Happy Halloween 2022

A Tortie in October #SundaySelfie

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Mudpie O'Lantern #CaturdayArt

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers (all answered by Mommy this week) for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. Worrying about the future keeps me up at night.

2. If I could improve one of my senses, it would be my intuition. Although I must say it's already pretty strong.

3. If I were home alone and heard footsteps in the house, I would grab my phone in case I needed to call 911.

4. I would want the epitaph on my tombstone to say just a girl who loved cats.

Through the Door #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Thank you for joining us for this month's edition of the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop! We can't believe another fall month has just zoomed by!

Our fails this month star Mo, the neighbor kitty who visits us nightly for a snack. We wish we knew more about the little guy. Mommy has been feeding him for over 5 years now and he still runs when she opens the door to put the food out. We don't know if he's semi-feral or just extremely nervous and distrustful. Hopefully one day he'll learn he has nothing to fear at our house.

Because he's so skittish, the only way to take pictures of him is through our back door, so they never turn out very good. 

Don't you think he's a Puss in Boots clone?

Those are our fails, let's see yours!

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Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Decorating 2022

 

October Retro Country Rewind #MewsicMovesMe

It's been a few years since we premiered our mewsic feature "Retro Country Rewind," a look back at favorite songs that hit #1 during that month from 30, 35, 40 plus years ago. In this new year we'll be delving into #1 hits from 1972, 1977, 1982, and so on. Let's take a look at October for this freebie week in the Mewsic Moves Me blog hop...

55 Years Ago - 1967, I Don't Wanna Play House, Tammy Wynette 

40 Years Ago - 1982, Put Your Dreams Away, Mickey Gilley

40 Years Ago - 1982, Close Enough To Perfect, Alabama

35 Years Ago - 1987, You Again, The Forester Sisters

35 Years Ago - 1987, Fishin' in the Dark, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

We hope you enjoyed our choices this week! 

Let us know if you have a favorite.

Beauty Queen #SundaySelfie

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Crystal Ball #CaturdayArt

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers (all answered by Mommy this week) for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. Every October, I wish time would slow down so the Halloween and Christmas seasons would last longer.

2. If I were going to a costume party, I would go as a cat.

3. The Tell-Tale Heart is my favorite scary story.

4. I hope I would be sufficiently stocked up on Mudpie's squeezies if there were a zombie apocalypse.

Unboxing October's CatLadyBox

 October's CatLadyBox was the annual Black Cats Box...here's what was inside!

Featured Cat Lady Artist: Monika Suska

Black Cat Fan Club Tee: This is quite possible my favorite CLB tee so far. Not only are the cats absolutely adorable, the established in 2015 reflects not only the year CLB began (and I've been a subscriber from the very first box), but also the year I adopted Mudpie. And I consider torties to be honorary black cats.

Black Cats Blanket: I have a feeling Mudpie is going to enjoy adding this super soft blankie to her cuddle pile this winter!

Black Cats Magnet Set: These colorful glass magnets POP wherever you put them. Magnets aren't just for refrigerators, these would add a touch of bright and cheery to a dreary office file cabinet! 

Black Cat Paw & Meowgical Pineapple Kitty Catnip Toys: I may have temporarily confiscated both of these toys to add to my Halloween decor...and I'm thinking the black cat paw would look cute on the Christmas tree too! Poor Mudpie...

Not a subscriber yet? Visit CatLadyBox today!

Interested in purchasing individual items from past boxes? You can do that too!

Disclosure: I receive a discount on my CatLadyBox subscription as a thank you for my monthly review. Regardless of compensation received, we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Live and Let Grind by Tara Lush - Blog Tour with Character Guest Post and Giveaway

 

Devil’s Beach is percolating with a hot murder case, and reporter-turned-barista Lana Lewis could be the next to get beaned in Tara Lush’s third Coffee Lover’s mystery, perfect for fans of Cleo Coyle and Lucy Burdette.

Laid-off journalist Lana Lewis is thriving as the proprietor of Perkatory, a coffee shop on quirky Devil’s Beach island, Florida. She’s juggling a relationship with police chief Noah Garcia, enjoying the company of her best friend, Erica, and relishing the companionship of her golden Shih Tzu, Stanley. Only problem is her neighbor, Gus, who incessantly uses his leaf blower, disturbing everyone in the neighborhood. Lana has learned to tune it out, but Erica’s rage boils over and she confronts Gus.

Then Gus is found dead, killed when his leaf blower explodes. Erica immediately becomes suspect number one. But there are plenty of other candidates as well: Gus’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Honey Bailey, who thinks she’ll be written out of his will; Mickey Dotson and Doug Beck, who were scalded financially after purchasing a pirate-themed tourist cruise business from Gus; and plenty of angry neighbors who’ve had run-ins with him.

