The Cat On My Head

AN AWWWDORABLE ANGEL WITTH A SPARK

Awww Monday/Sparks

I have combined these two Monday posts by using a photo from May 31, 2016, of Lily Olivia for my Spark. I believe you will see why I selected her for the Spark. If not, it is because she’s one of our angels and my Spark is about angels. With the loss of ao many kitties lately, our friend Jean and one of Dad Tom’s cousins as well as the wife of a friend who passed in August, I have had angels on my mind.

 

awwwdorable angel spark: a calico cat lying on her side with an orange crocheted fish toy and the following quote from Jaclyn Smith, "Angels are like diamonds. They can't be made, you have to find them. Each one is unique."

 

Sparks is the creation of Annie from McGuffy’s Reader. Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend. Annie stated when she began Sparks, “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.”

Lily Olivia may be an angel, but she’ll always be awwwdorable. So, she’ll be participating in the Awww Mondays blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. You can join her there by clicking on the Awww badge.

 

You may have noticed some small crocheted toys next to Lily Olivia. Those were from Ellen at 15 and Meowing, who is always so generous with the kitties, especially by playing the Tooth Fairy to felines.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Tomorrow is that special day each week when Periwinkle and Stinky set out on a new adventure. It is Stinky’s turn to make a plan. He’s confided in me that he’s been going nutty trying to come up with an adventure for tomorrow. He has his paws crossed that he has an epiphany soon. I am confident he won’t let Periwinkle or our readers down. And I know both the tabbies will be looking forward to seeing you here tomorrow. So, please don’t let them down.

Thanks for joining us today.

 

 

 

REMEMBERING OUR FRIEND JEAN & SELFIES WEEK #500

Sunday Selfies: Week #500

 

Sunday Selfies #500: Ginger tabby cat with eyes closed and framed by shamrocks.

 

Hi Friends,

I am here as your host today for a special post. The reason being is that it is Saint Patrick’s Day, and my name is Cooper Murphy. One cannot get more Irish than that.

It is also a special Sunday as this is the 500th Sunday Selfies blog hop.

But mainly I am here as this a  tribute post to our dear friend, Jean Neilson, and I have a special connection to her. Her kitty, Tyebe, is my girl friend.

I do apologize for my eyes being closed. I was, of course, dreaming about Tyebe.

Jean Neilson – 1950 to 2024

Bill, Jean’s amazing husband of more than 50 years, telephoned my mom last Sunday to tell her Jean had passed away. He also sent Tyebe’s selfie and asked Mom to add it to our Sunday Selfies hop. He also asked Mom not to share the information of Jean’s passing, as he was not ready to do that. Unfortunately, as Bill put it, someone “let the cat of the bag,” when the information appeared on the Cat Blogosphere. Trust me, it was not my mom!

In the past week, Bill and my mom have been communicating regularly. He shared an article written about he and Jean on their 50th wedding anniversary and said she could share it here. The article has the most precious photo of the two of them. This is the link: Jean & Bill – 50th Anniversary.

Bill also sent this photo to use here. It is the same one he selected for Jean’s obituary, which you can find here.

 

Smiling lady with a blue flower in her hair with a peach floral frame.

 

Our History

My mom first got to know Jean in 2014 before I became a Kitties Blue. That’s when her kitties, Kali and Shoko, began joining our Sunday Selfies blog hop. Then Shoko joined Cat Scouts and got to know my brother, Mau. In 2017, my sisfur, Lily Olivia, joined the Crotchety Cougars Club, a group Kali started for lady kitties who were 15 years old and older.

I followed Mau into Cat Scouts, and then Shoko’s new kitten sisfur, Tyebe, joined Cat Scouts. And it was love at first sight for me. Jean let us attend the 2019 Super Bowl party and Valentine’s Day party at Cat Scouts as friends, and eventually allowed me to ask Tyebe to become my girl friend.

During this time, Jean and my mom were becoming friends. They both liked the Beach Boys and were disappointed when they each saw Bob Dylan in concert. Jean came to my mom with computer- and linking-related issues and my mom went to Jean with questions regarding Sawyer’s seizures.

My mom is one who saves special e-mails, and there are so many regarding dates between Tyebe and me and Tyebe’s wardrobe.

When Jean had her stroke in May, 2022, and developed aphasia, we (as well as so many of you reading this) lost a good friend, whose wit, sense of humor and friendship were so treasured.

