Angel by graemestevens

Angel

I fail to see why, when I own two excessively fast greyhounds, the neighbours cats should feel at liberty to come into my garden and launch an all out attack on any bird nests that they can find. I have spent some time this morning collecting corpses from a variety of locations in the garden and have also had stern words with my hounds regarding their lax attitude and general laziness toward these incursions.
EW! I hope you wore latex gloves! ;)
November 24th, 2014  
Poor birdie. Cat should be kept inside!
November 24th, 2014  
I'm with you, let loose the dogs of war.
November 24th, 2014  
Bad kitties. Great processing.
November 24th, 2014  
Interesting composition ... I see crucifix and thorns amidst the death and decay. I like your processing.
November 24th, 2014  
I dono, but I think it is dead. Dead dead. Not just kinda dead, but dead.
November 24th, 2014  
Wow that's some carnage !!! And some image !!!
November 24th, 2014  
I'm looking at this on my phone and I have to say this makes for a compelling image when small... Almost abstract... Or maybe it's just my eyes and the dim light...;p
November 24th, 2014  
I see Phoenix rising from the ashes! Those cats better beware!
November 24th, 2014  
Better put one through the brain.
November 24th, 2014  
@bigugly Agreed...
@janiskay Yes, they'd better be very well aware!
@northy Thank you very much...quite abstract really.
@scolgs Thank you kindly - and yes, it's carnage alright.
@amandal It's more dead than a dead thing being dead.
@aecasey Thank you very much - there's a lot to see the more I look at it
@kt8ird Bad, bad, bad kitties...and thanks
@golftragic Absolutely. Immediately if not sooner.
@janiskay Definitely - they got the chicks as well!!!
@juliedduncan When am I not wearing latex gloves? ;)
November 24th, 2014  
Did you fish this one out of the garbage dispenser? Not going into a pie, this one! Them dawgs can't see things like cats - too tall!
November 24th, 2014  
@maggiemae This one was under some bushes by the front gate - as for the dogs not seeing the cats, don't bet on it!
November 24th, 2014  
do you know the dead bird song? It pretty much rocks. Dead bird, you are so dead...sing with me:). It is seriously a book and song. Makes me happy for some sick reason.
November 24th, 2014  
@amandal Many things make me happy for sick reasons - I haven't heard it but I'll go in search of it...now
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens Least we are happy people sick or not. Linked the book. Maybe you can find it being read online. Seriously funny stuff.
November 24th, 2014  
@amandal So you did, I may have to get off my rump and go to the library :)
November 24th, 2014  
You know... the details and arrangement of this is really beautiful - if you don't focus too much on what it actually is. The lighting is excellent. It does look like a phoenix, actually. I hope you don't get too many more, though, the poor things. Get those doggies moving! :)
November 24th, 2014  
I like this. Not sure why but I do. Sorry the neighbor's cats are such a nuisance. I'm sure there's a cure for that.
November 24th, 2014  
An all out attack, eh. With such fearsome predators at large, I am not surprised that the doggies are laying low.
November 24th, 2014  
@rosiekerr Thank you very much - they'd better get moving. One simply shan't stand for such laziness.
@voiceprintz Thank you kindly - I know the cure but I'm afraid it may be 1. Illegal and 2. I'll get caught.
@francoise Yes indeed, and under cover of darkness no less. I shall assume the "ninja pose" this evening.
November 24th, 2014  
Could the cats be mistaken for possums? I know what NZ'ers so to possums!
November 24th, 2014  
@888rachel I'd resent that comment if it wasn't so true, so very, very true ;)
November 24th, 2014  
Of course it's illegal. The trick is not getting caught.
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens Hmm, perhaps I didn't state my case quite clearly enough. Could you perhaps mistake the cats for possums (wink wink) and do away with them...
November 24th, 2014  
@888rachel Ah...that sort of past time. In that case I dare say I could. Would. Should.