As the clock ticks down will Lana get someone to spill the beans on the killer so she can clear her friend’s name, or will Erica go to jail for a crime she didn’t commit?

Character Guest Post by Stanley the Shih Tzu

I am no stranger to murder.

Okay, okay, that’s a little heavy from a ten-pound Shih Tzu, but hear me out.

My name’s Stanley. I live on a Florida island called Devil’s Beach, and it’s the best place. The smells are incredible! There are squirrels, lots of birds, turtles … and even monkeys. I know all of this because my mom takes me everywhere and says I’m always sticking my nose into places it doesn’t belong.

She’s one to talk.

My mom’s name is Lana Lewis, and she’s the bestest person in the world. She gives me lots of hot dog treats and takes me to the dog beach at least once a week.

But she’s a little nosy. Like me, I guess.

I’ve lived with her since I was a puppy. My previous owner, an Italian guy whose name I don’t remember because I was too young, fell off a roof. Well, pushed off a roof. I didn’t see that, thank goodness, but shortly after, Lana rescued me. That’s what I mean about murder – it’s kind of always around on Devil’s Beach.

Or maybe my mom always gets involved with murders. No, she’s not a serial killer or anything. She’s a former reporter. I’m not sure exactly what that is but it has something to do with asking a lot of questions. And she asks tons of them, things like, “why would that woman have killed our next-door neighbor,” and, “who poisoned the guy in the coffee shop?”

I don’t pay much attention to those questions because they’re above my pay grade. I’m here to be cute! She also asks things like, “Who’s a good boy?” and then I run in circles and bark a little to let her know that yes, I am a good boy! That’s when she gives me treats.

This tactic also works with Lana’s father. I don’t know his name but he’s something they call “an old hippie.” I love staying with him at his beach house because he gives me unlimited treats. He even bought B A C O N for me. He spells it out like that because he doesn’t think I can understand, but I can. I can smell it! And boy, is it tasty!

Mom doesn’t like me eating bacon, though. Mom also doesn’t like when I roll around in algae at the beach. She says I smell like a clam, whatever that is.

She also got mad when I rolled around in turtle poop at the park, but I didn’t give a fluff. Turtle poop smells SO GOOD, and I didn’t care that it got all over my fur. I was SO MAD when Mom gave me a bath that day.

I stay with Mom’s dad when she goes out on something called “a date.” All I know is that Mom and Noah, my other favorite human, go out of the house, sometimes overnight. I hate that. The best nights are when Mom and Noah and I cuddle on the sofa. They watch a movie but they also give me lots of pets for hours. It’s the best.

I’m hoping that Noah someday moves in with us because he plays fetch with me in the yard for like an hour. Mom gets tired or busy but Noah always wants to play.

Right now Mom and Noah are tense because the man next door was murdered. He was killed by a device called “an exploding leaf blower.” I think that’s the scary machine that moves things around, and sometimes I hide under the bed because the noise is too loud.

Mom is worried because her best friend Erica might be a “suspect” in the case. That means police think Erica might have killed him. I don’t think that’s possible, though, because Erica is a good human — she also gives me lots of treats and sometimes we snuggle together.

I’m a good judge of character. I think if Mom let me loose on Devil’s Beach, I’d sniff out the killer and then I’d get all the treats…

About the Author:

Tara Lush is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk Award winning journalist. For the past decade, she’s been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations. A fan of vintage pulp-fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, and 1980s fashion, she lives with her husband and two dogs on the Gulf coast.

Author Links:

WEBSITE: https://taralush.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTaraLush/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the.book.lush/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20274256.Tara_Lush

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Playing It Safe #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

I love it when Mommy leaves the side door cracked open for me to get some whiffies.

I have zero interest in going outside, and if Mommy steps up into the kitchen for a brief moment I go running after her like I'm scared somebody's gonna come and scoop me up! 

I know you all want to! MOL...

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mudpie's answers:

1. Making sure Mommy has enough squeezies on hand keeps me on my toes.

2. I know it's going to be a bad day when it's not sunny. I got so spoiled this summer soaking up the sun nearly every day that now on cloudy days I just go back to bed.

Mommy's answers:

3. To me, the sound of rain is one of the scariest things in the world. I know most people find it to be soothing, but I've faced so many home disasters caused by rain that my blood pressure goes up whenever I hear rain in the forecast. Plus I *hate* thunderstorms!

4. Believe it or not, a snowstorm doesn't scare me. Give me snow over rain any day! 

Introducing Cat Lady Alley, A Cat-Themed Sticker & Stationery Shop

Several years ago our friend Rachel from the award-winning blog Three Chatty Cats (cat mom to Olive, Sophie, Harley, Woodrow, and Dexter) started a second blog, Cat Lady Alley...Where Curiosity Spoiled the Cat Lady, a celebration of everything cat lady related. Needless to say, the whole concept was totally up our alley (pun intended).

