January 2022

REMEMBERING PETE CUSACK

Sparks

Kitties Blue and I dedicate today’s post to the memory of our friend, Pete Cusack. Pete passed away in November. Today would have been his 69th birthday. Instead of spending it here on earth with his beloved cats, Toby, Rumpy, Einstein and Miss Fitz, he is spending it in heaven with his heart cat, Timmy, as well as Buddy Budd, Mr Buttons and a long list of other cherished angel felines.

remembering pete cusack

Remembering Pete

Timmy and Dad Pete

Pete was a kind, generous, thoughtful man, who was a friend to everybody. To my mind, not enough superlatives exist to describe him. He was always ready to help out anyone in need. His passing struck an indelible blow to the hearts of all of us who knew him.

Pete was one of seven bloggers who joined our very first Sunday Selfies on August 17, 2014, with Mr. Buttons, and he continued to be a regular participant. Mau and Cooper Murphy were fortunate enough to get to know Timmy and Einstein through participation in Cat Scouts.

To honor Pete today, we are sharing links to two of our favorite posts from Tom Cat Commentary by Tim. The first is entitled, “Unknown Unknowable,” and was posted on October 16, 2013, a few days after Pete took in kitten Einstein and nursed him back to health.

The second post is from October 8, 2019, and was entitled, “Einstein’s Birthday and Gotcha Day Celebration.” I selected it for all the adorable photos of Einstein as a kitten and because it shows what a wonderful life Pete was giving the youngster.

Pete was so kind when Sawyer was missing, by checking in often with concern and support. He knew what we were going through having experienced it himself with his cat, Ming.

We know lots of other bloggers will be sharing their favorite posts today, and we look forward to seeing what they have selected as their favorites.

More About Today’s Spark

The author of this week’s Spark, Francis de Sales, lived from 1567 to 1622. He was a Bishop of Geneva. He’s revered in the Catholic Church and noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He became a saint when canonized by Pope Alexander VII on April 19, 1665, and his feast day is celebrated on January 24.

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

Tomorrow is our favorite day of the week, as it’s when Periwinkle and Stinky share an adventure. Stinky has planned another exciting, local activity, and he would be delighted if you join Periwinkle and him. These two tabbies have lots of fun when they are together and love sharing their adventures with all of you.

 

SUNPUDDLE SNOOZING SUNDAY SELFIE

Sunday Selfies: Week #389

Did you all know that I have the ability to take a selfie even while I’m snoozing? Pretty neat trick, don’t you think? I know others of you have done this as well. We cats are multi-talented!

 

sunpuddle snoozing Sunday Selfie

 

It was another cold day and several of us were napping on the bed in the sunpuddles—again. I must confess, no matter the temperature or amount of sun, this is where I spend most of my time. I am a first-rate napper. And I’ve got a little something extra for you today—my lovely paw.

That’s it from me.

Hopping Time

So, you all know the drill. I’ve showed you my selfie, so it is time for you to share yours with us and your other friends. And there’s no problem if you don’t post today. You can join the hop anytime through Thursday. I’ll be here waiting for you. If you’d like to invite some friends along, that would be super.

Remembering Pete

Tomorrow, everyone’s good friend, Pete Cusack, will be celebrating his birthday in heaven with many of his beloved felines. Pete passed away in November to the shock of all of us. To honor Pete on his birthday, we will be posting a link to one of our favorite Tom Cat Commentary by Timmy posts. We hope you will join us in remembering Pete by participating.

Thanks for coming today and participating in our hop. We appreciate all of you for your support and friendship.

Purrs & paw-pats. Calista Jo

 



 

CARDINAL IN THE SNOW ART

Caturday Art

Once again it is snowing, and the snow from two weeks ago is still hanging around. We are only supposed to get a couple of inches, but we are getting pretty tired of the grey, cold days of winter. This, however, allowed Mom to select another of our dad’s snowy photos for today’s art.  The best part is that none of us were involved, except for having the pleasure of watching the subject through the kitchen window.

Without any additional preamble, here’s this week’s art.

 

cardinal in snow

 

Once again, our mom used the Painnt app for her art. This is the Arcoiris effect with the soft lighting filter. And the frame, as always, is from favpng.

We convinced Mom to make a puzzle for those of you who enjoy them.

preview120pieceCardinal in the Snow Caturday Art

Mr. Cardinal will be joining Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty on her Caturday Art blog hop. You can do the same by clicking on her badge.