Jean’s last blog post was on April 14, 2023. Bill posted a brief message the following month letting everyone know that Jean would not be blogging but that the blog would remain available. You can still find it at The Canadian Cats. Rereading some of the posts is a delightful way to reconnect with Jean, Shoko, Tyebe and Angels Kali and Bud. But be prepared to shed some tears for the loss of a very special lady!

Bill will be having one or more Celebrations of Life to remember Jean later in the spring.

A Final Share

I think it would be okay with Tyebe and her dad if I share this with you. It’s from a Sunday Selfies post on February 26, 2022, especially with this being our 500th Selfie post.

Gee, Coop and his family have had Selfie Sunday for a very long time. It’s practically an institution. We must thank the whole family for being such sports and hosting the Sunday Selfies.

                                                                           

This is my selfie. The button to the camera is in the bag. I just felt around for it and voila! So I pressed my paw on it as hard as I could. How do you like it?

Personally, I love it! Isn’t Tyebe gorgeous? I think you can see why I fell in love with her!

Thank you for joining us today.

Purrs and paw-pats, Cooper Murphy (with special whisker kisses for Tyebe)

Hopping Time

Cooper Murphy, the other Kitties Blue and I really hope you will join us today for the 500th week of our hop. It is a pretty monumental accomplishment, and you do not want to miss out. If you get the opportunity, ask a few of your friends to hop along with us. As always, the hop remains open through Thursday.

Enjoy an easy Sunday!

 



MINE…ALL MINE!

Caturday Art

 

Mine...all mine: Grey cat sits atop a pile of birthday gifts in an attempt to claim them for herself.

 

Kizmet thinks everything that comes into this house belongs to her, especially if it arrives in a box. Here she is sitting on birthday gifts believing in her heart they are for her. Since one of the packages has kitty wrapping paper, I guess it was an obvious assumption on her part. However, that scowl on her face is the result of her being told they were not for her.

To create today’s art I used the Favorite Forest effect from Painnt and changed the hue slightly. The frame is once again from the favpng app.

I did make a jigsaw puzzle as well.

preview110pieceBirthday Cat Art

Kizmet will be joining Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty on her Caturday Art blog hop. If you’d like to do the same and/or discover art from your fellow bloggers, click on Athena’s badge.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Tomorrow will be a special occasion for our Sunday Selfies post. It will be week number 500 for our hop. When I started Sunday Selfies, I never expected it would be still running almost ten years later. For that matter, I didn’t expect to still be blogging after so many years. It would sure be great if you could join us by sharing a selfie.

Tomorrow also will be special for another reason. The kitties and I will be paying tribute to our special friend (and the mom to Tyebe, Cooper Murphy’s girl friend), Jean Neilson. We have some special content shared with me by Jean’s terrific husband, Bill. So, even if you don’t hop with us, Kitties Blue and I do hope you will visit.

Until then…have a terrific Caturday. Thanks for joining us today.

 

GINGER CAT NAP ATTACK

Feline Friday

Here we are again with another photo of a napping Kitties Blue.

 

ginger cat nap attack: Ginger tabby sleeping on side with belly exposed.

 

Our ginger, nap-attack cat, Cooper Murphy, will be joining in the Feline Friday blog hop at messymimi’s meanderings. If you’d like to participate in the hop, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To join the hop, click on the badge at the left.

I lucked out this week, as I had two helpers in completing the fill-ins, Kizmet and Stinky. We all used teal italics for our fill-ins. Any explanations are in parentheses.

1. Kizmet: I enjoy watching birds and squirrels in person and on YouTube TV, where I enjoy watching women’s professional volleyball as well.

2. I will try to remember to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. (I am 50 percent Irish.)

3. Others come to me when they need help with editing something they have written.

4. Stinky: Periwinkle is my lucky charm.

Thank you for stopping by today. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow when we’ll share some Caturday Art.

 

BIKER DUDE TODDLER & THANKFULS

I always enjoy Thursday. I get to explore by creativity by writing a poem as well as recount my blessings by sharing some thankfuls.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday is a poetry challenge at Two Spoiled Cats. Teddy and Angel Sammy provide us with an inspiration photo, and along with Angel Sammy, participants write and share a poem. Here’s this week’s inspiration photo.

 

Toddler dressed as a biker in a bandana, Harley-Davidson shirt with fake tattoos and a drawn of mustache and beard.

 

I am not certain how I feel about this photo. I guess this toddler would be cute for Halloween. Please don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against those who ride motorcycles. I started riding with my dad when I was only three years old. He would put a pillow on the gas tank where I sat strapped to him with a large belt. He would take me over the mountains to Santa Cruz, California, (about 30 miles from home) to watch the seals from the pier. However, he didn’t ever dress me up.

