Backstory

🎂SAWYER’S 5TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION🎁

Feline & Friendship Friday Birthday

Today we are having a big celebration to mark Sawyer’s firth birthday. Last year at this time, he was on his walkabout and unable to celebrate until he was home safe three weeks later.

I made this collage with Sawyer’s first photo from when he joined the family. It’s in the upper left corner. The others were selected as they represent Sawyer on the dates closest to his birthday as well as one of his first photos after he returned home last year. It’s in the lower left corner. The upper right is the last photo before he went missing.

Probably the happiest birthday Sawyer had was in 2019 when he caught a mouse!

Sawyer's 5th birthday: Collage of seven photos of grey tabby cat as well as birthday graphics.

When Sawyer first started having seizures, they were extremely bad and uncontrollable. We made several trips to the emergency vet in the middle of the night, and we almost lost him at least once. We honestly feared he would not live to see this birthday. Then, of course, when he took off last year, we never expected to see him again. That he was spotted and we got him home was a true miracle.

So today is special. Happy birthday little guy. You mean the world to us, Noelle and all your friends around the world.

Cooper Murphy, of course, made a cake. It looks almost exactly like baby Sawyer.

Sawyer's 5th birthday: grey tabby cat in a decorated box birthday cake.

We’ve also got lots of noms and drinks, so please help yourselves and stay as long as you like.

Sawyer's 5th birthday: collage of various foods

Sawyer's 5th birthday: collage of various drinks

There also are toys to play with and to take home.

Sawyer's 5th birthday: felt fish toys and crocheted mouse toys

Sawyer will be joining both the Feline Friday and Friendship Friday blog hops at Comedy Plus and Create With Joy respectively.

What’s Coming Up

Astrid was supposed to share photos of her anniversary gifts and Kizmet of her birthday gift today, but they will do that sometime next week. Sawyer has a gift waiting from Noelle, and he’ll share that next week as well. Friendly Fill-Ins will be included with our Caturday Art tomorrow. And, of course, we’ll have our usual Sunday Selfies post.

Thanks for joining us today and helping us celebrate.

FRIENDS LIVE IN OUR HEARTS

Sparks

Yesterday, Cat Scouts had a gathering to remember Scout Angel Timmy and Scout Einstein’s, wonderful dad, Pete Cusack. It was happy and sad, and it made me think of friends I have loved and lost. That is the inspiration for today’s Spark from Helen Keller.

friends live in heart

My life and I know that of many others was better for having had this generous, kind, compassionate and caring man in it. We will miss him, but cherish the memories forever.

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.”

In addition to being the representatives for today’s Spark, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy are joining the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Our two little, tabby adventurers will be sharing a new adventure tomorrow over at Friends Furever. They both have their paws crossed you will take a few minutes out of your day to join in the fun.

November 29, 2021 by Janet Blue Awww Mondays Backstory Remembering Friends Sparks 15

FRIDAY BLOG HOPS FEATURE SAWYER

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #232

Today is the day we share our completions for the Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop hosted by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). If you think it would be fun to join in, check with Ellen’s or Lorianne’s blog on Thursdays for the sentences. The intent is to give us the opportunity to get to know our fellow bloggers better. If you click on the badge at the left, you can enter the hop on Lorianne’s blog.

I used teal italics for my fill-ins. Explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. I keep praying that Sawyer will never have another seizure, but I know it is inevitable. (For the past few weeks, Sawyer had been having one seizure a week. Unfortunately his last two were only four days apart.)

2. I don’t need another kitten or cat, but I want a black kitty again.

3. I would want the names of all our cats to be etched onto my tombstone. (Dad Tom and I already have our cemetary plots and our headstone with all information, except our death dates. For a long time, I have thought I would like to include the cats names around the base.)

4. If I heard something go bump in the night, I would assume it was Sawyer having a seizure and would go running to find him.

Friday Blog Hops

As Sawyer dominated the fill-ins today, he asked to join the Feline Friday blog hop at Comedy Plus and the Friendship Friday blog hop at Create With Joy.

Friday Blog Hops

With Halloween just a day away, I took the opportunity to dress up Sawyer’s photo with a seasonal border.

If you’d like to join Sawyer on either of the hops, click on the appropriate badge below.

Please drop by tomorrow for some Halloween-themed Caturday Art.

October 30, 2020 by Janet Blue Backstory Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Friendship Friday Halloween Health 17

EIGHTH BLOGOVERSARY

Our First Eight Years

This is our 2,310th post and our eighth blogoversary.

When Kitties Blue and I started this adventure, I knew nothing about blogging, had no idea how many cat-centric blogs existed and did not know by striking out on this endeavor I would meet so many like-minded people or make so many wonderful friends.

I am not going to run through a litany of milestones from the past eight years, but I do want to share a few.

Three new kitties joined our household.

Three beloved cats gained their wings.

We began our Sunday Selfies blog hop on August 17, 2014, and have posted it for 310 consecutive weeks. Lisbeth was our first host.

Astrid married Sampson “Sampy” (Kitty Cat Chronicles) at Blog Paws on May 23, 2016.

