Krasnesky Manor for Wayward Cats

02/04/2025

Lawrence Humane Society is looking for a safe space for Russet.
If you are local to the KC Metro, and you can meet these special needs, please consider opening your home and your heart to this sweet boy who has endured so much.

We always try to be as open and transparent with you as possible. However, we need your help finding a foster or adoptive home for a dog whose picture we can’t show.

Russet is a really special dog, but the sensitive nature of his story has complicated our ability to find him a foster or permanent home. You see, Russet suffered terrible physical abuse at the hands of his previous owner, in another community that’s driving-distance from Lawrence. The community that he came from said that this was one of the worst cases they have ever seen, with Russet being repeatedly kicked, choked, and whipped with an object. Yet despite all he endured, Russet is still friendly with people and eager for love!

When Lawrence Humane learned of his situation, we offered a safe place for Russet to get a chance at a new life. However, out of an abundance of caution, we have been limited in our ability to market him while also protecting him from falling back into the hands of his abuser. So we're sharing his story in an unorthodox fashion in hopes of finding him a foster or forever home because he's long overdue for a fresh start!

Russet is an adult mixed breed dog, weighing roughly 65 lbs. He is best described as a cherub both in looks and demeanor. He is shy at first, but his joyful nature prevails and he makes fast friends, especially if you have a tug toy at the ready! He bunny hops through life and enjoys every opportunity to be in the company of people. He enjoys soft beds and stuffie toys, thrives on routine, and is a fast learner. He knows to sit and wait for doors to open and resources to be offered. Russet does lead with exuberance though, so he needs to be held to his manners so that he doesn’t use brawn before brain. He loves other dogs, but overwhelms them during play, often ignoring their cues for space. So for now, he would do best decompressing in a home as the only pet, with the potential to work with Lawrence Humane Behavior staff on his social skills in the future, if desired. He has been around children around the age of 9 and has done well. For a dog who was treated so brutally, he has shown a forgiving spirit and a love of people!

If you think that you might be able to open your heart and home to Russet and give him a loving and stable environment to thrive in, we'd love to talk with you. We are actively seeking foster and/or forever placement for him. We'll be able to talk one-on-one and provide you with more information and an opportunity to meet Russet before you make any commitment. If you think you might be Russet’s much-deserved safe space, please reach out to our Executive Director, Shannon Wells, at [email protected]!

02/04/2025

Down the Raccoon Hole

We’ve never gone into this part of the lower attic where the raccoons hang out, or taken pictures in it, so since they led us to the silver coins two years ago, I figured I’d stick my hand in there and snap a few shots with my phone, and see if we see anything.

So far I’ve identified what looks like an old wood carving tool, a couple of plastic army men, and a couple of possible coins.
What do you think?
See anything else?

02/04/2025

“Last night I dreamt that I was a horse with no name so I called myself Archimedes and moved to Zurich where they have great light-rail systems and no deserts, but then I woke up back in my own bed, with no deserts and no light-rail, but at least I had a name, even though it wasn’t Archimedes.” - Otis

02/03/2025

“What am I doing?…
Why, mother, I’m just lying here minding my own business.
Chasing Thornton?
Me?!? I would never!”
Pantaloons~

02/03/2025

“Listen lady—because I can, that’s why.”
Max~

02/03/2025

Teaser alert!

Treasure hidden in the ground,
Glinting secrets all around.
What still lies in earthen mound,
Silently waiting to be found?

You all know we’re constantly finding little hints of what might lie beneath. In the house of course, but even more so on the property.
One of the more common comments or suggestions we get is a recommendation to have someone sweep the ground with ground penetrating radar. We would love to do this but it is more challenging than it looks on the documentary shows.

However…

Nothing is confirmed yet, and we’re still just in the “talking about it phase” but there is a chance that a very well known detecting team may be coming out this year to do a “radar sweep.”

We will keep you updated.

History Seekers

Go check out their page.

