"The Countess and Her Cats" opens at The Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, CT

Exhibition opening: "The Countess & Her Cats" and "Illustrating Twain"

The Mark Twain House and Museum

Thursday, October 18, 5:30 p.m.

We will be showing diorama and dollhouse art from the artist Cynthia von Buhler, author of the children's books "But Who Will Bell the Cats" and "The Cat Who Would Not Come Inside." Von Buhler combines dioramas she constructs with illustration in an imaginative way in her delightful tales. "Illustrating Twain" will feature illustrations by Mark Twain and about Mark Twain. Through January 15.

The opening reception on Oct. 18 is free of charge. The exhibit may be viewed with the purchase of a Mark Twain House tour or for a $5.00 museum-only admission .

and

A Halloween Tea Party with the Countess

The Mark Twain House and Museum

Saturday, October 27, 2:00 p.m.

The younger set are invited to don their Halloween finery for a tea with "Countess" Cynthia von Buhler, author and illustrator of But Who Will Bell the Cats? Kids will feast on tea and sweets, tour our new exhibition The Countess & Her Cats and enjoy a spooky performance by Hartford Children’s Theatre.

Tickets $15 for adults, $10 for children. Call (860) 280-3130.

Flowers Can Kill Your Cat

I'm not talking about science fiction. It's true. Flowers can kill your pet.

Easter is around the corner. Before you give someone an Easter Lily make sure that they don't have a cat!

Every year I try to let people know that the white Easter Lily is extremely toxic to cats. Even the orange powder which falls from the flower onto the counter or floor is toxic. A little bit licked off your pet's paw can cause renal failure and death. Flower shops will not tell you this because they could lose money.

I had no idea about this until my cat Cleopatra almost died. Most people are clueless about which plants are poisonous to their pets.

The ASPCA has a great list that can be searched by cat, dog or horse. Click HERE.

The Countess and her Cats

Did you know that Mark Twain loved cats? His cats had fantastic names like Pestilence, Satan, Sin, and Famine.
Fans of Cynthia von Buhler's children's book sets and characters will be able to see her work in person once again. The exhibit at The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, CT opens in October of 2012. We will post more information soon.

Above: Cynthia von Buhler has exhibited her sets at The Nassau County Museum of Art (Long Island, NY), The Staten Island Museum of Art (Staten Island, NY), The Society of Illustrator's Museum (NY, NY), The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery (NY, NY), and Books of Wonder (NY, NY).
A drawing by Mark Twain titled "Morning Song."
A painting which hangs in Mark Twain's home.
Mark Twain's home in Hartford, CT.