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Friday, April 30, 2021

Not a Morning Cat #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Thank you for joining us for this month's edition of the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop! Can you believe tomorrow is the first day of May? Mommy is excited because it's Kentucky Derby day. 

After a couple weeks of warm spring temps things have cooled back down so we've been taking advantage of the extra cuddle time. Speaking of which...


Mommy snapped these very unbecoming photos of me early one morning right after we woke up. I was obviously still half asleep and looking rather irritated at the likely ungodly hour. By the second photo I'm going back to sleep and apparently Mommy was too because it's blurry! MOL!!!



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

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Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Book Review: The Black Cat Who Only Wanted to be Loved by Rosa Silva


Black cats mean bad luck......or do they?
 
Abandoned by his owner on the side of a road, little Pepper must go on a journey of self-discovery. Will the little black cat embrace his own identity, or will he change the color of his fur to find a family that will love him?

You will love this touching and inspiring story about the power of friendship and the importance of acceptance and self-love.


It's no secret that black cats face unfair prejudice, yet anyone who has ever shared their heart and home with a house panther will tell you they are among the most loving and loyal feline friends you could ever ask for. 

Pepper, the star of this darling story by Rosa Silva of the Cat Lady Confidential blog, faces this cruel fact of life when his beloved owner's husband dumps him on the side of the road, convinced Pepper is the cause of his recent rash of bad luck. Cold, alone, and scared, Pepper now believes no one will ever love him again because of the color of his fur. With the help of a hilarious pair of ginger cats, an aging dog, a parrot who knows what it's like to be abandoned, and a wise owl, Pepper learns some important life lessons. 

I completely fell in love with every single character in this story, and more than once wished I could scoop Pepper up in my arms and reassure him that everything would be alright. The sad truth is that for too many black cats in real life that just isn't the case, which is what makes this book so important. 

Four paws up!

Monday, April 26, 2021

April Showers Bring Birthdays #MewsicMovesMe

The challenge of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is to build a play list of artists born in April...

Of course we must begin with the Coal Miners Daughter herself. Loretta turned 89 years young earlier this month...


Did you know that Merle Haggard passed away on his 79th birthday in 2016? His son has reported that a week before his death he predicted that he would pass on his birthday.


My favorite Glen Campbell song...


Before Vince Gill hit it big as a solo artist in country music he sang backup in the studio for many artists, including Conway.


Troy Gentry of the duo Montgomery Gentry died in a tragic plane crash on my birthday in 2017, the day country music also lost Don Williams...


We hope you enjoyed our choices this week, and please let us know if you have a favorite! 

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Impatient #SundaySelfie

 It takes Mommy sooooooooooooooo looooooooooooooooong to open a squeezie package!!!


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

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Fresh as a Daisy #CaturdayArt


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



And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs...

1. The Pioneer Woman is a non-cat related blog I follow.

2. My favorite place to shop online for collectibles is eBay

3. Dad's doctor's appointments have been keeping me busy lately.

4. If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self to stop wishing your life away. I've always spent too much time thinking about the future instead of living in the moment.

Friday, April 23, 2021

Knitted & Knifed: A Knitty Kitties Mystery by Tracey Drew - Spotlight & Giveaway

 


Wanted: Cat mum to manage a yarn store, corral two curious cats, all the while being tangled up in murderous mayhem and mystery.

A smart woman would dump her cheating ex, move from the city, and give herself a chance for a well-deserved do-over. A smarter woman—smarter than me, anyway—wouldn’t jump out of that same frying pan and return to Cape Discovery, a seaside village where her family is the nuttiest of all the nut-ball residents.

I’m a former high school counselor, middle-child peacemaker, and current curator of lots of squishy/fuzzy goodness at my granddad’s little yarn store. Temporary assistant. Until I decide what to do with the rest my life. There’s only one knotty problem to untangle first. The knife sticking out of the most unpopular man in town, and the police detective trying to pin the murder on the donkey—otherwise known as my younger brother. With a pair mischievous cats determined to be underfoot and a craft group of Serial Knitters and Happy Hookers wanting the inside scoop, a girl could lose her mind. And if the killer has their way, maybe even my life...

