Sunday, December 29, 2019

Ciao 2019!

Happy Sunday, Readers! Did y'all have a wonderful holiday week? We hope so.

What are some of the traditions you and your family have? There are traditions in every family, in every culture, and for every season.We eat fish on Christmas Eve and a big pasta dinner on Christmas Day. Filled with loads of laughter, and lots of dessert choices. Mamma really likes spending the days with us and our family.

This week, we will ring in the new year, and by us, they drop a huge geodesic sphere covered in crystals, and a lot of people crowd around to see it in person, while nearly everyone else watches it on television. That sounds strange, I rather paw at the ball and play. But the one in the city is too big for us kitties. Hehee

If you want to read about winter traditions in other areas of the world this article may suit you: winter-traditions-from-around-the-world

I am the cutest present under the tree!
Grigio visited us every day! 
Pasqua Bunny looking super cute.
 

Have a safe and happy new year celebration,
-Stivali. 🐾

Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming. - Mike Dooley.



Sunday, December 22, 2019

Festival of Lights

Hello Readers!

Mamma is preparing for Christmas, but that is not the only holiday of the season. Hanukkah 2019 will begin this evening and ends the evening of  Monday, December 30.
Learn about the History of Hanukkah here. Thank you, History Channel. 🐱

Do you celebrate Hanukkah? Or, if you know someone who does, did you know that to wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, you would say “Hanukkah Sameach!” or “Chag Sameach!” (meaning: Happy Holiday)? In Hebrew we would say “Chag Urim Sameach!”.

Mamma likes to bake and cook. To her utter disbelief, we cannot help her, we have too much fur. If you are looking for new recipes for Hanukkah, check these out: Hanukkah Recipes & Tips

Whatever you celebrate, we wish you full bellies, joyful laughter, and much happiness as you celebrate.


We are at the screen door looking outside in this photo. 
How cute is this cat nip filled stocking from our Aunt Julie? 
From our home to yours, Happy Holidays! 

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali.

Merry everything, and a happy, always! 

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Christmas Wishes

Hello Readers,

We hope you had a wonderful week. 

You know how I really like drinking from the faucet? Well, I found the purr-fect gift for me. Check this out: Aquapurr - an automated water spout. How cool is that? 

I think it would make a great addition to our home. Don't you? 😺

In other news, mamma is excited to share with you two new videos. She was finally able to capture in time me carrying my toy mouse, Verdi! She is overjoyed, but of course, wants to still get a better one.



Enjoy your Sunday, Everyone! 

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.🐾

🎢It's you I like. The way you are right now, the way down deep inside you. Not the things that hide you, not your toys, they're just beside you. But it's you I like. Every part of you.♫ - Mister Fred Rogers.♬

Sunday, December 8, 2019

December to do list...

What's on your calendar this week?

To do: shop, bake, clean, laundry, Hanukkah and/or Christmas cards to write and address and mail, gifts to wrap, stockings to hang, trees to decorate, houses to decorate...
The list goes on and on... is kindness on your list? To be kind? To strangers? To the cashiers you encounter during your shopping?

During this time of "busy" be sure to make time for kindness.

People can be especially rude during this time of year, because they are distracted, they are busy, they forget to be kind, to be patient, to be understanding. Let's not be like them, instead, let's be purposeful in being the opposite.

It takes effort, yes, it may feel uncomfortable or pointless - but the more effort you take to be kind instead of too busy to care - the easier it will be to do - just like any habit, it takes practice, and you will soon see the fruit of your efforts. For it will not be pointless, and perhaps, your kindness will inspire others to act that way, too.

Be kind, and may peace be with you.
-Stivali. 🐾

Mutual caring relationships require kindness and patience, tolerance, optimism, joy in the other's achievements, confidence in oneself, and the ability to give without undue thought of gain. - Mister Fred Rogers.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Happy December 1st!

New month, new day, new chapter, a new page, Welcome Dear December!

December marks my official "I'm Mamma's Day" - on December 06 - the day before our Aunt Marcella's birthday.

Other special birthdays this month include: Great Aunt Anna 03, Great Uncle Nicky 05, Mrs Walter 05 (PJ's mamma), Baby Taegan Elizabeth will be 06 on the 05th, Aunt Julie's 15, Uncle Mikey 21.

