squirrels

SOME SQUIRRELLY ART

Caturday Art

Today we invited one of our furry, bird seed thieves to be the subject of our Caturday Art.

Dad Tom took the original photo, and I did very little to it this week. I used Picasa’s posterize and “Orton” effects followed by the scrolled/flower border from piZap. After that I went back to Picasa for the mat and frame. That’s it…simple!

Here’s the original photo.

The arty version is my submission to Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Art blog hop. To participate or find links to other art, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Tomorrow is your opportunity to show all your friends and followers just how darn adorable you are when you join our blog hop. As we had a guest for art today, one of the Kitties Blue will need to come forward as your host. I have no idea who that might be. You’ll just have to make certain you drop in to see who it is.

Lastly, the Kitties Blue and I would like to thank everyone who participated in our hop last week. It was a great turnout, and we hope to see each of you back tomorrow.

Until then…toodles.

SPARKS OF OPTIMISM

Sparks: Week #20

I was a pessimist growing up and well into my adult life. My reasoning was that if I never expected anything good to happen, I would never be disappointed or dissatisfied with an outcome. Conversely, if something turned out well, I would be surprised and delighted. A variety of things have occurred in the past 20 years that have influenced my thinking.

An optimist is a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something. Though no longer a pessimist, I wouldn’t call myself an optimist. But I do try to see the silver lining in every occurrence, good or bad.

I was not familiar with Nicholas M. Butler before finding this quote. As you may not know about him either, here’s a bit of information from Wikipedia.

Nicholas Murray Butler (April 2, 1862 – December 7, 1947) was an American philosopher, diplomat and educator. Butler was the 12th president of Columbia University (1902-1945), president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

This is another of Dad Tom’s photos. It was taken just outside the catio.

I am joining Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) for her Sparks blog hop. In establishing the hop, she wrote this, “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!” This is what makes Sparks so special and why I look forward to participating each week.

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

February 19, 2018 by Janet Blue Dad Tom's Photography Sparks Squirrels 15

TABBY TUMMY WITH FILL-INS

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week 92

Each week, Kitties Blue and I like to challenge ourselves to complete Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) and Ellen’s (15 And Meowing) Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop. It often is not easy to come up with interesting and thoughtful completions. This week Cooper Murphy helped me, and his fill-in is the best of the four.

1. The Winter Olympics will be on at our house for the next two weeks. I enjoy watching winter sports, especially figure skating and skiing. .

2. I think the most romantic movie ~~(or book)~~ is Titanic with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. (I don’t know that this is the most romantic movie ever, but it’s the first movie that popped into my head as romantic.) .

3. Cooper Murphy: Recently, I had an odd experience when I was on the catio. Suddenly a squirrel appeared inside. I chased him up the stairs to the top deck. He jumped off and landed in the azaleas about 20 feet below. Sorry no photos. .

4. I believe that love cannot really be defined, and that many people confuse passion with love.

A cat blog should have a photo of a cat. As Cooper Murphy completed #3, it seemed appropriate that he should get the honors. And, of course, who can resist a tabby tummy photo? Snorggle or kiss at your own risk!

If you’d like to participate in this blog hop, you can find the sentences to complete each Thursday on both Annie and Ellen’s blogs. To join the hop, click on their badge, which will take you to McGuffy’s Reader where you can enter you link.

And finally…This is our 1,500th post.

February 9, 2018 by Janet Blue Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Squirrels 20

COOPER MURPHY’S 1ST TOCK-TOBER

Tock-Tober

The majority of us know to keep our bums away from the camera, especially during the month of October. One of us kitties, however, did not join our ranks until last January, so he is ignorant with regard to the Tock-Tober tradition. Cooper Murphy has no clue, but we are fairly certain if he did, it wouldn’t matter. He’s pretty much of an exhibitionist at all times. At this very moment he is lying on is back with legs akimbo, exposing himself. For the remainder of us, this is a good thing. We didn’t have to worry about keeping our rears to the rear, so to speak!

For his first Tock-Tober Cooper Murphy did find a clueless friend to share the spotlight. And Cooper’s photo is somewhat modest for him.

If you are new to blogging and unfamiliar with Tock-Tober, here’s a bit about it. And if you don’t know, “tocks” are your buttocks!

Click on the badge to be taken to Ducky and Angel Derby’s blog.

Normally, we would be joining Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) and Ellen (15 And Meowing) for Friendly Fill-Ins, but we didn’t want to dilute the importance of this International holiday. We hope they will accept our apologies. Mom says we can include the fill-ins with our Caturday Art tomorrow.

We know many of you have been showing off your tocks all month, but we hope to see lots more of them today.