 

Sunday Selfies Reminder

We’ve already reached the last weekend in January, and it’s time once again for our blog hop. By now, you all know the procedure.  Just snap a selfie of yourself and link up anytime between midnight Sunday through Thursday. We know you like to show off. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be the subject of a blog. So take this opportunity to strut your stuff. Who knows, you just may discover some new admirers and maybe even make some new friends.

As usual, we have no idea who your host will be. We’ll all be looking for hiding places, as you know none of us, except Kizmet, are fond of taking selfies. Even with that being the case, we all look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Purrs and paw-pats, Misty May, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy, Sawyer & Kizmet

 

SUNPUDDLE SNOOZERS

Feline/Friendship Friday

In the winter on the few days when we get sun, the best place to hang out is on Mom and Dad’s bed. Consequently, it is often crowded with as many as five of us.

 

sunpuddle snoozers - Calista Jo and Sawyer

 

Sawyer and Calista Jo not only found a sunpuddle but a comfy spot on our Mau pillow. For some reason Sawyer likes to snuggle with C.J. She doesn’t like it! If he tries it while she is awake, she will hiss and growl at him. She was already asleep when he plopped down almost on top of her.

The sunpuddle snoozers are joining both Comedy Plus‘ Feline Friday and Create With Joy‘s Friendship Friday blog hops. You can do the same by clicking on the links in the previous sentence.

Purrs & paw-pats, Kitties Blue

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #296

Friendly Fill-Ins is a blog hop hosted by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They provide the four sentences with blanks for your responses. Often I have difficulty completing the fill-ins and need to ask for a little help from Kitties Blue. This week, however, I completed all four sentences without any help. I used teal italics to fill in.

1. I get my exercise from riding Peloton.

2.  It’s a good thing I don’t mind staying at home with Kitties Blue most of the time, as that is what has been required the last two years due to COVID.

3. Dealing with Sawyer’s seizures when he first started having them required me to muster a lot of courage.

4. My younger self would be proud to know that I now am not shy and lacking in self-confidence.

If you would like to participate, both Ellen and Lorianne post the sentences to be filled in each Thursday on their blogs. To join the hop on Friday, click on the Fill-Ins badge.

That’s it for today. We’ll be back. tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

 

THANKSFULS & POETRY

Thankful Thursday

This week three Kitties Blue have thankfuls, and I have a couple as well.

  • Sawyer is thankful for going eight days between seizures, as he has been having them closer together. The photo is from yesterday afternoon when he was snoozing in Dad Tom’s lap post seizure.

 

 

  • Cooper Murphy is thankful for passing his test at Cat Scout University about the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey with a score of 100%. He earned this merit badge.

  • Misty May is thankful for those who left a comment on her Wordless Wednesday post, but she is curious why some of you called her Ernie. The only Ernie we know is a solid black Island Cat.
  • I am thankful for being one of five first commenters on this week’s Tuesday Teaser at Two Spoiled Cats.
  • Both the Kitties Blue and I are thankful for all our friends, supporters and faithful followers.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by our friend, Brian. To participate post on your blog for what you are thankful, then click on his badge to go to his blog and link up.

 

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

As per usual, we are following our thankfuls with a poem inspired by a photo provided by Angel Sammy and Teddy (Two Spoiled Cats). Here’s this week’s photo followed by my poem. (Sorry, but it is not my best effort.)

 

 

Strike a Pose

Attitude is everything,
Whether you are four or forty.
Take a stance and set your face—
Everyone will think you’re in place
And know exactly what you’re doing.
It’s not true, but you can fool them!

© Janet Buickerood Blue – 01/26/2022

If you would like to try writing some poetry, check out Two Spoiled Cats today for next week’s inspiration photo. You can get there by clicking on the poetry badge. And please read Angel Sammy’s poem when you visit. He always knocks it out of park.

 

We’ll be back tomorrow with Fill-Ins. Hope to see you again then.

 

ANGEL CATS PRESENT SPARK

Sparks

Dad Tom found this photo of our two newest angels, Mau and Giulietta, from 2017. When I saw it I thought it would be perfect for a Spark. I hope you like the one from Maya Angelou that I selected to accompany it.

 

angels Spark from Maya Angelou

 

Mauricio was a great cat. He got along with every other cat he ever lived with, except maybe his sister, Misty May. They got along fine as kittens, but somewhere along the line had a falling out. But we could always find him in repose and cuddled up to one of his other housemates.

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.”

Awww Mondays

Our beautiful angels are participating in the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. If you’d like to do the same, click on the Awww badge.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Tomorrow is our favorite day of the week, as it’s when Periwinkle and Stinky share an adventure. It’s Periwinkle’s turn to plan the event, so you’ll want to check out Friends Furever tomorrow to find out what our tabbies get up to. These two youngsters have lots of fun when they are together and love sharing their adventures with all of you.

