barely takes up any space in her box. Along with #siennafostercat they were the "little girls club."

#tabbytuesday #catsinboxes
December 17, 2025 at 1:04 AM
I had actually shared this photo and discussion in a post called "A Little Conversation."

More photos and words:
thecreativecat.net/mimi-and-mew...
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
...enjoying the back yard, but on this particular morning, December 6, 2017, Mewsette wanted to go outside in the sun but Mimi reminds her it's really cold—right we now have 6" of snow, Monday morning temperature was 7 degrees so they would have been having this conversation today.
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
No kitty wants to go outside more than me, and I think it's a better idea to just sit here in this nice sunbeam.

You're no fun!

I'm your mom, I know what's best.

[Mewsette has the best eye rolls.]

"Mimi and Mewsette Monday" usually shares photos I haven't used before and remembers the girls...
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
It's cold out there, Mewsette.

Pleeeeeeease! Just for a few minutes!

You don't like it and you just want to go back in.

Because that's all I wanted!

We get our harnesses and leashes on and that takes longer than we're outside.

It's worth it!
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Mimi and Mewsette Monday: Negotiating About the Weather, December 6, 2017

What do you think, mom? Should we make a break for it? It's a really sunny morning out there!

Mewsette, do you think you're going to open the door?

Maybe not. But you can always convince Bernadette we need to go outside!
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Read more about the artwork also available as greeting cards in a set I put together for the holidays.

"Birds in Snow"
December 16, 2025 at 1:55 AM
This set of four paintings of backyard birds are ones I’d done “from life”, actually standing at a window inside or at my back door rather than outside, but I wanted to catch that moment of light and color.

"Snowbird"
December 16, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I truly love winter paintings because the light is wonderful without the shadows from trees, the reflections from the snow illuminating shadowed areas with soft purples and blues, and the patterns made by bare branches are mesmerizing.

"Jammin' Jay Blues"
December 16, 2025 at 1:55 AM
This sketch also shows up in two different sets of greeting and note cards one of which I titled "Winter Cats," and on a lot of the gift items I make, which I'm out of right now, but more will be coming soon for next year.

Read more on The Creative Cat: thecreativecat.net/featured-dai...
December 16, 2025 at 1:21 AM
... the shadows deeper and just a bit warmer, Mimi’s black fur turned blue and green in all the reflections. Mimi, so inspiring!

I sold the original sketch but have all kinds of prints of this artwork.
December 16, 2025 at 1:21 AM
"Cool Morning Bath", oil pastel, 5 x 7, 2013 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Mimi twisted and turned in the diffuse morning light at the door, all those delicate shades reflecting warmer on the floor, cooler on her, but still all in greens and blues and a very pale yellow, the light swirling around her.
December 16, 2025 at 1:21 AM