Helping Out with the Housework #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

A couple weeks ago Mommy got it into her head to get down on her hands and knees and scrub the kitchen and dining room floors. (Humans do such weird things when they could be napping.)

She's old now and has started using a knee pad. I thought the knee pad looked kinda comfy, so when she got up to change the water I decided to check it out and then proceeded to stretch out on it! 

I stayed for a little while so that gave Mommy a nice break from her housework.

You're welcome, Mommy.

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

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. Everybody loves Dolly Parton.

2. If someone new entered my home, they would immediately know I'm obsessed with cats.

3. I think Mudpie should instead be named Alexa. Not really, but this was a funny story that happened this week - My favorite news program comes on while I'm usually preparing dinner. I got sick of having to blare the TV in the living room loud enough to hear so I put an Echo device in the kitchen. Of course whenever I'm in the kitchen Mudpie gets excited because she knows a treat is coming. Thursday night I said, "Alexa, play (station name)", "Alexa, volume up", "Alexa, volume up"...and every time Mudpie meowed back! So I thought maybe she wants to change her name to Alexa!

4. Arugula was so bad I couldn't finish it. I thought it would be similar to lettuce...two leaves told me it wasn't for me! 

To Be Fair, We Were Stressed #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Thank you for joining us for this month's edition of the Pet Photo Fails blog hop!

Can you believe we're at the end of August? I hate to admit it, but summer has seemed to go by faster than usual this year! 

My blooper this month was taken during one of my many vet visits this summer. Mommy decided to pass the time waiting for my torturer by taking an ussie. I'm not looking at the camera, Mommy isn't even in the shot, but the wall and ceiling look just fine! 

That's my blooper...let's see yours! 

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RIP Dolly

Meows from Mudpie! 

We were so sad to hear the news of Dolly Parton's passing yesterday afternoon. It's no secret Mommy is a huge country music fan, but Dolly was more than a music legend, she was a national treasure.

We've had some "Dolly moments" a couple times here on our blog. Back in 2020 I took part in the Dolly Parton Challenge, a viral meme she started when she posted a collage featuring four photos of herself labeled LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder on social media, with the caption: "Get you a woman who can do it all" with a winking emoji.

And a couple years ago I inserted myself in a photo of Dolly collectibles Mommy had picked up for a good friend in the UK who worships Dolly. We haven't heard from him yet and know he must be devastated. 

The world is a darker place without Dolly in it.

Mostly Good News #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

I'm happy to report that my hearing is completely back to normal. If anyone wants to talk about chicken or squeezies, I'm all ears! 

Mommy says this week I've acted like I feel better than I have in quite awhile. But would you believe yesterday I started scratching my right ear like crazy again, and when she put my new ear drops in I immeditely popped out another wax chunk? That's how fast I'm producing this crud, so it's obvious this is something I'm going to have to continue dealing with. At least we know there's not something more serious going on in there though.

Wanna hear something kinda pervy? Mommy is obsessed with my shaved tummy. She says it feels so cool and fuzzy. She's happy I've wanted to cuddle this week so she can rub it. I just hope it grows back before winter or I'm gonna be a frozen Mudpie! 

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

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. Cats spark my creativity.

2. People zap my energy.

3. My dream home would have an extra room for foster cats.

4. Falling up the stairs is the silliest way I've injured myself. Pretty much every injury I've suffered, especially as a child, was because I would never walk normally, I was always running. One afternoon I went running into the living room and ended up in the ER getting stitches in my lip after landing on an end table. The scariest was the day I was running UP the basement stairs and fell hard on my chest. I couldn't breathe. Thankfully mom was at the top of the stairs in the kitchen and ran me outside for some air. Dad was doing something in the garage and came flying down the driveway at her screams. I think it's safe to say I scared them! 

Happy 13th Gotcha Day, Angel Truffles!

Thirteen years ago today I adopted Truffles. There's no happier day than the day a new fur baby arrives, and I still remember picking her up at Petco, bringing her home and her settling in like she was always meant to be there.

She was so young, we were going to have so much time together...but that wasn't meant to be.

Would I have brought her home that day if I'd known the heartbreak to follow? Without a doubt. In our short two years together she left me with memories that will last a lifetime.

