St. Paddy's Day Disaster

* Winter Storm Stella made her presence known here in Vermont. Burlington got dumped with 30" making it the second largest storm on record!

Book Review: Rescued Volume 2: The Healing Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes

From the publisher: With a tranquil presence and calming purrs, cats have the ability to heal. Cats also heal through their funny antics, fierce loyalty, and the hard-won lessons they sometimes teach the humans closest to them. Rescued Volume 2 contains 12 stories of cats, the humans who healed them...and how they in turn healed their humans. As with Volume 1 of the Rescued series, the stories are told through each cat's own unique perspective. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and feel good about life. You may even find some healing and inspiration for yourself. The stories for the Rescued series are compiled and edited by renowned author and publisher Janiss Garza.

Whenever you pick up an anthology there's bound to be a few duds mixed in with the gems, but that's just not the case with Rescued Volume 2, a collection of true stories written from a cat's point of view. The first volume was fantastic but this one is just off the charts. With each story I read I found myself thinking "this one is my favorite" but then I'd go on to the next one and end up thinking the same thing! That's pretty rare with an anthology.

From heartbreaking to heartwarming to laugh out loud funny, this book had me running the gamut of emotions from the first page to the last. Just wait until you read the story of Banzai, a cat who refers to his time in a kill shelter as the "sausage factory" and then goes on to regale readers with stories of life in his forever home, including getting sprayed by a skunk with it's "fart juice". Then there's Belladonna, a diabetic cat who inspired her adoptive mom to use what she learned caring for her to help other "sugar kitties". As someone who has cared for a cat with diabetes this story really touched my heart. Mr. Jazz, a dearly departed and desperate missed cat leads his grieving humans to the kitten who will mend their broken hearts, and cover model Ashton and feline fashionista Allie, two cats I already know very well because of their popular blogs, made me love them even more after reading their stories.

Anyone who knows the power of an adopted cat's love needs to add this book to their library. "Who rescued who?" isn't just a slogan, it's the truth. And every story in this unforgettable collection will leave you wanting to hug your own rescue cat just a little bit tighter.

Disclaimer: As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our link and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank! We received a review copy of this book from the editor.

WW: Which Mudpie Would You Choose?

Rachael Ray Nutrish for Indoor Kitties Like Me! #ChewyInfluencer

Meows from Mudpie!

I'm so excited to tell you about what Chewy.com sent me this month for review! But first, allow me to set the scene.

Mommy notices all the time how I different I am from Angel Truffles. She was a quiet, laid back little lady; I'm a party looking for a place to happen. She wasn't a lap cat; I spent 3/4 of Sunday happily snoozing on top of Mommy. She loved wet food; I barely tolerate it.

The one way we're very much the same is in our love for Rachael Ray Nutrish. The original recipe that came out a few years ago was the only dry food Truffles would eat, and she loved it. When I moved into my forever home just a month after Truffles rushed off to the Bridge, I found a fully stocked pantry of the food she'd left behind. That first day Mommy opened a couple cans of food that I immediately rejected, but when a bowl of Nutrish was put in front of me I was one happy kitty. Nearly two years later I still have a small bowl of Nutrish for breakfast every morning alongside the wet food Mommy forces me to eat.

So earlier this month when my Chewy Influencer email arrived and I saw that Miss Rachael has a new dry food formula for indoor kitties only I could barely wait to dig into a bag!

5 Key Benefits of Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete:

• Real US farm-raised chicken is the #1 ingredient combined with salmon, a unique superfood blend, vitamins, minerals and taurine
• Chicken meal provides amino acids & Omega 6 fatty acid to help support healthy skin & a shiny coat
• Lentils offer a natural source of fiber and helps support the healthy weight and metabolism your indoor cat needs
• Dandelion greens contain natural prebiotics that help support a healthy digestive system
• Cranberries and blueberries offer a source of essential vitamins and minerals to help support a healthy immune system

Does anyone have any doubts that I loved this food? It is positively scrumptious! And if my humble opinion isn't enough to have you rushing to your computer to buy a bag, here's another reason:

Rachael's Rescue® was created for all of the forgotten pets — the ones that might not have someone who loves them as much as you love your pet. A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need through Rachael's Rescue. Through December 2016, Rachael's Rescue has donated more than $17.5 million dollars to pet charities and other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food, medical supplies, treatments and more for animals in need. Many more animals around the country need help, and though Rachael’s Rescue, together we can make a difference in the lives of many four-legged friends.

Isn't that pawsome??? Rachael Ray loves ALL animals, from cherished and pampered house cats like me to those in shelters still waiting for their forever homes.

Head on over to Chewy.com and try Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete...the 3 pound bag is currently on sale for only $6.44! Tell 'em Mudpie sent you!

Disclaimer: A bag of food was sent to us for free by Chewy.com as part of their Blogger Outreach Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own and we never recommend a product we don’t fully believe in.