 

MISTY MAY GRUDGINGLY HOSTS SELFIES

Sunday Selfies: Week: #388

Mom asked me to take a selfie yesterday. I grudgingly agreed, but then I wasn’t very cooperative. Like most of you, I didn’t want to look at the iPad while I was snapping my photo.  Regardless, I think it came out pretty well. What do you think?

 

MISTY MAY GRUDGINGLY HOSTS SELFIES

 

We are in the deep freeze here. When we got up yesterday morning we didn’t have any hot water. We have a tankless water heater, and that had never happened before. With the help of a space heater, Dad had the hot water restored by 12:30 p.m.

We were stuck inside all day until very late in the afternoon, when we got a little catio time. I didn’t go out. I’m not stupid!

Anyhoo, that’s all I have to tell you. I know Mom and Dad wish I would be this succinct around the house. MOL!

Hopping Time

Now it’s your turn to share your selfie with us and all your other friends. I know each of you can do a better job than I did. But don’t worry if you cannot join us today, our hop remains open through Thursday. So, even if you don’t post on Sundays, you can join in the fun. Just click on the link below.

All my fursibs, Mom and I want to thank you for participating in our hop, supporting and following us. Most of all, we appreciate your friendship.

Purrs and paw-pats, Misty May

 



SQUIRREL APPRECIATION & ANSWER CAT’S QUESTIONS

Caturday Art

Yesterday was Squirrel Appreciation Day, and we missed it. We feel badly about that, as those little bushy-tailed, bird-seed thieves provide Kitties Blue with hours of entertainment daily. To make up for our incompetence, we are featuring one of our resident squirrels in our Caturday Art.

 

Caturday Art of squirrel in the snow

 

I “artified” our furry friend using the Snow Leopard effect from Painnt. The snowflake frame is from favpng. I thought both the effect and the frame appropriate, as the photo was taken a few days ago by Dad Tom when it was snowing.

This is my entry in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Art blog hop. If you’d like to create some art and enter the hop, click on her badge.

I did make a puzzle for you today as well.

preview130pieceSquirrel in the Snow Art

National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day

This is the first time Kitties Blue have participated in Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. I instructed them to put any questions in the regular suggestion box. When I opened it and looked through, I, as usual, mostly found complaints. I am not surprised. They are cats after all.

I did find two questions, one from Sawyer and one from Kizmet. I also am not surprised that it’s the youngsters who have the questions.

The first is from Sawyer: Why can’t I have all the treats I want?

Again, no surprise there. Of course, we all know the answer, as does Sawyer. If you eat all the treats you want, you won’t eat your regular meals, which contain your meds. 

Kizmet’s question: As there are only seven of us now, will you and Dad Tom be adopting another cat?

Well, I definitely would like to, but we have no plans right now. Possibly when Misty May joins her brother, Mau, at the Bridge, we may consider finding a bonded pair of kitties (possibly seniors, as Dad Tom and I are septuagenarians) that are in need of a home. 

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Yep, it’s time again to remind you to get your selfie snapped so you can take part in our Sunday Selfies blog hop. We go live at midnight ET, and the hop remains open until Thursday. But it’s always good to get here on Sunday so your friends don’t miss the opportunity to see you. None of the Kitties Blue crew have stepped up and offered to be your host, but I know where to find the treats, so I am certain I can coerce one of them.

If you are in the deep freeze, as we are, stay inside and stay warm. If you’re not, lucky you!

 

 

KITTIES BLUE CUDDLING

Feline/Friendship Friday

 

Kitties Blue (Sawyer and Kizmet) cuddling

 

Our Kitties Blue youngsters are cuddling again. I expect we’ll continue to see more of this as winter continues.

They’re also participating in the Feline Friday and Friendship Friday blog hops at Comedy Plus and Create With Joy, respectively.

 

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #295

Sawyer and I shared fill-in duty this week. I’m always thankful for his help. We both used teal italics for our fill-ins. Additional information is in parentheses.

1. Sawyer: My girlfriend Noelle’s purr is music to my ears.

2. My favorite kind of soup is Dad Tom’s with chicken, vegetables and beans.

3. Sawyer: If I were going to migrate or hibernate for the winter, I would go to Florida and stay with my girlfriend Noelle. (Mom would go to Tortola, BVI.)

4. I would start a sanctuary for unadoptable cats if I had the property and money.

Friendly Fill-Ins is a blog hop hosted by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They provide the four sentences with blanks for your responses. You can find those on their blogs on Thursdays. To join the hop, click on the fill-ins badge.

We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.