Cat Writers Association

SOME MIGHTY HUGE THANKFULS

Thankful Thursday

We have a variety of mighty huge thankfuls this week for Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop.

Kitties Blue may not be thankful for the following, but Dad Tom and I are grateful for the opportunity to look after these two munchkins.

huge thankfuls: two tabby kittens wrapped in a colorful towel.

If you visited our Wordless Wednesday post, you already got a glimpse of these two. Meet No Name #1 (male buff/orange tabby) and No Name #2 (female brown tabby). They arrived here Tuesday evening after I agreed to take them from a friend. I’m fairly certain you are wondering if they are joining the Kitties Blue crew. At this time, that is not the plan, which is why they are unnamed. But only time will tell.

They have not met the Kitties Blue but all are aware of the others. #1 and #2 have a vet appointment tomorrow afternoon. Depending on how that goes will determine if they will be allowed to interact with the permanent residents.

Sawyer actually has the biggest and best thankful of the week. He hasn’t had a seizure in seven weeks! I’m always delighted when the time between seizures is extensive, but it also causes me to be on high alert in anticipation of one.

Stinky and Periwinkle told you that the Cat Writers’ Association awarded them Certificates of Excellence for two of their adventures. If you missed that post and would like to know which adventures received recognition, you can do that at “Happy Tuesday Announcement from Periwinkle & Stinky.” In addition to those C0Es, I am thankful for receiving two others: one for a photo of Kizmet, which you can see at “Krazy Kitten Kizmet’s Toesies & Tailio“and one for a post remembering Giulietta, “Thankful for 11 Years.”

Finally, we are, of course, thankful for your support, following and friendship. It means the world to us.

If you’d like to join the Thankful Thursday blog hop, enter the URL for Brian’s blog in your browser and pop on over to his blog.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

I must apologize to our wonderful friends, Teddy and Angel Sammy (Two Spoiled Cats), for not writing a poem today. I may try to have one for you and them tomorrow, but I am not making any promises. Along with kitten caregiving, I have three additional projects in the works. But please do not let the lack of my writing a poem stop you from visiting Two Spoiled Cats. Angel Sammy is a masterful poet, and his poems are always worth reading. Click on his badge to visit now.

See y’all tomorrow.

HAPPY TUESDAY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PERIWINKLE & STINKY

A Surprise Visit

Periwinkle tumbles from the teleportation tunnel with a confused expression on her face. As Stinky is helping her up, she asks, “Stinky, what am I doing here? I thought our adventure isn’t happening until Thursday. And why are we dressed in our fancy clothes?”

Stinky happily tells her, “We have a big announcement to make, and if we make it today, we also can remind our readers to come back Thursday for our adventure.”

“So what are we announcing?”

Cartoon tabby cats dressed in formal wear with a sign that says, Happy Tuesday Announcement.

The Announcement

“For the third year in a row, my mom entered us in the Cat Writers’ Association Annual Contest. And we received two Certificates of Excellence in the Short Form – Fiction Category. She entered ‘The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky: Part LXXXI,’ which is when we visited the eagles on the Discover the James’ Bald Eagle Tour.

“Oh, Stinky, that was a really great adventure. Some of those birds were bigger than we are. What was the second adventure for which we were recognized?”

“It’s for when we went on our fishing trip with Cooper Murphy and Tyebe, ‘The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky: Part LXXVII,’” Stinky tells Periwinkle.

Periwinkle claps and hops up and down. “I loved that we could share that adventure with your brofur, Cooper, and his girlfriend. I’m really happy the judges also enjoyed it! Did your mom get any additional certificates?”

“Yes, she did. But I’ll let her mention it in a different post,” Stinky replies.

“Stinky, This has been so much fun to let everybody know about our certificates, but I am really looking forward to our adventure on Thursday. It is going be epic.”

Stinky gives Periwinkle a huge paw hug and agrees with her. As the tabbies have completed their announcement, it’s time for Periwinkle to teleport home and rest up for Thursday. Periwinkle and Stinky share lots of whisker kisses and say their good-byes. Periwinkle enters the teleportation tunnel, gives Stinky a final wave and is gone in a whoosh.

Stinky & Periwinkle are joining the Happy Tuesday blog hop at Comedy Plus. You can do the same by clicking on the badge.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RETURN HERE THURSDAY FOR THIS WEEK’S THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY!

July 19, 2022 by Janet Blue Cat Writers Association Certificate of Excellence Happy Tuesday The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle 15

WE COULDN’T HAVE HAD A MORE THANKFUL WEEK

Thankful Thursday

Again this week, Kitties Blue and I have a long list of thankfuls for Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop.