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

The Dance, Garth Brooks

My Target Run

Meows from Mudpie!

To start with a quick update, we're still waiting to hear back from the vet but my hearing appears to be improving. Starting on Sunday I was back to reacting with excitement to my favorite words - chicken, cheese, and squeezies! 

I briefly mentioned the other day that I accompanied Mommy on a Target run after my appointment on Friday. She had just been there on Tuesday and picked up a few Halloween items in the Dollar Spot but then she saw these little cuties on Facebook Thursday night. She remembered seeing them in the store but didn't realize there was a cat, so of course she had to go back. It wasn't that far out of the way on our way home so she just brought me along.

She didn't like leaving me alone in the car so she was happy to find it quickly. It was only $1!!! She said it's a good thing because she's spent so much money on my ears lately that's all she could afford. 

Very funny, Mommy. 

Also, on our way from the vet's office to Target Mommy noticed a police car behind us. The sirens weren't on but she quickly looked to make sure she wasn't speeding. (Of course she wasn't - she had precious cargo on board...ME!) Then she laughed, wondering if I would be able to get her out of a ticket if she happened to get pulled over for some reason.

My Ears, Again...Good News & Bad News #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Are you tired of hearing about my ears yet? (Bad pun intended.) I sure am tired of talking about them.

This is getting really old

Wednesday was my 2-week follow-up appointment after Mommy had to clean my ears every 48 hours. We knew things weren't going to go well because the wax chunks have still been coming out, including a big one on Sunday night, and on Tuesday Mommy could see my right ear completely filled up with wax just with the naked eye.

The gabapentin didn't completely knock me out like it did last time so I gave the vet a hard time. She got a couple more chunks out and said she has never seen so much come out of a cat before. Even after removing all that she still couldn't see my right ear drum. Her exact words were, "There is something seriously wrong with that ear." She made a recommendation for a board-certified vet that would be able to safely sedate me (because of my kidneys) in order to completely flush my ears and try to find out once and for all what's going on. 

Trying to hide

We got home and Mommy had a good crying spell. Her mind went back to the vet wondering a couple months ago if there was a mass in there. Dr. Google told her that would mean either polyps (which can only be removed as part of a total ear canal ablation - the entire ear canal would be removed) or a tumor. She had visions of having to leave me at the vet for a major surgery.

She called the new vet on Thursday, and they were able to see us on Friday afternoon. It's never fun to have to wait for an appointment, but Mommy is a total procrastinator so that was a little too fast for her liking! 

Who am I? Where am I?

My appointment was at 1:30 and they started working on me immediately. The new vet (who was amazing) started out by warning Mommy that judging by what the earlier vet saw, it was likely either polyps or a tumor, just as Mommy feared. She had to sign a form giving them permission to sedate me, but the vet explained that she is not a risk taker, she would only be mildly sedating me, and that the strongest drug could be reversed. Within minutes I was knocked out and the flushing began.

In no time at all both ears were finally cleaned out so the entire ear canal could be seen...and there were NO polyps or tumors!!! Mommy was so relieved she started crying. The vet was happy too. She said she was very concerned about what she might find. She thinks at some point I had an ear infection that was so far down it went undetected, and the inflammation eventually caused scar tissue which is why the wax builds up so badly. Permanent damage was done and Mommy will need to clean my ears weekly for the rest of my life so it doesn't get built up again, but that's no problemo!

Mommy, this is a G-rated blog. Our friends don't need to see my nakey tummy!

While I was under they completely took advantage of me! They trimmed my nails, shaved my tummy of some mats (they even pointed out to Mommy my spay tattoo, which of course she had to take a picture of), and check my anal glands! Heck, for all I know I could be preggers right now. Stay tuned.

On the way home Mommy stopped at Target for one thing so I stayed alone in the car for about 5 minutes. We didn't get home until nearly 4. I was still really out of it so Mommy curled up on the floor with me. I peed in my brand new scratcher bed, but thankfully she had thought ahead and put a puppy pad on it so it went unscathed. When she decided to get up and make a quick dinner I finally came to and stumbled out to the kitchen...only to fall asleep in my dish! 