Mudpie Interviews...Toby from Purr M for Murder (w/Review & Giveaway)

Purr M for Murder: A Cat Rescue Mystery by T. C. LoTempio

From the publisher: Sydney McCall left behind an ex-fiancé and a New York advertising job to return home to Deer Park, North Carolina and help her sister, Kat, run the local animal shelter, Friendly Paws. Determined to save the shelter from financial trouble, Sydney and Kat organize a cat café fundraising event at a local coffee shop. Things are looking up until their landlord, Trowbridge Littleton, threatens to shut down the event. When Sydney drops by his art gallery to make peace, she finds Kat--along with Littleton's dead body.

Local homicide detective Will Worthington--who just happens to be Sydney's old high school crush--is highly suspicious of the sisters' involvement. Desperate to clear their names from the suspect list, Sydney pounces on the investigation. With the help of one of the shelter cats, a savvy orange tabby named Toby, Sydney begins poking her nose into other local businesses whose owners may have benefited from Littleton's death--until the killer notices she's pawing a little too closely at the truth.

I've been frothing at the bit to read this book ever since the day I laid eyes on the cover. A precious cat in a cozy cafe setting...what more could you want? Not surprisingly, the story inside is just as delicious!

Syd has returned home to Deer Park, North Carolina to help her sister Kat with the local animal shelter, Friendly Paws. The shelter has fallen on hard times financially thanks in large part to landlord Trowbridge Littleton. Hopes are high for the pop-up cat cafe fundraiser they're planning at the local coffee shop until Littleton announces he not only hopes to shut down the event, but shutter the entire shelter as well! Threats are thrown but the sisters know they have to make amends, and schedule an early morning visit to Littleton's art gallery to prove to him that the shelter is a positive for the community. Their well thought out plan does not include finding the miserly man dead in an antique armoire in his office. Kat, who understandably will do anything to protect her beloved shelter, instantly goes to the top of the suspect list.

With no shortage of more likely suspects Syd takes it upon herself to clear her sister's good name, and she has a little help in the form of Toby the tabby, a handsome orange boy she's immediately smitten with who chooses her as his forever human. Together they form an unbeatable team and I'm looking forward to their many more adventures together.

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Mudpie was purring with excitement over the opportunity to ask the charming little fellow a few questions...she hopes you enjoy the interview!

Welcome Toby! Thank you so much for chatting with me today. Could you start by telling us a little about yourself and how you came to meet Sydney? 

Meow, it is my pleasure, Mudpie. Well, I was a resident at Friendly Paws when Sydney came on board. She took a bit of a shine to me and I sensed something noble about her as well. As you might know, my nickname is “The Wanderer” and in all my travels I had not met as fine a human as Sydney. When I found out she wanted to adopt me it was the best day of my nine lives.

You manage to find quite a bit of mischief as a shelter kitty! What's a typical day like for you? 

Well, when I lived at the shelter I would engage and play with the other cats, but I confess to having wanderlust in my soul, so I would flip the latch on my cage with my paw when no one was looking and slip out the back way and wander around the town of Deer Park, taking in the sights and sounds. Those days are over now, though, meow.

Tell us about Purr M for Murder, the debut of the Cat Rescue Mystery series you star in. 

Well, Sydney has relocated from New York back to Deer Park to help her sister run the animal shelter. One of her fundraising ideas is a cat café event, which doesn’t go over big with the shelter landlord, Trowbridge Littleton, who’s been looking for an excuse to shut down the shelter. Kat mouths off at him and the next day Syd goes to Littleton’s art gallery to make peace and finds Kat –and Littleton’s dead body.

Do you help Sydney solve any of the mysteries she becomes involved in? 

Meow, I do give Syd some clues to solve Littleton’s murder, but I wouldn’t classify myself as a feline detective as, say, Nick Charles of the Nick and Nora mysteries. My style is more laid-back. I’m afraid the only thing I could do with Scrabble tiles is chew on them.

What made you decide to choose Sydney as your forever human? 

As I said, there was just something noble about her that appealed to me. We cats can sense a kindred spirit!

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

Well, not to give too much away, but our next adventure centers around a charity booksigning, a long standing feud…and murder.

About the author: While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, Meow If It's Murder, debuted Dec. 2, 2014. Followed by #2, Claws for Alarm. #3, Crime and Catnip, was released in December. She, Rocco and Maxx make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York. Catch up with them at www.tclotempio.net and www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

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Wordless #SundaySelfie

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

Mudpie in Mosaic #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 McGuffy's Reader!

Mommy's answers:

1. I hope Heartland on CBC gets renewed for another season. Living in Vermont I'm able to get Canadian television which is how I discovered this amazing family show set on a horse ranch in Alberta. The 10th season is wrapping up, making it the longest-running one-hour scripted drama in the history of Canadian television. Fingers crossed for a season 11!!! (My other answer would be Bates Motel, but I already know this is the final season. *sob*)

2. My first crush was Jack Tripper on Three's Company. It was my favorite show as a little girl, and of course the very suggestive humor went right over my head but I just thought he was the cutest thing in the world. I still remember listening to the radio the day they announced John Ritter had died. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Mudpie's answers:

3. Cuddling Mommy usually makes me sleepy.

4. If I were a super-hero, I would be Catwoman. Obviously!