Spying on the Neighbors Again #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

On Friday morning our neighbor had fiber internet installed, and I watched the whole thing! I don't think the guys knew they had a feline snoopervisor, but I needed to make sure they did a good job. 

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

Caturday Art

Meows from Mudpie! 

Today is National Devil Dog Day, so we thought it might be fun to ask AI to show us a tortie eating a Devil Dog. We wondered if AI would know that a Devil Dog is a yummy pastry, or would it depict a kitty eating a devilish-looking dog? With AI, ya never know! 

This is what we got. It looks more like the cat is eating a chili dog, but it sure is cute!

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. I find foul language offensive.

2. Paid Viewpoint is a good way to make some extra cash. I've never joined any survey sites because usually you have to jump through hoops to get paid, but I signed up with this one because they pay you for your time even if you don't end up qualifying for a particular survey. It's kind of fun, takes very little time, and in just 2 weeks I've made $40! It paid for a stock up of Mudpie's squeezies and Mo's Fancy Feast!  

3. Not much makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. It's all I can do to get done what absolutely needs to get done.

4. I could see myself naming a cat or dog Conway.

More Purrs Needed #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Thank you for joining us for this month's edition of the Pet Photo Fails blog hop! We have some bad news to report at our house once again - my Grandpa took another tumble on Wednesday afternoon, fractured his hip, and yesterday had a partial hip replacement. The surgery went well, now comes the recovery...

In my blooper this month I'm giving our current situation a big ol' blurry raspberry...

That's my photo fail...let's see yours!

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Cat Moms from Etsy

Meows from Mudpie!

Can you believe Mother's Day is less than 3 weeks away??? Now that my Grandma is gone it's no longer a holiday Mommy looks forward to, so she tries to put it out of her mind. I still want to treat her to something special though.

While browing Etsy for the purrfect gift for Mommy, I found several things that any cat mom would love to receive on her special day...

Personalized Suncatcher

Mother's Day Metal Art Sign

Metal Cat Garden Stake

Recycled Glass Nightlight

Cats Books and Coffee Mug

Set of 3 Small Wood Cat Planters

Cat Candle Holder

Hair Clips

Which is your favorite? I think everything here would be a hit with Mommy, but she would probably love the "cats books and coffee" mug the most (although one of the hair clips is a tortie!) I'll need to figure out how many squeezies I would have to go without in order to pay for it.

I hope you enjoy my picks, and don't forget, if you find something here you like and make a purchase using our affiliate links, I get a little money for my piggy bank! I might even spend it on Mommy's gift!

Yes, I Do Wake Up Looking This Beautiful #SundaySelfie

 

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

National Record Store Day #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy might have a new addiction. On Thursday the new Meta AI rolled out on Facebook. She hasn't had much luck with the various AI programs she's tried, but she didn't have any trouble with this one. She started giving it all kinds of cat-related prompts and has been having so much fun with the results!

Since today is National Record Store Day she asked it for a tortoiseshell cat in a record store, and this is what we got. We love it! (And while much of the world is talking about Taylor Swift's new record, Mommy is super excited about the first full-length album by Twitty & Lynn (Conway's grandson and Loretta's granddaughter), available today!)

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. A remake of All in the Family would be fun, although in today's politically correct environment it wouldn't be easy to pull off.

2. My favorite cartoon character is Garfield. I can't wait for the new movie coming out next month! 

3. I wish I had better sewing skills so that I could make cat toys. I think that would be such a fun side hustle!

4. I'm proud of the progress I've made with making soup. I don't know why I always found it so intimidating. Now I'm making a new one every week! This week I made a Broccoli-Cheddar Soup from Gooseberry Patch (my favorite line of cookbooks) and it's amazing! 

Mudpie Needs To Vent

Meows from Mudpie!

Some of you might remember Mo as we've featured him here before. Mommy has actually known Mo longer than she's known me - she figures she's been feeding him for around 10 years now!

We always referred to Mo as our "neighbor kitty" because he would only visit in the evening for his snack, like maybe his owners let him out after they got home from work. But over the past couple years we've come to the realization he probably never had a home, as he's spending the majority of his time seeking shelter in our backyard.

Here's the thing about Mo - in all the years Mommy has been feeding him, he's never once allowed her to touch him. He waits at the back step for his meals, then runs when she opens the door to put the food out. Mommy always thought he was just really timid, but it's become all too clear that he's likely feral.

A couple weeks ago Mo stopped eating. Nothing Mommy gave him met with his approval. He would just sniff it and walk away. She tried new flavors and textures to no avail. She started getting really stressed out thinking maybe he was sick, and how would she ever be able to get him to the vet?

