Sunday, August 30, 2020

Mommy Is Laughing At Me #SundaySelfies

Meows from Mudpie!

All summer long I mope around the house melting, waiting for cuddle weather to return. This week we've finally been able to breathe again and cuddling has commenced! 

So what made Mommy laugh at me? I still want my sunny door open but with a cool breeze blowing in I nap behind the door so I don't get chilly. She thought this was super funny, saying I'm the first to complain about the heat and the first to complain about the cold.

I think she's just being mean, don't you?


 We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Twin Tortie Trouble #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie!

I like to call this piece, "Double the Mudpie, Double the Fun!"


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!



And now our answers (all answered by Mommy this week) for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. Having a pet is a privilege.

2. I was so embarrassed when I attacked a man at Kmart with a fishing pole. I was a curious kid at the time and reached up to touch the pole. It fell over a hit a man that was standing nearby. I got a pretty dirty look. My mom was hysterical and advised I not try to catch a husband that way.

3. I can't help but smile when Mudpie tilts her head a little when she looks at me. It's usually the "cuteness overload" look she gives when she wants a squeezie, and it always works.

4. The civil unrest has gotten out of hand. I've gotten to the point where I watch the news and can't believe what I'm seeing is happening in the US. These are riotous mobs, not peaceful protestors. 

Friday, August 28, 2020

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2020: My 5 Angels, and One I Never Met


* Patch is the yellow tabby on top (February 1, 1976-August 15, 1991) He was actually my parents' first baby, as he came into their lives a year and a half before I was born. He was abandoned as a three month old kitten on my father's family dairy farm and my future grandmother, knowing how much my Mom loved cats, asked if she'd like to take him home. Prior to Patch my Mom had been over a decade without a cat in her life! He was my constant companion growing up, laying in one corner of my bed while a stack of books sat in the other. We lost him to a brain tumor at age 15.

* Sebastian is the gray boy directly beneath Patch (1993-January 8, 1997) This little guy was a neighborhood rescue. Left behind by one neighbor when they moved, he ended up in the care of an elderly couple across the road from us. When the wife passed away, a gold digger moved in on the husband and we feared the cat was on his way out. Over a period of months we turned him into a wonderful housecat after spending the majority of his life outside. Sadly he was already in his teens by this point and we lost him way too soon to kidney disease.

* The angel in the purple "Meow" frame was my first little girl, Sashi (March 31, 1998-February 15, 2006) Sashi was also the first cat I "chose" by adopting her from a local rescue group at PetSmart. She had been given up by her family at 9 years old. We were told many people thought she was beautiful but passed her by because of her age. We had nearly 8 wonderful years together before she succumbed to stomach cancer. I'd always loved cats, but Sashi was my first cat as an adult that was truly "mine". Losing her just about killed me and I thought my heart would never heal. Then I met Tara.


* Tara, my first beloved tortie, is the one who started me on this cat blogging journey (May 20, 2007-July 7, 2013) We faced her many health challenges as a team, and caring for her showed me I could do things I never thought possible. Never in a million years could I have ever seen myself giving a cat daily insulin shots, but I did...for her. Tara was my teacher cat.

* No one will ever forget my sweet little Truffles (August 20, 2013-July 7, 2015) We packed a lifetime of memories into less than two years. There's not a doubt in my mind that when my time comes and I arrive at the Rainbow Bridge, she'll be the first one running to greet me. We never got to truly say goodbye and we'll have so much to catch up on when we're reunited for eternity.


Last but not least, I want to take a moment to remember a little angel I never met but whose loss has weighed heavily on my heart. Peanut Butter was a week old kitten brought to Brooklyn’s Animal Care Center a couple weeks ago. A plea went out to rescue groups and she had an adopter on the way to pick her up the very same day when she was inexplicably euthanized. I honestly don't know how anyone could end her life and still be able to live with themselves.

I know this happens every day in shelters across America but I haven't been able to get Peanut Butter off my mind. Look at that precious face...that little paw reaching for someone to help her. She never even had a chance at life and the love all animals deserve. Peanut Butter, you mattered and have touched so many hearts. I'm sorry we failed you.


ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:

This special day was created by Deborah Barnes – author, award winning blogger, and cat advocate in tribute to her cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her book, “Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond,” a warm and heartfelt book that is written in the wise and comforting voice of Mr. Jazz himself as he shares his life and death journey to offer guidance and understanding through a cat’s perspective as to why sometimes letting a pet go can be the greatest gift you give them.

