Giveaway

GINGER TABBY IN THE FALL

Sunday Selfies: Week #427

Cooper Murphy is here this week to host Sunday Selfies. He’s selected a fall-themed frame to match his ginger furs.

Portrait of a ginger, tabby cat in a fall-themed frame with butterflies and gold carnations and a bow.

Cooper will be waiting right here for you to join him on our hop. You can join the hop anytime through Thursday. All the Kitties Blue have their paws crossed that you will share a selfie with them and all your other friends.

Giveaway Winner

I’m delighted to announce the winner of the book, How Snowball Stole Christmas by Kristin McKanagh, is Susan of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Congratulations, Susan! The winner was selected using Random.org.

Thanks so much for joining us today. We wish everyone a happy and easy Sunday.

KITTIES BLUE CELEBRATE A BELATED TOCK-TOBER

Tock-Tober

We are appalled, outraged and downright ashamed of our ditzy and forgetful mom. So, what’s with all this consternation, you ask? Yesterday was Tock-Tober. Did she remember? NO! We think she needs a brain transplant. If anyone knows where she can get one, please let us know.

She did share an early Tock-Tober shot of Cooper Murphy. If you missed Cooper’s enormous tocks, you can view them at “Tock-Tober Comes Early & Fill-Ins.” We don’t think that is good enough to give her a pass, so here are a few other tocks.

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

Now that Kitties Blue have thoroughly chastised me, it’s time for fill-ins as well as the Feline and Friendship Friday blog hops.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Friendly Fill-ins is a blog hop hosted by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged- Furballs). If you’d like to participate, check out either of their blogs on Thursday for the sentences to be filled in. You can join the hop by clicking on their badge.

I can always depend on Sawyer when I need help with the fill-ins, and he did his part this week with #4. We both used teal italics for our fill-ins. Explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. Every October, I try to get photos of at least some of Kitties Blue tocks, even if I don’t get them posted on the correct day.

2. If I were going to a costume party, I would go as a cat (duh). (If you’d like to vote on the costumes Stinky and Periwinkle will wear on their next adventure, you can do so by leaving a comment on their post: “The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle: Part CLVI.”)

3. “Little Red Riding Hood” is my favorite scary story. (I am obviously a wimp when it comes to being frightened.)

4. Sawyer: I would find a vault somewhere and lock myself in, making certain I had several wheelbarrows full of treats, if there were a zombie apocalypse.

Feline/Friendship Friday

Our participants in Tock-Tober, Audrey, Raleigh and Sawyer, also will be joining the Feline and Friendship Friday blog hops hosted by Comedy Plus and Create With Joy respectively.

Giveaway

This is your final reminder about our giveaway for the book, How Snowball Stole Christmas, by Kristin McKanagh. If you’d like the opportunity to win it, visit the post, “Christmas Comes Early.” Leave a comment there before 5 p.m. ET today. The winner will be announced on Sunday.

Thanks for coming to visit us. We’ll have some Caturday Art for you tomorrow.

RALEIGH & SAWYER SHARE THANKFULS

We have no poetry this week, as Teddy’s mom and dad are on vacation, and Teddy is at the spa.

Thankful Thursday

Besides poetry, we share our thankfuls on Thursdays and join the blog hop hosted by Brian. Raleigh has the first one this week:

I had my neuter surgery on Wednesday. And I got my microchip. I sailed through my procedures, and was able to go home three hours after Mom delivered me to the vet. I did caterwaul all the way there. It was my first visit without my sister, Audrey, at my side, and I was feeling vulnerable. The vet said I was purrfect while I was there. And I didn’t make a peep on the way home.

RALEIGH THANKFULS: ginger and white tabby kitten winking

Sawyer is up next:

I made it 17 hours past my one-week span between seizures. I know it isn’t much, but I’ll take every extra minute and hour I can get.

SAWYER THANKFULS: grey tabby, Manx (tailless) cat napping

Kitties Blue and Me:

We are thankful for your support, following and friendship. I know we mention this every week, but it is the most important of all our thankfuls.

If you’d like to be a part of Brian’s blog hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful, and then click on his badge.

Giveaway

In my book review post on Monday, “Christmas Comes Early,” I announced that I am giving away one copy of the book, How Snowball Stole Christmas, by Kristin McKanagh. If you’d like the opportunity to win the book, click on the link and leave a comment on the review post. You have until Friday at 5 p.m. ET to do so. The winner will be announced on Sunday.

