May 2018

45TH ANNIVERSARY SELFIE

Sunday Selfies: Week #197

In yesterday’s post we told you we were going to try to get Mom and Dad to take an anniversary selfie. They actually obliged us; though, we hear it took them several attempts to get a decent photo. We’re just happy the eight of us got a reprieve from posing this week.

If you missed yesterday’s post, and would like to see a photo of our humans when they were young, you can find a link to that post at the bottom of this one.

Blog Hop

Now it’s your turn to snap your selfie and join our hop. If you’re a regular, you know that Mom always makes us post all the following jibber-jabber for any new hoppers.

Just skip all this, link up your post and go on about your day, unless you want to take a few moments to leave a comment.

If you are new to hopping, here are some tips for joining our hop.

The link to add your selfie to the hop is below.
You also will find below the code to use if you’d like the hop to appear on your blog.
Posting on Sundays is not necessary to join.
You do not need to be a cat to enter. All anipals are welcome regardless of species.
The hop remains open for entries through Thursday midnight.
Please be so kind as to display our badge and/or link to The Cat on My Head.

Thanks for hopping!

Purrs and paw-pats, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

p.s. from Mom Janet: Tom and I want to thank everyone who left anniversary wishes on yesterday’s blog post, Instagram and Tom’s Facebook page. We are blessed to have so many kind and thoughtful friends.

CATURDAY ART & AN ANNIVERSARY

Caturday Art

Mom created the art today, but we kitties are taking over the blog. Prior to telling you why, here’s what she created.

This is Sawyer napping in the pink cat cube. It was created by adding a swirl effect using AdornPic. Then the Cambalache filter from Painnt was added with the “original” color composition and the “cold”coloring. After that a metallic texture and the “arty” part were added with piZap. (We really don’t know what to call those flowers and squiggles and strange shapes.) Mom’s final step was to add the solid color borders using Picasa. We think this turned out pretty cool. What do you think?

This is Mom’s entry in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Art blog hop. You can enter or see other cool art created by your fellow bloggers by clicking on her badge.

Here’s the original photo of Sawyer in the pink cube.

Happy Anniversary

Now you know why we kitties are writing the post today. It is Mom and Dad’s 45th wedding anniversary, and we wanted to do something just from us to celebrate. Mau normally would have baked a cake, but they are both dieting. We hate to tell them, but we don’t think they’ll ever again look like they did in this first photo of them together taken in December 1971.

We think it is pretty cool that Prince Harry and Miss Markle decided to get married on our humans’ anniversary.

Happy Anniversary

Dad Tom & Mom Janet

We love you,

Angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

Sunday Selfies

Yep, it’s that time again! We are hoping to get Mom and Dad to take a selfie of themselves today and share it on the hop tomorrow. Then you can see how REALLY old they are. No guarantees they’ll do this, but we all have our paws crossed…and not just because none of us want to take one. Anyhoo…we sure hope you’ll join us. We do enjoy seeing your smiling faces each Sunday.

Purrs and paw-pats, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

HAPPINESS, LAUGHTER & HUGS

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #105

I am joining hosts Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) for the weekly Fill-Ins blog hop. Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) usually hosts with Ellen, but she is taking a blogging break, and Lorianne has stepped up to have the hop on her blog. To join in, click on the badge below.

Kitties Blue declined to help with the fill-ins this week, so I have completed them all myself. My completions are in teal italics.

Happiness is a decision we make for ourselves. We cannot depend on someone else to make us happy.
Ten years ago, I‘d never even read a blog.
It may be a cliche, but laughter really is the best medicine, along with hugs.
Most people don’t know that I was a scorekeeper for indoor volleyball at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

We’ll see you all again tomorrow for Caturday Art.

May 18, 2018 by Janet Blue Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 15

THE CAT-SIZED HOUSE

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

As we do most Thursdays, Kitties Blue and I are joining our dear friends Teddy and angel Sammy for Thoroughly Poetic Thursday.

This tiny, blue house is the inspiration photo Mom Pam provided. It was challenging, yet fun, to write a poem about it. Our poem is below. To read the one Sammy will have sent from the Rainbow Bridge and find links (in the comments) to other poems, click on the poetry badge.

The Tiny Blue House

A tiny house is purrfect for a cat;
Much better than living in a hat
Or in a shoe like that old woman.
That’s not even good for a human.

We live in a big house, which is best,
So the eight of us aren’t always stressed.
Stuffing us into an itty bitty place
Wouldn’t allow each to have private space.

If we tried to live in this small abode,
Some of us would need to hit the road
And look for a home much less crowded,
Where we wouldn’t feel totally surrounded.

But if you’re a single cat or maybe a pair,
You probably won’t mind if you have to share.
You’ll be nice and cozy in your tiny home,
And you will never want to roam.