Also, this month, we celebrate when we officially signed adoption papers for Pasqua Scheggiare! Cannot believe this month will mark one year! 

Mamma has yet to catch me on video carrying Verdi to her, but she did snap this photo this week of me:

She has added few videos to our YouTube channel, most recently us watching outside:  https://youtu.be/VNeiDph8T8I

Are you decorating for the holidays this weekend? Mamma did not put up a Christmas tree last year, so I think we will have to convince her to do so this year. We need ornaments to play with!

Purr & Paw,
Stivali. 🐾

Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold! - Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving Week

Hello Readers,

It is a very rainy day here - and we send out hopes that you are all doing well. Bundled up and warm, wherever you are.

What are you all doing for Thanksgiving? We are looking forward to eating a special turkey dinner together. 😸

Here's a little history for you: President George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789. Abraham Lincoln declared that the last Thursday in November should be celebrated as Thanksgiving, and it become a recognized holiday in the United States in 1863. It was moved to the fourth Thursday of November, and became an official federal holiday in 1941 by President Franklin Roosevelt.

But it actually started a lot earlier than that, when the pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. This first feast was organized by the Governor, William Bradford, who invited the Wampanoag Indians. Two years later, they began calling the feast "Thanksgiving", after a long drought ended.

Did you know? Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird instead of the bald eagle. Imagine that! 

Me in all of my sunroom glory.
Grigio visited twice daily this week.
Grigio greeting me at the door.
November 21st, we began fostering this lil fuzzball. This photo was taken November 23, 2018.
One year later, November 23, 2019 - our fuzzball certainly has grown!
We are grateful for all of our many blessings: each other, Grigio, food in our bellies, warm blankets to cuddle in. 

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali. 

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other. -Randolph Frederick Pausch.



Sunday, November 17, 2019

Motivating Tips for Getting Through Winter

Happy Sunday, Readers!

Mamma was reading this article to us, How to Stay Motivated in the Cold Weather, and Pasqua and I agree that it may helpful to all of you.

Here is our cat-recap:

1. Love your mornings - we like to cuddle in bed with mamma and make her relax with us before getting ready for work each day. On weekends, we make sure she ignores the alarm clock, and only pays attention to us.

2. Write motivational post-it notes - since we cannot write notes to mamma, we do bring her toys, and move them around the house for her to find. Sometimes, I leave her "surprises" when I am missing her too much. Mamma does have a couple of motivational mantras on her mirror but I have no idea what they say. I assume it has something to do with loving us. πŸ’—

One of ma's motivational notes - what does it say? 😻
3. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks - I know mamma listens to books in her car while commuting (and we don't get in that car with her much). At home, she does read out loud to us, and it is so nice to hear her different voices for characters, and to listen to whatever it is she is reading from. The article says reading is motivating, and I must agree, it motivates us to either pay attention to ma's voice, or to take a deep cat-nap.

4. Warm up with exercise - every morning, mamma does yoga. We like doing it with her. It is invigorating! In the afternoons, she will do a dance routine to some video she has, and that one is very funny to watch. We will chase after balls and toys to keep up with the music and to get our exercise in, too! It certainly warms us up.

5. Show up for yourself - this one lost us a little bit, because, as cats, ummmm, we definitely show up. In order to sustain motivation in the winter months, the article suggests to challenge yourself, set small, attainable goals, and reward yourself every time you crush them. Ummm, okay, does this mean we get more cat treats? Mamma gives us treats each time we "sit", "jump", "give paw", and "high five". Is this us showing up for ourselves? 😹

6. Enjoy the winter festivities - the last tip seems like the easiest one! Each season brings seasonal foods and festivities - something for all of us to look forward to during the calendar year. So, what's your favorite winter festivity? Ours is watching snow fall from our windows. If mamma would use the fireplace, I think we would really enjoy warming our fur by it. 😸 In November, mamma goes out pumpkin picking, orders pumpkin lattes, and buys presents for us and all her loved ones to celebrate Christmas. I can't wait to see what we get this year!

What do you think of these tips? What tips would you add to stay motivated in the cold weather?

We are big on relaxing in the winter - well, in any season, really.
Me working on my blog writing.
Have a wonderful week!

