Thank you.

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in memory of those who passed away while serving in the United States Military.

Today we remember and thank all the men and women who died while serving to protect our freedom and honor of our nation. It is a reminder to us, that each day we should express gratitude towards those who gave their life to give us the freedom to live and enjoy our life.

Traditionally, towns host parades, people decorate graves and visit memorials, you may also notice people wearing a red poppy. 

The poppy is symbolic of  the bright red blooms on broken ground, which inspired Lieutenant Colonel McCrae to write the poem, In Flanders Fields, in which he wrote of the fallen soldiers buried under poppies. His poem was first published in 1915, and would subsequently be used at memorial ceremonies.

Many blessings to all of you, and today, we leave you with John McCrae's poem:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

God Bless America! 

Lazy Sunday

Hello Readers! 

The weather is getting warmer here and we are feeling lazy! 

I must encourage my mamma to put that air conditioning on because it is warm at the top of my cat perch. 

If you lack motivation when it is warm out, sometimes it is refreshing to give in to it - that is what I am thinking on this Sunday. A little relaxation will help me overcome this feeling and then I can eat and play after I nap. 

Here is to an enjoyable (even if lazy) Sunday, and a very motivated Monday tomorrow for all of you.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾 

 Dolce far niente. - one of mamma's Italian expressions, meaning, "it is sweet to do nothing". 😸

Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues

Happy Sunday, Dear Readers,

12 years ago our mamma read that Benjamin Franklin attributed most of his success to practicing 13 virtues to the best of his ability. 

Apparently, for a large portion of his life, he carried around in his pocket a card of a table with each of the seven columns representing a day of the week, and each of the 13 rows representing one virtue he wanted to work on.

Mamma completed a challenge to work on each of these virtues based on what Benjamin Franklin reportedly did. Since spring is a great time for renewal, mamma is going to do this practice once again. 

Here are Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues:

1.	Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.
2.	Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3.	Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4.	Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5.	Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e., Waste nothing.
6.	Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7.	Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8.	Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9.	Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.	Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11.	Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12.	Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13.	Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Source: PBS

Throughout the day, review the card to keep the virtues fresh in mind. At the end of each day, go through the virtues, and reflect if they were actually practiced during the day, and mark the box if so. The goal is to fill in as many boxes as possible, and each week, start with a blank card.

The point is for the virtues to became more and more ingrained in our character. Naturally practicing them more, according to Benjamin Franklin, helped him become a well-rounded successful person and a better participant in society. 

What a superb practice for self-improvement. If you don't want to try this challenge using his 13 virtues, of course, try it with the virtues you hold dear. It is designed to help lasting improvement in specific areas of your life.

May your week be inspiring and transforming! 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. - Benjamin Franklin.

Happy Mother's Day to All Moms!

Happy Sunday, Readers!

We are excited to spend our day soaking up sun puddles and cuddling with our mamma. 

If you are interested in learning the history of Mother's Day, check out: Mother's Day 2021 - Date, Founding & Traditions - HISTORY

If you need a good-news story to cheer you, read this: She's celebrating Mother's Day by giving away bags full of care items to women in shelters (msn.com)

And if you still need a last minute gift for the moms in your life or for yourself, here are some suggestions: Mother's Day 2021: Gift Ideas for Every Kind of Mom (aarp.org)

And if all you need is a cute photos of us, we cannot deny you: 

Whatever you do today, we hope it is filled with warmth and joy.

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾

The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation. - James E. Faust.

The Merry Month of May

Welcome May!

May is the month we celebrate our cousin, Tyler, as he was born on the 2nd of the month - and we like celebrating birthdays all month long. 🎈

May 02 is also National Brothers & Sisters Day. 

I don't know if Pasqua got the memo, but I think this means he is supposed to be nice to me all day and not chase me. I will let you know how I make out. 😸

May also means flowers are blooming. In our Stray Cat Garden, we are happy to see this is true. 

Our little friend, Grigio, is enjoying the spring weather almost as much as the flowers. 

He still won't let mamma touch him, and greets her with hisses daily. At least he still visits multiple times a day, and we know he is well-fed. 

We sure hope that your first week of May is indeed merry. 

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾 

You are as welcome as the flowers in May. - Charles Macklin.