But you’ll be able to travel wherever you desire—
As long as you don’t get a flat tire—
Without ever having to leave your warm bed
Or even having to lift your sleepy head.

You can live on a mountain or at the beach.
No destination is ever out of reach.
Kitties Blue might be just a tad jealous,
But I’m pretty certain they’ll never tell us.

Whether you travel today or tomorrow,
Enjoy your house no matter where you go.
But don’t forget to send a note once in a while.
To tell us about your nomad lifestyle.

I am not really satisfied with how this poem ends, which reminds me of what Jeff Daniel Marion, a poet teaching a workshop in which I was enrolled, once told me. “Most poems are never really finished; they are abandoned.” That’s exactly how I feel about this one. Sorry. Hope you like it anyway.

Thankful Thursday

Today’s thankful concerns Sawyer. Since upping his medication dosage on May 12, he has not had a seizure. He, Dad Tom and I would like to thank those who have sent us suggestions on possible ways to help prevent his seizures. I know Sawyer will write about this in a future post. As to now, any prayers, purrs and POTP you can send his way will be greatly appreciated.

Sawyer is doing a lot of sleeping; though, he still has his crazy kitten moments and zoomies. Big brother and protector, Cooper Murphy, is usually close by.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. To join, click on his badge.

May 17, 2018 by Janet Blue Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 15

DOUBLE DANGLE

Wordless Wednesday

May 16, 2018 by Janet Blue Wordless Wednesday 20

SPARK OF BEAUTY

Sparks

Though our host, Annie (McGuffy’s Reader), of the Sparks Blog Hop is taking a much deserved break from blogging, I have become accustomed to posting a Spark on Monday. I will continue to do so unless I have another post that should take precedent. And I will check with Annie to see if she would like to transfer the hop here until she begins posting again. I so look forward to these Sparks at the beginning of each new week, and I know many of you do as well.

Dad Tom took this photo in our front yard a few days ago.

The author of today’s quote, Ashley Smith, was a troubled teen. She was born on January 29, 1988, in New Brunswick, Canada. Adopted at the age of five days, she had a normal childhood. However, between the ages of 13 to 14, her parents observed behavioral changes. She was in and out of institutions until she died by self-inflicted strangulation on October 19, 2007 while under suicide watch. At the time, she was in the custody of Grand Valley Institution for Women, a women’s federal prison in Kitchener, Ontario. You can read more about Smith here.

I would normally be joining the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy-Plus, but this photo and post don’t quite fit in. Kitties Blue will join that hop again next week.

May 14, 2018 by Janet Blue Dad Tom's Photography Sparks 19

MOTHER’S DAY WISHES & SUNDAY SELFIES

Sunday Selfies: Week #196

I am here today, representing all the Kitties Blue, to wish our mom and all moms a Happy Mother’s Day. It doesn’t matter if you have human children or furry ones, you are special and important. As the main nurturers and caregivers, you should have more than one day each year set aside for us to honor you. But as this is the day the had been set aside…

🌸HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!🌸

I was actually sitting in our mom’s lap when I took today’s selfie. So, it seemed appropriate for today.

Mau gave me permission to repaint his poem for mom that he wrote a few years ago.

Mau’s Mother’s Day Poem

My mom is patient.
My mom is kind.
My mom loves me,
Even when I don’t mind.

My mom feeds me.
My mom gives me treats.
She rubs my belly,
And she kisses my feets.

My mom thinks only of me
When she helps me with Scouts,
And she doesn’t get mad,
Even when I pouts.

I love you Mom.
What more can I say?
You are the bestest mom
Each and everyday.

Blog Hop

Here are a few tips from Mom for entering our blog hop. I know y’all know what to do, so you can just ignore this. Snap a quick selfie of yourself, pop on over and link it up. Easy Peasy! But if your new, feel read to read this.

The link to add your selfie to the hop is below.
You also will find below the code to use if you’d like the hop to appear on your blog.
Posting on Sundays is not necessary to join.
You do not need to be a cat to enter. All anipals are welcome regardless of species.
The hop remains open for entries through Thursday midnight.
Please be so kind as to display our badge and/or link to The Cat on My Head.

Purrs and paw-pats, Astrid (with love and kisses to my husband Sampy)

May 13, 2018 by Janet Blue Holiday Kitty Written Blog Mother's Day Sunday Selfies 38

PRETTY IN PURPLE

Caturday Art

Misty May has been taking advantage of our warmer weather by napping on the front porch. She didn’t even notice when Dad Tom took her photo. To convert the photo into art, I used Painnt and PicMonkey and a second photo taken by Dad Tom as an overlay.

This is my entry in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Blog Hop. To visit her page and find links to other art, click her badge.