A special event page for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day has been created on Facebook so that people can share blog post links, pictures, poems, favorite memories, etc. Please click here for the link.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Book Blast: Sneaky's Summer Mystery by Debbie De Louise

 

  Sneaky's Summer Mystery: A Cobble Cove Story 

  Cozy Mystery Publisher: Solstice Publishing (August 5, 2020) 

  Print Length: 42 pages 

  Digital ASIN: B08FCJCJW7

About Sneaky's Summer Mystery

Cobble Cove is in the midst of an August heatwave. It’s the worst time for the air conditioner at the Cobble Cove library to break down. Alicia has no choice but to close the library and bring Sneaky, the library cat, home with her. After scheduling the air conditioner service with Rudy Gibbs, a technician from Hapnabber’s Repair Shop, she is surprised to learn that John knew Rudy when they were teenagers. When Rudy turns up dead after working on the AC at the library and Alicia learns of it during a barbecue she and John host with Gilly and Ramsay, Sneaky and Kittykai must once again protect their favorite ladies when they conduct their own investigation into the murder.

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writers’ Association. She’s the author of eight novels including the four books of her Cobble Cove cozy mystery series and two short eBooks based on the books. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and three cats.

Social Media Links: 

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Going Bonkers with Bloopers #PetPhotoFails

 Meows from Mudpie!

Thanks for joining us once again for the Pet Photo Fails blog hop! We decided that since this Friday is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a cherished day in the pet blogosphere, we would move our blooper hop up a couple days. 


As promised, all my photo fails this month come from my newest CatLadyBox catnip toy, a cute little black cat head. Let's just say I had bucket loads of fun, definitely inhaled, and had to sleep it off afterwards! 

Mommy says I look pawsitively possessed in the first photo. Obviously I didn't even give her time to clip the tag off...






Those are my bloopers...let's see yours!



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Monday, August 24, 2020

August Retro Country Rewind #MewsicMovesMe

Last year we premiered our mewsic feature "Retro Country Rewind," a look back at favorite songs that hit #1 during that month from 30, 35, 40 plus years ago. We have so much fun gathering the songs for it and hope you enjoy our selections.

Let's take a look at August for this freebie week in the Mewsic Moves Me blog hop...

 55 Years Ago - 1965, Yes, Mr. Peters, Roy Drusky and Priscilla Mitchell

I had never heard of this song before I started listening to Willie's Roadhouse on Sirius XM, and I don't know anything about the singers either, but it's so creatively done.

45 Years Ago - 1975, Just Get Up & Close the Door, Johnny Rodriguez

40 Years Ago - 1980, Stand By Me, Mickey Gilley

(From the Urban Cowboy soundtrack)

35 Years Ago - 1985, Real Love, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

35 Years Ago - 1985, Love Is Alive, The Judds

Let us know if you have a favorite this month!

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Caturday Art


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!


And now our answers (all answered by Mommy this week) for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. I feel like a mug of hot chocolate. Still too hot though.

2. I wish I could exchange the summer months for a longer fall.

3. It's time for me to do more interstate driving. Normal driving on the interstate doesn't bother me, merging into traffic from an on ramp does. The other day I had to take different roads than I usually do to run errands and I nearly had heart failure twice.

4. Never leaving the house is really tempting these days, except Halloween is finally making an appearance on store shelves!

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Throwback Thursday: Zooming Into Truffles' 7th Gotcha Day

Tuesday afternoon I visited Michaels to pick up a few Lemax Spooky Town pieces that were finally listed as available on their website. Petco is right next door so I stopped in to pick up a couple things for Mudpie. Every time I go in that store I remember the happy day I picked Truffles up from their adoption center - 7 years ago today.

In our short two years together Truffles left me with memories that will last a lifetime, and today instead of focusing on the sadness I want to remember one of the fun times.

Not too long before she went to the Bridge Truffles won a racecar scratcher. NASCAR fanatic that I am, I was just as excited about the prize as she was! When it arrived we put together a fun little post that still makes me smile.



Mudpie inherited the scratcher and still uses it to this day, but let's just say it looks likes its been in a number of collisions over the years! Even though it's shredded and gouged I could never throw it out though. It has too many memories attached to it. 

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Unboxing August's CatLadyBox

The theme of August's CatLadyBox was Cat Lady Life...here's what was inside!


Featured Cat Lady Artist: Nidhi Chanani "Finders Keepers"

Proud CAT LADY Shirt: I think this is my favorite color CatLadyBox shirt ever! CLB shirts are so soft that every time I put things back in the box to take a picture, Mudpie jumps in and cuddles up on the shirt. (She's already taken next Sunday's selfie from there!)


