Flashback Friday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY & FILL-INS

Feline & Flashback Friday

On June 1st, I received a note from our vet wishing Audrey a happy birthday. Then on June 3rd, I received one wishing Raleigh a happy birthday. Obviously their birthday is the same day, and I never knew the exact date. Usually our vet will assign a date based on what their physical development is when I take them in for the first time. So, it would seem that is somewhere at the beginning of June.

Their Gotcha Day is July 26, 2022. Today for the Feline Friday blog hop, I am sharing a photo taken the day after they arrived here.

At that time, we had not named them and were calling then Kitten #1 and Kitten #2. As this is somewhere close to their date of birth, I asked Cooper Murphy to bake them a cake.

I think Cooper Murphy outdid himself with this cake. Mau definitely would be proud of him.

I hope you will help us celebrate and join us for some grilled shrimpies, cake, beverages and nip ice cream.

Today we are joining the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings and also the Flashback Friday blog hop hosted by the Five Sibes. To join one or both, click on the appropriate badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. I was left to do all the fill-ins myself this week. I used teal italics to complete the sentences. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. My plans for June include getting together with my friend Mary Jane and my friend Tammy. (They are both school nurses and are now off for the summer.)

2. Flying alone to France at age 16 to tour Europe and attend a summer program at the American College in Paris without knowing any of the other participants is the bravest thing I have ever done.

3. I swear by living with multiple cats as a cure for loneliness.

4. As if Trump wasn’t bad enough, most of his appointees also are idiots.

Thanks for stopping in today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

KIZMET IN CHARGE OF CHRISTMAS QC

Feline & Flashback Friday

The following photo is from December 24, 2021, but I have not shared it on the blog previously.

Christmas QC: Grey cat on top of a printer watching the printed paper come out.

Kizmet was in charge of quality control when it came to the printing of our annual newsletter, “Blues’ News.”

Kizmet will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to do the same, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To join the hop, click on the badge at the left.

Once again, my faithful helper, Sawyer, has come through for me. He completed the fill-in for sentence #1. His completion should come as no surprise to anyone. We both used teal italics to fill-in.

1. Sawyer:A Christmas pet peeve I have is not getting enough treats.

2. I don’t like spending money on replacing things I have broken.

3. I eat my fair share of sweets this time of the year.

4. I make a huge mess when wrapping Christmas gifts.

Nothing too exciting from either Sawyer or me today. I promise to be more creative tomorrow for Caturday Art.

Thanks for joining Sawyer, Kizmet and me today.

December 15, 2023 by Janet Blue Christmas Shelter Project Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 12

CHRISTMAS 2019 FLASHBACK & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

Once again, I have no new photos of Kitties Blue, so I searched the archives for something holiday related. I found this photo of Lisbeth from Christmas Day 2019.

Christmas 2019 flashback: Tuxedo cat in a Christmas tree cat tent/bed.

Lisbeth will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to do the same, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Once again, my faithful helper, Sawyer, has come through for me. He completed the fill-in for sentence #4. We both used teal italics to fill-in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

Some of my favorite Christmas songs are (traditional carols) “What Child is This” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and (contemporary Christmas songs) “Christmas, Baby Please Come Home” and “Last Christmas.” (There are very few Christmas songs, whether traditional or contemporary, that I don’t like, which is why I selected songs from both categories to fill in.)

2. I like to watch the movie, Love Actually, every year at Christmastime.

3. I would call this the most bright and festive time of the year.

4. Sawyer: If I were on Santa’s naughty list, it would probably be because I don’t eat my noms, as they have my meds in them.

Thanks for stopping in to see us today. We’ll be here tomorrow with some Caturday Art and hope to see you again then.

December 8, 2023 by Janet Blue Christmas Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 9

FELIZ CINCO DE MEOW 2023

Feline Friday

Through the years, Kitties Blue have starred in some cute photos for Cinco de Meow. I am sharing a few of those today for Feline and Flashback Fridays.