02/03/2025

Groundhog’s Day Resolutions

“Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions, but it’s the Groundhog’s Day resolutions that impress me more. Groundhog’s Day is far enough removed from the holidays that we have a better understanding of what our normal looks like. Resolutions made on Groundhog’s Day are truly filled with resolve, and not inspired by impulse.

Also, Groundhog’s Day has become associated with repetitive actions. Things we do over and over again that rarely benefit us and are often even detrimental. A Groundhog’s Day resolution allows us the opportunity to examine those repetitive habits. The ruts that our souls fall into.

Groundhog’s Day resolutions are more about those old things we choose not to repeat than about new things we intend to begin doing.

So go outside today. Look for your shadow. Then decide what the year ahead has forecasted for you.” - Nicky

02/03/2025

“Happy Monday, everyone, and Happy New Week’s Day! A new day. A new opportunity to be amazing. A new chance to let others accept you as you are and to give others the grace of accepting them as they are because we ALL are enough. YOU are enough for this day. You are enough for every day.” - Thor

02/02/2025

Clawdius and I, working on the book
May you always have a friend to sit beside you during your difficult moments.

02/02/2025

Fifty Shades of Blue

Following up on the green ballroom debacle, we have decided to put some samples up on the walls first to see how they dry down and how they look in the light on the third floor.

We have six shades of blue we are going to try. These are the first three.
We also have three shades of grey.

Might be a President’s Day weekend project. We will keep you updated.

02/01/2025

GOOD NEWS!!!!

CoCo has been found!!!

She is in great shape. It seems she was stuck in a shed near the place she ran off.
She has now been reunited with her family—who I’m certain are beside themselves with relief.
Thank you all for your positive thoughts and sharing of this information.

02/01/2025

SIMON SAYS SATURDAY!!!
Simon says that one of his favorite cinematic devices is when they backlight the hero at the exact moment that he’s speaking a particularly important truth. Blade Runner and Searching for Bobby Fischer are a couple of good examples.

Simon says, tell us what your favorite cinematic element is and give us your favorite example.

02/01/2025

The Pied Trumpeter

If this happened anywhere other than The Manor it would feel unbelievable, but we’ve started to get used to the unbelievable here.

We have squirrels and raccoons as you all know by now. And yes, they are adorable, but not when they are crawling through your ceiling at two in the morning.

Somewhat spitefully, perhaps, I decided to take my trumpet up to the attic and see how they liked being awakened. Isabelle and John got me a steel-tongue drum for Christmas and I have been practicing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on it, so that was the first thing that came to mind when I stepped into the lower attic and started playing.

I honestly figured they would just ignore it. At best, I figured it might annoy them and they would leave.

What I did NOT expect was for them to come out of their crawlspace and into the middle of the room to listen to it!

I’m sure it was just curiosity. I’m not that good on the trumpet. But they just stood there for five minutes listening to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and then a little bit of jazz.

My phone was on my trumpet case in the ballroom so I went into the ballroom to get it and came right back. The trumpet playing didn’t frighten them but the movement apparently did. They had darted back into their hidey-hole. As soon as I started playing again though, they came right back out, although not as far this time. 

I put the trumpet down to take these pictures and they quickly went back to their raccoon lives. I started playing again, but this time they did not return.

Now how am I supposed to evict a fellow jazz lover?

01/31/2025

UPDATE:
CoCo has been found!!!

This is CoCo.
CoCo has been missing for several days.
Out for a walk with her boy, she accidentally pulled free and ran off, quickly disappearing.
She was last seen around Kingman and Kansas St. in Leavenworth, KS. She was wearing a red patterned collar with red leash attached.
CoCo is very small and very young (about 8 weeks), still a bit young for her microchip.
Her family is devastated. They are hopeful that a well-meaning soul has scooped her up and brought her inside.
Her family misses her very very much.
Currently, there is an offer of $200 reward for the safe return of CoCo to her family.
If you have seen CoCo, please call or text her family. (Number is visible on the reward poster.)
*Link to original post in comments.