October 20, 2022 by Janet Blue Doozy of a Snoozy Giveaway Health Kittens Kitties Blue Thankful Thursday 15

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY

How Snowball Stole Christmas

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader’s edition of How Snowball Stole Christmas
by Kristin McKanagh free of charge to me in exchange for my fair and
honest review of the book. The opinions shared are mine alone.

Cover of the book, How Snowball Stole Christmas, featuring a white cat in a Santa hat with a gold gift box. If you are a fan of cats, especially mischievous ones, Christmas, love stories and Hallmark movies, you will love this book. How Snowball Stole Christmas is the third book in the series about Snowball, who is a matchmaker at heart.

When Snowball sets out to match Peter, a veteran with a chip on his shoulder, and Lara, a new neighbor and first-time toy store owner, chaos ensues. The theft of a Santa hat and impromptu Santa assignment at Lara’s shop for Peter, a glitter “bomb,” wet paint and a super glue fiasco involving Peter and Snowball, are maneuvers by Snowball aimed at bringing Lara and Peter together.

Despite Snowball’s shenanigans, Peter’s resentfulness of Lara outbidding him for the shop’s space and his sharing his opinions on the town’s on-line forum under the pseudonym, Right Rudolph, a love match seems improbable.

But, as the story progresses, the two begin a friendship, especially after Lara’s brother and sister-in-law foist their six-year-old son on Lara just as her shop is in the midst of it’s first holiday shopping season. Peter and the boy are drawn to each other, and Peter helps care for and entertain the boy. This in turn brings Peter and Lara closer together.

When Lara discovers that Peter is Right Rudolph, just prior to him confessing to her, it would seem that any opportunity for their newly evolving romantic relationship is dead. But is it?

You’ll just have to read this charming book to find out, which I highly recommend. It’s a heart-warming story purrfect for the holidays. And if you’re searching for a gift for your cat-loving friends, you cannot go wrong with How Snowball Stole Christmas.

You can find it at all major bookstores, Target, Walmart and Amazon.com

Giveaway

I am giving away my copy of How Snowball Stole Christmas to one lucky reader of our blog. To have the opportunity to win, leave a comment on this post anytime through Friday, October 21, at 5 p.m. ET.

October 17, 2022 by Janet Blue Book Review Giveaway 19

GOTCHA GIFT & GIVEAWAY WINNER

Thankful Thursday

It is with pleasure each week that Kitties Blue and I reflect on those things for which we are thankful. Kizmet is first up this week. She is thankful for her Gotcha Day gift; though, she has already tried to disassemble it.

gotcha gift

Sawyer is thankful for being seizure free for three-and-a-half weeks. Dad Tom and I are, of course, totally grateful for this as well.

I am thankful that I have the Christmas preparations fairly well under control. I only have a few more cards to write for Kitties Blue, Dad Tom’s and my annual newsletter to complete and some additional cookies to bake for neighbors. That may sound like a lot, but I can finish that all today.

Kitties Blue and I are thankful as always for all our friends, followers and supporters. We apologize that we haven’t been around to visit much lately, but that’s why I have, for probably the first time ever, Christmas prep under control. Hope you all understand.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. To participate, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then link up over at Brian’s blog by clicking on his badge.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Poetry challenge day has rolled around again. Two Spoiled Cats, Teddy and Angel Sammy, provided the following photo as this week’s inspiration. My poem follows it.

The Face of Disappointment

My pouting face says it all.
The gift in this box is a total fail.
I asked for a Barbie and video game.
What’s in this box is just a shame.
Socks and underwear are not a gift,
And I am completely miffed.
My parents have totally let me down
and left me with this horrible frown.
Santa better do a much better job,
Or I promise I am going to sob,
Declare this the worst Christmas ever
And write Santa an un-thank-you letter.

As a child when I pouted my mother would always tell me if I didn’t stop, my face would freeze that way. This little girl’s parents probably told her the same thing.

Anyhoo, if you’d like to try writing some poetry, check out Two Spoiled Cats (by clicking on their badge) each Thursday for the next week’s inspiration photo. And don’t forget to read Angel Sammy’s poem while visiting. He is an exceptionally talented poet.

Calendar Winner

We are delighted to announce the winner of the Superhero Sidekick Calendar from the Helen Woodward Animal Center featuring Kizmet as Miss August. We used the sequence generator at Random.org to determine the winner, which is the ninth commenter on our Sunday Selfies post. That cat and his person are: our dear friend, Teddy and his mom, Pam Kimmell. Congratulations! Kizmet hopes you enjoy your prize.

We’ll be back tomorrow with some fill-ins and Feline Friday.

