May 2021

2021 MEMORIAL DAY SPARK

Sparks/Awww Mondays

 

Memorial Day Spark

 

Memorial Day traditionally remembers those who have given their lives in service of their country. Regardless, I like this quote from British singer/songwriter/actor and lead singer of The Animals rock band, Eric Burden. So, I chose it for my Spark today.

Sparks is the creation of Annie from McGuffy’s Reader. Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend. Annie stated when she began Sparks,“I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world.”

Cooper Murphy and Kizmet, who joined me to present today’s Spark, are participating in the Awww Mondays blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. If you’d like to do the same, click on the Comedy Plus badge.

 

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Your favorite, fun-loving tabbies will be sharing another of their adventures tomorrow. Please stop by Friends Furever to see what the heck they get up to or into. It definitely will be something fun!

 

TALK TO THE PAW SELFIE

Sunday Selfies: Week #355

 

talk to the paw

 

When your humans want you to take a selfie, sometimes you just have to put your paw down or up, as in this case, and say, “Talk to the paw.” I was having a nice snooze, and that is exactly what happened to me. So today, I offer you a toe bean selfie, and I am fairly certain you won’t mind. Feel free to put your paw down this week, and share a body part (in good taste, please) other than your face.

Masks Off

You may not have noticed, but as of today Mom is no longer wearing a mask in our logo. She and Dad received their second dose of the vaccine over three months ago. As fully-vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks, she removed the one she was wearing here.

Hopping Time

 

Whatever part of yourself you decide to photograph today, all us Kitties Blue are sure hoping you’ll share it with us here on the hop. You know you want to, and you know all your friends will be here looking for you. And, you know what? You don’t even need to post today. You have through Thursday to join in the fun. 

Purrs and paw-pats, Misty May

 



ASTRID AS ART

Caturday Art

astrid as art

 

This is one of the photos Mom took when I was lying on her chest a few days ago. She shared a different one for Wordless Wednesday.

To turn it into art, she used the Polvella effect from the picas.tech app and then added a frame from favpng. I like the pastel colors! Do you?

I am going to be popping over to Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s for her Caturday Art blog hop. If you’d like to do the same, click on her badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

We will be having our blog hop tomorrow. I can pretty well guarantee that I will not be your host. However, I have no idea which of us will be. You’ll just have to drop in to see. And while you are doing that, please join our hop. All of us, as well as your other friends, look forward to seeing your smiling faces each Sunday. It’s a great way to start a new week. So please join us tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting today.

Purrs and paw-pats, Astrid

 

IT’S A TUMMY TRAP & FILL-INS

Feline/Friendship Friday

 

tummy trap

 

I bet you thought I was requesting a tummy rub. Ha, ha…fooled you. As my dad always says, “It’s a trap!” I think it’s a hoot that I can continue to trick them into trying it; though, this time they didn’t take the bait! Phooey, I enjoy a good fleshy nibble.

Anyhoo, I am here to join two blog hops: Feline Friday at Comedy Plus and Friendship Friday at Create With Joy. If you’d like to do the same, click on the appropriate badge(s).

Purrs and paw-pats, Cooper Murphy

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #261

Friday again, which means it is time for those fill-ins hosted by Ellen from 15 And Meowing and Lorianne from Four-Legged Furballs. Sawyer stepped up again to help me with fill-ins this week. Both my fill-ins and his are in teal italics.

1. SAWYER: I wish my mom and dad were as generous with treats as Chris when she comes to clean or take care of us.

2. My plans this weekend include spending time in the swim/spa and writing my reports for the Jackson Galaxy Cat Pawsitive Project.

3. It’s hard to believe that it’s already the end of May.

4. SAWYER: I need treats in order to function.

Friendly Fill-ins is a blog hop. You can find the sentences to be filled in on Ellen and Lorianne’s blogs on Thursdays. Click on their badge to join the hop.

We’ll be back again tomorrow for Caturday Art.

