Unboxing September's CatLadyBox

 The theme of September's CatLadyBox was Lap Cat Season...here's what was inside!

Featured Cat Lady Artist:

Leeza Hernandez of Leezaworks

Cat Loaf Tee:

There have a been a lot of cute CLB tees over the years, but this one is in the top 5! 

Everything about it is purrfect, from the graphics to the color.

Kitty Dish Towels:

Cats depicted as cherries and mushrooms...too cute!

These will be put to good use once the holidays are over.

(I have Halloween and Christmas dish towels, of course!)

Cat Shelf Sitters:

These are so sweet and rustic looking.

I'm not completely decided yet but I think I'm going to place them in my living room window to peep outside.

Falling Leaves Wiggler Wand & Chirpy Chirp Bird Toy:

As Vermonters, we highly approve of the falling leaves wand toy, and the bird toy is very timely as just last week Mudpie was drooling while watching a bird in the driveway (not to mention the chipmunks)!

Boo Crew Tee:

I chose this t-shirt as an add-on to my September box. I had to have it! 

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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.

Getting Ear Scritches on Mommy's Lap #SundaySelfie

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

Tortie in October #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 plan to watch lots of Halloween movies and TV shows and attend a ghost walk at a local cemetery in October.

2. Finding a ghost kitty blow mold was the highlight of my week.

3. 'Tis the season for pumpkin spice lattes. Peppermint mochas are still my faves though.

4. Though a lot of people like football, I can't stand it.

2026 Cat Writers' Association Certificates of Excellence

Over the past 10 years I'm honored to have won 19 Certificates of Excellence and 2 Muse Medallions from the Cat Writers' Association. On August 9th I learned that I added 2 more to my collection from the 2026 contest. It was Mudpie's Gotcha Day, which made it even more special.

These are the pieces I won them for...

Article, Feline-Human Bond, Long Good Night, Sweet Prince

Article, Feline Human Bond, Short Dear Mudpie

These pieces mean the world to me because they honor two cats that have had a tremendous impact on my life - Mo after his passing, and Mudpie after a decade together. Muse Medallions will be given out at the Cat Writers Conference in Dallas/Fort Worth in November. Just being a contender is such an incredible honor!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think such things were possible when I joined the CWA back in 2013. Cats are my greatest passion and being recognized for my creative endeavors involving them is truly a dream come true.

Missing Mo, One Year Later

One year ago today I helped Mo cross the Rainbow Bridge.

He was a part of my life for so long, quietly in the background, that I didn't realize what he'd come to mean to me until he was gone. There's not a day I don't think about him. I still catch myself looking in the yard for him on a regular basis. 

I have regrets. For so long I wrongly believed him to be just a timid cat with a family who visited for a snack. If I'd realized early on that he was feral might I have earned his trust enough for him to consider moving into the house, or at least allow me to help him sooner when his health started to go downhill?

I will forever be grateful that I had the opportunity to be with him at the end. My greatest fear was that he would just disappear one day and I would never know what happened to him, which is exactly what a neighbor is suffering with right now as her own cat vanished 3 weeks ago.

He came to me for help. He wanted me with him. I'll never forget the way he kept reaching for me before we left for the vet. He needed comfort and didn't want to be alone. 

My Mo memorial

I'll also always remember how attached Dad became to him in their last couple years. I used to jokingly refer to them as "my two old men". Just 2 1/2 months after losing Mo, I lost Dad too. I hope they're hanging out together now watching over their two girls, Mudpie and I. 

I'll never forget you Mo, and I'll always love you as one of my own, because you were. You were a sweet, special boy who deserved an easier life than the one you were given. I'm honored to have been the one who got to take care of you, but I'll always wish I'd been able to do more. 

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On Thursday we have some exciting Mudpie/Mo news to share, so please join us then.

Watching Birds & Chipmunks in the Driveway #SundaySelfie

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

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

1. I am glad I live near HomeGoods and TJ Maxx, especially this time of year! (They're located side by side within walking distance of my house.)

2. I am glad I don't live near where the Nor'easter is hitting this weekend.

3. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 30.

4. Classic sitcoms made me truly laugh. Most of the ones on TV today are just plain stupid.

Mudpie Meets ALF #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie!