Tessa Wakefield has her hands full juggling a cozy craft store, her crazy family, and two men who’d rather poke out their eyes than describe themselves as cute. Which they totally are. Cute, charismatic, and occasionally on her mind when she’s not stumbling over dead bodies and using her newfound sleuthing skills to track down murderers. Lucky she’s an excellent multi-tasker because digging beneath Cape Discovery’s surface can unearth secrets that kill.



About the Author: 

Tracey Drew lives Down Under with her husband—who’s given up complaining about her yarn addiction--and two madcap tabby cats called Kevin and Alfie. The feline brothers constantly battle with her while she’s trying to write her books by demanding lap-time, but they also provide constant inspiration for her fun & quirky cozy mysteries.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.traceydrew.com
Newsletter sign up (Free prequel e-book for signing up): http://eepurl.com/haZpPz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDrew/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Tracey-Drew/e/B08GMCH74Q
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortraceydrew
Goodreads Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20705014.Tracey_Drew
Goodreads Title: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55355231-knitted-and-knifed
BookBub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tracey-drew


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Monday, April 19, 2021

Cat Pawsitive Pro Mid-Point Articles

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy and I wanted to give you a little more info on the articles she's been writing for Jackson Galaxy's Cat Pawsitive Pro program

She was actually supposed to start working with them last spring but of course it was cancelled along with everything else in the world, so she was super excited to get the email stating that it would be starting up again this year. She was partnered with two shelters participating in the program, Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Heaven On Earth Society for Animals in North Hollywood, California, and is enjoying her time working with them so much.

All of the mid-point articles for this semester can be read here, and the links to Mommy's articles can be found below. We hope you enjoy meeting the amazing kitties that are benefiting from Cat Pawsitive Pro!




    Sunday, April 18, 2021

    Too Pooped To Pose Pretty #SundaySelfie

    Meows from Mudpie!

    I may have partied too hard on Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day yesterday...I can't even lift my head for a selfie!

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

    Saturday, April 17, 2021

    Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day #CaturdayArt


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



    And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs...

    1. I wish I knew how to play the steel guitar, classic country's most beautiful instrument.

    2. If offered a free trip to space, I would not accept it. Earth is crazy enough for me right now.

    3. Having the opportunity to write for Jackson Galaxy's Cat Pawsitive Pro program is the most exciting thing in my life right now. It's an incredible honor, and I've neglected to mention it here on the blog!

    4. I could give a long lecture on the topic of keeping cats inside. The other night I looked out the window to see the cat across the street laying in the road. (He was fine, just looking around.) His human came to the door and called him, but when he didn't come she shut the door and went back in the house, leaving him there! I nearly blew a gasket.

    Friday, April 16, 2021

    Making a List, Checking It Twice...Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Cat Moms from Etsy

    Meows from Mudpie!

    We're just a few short weeks away from one of the most important days of the year...Mother's Day! Mommy spends lots of time browsing Etsy, and I think she might be trying to drop a few hints because the last time I logged into our account I noticed she's been using their lists feature to help keep track of the things that catch her eye.

    She's a savvy cat lady, and I think she's selected things that any cat-loving mom would be thrilled to receive on her special day. To make your shopping a little easier we've broken our lists down into categories that fit the theme of our blog: general cat mom gifts, cat/coffee/book related gifts, and of course a special tortie section! (I requested that one.)



























    Which is your favorite? I think everything here would be a hit with Mommy, but she's really nuts about the tortie Kit-Cat Clock and Tortoiseshell Coffee Co. sign. I'll need to figure out how many squeezies I'll have to go without in order to pay for them.

    Don't forget, if you find something here you like and make a purchase using our affiliate links, I get a little money for my piggy bank! I might even spend it on Mommy's gift instead of my squeezie money!