 

 

WARM, SNUGGLY KITTEN & POETRY

Thankful Thursday

Kizmet is always thankful for warm clothes no matter how hot it is outside. She knows I never close the dryer or washer without checking inside, so she never worries about crawling in.

 

thankful

 

Stinky & Periwinkle are delighted and thankful to have a few more followers than they did when they began their adventures. If you missed this week’s, they helped Cookie Monster celebrate his birthday. You can check out that adventure here.

We are all thankful and blessed to have so many blogging friends. You keep us going from day to day.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted each week by Brian. To participate, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then click on the badge below to jump over to Brian’s Home.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thursday also is the day when I try to write a poem for Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge based on an inspiration photo they provide. Here’s this week’s photo and my poem.

 

 

The Lady in the Red Dress

A photographer obviously staged this scene,
But what can it possibly mean?
A non-functioning radio on the beach,
Any possible signal out of reach.
A lady in high heels and red dress
Unconcerned about a sandy mess,
Intent upon the distant shore,
As if expecting something more.
Maybe a loved one who has been at sea.
What else could it possibly be?
I could guess or prognosticate
What will be this woman’s fate,
But the question is one not to be debated,
The scene most surely was orchestrated.

© Janet Buickerood Blue – 5/26/2021

If you’d like to try writing some poetry, you can find next week’s photo over at Two Spoiled Cats by clicking on the poetry badge. While there, please check out Angel Sammy’s poem. He transmits it to Teddy each week from the Rainbow Bridge, and it is always thoughtful and well-crafted.

As always, thanks for joining us.

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART LXXXV

Stinky Heads to Florida

Periwinkle is surprised to find herself waiting for Stinky to arrive at her house. It is his week to plan their adventure, so she was certain she’d be the one traveling. As she ponders this, she hears that familiar whoosh, and Stinky comes tumbling out of the tunnel into her waiting paws. 

The first thing Periwinkle notices is that Stinky has a box with him. She hopes it is a gift for her. Before she can ask him about it, Stinky starts giving her whisker kisses, which Periwinkle happily reciprocates. After several more minutes of kisses and paw hugs, Periwinkle asks Stinky what he has brought for her.

Stinky giggles and tells Periwinkle, “I’m sorry but these are for someone having a birthday today.” Periwinkle looks crestfallen knowing it isn’t her birthday or that of her mom or brofur Raz.

When Stinky sees Periwinkle’s disappointment, he grabs her paw and leads her back to the teleportation tunnel before she can ask any more questions. Moments later they arrive at their destination. They are immediately greeted my a huge yellow bird.

Periwinkle gasps and starts to bounce from paw to paw. “Stinky, look, it is Big Bird,” she manages to squeak out. 

“I know, Periwinkle,” says Stinky. “He is going to lead us to the recipient of our gift.”

Periwinkle immediately asks, “Who is it, Stinky, and where are we?” 

Sesame Street Land

 

 

Big Bird answers for Stinky, “You are at Sesame Street Land at Sea World in Orlando, Periwinkle. Stinky has brought a gift for Cookie Monster. Today is his birthday. But first I am going to let you explore. Cookie Monster has a tendency to sleep late. When you are ready to see him, meet me at my nest.” 

 

 

“Stinky, get down from there. You are going to get us thrown out before we even meet Cookie Monster.”

“Don’t be silly. We are special guests here to celebrate Cookie Monster’s birthday. We aren’t going to get thrown out.”

“Then, please get down before you break your neck and let’s check out the cute little main street area,” Periwinkle says as she takes Stinky’s paw.

 

 

“This is cute, and just our size,” Stinky tells Periwinkle. “What’s next?”

“There are oodles of more rides, but let’s go find Big Bird, and see if Cookie Monster is awake.”

 

 

“Hey, Big Bird, we have lots more rides to explore, but do you think we could check and see if Cookie Monster is awake? I am afraid my gift is getting a bit beat up,” says Stinky.

“Sure, let’s see if Cookie Monster is hanging out at his ride.”

