Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Unboxing September's CatLadyBox

The theme of September's CatLadyBox was Purrfectly Purple. 
I was super excited for this box because purple is one of my favorite colors (pink is the other, obviously), and it arrived on my birthday! Here's what was inside...


Featured Cat Lady Artist - Sinclair Stratton: I love this description of her work, "a journey in deeply saturated color, a celebration of animal lives, and the divine spark found in all living creatures."

Cat Hair is My Glitter Shirt: True statement, and I wouldn't have it any other way!


Iridescent Purple Cat Mug: One of the most unique cat mugs in my collection. It even has cat ears on the sides!

Iridescent Purple Cat Pen: The only thing that would make this pen more purrfect is if it had purple ink.


Everyday is Caturday Trinket Dish: I've been using this for my watch and hair clips at night, but Mudpie has been hinting it's the purrfect size to eat a squeezie from too :) 

Purple Crown & Crazy Purrrple Carrot Catnip Toys: I'm determined to snap a picture of Mudpie with the queenly crown on her head while she's sleeping one day. And the carrot has feathers on top!


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.

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Finally Fall #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. Every fall I wish time would slow down. September has already flown by!

2. It is never too early to start thinking about Christmas.

3. I would describe my lifestyle as quiet and casual.

4. Dealing with people requires a lot of patience.

Friday, September 24, 2021

Some Kitty Saw a Spook #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Thank you for joining us for this month's edition of the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop! As is typical for September, this month has just flown by. If only the yucky summer months went by so quickly!


Our blooper this month is 100% the photographer's fault (that would be you, Mommy...) as I clearly wasn't ready to have my picture taken. If you look closely my arms are in motion, not to mention the fact that I look like I just saw a Halloween ghostie fly by! 

Oh well...'tis the season!


That's my photo fail...let's see yours!

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Thursday, September 23, 2021

It's Time To #SeeTheLight About Senior Pet Adoption #RememberMeThursday


I'm incredibly proud to live in a state (Vermont) that for the most part adopts out animals so quickly we're able to partner with shelters down south to save even more lives - but as a nation we still have a long, long way to go. The sad truth is, for over a million healthy, adoptable animals each year, help never comes. Thanks to awareness that number has consistently decreased in the last decade, but just one animal dying alone, forgotten in a shelter, is one too many.

That's why animal-lovers and animal welfare organizations across the globe will unite today with a Remember Me Thursday pet candle-lighting ceremony. The candles, which will be lit on the exact same day across the world, will honor the millions of pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and shine a light on the millions of healthy pets who are still awaiting adoption. The Remember Me Thursday global awareness campaign encourages individuals to light a candle this day (literally or virtually) and to opt to adopt, reducing the millions of orphan pets euthanized each year.


This year I'm shining a light on all the senior animals waiting in shelters for their forever homes, and those who tragically ran out of time. 

Anyone actively involved with rescue knows how challenging it can be to find homes for older animals. Animals are just like people - age is just a number - and regardless of their age we have absolutely no control over how long we're going to have with them, so why do we allow so many amazing animals with so much love to give sit unloved and unwanted in shelters? I can tell you from personal experience that adopting a senior pet is an incredibly rewarding experience. My angels Sashi and Tara were 9 and 7 when I adopted them. They both sat overlooked in the shelter for far too long because of their age. Everyone else's loss was my gain because the years of love they gave me left memories that will last a lifetime.

Since this is a cat blog we put together a list of just 6 purr-fect reasons to adopt a senior kitty at your local shelter, but these same reasons hold true for dogs, rabbits, and pocket pets too!

They require less training.

The most obvious benefit of adopting an older cat is that they require less training than they would at a younger age. Chances are, they’re already house-trained and know how to do basic things such as use a litter box and scratching post. Because they don’t need as much training, your senior cat will be much easier to handle than a younger one.

They aren't as needy.

If you’ve got a kitten, you’re probably smitten with your little bundle of joy. But while they are cute balls of energy, bear in mind that you might have to spend a lot of time tending to their heightened activity levels, both during the daylight hours and when you’re trying to sleep! Extra time is also required to ensure a kitten is proper socialized. An older cat can safely be left home alone during the day while you’re at work, relishing their privacy until their human staff returns.

They’re great companions.

Another benefit of adopting an older cat is that they make perfect companions for all ages. They tend to have a calmer temperament which makes them great around young children. Because they don’t have a demanding exercise regime and would love to curl up on your lap, they’re true feline friends – particularly for elderly people. If you have other pets in the home an older cat is likely to settle in better than a feisty kitten that may end up getting on the other animals’ nerves.


