three cats and champagne

Happy 2009 everyone!

two cats, daisies and holly

Meow-y Christmas!

get well soon, cc

Last night, our delicate little CC got attacked by 3 other village cats. Good thing her Dad was there at the right moment to rescue her. She sustained a couple of gashes just under the chin, as well as a limp in her right hindleg. As she was being carried back indoors, she was in shock, whimpering ever so softly, as if to say thank you for saving me.

Poor CC is still a bit shell-shocked from the whole ordeal, confining herself to her lair under the bed and managing only a few laps of water every now and then. Not even a bowl of her favorite milk can entice her to come out of hiding.

I know she'll recover beautifully because she's a healthy cat and a lot of people have been praying for her.

Get well soon, CC.

We love you.

smiling moon

The Universe never ceases to amaze us! Last night, Venus, Jupiter and the crescent moon were juxtaposed in a Smiling Moon conformation, an astronomic phenomenon so rare and breathtaking it succeeded in sending a timely message of hope and promise all across the globe.

green cards

I'd like to share with you a really simple way to make a difference in this world. Ready?  All you have to do is sign up to send free holiday eCards through Care2.com. It's that simple!  Whenever you send a free eCard to your loved-ones, Care2.com will make a free donation in your honor to support a great cause like saving the rainforest or protecting endangered species.  

Go on! Get your free christmas cards here!

tugging on my heartstrings

A few months back, I met Faegan---an 18 year-old homeless tom who had to beg in the streets of San Francisco with his human just to be able to afford some cat food.   I wonder how they're doing these days.  

If I could, I would go out and adopt all the homeless cats in the world!  CC herself was rescued from the streets one cold and rainy night by a friend.  I believe that anyone who's planning on keeping a pet should really consider adoption.  I guarantee that it will bring you unspeakable joy, and even luck, according to some cultures.  

There's a multitude of cat adoption sites out there sponsored by pet supply superstores, pet food manufacturers, your local animal welfare society, and some volunteer groups.  Check out the homeless cat network and be sure to visit Peter's blog.  

delightful mystery novels for cat-fanciers

Nothing beats reading a good book on a rainy evening with a cat or more around you. CC and company absolutely look forward to these nights when I'd read out loud to them. Their author of choice is Lilian Jackson Braun, The Lady Who...wrote "The Cat Who..." series of mystery novels.

If you're a cat lover, you'll surely relate to the charming antics of Koko and Yum Yum, a pair of Siamese who have their human, Jim Qwilleran, a well-respected, middle-aged journalist and local town luminary, wrapped around their little fingers, I mean, paws.

I got hooked soon after I read my first TCW---"The Cat Who Could Read Backwards." Then through the years my collection of books grew and I still couldn't get enough of LJB's spirited, breezy style of writing. I definitely have a lot of books still missing from my collection!

Interested in starting your own collection? Check out Borders or Barnes & Noble.

Word is her 30th TCW, "The Cat Who Smelled Smoke," will be out in 2009. You know who will be raiding the bookstores!

The Cat Who...
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966) The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (1967) The Cat Who Turned on and Off (1968) The Cat Who Saw Red (1986) The Cat Who Played Brahms (1987) The Cat Who Played Post Office (1987) The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (1988) The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (1988) The Cat Who Went Underground (1989) The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (1990) The Cat Who Lived High (1990) The Cat Who Knew A Cardinal (1991) The Cat Who Moved A Mountain (1992) The Cat Who Wasn't There (1992) The Cat Who Went Into the Closet (1993) The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (1994) The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (1995) The Cat Who Said Cheese (1996) The Cat Who Tailed A Thief (1997) The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (1998) The Cat Who Saw Stars (1999) The Cat Who Robbed A Bank (2000) The Cat Who Smelled A Rat (2001) The Cat Who Went Up The Creek (2002) The Cat Who Brought Down The House (2003) The Cat Who Talked Turkey (2004) The Cat Who Went Bananas (2004) The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (2006) The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007) The Cat Who Smelled Smoke (2009)

Other books by Lilian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (1988) The Cat Who Put Four in a Box (1999) The Private Life of the Cat Who...: Tales of Koko and Yum Yum from theJournals of James MacKintosh Qwilleran (2003) Two Cats, Three Tales (2006) Short & Tall Tales: Moose County LegendsCollected by James Mackintosh Qwilleran (2002) Mystery Cats (1989) More Mystery Cats (1993) Mystery Cats III: More Feline Felonies (1995)

one-woman candy factory

This Halloween I decided to shake things up a bit from last year's typical store-bought goody bags for the trick-or-treaters. Without being fully aware of what came over me, I found myself making an entire batch of polvoron---no-bake sweets made of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar (the enemy!) and butter, plus, rice flakes or nuts.

I slaved away all morning while CC was taking her nth cat nap for the day. She's 10 now (56 in human years) and can't help it so I didn't mind. I ended up making about 10 dozen candies, all gone by the time the last of the ghouls and witches had left.

Ready to call it a day, I was beginning to think CC didn't care about this one-woman candy factory. Just then, she gave me a little "treat"---the ultimate in feline expressions of love (or possession?)---a pin dance (kittenly kneading) on my belly!

In retrospect, I probably just smelled like milk...

trick or treat?

Guess what CC discovered in her inbox today...a Halloween postcard from her adorable little buddy Baci! Baci is a male Ragamese (part Ragdoll, part Siamese). CC is certain he's part Banshee too, owing to his nightly spine-chilling, ear-piercing yowls. His humans don't mind at all; or at least they have been trained not to. He has them completely under the spell of his deep blue googly eyes, of course!

message in a (milk) bottle

Unlike most cats, CC does not care a whisker for catnip. Like most cats, though, she absolutely adores milk. The mere mention of it sends her into a state of elated bliss (better than a packet of the freshest catnip can ever hope to accomplish). I love milk too, especially cream-topped organic whole milk from Straus Family Creamery. Thanks to my dear sis-in-law, AC, for the recommendation! Before returning her empty (washed, thank you) milk bottle to the store, she uses it as a vessel for her dish brush. Precious! Got any ideas for ways to recycle empty milk bottles? Send CC some photos!

Empty bottles, especially antique ones, add a rustic decorative flair, don't you think? I've stumbled upon this great site called jackandfriends.com for home decor and gifts. They've got gorgeous vintage and retro bottles, enamelware, signs and labels, linens and a whole lot more! Giddy-fying!

Message on a kitchen towel: "It's been lovely but I have to scream now."

Ciao and meow!