Friendly Friday Fill-Ins

HOW TO ENTERTAIN YOUR CATS WITH YOUTUBE

Feline Friday

Audrey and Kizmet are easily entertained by television, especially programs with lots of movement.

entertain cats YouTube: Two cats watching television, women's volleyball in one photo and TV for Cats with a bird on the screen in photo #2.

Here the girls are watching YouTube TV: A LIVE Pro Volleyball Federation match and Cat TV for Cats to Watch, which is LIVE 24/7.

The girls will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, 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.

I am grateful the Kitty Blue who often serves as my helper, Sawyer, did so again this week. Both Sawyer and I used teal italics for filling in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. Some people make their own cat food, but I prefer store bought.

2. February is a good month to stay inside and read while curled up with a cat or two or three or four…

3. Sawyer: Learning I am in good health despite my seizure disorder was the best part of this week.

4. As a child I grew up mostly with dogs, but as an adult I (and Dad Tom) have had cats since our two small dogs passed away in the early 80s. (Before I turned six years old, we had 13 cats, but my parents found homes for all but one before we moved to a new house.)

Thanks so much for visiting with us today. We hope to see you again tomorrow when we share some Caturday Art.

YOGA MASTER SAWYER & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

Yoga master Sawyer: grey tabby Manx cat in a contorted napping position.

Sawyer’s position during his nap is the most unusual I have ever encountered. He’s a true yoga master.

I have a little surprise for you today—a bonus puzzle.

112 Sleeping Manx Tabby Cat

Sawyer will be joining the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

I am grateful to have a helper again this week. Stinky was kind enough to complete fill-in #2. The fill-ins were not so easy this week. Both Stinky and I used teal italics for filling in.

1. I used to dislike bread pudding until I had some made with croissants.

2. Stinky: If it weren’t for Periwinkle, I would never have any fun.

3. I find higher math very intimidating.

4. Kitties Blue gives me the inspiration to write this blog.

Thanks for joining again today. We will be back with some art on Caturday.

January 26, 2024 by Janet Blue Doozy of a Snoozy Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Jigsaw Puzzle Kitties Blue 6

TOASTING TABBY & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

A tabby cat lying next to a radiator toasting his furs.

Yesterday morning, I discovered Raleigh camped on a Hammick toasting his furs next to the dining room radiator. Amazingly, he didn’t take off running the moment he saw me, and I was able to snap a couple of photos.

Raleigh will be joining the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

I am grateful to have my usual helper, Sawyer, back again today. Thankfully, the fill-ins were fairly easy again this week. As usual, Sawyer and I both used teal italics for filling in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. I am glad I got rid of my penchant for striving to be perfect.

2. I wish I had kept my 45 RPM records from the 50s and 60s.

3. I would be so grateful if Sawyer never had another seizure.

4. Sawyer: My next seizure always is too close for comfort. (Sawyer’s been having at least one seizure every week.)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you’ll return tomorrow when I will share some Caturday Art.

January 19, 2024 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 12

ANYBODY WANT TO PLAY WITH ME?

Feline Friday

Beige cat with a "play with me" look and a cheese shaped toy with a yellow mouse.

Raleigh will be joining the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

I was fortunate to have a helper again today. Kizmet took on fill-in #3. Both of us were happy to see that the fill-ins were fairly easy again this week. As usual, we both used teal italics for filling in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. Wouldn’t it be nice if Sawyer never had another seizure.

2. I don’t mind buying used Christmas ornaments.

3. Kizmet: I have a strange habit of stealing sponges, Magic Erasers and pot scrubbers and delivering them to Mom, putting them in her shoes or hiding them. (The purple scrubber has been missing for a couple of weeks.)

4. I have enough cat t-shirts to last a lifetime.

Thank you for joining us again today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

January 12, 2024 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 10

MEALTIME MISCHIEF & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

mealtime mischief: Grey cat standing on the back of a chair eating dinner from a white bowl atop a cat scratching post.

Kizmet is a kitty with a variety of quirky habits. This, however, is not one of her usual ones. Thus, it seemed worthy of a photo and sharing here.

Kizmet will be joining the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

My faithful helper, Sawyer, agreed to assist me again today with the fill-ins. Both of us were happy to see that they are not too difficult this week. As usual, we both used teal italics for filling in.

1. If you looked in my closet, you’d see a lot of cat t-shirts.

2. When I’m having a bad day, I like to take a nap.

3. Snuggling with a cat is the best remedy for a cold day.

4. Sawyer: It’s no secret that I like treats and dislike my meds.

Thanks for stopping in to see us today. Kitties Blue and I will be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

January 5, 2024 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 10

RALEIGH DISCOVERS MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS TREE

Feline Friday

Raleigh has discovered the magic of the Christmas tree.

An orange tabby cat discovers the magic of a Christmas Tree and lies down under it.

Raleigh is a big cat, but this photo makes him look much larger than he is. The photo also makes his fur look bright orange, which it is not!

Raleigh will be joining the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The kitties let me do all the fill-ins myself again this week. Thankfully, they were easy to complete. As usual, I used teal italics for filling in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. The best part of 2023 was celebrating Dad Tom’s and my 50th wedding anniversary in May.
2. My focus word for 2024 is believe. (I have the same focus words every year: Believe in Silver Linings. If you missed the announcement, at the end of October, I had this sentence tattooed on my left arm. You can see it on the post, “Don’t Look Down & Thankfuls”.)
3. A new year is a great time to create new positive habits.
4. You don’t have to wait for a new year to reach out to friends you haven’t seen in a while.

Thank you for visiting us today. We hope to see you again tomorrow for some Caturday Art.

December 29, 2023 by Janet Blue Christmas Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 10

THREE SLEEPS ‘TIL CHRISTMAS

Feline Friday

three sleeps 'til Santa: Grey tabby cat napping with eyes barely open.

Right after Sawyer joins the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings, he plans to sleep until after Santa arrives. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The kitties let me do all the fill-ins myself today. Lucky for me, they were easy to complete. As usual, I used teal italics for filling in.

1. I’ll be home with Dad Tom and the Kitties for Christmas.

2. I am eager to see everyone open ~~his/her~~ their gift(s).

3. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and I wrote this little poem for our annual Blues’ News newsletter:
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
not a cat was stirring and nary a mouse.
They’d all been dismembered with joyful glee,
and their remnants placed under the tree,
as gifts for the humans in the hope they’d be glad,
and Santa wouldn’t label the kitties bad!
Their numbers are down by one as the year comes to a close,
and we now continue this missive in prose.

4. I always have a huge mess of wrapping paper, bows and boxes to clean up the day after Christmas.

That’s it for us today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art. Hope to see you then.

December 22, 2023 by Janet Blue Christmas Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Holiday 13

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

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

COLD MORNING…HEATED FLOOR & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

Heated floors are quite popular on cold mornings.

Five cats on a heated floor on a cold morning

Kizmet, Raleigh, Sawyer, Astrid and Audrey 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

I am so relieved I received help again today from Sawyer for the fill-ins. He is the most helpful of Kitties Blue when it comes to filling in. We both used teal italics to fill-in. An explanatory comment is in parentheses.

Sawyer: I feel like I never get enough treats!

2. By the end of the year, I want to create a list of things we need to be accomplished around the house in 2024.

3. December is the month that I go crazy decorating our house.

4. My house looks like a beacon during the holiday season. (The lights can be seen from several blocks away.)

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

December 1, 2023 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 9

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.