    Wednesday, April 14, 2021

    MP Purrs for TW & CK

    Meows from Mudpie!

    Back when I arrived at my forever home, TW (The Woman) and CK (Cathy Keisha) of the Stunning Keisha blog nicknamed me MP. We thought it was super cute and every now and then Mommy even types that instead of my full name.

    In spite of being as different as night and day in everything from music to politics, Mommy and TW became fast friends in the vast pet blogosphere, as did ghetto kitteh CK & this angelic little tortie.

    Many of you may have heard the news that TW is currently battling cancer. Learning this left us shocked and devastated, but we're so happy to hear that her treatments appear to be working and we're purring and praying like crazy that they continue to for a long time to come!

    CK, if you need any pointers on how to be a total lovebug like me, just let me know! It can be our little secret. It sure would make TW happy too.

    Monday, April 12, 2021

    Rainy Night In Mudpieville #MewsicMovesMe

    The theme of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is, "They say April showers bring May flowers, so make it rain people! Be creative about where your source of moisture comes from."

    The first song on our playlist has to be Conway's duet with Sam Moore on Brook Benton's Rainy Night in Georgia. It's a song about rain, but it also causes moisture of a different sort in the form of tears. It was recorded, and its accompanying video shot, on May 3, 1993, while ironically it was pouring rain outside. No one could have guessed that it would end up being Conway's last time in the studio. He passed away on June 5th.

    Get those umbrellas up!


    Hope you enjoyed our choices this week and managed to stay dry!

    Let us know if you have a favorite!



    Sunday, April 11, 2021

    My Ear Is Fine #SundaySelfies

    Meows from Mudpie!

    Yesterday morning Mommy helped me snap my selfies while I was lounging in the bathroom window, and she didn't even notice that the sun shining behind me made it look like my ear was on fire!

    I'm fine...I promise!




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

    Saturday, April 10, 2021

    Gold Coin #CaturdayArt


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

    And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs...

    1. I don’t like to leave Mudpie to go to work, but I have to. Someone has to make money for squeezies!

    2. I feel like a loooooooooooooooooooong nap after a looooooooooooooooong week.

    3. I secretly haven't minded social distancing. I was doing it long before COVID and will likely continue!

    4. This time of year my job wears me out. I work for a company that tracks and publishes construction news, and February through April is always crazy busy as contractors plan their work for the year.

    Friday, April 9, 2021

    Mudpie Interviews...Sweet Pea from Amy Hueston's Canine Confections Mystery Series


    One murder is bad enough …

    But two murders in a month on the same strip of Worth Avenue in Palm Beach is enough to whip Samantha Armstrong into a frenzy.

    When Samantha relaxes into her new role as a dog mom, finds a circle of friends in her new hometown, and sees her new dog bakery Canine Confections barking up business, she’s thrilled that things are going so well … until she hears a bloodcurdling scream from the pastry shop two doors down and runs over to find a dead body on the floor.

    Suddenly Samantha finds herself in a race against time to find not only the thief who is stealing from the upscale shops, but a murderer, too. Samantha’s Lab-Mix Sweet Pea wags her tail through all of the clues, suspects and shenanigans. Both Samantha and Sweet Pea are aided in their amateur investigation by the other shopkeepers on the elegant Worth Avenue, and Samantha finds the suspect list growing at every turn.

    To make matters worse, Samantha’s old boyfriend arrives in town, and mysterious people start showing up at the Sophisticated Pet and New Age stores nearby. Samantha soon finds that things are not what they seem, and she must figure out what’s going on—or become the next dead body on a bakery floor.

    Includes an original recipe from the world-famous Three Dog Bakery!


    Mudpie was very excited to have the opportunity to interview Sweet Pea, the canine star of this series. Make sure you leave a comment for Sweet Pea with your email address because we have a digital copy of Paws for Alarm to give away to one lucky winner!


    Welcome, Sweet Pea! Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Could you start by telling us a little about yourself and how you came to live with Samantha?