My college boyfriend also had motorcycles as did Dad Tom.

I am definitely not against tattoos on adults (I have five), and I know this toddler’s is fake, but…

Anyhoo…here’s my poem

Biker Dude Toddler

When Dad said I was going to be a biker dude,
I wasn’t exactly sure what that would include,
and frankly I wasn’t really in the mood.

I have my face painted and fake tattoos applied.
Honestly, when I saw myself I was totally surprised.
When Mom saw me, she broke down and cried!

What have you done to my darling boy? she wailed.
He looks like someone who should be jailed.
As a costume I think this has horribly failed.

I thought our son would make an adorable cat,
or perhaps a magician with a faux rabbit in his hat,
or possibly even an aristocrat with a tiny cravat!

This is the silliest costume I’ve ever seen.
It’s not for a toddler…maybe a teen,
But I guess this will be okay for Halloween.

Janet Buickerood Blue – 03/13/2024

Each week Angel Sammy transmits his poem from the Rainbow Bridge to Teddy for publication. Sammy writes amazing poetry, which is always worth reading. Please stop over to Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge, to check out Sammy’s poem and get the photo for next week’s challenge.

Thankful Thursday

I always look forward to the opportunity to share Kitties Blue and my thankfuls with you.

Cooper Murphy is up first this week. He is thankful that his girlfriend Tyebe joined the Sunday Selfies blog hop. She didn’t join on Sunday, so you may have missed her photo. You can check her out at #24 by clicking here.

I am thankful for all the birthday wishes I received via e-mail, text messages, cards and Dad Tom’s Facebook page. (Yes, I had a birthday. That 3/4s of century flew by in the wink of an eye.)

I am thankful as well that we continue to have warm weather, as I plan to work in the yard tomorrow to remove weeds from my flower beds.

Kitties Blue and I are always thankful for your support, comments and friendship.

Thanks for joining us today. We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

The Kitties Blue and I will be participating in the Thankful Thursday blog hop hosted by Angel Brian. Click on the badge below to join in the hop.

 

 

THE INTIMIDATOR

Wordless Wednesday

A grey cat staring at a squirrel outside the window.

 

Kizmet will be participating in the Wordless Wednesday blog hop hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus. You may join her there by clicking on the WW badge.

 

Thanks for joining us today. We will be back tomorrow with some thankfuls and a poem.

 

TREASURE LIFE

Sparks

Photo of the moon among the trees and in the clouds surrounded by a peach-colored reflection with a quote from Walter Anderson, "Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself."

 

I believe today’s Spark speaks for itself.

The author of today’s Spark, Walter Anderson, is an author and playwright. He is also co-founder of Novium Learning, an educational services company in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He worked for 32 years at Parade Publications where he held the positions of Chairman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.

Sparks is the creation of Annie from McGuffy’s Reader. It began as a blog hop, created by our friend. Annie stated when she began Sparks, “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.”

I must give a special thank you to Dad Tom for the incredible photo I used as the background for today’s Spark. A majority of the photos that appear here are his, and I am so grateful for his expertise and willingness to provide me with so many wonderful images.

The Adventures of Periwinkle & Stinky

Tomorrow is that special day each week when Periwinkle and Stinky set out on a new adventure. Periwinkle will be planning what they’ll be doing. I am certain she has something fun in mind, and the tabbies will be looking forward to seeing you over at Friends Furever. Please don’t let them down.

Thanks for joining us today. We will be back with a new post on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

A SAWYER SELFIE & REMEMBERING ANGEL FRIENDS

Sunday Selfies: Week #499

 

Grey tabby cat selfie with something on his nose. He is remembering angel friends today.

 

Hi Friends,

I hope you don’t mind seeing me again this week. This is not my best selfie, for which I apologize. I cut off part of my right ear, and, as you can see, I have something on my nose. Dad thinks it’s food. Mom thinks it’s litter. I’m a cat, so I’m not telling. If my mom was nice, she would have edited my photo to remove that glop, but she and Dad think it’s cute. Pfffft!  Regardless, I truly hope that my lovely girlfriend Noelle will like it. Of course, I hope you like it as well.

Remembering Friends

Before we hop today, my fursibs and I want to remember some of our dear friends, who recently received their angel wings.

 

remembering angel friends: Dai$y, a white and brown tabby cat with a heart-shaped nose.

Da Tabbies O’ Trout Towne

remembering angel friends: Tuxedo cat with big eyes in a bright flowered frame.