Did you know that Mommy is a huge fan of the '80s sitcom ALF? She started watching it the day it premiered (40 years ago this week!!!) and still has all the collectibles she got back then (plush, games, magazines, beach blanket, lunch box, trading cards). She even bought the complete series on DVD as soon as it came out...even though she didn't have a DVD player at the time!

Since we know how much ALF loved cats (LOL) Mommy thought it might be fun to ask ChatGPT to create some images and trading cards of ALF and I together. We think they turned out so cute! 

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

A Boring But Blissful Afternoon #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

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

It has been SO chilly in my neck of the woods lately! We're certainly not complaining because we've been enjoying the extra cuddle time, but Mommy absolutely refuses to turn the heat on in September, so I'm turning into a frozen Mudpie! 

Speaking of cuddling, my photo fail was taken just yesterday. Mommy had registered for a 3-hour webinar (that had NOTHING to do with cats!!!) so as soon as she settled down on the couch with a blankie on her lap, I hopped on board. Needless to say, I tuned out fairly quickly, but I'll take advantage of any opportunity to hold Mommy down. 

It was a terrible angle for Mommy to take a picture but she wanted to capture the moment.

That's my blooper...let's see yours! 

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My Litter Box Bed

Meows from Mudpie!

This is kind of embarrassing, but since the beginning of the year I've been having trouble "overshooting the runway" in my litter box. It used to happen every now and then but it's been happening so frequently Mommy needed to put a heavy towel and puppy pad under the box. She's watched me do it and says I squat too close to the edge. Plus, it's a regular sized box and I'm not a regular sized kitty! 

She finally gave up hoping the situation would improve, so last week she bought me the biggest litter box she could find. When she brought it home after running a bunch of errands she was pooped out and left it on the living room floor with the rest of her purchases to rest awhile. 

What did I do? 

Well, we know it's a good fit for me!

So how have things gone? Even in an extra-large box I squat too close to the edge, so when I stand in the box lengthwise all is well (so far, anyways), but when I use it in the opposite direction I still pee over the edge. So the towel and puppy pad remain.

Nice try, Mommy! 

Still Dangling #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy helped me snap this selfie from outside while I was looking out. It was fun to get a look at my legs dangling from the other side of the door.

Mommy says if I was an outdoor kitty roaming around I would stop traffic with my beauty. She's not wrong! 

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

Meow Like a Pirate Day #CaturdayArt

Ahoy! It is Mudpie, pillager of cat treats! 

Since Meow Like a Pirate Day falls on Caturday this year I decided to cartoonize my very first pirate post from 2015 as I guarded my pink treasure chest full of squeezies! 

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 have been seeing a lot of Canadian geese flying south. It seems early...wonder if they know something we don't know?

2. Paid Viewpoint is a good way to make some extra money. They send out surveys consistently that are quick and easy. I first signed up in the spring of 2024 and since that time have earned a little over $1000 with very little effort. If you're interested in checking it out this is my referral link.

3. I think the 1980s was the decade with the best country music.

4. Lately, I've been avoiding doing something with dad's truck. I was inclined to sell it for scrap metal because it's over 20 years old, not driven in years, and likely very rusty underneath, but I was contacted by someone interested in buying it so we're trying to find someone to come check it out and see if it's worth fixing up. 

Feline Friday Flashback: Counter Surfing Back in My Younger Days

Meows from Mudpie!

10 years ago we posted this photo, back when I easily jumped up and down off the kitchen counter. (I was allowed! Mommy has no problem with kitties on food prep surfaces.)

I haven't been up there in a looooooong time. I don't do any jumping at all anymore. The other day Mommy was in the kitchen and heard me meowing mournfully from another part of the house. She quickly went looking for me and found me in the bathroom, looking up at the window. I could smell the fresh air coming in but I know it's too high for me to jump, so I was calling for help. I used to fly through the house and into that window without a second thought! I proceeded to take a nap in the window while Mommy sat on the edge of the bathtub waiting to help me back down. She waits on me hand and foot!

I'm even hesitant to jump up on the bed now. Mommy tries to always help me. She's put an ottoman at the foot of the bed for me but so far I haven't used it. I'm not showing any other signs of arthritis, it's my weight that's holding me down. 

