Calista Jo

A SPARK OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Sparks

I am frustrated and feel as if I am living in a surreal place in time and space. I suspect many of you are feeling the same.

When I found this quote from our past President, it said what I want to believe. With our current administration, however, I don’t see a stronger country or much of a future for any of us. Right now I just want to get to the other side of the riots and virus.

I am trying to keep a positive attitude and believe in today’s Spark.

Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend, Annie (McGuffy’s Reader). Annie is taking a “break” from blogging, so there is no hop. Many of us still continue to post a Spark on Monday, as we believe in Annie’s vision: “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

When Calista Jo shared her selfie yesterday, what she didn’t share was that another kitty was sharing the catio with her. Her companion, however, had no idea she was snapping photos. I thought the two were pretty awwwdorable, and so am sharing them today.

Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy are joining the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. To participate, click on the badge below.

CALISTA JO’S CATIO SELFIE

Sunday Selfies: Week #304

Though summer doesn’t arrive for a couple more weeks, we have been having lots of summer-like weather. Consequently, the catio has become the go-to place for Kitties Blue. Even C.J., who normally spends a good 80 percent of everyday on our bed, has taken to napping on the catio instead. In a rare moment of wakefulness, she managed to snap a selfie. She asked me to apologize for the grainy appearance, but she set the camera up much too far away. When I enlarged the photo, it lost its definition.

As your selfie host, Calista would like to invite all her friends, acquaintances and every anipal to hop on over and show off how cute you are. All the Kitties Blue enjoy having company on Sunday. And the best part is, you don’t even need to post on Sunday to join us. The hop is open through Thursday, so grab a photo from any of your recent posts and participate in our portrait party.

If you can take a moment to include our badge on your post and/or link back to The Cat on My Head, we’d all be sincerely grateful. Once you are linked up, go spend some time with your humans and enjoy an easy Sunday.

June 7, 2020 by Janet Blue Sunday Selfies 24

WHAT’S IN A NAME AND MORE NAPPING

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #210

Friday is here again, and we are as well with our completions of the Friendly Fill-ins blog hop hosted by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). If you’d like to participate, the sentences to be filled in are on Ellen and Lorianne’s blogs on Thursday. To enter the hop, click on the badge at the left.

1. I would like to improve my photography and photo-editing skills.

2. My name (Janet) is of English origin and means God’s gracious gift.

3. My current to-do list includes getting all my photos transferred to the new laptop and learning how to use a new photo-editing program.

4. I finally feel as if I am getting my gardens back to looking decent after having the yard totally torn up due to last year’s construction project.

Feline Friday

This is day two in a row of Sawyer napping photos. This time he is with Calista Jo. She doesn’t mind him sleeping next to her. She does get miffed, however, when he tries to get her to play with him. Cats!

Sawyer and C.J. are participating in the Feline Friday blog hop at Comedy Plus. To join them click on the badge below.

May 29, 2020 by Janet Blue Doozy of a Snoozy Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 12

LIMERICK, THANKFULS, RAIN & NAPS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Writing poetry is fun. That’s why we join Two Spoiled Cats, Teddy and Angel Sammy’s, poetry challenge each Thursday. They provide an inspiration photo, and participants write a poem based on the photo.

Last week, when Stinky and Periwinkle met for The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky, they wrote limericks. They had a blast, so I decided to make my poem a limerick this week.

Here is today’s photo and my limerick.

A couple was on vacation
When beset with total exhaustion.
Their tiredness overlooked,
A gondola ride they booked.
They slept the entire duration.

I loved this photo. The expression on the gondolier’s face is priceless. And I can relate: I have become so tired on some vacations that I needed a vacation when I got home.

If you would like to participate, click on the badge above. When visiting Two Spoiled Cats make certain you read Angel Sammy’s poem. He transmits it to Teddy each week from the Rainbow Bridge, and it’s always great!

Thankful Thursday

Dad Tom and I are thankful for all the good wishes we received for our anniversary both here and on Tom’s Facebook page.

Sawyer, Dad Tom and I are thankful Sawyer has not had a seizure since last Thursday. This is the longest time between seizures in a very long time. As always, I am praying that mentoring this does not jinx him. We continue to be grateful for all the prayers and POTP.

Finally we are happy and thankful we have not floated away, with the flooding from six inches of rain we have had from the storm stalled over us. We still have more than 24 hours of heavy rain ahead of us. Yikes!

Nothing for Kitties Blue to do but nap, as demonstrated by Sawyer and Calista Jo.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. To join the hop, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then click on the badge below to go to the hop.

May 21, 2020 by Janet Blue Doozy of a Snoozy Health Thankful Thursday The Adventures of Stinky & Periwinkle Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 10

CATURDAY CATIO COMRADES

Caturday Art

Yesterday was warm and sunny, and Kitties Blue and I spent the afternoon enjoying the catio. That’s when I caught this photo of double-decker cats, Cooper Murphy and Calista Jo.

To artify it, I went back to my favorite app, Painnt, and used the Cordie effect. I dded the flowers in the lower corner with piZap, to cover the Painnt logo and made a drop shadow frame with Picasa.

Cooper and C.J. are popping over to the Caturay Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. If you’d like to join in the fun, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

So Kitties Blue and I know you don’t need a reminder about tomorrow’s blog hop, but we have a habit of giving you one anyway. And this is it. Please join us tomorrow. All anipals are always welcome regardless of species. And tomorrow we will be having a guest host, which always makes the permanent residents happy.