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Holiday Shopping Begins~

Hello Everyone,
While ma was on the internet, she saw this ad, and thought it was the perfect first gift to get us, and get it for us quickly so she can take our Christmas Card photo with us in them!
Unfortunately, when she went to purchase these hats on Chewy.com - they were temporarily sold out. Thank goodness for answered prayers. I had a hunch she was gonna put me in the "naughty" one and Pasqua Scheggiare in the "nice" one! 

Do you agree that a photo of us wearing these silly hats would make an adorable Christmas Card this year?

We are looking forward to a very special season together. Our Christmas Wish this year is that Grigio, the grey stray cat we've been feeding since June, would come inside. He has yet to let mamma approach him, and scurries away any time she tries. Even on a recent night this week when it was pouring rain, he just chose to stay outside in it. It breaks our hearts!
The temperatures sure are dropping, and while we snuggle inside, we pray that Grigio will join us soon. In the mean time, mamma is shopping for a much better outdoor cat house for him. Wish us luck!

Did you spend your weekend shopping for the holidays? We spent ours napping. 

Warm cuddles to all of you. Enjoy your week!

Purr & Paw, 
-Stivali. 🐾

Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving! - Charmaine J. Forde.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

What's going on, November?

Our days have become shorter now, as we recently fell back by one hour, exiting Daylight Saving Time where we live. 

November was the ninth month of the year in the original Roman calendar, and its name came from the Latin word "novem" meaning nine. When the Romans added January and February, it became the eleventh month. Some days in November will be borderline warm and other days it will be very cold. It's the month that leads us to the end of the year, and reminds us to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

The colours of leaves are changing and those leaves are falling off of the trees. Mamma is breaking out sweaters we forgot how much we love to cuddle on.

November could be thought of as a somber month as it reminds us winter is coming. Historically, farmers would store up their harvest, getting their food and their home ready in order to survive the winter.

Fun Facts: 
November in Italian is novembre.
The first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel in the world, the Holland Tunnel, opened to traffic on November 13, 1927.
Today's Anniversary: Parker Brothers introduced the Monopoly game on November 5, 1935.
Bell Telephone Company introduced the push button phone on November 18, 1963.

November means ma doesn't put the heat up enough and Pasqua insists on getting close!
November means Grigio still won't come inside, but at least he is using a heated blanket!
What is your favorite thing about November? What fun facts about this month do you know?

Stay warm! 
-Stivali. 🐾


Sunday, October 27, 2019

Black Cat Day!

As a tuxedo, mostly black and part white, I am thrilled that there is a National Black Cat Day. And it is TODAY! 🐱

Even CNN wanted to tell readers about this phenomenal day. Read their take here.

Black cats and Halloween go hand-in-treatbag! Black cats became associated with witchcraft since it was a common belief that witches would disguise themselves as black cats. Some people say that many witches were burned at the stake alongside their cat. 😿 Which we do NOT want to believe. That is awful to think about. 😿

We know it is not true that black cats are evil. Black cats are just as lovable as any lovable cat. It is sad to us that there is such a bad reputation associated with black cats. We are determined to end this maddening myth!

Tell your friends! 😺

We had a good week, and we hope you did, too. We had a lot of sun puddle time.


If you decided to carve pumpkins, or are doing your carving today, here is an article about how to make some delicious treats out of the pumpkin seeds.

The nice weather has passed, and today it is raining. A perfect day to carve or decorate pumpkins in preparation for Halloween this week. Or, if you are like me, to cuddle under a fuzzy warm blanket for a long cat nap.
Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali. 

Do you believe in destiny? That even the powers of time can be altered for a single purpose? That the luckiest man who walks on this earth is the one who finds true love? – Dracula.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Eleven Days to Halloween!

