Monday, February 22, 2016

Winning Monday

Me checking out the goodies

Callie here posting today.  To quote Charlie Sheen...winning...Monday is here.  We have the winners of our blogoversary post and we are showing off our prizes for winning Ellen's blog 15 and Meowing's Valentine give-away - all handmade - a nip flavored mat to nap on, two nip toys and an eyeglass case for Mom.



Us first...the kitties were very surprised that they got a fun package in the mail from Ellen and her furry gang. I noticed the goodies right away and went over to inspect them.  The catnip toy caught my fancy and off I went, batting it all over the kitchen and living room floors.  Mom tried to get a picture but I was just a blur!


Mr. Kitty with the nip toy

Mr. Kitty pounced on the other catnip toy.  He was snockered in no time.  Rolling on the mat and even sucking the mat - have some control, boy!





Even quiet Mamacita come out from her nap nook to check out the mat. She was a bit more subdued than Mr Kitty but enjoyed it nevertheless.  Mom liked her eyeglass case too.  Thank you Ellen - we love our prizes!


Mamacita on the mat
Now for the winners of our blogoversary post - drum roll.....for Prize #1  - a cat coloring book for the human and cats toys and treats - the winner is none other than Ellen of 15 and Meowing and no this was not  fixed! Just a lucky coincidence! The question was who is our deaf cat - Al or Albert is the answer.

No one got the answer quite correct to question #2 - how many cats did we have when we first began blogging.  But Jackie and Flynn of  Our Life with Flynn (and Angel Eric) guessed the closest with 18. If you didn't know the answer, you would have had to look at all the photos on the side bar, subtracted the kitties from before, then the seven who went to the Bridge since 2009 and added two for Callie and Mr Kitty who joined us in later years - and that equals 20.  We had 20 cats when Mom started up the blog.  Years ago when people asked how many cats we had, Pop would mumble the answer - he was a bit embarrassed at first but most people we met had even more!  The prize for the question was  cat note cards, toys and treats.

And for the final question - most of our cats were formerly what? Isabel, a Google + follower, guessed wild (or feral) and was the first to guess that. The prize of a book about cats, and assorted cat treats and toys will be sent to her. 

Thank you for coming to our blogoversary and for being our friends.  Mom says she will try to post more often.  Her big 60th birthday is coming up next week - it is also the 3rd anniversary of Angel Chica's passing. I am sure we will post for that so see ya then!




Thursday, February 18, 2016

Today is Our 7th Blogoversary!

 
Darby hatted by the late JudiBug in 2010

Hard to believe that we have been blogging for seven years (eight if you count Mom's old natural pet care blog Cats and Dogs Naturally). Mom never got her act together to do a blogoversary post before this! Imagine!!!

Angel Chica's 20th Birthday celebration in 2011.


A lot has happened during that time - holidays, Gotcha Days, computer crashes, even losing our blog to hackers for weeks before we got it back. We also gained two new kitties, Callie and Mr. Kitty and lost seven of our beloved cats who left for the Rainbow Bridge. Plus, our neighbor cat, Jack, who we featured on the blog often, disappeared without a trace in Nov. 2015.




Mom's first video attempt in 2012 with Angel Lily, Only and Smidge.
If you can't see it here go to our Youtube channel here.



We made so many friends, some who are still blogging and others who have moved on to other things. We appreciate all our blog pals, old and new, being there and supporting us in difficult times and celebrating with us in happy times. Even though we don't blog as much as we used to, we wouldn't still be here blogging if it weren't for all of you! You guys rock!

Woody playing in the water bowl 2013.

 To thank you, we would like to offer some fun quizzes with prizes for the first to answer correctly in the comments! If you have followed us for a bit these questions will be pretty easy. The answers and the winners will be posted Monday Feb. 22  . Ready?

 To win Prize #1 - What is the name of our cat who was born deaf?

This prize includes a leather mouse, cat treats, a nip trout and Creative Cats coloring book by Marjorie Sarnat for your human plus other goodies.


To win Prize #2 - How many cats did we originally have when we began the blog in 2009?

This one includes cat treats, toys and a set of 6 cat notecards by local artist Debbie Littledeer for your bean plus other goodies.



To win Prize #3 - Most of our cats were formerly what?

Along with cat treats and toys, a book by Japanese poet Takashi Hiraide The Guest Cat and other assorted goodies

We hope to continue to blog, making more memories and friends in the coming years.  Thank you for being a part of our lives. We love you all!

Tabitha posing for our Easter post 2014

Rosa as a watercolor for Caturday Art in 2015



Let's end this blogoversary post by reposting below our very first blog post with Angel Ivy in front of the heater on a cold February day in 2009.

Cold Blustery Day

Ivy is sitting right in front of the space heater and not budging. The wind is howling, blowing leaves by the windows. The cats are feisty and running around fussing with each other. At least we didn't get any snow, just a few flurries.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Woody posting (for a change) ...Today is a big day at our house - Pop turns 60 something, (we won't reveal the exact age) the beans are celebrating 24 years of marriage and it is the national day of love!  Since it is bitter cold (at least the morning will be) the celebrations will take place at home this year.