This was Sawyer’s first Cinco de Meow in 2018. He was just a kitten but still joined Mau and Cooper Murphy in their mariachi band.

A ginger tabby cat, a grey tabby kitten and a tuxedo cat are dressed as mariachi band members with guitars.

In 2017 Cooper Murphy celebrated the holidays with a few meowgaritas. Bet you didn’t know he could speak Spanish.

An orange tabby cat wearing a sombrero and flash mustache is asking for a meowgarita in Spanish.

Mau celebrated with his sisfurs in 2014.

Eight cats are dressed in sombreros and serapes wishing everyone Feliz Cinco de Meow.

L to R Front: Misty May and Fiona; L to R Center: Astrid and Lisbeth; L to R Back: Giulietta, Calista Jo, Mau and Lily Olivia

This is one of my favorite Cinco de Meow photos. It’s from 2016, when once again, Mau was the only male among a household of female felines. Sadly, Mau and three of his sisfurs are now angels.

A male tuxedo cat is dressed as a gaucho with seven female cats dressed as chili peppers wishing everyone Feliz Cinco de Meow.

L-R: Lily Olivia, Giulietta, Lisbeth, Mau, Astrid, Calista Jo, Fiona, Misty May.

Kitties Blue will be celebrating this year’s Cinco de Meow with our annual round-up. Dr. Neel comes to the house tomorrow at 2 p.m. for check-ups, vaccines, blood work for Misty May and Sawyer, claw trims and weigh-ins. I think a few of the Kitties Blue should be worried about what the scale reveals, especially Audrey (aka The Hoover).

Hoping everyone has plans that will be more fun than a vet visit and include some meowgaritas and catnip cocktails.

The entire gang will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. To do the same, click on the Feline Friday badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Time again to let you know a bit more about Kitties Blue and myself by completing the weekly fill-ins. Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) host the Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop. On Thursday they each select two sentences to be filled in by hop participants. You can find those on both blogs. Enter the hop by clicking on the graphic.

I was left to my own devices to complete the fill-ins today, and I used teal italics for them.

1. Having a gardener would make my life easier.

2. My May to-do list includes yard work and going on a short vacation with Dad Tom to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

3. If my morning starts with a Diet Coke, I can wake up and start my day.

4. Ending my day with a completed post makes me feel relieved.

Thanks for joining us for today’s festivities. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

"Kitties Blue" border with orange cartoon tabby cat wearing a sombrero for Cinco de Meow.

May 5, 2023 by Janet Blue Cinco de Mayo Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Kitties Blue 10

THREE PEEKING CATS

Feline/Flashback Friday

Without any new photos to share with you, I dug way back into my photo archives. This photo is from October 4, 2012. It features Fiona, Lisbeth and Giulietta. I think it is a good accompaniment to this week’s Looking Back post, “Cats in High Places.” If you missed checking out that post, click on the link. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

Three cats on the stairs (grey, tuxie and long-haired grey) looking through spindles.

Lisbeth and our two angels will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. To participate click on the Feline Friday badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Time again to let you know a bit more about Kitties Blue and myself by completing the weekly fill-ins. Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) host the Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop. On Thursday they each select two sentences to be filled in by hop participants, and you can find those on both blogs. Enter the hop by clicking on the graphic.

I got some help with filling in from both Stinky and Sawyer. And even the one fill-in I did is about Sawyer. He is the most helpful of all the Kitties Blue when it comes to the Friendly Fill-ins. We all used teal italics, and additional info is in parentheses.

1. Stinky: Having adventures with Periwinkle is always super fun.

2. Sawyer: Did you know that I like treats?

3. I know how scary it is when Sawyer has a seizure all too well.

4. Sawyer: I can’t explain why I don’t like the medicine Mom and Dad put in my noms. (One of them is even tuna flavored!)