In desperation, she picked up a few cans of Fancy Feast and even boiled a chicken breast for him.

Turns out Mister Mo must've just gotten sick of his usual Friskies. Mo loves Fancy Feast. Mo loves boiled (and rotisserie) chicken.

I don't even get Fancy Feast and boiled chicken***, yet a wayward soul who can't see how awesome Mommy is gets served such luxuries?!?!?!

So now Fancy Feast has been added to our weekly grocery list, and I have a feeling it will be eating into my squeezie budget.

*** Note from Mommy - Mudpie should have a Pinocchio nose with such lies! She has been offered FF in the past and stuck her nose up at it, just as she does all wet food. And every time we have meat for dinner, she's offered some. Only now that she sees Mo getting it has she decided it's worth checking out!

I love Mo to pieces, and it breaks my heart that he lives his life outside, even though it's where he feels the safest. If he ever chooses to, he'll always have a home with us. Until then, he has shelter in the backyard and a full tummy.

And Mudpie's squeezie budget is perfectly safe.

The Book of 5 Mews by M.G. Rorai - Blog Tour & Book Review

 

A heartwarming story about cats, cheese, Catness, cat-tastrophies, and why cats are basically running your life. Did I mention cats?

 

Title: The Book of 5 Meows

Author: M.G. Rorai

Publication Date: February 8, 2024

Pages: 134

Genre: Cats/Pets 

Shhhh – don’t tell the humans. This is a cat’s guide to world domination; learn how to win hearts and get cheese with your kitty charm.

Meet Marble, a cat on a mission to rule the world with cuteness and get cheese. Marble is not your ordinary cat. She is a philosopher, a strategist, and a master of Catness. She knows the secrets to manipulate humans and get what she wants. Thus, Catness wisdom and insights are littered throughout this hilarious and insightful book, written mostly from a feline point of view (as the way it should be).

But Marble’s plan is not without challenges. She must win over a dog-loving human and keep up an endless supply of Colby-Jack cheese.

The Book of 5 Mews is a book for cat lovers, dog lovers, and anyone who enjoys a good laugh mixed in with a heartwarming story. It is a book that celebrates the bond between humans and animals, and the power of love and healing. It is a book that will make you rethink your relationship with your cat, and maybe even inspire you to join a quest for world domination. Not that you’d be welcome, unless you’re a feline.

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | BooksAMillion | Apple | Smashwords | Everand

Book Excerpt:

Introduction

I have spent many lives training in the Way of Catness; Humans might liken the Way to strategy. It is a gifted set of guidelines most felines stumble across during at least one of their nine lives—and, subsequently, become obsessed with mastering. Catness is water to the soul, yoga for the mind, and grooming for the world. 

Yet there will always be trials mixed with reward. Peaks and valleys merge to create the landscape—Catness is the pathway for past friends becoming feral; love becoming loss; treat bowls becoming empty. The Way of Catness is like a Cat’s mew: it can be the loveliest sound or the sharpest shriek, when needed.

There are different thoughts on Catness, but I live to no particular paw path; my prints are my own, defined by my experiences. True, I have taken some from other paths, as have most cats, though at the core each cat’s walk, their Catness, is defined by self, circumstances, and survival. But it can be shredded down to Five Mews: Paw, Slink, Roar, Tail, and Clarity. 

I will explain Catness in writing for the first time. 

Harper’s Commentary: Day 0

It’s hard starting over. New job, new town, new perspectives. So hard. Isolating. My plants are only so much company, and at the urging of text messages from family I decided to seek out volunteer work. 

My new career in technology blessed me with all the people drain I needed, so I went with the animal persuasion. I’m a dog person at heart. Grew up with mostly dogs and some cats but had more connection with the canines. Plus, the last feline I had contact with was my cousin’s girlfriend’s cat who pissed in the same corner all the time, despite having three litter boxes. 

So yeah, dogs were better. Cats okay. 

Wispy Paws seemed like a good fit…

If you're looking for some insight into what makes your cat tick, this is the book for you!

Following a personal tragedy, Harper is starting a new life in a new town. With only her plants for company she decides to volunteer at the animal shelter. She considers herself a dog person, but on her very first day she ends up bringing home a foster cat she names Marble. As Marble beings wrapping her new human around her paw, she teaches readers about Catness - the methods cats use in their quest for world domination, or at least domination over their own little world.

Cat slaves are sure to recognize all the tricks Marble has in her arsenal, and have likely even witnessed them firsthand! This book is adorable, funny, and heartwarming. I can't think of a more purrfect Mother's Day gift for the cat mom in your life! 