They still love to play.

Just because an older kitty is less rambunctious doesn’t mean you can't still have fun with them! Try out more low-key toys such as catnip mice or feather toys they can swat at. Once you figure out the kinds of toys your cat prefers you might be surprised how much they still love to play!

You know what you’re getting.

Every home has specific requirements for a new pet. For this reason, adopting a senior cat may be more beneficial as you know what you’re getting. By adopting a kitten, you can’t predict how big the cat will grow, the temperament that they’ll have or how they will react to your day-to-day routines.

You become a hero.
 
Since older cats are among the hardest to find homes for, when you adopt one you are truly saving a life. They know they've been rescued too, and they show their love and gratitude every single day resulting in a bond like no other.

Shelters are full of animals who are in need of a second chance. They are homeless due to no fault of their own. If you have room in your heart and your home for a new best friend, one is as close as your nearest shelter. If you're not in a position to adopt right now, share some of their stories on social media. They are counting on us...let's not let them down.


Orphaned pets can't speak for themselves. We are their only voice. Spread the word about Remember Me Thursday on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media channels. Don’t forget to use the official hashtags - #RememberMeThursday, #SeeTheLight, #Light4Pets, #LightForPets - and to share your thoughts and feelings about the importance of pet adoption.

CONTEST: Win life-saving funds or food for a rescue or shelter of your choice! Take a photo of your rescue pet and tag the picture with #RememberMeThursday and #SeetheLight on social media to be entered into the challenge!


Mudpie and I would like to thank the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) for the pawsome blogger kit they sent filled with swag for both of us. We will be using everything with pride!



Monday, September 20, 2021

September Retro Country Rewind #MewsicMovesMe

It's been a couple years since 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. This year we're delving into #1 hits from 1971, 1976, 1981, and so on. Let's take a look at September for this freebie week in the Mewsic Moves Me blog hop...


35 Years Ago - 1986, Desperado Love, Conway Twitty

It's a Conway double feature this month!


40 Years Ago - 1981, Tight Fittin' Jeans, Conway Twitty



50 Years Ago - 1971, Easy Lovin', Freddie Hart

Conway & Loretta's duet of this song will always be my favorite version, 
but the original is a country music classic...


55 Years Ago - 1966, Almost Persuaded, David Houston

Again, Conway's cover of this song beats all for me, 
but it's a beauty no matter who's singing it...


30 Years Ago - 1991, Leap of Faith, Lionel Cartwright

More contemporary than my usual picks, but a song I've always enjoyed...


We hope you enjoyed our choices this month!
Let us know if you have a favorite!


Saturday, September 18, 2021

Caturday Art

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. Is it wrong to prefer staying home with my cat and collections over going out and being among *shudder* people?

2. I wish I had kept my ...um.... That would take some thought. There's not much I haven't kept!

3. Always having cats to love is my idea of living happily ever after.

4. It’s been a long time since I went roller skating. I used to love it so much, but now I wonder if I could even stand up on them.

Friday, September 17, 2021

Mudpie Interviews...Clyde from Julie Anne Lindsey's Bonnie & Clyde Mystery Series


An amateur sleuth named Bonnie and her kitty companion Clyde, with names like those, what could possibly go wrong?

Life hasn't sparkled too brightly for Bonnie Balfour over the past few years, but a heart-breaking divorce has brought her back to her small rural hometown of Bliss, Georgia, and things are starting to shape up.

The proud new owner of Bless Her Heart—a second chance dress shop and boutique on the town square—Bonnie thinks thirty-eight might not be too late for a fresh start in life after all.

Until a grouchy old widow turns up dead in a pile of donations meant for Bonnie’s shop, and the town’s new detective pins her to the top of his suspect list!

To save her shop, dream and reputation, Bonnie must coordinate clues and stitch together the truth about her innocence, but the unreasonably handsome detective and prying eyes of the local gossip mill are fast fraying her nerves.

When a series of anonymous attacks begin to hem her in, Bonnie fears the real killer is fixing to make her his next victim. Can this amateur sleuth measure up?


Mudpie was very excited to have the opportunity to interview Clyde, the feline star of this series. We hope you enjoy meeting him!


Welcome, Clyde! 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 Bonnie?