Coconut curry  for Mom in the front with a naan taco and lumpia for Pop

Pop and Mom did go out to eat on Friday to a curry house that they hadn't been to before - it was a balmy 39 degrees that day.  During cold wintry years like this Mom wishes that they got married in a warmer month but 24 years ago they were living in Florida, so hey.

Grain and sugar free apple crisp

Mom baked Pop a flour less apple crisp since they don't do cakes anymore.  There will be flowers, presents and eats plus  lots of kitty snuggling too.  This is Mr. Kitty's first Valentine's Day with us so he can join in the festivities.  We are also taking part in Sunday Selfie on Cat on my Head blog too.

A selfie with Mr Kitty, Mom, Pop and even Sweetpea

Whatever you do for this joyful day - we hope it is filled to the brim with smiles and love.
Happy Valentine's day from all of us to you!

Me wishing you Happy Heart Day!

P.S. Next week marks the 7th anniversary of our cat blog and we are celebrating with a give-away or two so put in on your calendar - Feb. 19!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Happy Mardi Gras!



Tabitha here today and we are celebrating Mardi Gras!  There are a surprising number of transplants in our area from New Orleans who celebrate with an array of festivities leading up to the parade.   Mom and Pop love to attend the annual Mardi Gras parade in Asheville.  They try to go every year weather permitting.  This year was not bad for February - 49 degrees, sunny but a brisk wind.  I will narrate the parade as it goes by - ready?


This year's theme is Saints vs Sinners (Are you good or just good at it!). Everyone seemed to prefer the sinner version - dressing as fallen angels, devils, death, skeletons, grim reapers, and everything in between!  So many parade watchers were dressed up too - it was hard to know where to look first.


 The beans walked up to the parade site behind these revelers! Mom had her beads on - real ones from a friend who went to New Orleans.  The parade offered bands, colorful clowns throwing beads to the onlookers, wonderful floats and so much more.  Each group or float is called a Krewe and they all have funky names.





 This young girl was handicapped and rode in a three wheeler with her baby alpaca.  There a lots of alpaca farms here.  A King and Queen are chosen weeks before and they ride as special hosts of the parade.  Afterwards everyone is invited to the Queen's Ball at a local restaurant.

King Bone and Queen Sara


Kali, Hindu Goddess of Destruction!








 Scandals  Club - features drag shows



Our Pubcycle - you pedal to keep it moving!


Our Gay Pride float


Wicked Geisha Krewe



Even puppies got into the the spirit of Mardi Gras!  This is a very abbreviated version of the parade - to see more pictures with captions, please do visit Mom's Carolina Mountains Facebook Page.  

Hope you enjoyed the parade.  We will leave with with the typical Mardi Gras verse...and a  fun way to pick your Mardi Gras name.  Mom's is Glittery Confetti - what is yours?







P.S.  Just an update on Mom and Mr. Kitty - both are doing much better this week.  And  the vet called to let us know that Mr. Kitty's lump was a benign thyroid cyst and that since they got it all out, it won't come back!  Isn't that great?  Thanks to all who purred and sent good vibes for him.  Have a colorful Mardi Gras y'all!!!

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Mr. Kitty on Thankful Thursday

Me at the vet

 Mr. Kitty here today and I am very thankful.  Yesterday was exciting for many reasons.  I woke up with a tummy upset - loose poop and throwing up foam. I didn't even feel like eating breakfast - and I love to eat. Mom called the vet and they wanted to see me to check me out.


It was a day of torrential rains and the radio kept warning of flooding all over the county but we didn't see any major problems.  This is our road with the creek running next to it when we came home.

At the vet all my tests came back fine but Dr S didn't like how my breathing sounded. Dr S and M the vet tech took xrays and came back laughing (I didn't think it was funny).  I guess I am very pear shaped - they said my xrays looked like a frog - small up top with a big abdomen. No signs of anything tho.

 That pesky lump on my neck that they had drained a few weeks ago had come back already.  Dr. S. did not like that it felt different - harder than last time.  She said that the lump was pressing on my trachea and was hampering my breathing among other things.  Since I had an empty tummy and she had a spot open for surgery that we should remove it today and that I would feel much better.  After a bit of discussion the beans agreed.  They loved me up, kissed me and left me at the vet for the removal of my lump.

The beans were worried about me cuz I am 17 this year but all went well.  M called a few hours later and said I was ready to go home.  They used gas anesthesia and I woke up really easy - just some yawning and stretching and then I put my paw out for some loving.  The lump was BIG!  A mouse could easily fit inside the dimensions of it.  They even showed it to Pop who came to pick me up. It will be sent off to be analyzed.  They had already sent the fluids from the lump to a lab and it was fine - not cancer.  We will hear next week what it is.  I have quite the scar to show for it but my furrs will cover it up soon.



Last night all I wanted to do was eat!  And I did.  I also got pain meds, antibiotics, anti nausea and anti diarrhea.  So far today I am feeling great - ate well and even went out on the back porch for a bit. Back to my usual self. So grateful to Dr. S and her staff for taking that lump off!

On the porch today.
P.S. Mom here - have not been online much in the past week - have sinusallergy issues with vertigo.  I feel better but using the computer is not easy if I am having a vertigo episode.  I have been trying to go online for short periods with rest in between.  Anyone else have this issue?  What do you take for it?

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