I was pretty zonked out for the rest of Friday, and now as we write this on Saturday I've developed another problem - I don't seem to be hearing much of anything. I always respond to my name and words like chicken, cheese, and squeezies, but today I'm not reacting at all. Mommy works in the kitchen and I don't even realize she's there. She emailed the vet but of course it's the weekend so we don't expect to hear anything back right away. She went outside and rang the doorbell, a sound I always hate. (We're a lot alike that way!) I did react to that as I always do, so hopefully this is just temporary from all the trauma and medication my ears have endured.

Mommy talks to me all day. She said if my hearing doesn't come back she's gonna have to start talking to herself! 

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

A Happy & Sad Anniversary #CaturdayArt

Mommy here! 

It's impossible to believe, but today is our 15th blogoversary! It started out as a way to chronicle my reading life along with a little about my love of cats, but the kitties took over (as they're known to do!) Through Tara, Truffles and Mudpie, our online friends have laughed and cried with us, and created a community of cat lovers that we cherish more every day.

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Today is also the 35th anniversary of the day my childhood cat Patch passed away, my first experience grieving the loss of a beloved pet. He was my parents' "first child," 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 grandmother, knowing how much my Mom loved cats, asked if she'd like to take him home. At first she declined because she didn't want to go through the inevitable grief again, but Dad talked her into it. Prior to Patch my Mom had been over a decade without a cat in her life! He was my constant companion growing up, lying 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.

I've experienced a lot of loss since that first heartbreak, just as anyone does who can't imagine life without cats, but no matter how many times you say goodbye it doesn't get any easier. In ways I think it gets harder.

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 older I get, the more of a homebody I get.

2. I frequent HomeGoods and TJ Maxx (my favorite stores for Halloween and Christmas decor).

3. Back in my day, we got some of the first Apple desktops at school. I hated them and thought they were such a waste of time! Now we live on them...

4. I count down the days until it's over during these last few weeks of summer.

Feline Friday Flashback: Life was Purrfect 10 Years Ago

Meows from Mudpie! 

It's been a very stressful week at our house so Mommy and I went looking for a fun flashback to share.

This is a selfie I posted exactly 10 years ago today, on August 14, 2016. If only it was possible to turn back time to happier, healthier days...

Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute). 

My Gotcha Day Recap

Meows from Mudpie!

I had the best Gotcha Day on Sunday. Mommy really knocked it out of the park with the prezzies. 

First, she got me a rotisserie chicken! (I let her have some too.) Sometimes I wonder which I love more - squeezies or rotisserie chicken. I think I'll have to eat lots more of each before I make my final decision.  

And we've been seeing those scratcher beds on other cat blogs but Mommy never got me one because she didn't think I'd use it. Then she saw one with ghost cats and had to have it. 

And...I love it! I immediately started using it. Then just 48 hours later "some kitty" hopped in with a bit of poopy butt. Mommy immediately dabbed it up with a wet paper towel and told me I have it be careful because it can't go in the washing machine like my blankies. That's not my problem, Mommy! 

To top it all off on Sunday evening Mommy found out she won two more Certificates of Excellence from the Cat Writers Association (more on that later!) 

All in all it was a purrfect day. Unlike today when I'm going back to the vet for another ear check. Send purrs. 

Happy 11th Gotcha Day, Mudpie!!!

Meows from Mudpie!

Eleven years ago, on a Sunday morning just like today, my life changed forever when Mommy decided I was the kitty to fill the empty hole in her heart that Truffles left behind. We've told this story for the past 10 years on my special day, but it's a real life "fairy tail" and I didn't think you'd mind reading it again. I know that I never get tired of telling it!

It all began 10 days earlier with a series of photos posted on the shelter website. Mommy says she saw my picture and had the same feeling in her heart that she had the first time she saw Truffles. Still, she didn't want to make a hasty decision so she saved my picture to her PC and tablet and kept looking at it over and over. When she finally decided to call the shelter and ask about me it didn't take long for her to decide that I was the one.

She filled out the adoption application, gathered the needed references, and was immediately approved, but then we hit a bit of a snag. The shelter doesn't typically finalize adoptions before the prospective family meets the pet, meaning I couldn't be placed "on hold" (for lack of a better term) and when Mommy spoke to the shelter on Friday afternoon she learned that another lady had just stopped in and was very interested in me! Thankfully the nice shelter volunteer heard the panic in Mommy's voice when she reiterated that she just couldn't come get me until Sunday (they had already agreed to open the shelter just for us!) and said she'd do everything she could to steer the lady's attention to another cat. (People are just drawn to me...what can I say???)