01/31/2025

"Ask Phryne" Weekly Advice Column

Dear Phryne,

My cat has never reacted to catnip toys in the past, but when my husband brought one home last week they went crazy for it. I have heard some people say that there are different strains of catnip, just like…certain plants people use. Is that actually true? Or do my cats just like my husband better?

Signed,

Herbally curious


Dear Herbally,

Never fear. Although cats are no different than people when it comes to preferring one person's company over another, in this case it likely is simply a matter of nip.

Catnip comes from nepeta cataria, a plant that is part of the mint family. The active ingredient in it is nepetalactone, and the potency of the nepetalactone does vary like…certain plants that people use. Some nepeta cataria strains are stronger than others.

The process used to dry the nip or extract the oil also matters. Many toys that claim to be "infused" with catnip have very low doses of poor quality, dried nip. Stale nip is worse than stale potato chips.

This also brings up the question of whether or not nip is safe for cats. Although it can create a sense of euphoria or stimulation in many cats, cats are as individual as people. If you have a cat that is nervous or anxious, you might think that giving them catnip will help them relax, but this may have the exact opposite reaction if the cat suddenly feels stimulated but doesn't fully understand why, or doesn't have the ability to remove themselves from the stimulation source. A reaction to catnip might be amusing to watch, but it is not always amusing to be the one that experiences it.

The recommendation is to always allow the cats to come to the nip, rather than bringing the nip to the cats. You can introduce it to them in a common area in small doses, but never inundate their common area with it unless they have a pattern of seeking it out on their own. And if your cat does seem to be overstimulated, just remove the nip until they settle down.

As in all things, moderation.

Signed,

Phryne


(If you have a question for Phryne, message her here or send her a letter at "Ask Phryne, PO Box 714, Leavenworth, KS 66048)

01/30/2025

“Listen lady, I worry about you.
You don’t seem to know how to hunt very well, so I hunted this Nerf dart mousie for you so you won’t starve.
You’re welcome.”
Max~

*Both Max and Thornton are excellent providers. I’m certain that if times get lean, they will team up to make sure we don’t go hungry. We will simply have to adapt our diet to include catnip mousies and Nerf darts.

01/30/2025

“We seek what we value. If we claim to value a thing, but we do not seek it, we are either liars, or we are perpetually disappointed.” - No Tail

(No Tail, 2008-2024)

01/30/2025

The Gallery
(Looking for artists)

It takes a period of time living in a space before it starts to define itself and you understand what you want to do with it.
Robin and I have always enjoyed collecting reproduction art (and a few original pieces), even before we bought The Manor.
Now that our wall space is practically unlimited, we have discovered that the second floor landing very much wishes to be a gallery.

All of the pieces you see here are Waterhouse or Collier or Leighton or other artists from the pre-Raphaelite school.
What we would love to find is a contemporary artist that paints in the pre-Raphaelite style.
Not reproductions.
Original works, but painted in the style made popular by Rosetti and Millais and the rest of the brotherhood.

We would love to purchase and support new artists. This is not a contest. And we aren’t asking you to give us a painting in exchange for “exposure.” I find that type of thing to generally be disrespectful to the artist. (Unless the influencer is Taylor Swift. Then the exposure will probably be worth it, but she’s the type that would probably pay you anyway.)

If you are an artist that does THIS type of work, message us. Send us a link to your webpage. We might be interested. We might not. We are not on a timeline. But we are open to purchasing and supporting new artists.

Also, we do not want to imply that this is the only type of art we like or that pre-Raphaelites are the best, or any other sort of assumed negative comparison. We like a lot of different art. And if you paint other stuff, it might be awesome. You’re awesome just for being an artist and creating things for people to appreciate.
It’s just this space.
This space wants a particular style.
So message us if you’re interested.