Hello! Thank you for having me! I’ve never been interviewed before. **adjusts bow tie

Well, it all started when I was just a young kitten, living alone on the friendly streets of Bliss, Georgia. I had a routine. Knew where to find fresh water and food. Where to take shelter in the storms. And I loved finding treasures to hide in my collection. Then one day, Bonnie showed up. I found a ribbon that fell from her shirt, and the rest is history. As it turned out, life on the streets was good and safe, but it was a little lonely. Bonnie didn’t live on the streets, but she was lonely, too. Now, we aren’t lonely anymore.

What made Bonnie decide to name you after such an infamous historical figure?

I got my name from Liz at the Whiskers and Cream cat café. She finds homes for cats who need them, but I wasn’t looking for a home, so she and I were friends who played chase a lot. She named me Clyde, after some old timey bank robber because I like to nab trinkets and outrun her. Bonnie didn’t know my name when we met. She hunted me down with some tips from Liz. When I heard her asking about me, and her missing ribbon, I returned it to her.

What's a typical day like for you?

These days I enjoy a hearty home made breakfast while Bonnie has coffee. Then we choose what we’ll wear. Bonnie owns a second-chase shop where she makes old things new again, so she has a lot of vintage dresses. She made me a closet full of bowties to coordinate with her outfits. Once we’re ready, we go downtown to Bless Her Heart, our shop on the square. Bonnie fusses over everything and I get my morning nap in the shop window. She usually has a comfy rug, blanket or chair up there. When I’m ready to stretch my legs, I slip out while a shopper is coming in, and I make my old rounds. I know everyone, and they know me. I chase the birds and squirrels, watch people and torment dogs on leashes, then I head back to Bless Her Heart when the sun gets too hot. After work, Bonnie and I go home for dinner. Afterward, she bakes to clear her head, and I stretch out on the couch. Sometimes she makes plans to meet with people she thinks are dangerous, trying to decide if she’s right or not. I go along when I can. Usually she’s not right. When she is, I step in to help.

Tell us about Burden of Poof, the new Bonnie & Clyde Mystery Series you star in.

In Burden of Poof, Bonnie’s working hard to get folks to visit our new second chance shop. She’s excited to get a big donation of ball gowns from the fanciest woman in town, but when we go to pick up the dresses, the lady is covered in them, and she doesn’t get up. The police come, and a man starts following Bonnie, asking if she’s the one who hurt the lady. Bonnie decides the only way to prove she didn’t do anything wrong is to find out who did, and things get a little dicey after that. But no matter what, I always take good care of Bonnie, and she takes care of me. So, in the end, we’re going to be okay. And that man who looks at Bonnie like she’s catnip eventually takes the right person to jail.

Do you assist Bonnie in any way in solving the mystery?

I let Bonnie do the questioning, but I help when she gets into trouble. My claws and voice aren’t just for admiring.

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

There are a total of eight adventures ahead for Bonnie and I, along with a spin off series that features my favorite animal in Bliss, a Polish hen named Thelma. I predict Bonnie’s going to get herself into a lot of trouble with that curious mind of her, but I think she’ll also help plenty of folks along the way, and she might even find true love. If she does, I’m pretty sure I’ll get a little brother or sister out of it. Assuming the cat café is still in business.

You can download a free prequel to the new series and see where it all began in WHEN BONNIE MET CLYDE, available here in digital or audio format: https://outbound.julieannelindsey.com/g9UWwY7815kgbDCo

About the Author: 

Julie Anne Lindsey is an award-winning and bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense. She’s published more than forty novels since her debut in 2013 and currently writes series as herself, as well as under multiple pen names, for Harlequin, Kensington, Sourcebooks and Crooked Lane Books.

When Julie’s not creating new worlds or fostering the epic love of fictional characters, she can be found in Kent, Ohio, enjoying her blessed Midwestern life. And probably plotting murder with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Learn more about Julie at julieannelindsey.com

Author Links:

Website: https://www.julieannelindsey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieAnneLindseyAuthor

Cozy Queens Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cozyqueensjulieannelindsey

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieALindsey

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4692170.Julie_Anne_Lindsey

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Tuesday, September 14, 2021

How Would Your Cat End Up in the Principal's Office?

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy saw this meme on Facebook last week and couldn't stop giggling.


She immediately knew what I would have gotten in trouble for...stealing squeezies from another cat's lunchbox. She's absolutely right, and I can't promise I would be ladylike in doing it either!

What we want to know is, what would YOUR cat be sent to the principal's office for? Let's all hang out together!

Saturday, September 11, 2021

20 Years Later, We Remember

 


You don't realize how fast time goes by until you think back on something as monumental as 9/11 and can't believe it happened 20 years ago. Everything about the world as we know it changed that day.