Thanks for dropping in to see us. We’ll be back again tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

March 3, 2023 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Looking Back Sisters 11

FLASHBACK FRIDAY WITH ANGEL MAU X TWO

Feline/Friendship Friday

I do not have new photos of any of the Kitties Blue to share. So, I decided to dive into the archives and do a Flashback Friday photo from this same date, June 17. The year was 2016.

Angel Mau X two: tuxedo cat (in a photo from 2016) sits on counter. His reflection shows in nearby cell phone.

It is the dashingly handsome Mau X two. If you look closely, you will see his reflection in the cell phone on the counter. He and Allie would have celebrated their sixth anniversary next month, and Mau would have turned 18 in August. Instead he’s been at the Bridge for almost two years. I miss him everyday.

Angel Mau will be participating in both the Feline Friday and Friendship Friday blog hops at Comedy Plus and Create With Joy respectively.

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #216

The other Friday blog hop Kitties Blue and I try to participate in each week is Friendly Fill-Ins, hosted by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). If you’d like to participate, you can find the four sentences to be filled in each Thursday on their blogs.

This week I got a little help from Sawyer and his cartoon counterpart, Stinky. As usual, the three of us used teal italics to fill in. Any additional information is in parentheses.

1. Sawyer: A product I would endorse is Temptations™.

2. Stinky: If I had a boat, I would name it Periwinkle after my beautiful girlfriend.

3. When I moved from Santa Barbara, CA, to Kansas City, MO, at age 23, where the only person I knew was Tom, was one of the first times I truly felt like a responsible adult. (I drove there with a girl friend and everything I owned 14 months before Tom and I were married.)

4. I struggle with change most especially when it relates to losing one of the Kitties Blue.

To join the hop, click on the fill-ins badge.

We look forward to seeing you all again tomorrow when we’ll share some Caturday Art.

June 17, 2022 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Friendship Friday 13

SLEEPING GINGER TABBY SANS BELLY

Feline/Friendship Friday

Today’s photo for the Feline and Friendship Friday blog hops is a flashback from 2017, which I never shared here on the blog. It’s yet another photo of Cooper Murphy sleeping. What makes it unique is that Cooper Murphy is not lying on his back displaying his ample belly. He does, however, give you a peek at some of his toe beans.

sleeping ginger tabby sans belly and showing off toe beans

When Cooper wakes up, he’ll be joining the blog hops at Comedy Plus and Create With Joy.

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #311

On Fridays Kitties Blue and I fill-in, along with friends, Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) and Ellen (15 And Meowing), who jointly host the blog hop and select the sentences to be completed.

Sawyer volunteered to help me again this week. We both used teal italics for our fill-ins.

1. Sawyer: If you see me wrapped up in a towel sleeping, it means I had a seizure.

2. I am feeling sad as well as angry about the cruelty of the war in Ukraine.

3. I wish I could go back and relive the moment when I was eating the most, incredibly delicious, chocolate soufflé in Paris in 2013. (If you’d like to see some photos from that trip, check out the post, “Paris Photos #1.”)

4. I would like to swap lives with any one of Kitties Blue for a day.

If you’d like to participate in this hop, check out either Ellen’s or Lorianne’s blog on Thursday for the sentences to be filled in. To hop, click on the Fill-Ins badge.

Thanks for visiting. Happy Friday!

May 13, 2022 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Friendship Friday Kitties Blue 15

TORTIE ASTRID FLASHBACK & FILL-INS

Feline/Friendship Friday

For the Feline and Friendship Friday blog hops, I selected a photo of Astrid from September 18, 2019. I hope you all like it, as Astrid makes very few appearances here.

tortie flashback

Astrid is joining the Feline Friday blog hop at Comedy Plus and the Friendship Friday blog hop at Create With Joy. You can do the same by clicking on the badges.

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #279

Our friends Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) host the fill-ins blog hop each week and select the sentences for participants to fill in. I didn’t get any help from the kitties this week. My fill-ins are in teal italics. If you’d like to play along, click on the badge at the left.