 

 

“It doesn’t look like he is here,” says Periwinkle. “Do you have any other ideas?”

“The parade is about to start. I know he’ll be there. Let’s go check it out. Abby has volunteered to let you ride on her float, so you don’t get too tired.”

 

 

“Stinky this is so much fun. I feel like a celebrity,” gushes Periwinkle, as they ride on Abby’s float and wave to all the humans visiting Sesame Street Land.

Big Bird comes alongside the float and asks, “Are you two having fun?” You aren’t getting too tired are you?”

Stinky lets out a big sigh, but tells Big Bird he’s fine. Big Bird helps the tabbies down from the float as he’s spotted Cookie Monster. He takes Periwinkle and Stinky by the paws and leads them to Cookie Monster. 

Meeting Cookie Monster & Giving Him His Gift

As they approach Cookie Monster, Stinky opens his box so Cookie Monster can get a whiff of what he has brought. When Periwinkle sees what’s in the box, she gasps with surprise and scolds Stinky, “You can’t give that to Cookie Monster. That’s so insensitive. He’s not going to eat himself or his friends.” 

 

 

Stinky chuckles and says, “Of course he’s going to eat these. He’s Cookie Monster not Cookie Diplomat.” 

Periwinkle just shakes her head, embarrassed to even look at Cookie Monster. 

“Stinky’s right Periwinkle. Cookie Monster does not discriminate against cookies,” Big Bird says with a laugh! 

Big Bird introduces Stinky and Periwinkle to Cookie Monster. They are so excited to meet him that they start giggling in unison.

“Is that box for me?” asks Cookie Monster.

“Oh yes,” says Stinky and hands the box to Cookie Monster, as Periwinkle hides her face behind her paws.

 

Cookie Monster

 

Cookie Monster looks in the box and immediately grabs a cookie that looks just like him. “Nom, nom, nom, this is best cookie I’ve ever eaten. Happy birthday to me,” he says with his mouth full of cookie. The tabbies find that pieces of cookie are flying out of Cookie Monster’s mouth and landing on them. Not one to usually share, when Cookie Monster sees this, he offers them both cookies, which they happily accept.

After finishing their cookies, Periwinkle and Stinky thank Cookie Monster for sharing and wish him a happy birthday. They then decide to try out a few more rides, including the water ride. With oodles of cookie crumbs in their furs, they think this might be a good way to clean off before heading to Periwinkle’s house.

 

 

The water is really rough, and the tabbies have to hold on tight, so they don’t fall in the water. In fact, it is so bouncy, Stinky ends up tossing his cookies. The clean-up aspect of the ride having failed, Periwinkle and Stinky decide it is time to head to the teleportation tunnel for the quick trip to Periwinkle’s.

Snack Time, a Nap & Home

After arriving at Periwinkle’s house, they enjoy their usual snacks in the backyard.

 

 

A visit with Periwinkle’s brofur Raz and Mom Sharon is followed by a long nap. Finally it is time to say, “good-bye.” The tabbies spend lots of time snuggling, paw hugging and whisker kissing. Then with a final wave, Stinky enters the teleportation tunnel and is gone in a whoosh.

The End

 

 

Periwinkle and Stinky are joining the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus.

GINGERY GOODNESS DANGLE & SPARKS

Awww Mondays

I am certain I have shared this photo of Cooper Murphy previously. It is from April 2019 when the addition was being built. I didn’t have any new photos, except ones with Kizmet, and she has been featured lots lately. I love the expression on Cooper’s face and his “dangle.”

 

gingery

 

My handsome, gingery man-cat is participating in the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. I know Sandee is one of his biggest fans, so I don’t think she’ll be disappointed to see him. If you’d like to join him on the hop, click on the badge.

Sparks

 

Lately, the losses of furry friends and human friends have made me very sad. I truly do not believe those are tiny matters, but I pray the strength and resilience that lies within me are enough to see me through.

This is one of Dad Tom’s photos of the azaleas in our front yard.