Mauricio married Allie (Friends Furever) on July 23, 2016 at Cat Scouts.

Along with Friends Furever we began the series, “The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky,” on October 8, 2019, alternating posts each Tuesday between the two blogs. In fact, Periwinkle & Stinky are off on another adventure today over at Friends Furever. These two little tabbies are always getting into some kind of mischief, and they truly enjoy sharing the fun times with our readers. Pop over and read today’s adventure by clicking the above link to Friends Furever.

These are merely a few of the highlights from the past eight years. We hope you have enjoyed this mini-retrospective and continue to visit us as we go forward.

Angel Lily Olivia, Angel Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy, Sawyer and I appreciate each and everyone who has ever visited or commented. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. Thank you, friends! You have made all our lives better and more interesting.

Finally, Kitties Blue are joining the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. You can do the same by clicking on the badge below.

July 21, 2020 by Janet Blue Allie and Mauricio Angel Cat Asrid & Sampson Backstory Blogoversary BlogPaws Conference Cat Scouts Happy Tuesday Stinky & Periwinkle Sunday Selfies The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle 28

DREAMING OF THE FUTURE & THANKFULS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thursday again and time to enter Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge. I look forward to doing this every week. If you are not familiar with Thoroughly Poetic Thursday, click on the badge at the left to read more about it. In a nutshell, however, each Thursday the boys post a photo to act as inspiration for a poem to be posted the following week.

This week’s photo as well as my poem are below.

Dreaming of the Future

This reminds me of my favorite holiday locale;
Though, a recent hurricane did not
Spare the island when it made landfall.
I do not know if I will travel there again,
But I do hope to find a way, as my
Memories are growing rather thin.
This would be the time to hideaway,
Alone on the deserted beach,
Where the virus has not come to stay.
The news, the DOW, all left behind.
Just warm breezes and ocean to enjoy
With nothing heavy weighing on my mind.
I believe I will dream of this tonight
And no matter the news when I awake,
I will keep visions of this place in sight
Until all our lives are normal again
With jobs restored, money to spend
And hours and hours to spend with friends.

The island I refer to in my poem is Tortola, BVI, on which Dad Tom and I have spent many vacations. I truly wish we were there now.

Even if you are not interested in writing poetry, make certain you visit Two Spoiled Cats to read Angel Sammy’s poem.He transmits it to Teddy each week from the Rainbow Bridge, and it is always exceptional, as he is a total master of the craft.

Thankful Thursday

It has become a tradition each week to not only write a poem but also to enter the Thankful Thursday blog hop hosted by Brian. Even with the current state of the world and our economy, we can always find something for which to be thankful.

This week we are grateful that Southwest Virginia (where we live) has no confirmed cases of the Coronavirus. Like the rest of the country, everything is closed and we are following the CDC’s recommendations, but we feel very fortunate at this point. We also are thankful that, to our knowledge, our friends and family are well. We are concerned for Dad Tom’s nephew who is an emergency room physician in Los Angeles, but we are certain he is taking every precaution to remain safe.

With all the uncertainty about the virus and the economy, Dad Tom and I are extremely grateful for all the laugh-out-loud jokes and memes on Facebook, especially those about home schooling.

Mom is thankful for a special St. Patrick’s Day First Commenter badge from the Tuesday Teaser at Two Spoiled Cats. She is sharing it with three others, including our in-laws at Friends Furever.

Periwinkle & Stinky are over the moon and filled with thanks for those who visited on Tuesday and read their latest adventure. If you missed it, click on their names to visit their post.

Mau and Cooper Murphy are thankful for completing the requirements and passing the quiz necessary to earn their Frogs and Toads Merit Badge at Cat Scouts.

Finally the entire Blue clan, both kitties and humans, are grateful that Sawyer had a 13-day span between his last two seizures.

Everyone please stay safe and healthy.

March 19, 2020 by Janet Blue Backstory 13

FELINE FRIDAY FLASHBACK & FILL-INS

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #198

I am joining the Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop hosted by Ellen from 15 And Meowing and Lorianne from Four-Legged Furballs. If you’d like to take part, you can find the sentences to be filled in each Thursday on their blogs. To join the hop, click on the badge at the left. It will take you to Four-legged Furballs.

I got a little help again this week from Sawyer. Both of us have used teal italics for our fill-ins.

1. I won’t pay more than a sale price for anything (unless it is a gift).

2. The last show I watched on television was Project Runway.

3. I recently had the opportunity to have an MRI of my neck. (I had one ten years ago, and I am waiting to find out about the changes.)

4. Sawyer: Every day I don’t have a seizure is cause for celebration.

Flashback & Feline Friday

I enjoy sharing photos with you of past Kitties Blue, and I have shared several of best buddies, MacKenzie and Madison. Both got their wings in 2011.

Today’s photo was taken in June, 2002.

Angels MacKenzie (left) and Madison (right) are hopping over to visit Sandee at Comedy Plus for Feline Friday. If you would like to join them there, click on the badge below.