I don't have a compelling 9/11 story. It was just an ordinary day, but it was a beautiful day, the sky just as clear and blue in Vermont as it was in lower Manhattan. I went into work for 9, turned on my computer, checked out the news as I always do, and read reports of the first tower being hit. I immediately picked up the phone and called my mom to tell her to turn on the news. Then my boss called out from his office that the second tower had been hit. My co-workers and I all went into his office because his was the only computer able to stream live video and everyone immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Somehow we managed to get back to work, but as the Pentagon, Shanksville, and the collapses happened we all gathered together again.

At lunchtime I went to the grocery store and a television was even set up in there. Everyone was so quiet, just going through the motions. I went home, turned on the news, and didn't turn it off for days. I became a news junkie, watching as we lost our innocence and became a nation at war.

Every year since the television airwaves are flooded with memorial specials, and I watch them all. I don't ever want to forget the horror of that day and how our lives changed because of it. Time marches on and we can't live in the past, but allowing ourselves to forget the magnitude of what happened can never be an option. I fear that's exactly what's happening, now more than ever.

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"And on this day, in the year 2001, deals were made high in the sky, meals were bought and eaten on the move, trains arrived, keys were cut, clothes were bought and returned, thousands came and went, and the nation enjoyed the final night of peace." 
The Fox Report with Shepard Smith, 9/10/03

Friday, September 10, 2021

Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove by Mollie Hunt - Blog Tour with Character Guest Post and Giveaway

 


A new feline cozy from the author of the award-winning Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries.

Septuagenarian Camelia Collins and her cat Blaze move to the Oregon Coast to fulfill a lifelong dream, but that dream becomes a nightmare when Camelia learns she has purchased a murder house. The former resident, reclusive businessman Jonathan Chamber, was brutally killed on the stoop, and the killer is still at large.

What’s more, Camelia discovers an ancient gravestone at the back of her garden belonging to a cat named Soji. Dead long ago, this seventh black kitten of a seventh black kitten now returns in corporeal form. Will Soji’s haunting help Camelia solve the murder mystery or send her screaming back to Portland?


Character Guest Post - THE KILLER

I’ll start by saying there are things I can’t, absolutely cannot, discuss. I’m a great fan of cozy mysteries, but it’s no fun if you know who the murderer is before the time is right. Since Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove was only recently published, I’m betting you haven’t read it yet. I won’t touch on anything that might reveal who I am. You’ll just have to decide for yourselves.

Ghost Cat is not really my story at all—I just happen to play a part in it. It’s Camelia’s story—Camelia whom I met when she first moved into Love Cottage, Ocean Cove. I liked her very much, and I thought she liked me. She probably did until she found out I was a killer.

It’s also Soji’s story. Soji is a ghost. The ghost of a cat. According to local lore, she’s been haunting Love Cottage ever since she crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the early 1900s. (I wonder if pets had the Rainbow Bridge back then? Or is that something people thought up later on? In those days, folks didn’t always give cats the respect they deserved, I’ve heard.)

But you can’t have a murder mystery without a murderer, so I suppose my part is important too.

What drives someone to take a life? Greed? Jealousy? Fear? It was none of those for me. I just knew it had to be done—there was no other way. If Jonathan Chamber hadn’t been dispatched, things would have gone badly. When a crooked businessman like Chamber starts to run roughshod over his fellows, there is no choice but to put him down.

I thought it was over once Chamber was gone. The police had no clue who killed him and finally gave up looking. Three years passed quietly, and I’d put the death behind me. Then Camelia came on the scene. She moved into Chamber’s place and started finding things. Her discoveries stirred up the hornet’s nest of misdeeds all over again. That’s when I was called to act a second time…

About Mollie Hunt:

Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie Hunt writes the award-winning Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Cat Seasons sci-fantasy tetralogy where cats save the world. She also pens a bit of cat poetry.

Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Author Links:

Website: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/

Follow Mollie's Amazon Page: www.amazon.com/author/molliehunt

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/MollieHuntCatWriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molliehuntcatwriter/

Twitter: @MollieHuntCats

Sign up for Mollie’s Extremely Informal Newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/c0fOTn

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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Happy Birthday, Mommy!!!

Meows from Mudpie!

Please join me in wishing Mommy a purr-fect birthday today!


If anyone is so inclined, Facebook gave us the opportunity to create a fundraiser for her birthday, so why not take advantage? We chose Puppykittynycity, a wonderful rescue group in NYC that we follow both on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you in advance to anyone who chooses to donate!