    Sher and thank u 4 ledding me vizit. (Hold on a secind. I haf to get help with my speling frum a frend...)

    OK I am back and hav a frend helping me now. He is a dog frend and I'm not shur if he knows how to spell better than me but he is nise for trying.

    My new mom Samantha adopted me becauz my mom I had for one week got killed frum someone not very nice.

    Canine Confections must be heaven on earth for a pup like yourself! Do you get to snack on samples all day?

    YES!! It iz so much fun! We hav PawCakes and PupTarts and so much more!

    Does Samantha ever plan to expand to baked goods for kitties like me?

    Funnee you should ask. A cat showz up in Book 2 and I wooldnt be surprized if my mom starts adding a cat treet to Canine Confections bakery but I'm not too wurried abowt too many becauze the name is CANINE Confections.

    What's a typical day like for you?

    I wake up in the king size bed with Mom-Samantha. Sometimez she iz up practising new resipes in the kitchen or drinking coffee (blech!) and doing crossword puzzles. Then we go 4 a walk around Aunt Mary's estate or around the block, come home, eet brekfast, and we go to Worth Avenue and spend the day meeting peeple and dogz and I am the taste tester for new resipes. I am very helpful becauz I say hi to the customerz and cleen the floor if a crumb drops. We go home to our cottage on Aunt Mary's estate, then go to Aunt Mary's mansion next door and ride up the elevator to the second floor where we hav coktail half hour. I drink bottled water and get a snack. Then it's dinner in Aunt Mary's cozy kitchen nook or in the cottage and evening is full of snuggle time with Mom-Samantha. We squeeze in running on the beech, chasing birds on the sand and other fun stuff in between and on days off we go to Jupiter Dog Beach or someplase fun.

    Tell us about Paws for Alarm, the new Canine Confections Mystery you star in.

    Oh! You no I am the star? I thawt onlee I new that. Wait, I am turning on spellchek if I can get my paw to do it... Okay, I am back... Paws for Alarm is the second in the series. The first is Paws for Concern. And Book 3 is called Paws of Death and is coming out this summer! In Paws for Alarm there is another recipe from that famous Three Dog Bakery in the back and in the story a cat shows up. That's the most interesting parts about it, that there is food and a cat. Oh wait, author Amy just came in the room and she said to tell you that you might be interested to know there is another murder and more shopkeepers that we meet and more people not to trust. But I like my explanation better--food and a cat, that's really all you need to know.

    Do you help assist Samantha in any way in solving the mystery?

    I am a BIG help. I am there for moral support. And I kiss almost everybody.

    Can you give us any clues as to what's next for you two?

    Like I mentioned, a cat shows up in Book 2 Paws for Alarm. So I think maybe he is going to be involved more in the books which, if he was nicer to me maybe it'd be okay but so far, he doesn't want to be my friend. I think Canine Confections will finally start doing good business if no more dead humans show up for awhile. And we have new friends we have met and will continue to meet. A florist, a stamp seller, a new age lady, a pastry woman, Mom-Sam's old friend from back home who she says she doesn't want to see anymore (but her eyes got all funny when he showed up, and her eyes get the same way with Rick that man from the pet store plus she smiles for about half an hour after he leaves which is sort of weird). And we'll maybe play in the pool and tennis courts on Aunt Mary's mansion estate and we'll go to the beaches and walk around the shops on Worth Avenue and maybe Mom will sneak me into the glamourous Breakers Hotel or maybe that quaint little Chesterfield Hotel with the old-fashioned lobby and library and rooms and secluded pool and snack bar. And also probably I'll get lots more belly-rubs and treats.

    Thank you for letting me visit!

    About the author:

    Amy Hueston writes mini-mysteries for Woman’s World magazine when she isn’t writing mystery and suspense novels. The first 3 books in her Canine Confections mystery series have an abundance of dogs and pastries, two of her favorite things, and will be available in 2021. Amy is also a professional singer who has performed nationally and internationally. A sought-after singer in South Florida, Amy draws on these experiences when writing.

    Author Links