@voiceprintz You're obviously completely unfamiliar with the way my luck runs... ;)
November 24th, 2014  
Then you need to develop some skills, my friend! :) @888rachel has it right. That's a great fall back if not getting caught doesn't work.

Of course, now there's a trail of your plans in this thread so it could get a bit trickier, but, you're a smart bloke. I'm sure you'd find a work around for this, too! ;)
November 24th, 2014  
@voiceprintz @888rachel I'll work on it tonight when I've had a wine or 4
November 24th, 2014  
I don't know what is more disturbing - the fact that you have mass-murdering cats living near you, or that you have taken such care to meticulous arrange this corpse. I truly hope that you were wearing gloves. That said, it's a lovely shot!
November 24th, 2014  
@eyeamlisa Thanks very much - I was definitely wearing gloves but it didn't take too much arranging...
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens good to know, on both accounts!
November 24th, 2014  
oops, after a quick google search, I think that should be "on both 'counts'". :-)
November 24th, 2014  
@eyeamlisa So it should, but with my spelling and grammar I'm going to be the last one to point it out!
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens so, really I just pointed something out that no one would have noticed in the first place. Lovely. ;-)
November 24th, 2014  
Oh, my. Poor birds!
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens Cats have a night curfew round here, have to be inside or otherwise confined to barracks. Darned good idea I reckon!!
November 24th, 2014  
Very gritty image and really sad. I have two cats who hunt and I hate that they do it.
November 24th, 2014  
Great image, sad story. My poodles go nuts about the cats next door. Maybe you need backup?
November 24th, 2014  
one of the many reasons I am not a huge fan of cats - your hounds definitely need to swing into action scaring the wits out of them - you should also smite your neighbours and tell them to keep their wildlife killing horrid cats indoors!!!!!!!
November 24th, 2014  
@golftragic love that idea Marnie
November 24th, 2014  
oh and I love the image - great processing gives it a real gritty crucified feel to it - or is that just me hahahahaha
November 24th, 2014  
oh me again - do we know what type of bird - I am curious
November 24th, 2014  
This does look like a beautiful abstract and took some studying to sort out that it was actually a dead bird.
November 24th, 2014  
I truly feel sorry for the poor bird, but this is such a wonderful composition and image that I hope it knows it did not die in vain!! Not too many beings are fortunate enough to be transformed and immortalized after being murdered!! As for cats, I guess you could say it is their nature to be hunters, even though ours could not even catch a mouse when it was in the house! Something about being fed copious quantities of food and never going hungry, therefore no need to hunt for food...
November 24th, 2014  
@eyeamlisa Ummm...yes ;)
@golftragic That's a fabulous idea and would save me having to go out hunting them ;)
@dibzgreasley Thanks very much - I know they have to hunt, it's what they do...but they should do it in someone else's garden!
@trinda Thanks very much - more greyhounds me thinks ;)
@annied Right...here we go: just a humble blackbird I'm afraid, of which I have 3 remaining families. Thank you, definitely a crucified feeling to it. The smiting shall begin forthwith.
@taffy Thank you very much - it's very dead but not at all gruesome (or so I think)
@panthora Thanks very much - they are what they are but they could have decency to be what they be in someone else's garden!
November 24th, 2014  
It's so very sad what cats can do to our wildlife :'( great shot though, it provokes a lot of emotion.
November 24th, 2014  
@tw Thank you very much, and agreed
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens I love blackbirds crows ravens and the like - poor fellow or lass - SMITE! SMITE! with all your fury
November 24th, 2014  
@annied I'm in the back yard as we speak swinging my machete and about to leap the fence
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens yay! oh I would love to see that! I am closing my eyes and imagining
November 24th, 2014  
@annied Knowing my luck I'll take the leap, stumble, trip, fall flat on my face and be pounced on by marauding pussies...and they're the worst kind.
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens the whole reason I would love to be watching hahahahaha
November 24th, 2014  
@annied Personally I don't see the joke in me getting my ninja outfit soiled, but if you insist...