1. So far this year, I have accomplished getting Sawyer home.
2. My plans for October include Christmas shopping and planting some bulbs.
3. Exercise may be difficult, but it’s worth it.
4. I don’t think I’ll ever master SEO and keywords.

Thanks for dropping by to see us. We always appreciate your support. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

October 1, 2021 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Friendship Friday 13

OUR OVER-STUFFED TURKEY CAT

Late post today and not because I was Black Friday shopping. I was just too over-stuffed and pooped last night and didn’t feel like doing it. But I already had done my fill-ins and prepared a Feline Friday photo, so I decided I couldn’t punt all together.

Feline/Friendship Friday Friday

For those of you who follow Dad Tom on Facebook, you will have already seen this photo (but not as a meme). However, I couldn’t let him have all the fun with it.

May I present our very own 20-pound, catnip-stuffed turkey.

OVER-STUFFED TURKEY

Yesterday we had a gorgeous day with a temperature in the low 70s. We spent a good portion of the day on the catio with Kitties Blue. I suggested we put out the last of this year’s catnip. To be fair, Cooper Murphy shared a tiny amount with Astrid, Misty May, C.J. and Sawyer. On the unfair side of this equation, Cooper Murphy was the only cat to get a small bite or Cornish game hen.

Cooper Murphy is joining the Feline Friday blog hop at Comedy Plus and the Friendship Friday blog hop at Create With Joy. You can do the same by clicking on the appropriate badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Kitties Blue and I are sending a big post-Thanksgiving thank you to Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs) for providing us with the fun activity of completing four sentences especially selected by them. Here are this week’s sentences with my fill-ins in teal italics.

1. Why is veterinarian care so expensive?

2. On holidays, I always have a second serving of nothing in particular.

3. I’m eternally grateful for being a senior citizen.

4. ‘Tis the season for spending time with friends and family; though, that is a no-no this year.

If you would like to join in the fun of Fill-Ins, check out Ellen and Lorianne’s blogs on Thursday. To join the hop, click on the badge above.

Praying everyone stayed in their pod and still managed to have a great Thanksgiving. Regardless of the virus and the myriad of natural disasters that have occurred this year, we still have much for which to be thankful. At the top of that list for Dad Tom and I and Kitties Blue are our friends, which include all those who follow and support us. Thanks again!

November 27, 2020 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Friendship Friday Holiday Kitties Blue Thanksgiving 13

A SPARK OF FRIENDSHIP AS THANKS

Sparks

Today’s Spark is meant as a thank you to everyone who commented, on our post and on the one at Friends Furever, about Allie receiving her angel wings. You all are true friends and your heartfelt words, at least for Kitties Blue and me, are truly helping us to deal with this second dose of grief.

As we have been reminding you for months, Sparks was the creation of Annie from McGuffy’s Reader. Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend. Annie stated when she began Spark,“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.”

After being off-line for nearly two years (as the result of having her site hacked more than once), Annie is back today with her own Spark. Wow, I was excited to see her. To go to Annie’s post, click on her Sparks badge.

Awww Mondays

Misty May is here again today in an awww-adorable photo of her pursuing her favorite pastime. She is joining the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. You can do the same by clicking on the badge below Misty May’s photo.

Labor Day

Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September in the U.S. and Canada. It is celebrated as a federal holiday in honor of the American labor movement and the contributions made by workers to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of the country. Oregon was the first state to celebrate Labor Day in 1887. When it became a federal holiday in 1894, 30 states were already celebrating the day.

With so many Americans out of work due to the pandemic, Labor Day takes on an entirely different meaning this year. We pray that all those who have lost their jobs will find new ones or be rehired as the economy improves.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Tomorrow Stinky and his girlfriend, Periwinkle, will be off on another of their adventures. You’ll be able to join them right here at The Cat on My Head. Please don’t disappoint them by missing out on the fun!