Sparks is the creation of Annie from McGuffy’s Reader. Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend. Annie stated when she began Sparks,“I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world.”

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Your favorite, fun-loving tabbies will be sharing another of their adventures tomorrow. Please stop by here to see what the heck they get up to or into. It definitely will be something fun!

 

 

 

MONKEY & THE CHIPMUNK

Sunday Selfies: Week #354

I hope you don’t mind seeing me again today. Mom says I am just too darn cute not to be your host today. Plus, I have a story to tell you. But first, here’s my selfie.

chipmunk

 

My mom and dad call me monkey when I climb all over the cat tree and hang upside-down like this! I don’t know about that nickname, but I sure do enjoy playing on this tree!

If you enlarge my selfie, you can see the heart-shaped white furs on my chest as well as the tiny freckle on the interior rim of my right eye.

So here’s the story I promised. On Thursday Mom thought some of us were having a disagreement in the living room. After a while, she decided to check on us and found we were chasing a tiny chipmunk around the living room. None of us have admitted to bringing our new friend in the house. Until yesterday morning, he had not been seen, and Mom and Dad hoped he had found a way to escape. That’s when I showed up in the bedroom with our tiny friend in my mouth, and the chase began again. Dad thought he’d caught the little fellow in a towel, but Mr. Chipmunk had slipped away, not to be seen again all day.

After dinner last night, Mom found Lisbeth guarding the hall butler and radiator in the foyer. Yep, Mr. Chips was back, and Lisbeth had him in her sights. She carried him around the dining room with Dad trying to relieve her of her prize. Once again our little friend got away. We think he is hiding in the pantry closet and probably sneaks out at night to eat our foodables.

We have no idea how long this cat and chipmunk game will continue, but we are all hopeful that our friend will be able to return to the garden where he belongs.

Remembering Friends

The last few weeks have been particularly sad with the loss of many friends. Today, all of us want to remember three of those. We think most of you knew Speedy. He was one of our first friends, and a a long-time Sunday Selfie hopper. We will remember this cheeky bunny fondly and forever. Most of you will not know the second friend who received his wings. It is Mr. Denmaster Jeff (aka Mr. Tasty Face). He was the Cat Scouts’ Denmaster’s husband. Finally we lost a dear Cat Scout friend and patrol mate of Cooper Murphy, Tubby. We will miss each of them and send their families lots of purrs and prayers.

 

Time to Hop-a-Long

Are you ready to hop? If not, it’s time to get your selfie snapped and posted. You don’t want to miss enjoying your Easy Sunday. And you definitely do not want to let down all your friends who will be visiting here looking for you!

Finally, we wish you all a good day filled with sunpuddles and cuddles.

Purrs and paw-pats, Kizmet

p.s. I am 11 months old today.

 



A TIPSY KIZMET

Caturday Art

tipsy Kizmet

 

A tipsy Kizmet has her paws crossed that you don’t get too dizzy viewing her art. I took the original photo I used for today’s art for week two of the #ProPetPhotog photo challenge. The challenge was Angles and Lines. It is a photo of Kizmet on the cat tree in the bedroom, which I took shooting upwards from my position on the floor. I was surprised to find the lines and angles were enhanced by the addition of the art effects I used. I began with the Novecento effect from Painnt, then added the Crazy Color Flower Power filter from piZap. The final piece was the frame from favpng.

I will be posting the original photo over on Instagram at kitties.blue if you wish to see it.

I did make a puzzle for those who enjoy them. The link is at the bottom of the post.

Kizmet is participating in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. If you’d like to do the same, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Another week has galloped past, and it has been a tough one with both furry friends and human friends receiving their angel wings and flying away. Kitties Blue will remember some of them tomorrow. Which one of them will want to take on this sad task remains to be seen. Regardless all of them as well as your other friends will be looking for you here tomorrow. So please take a few minutes out of your Easy Sunday and join us here on the blog hop.

Until then, the Kitties Blue and I wish you a day filled with sunpuddles and cuddles.
preview108pieceAngles & Lines: Kizmet