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). 

Mommy Has Lost Her Marbles

Meows from Mudpie! 

Monday night Mommy went to bed around 12:30, which is early for her. She told me she had to get up in a few hours to go somewhere but she wouldn't be gone long. 

Unfortunately for her, I wasn't ready to go to bed and would not settle down. She got rather perturbed with me. Finally at 3:30 I drifted off to dreamland, only to be rudely awaken by her alarm clock at 4:30! 

She quickly made herself presentable, went potty, grabbed her keys...and LEFT THE HOUSE!!! It was still dark out!!! 

Where did she go at the butt crack of dawn? 

To the Starbucks Halloween drop for this little guy:

Our local Starbucks only received ONE so being there when they opened at 5 was her only chance of getting him. Mommy said she felt like a homeless person sitting outside for a half hour waiting for them to open. We're just lucky we don't live in a big city where people line up hours in advance! When she got back home at 5:15 I had gone back to bed (MOL) and she quickly joined me. 

Mommy has NEVER waited in line for a store to open before, not even on Black Friday. Mommy is NOT a morning person. She would much rather see the sun set than rise. She thinks it's downright depressing to get up before the sun does! 

Let's not make this a regular occurrence, okay Mommy?

Sassy & Spoiled #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Friday afternoon I found Mommy sitting on the living room floor sorting through a stack of old papers. I decided to help out by plopping down on the pile to hold them down so they wouldn't blow away.

Mommy said I wasn't helping. My work is never appreciated.

Ooh, but this was exciting! Last night Mommy went to our annual neighborhood block party and brought home a hamburger just for me (to have as a treat during the week). I sometimes think I must be the most spoiled kitty in the world.

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. I tend to scrimp on clothes. The only new additions to my wardrobe for years now are CatLadyBox shirts. 

2. I tend to save on cat litter. Last year I decided to try Mudpie with pine pellet litter and she took right to it! At only $8 for a 40 pound bag at Tractor Supply that lasts several months, it's a huge money saver. 

3. I've nearly perfected making an omelet. I used to always make the smoke detector go off while making an omelet (which didn't please Mudpie very much), but lately I've been doing better. 

4. I need to find a better way to give Mudpie her ear cleaner. I've tried the burrito method but she's too big and strong (which I'm not going to complain about) and manages to find a way out. I've resorted to sitting on the kitchen floor with her, one leg wrapped around her back to hold her still. We must be quite a sight! 

25 Years Later, We Remember

 

Mommy here.

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 a quarter century ago. I heard on the news that over 100 million Americans alive today either weren't born yet or were too young to have personal memories of 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. 

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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

Happy Birthday, Mommy!!!

Meows from Mudpie!

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

It's Back #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Earlier this summer I mentioned that the white whisker over my left eye mysteriously disappeared. So much has been going on since then with my ears that we forgot to mention it came back in the exact same place! 

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

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

1. Never have I ever been on an airplane.

2. My September to-do list includes decorating for Halloween and attending a neighborhood block party.

3. I wouldn't mind hosting a pet adoption party.

4. I'm always curious about other people's pets.

Mudpie's First Country Album #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie! 

Mommy asked ChatGPT to create a country music album cover for me. "Some days you're the mud, some days you're the pie" is her creation but that's all she submitted besides my photo. We couldn't choose a favorite and decided to post them all! We think they turned out just fantastic. 

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

Unboxing August's CatLadyBox

The theme of August's CatLadyBox was Live in the Meow...here's what was inside!

Featured Cat Lady Artist:

Natsa

Just Meow Tee:

No other words necessary! Sweet and simple.

Soft Kitty Throw Pillow:

This pillow went straight from the box to my bed. It's the coziest!

Kitty Paw Spoons:

I have a cat coffee scoop, now these are my new coffee stirring spoons! Cats + coffee = life.

Walter Melon Catnip Toy & Meowdy Cactus Catnip Kicker:

The CLB toys just keep getting cuter every month. I'm thankful Mudpie is gentle with her toys because I would be sad to see them damaged!

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.

The Leg Dangle

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy loves how I dangle my legs out the door when she props it open for me, just like a kid dangling their feet in the water.