So on a sunny Sunday morning Mommy and my Grandpa made the hour drive to make our union legal and bring me to my forever home.

She had never been to this particular shelter before and thought it was so beautiful. She especially loved the cat quotes on the walls.

She enjoyed spending a little time with Thomas, the shelter mascot, but her heart was pounding with anticipation to meet *me*!!!

There was a cute little tortie in the front holding room, and at first Mommy thought it was me! Then she was told that I was sequestered in the shelter director's office because I don't play well with others. Tattle tails!!!

As soon as Mommy saw me it was all over...I held her heart in my paws!

In no time at all the paperwork was complete and I was on my way home. Mommy rode in the back seat with me and I barely made a peep. We just gazed at each other as we fell completely in love.

I made myself at home the moment I walked in the door, immediately gravitating to the toys set out waiting for me...

...and the pawsome cat beds too! (Geez, wasn't I a skinny, scrawny little thing???) I was totally tuckered out at this point!

The whole day was just a dream come true, one Mommy and I will never forget. Life is pretty darn amazing for this little tortie today. I have a wonderful family who worships the ground I walk on, and loads of friends in the blogosphere who welcomed me with open arms.

Of all the kitties in the world, Mommy picked me. And I thank Cod for her every single day.

Note from Mommy: I thank Cod for you every single day too, precious girl!

Do you remember the day you moved to your forever home?

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. Mudpie's adoption fee was money well spent.

2. Our last furnace was a big waste of money. It only lasted 7 years.

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because of my cat writing. I don't see that ever happening though! 

4. ??? was the worst hairstyle I've ever had. I am so boring, I've never really styled my hair. I keep it cut just below my shoulders and let it hang loose during the winter, and in a ponytail in the summer. 

Christmas in July

Meows from Mudpie!

Today we want to thank the wonderful Miss Ellen of 15 and Meowing for the pawsome Christmas in July package she sent us.

She sent Mommy some Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments, Summerween decor, and a copy of her new book, My Friend Joanie...

...and she sent me a super fun patriotic-themed ice cream cone toy! 

I'm not sure if Mommy has ever mentioned this, but when she was a little girl my grandpa delivered ice cream to local stores. Her classmates were always so jealous that her Dad was the ice cream man! (Yes, he did get to bring home lots of samples.) So needless to say ice cream is quite special at our house. 

Mommy also wanted me to point out that My Friend Joanie is beyond adorable. While reading it she had the biggest smile on her face. She said she's pretty sure she spoke of her childhood cat Patch the same way little Rylee did during her school days long, long ago. He was most definitely her BFF.

We can't thank Miss Ellen and her kitties enough for always thinking of us during Christmas in July and picking out the most purrfect gifts!

Unboxing July's CatLadyBox

  The theme of July's CatLadyBox was Patio Cats...here's what was inside!

Featured Cat Lady Artist:

Demeternati_art

Believe in Mew Tee:

The cats dressed as ladybugs are one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

Cat Lady Cooler Bag:

This is a good size bag, and my favorite part is the cat faces on the strap!

Swedish Dish Towels:

I honestly had no idea what swedish dish towels were when I received these but I've become a fan! And the designs are just adorable.

Freddy the Firefly Wand Toy & Twisty Sipper Straw Catnip Toy:

It never ceases to amaze me how creative the designs are on the CLB cat toys. Mudpie wants to know if she can use the straw to inhale her squeezies faster :) 

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My New Favorite Spot #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie! 

Ever since Mommy moved things out of this corner in the kitchen to make room for my kitty cupboard I've adopted it as my new favorite spot. When I fall asleep with my head against the wall Mommy says I make her head hurt. (She says the same thing when I rest my head against the hard bookcase while looking out the window in the bedroom.) 

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

 

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. My plans for August include another Mudpie ear check and a cat-sitting job.

2. I am a type D personality.

3. If cat collectibles were a currency, I would be rich.

4. I can do a good impersonation of no one. I've never been able to do impersonations.