We sure appreciate all of you who joined last Sunday for the 300th week of our hop. Please come back again tomorrow and invite some friends to join you.

Until then…stay safe and healthy. Just because your state may be “opening” for something like business as usual does not mean you need to participate. Please be careful and cautious!

May 16, 2020 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop 15

A TIME FOR PATIENCE

Sparks

Most of my life I have not had much patience, but as I’ve aged, I have improved. And if there is a time to cultivate patience and endure, it is now. That is why I chose this Spark for today.

I was not familiar with John Ruskin, the author of today’s Spark, so I suspect you might not be either. John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era (living from 1819 to 1900), as well as an art patron, draughtsman, watercolorist, prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and political economy.

Awww Mondays

Snoozing pretzel, Calista Jo, is joining the Awww Mondays blog hop at Comedy Plus. To join her, click on the badge below.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Tomorrow, our favorite tabbies, Periwinkle & Stinky, will be off on another adventure. It will be posted at Friends Furever, and I really hope you will visit and support this fun-loving duo.

April 20, 2020 by Janet Blue Awww Mondays Doozy of a Snoozy Sparks 15

C.J.’S EASTER SUNDAY SELFIE

Sunday Selfies: Week #296

I am feeling very honored to be the subject of our Sunday Selfie on this special day. I apologize for not taking a better photo.

Hippity Hopping Time

Today is the only Sunday when all the furries on earth join the Easter Bunny and hop around wherever we want. While you all are doing that, please hop over here and join our Sunday Selfies blog hop.

You are invited to fancy up your selfie in celebration of the holiday if you’d like. And remember, you don’t need to post on Sundays to join us.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS

HAVE A BLESSED DAY

& STAY SAFE & HEALTHY

Purrs & paw-pats, Calista Jo and Kitties Blue

April 12, 2020 by Janet Blue Holiday Sunday Selfies 32

DREAM OF DANCING

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thursday again and time for poetry. This week I have written both a haiku and poem for Teddy and Angel Sammy’s (Two Spoiled Cats) poetry challenge. This week’s inspiration photo and my poems are below.

Dream of Dancing

Growing up I wanted to be a dancer.
My parents knew it wasn’t possible,
But I didn’t…they never told me
I watch with fascination and envy
When I see masters of this art
Glide, swing, twirl and fly.
Alone, with a partner or ensemble
Dance is seductive, mesmerizing.
Someday I will dance…in heaven.
Surely God would not deny me
This one simple dream and pleasure.

My haiku:

Sexy, glamorous
Acrobatic, flexible
How do they do that?

If you’d like to try your hand or paw at poetry, checkout Two Spoiled Cats each Thursday for their inspiration photo for the following week. You can get there by clicking on the badge below. While there, make certain you read Angel Sammy’s poem. It is always thoughtful and purrfect! And you can find links in the Comments section to poems by other bloggers.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for this rag-tag gang of felines as well as their four furblings. What you can’t see is that these four are curled up at my feet. I am never alone or lonely.

I am blessed to have Dad Tom, the eight Kitties Blue and wonderful, supportive friends in my life.

The kitties and I are joining the Thankful Thursday blog hop hosted by Brian. To join us, post on your blog for what you are thankful and then click on Brian’s badge.

February 27, 2020 by Janet Blue Doozy of a Snoozy Poetry Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 10

MORE SLEEPY ART FROM KITTIES BLUE

Caturday Art

By now, many of you most likely think that Kitties Blue spend all their time on Dad Tom’s and my bed. And you wouldn’t be too far off. It is always a challenge to get the bed made in the morning.

Last week Calista Jo was featured on our Caturday Art post from our bed. This week Cooper Murphy has joined her.

As Sawyer spent the entire evening lying in my lap, I didn’t have much time to create today’s art and didn’t get fancy. I used the Bizantino filter from Painnt, and the border is from piZap.

C.J.and C.M. are joining the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. To see Athena’s art, join the hop or find links to art by other bloggers, click on her badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

We know those of you who join us each week do not need this reminder, but it is something we do every week. If some of you have a memory as bad as mine, I am certain you appreciate it.

Anyhoo, Kitties Blue and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

February 8, 2020 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Doozy of a Snoozy 18

IT WAS A DARK YET STARRY NIGHT

Caturday Art

Calista Jo is the subject of today’s art. She is in her go-to napping spot on Dad Tom’s and my bed.

To create the art I began with the Dark Art effect from LunaPic. I then added the Starry Night filter from piZap at 60 percent as well as the Cloud overlay. At that point, I felt the photo was looking a little muddy, so I used Boost from Picasa at about 15 percent to brighten it up a bit.

Calista Jo will be hopping over to join Athena Cat Goddess’ Caturday Art blog hop. If you’d like to do the same, click on her badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

We realize that tomorrow is a big day with it being both Groundhog Day and Super Bowl Sunday. So, may we suggest you get that selfie snapped today and scheduled now to post tomorrow. After all, you don’t want to disturb your humans while they are crying over six more weeks of winter or the fact that their team is not in the Super Bowl. And you definitely don’t want to disturb them during those highly touted and anticipated commercials.

Kitties Blue and I will be tiptoeing around tomorrow evening, as Dad Tom’s team, the San Francisco 49ers, are playing in the Super Bowl. Paws crossed they win.

February 1, 2020 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop 17

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.