March 6, 2020 by Janet Blue Backstory Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 14

VIVID C.J. & BELATED FILL-INS

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #188

I was unable to think of what I should write for yesterday’s Friendly Fill-Ins, so I am posting them today. I still had a very difficult time with these, and had to ask Sawyer for some help.

Our hosts, Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs), each selected two sentences for participants to complete. If you’d like to play along, click on the badge at the left. That will take you to Lorianne’s blog, where you can enter the link to your post.

The sentences to be completed can be found on both blogs each Thursday.

My fill-ins and Sawyer’s are in teal italics. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. On New Year’s Eve, I watch the ball drop in Times Square on the television from bed, wake Dad Tom up at midnight to give him a kiss, and then I go to sleep.

2. My focus word for 2020 is mindfulness.

3. I cannot think of anything that is the best thing about starting a new year. (Being alive and reasonably sane is all I can ask for any day, week, month or year.)

4. Sawyer: My personal goals for 2020 include having fewer seizures and getting more treats.

Caturday Art

Creating today’s art was so much easier than those fill-ins. As usual I used Painnt and Picasa.

The photo is of Calista Jo. She’s on Tom’s and my bed, which is where she spends the majority of her time.

I used the Nectarine filter from Painnt with the vivid coloring setting. The mat and frame are from Picasa.

Here’s the original photo.

Calista Jo is joining the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by the lovely Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. If you would like to participate, the internet has dozens of free photo-editing apps.

And if you’d like to hop around with C.J., click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Kitties Blue and I will be standing by tomorrow in the hopes of seeing your bright face and big smile on edition #281 of our Sunday Selfies blog hop. No volunteers yet to host, but I am certain I can bribe one of the gang with a few extra treats. See you then!

December 28, 2019 by Janet Blue Backstory Caturday Art Blog Hop Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 14

CHRISTMAS-THEMED FILL-INS AND FELINE FLASHBACK

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #187

This Friday’s Fill-Ins again are Christmas-themed. Our hosts, Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs), each selected two sentences for participants to complete. If you’d like to play along, click on the badge at the left. That will take you to Lorianne’s blog, where you can enter the link to your post.

The sentences to be completed can be found on both blogs each Thursday.

My fill-ins are in teal italics. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. My holiday plans include starting physical therapy on December 26.

2. I can’t wait to see Kitties Blue open ~~his/her~~ their gift from me.

3. All I want for Christmas is for Sawyer to never have another seizure.

4. Smiling and saying, “Merry Christmas” to everyone you meet is the best way to spread holiday cheer. (Too many people are stressed and over-tired this time of year. I am no exception. It is important not to take one’s frustration out on family, friends, sales people and strangers.)

Feline Friday Christmas Flashback

Lisbeth was helping me de-decorate in January 2013 when this photo was taken. I shared it for the first time in 2017.

She is popping over to Comedy Plus to join in their Feline Friday blog hop. Click on the badge below to go there.

December 20, 2019 by Janet Blue Backstory Christmas Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Holiday 15

CHRISTMAS CATURDAY ART WITH CALISTA JO

Caturday Art

I’ve decided that I want to share some flashback Christmas photos occasionally this December. The photo I used for today’s art is of kitten Calista Jo from her first Christmas in 2012. She was helping me by holding down garland so it wouldn’t get away.

I used the Ridge effect from Painnt. I changed the hue of the photo and added Grain Merge from Color Composition. The flower border is from piZap.

The arty photo no longer looks very Christmasy, so I have included the original photo below.

Calista Jo is joining the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. If you would like to join the hop or view art from your fellow bloggers, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

One of the Kitties Blue will be here to welcome you to our blog hop tomorrow. As usual, no one has stepped up, but I bet I can bribe one of them with a few extra treats. The gang and I really appreciate everyone who joins in the hop and supports us. So…we hope to see you tomorrow.

December 7, 2019 by Janet Blue Backstory 14

REPOSTING: OOPS…THEY DID IT AGAIN!

Caturday Art: Sunpuddle Siblings

Last Caturday Mau and Lisbeth shared the spotlight in some sunpuddle art. This Caturday, coming to you from exactly the same spot in the kitchen, we have the unlikely pair from Wordless Wednesday, Sawyer and Astrid. Of course, the camaraderie didn’t last. Astrid perpetrated a sneak attack on Sawyer later in the evening. He jumped back but was not fazed and continued his trip to the kitchen.

I chose this photo from the several I took, as the two were holding paws. You can see this better in the original. I will be sharing other photos from this session in future posts.

To create today’s art, I used Painnt yet again. This is the “Square Bricks” effect. I then added the “Perplex” filter at about 70% from piZap along with the white, deckled-edge border.Sawyer and Astrid are hopping over to visit Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty and join her Caturday Art blog hop. To check out the art by other bloggers, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Another week has flown by, so that means we will be back tomorrow with our blog hop. We sure hope you will share your adorable self with us. Remember all anipals are welcome, regardless of species. So clean those treat crumbs out of your whiskers and put on your best smile, as your friends will be here waiting to admire you.

November 9, 2019 by Janet Blue Backstory 16

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.