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens oh - I didn't realise you had the ninja gear on - in that case take care
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens really with a Machete you need a leather vest and pants - like you know who of the same name
November 24th, 2014  
@annied Not all of it. Just the funny little black slippers.
November 24th, 2014  
Very effective ...and strangely appealing
November 24th, 2014  
This is an awesome shot. I used to keep birds when I was younger. The next door neighbours cat ate s few of them. I dispensed some psychological warfare on the offender (I didn't harm or physically hurt it. But it didn't come back. As for me he hounds, I know where you are coming from. If I lay down seeds to repair my lawn. My dog sits there and watches as they help themselves.
November 24th, 2014  
@susale Thank you very much :)
@karlow75 Thank you very much - psychological war fare may well be an option
November 24th, 2014  
very gothic, very creative. great work.
November 24th, 2014  
@andrewkru Thank you very much good sir :)
November 24th, 2014  
Whisper in the hounds ear: rabbit, rabbit. Intriguing shot, almost abstract.
November 24th, 2014  
@overalvandaan Thank you very much - one of the hounds has a prey drive so strong that it's almost problematic. The real issue is their innate laziness!
November 24th, 2014  
Only you can make a work of art out of a dead bird
November 24th, 2014  
@deliad Thank you kindly...didn't take much 're-arrangement' at all really ;)
November 24th, 2014  
I think I need to look at this on my computer instead of my phone!
November 24th, 2014  
Loved it and then read the text; now my feelings have changed and my inner cat is sharpening her claws, mmmmeeeooowww
November 24th, 2014  
Ah, how did you manage to make such a grim scene look so artistic! You never cease to amaze me Graeme!
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens You're right, added to which I'm teaching our new canine to give 'em a good rev.
November 24th, 2014  
Lovely textural image - cat really nailed that poor thing!
November 24th, 2014  
dark dark image - but love it
November 24th, 2014  
nowt funny to say I am too lazy. Sat on the sofa under a duvet like a greyhound. should I be concerned though that I am not concerned about looking at a photo of a dead bird? Though I guess you did pre warn me.
November 24th, 2014  
I feel that I shouldn't be saying this - but I think it's a gorgeous and brilliant photo.... sure I should have found it a bit too gruesome.
November 24th, 2014  
I am not sure how you do it, but you make beauty out of something that to most would look revolting. I noticed a dead squirrel in our yard today, my first thought was what would Graeme do with this, my second thought was typically female 'I must tell my husband to do something with this', sad but true!
November 24th, 2014  
takes me back to art school......................
November 24th, 2014  
@shepherdmanswife It certainly works better larger :)
@ceilidh I'm quaking in my boots ;)
@lilminimonka I have no idea but thank-you anyway :)
@golftragic Maybe I just need to rescue more dogs in order to mount an effective patrol system
@lynnilou Did it ever, and thanks very much
@lorrainelouise Thank you so much :)
@newbank I did pre-warn you and there's nothing wrong with being curled up on the sofa
@jocasta Thank you very much - the more I look the more I'm tempted to put it on the wall!
@ukandie1 Thank you so much...and feel free to post the squirrel over ;)
November 24th, 2014  
animal instincts are not for humans to understand, we are in denial of our own
November 24th, 2014  
@kali66 At a pinch even a dead bird will do for a photo!
November 24th, 2014  
@graemestevens hehe...it is snowing out there now so he in a frozen state, better for movement I think!
November 24th, 2014  
@ukandie1 Definitely - seems like the perfect time for posting it
@kali66 Absolutely, and I understand that they're just doing what they were made to do...but it makes for a good story and I still have 3 other families of birds left. It happens every year too so you'd think they'd build nests higher or with more defences....maps little dart guns...
November 24th, 2014  
It's funny how my hounds will be on guard for hours at a time just waiting the the cats always appear when they stand down, sneaker buggers these cats!
November 24th, 2014  
makes for a very contemplative still life (or still death)...
