Dad Tom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD TOM

Today is our dad’s birthday, and we always try to do something a little special for him. He truly is Super Cat Dad to us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

Love and purrs,
Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

We received a long distance message for our dad and were asked to share it here.

Wow, we are super happy to see our two angel sisfurs today. They sure look terrific. We know Dad will be tickled to see them.

Please have a piece of cake before you leave. Mau baked it at his Cat Scout Bake Shop.

THANKSGIVING-THEMED FILL-INS

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #80

1. I can’t wait to eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. I will be making it using my grandma’s recipe, so I know it will be just how I like it.

2. My favorite kind of pie is apricot. I’ve never made one. The best place for apricot pie is The Hickory Pit in California. I went twice when we were there in September and got a piece each time.

3. This year, I am particularly thankful for having the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with family. It will be the first time doing so since Tom and I were married.

Bud and Tom Blue – 2002

4. A funny holiday tradition in my/our house is not really funny but a “joke,” as well as a tradition, among Tom’s family. If any of the kids or grandkids wanted to remain in Tom’s dad’s will, they had to make and eat cranberry relish on Thanksgiving. We still make it every year as do two of Tom’s nephews; though, Tom’s dad passed away 10 years ago. We will be spending Thanksgiving with those nephews and their families. The tradition has moved on to the next generation, and the great grandkids will be collaborating on making the relish!

I am joining Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Annie’s Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop. My completions are in orange italics this week. To join the hop, click on the badge, which will take you to Annie’s blog, McGuffy’s Reader.

As this is a cat blog, Kitties Blue said it is a requirement that I post a feline photo, especially as I did not do so yesterday. They are quite insulted that yesterday’s post included a squirrel and a cardinal only.

In keeping with the theme of today’s fill-ins, our favorite turkey cat is making an encore appearance.

SPARKS OF PEACE

Sparks: Week #5

I decided to keep with the theme of peace after Saturday’s BlogBlast4Peace.

Once again this is one of Dad Tom’s photos. It was taken at North Creek, Buchanan, Virginia.

I had hoped to either tell you something about Maximillian Degenerez or provide a link to information. However, I could not find any. The most I can tell you is that he is or was a Portuguese artist.

This is a blog hop established and hosted by our friend, Annie (McGuffy’s Reader). In starting this hop, Annie said, “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!”

If you’d like to join the hop, click on the Sparks badge.

November 6, 2017 by Janet Blue Dad Tom's Photography Sparks 23

RARE SIGHTING: SIBLINGS TOGETHER

Caturday Art: Siblings

Today’s art is another piece from Dad Tom. Mom liked the photo so much, she decided not to tinker with it. She only added the mats and the frame.

Not only is it unusual for Mom to keep her hands off of the art, but it is also darned unusual to see Misty May and Mauricio hanging out together. Though they are siblings and always together as kittens and young cats, they pretty much go their own ways now. Their camaraderie is what drew our dad to take the photo.

This is our entry in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday art blog hop. We know we say it almost every week, but this is one of our favorite hops. To enter some art and/or view the other submissions, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies

You don’t want to miss this week’s selfies, as Mom will be announcing who won the $80 donation we will be making to the rescue/shelter of the winner’s choice. That’s right $80. Mom combined the 50 comments on our anniversary post and the 30 on Allie’s post at Friends Furever. We’re delighted we get to pick our mom’s pocket for so many green papers.

We hope you also will post a selfie on our blog hop. We haven’t decided as yet which of us will be your host. Mom may check and see who hasn’t had the honor in a while and coerce that one of us to snap a selfie.

See you tomorrow.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy

July 29, 2017 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Comment-a-thon 23

CATURDAY ART IN THE ROUND

Caturday Art

As promised, we have a guest artist today. It is our dad, Tom. As some of you know, he is the one who takes most of the “good” photographs that appear on our blog. He also belongs to a couple of different photo clubs, and they have “assignments” for each meeting. After one of those, Dad discovered using mirror images and kaleidoscopic techniques. One of us was his subject, and we are certain you will recognize who it is.

Mom liked the image so much she decided to forgo creating any art this week and share our dad’s instead. Way to go mom! We think this is a very cool image, and that Mom was nice to give our dad this opportunity.

Mom says that depending on how she looks at this, she sees cats, bats, some type of big-eyed insect and a star fruit in the center. What do you see in today’s art?

Mom also has used some kaleidoscopic techniques for past Caturday Art. If you would like to see those posts, click on the links: Kaleidoscope Kitty Astrid and Kaleidoscope Mauricio. She thinks Dad’s art is considerably better than what she created. What do you think?

This is our submission in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Art blog hop. If you would like to create some art and join the hop or just check out the other submissions, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies

That’s right, it is time to start thinking about getting your selfie snapped for tomorrow’s hop. The elusive Lisbeth will be here as your host, and she’d be delighted if you would join her.

Until then…purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy

July 15, 2017 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Kitty Written Blog 18

SPECIAL MONDAY BIRTHDAY POST!

If you are regular followers, you know that we don’t normally post on Mondays. However, today is an extra special occasion. It is Dad Tom’s birthday. We certainly couldn’t miss that!

We know our dad is pretty ancient, but Mom said it’s not necessary for us to blab his age. We don’t think he’s ashamed of being old, so we’ll just say that he’s been around for 25,550 sunrises.

We cannot imagine our lives without our dad. Even though he’s super allergic to us, he lets us crawl all over him and snuggle with him as he sleeps. And even when we are naughty and he gets super exasperated, we know he still loves us ’cause he keeps buying us foodables, scooping our boxes and filling the bird feeders.

So…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

We love you bunches.

Purrs and pawpats from your furkids, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy

February 20, 2017 by Janet Blue Birthday Kitty Written Blog 33

CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE NOSE?

Wordless Wednesday: Breaking News

October 5, 2016 by Janet Blue Doozy of a Snoozy Wordless Wednesday 28

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.