Kizmet

Kizmet asked if she could go first, and I could not deny the baby of the family. Yesterday she received official notification from the Helen Woodward Animal Center that she finished eighth in the Superhero Sidekicks Calendar Contest. She will have her own page in the 2022 calendar. So many friends generously donated/voted in an attempt to keep her in a high position. On the last day, however, there were some new entries with huge donations. Her entry brought in $715 in donations for HWAC, which we are all thankful for and pleased about. We are proud of her eighth place finish.

Sawyer

Sawyer has been home just over two weeks, which elicits a huge thankful from all of us. Cooper Murphy is no longer hissing and growling at him. The biggest thankful with regard to Sawyer is that he continues to be good about eating and getting all his meds. He has not had a seizure since returning home. Yippee!

Sawyer is still catching up on the sleep he missed while away.

Stinky

Stinky has the next thankful. He and Periwinkle’s posts about their adventure at the Mill Mountain Zoo earned a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association in the Short Story category. If you missed that two-part adventure, you can read Part 1 and Part 2 by clicking on the links.

Mom Janet

I have a couple of thankfuls this week. My review posts (Yaheetech Cat Tree and PetLibro Water Fountain) each received CWA Certificates of Excellence as well.

My final thankful is for something extremely rare. I was both a First Commenter (one of four) and the First Right Guesser on the Tuesday Teaser at Two Spoiled Cats. I won this extra special badge.

Kitties Blue

Kitties Blue and I together have one final thankful. Back on July 21, we celebrated our Ninth Blogoversary. That is the same day Sawyer arrived home, so the blogoversary totally went unnoticed. Nonetheless, it happened, and we are all grateful we have stuck with this pursuit for that long, as we have made so many wonderful friends. We love and appreciate each one of you.

The crew and I are participating in the Thankful Thursday blog hop. If you’d like to join us, post on your blog for what you are thankful, then click on Brian’s badge to be transported to the hop.

August 5, 2021 by Janet Blue Blogoversary Cat Writers Association Certificate of Excellence Kitties Blue Stinky & Periwinkle Thankful Thursday 20

CELEBRATING ANGEL FIONA IN ART

Caturday Art

Since losing Mau, I have been feeling both sad and nostalgic, remembering those who gained their wings previously and were waiting for him at the Bridge. Today I am sharing and “artified” version of one of my favorite photos of Fiona. It was taken in June 2015 and is one from a series I took in the yard.

To create today’s art, I used the Leather effect from Painnt and added the mirrored-heart frame with Ribbet.

Angel Fiona is joining the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. To participate, create a work of art using one of the many photo-editing apps, then click on Athena’s badge to go to her blog and enter the link to your post.

CWA Virtual Awards Ceremony

Tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. the Cat Writers’ Association will be holding their annual awards presentation. Due to the COVID-19 virus, CWA was forced to cancel their 2020 conference. This year’s awards will be presented in a virtual ceremony. It is not necessary to be a CWA member to attend. If you click on the link, it will take you to the CWA web-site, which lists all the various ways you can access the ceremony from your mobile devices.

Periwinkle and Stinky are hoping you will “tune in,” as Part I of their adventure series, “Leapin’ Lizards,” is in the running for a Muse Medallion award. They don’t expect to win, but we know many of your other blogging friends will win coveted Muse Medallions. This is your opportunity to show them your support.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Oh wow, another week has slipped away, and it is time for selfies again tomorrow. We haven’t a clue which of Kitties Blue will be here as your host. Regardless, we hope to see oodles of you here showing us your adorable faces and hopping. We are so thankful for your support and participation each week.

Have a terrific Caturday, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

August 8, 2020 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Cat Writers Association Caturday Art Blog Hop Certificate of Excellence The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle 12

THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY PART: XXXV

Tea Party

Stinky was ready for Periwinkle when she came tumbling out of the teleportation tunnel with the usual whoosh. He gave her a huge whisker kiss and paw hug then lead her to the front porch.

It was then Periwinkle noticed Stinky was wearing a bow tie, and she told him how handsome he looked. Blushing, he handed Periwinkle a fashionable hat. After helping her put it on, he led her to an elaborately set table.

When Periwinkle realized why they wear dressed up and what was happening, she clapped her paws and squealed with delight, “Oh Stinky, a tea party…how fun and grand! I have never been to a tea party.”

She, however, was surprised to see six cups at the table. But before she could ask Stinky about it, he led Periwinkle to a cushion on the floor. He explained that they would be sitting on the floor like Japanese people, as their guests were not accustomed to sitting in chairs.

Tea Party Guests

It was then that the other guests arrived. Attendees included Rumi Rabbit, Ginsberg Groundhog, Ralph Waldo Robin and Sandburg Squirrel. Periwinkle had met Rumi, Ginsberg and Sandburg previously, but not Ralph Waldo. She was really hoping he wasn’t on the tea party menu, though he looked plump and juicy. Sawyer had invited Cummings Chipmunk as well, but he and his friends were at a Chipmunk Convention.