December 23, 2021 by Janet Blue Giveaway Kitties Blue Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 14

SOME CHRISTMAS FLASHBACKS

A Very, Very Wordy Wednesday

With just a few days remaining until Christmas, Kitties Blue asked if they could share some entries from Christmas’ past.

Kitties Christmas Wish List

Santa has his list and he’s checking it twice.
We’re certain he’ll find we have all been nice,
And he’ll fill up our stockings with lots of treats
And maybe some cans of Friskies and Fancy Feast!
We also hope the elves are making us some toys.
Cats like fun things too—just like girls and boys.
We’d also like to find some nip in our stockings,
So that after feasting we can do some frolicking.
Santa, please also bring our friends some goodies
Especially if you want us to leave you milk and cookies!
Remember that Christmas is just two weeks away,
So, Santa, please get busy filling up your sleigh!

A Cat’s Letter to Santa Claws

Oh dearest Santa, I promise I’ve been good.
Always used my litter box and eaten all my food.
That broken lamp was a minor transgression.
I don’t think it required that time-out session.
And it wasn’t I who shred the arm of that chair.
Besides, isn’t that why they come as a pair?
The hairball on the human’s pillow didn’t come from me.
I don’t have floofy furs, as you can plainly see.
And all that litter spread throughout the house hither to yon…
It sprang right out of the box long after I had gone.
And you know that sandwich the human left on the table…
I swear it was stolen by a stray mouse named Mabel.
And the Christmas tree that suddenly toppled over…
Was not pushed by me but a marauding gopher.
I have no idea how these critters invaded my space.
I never leave the cat door open or out of place.
Oh. dearest Santa, I’ve truly never ever been naughty.
So please bring me some toys from Jackson Galaxy.
And a big bag of nip to last a whole year…
Please, oh please, oh please Santa dear.
And some nommy treats would be totally pawsome.
I’d eat every one and not leave a crumb.
For I, the cat, have been as good as a cat can be.
So please don’t pass me by this Christmas Eve.
If you’ll stop by my house once again this year,
I promise to leave cookies and a bit of good ~~cheer~~ beer.
And, as to next year, I raise my right paw
And promise to be a good cat, oh dear Santa Claws.

Yours truly, The Cat 🐾

And a Photo to End

Christmas Flashbacks

Our angel, Mau, made the best Santa Paws.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our Christmas flashbacks.

Last Day to Enter Superhero Sidekick Calendar Giveaway

In honor of her Gotcha Day, Kizmet is giving away a copy of the 2022 Calendar from the Helen Woodward Animal Center. She is featured as the August Superhero Sidekick. To be entered in the random drawing, you need to leave a comment on our Sunday post, “Kizmet’s Gotcha Day Giveaway,” prior to 5 p.m. ET today. One entry per household, please. The winner, which will be selected using Random.org, will be announced on tomorrow’s post.

Even with all these words, I am joining the Wordless Wednesday blog hop hosted by Sandee from Comedy Plus. If you would like to do the same, click on her badge.

December 22, 2021 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Christmas Giveaway Holiday Kitties Blue Poetry Wordless Wednesday 13

IS GRUMPY MISTY MAY FUNNY?

Sparks

grumpy funny

As most of you know, Kitties Blue are not fond of wearing clothes. Misty May is old and getting pretty frail; though, so I thought we should get her something warm to wear when she goes out on the porch. As you can see, she was not fond of the idea. Her expression is what prompted me to select today’s Spark. Next time any of us are thinking about getting angry, maybe we should select grumpy instead.

The author of today’s Spark, Richard “Rick” Christopher Wakeman is a 72-year-old, English keyboardist. He is best known for being in the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004 and for his solo albums released in the 1970s.

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

Misty May is joining the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. If you’d like to do the same, click on the Awww badge.

Superhero Sidekick Calendar Giveaway

In honor of her Gotcha Day, Kizmet is giving away a copy of the Calendar from the Helen Woodward Animal Center. She is featured as the August Superhero Sidekick. To be entered in the random drawing, you need to leave a comment on yesterday’s post prior to 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 22. One entry per household, please. You can find a link to yesterday post and the bottom of this one.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Tomorrow is our favorite day of the week, as it’s when Periwinkle and Stinky share an adventure. The two tabbies will be taking you on a very special Christmas adventure. These two fun-loving cats will be taking off from here, and they hope you’ll join them for some fun!