Living With Loulou

remembering angel friends: grey and white tuxedo cat in a heart-shaped frame.

Stunning Keisha

All these lady cats were beautiful and special and will be deeply missed by their friends and followers. We feel so fortunate to have known them, and we will love and remember them always.

Hopping Time

Now it is time to hop, and all the Kitties Blue would love to see you right here joining us. You all are just as special to us as the three sweet, lady angels we are remembering. If you can’t participate today, we totally understand. That’s why our hop remains open through Thursday.

And…don’t forget that Day Light Saving Time starts today. Set your clocks forward one hour and don’t be surprised if your loving furkids get a bit confused about mealtimes.

Thanks for joining us today. Have an easy Sunday!

 



ASTRID IN RIBBONS & BOWS

Caturday Art

The subject of today’s art is Astrid lounging in one of the indoor cat trees.

 

Tortoise Shell (tortie) cat art in red, white and blue with a blue frame and large bows at upper corners

 

To create the art of Astrid I used the Bleeding Dragon effect from Painnt with a slight change of hue and bump in saturation. I added the Bubbly filter from piZap and a ribbons and bows frame from favpng.

I created a puzzle but trimmed the edges down so you wouldn’t have so much white space around the sides, top and bottom.

preview120pieceTortoise Shell Cat Art

Astrid will be participating in the Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. You can do the same by clicking on Athena’s badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins

As Kitties Blue and I did not post yesterday, I am including Friendly Fill-Ins today.

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To join the hop, click on the badge at the left.

Sawyer, who often helps me with fill-ins, has helped me out again today. We both used teal italics for our fill-ins. Any explanations are in parentheses.

1. Sawyer: If someone offered me a free lifetime supply of treats, I would accept it.

2. If someone offered me a free gun, I would refuse it.

3. I have the sound of each cat’s footsteps and sound of their voices (not all of them meow) memorized.

4. Everything, but especially technology, has really changed since I was younger.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Tomorrow is that day when you share your adorableness with all your friends and Kitties Blue by joining our blog hop. Though most of the Kitties Blue do not enjoy taking selfies, they always love seeing yours as do I. Amazingly your host has been selected and already taken a selfie for tomorrow.

Recently, three of our dear kitty friends have run off to the Rainbow Bridge (Cathy Keisha, Loulou and Dai$y). We will remember them tomorrow as well.

Thanks for joining us today. Kitties Blue and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

 

 

SUNPUDDLE C.J. & POETRY

Thankful Thursday

Thursday is the day when we share our thankfuls with our friends.

I am thankful for the daffodils and forsythia blooming in our yard.

Calista Jo is thankful for the combination of a warm radiator and a sunpuddle. It’s the purrfect place for a nap, especially if you have a cat toy for a pillow.

 

Dilute tortoise shell cat napping on a radiator in a sunpuddle.

 

I am thankful that Raleigh likes Dad Tom well enough to let him pet him and give him treats. He won’t let me get closer than two feet.

Kitties Blue and I are super thankful we knew Loulou (Living with Loulou). We will miss her terribly and remember her on our Sunday Selfies post.

Kitties Blue and I are always thankful for your support, comments and friendship.

The Kitties Blue and I will be participating in the Thankful Thursday blog hop hosted by Angel Brian. Click on the badge below to join in the hop.

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thursday also is time for writing poetry, and I always try to participate, as it is hosted by our very dear friends, Teddy and Angel Sammy (Two Spoiled Cats). They provide an inspiration photo, and participants write a poem about it. Here’s this week’s photo followed by my poem.

 

Man with round glasses, a crooked smile, his necktie tied around his head and gloating.

 

Gloating

Did you guess this is my gloating face?
I found out I won first place
in the office football pool,
which you must admit is pretty cool.
I will confirm that I’m the company nerd
and following sports I find absurd.
But I put my statistics and math skills to work
and magically I came in first.
I will admit I was totally shocked.
I definitely surprised the office jocks.
The money I’ve won isn’t much—
just enough to take my girlfriend to lunch.
But besting all the sports fanatics
is what makes me the happiest!

© Janet Buickerood Blue – 03/06/2024

Each week Angel Sammy transmits his poem from the Rainbow Bridge to Teddy for publication. Sammy’s poems always get an A++ from us, and they are always worth reading. Please stop over to Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the poetry badge, to check out Sammy’s poem and get the photo for next week’s challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today. We hope to see you again tomorrow for Friendly Fill-Ins and Feline Friday.