About the Author

M.G. Rorai enjoys hanging with her cats and annoying her husband.

Author Links  Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

Sponsored By:

What Season Are We Doing Today? #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Friday I spent the entire day sunbathing in glorious 75 degree weather. Yesterday it was back in the 40s.

I think Mother Nature is having hot flashes.

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

Caturday Art

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. The last thing I cooked was this soup. I make it every couple weeks and it lasts at least 3 meals. I usually thrown in whatever leftover meat we happen to have, but this week I made it without any meat and it was delish! 

2. When I go out to eat, my usual order is pizza. 

3. I feel most comfortable when I'm at home.

4. I purchase squeezies on a very regular basis. I usually pick up a couple packages each time I'm at the store, whether we need any or not, because I don't want Mudpie to ever run out. I'm still spooked from supply chain shortages during the pandemic! 

Book Review ~ Purrseverance: Inspiring Stories of Cat Resilience and Hope by Sierra M. Koester

 

What do cats do when faced with adversity? They persevere. "Purrseverance" contains 16 accounts of how our feline friends triumphed over life's challenges: from the cat who learned to trust after surviving a hoarding situation, to the cat who conquered a life-threatening illness, to the cats who persisted and eventually found their loving forever homes. Each account is told through the eyes of the cat. These tales show that even seemingly hopeless situations can turn around. These stories will inspire you to keep going and persevere when facing adversities in your own life. "Purrseverance" was compiled by award-winning cat writer and enthusiast, Sierra M. Koester.

Purchase Link

I've been looking forward to the release of this book since the call went out for submissions. I actually contemplated submitting a story myself, but thankfully none of the cats in my life faced the challenges the kitties in this anthology have had to deal with.

Many of the cats in Purrseverance I've had the privilege to "know" thanks to their blogs and social media presence - Evan, Carmine, Brian, Sawyer, Ellie Mae, Harvey (just to name a few), and I consider their owners as friends - but the beauty of this book is that each cat has written their own compelling story in their own unique voices. Some stories end happily, others with the inevitable, but each and every one showcases the strength and resilience of the feline spirit and the unbreakable bond they form with the humans in their lives.

There's no way I could pick out a "favorite" story, but one in particular affected me greatly. Whisper was a blind feral cat fostered by a lady dealing with the hospice care and eventual death of her mother. As both of them come to terms with their new normal, they help each other cope and heal. Then they're hit with another blow - Whisper is diagnosed with lymphoma.

This particular passage forced me to put the book down and have a good, therapeutic cry, "I had taught her a lot about getting beyond fear and loss. We had encouraged each other past panic and paralysis. Now I was showing her how to keep living in the small, precious moments we had left together."

We have so much to learn from these precious souls we share our lives with. The "tails" in Purrseverance are a lesson for all of us to live in the moment, to be brave in the face of adversity, and most importantly, to never give up.

Happy Eclipse Day!!!

Meows from Mudpie! 

It's a super exciting day in our neck of the woods because we're in the "path of totality" for the Great American Eclipse! Tens of thousands of eclipse chasers have descended on Vermont for this once in a lifetime event, and shockingly, it's supposed to be a mostly sunny day. Mommy and Grandpa will be watching from our backyard. I'll likely be taking my afternoon nap! MOL

 

Mommy got these two cat-themed eclipse buttons to commemorate this monumental day...

And how adorable is this t-shirt sold by our state's only cat cafe?

Leave it to Mommy to make eclipse day all about cats! 

I've trained her well...

You're Silly, Mommy! #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

This is the look I gave Mommy after she called me by my silly new nickname...brace yourselves...

MUDDY POO-POO!!! 

 Do I look like a Muddy Poo-Poo to you?!?!?! I'm so embarrassed...

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

Mudpie in Bloom #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. I plan to make some changes to my Xfinity account in April. Send help.

2. My favorite kind of muffin is pistachio.

3. Napping always seems to happen when I have Mudpie on my lap. She's so warm and cozy, I tend to doze off even if I'm not particularly sleepy. I'll never need sleeping pills with her around!

4. My ongoing/neverending decluttering project has been on my to-do list for a long time.

Feline Friday Flashback: Talk to the Paw

Meows from Mudpie!

You're looking at one teed-off tortie. Yesterday we got 8.8" of snow. That makes it the biggest snowstorm of the year...on April 4th. Can someone please let Mother Nature know that it's now spring and I expect some warm sunshine and window whiffies???

Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute).

Scary World

Cars, trucks, motorcycles...

Airplanes, dogs, other peoples...

It's a scary world out there, Mommy.