Lastly, Mommy would never forgive me if I didn't play this for her today, so here goes!

Saturday, September 4, 2021

So Much Love #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!

Mudpie's answers:

1. Playing with pom poms is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. They make me go crazy pants!

2. Is it time for a squeezie yet?

Mommy's answers:

3. One should take time to spend quality time with their pet every day. 

4. I hesitate to hope the summer heat is over because we can have plenty of hot days in September too.

Friday, September 3, 2021

Introducing Social Media Influencer Javi Costa Polo's Rescue Cat Mia

Over the summer we were contacted by a journalist who had interviewed social media influencer Javi Costa Polo, who adopted a cat from CAL Adoptar un gato in Madrid last year. In this interview he spoke very highly of the adoption process and why he chose a rescue animal, but the interview ran so long she had to cut that part out and asked if we would be interested in publishing the rest of it. We hope you enjoy meeting sweet little Mia!


Rescue kitten Mia found her forever home with influencer Javi Costa Polo in the early summer of 2020. She's a super cute, strong-willed calico with her own Instagram account, run by one of Costa Polo's fans. As part of a candid interview, Javi talked about his journey to become a pet owner and adopt a rescue animal.

Can you tell us about how and why you decided to adopt a rescue animal? 

I checked out different methods of getting a pet, either buying one or rescuing one. I spoke with a friend who bought a cat, and the cat was very mean, so what matters most is the education and the love you give to the cat. I knew that I wanted to rescue. I felt better about rescuing, rather than buying a cat.

To be honest, I had a bad experience with someone who was selling cats: they didn't give me a good vibe. You know, I can't really say anything bad about people who raise and sell animals, they do support the continuance of the breed. I don't have anything against buying an animal either, and I do understand people who want to do so. If they love a certain breed and have the money, then they should go ahead.

But just so you know, you're going to be able to find as much love, or maybe even more love, through a rescue animal because often they're more appreciative. And at the same time, you're helping the world.

I have also had some bad experiences with rescue places. But then, I found out about this place [CAL - Adoptar un gato] where they were amazing. At first, I acted as a host family. I think everyone should do that if they're not 100% sure. I didn't have any experience with cats, so it was very important for me to make sure I was able to love a cat. It's important for you to get to know an animal before committing, because it's a huge decision.

At first, the agency came over with a cat called Boy. He was wonderful but could be a bit moody at times as well. He was so funny because he was really talkative. He would make so many noises and I loved that. In the end, Boy was adopted while I was still thinking on the adoption. The new family was amazing, and they already had another cat which always helps with the training. With Boy, from the beginning you could just tell he wasn't very educated. And, since he was a year old, he was already himself.
 

Since it's my first time getting a pet and it's also going to be the last time for a while, I was thinking, Do I want to get a kitten? Do I want the experience of getting a little one and watching it growing up? It is after all, quite a special journey. And, I just wanted to educate a cat. With Mia I am being very strict, Right Mia?

I couldn't make up my mind about Boy and was very thankful for that, because after a week they gave me Mia. On the first day she went under the couch and didn't come out for three hours. And then I was like, Ok, that's enough. So, I went down there and picked her up. She was the most adorable kitty, I knew I definitely needed to adopt her.

Right now, Mia's calling me because she wants me to pet her while she eats... She's so cute, I love her so much!

Javi Costa Polo on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/javicostapolo/
Javi Costa Polo on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRlFRKgToKXfCZq3oJklFg

Interview by Leena Kaikkonen

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Happy Birthday Darlin' Conway

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy's beloved Conway has been pretty good about photo bombing me lately, but since today would've been his 88th birthday (practically a national holiday at our house), I'll let him get away with it.

This picture was taken just before we went to bed one night last week which is why the lighting isn't great. I had just discovered the new pillow on the bed and don't I look like I'm about ready to roll my eyes? 

The pillow was given to Mommy by a dear friend who found it at a church rummage sale this summer. It sits front and center on our bed all day but when we climb in she puts it up with some favorite kitty stuffies that stay on the bed too. It's right within arm's reach, probably so she can reach up and cuddle with it during the night.

In all seriousness though, I like picking on Mommy about Conway but I'm trying to be more understanding because I know how much he means to her. Cod knows he's not going anywhere so I'm learning how to cohabitate with him.

She says she's loved him even longer than she's loved me...how is that even possible? (Well sweetpea, I don't think you're over 30 years old...)

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Mommy has written a special post today on her Conway blog featuring one of her favorite stories about him from one of his visits to Vermont.