These are the originals.

To create this week’s art I started with the Abstracta filter in Painnt. I then changed the hue of the photo, added the grain merge from Color Composition, bumped up the brightness and added Lomo from the Coloring selection. I took that photo to PicMonkey and overlaid Tom’s photo of our azaleas and added the scalloped border.

Sunday Selfies

Astrid will be here as your host for our blog hop tomorrow. As it is Mother’s Day, we know you may be busy lavishing your mom with love, purrs and head bonks. But Astrid is hoping you’ll take a few minutes to snap a selfie and join us. If you’d like to share your selfie with your mom, that would be cool but not necessary.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Reminder

Your Favorite Mess-making Pet Could Win You Some Great Libman Products:
“My Favorite Messmaker” Sweepstakes Launched on May 1

In honor of May’s National Pet Month, Libman has launched the “My Favorite Messmaker” sweepstakes in May 2018 to celebrate pets and their “mess-making” abilities. The sweepstakes will run from May 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018. To find out more and how to enter, click here to go our post, “My Favorite Messmaker” Sweepstakes.

May 12, 2018 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Dad Tom's Photography 16

COOPER MURPHY & MAU HELP WITH FILL-INS

Fill-Ins: Week #104

Wow, two whole years of fill-ins. That flew by quickly. The sentences Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) have provided for us each week have been fun and sometimes difficult to complete. I often feel my fill-ins could be more thoughtful, but most weeks my mind goes blank when looking at those empty lines.

I’d like to thank Annie and Ellen for being our hosts these past two years and challenging us to look within ourselves as we ponder what to share. Annie is taking a little blogging break, so Ellen has teamed with Lorianne at Four-Legged Furballs to continue doing the blog hop each Friday. If you click on the Fill-Ins badge, you’ll be transported to the link where you can add your post.

With that said, here are this week’s fill-ins. I had a little help from two of the Kitties Blue, Cooper Murphy and Mauricio. All our completions are in teal italics.

1. I spend too many hours per day online.

2. Cooper Murphy: When I go online, I use my butt and occasionally my paws. (I am sorry I don’t have any new photos of my technique to share.)

3. Mauricio: Mother’s Day is a very important day. If we are lucky, as kittens our cat mom takes care of us. And when she has finished her job, our human mom takes over. Whether cat or human, each gives us everything we need to grow up healthy, strong and happy. For that, we owe them all our love and appreciation. So try not to hork in the human’s shoe this Sunday. Maybe even let them give you a hug!

4. I wish I could heal Sawyer. For those who don’t know, Sawyer has been having seizures since the beginning of February. This is very scary and breaks Dad Tom’s and my heart each time it happens. He is on medication, but they continue to occur, often in times of stress. Sawyer will write a post in the near future to tell you more. For now, we ask for your prayers and purrs and maybe a little POTP as well.

We’ll see everyone back here tomorrow for Caturday Art.

May 11, 2018 by Janet Blue Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Health Prayers 20

DINOSAUR RODEO

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Mom Pam gave us a challenging, inspiration photo this week for our poem. We are hoping she, Teddy and angel Sammy won’t be too offended when they see we’ve altered the photo just a wee bit. In fact, we hope it will give the three of them and all of you a giggle or two. Maybe Mom Sharon (Friends Furever) will even snort Diet Coke out her nose.

Dinosaur Rodeo

Have you ever been to a dinosaur rodeo?
We swear they are lots of fun
But be careful of those big feet,
Or you might get squashed like a bug.

There’s Velociraptor racing,
And Brontosaurus riding,
Iquanodon roping,
And Megalosaurus wrestling.

You’ll need a good imagination
Or your very own time machine
To travel to the Mesozoic era
And join the rodeo scene.

But first grab a lasso,
Your cowboy boots and hat,
A dinosaur prod will come in handy
And don’t forget the snacks.

Dinosaur wrangling isn’t easy.
You must be brave and strong.
But trust us, you’ll have a blast.
Just be careful; you can’t go wrong.

If you like poetry, pop on over to Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge. Each week, angel Sammy transmits a terrific poem from the Rainbow Bridge. It’s always a must read. You’ll also find poems in the comments as well as links to other blogs sharing poetry.

Thankful Thursday

As we do each Thursday, we also are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop. We are delighted and grateful to have so many wonderful, caring and supportive blogging friends.

We also are excited and thankful to have received these two badges from the Tuesday Teaser (also hosted by Two Spoiled Cats) this week. Kitties Blue were the First to Comment and didn’t have to share this honor with anyone else. And, though not first, thanks to Dad Tom, we guessed the locale, (Lima, Peru) correctly.

If you’d like to join the hop, click on the Thankful Thursday badge.

May 10, 2018 by Janet Blue Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 14

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.