Happy Birthday at the bridge, Derby. We hope you are looking down on all of us with a big smile your face.

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

October 20, 2017 by Janet Blue Holiday Kitty Written Blog Squirrels Tock-Tober 18

EXAUSTED SQUIRREL SELFIE

Sunday Selfies: Week #165

Yippee…we have a guest host this week. That meant all of us got to just hang out all day yesterday with no camera or phone shoved at us. Supposedly this fellow not only volunteered for a selfie but also a Tocktober photo. Mom says she’ll share that on October 20.

We are astounded that our humans had to go all the way to California for this photo. We have plenty of these guys hanging out in our yard. Go figure!

What a ham! Mom says this guy was burying acorns right in front of her and Dad without the least concern for their presence. He seems to have needed a big “easy” after running up and down this large oak tree numerous times to detach the acorns from the tree.

That’s our host for today. Who’s going to represent your blog today? We are anxious to see.

Blog Hop

Here are a few guidelines for anyone new to the hop.

The link to add your selfie to the hop is below.
You also will find below the code to use if you’d like the hop to appear on your blog.
You do not need to post on Sundays to join.
The hop remains open for entries through Thursday midnight.
Please be so kind as to display our badge and/or link to The Cat on My Head

Petretary has promised she will spend a major portion of tomorrow and Monday taking us visiting. We miss you all so much.

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

October 8, 2017 by Janet Blue Easy Like Sunday Squirrels Sunday Selfies 38

SQUIRREL ASKS, “YOU LOOKIN’ AT ME?”

Wordless Wednesday

Mau will be here tomorrow for Thoroughly Poetic Thursday and a “V” poem about his vet visit and what is going on with him.

May 10, 2017 by Janet Blue Squirrels Wordless Wednesday 25

YIKES! ANOTHER CLOSE ENCOUNTER

Wordless Wednesday

PetSafe FroliCat Fox Den Giveaway

Today is your last day to enter our giveaway for the PetSafe FroliCat Fox Den. If you haven’t already read our review post or left us a comment there, you can click here to do so. You must comment no later than today at 5 p.m. EST. The winner will be selected using Random.org and announced here tomorrow.

March 1, 2017 by Janet Blue Giveaway Squirrels Wordless Wednesday 17

SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY ART

Caturday Art

Squirrel Appreciation Day is observed annually on January 21. The creator, Christy Hargrove, is a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina and is affiliated with the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

Without squirrels, our lives would be dull and boring. They amuse us throughout the day by climbing the outside of the catio screens, sprinting across the sill of the kitchen window and scaling the pergola. Bird T.V. is entertaining, but squirrel T.V. is enthralling. Squirrels are wacky and masters at teasing us. They wiggle their tails around in a come hither manner. If we could get to them, we’d whap them silly.

Our dad continues to take photos of them as Mom thinks they are cute. Cats are cute. Squirrels are crazy! MOUSES!

Anyhoo, as it is Squirrel Appreciation Day and we have oodles of photos of these bird-seed-thieving critters, we agreed to allow Mom to use one of those photos for her Caturday Art project.

Mom used Dreamscope to add the Lux filter to the original photo. Using piZap, she added a parchment overlay and the black leaf border. The mat and frame were applied using Picasa.

She asked us to show you the original photo as it was taken in summer, so looks very different from her fall-like creation.

This is our entry in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. To see the other entries and/or submit one of your own, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies

We are flabbergasted that yet another week as flown by, and it is time to take selfies again. We have no idea who is hosting tomorrow. None of us have been approached as yet by the petretary. We know one thing for certain…we will not tolerate another squirrel taking over our blog!

Even if you do not post on Sunday, you can still enter our hop as it remains open for entries through Thursday.

Until tomorrow…

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

January 21, 2017 by Janet Blue Caturday Art Blog Hop Kitty Written Blog Squirrels 19

RESIDENT SQUIRREL SAYS, “GOOD-BYE”

Wordless Wednesday

We know it is Wordless Wednesday, but we have just a few words: We all appreciate the comments and e-mails with regard to Fiona getting her wings. This is the most, caring, compassionate and loving community. Mom and/or Giulietta will be contacting each of you purrsonally as they can. We will have a post tomorrow sharing the beautiful badges and cards we have received. Thank you for all your kindness.

Purrs and paw-pats, Kitties Blue

December 7, 2016 by Janet Blue Kitty Written Blog Squirrels Wordless Wednesday 26

“HEY SQUIRREL, WHERE YOU GOIN’?”

Wordless Wednesday

November 9, 2016 by Janet Blue Squirrels Wordless Wednesday 23

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.