Cat Lady Retro Keychain: I'm all about retro, and again, the color!!!

Cat Lady Pint Glass Set: One to use, one to display with my cat stuff.


Cat Lady Flag Wand Toy: I confiscated this one since Mudpie already has more wand toys than she knows what to do with.  I'm either going to stand it in a cat mug or hang it, a proud cat lady waving her flag high! 

Cool Cat Catnip Toy: Mudpie went pawsitively *bananas* on this toy straight out of the box...and all the pictures will be in next week's blooper reel!


Not a subscriber yet? Visit CatLadyBox today!

Interested in purchasing individual items from past boxes? You can do that too!

Disclosure: I receive a discount on my CatLadyBox subscription as a thank you for my monthly review. Regardless of compensation received, we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Monday, August 17, 2020

All in the Family #MewsicMovesMe

Meows from Mudpie!

The theme of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is songs about family or siblings. While I have my core family of Mommy, grandma and grandpa, I also have a family of stuffies that I love snuggling with when it's blissfully chilly outside. That's who I'm posing with today...


Speaking of stuffies, Mommy sure would love a stuffie of Conway to cuddle with! 
I wonder if I could find somebody to make one for her birthday in a few weeks?



We hope you enjoy our choices this week!
Let us know if you have a favorite.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Did I Do That? #SundaySelfies

Meows from Mudpie!

Who remembers the '80s sitcom Family Matters starring Steve Urkel who was constantly getting into trouble and saying, "Did I do that?" That's kind of what I look like I'm saying in my selfie today, and for good reason. 

(In the bathroom window, at the scene of the crime.)

You'll have already heard this story if you're friends with Mommy on Facebook, but for those who don't know...on Wednesday night she was getting ready for bed and had put her glasses on the toilet seat, as she always does. I came bounding in to get in the window, landed on them just right, and snapped the bridge right in half. At midnight she was scotch taping them back together so she could still function.

For the record, she was NOT angry with me. She's had these glasses for years and years and they were on borrowed time anyways, I was just the final straw. Yesterday she had an eye exam and chose new tortoiseshell frames, which she's really excited about. She even told the doctor that looking more like me can only be an improvement...ain't that the truth!

Unfortunately it's going to be a week to 10 days before Mommy's new glasses come in, so until then she's going to be looking super stylish with taped up glasses! MOL

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Caturday Art


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!


And now our answers (all answered by Mommy this week) for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. I like ketchup on my fries. That's really about all I put ketchup on.

2. Baking smells remind me of Christmas.

3. It pains me to know how many cats and dogs never experience the love and safety of a forever home.

4. I can't live without cats (Mudpie in particular) and music (Conway in particular). Both soothe my soul and are needed now more than ever.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Thankful Thursday: Gotcha Day Wrap Up

 Meows from Mudpie!

Earlier this summer I was one of the lucky winners of Basil and Smooch's Birthday Giveaway. My package made it's long journey over the pond in record time and arrived during one of our heat waves in July. Since I haven't been interested in playing with any of my toys in this heat Mommy decided to set it aside to open on my Gotcha Day.

Lemme tell you, these goodies were worth waiting for! I got a snuggle mat and catnip pillow, and Mommy got a mouse pad, hair scrunchie and beautiful pink bracelet! 



I instantly tore into the catnip pillow. 


Mommy loves these pictures of my precious little paw holding it down. I may have overindulged a little at this point and was waiting for the room to stop moving. 

We can't get over how adorable the pattern is on my new snuggle mat. (Mommy says she'd love to have a face mask with this design!) I can't wait to use it on our bed or maybe even my KatKabin once it gets cooler. 

Did you know I'm fanatical about pom poms? Mommy had the hardest time getting a picture of me near the snuggle mat because all I wanted to do was bat the cute pink pom poms around! 

We can't thank Bionic Basil & the B Team enough for pawsome prize package. It totally made my Gotcha Day! (Can you tell in this picture how much I want those pom poms?)


Many thanks as well to CK and Timmy Tomcat for their sweet cards, and everyone who sent messages on my special day! Love you guys!

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!

Meows from Mudpie!

This is such a busy week for my family! Not only was Sunday my Gotcha Day, today is my grandma's birthday! (Was I the greatest birthday gift ever 5 years ago or what?!?!)

I love my grandma so much, and she thinks I hung the moon too! Today I wanted to make her a card featuring my favorite picture of us cuddling. I hope she likes it!


Happy birthday, Grandma! I love you so, so much and can't wait to cuddle with you again this winter! Save a spot on your lap for me!