November 24th, 2014  
OK, I've now revisited and looked at your image on a large screen instead of my phone. I wish I hadn't as I can see it now. Oh Gross! lol
November 24th, 2014  
@shepherdmanswife Yes...when I said it worked best on a big screen I may have been twisting the truth...
@blueberry1222 Thank you...very, very still life ;)
@chippy1402 As cunning as weasels I think
November 24th, 2014  
Poor birds but nature is a cruel beast. Makes a nice shot
November 24th, 2014  
@wearing0 Thanks very much - they're just doing what they're paid to do
November 24th, 2014  
Ahhh but without the cats this picture would never have been taken !!!
November 24th, 2014  
A fine work of art! Love it! Maybe the hounds will be next! Fav!
November 24th, 2014  
My cat makes me presents like that... I feel sorry...
November 24th, 2014  
Fav
November 24th, 2014  
I really must make time to read all these comments but as its late it will have to wait till tomorrow!, quite a story just reading the quotes. A photo worthy of you for its gruesome but lovely thoughts re the poor birds. There is a soft spot in there as I thought!
November 24th, 2014  
@denisefuller You raise a vild point which I shall choose ignore ;)
@yrhenwr Thanks and no, definitely not...yet
@cocobella Thank you so much - we used to have a couple of cats that were forever bringing the remains in to share with us...
@happypat There is a soft spot but please don't tell anyone ;)
November 24th, 2014  
oh my god, that eye still open! Amazing arrangement and background. FAV
November 25th, 2014  
@yaorenliu Thank you so much :)
November 25th, 2014  
I have read them all now & a catapult through the top bedroom window comes to mind!
November 25th, 2014  
@happypat LOL, that could just work.
November 25th, 2014  
Sam
Oh dear. Dead bird.
November 25th, 2014  
@gigiflower You noticed ;)
November 25th, 2014  
Sam
@graemestevens At long last yes I did
November 25th, 2014  
@gigiflower It should be ready for the BBQ soon
November 25th, 2014  
Sam
@graemestevens I think it looks right now. I like mine medium rare.
November 25th, 2014  
@gigiflower I'll pop it in the post tomorrow.
November 25th, 2014  
Sam
@graemestevens Excellent, I can eat it before I go to Spain on Monday
November 25th, 2014  
@gigiflower get you, very jet set
November 25th, 2014  
Sam
@graemestevens Such a globe trotter. Malaysia today, Spain next week, Korea the week after, Sydney the following week then home for 3 weeks holidays!!!!
November 25th, 2014  
@gigiflower Bugger that...not when you're working anyway
November 25th, 2014  
I really like this! Nicely arranged bird corpse. My daughter's greyhound once caused the demise of a neighbours cat. Tip: never let on.
Long live the songbirds.
November 25th, 2014  
@lleo Thank you very much - we've had a similar hound related incident here about 2 years ago...not that I said that
November 25th, 2014  
Looks like a cross. Love the tones in this, it does look somehow beautiful!
November 25th, 2014  
@eyeamlisa I would have noticed, but I got here late. ;-)
November 26th, 2014  
I really like this. It almost looks religious. dark, but religious none the less
November 26th, 2014  
@jess1204 Thank you very much

@bill_fe Thanks very much - religious you say...not me!
November 26th, 2014  
@graemestevens I'm an atheist, but the configuration of the tail feathers and wings looks like a cross.
November 26th, 2014  
@bill_fe As am I, but you're right - it was completely unintentional
November 26th, 2014  
Morbid subject but truly artistic shot, absolutely live it! Wonder if that says something about me!! Big fav
November 26th, 2014  
@roseolivia Thanks very much...we're all freaks on some level ;)
November 26th, 2014  
A very arty death.............personally I just put them in the compost with the theory that in their next life they will come back as something just as beautiful
November 27th, 2014  
@pixiemac Thank you - and yes, so will I (or bury them) but I wanted the skeleton from this one...
November 27th, 2014  
Very interesting composition and resluting artistic image.
November 27th, 2014  
@lisatown Thank you very much :)
November 27th, 2014  
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