Rachel recently decided to reinvent Cat Lady Alley into a cat-themed sticker and stationery shop, and I couldn't have been more honored when she asked me to review some of her items! When she asked if there was anything specific on the site I would be interested in receiving, I faced a nearly impossible task. Rachel is unbelievably creative, and everything was so adorable I just kept oohing and aahing out loud! 

The items I ended up picking out represent everything this cat lady is passionate about...

Of course I absolutely HAD to have tortie stickers. In fact, Rachel told me I inspired the tortie cat mom name tag sticker with a purple border! These particular stickers can be customized using a variety of cat and name tag colors.

Then there are adorable Halloween stickers...

Cats, coffee, and books...oh my!

Meowdy!!! How cute is this little kitty cowboy??? 

We also received word stickers, sticky notes, and a sheet of stickers featuring the feline stars of Three Chatty Cats! 

Cat Lady Alley is already loaded with fun designs, and Rachel plans to add new items to the shop weekly or bi-weekly. (I can't wait to see what she comes up with for Christmas!) 

All stickers are handmade and sticker-only orders ship FREE. (Cat Lady Alley is currently only shipping to US addresses, but is looking into offering international shipping in the future.) All orders are automatically 10% off through October 31st.

If you love cat stickers, stationery (including notebooks and notepads), sticky notes, and greeting cards, ZOOM right over to Cat Lady Alley RIGHT MEOW! Everything is as cute and creative as can be, and you're sure to find yourself purring over everything you see!

 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Cat Lady Alley. I am being compensated for featuring this content but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Unboxing September's CatLadyBox

   The theme of September's CatLadyBox was Cat Lady Every Day...here's what was inside!

Featured Cat Lady Artist: Lily from AllCuteStudio

Cat Lady Couture Long Sleeve: This time of year I live in long sleeve t-shirts so I'm always eager to add to my collection. They're not that easy to find, especially with such a truthful statement on it!

Cat Ears Shoulder Bag: Love, love, LOVE this bag SO much. It's vegan-friendly, soft, super cute and stylish.

Stoneware Cat Car Coaster: I never knew I needed one of these in the car until I got one! 

Purrfume & Crabby Catnip Toys: So adorable and creative, as always. Mudpie especially loves the feathers on that purrfume bottle!

Not a subscriber yet? Visit CatLadyBox today!

Interested in purchasing individual items from past boxes? You can do that too!

Disclosure: I receive a discount on my CatLadyBox subscription as a thank you for my monthly review. Regardless of compensation received, we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Remembering Loretta #MewsicMovesMe

Last Tuesday, October 4th, we lost Loretta Lynn. As a lifelong fan I knew when the day came it would be hard, but I found myself even more emotional than I expected. I spent the entire day watching news coverage and listening to radio tributes with tears welling in my eyes.

On Friday my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

One of their favorite stories from early in their marriage was mom coming out of the bathroom one night to see Loretta on some random TV show. She yelled out, "Loretta Lynn!" Dad, asleep in his chair as usual, went running for the front door. When mom asked where he was going, he replied, "to let her in!" Needless to say, they both became so hysterical they never did see Loretta's TV appearance!

Loretta was always their favorite. Then I came along and it was Conway who captured my heart, but of course they were a package deal. If you loved one, you loved the other.

I was born by emergency c-section. While mom was recovering in the hospital her neighbor gave her a paperback copy of the Coal Miner's Daughter book, which I now have in my collection. The first time my parents left me with a babysitter was to see the movie in the theater.

 
In 1986 I saw Loretta at our local fair. I was only 9 and remember feeling like I was going to be crushed by so many people. That same year my grandfather passed away. The first time I ever saw dad cry was when I was playing Loretta's Christmas album one Saturday at lunch and Christmas Without Daddy came on. Mom told me to turn it off.

 
So many of my childhood memories are wrapped up in Loretta's music. 

 
She outlived Conway by nearly 30 years, and even though she made it to 90, it breaks my heart that they're both gone now. What a reunion they must've had in Heaven as Conway greeted her with "Hello Darlin'..."

Loretta, you will live on in your fans' hearts forever, just like Conway. That's what legends do.

Purrfectly Me #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy says this is her favorite selfie I've ever taken, and it took me two seconds to snap it. (Can you see her photo bombing me?)

She says it totally reflects my purrsonality...fun, curious, and ridiculously adorable.

What can I say? It's purrfectly me! 

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Autumn Daydreaming #CaturdayArt

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers (all answered by Mommy this week) for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. When I turned 40, I had a hard time accepting it. Five years later I'm still not quite there yet, but I don't feel middle-aged, so that's the most important thing.

2. My favorite breakfast is a bagel or English muffin with cream cheese. Mudpie loves a taste of cream cheese too! 

3. I’m so glad I live in a world where there are cats.

4. A home is not complete without a cat. I have SO many signs around the house with variations on this sentiment!