Happy Sunday, Readers,

We are eleven days from Halloween, and Pasqua and I are hopeful no one rings the door bell. That scares us more than a Halloween ghost! πŸ‘»

We see lots of jack-o-lanterns when we look outside. People carve them and place candles in them. They look so pretty.
Fall is a beautiful time of year.
Grigio does not agree, and yet does not come inside to get warm.
I wonder if you have any ideas of what to do if you can't use a knife? Like, Pasqua and I appreciate the beauty of the carved pumpkins but cannot hold a knife. 😸

Maybe you want to avoid the messy carving with all of those slippery seeds, and wet pumpkin innards, too. Here are some alternative ideas mamma had for us, but please do tell us your own alternatives to add to this list:

  • Use yarn! We like playing with yarn a lot. It is easy to decorate a pumpkin using colorful yarn or even ribbon. Use the stalk as the base to wrap it from top to bottom. So pretty!
  • Melt crayons and decorate the pumpkin with the liquid ink. This takes paw painting to a whole new level!
  • Do you want to turn your pumpkin into a cat? Use felt to cut out the shapes needed to disguise your pumpkin into the purrfect feline. 
  • Use decorative tape. A lot of hardware stores and craft shops have wide decorative tape to secure packaged gifts. What fun it is to not have to worry about glue or any pumpkin messiness when we can just wrap the pumpkin in fun tape!
  • Paint. Use acrylic paint to decorate your pumpkin into whatever you want it to be. Need inspiration? Check out these cool ideas at Parents.com.

Have fun with your pumpkins, and do let us know how they turn out. πŸ‘»


Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali.

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, "‘tis near Halloween". - author unknown.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The truth about cats

Stivali here.
I am usually too busy sleeping most of the day to be bothered to write this blog, so sometimes my mamma does it. Plus, I really don't want to write about how much I love my new little brother (even if I do). I was here first and let me just say, he is absolutely nothing like my big brother, Stray Cat. Stray Cat was a total mush, and very loving. He never tried to attack me the way Pasqua does. *Sigh

I also really miss how I could snuggle up against Stray Cat. Pasqua only snuggles with mamma. Which usually means, I only snuggle with mamma at bed time because Pasqua stays at her feet.  This is becoming quite the habit here at night. Pasqua at her feet, and me, happily, by her head. It is getting colder where we live, and she is not putting the heat on yet. The past two nights I slept right beside her instead of an arm's length away. I know she is very happy about that. I only do it to get warm. She really needs to put the heat on so I don't have to be so close. 😹

I look like a majestic supermodel here.🐱
Pasqua looks a bit tubby here.😺
We had a good week. Sleeping. Waiting for Grigio. Eating. Playing. Sleeping. Eating. Playing. Waiting for Grigio. 

Mamma even went to a street fair and brought us back a new toy. One shaped like a bird, but we are not fools. We know it is a toy and not real. We see real birds every day from the windows and they are too quick for us to catch - considering, ummmm, ma doesn't let us out. 😿

Did you ever wonder why cats sleep so much? If you want to read this article our mamma read to us - it is very enlightening: Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?  Apparently, one of the reasons is to conserve energy between meals. And man, do we like to eat! Speaking of eating, I am starting to feel irritated by how much we feed Grigio our food. It is OUR FOOD. Now we have asked our mother to stop with the insanity and buy specific food for Grigio so he is not eating OUR FOOD. I hope she listens to us. This is important. I am not good at sharing food. It seems very unfair to us.😿

The article also mentions that sleeping is critical for our ability to regenerate itself and stay healthy. That is enough information for me to know that I have written enough today, and it is time to fall in to a deep sleep, and have some good cat dreams!

Nap Well, Readers!

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, high above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can't I?
Yip Harburg.

Sunday, October 6, 2019

It's October!

Happy October, Everyone! 
Pasqua giving his most ferocious yawn!
Originally, October was the eighth month of the Roman calendar, hence why it starts with the Latin word for "eight" - octo. When January and February were added to the calendar, October's name remained the same despite now being the tenth month.

The leaves on the trees here have already changed to brown, orange, and yellow - and typically of fall, they are falling off the trees already. Giving Pasqua and I lots to look out from our many windows. 

If you enjoy Oktoberfests, you can thank the Crown Prince Ludwig, as the festival began because of his Royal Wedding on October 12, 1810 in Bavaria, Germany. The year after his wedding, it was decided to repeat some of the festivities for their anniversary and the Oktoberfest tradition began! 

Another festivity that occurs in October is Halloween! Mamma learned that we can have some Halloween fun, free of candy, by purchasing this haunted cat house at Target! Isn't it magnificent? How fun - it even has cat scratcher floors on both levels. We were truly disappointed that they are sold out. But be on the look out, Readers, as we may get it soon. 😼  

This week, we had daily visits from Grigio. We were very happy to see him.
Can't you tell how excited I am to greet him?