Stinky’s mom was letting them use the fancy tea cups which had belonged to her mom, as well as the tea pot she and Dad Tom and received as a wedding present. The tablecloth had belonged to Stinky’s mom’s grandma.

Stinky’s dad, having received extensive experience as a waiter during law school, was called upon to serve the group.

Stinky and Periwinkle were having catnip tea, Temptations and Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels. The others were having sunflower seeds and water.

After everyone was seated, Periwinkle asked, “Stinky, do we do anything special at a tea party, like play games?”

Stinky replied, “I don’t think so. We just chat and sip our tea.”

“What should we chat about?” asked Periwinkle.

Stinky, thought so hard, Periwinkle thought she saw steam coming out of his ears. Finally, he said, “I have no idea.”

Periwinkle replied, “I see our guests are named for different poets. Do you think they know any poems they could recite?”

“I don’t know,” said Stinky. “Let’s ask them.”

Guests Lack Table Manners

But before he could do that, Stinky and Periwinkle noticed their guests were sorely lacking in table manners. While Stinky and Periwinkle had been chatting some of their guests had jumped on the table and were eating all the noms as fast as they could. others were acting surly and rude.

Stinky jumped up and ran to get his dad, who quickly shooed all the guests away.

“What a disaster! That was not one of my better plans,” confessed Stinky.

Periwinkle took his paw and replied, “Oh, I don’t mind at all. I am happy it is just the two of us.”

With a big smile on his face, Stinky replied, “Me too.”

The two tabbies spent the remainder of the afternoon nibbling what was left of the noms, drinking their tea, holding paws and occasionally chatting. But mostly they stared into each other’s eyes and purred happily.

Finally it was time for Periwinkle to return home. She thanked Stinky and his dad for the party, gave Stinky numerous whisker kisses and huge paw hugs. With tears in their eyes, they said their good-byes. Then Periwinkle was gone in a whoosh, as she held onto her hat so it wold not fly away.

The End

p.s. If you missed the news posted previously, Periwinkle and Stinky are proud to announce that their very first adventure, “Leapin’ Lizards,” received a Certificate of Excellence Award from the Cat Writers’ Association. You can see it on the sidebar.

June 9, 2020 by Janet Blue Cat Writers Association Certificate of Excellence The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle 14

A MAGICAL POEM & THANKFUL FOR CWA AWARD

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Time for another poem based on an inspiration photo provided by Teddy and Angel Sammy at Two Spoiled Cats. Here is that photo and my poem.

Magic in The Air

I feel magic in the air.
If I enter this boat, I bet it wold take me there,
To the place where frisky kitties romp and play,
And every day concerns are far, far away.
I need a place like that right now…
No virus, protests or riots, but lots of meows.
I’m on overload from the daily news
And think I could be bolstered by some mews,
With furry kitties cuddling and snuggling me
Until this all goes away and we are free
To go about our normal daily lives,
With our spirits and relationships revived.

If you’d like to participate in Teddy and Angel Sammy’s poetry challenge, you can find the inspiration photo over at Two Spoiled Cats. To get there, click on the badge above. And while you are visiting make certain to read Angel Sammy’s poem. He sends it to Teddy each week from the Rainbow Bridge, and it is always first rate. Also, while visiting, look for links to other poems in the Comments section.

Thankful Thursday

In addition to writing a poem each Thursday, Kitties Blue and I join the Thankful Thursday blog hop hosted by Brian. No matter what is going on in the world or our lives, we always have things for which to be grateful.

Our first thankful is for the 19 days Sawyer had between seizures. Yes, that means he had a seizure. It was Tuesday night, and so the count begins again. We all pray that he will have another long seizure-free spell.

Thankful number two is for Periwinkle, Stinky and Mom’s Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association. They received it for “The Adventures of Periwinkle and Stinky Part I: Leapin’ Lizards.” Mom was pretty flabbergasted to have the story recognized. She entered it in the Short Story/Flash Fiction category. She’s now in the running for a Muse Medallion. Only one other certificate was awarded in the category, so she has a 50% chance of winning. Regardless, she has no expectation of that happening. We are just super proud of our little tabbies, Stinky and Periwinkle (Friends Furever), and our mom.

Mom got another Firstie badge from Two Spoiled Cats for being one of three first commenters on Teaser Tuesday, along with Friends Furever and Timmy Tom Cat.

Finally, we are thankful for all our friends, followers and supporters. Without you, we would not be here.

To join the blog hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then click on Brian’s badge to go to his blog and enter your link.

We continue to pray that everyone stays safe and healthy.

June 4, 2020 by Janet Blue Awards Cat Writers Association Certificate of Excellence Health Thankful Thursday The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 13

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.