December 20, 2021 by Janet Blue Awww Mondays Giveaway Sparks 10

KIZMET’S GOTCHA DAY GIVEAWAY

Sunday Selfies: Week #383

I cannot believe I have been a member of the Kitties Blue crew for an entire year. And I never realized what a blast decorating for the holidays could be with my arrival last year coming after Mom had completed all of it. However, I absolutely love helping with everything. The last few days Cooper Murphy had some craft projects for the Cat Scouts Jamboree, and I was a huge help in completing them. He will share those later in the week.

Enough of this preamble, as I know you came to see my selfie and share yours. So, here’s mine!

gotcha day giveaway

As this is the last Sunday Selfie post before Christmas, Mom added some holiday decor to my selfie.

Giveaway

Some of you may remember I was a contestant in the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Superhero Sidekick calendar contestant. I was one of the top 12 vote getters and earned a page in the calendar. I am the August Superhero. If you’d like to see an “artified” version of the calendar photo, check out this post: “Art from Superhero Sidekick Kizmet.” That post also has the information on how to order your very own calendar.

I am giving away a calendar as well to one lucky reader. Everyone leaving a comment on this post prior to Wednesday, December 22, at 5 p.m. ET will earn one entry into the giveaway. The winner will be selected using Random.org. and announced on Thursday.

Mom says that I am not just giving something away for my Gotcha Day, but I also am getting a gift. I have no idea what it is, but I will share that on Thursday as well.

Hopping Time

I hope each of you will give me a gift today by sharing a selfie on our blog hop. Add some festive decorations if you like. As a reminder: The hop is open to all anipals regardless of species. And you don’t even have to post today to join in the fun. The hop is open until Thursday.

All my fursibs and I are looking forward to seeing you smiling faces. And we thank you for being our friends, followers and supporters.

Purrs and paw-pats, Kizmet

December 19, 2021 by Janet Blue Giveaway Gotcha Day Kitty Written Blog Sunday Selfies 33

SIMPLER TIMES AND A SPECIAL APPEARANCE

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful I got all my plants repotted. If you do not follow “The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky,” you missed seeing some of them. Here’s a photo of the gomphrena, heliotrope, ageratum and lobelia with some peonies and a green ceramic cat in the background.

I am super thankful that after two years our our swim/spa is operational again. Now we need to have some warm weather. It was only in the 50s yesterday. For those of you who are newer to our blog, I thought you might enjoy seeing Mauricio swim in 2016. It was to earn his Cat Scout’s Swimming Merit Badge. He got his badge but was not a fan of the experience.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. And we think we have something today for which he might be thankful. Brian is the winner of the book, Destiny’s Children, through a drawing using Random.org. If you would like to purchase this book, visit Books2Cherish. It is on sale through the end of the month for $10. Retail is $15.95. The first book in the trilogy, They Call Me Destiny, is on sale for $5. Shipping and handling for either book is $3. Prices include sales tax.

If you would like to partIcipate in the hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful, then click on Brian’s badge to join.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thursday also is the day I write a poem for the poetry challenge presented by Angel Sammy and Teddy from Two Spoiled Cats. This week’s inspiration photo and my poem are below.

Simpler Times

Being a kid in the 50s,
Wind blowing in my hair
On a hay ride with friends,.
Without any kind of care

Making clover chains
For bracelets and tiaras.
Going to the drive-in movie
Dressed in our pajamas.

Learning to swim, roller skating,
skinned elbows and knees,
Catching fireflies in a jar—
All special childhood memories.

If you’d like to try your hand at writing some poetry, you can find the inspiration photo for next week by clicking on the poetry badge below.

While visiting Two Spoiled Cats, please make certain you read Angel Sammy’s poem. He transmits it to Teddy from the Bridge each week, and it is always a masterpiece.

May 13, 2021 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Cat Scouts Giveaway Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday Throwback Thursday 14

AM I STILL CUTE?

Wordless Wednesday

cute cat

Kizmet is joining the Wordless Wednesday blog hop at Comedy Plus.

Mother’s Day Giveaway

On Thursday Mom reviewed the new book, Destiny’s Children. It launches today and would make the purrfect gift for your mom and yourself. An “insiders” special sale begins today and continues throughout the month. The new book will be on sale for $10 with book one, They Call Me Destiny, on sale for $5. Shipping and handling for either book is $3. Prices include sales tax. Visit Books2Cherish to purchase your copy.

Additionally, Mom will be giving away her pre-publication copy to one lucky reader through a random drawing. To have the opportunity to be included in the drawing, leave a comment on the original post, “Fall in Love with Destiny & Her Kittens.” Your comment must be posted prior to Wednesday, May 12, (today) at 5 p.m. EDT.

May 12, 2021 by Janet Blue Giveaway Wordless Wednesday 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.

March 2023
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