Whatever you do this weekend and week, we hope you are staying warm, and feeling grateful.

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali.

The wind outside nested in each tree, prowled the sidewalks in invisible treads like unseen cats. - Ray Bradbury.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Crisp air and pumpkins everywhere!

Autumn began this week on September 23, and is scheduled to end on December 21st.
The third season of the year is a favorite for many, including our mamma! The transition between the summer heat to the cold winter means - windows open! Birds singing! Lots of sun puddling and and window watching.

What is your favorite thing about fall? Is it the colours of the landscape? The Thanksgiving feast you share with your loved ones? Pumpkin spice flavored goodies? It is the candy corn? Or is it all of the festivities like apple picking, hay rides, and corn mazes?
Whichever your favorite fall thing is, we hope the season is off to an amazing start for you, and that you enjoy some of your fall favorites this year with gratitude.

I work out! 
Don't forget to continue to exercise as to avoid those extra pounds winter may bring! 
Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go. - Author Unknown.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

What's mew with you?

Hello Friends,

Mamma went to Pennsylvania yesterday and came home smelling like other cats!

What is this all about??

She went to a CAT CAFE, can you believe this?

Now, most of you already know, our mamma once owned a beautiful cafe, and now she went to someone else's awesome establishment - and they have cats there! Cats in a cafe! Isn't that wonderful?
Mewow Cafe in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Interior cafe seating - they serve local coffee.
They sell cat themed gift items!
Mamma fell in love with this cutie immediately.
If you are ever in Pennsylvania, you will have to check it out: Mewow Cafe

The owner has partnered with Kitty Junction and offers visitors the chance to meet adoptable kitties that need a home! Isn't that purr-fect?

Mamma even bought us each a toy from the cafe, and a really cute t-shirt for herself. 😹
The cats are in a window enclosed room separated from the cafe dining area.

How did she ever find out about this great place? Well, our lovely Aunt Jules moved over a year ago to Doylestown, Pennsylvania and she is the creator/owner/writer of "For the Love of Doylestown" - for Facebook and Instagram users, follow her @fortheloveofdoylestown to view her beautiful photographs of Doylestown and learn all about the town.

We had a good week indeed, not just because mamma bought us new toys, but because we enjoyed sun puddling, had multiple visits from Grigio, received lots of cuddles, took lots of naps, and ate lots of treats.
We do like our sun puddle time.
We sure hope your week ahead is filled with equal parts of affection and laughter.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.🐾
Oh, how I adore napping!

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Two Days to Pasqua is ONE!

This little potato chip came in to our lives in November. He was just a wee-one, with a chirp, and the fastest run we had ever seen! He has brought us joy, laughter, along with a few kitty bites & scratches.

Mamma met him at the shelter on November 17 (he was exactly two months old):
Mamma picked him up on the 21st of November. Look how tiny he was:
He was no bigger than the palm of her hand!

In the 10 months we have been together, he has learned how to fetch, give paw, give five, jump up, and sit. He has fallen off of the bed three times, as he hasn't realized that rolling over while stretching on the edge of the bed is not a good thing.  He has taken over one thousand naps, and has snuggled with Mamma on the sofa over one hundred times. He likes to play peek-a-boo, hide-and-seek, and of course, play with string. He tries very hard to play chase with me which I do not like very much. So, I hiss.





We are so happy to celebrate in two days that he will be one year old! He is such a big boy, so funny, and so affectionate and loving. Sometimes, a little too affectionate for my taste, but Mamma seems to like it. πŸ’— He is teaching me that I need to be more loving, too, and that makes for a very happy home. πŸ’—


Pasqua's One Year Favorites List:
  • Favorite place to relax and window watch - the sun room.
  • Favorite place to jump into - the laundry basket.
  • Favorite food - soft treats. 
  • Favorite toy - Grigio the grey mouse.
  • Favorite game - playing with string.
  • Favorite pass time - napping. 
  • Favorite cat - me! 
  • Favorite human - mamma! 

Please say a prayer for all (y)our friends and family who did not get a chance to celebrate a birthday this year. May all of (y)our deceased love ones be in the palm of our Savior's hands.

Have a wonderful week, Everyone!

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

The great thing about getting older, is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. - Madeleine L'Engle.